Finding The Kingdom

 

  Mt 13:44-46

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.

 Three short verses, two simple parables, but a mountain of meaning. Do we value the kingdom of heaven, modeled and described by Jesus as generous giving of self in service to others, yes even to laying it down for others? Discovering that treasure is like finding the pearl of great price for which we would sell all, sacrifice all to have. But it's not that easy, evidently, for us or anybody.  How many people do you know who have sold everything to invest in the one thing that matters, the Kingdom of God? How can I shift my priorities to focus on the Kingdom, the living and spreading God's Word? We can't do it alone, God's help, grace, the example of others are needed.  The kingdom, God's Way, is worth the price.

Bro. Rene

Dear God, help me to "sell all" to buy the field or the pearl and make your kingdom the focus of my life. Amen 

Shining Like The Sun

 

 Mt 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.

Jesus clearly explains the meaning of the parable of the weeds. Our life task is to be the fruit of the good seed and not the offspring of the Evil One who seeks endlessly to entice us, to tempt, to fool us, to lie to us and divert us especially through discouragement from our true purpose and mission. The temptations surround us daily and daily we need to renew our commitment to remain faithful to the teachings of Jesus and not succumb to the lies of the Evil One. Fidelity to our daily prayer and reflection, good spiritual reading, and the support of good Christian friends will thwart the wiles of the Evil One, no matter how subtle of clever they may be.We will shine like the Sun because the Son is shedding his light on our daily lives.

Bro. Rene

Dear Jesus, let we walk in your light and not be sidetracked by the glitter offered by the Evil One. Amen.

The Better Part

 

 

 Lk 10:38-42

 At the Home of Martha and Mary

³⁸ As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. ³⁹ She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. ⁴⁰ But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”

⁴¹ “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, ⁴² but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

The "Martha" in us often takes away from our needed "Mary Time" with Jesus.  Sitting quietly, prayerfully, seems like such a waste of time when there's so much to be done. We see the busyness as necessary, but God certainly doesn't. Since April, I have been forced into the Mary stance: no driving, sitting with legs elevated, and much time for prayer and reflection as a result. It's growing on me and I'm beginning to see the wisdom of this period.  It is a gift, one I hope will persist when my wounded ankle will be healed and I can get back to my normal routine, at least back to driving and serving in Campus Ministry. God's ways are not our ways, and often he makes dramatic moves to school us in them. May we be open to accepting what he is trying to teach us.

Bro. Rene

Lord, like Mary, help me to choose "the better part." Amen.

The Caring Jesus

 

  Jn 6:1-15

Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand

6 Some time after this, Jesus crossed to the far shore of the Sea of Galilee (that is, the Sea of Tiberias), ² and a great crowd of people followed him because they saw the signs he had performed by healing the sick. ³ Then Jesus went up on a mountainside and sat down with his disciples. ⁴ The Jewish Passover Festival was near.

⁵ When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?” ⁶ He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do.

⁷ Philip answered him, “It would take more than half a year’s wages to buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!”

⁸ Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up, ⁹ “Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?”

¹⁰ Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” There was plenty of grass in that place, and they sat down (about five thousand men were there). ¹¹ Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish.

¹² When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, “Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.” ¹³ So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten.

¹⁴ After the people saw the sign Jesus performed, they began to say, “Surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world.” ¹⁵ Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself.

We begin this week with the spectacular miracle of the loaves and fishes. Take a moment to imagine the size of the crowd: 5,000 men, not counting women and children! What could  five small loaves of bread and to fish do to feed all those people? Yet there was enough for all with twelve baskets of left-overs.  Pretty Amazing, but only a precursor to the next miracle Jesus would explain later in John 6: his own body becoming the Bread of Life. When we whine and worry about our petty problems, we need to join the crowd and visualize this miracle and find assurance that Jesus knows our needs and will take care of them either quietly or astoundingly. Our loving, caring Jesus is on top of things and in his good time and in his way, he will resolve the problem. Let us ask Jesus to turn our fretting into trust and confidence.

Bro. Rene

Dear Jesus, I place my,concerns, hungers and fears in your loving hands trusting that you will resolve them with the same compassion with which you fed the five thousand. Amen.

 

 

Their Time Will Come

  

 Mt 13:24-30

 The Parable of the Weeds

²⁴ Jesus told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. ²⁵ But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. ²⁶ When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared.

²⁷ “The owner’s servants came to him and said, ‘Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?’

²⁸ “‘An enemy did this,’ he replied.

“The servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’

²⁹ “‘No,’ he answered, ‘because while you are pulling the weeds, you may uproot the wheat with them. ³⁰ Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.’”

Yes, this is how our world is: the good alongside the bad. Like the servants, we'd like to weed the field so that the good grain could grow uninhibited, but the master deems it best that both the grain and the weeds be allowed to grow together. And so it is as just a glimpse of the headlines or the nightly news will tell us. Our challenge is to avoid discouragement as we grow side by side with the weeds and to grow as strong as we can despite them and produce our intended fruit. Happily there are other good plants growing with us and their company encourages us to do the best we can to grown strong and produce the fruit which we were intended to bear. Let us do the best we can to be the best we can.

Bro. Rene

Dear God grant me the strength, courage, stability and consistency to bear the fruit I am intended to bear. Amen.

Hearing, Understanding, Living

 

 

  Mt 13:18-23

Explanation of the Parable

¹⁸ “Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: ¹⁹ When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path. ²⁰ The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. ²¹ But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. ²² The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful. ²³ But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”

The explanation of the parable is clear; the challenge is to hear, understand, accept and put its message into practice in my daily life. Do I stand on rocky ground, among the thorns of my own will and ambition, my fears, the greed that lurks in the depths of my heart, or whatever else interferes with a wholehearted reception of it?  There is always room for improvement, for purification, and re-setting of priorities. Again I say it: Time with the Lord in prayer for a pure heart, sincere and simple relationship, and the courage to stop, pick up and restart will help us produce a bumper crop as Jesus describes. Let's begin today!

Bro. Rene

Dear Jesus, count me in as one who hears your word, understands it and lives it. Help me where and when I fall short of the ideal. Amen

Servant Leadership

  

Mt 20:20-28

A Mother’s Request

²⁰ Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons came to Jesus with her sons and, kneeling down, asked a favor of him.

²¹ “What is it you want?” he asked.

She said, “Grant that one of these two sons of mine may sit at your right and the other at your left in your kingdom.”

²² “You don’t know what you are asking,” Jesus said to them. “Can you drink the cup I am going to drink?”

“We can,” they answered.

²³ Jesus said to them, “You will indeed drink from my cup, but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared by my Father.”

²⁴ When the ten heard about this, they were indignant with the two brothers. ²⁵ Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. ²⁶ Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, ²⁷ and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— ²⁸ just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

In our eagerness to serve Jesus, we might let our ambitions and self-centeredness blind us to the place Jesus has in mind for us.  Some will be leaders, and most will be obedient servants. Accepting our place, our limitations, our challenges, as well as the call that comes to us daily to be faithful to the Gospel and to the role God has in mind for us should be our ambition, our quest. Again and again it comes down to listening to God's call that comes through prayer, and the voices of others. Sometimes the call is easy to accept, other times it is very hard because we don't fully understand it.  Why me, why this, why now? we ask. Let us remember this incident and the lesson that being a faithful servant is the call that goes out to each one of us. Can we accept it? Can we say YES to it?

Bro. Rene

Dear Jesus, may I hear and answer your call with a generous, trusting  heart. Amen. 

Good Soil and Patience

 

 Mt 13:1-9

The Parable of the Sower

13 That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake. ² Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore. ³ Then he told them many things in parables, saying: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. ⁴ As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. ⁵ Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. ⁶ But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. ⁷ Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. ⁸ Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. ⁹ Whoever has ears, let them hear.”

What kind of soil are we providing for the Sower?  We like to think or want to think that we are the good soil, and indeed we might be, but do we have the nutrients, the moisture and all that it takes to produce a fertile crop? As the Sower faced many obstacles and a variety of possibilities to prevent a good crop, he kept on scattering the seed which eventually landed on the right soil. Might we keep this image of a patient, persistent Sower in mind as a motivation to do as much as we can to become the fertile and productive soil he seeks.

Bro. Rene

Dear Jesus, cultivate and till the soil of my soul so that your Word take root and bear abundantly in me.. Amen.

 

Be Doers Of The Father's Will

 

  Mt 12:46-50

Jesus’ Mother and Brothers

⁴⁶ While Jesus was still talking to the crowd, his mother and brothers stood outside, wanting to speak to him. ⁴⁷ Someone told him, “Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you.”

⁴⁸ He replied to him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” ⁴⁹ Pointing to his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers. ⁵⁰ For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”

We learn from these few verses that we can be as much a part of the family of Jesus as were his own mother and relatives: by doing the will of the Father. "Aye, there's the rub." It's not going to happen by words or desires alone, but by action, by DOING God's will. We need to seek his will through our daily prayer and reflection on the Scriptures and on the events we face daily with our families, friends and co-workers. We don't live in isolation, but in a web of connections with others. With and through them may we find God's will and live our lives according to it.

Bro. Rene

Dear God, show me your will, help me to accomplish it as best I can, and become a member of your family. Amen.

 

 

 

  Jn 20:1-2, 11-18

The Empty Tomb

20 Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. ² So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!”

Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene

¹¹ Now Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb ¹² and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot.

¹³ They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?“They have taken my Lord away,” she said, “and I don’t know where they have put him.” ¹⁴ At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus.

¹⁵ He asked her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?”

Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.”

¹⁶ Jesus said to her, “Mary.”

She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means “Teacher”).

¹⁷ Jesus said, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’”

¹⁸ Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: “I have seen the Lord!” And she told them that he had said these things to her.

One of God's special gifts to me was being present for Mass in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem on this Feast in 1976. It was not as peaceful as I had imagined it would be since the Coptics were chanting their Mass loudly in a chapel not far from the Roman Rite Chapel.  A bit of competition was going on, but it gave me a flavor of the confusion Mary must have felt when expecting to anoint the dead body of Jesus but finding an empty tomb, being confronted by two angels and then eventually embracing the risen Jesus. We have  our ideas, our plans, and God has his. They usually do not neatly match up, but I've always found that God's plans were better than mine so I've learned and am still learning  to take them anytime! Whatever we have planned for today, let us be ready for the unexpected and with Mary be ready for the Presence of the Risen Christ in whatever way he chooses to reveal himself.

Bro. Rene

Dear Jesus, open my eyes and heart to see and accept you in whatever ways you reveal yourself to me today. Amen

The Compassion of Jesus

 

 

 Mark 6: 30-34

No Rest

³⁰ The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught. ³¹ Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”

³² So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place. ³³ But many who saw them leaving recognized them and ran on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them. ³⁴ When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things.

Today, the Sabbath, our Sunday, a day of rest. Yet we have a picture of tired and hungry apostles besieged by needy people being taught by our compassionate Jesus, who catered to their needs because they were "like sheep without a shepherd." What a lesson for us! Yes, we need food and rest but some times we have to sacrifice these needs, push them out of the way for awhile, to take care of the needs of others. "Our time will come" eventually. Am I able to put my plans aside to take care of the needs of someone else? How will I use my time (God's time) today?

Bro. Rene

Dear Jesus, help me to be as compassionate as you and to sacrifice "my" time for the good of others. Amen.

Our Hope

 

Matthew 12: 14-21 

¹⁴ But the Pharisees went out and plotted how they might kill Jesus.

 God’s Chosen Servant

¹⁵ Aware of this, Jesus withdrew from that place. A large crowd followed him, and he healed all who were ill. ¹⁶ He warned them not to tell others about him. ¹⁷ This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah:

¹⁸ “Here is my servant whom I have chosen,
    the one I love, in whom I delight;
I will put my Spirit on him,
    and he will proclaim justice to the nations.
¹⁹ He will not quarrel or cry out;
    no one will hear his voice in the streets.
²⁰ A bruised reed he will not break,
    and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out,
till he has brought justice through to victory.
²¹ In his name the nations will put their hope.”

Each day we face new challenges and problems, from COVID's resurgence to massive and disruptive power outages, or to a lesser extent, but nevertheless annoying, a very SLOW internet connection eating up precious time.  Jesus had large crowds following him but also had enemies who were plotting to kill him. Not an easy nor comfortable spot to be in. But we see that he steadfastly "kept to the course", and through his sufferings accomplished his mission. What is my mission today? How will I carry it out?  Will I ask God for help or just push forward determined but disgruntled? How do I retain peace of mind and soul and at the same time remain faithful to today's call?  Do I really place my hope in Jesus?

Bro, Rene

Dear God, help me to find peace in doing YOUR WILL today by placing my hope in you. Amen.

Mercy, Not Sacrifice

 

 

 Mt 12:1-8

Jesus Is Lord of the Sabbath

12 At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry and began to pick some heads of grain and eat them. ² When the Pharisees saw this, they said to him, “Look! Your disciples are doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath.”

³ He answered, “Haven’t you read what David did when he and his companions were hungry? ⁴ He entered the house of God, and he and his companions ate the consecrated bread—which was not lawful for them to do, but only for the priests. ⁵ Or haven’t you read in the Law that the priests on Sabbath duty in the temple desecrate the Sabbath and yet are innocent? ⁶ I tell you that something greater than the temple is here. ⁷ If you had known what these words mean, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice,’^[a] you would not have condemned the innocent. ⁸ For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.”

Come To Jesus

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Mt 11:28-30

True Rest, Light Burden

 ²⁸ “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰ For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Who is not looking for deliverance, hope, rest? Jesus is the answer to our longing, the source of our peace, the island of respite in our dizzy sea of busy-ness and activity.  Fifteen or thirty minutes of quiet with him helps put things in perspective and allows him to calm our agitation and fretting. This invitation to find rest can't be ignored unless we're devils for self-punishment. Let us make it a priority to accept this invitation TODAY!

Bro. Rene

Dear Jesus, thank you for your invitation.  I accept it and will come to you often and regularly. Amen.

 

Spending Time With The Father

 

 

 

  Mt 11:25-27

The Father Revealed in the Son

²⁵ At that time Jesus said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. ²⁶ Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do.

²⁷ “All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.

We spend time each day in a good way coming to know the Father through our praying with the Scriptures, reflecting on them, absorbing them and making them part of our thinking and acting Can we see ourselves at the feet of Jesus, as in the image included with today's Slice of Bread? It's an ideal and a motivation to put aside our "To Do List", or better, make it number one on that list, and just spend some QUIET TIME with Jesus. We will be amazed at the peace and insight we receive just by allowing Jesus to speak to our uncluttered hearts.  It's time for us to become little children again.

Bro. Rene

Dear Jesus I come to you with no agenda but simply to listen to you  Amen.

Our Lady of Mount Carmel

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  Mt 11:20-24

Woe on Unrepentant Towns

²⁰ Then Jesus began to denounce the towns in which most of his miracles had been performed, because they did not repent. ²¹ “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. ²² But I tell you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you. ²³ And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted to the heavens? No, you will go down to Hades. For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Sodom, it would have remained to this day. ²⁴ But I tell you that it will be more bearable for Sodom on the day of judgment than for you.”

Mount Carmel overlooks the Mediterranean Sea and as such is a natural place for contemplating God and the beauty of his creation. There was a monastery founded in the 13th century on this mountain and St. Simon Stock is noted for promoting the wearing of a brown piece of cloth known as a scapular given to him by the Blessed Virgin as a sign of devotion to her and abandonment to her loving care in the on-going battle with the Evil One. It remains popular today, and rightly so, as we witness the spread of evil and moral decay. May we find extra time for prayer and ask Our Lady of Mount Carmel to reconnect us to her Son and return to an active practice of our Faith.

Bro. Rene

Pray for us, Our Lady of Mount Carmel, that we might restore Jesus to his rightful place in our lives. Amen.. 

Not Peace, But A Sword

 

 

 Matthew 10: 34-11:1

 Our Mission

³⁴ “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. ³⁵ For I have come to turn

“‘a man against his father,
    a daughter against her mother,
a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law—
³⁶     a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.’

³⁷ “Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. ³⁸ Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me. ³⁹ Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.

⁴⁰ “Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. ⁴¹ Whoever welcomes a prophet as a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and whoever welcomes a righteous person as a righteous person will receive a righteous person’s reward. ⁴² And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward.”

11 After Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in the towns of Galilee.

As Disciples, we desire peace, harmony and unity, but as Jesus reminds us, this will not always be the case. Taking up the cross means pain, misunderstanding,sometimes  alienation and even the loss of life as we witness those who have been martyred for their faith and preaching. It's not always peace but often the sword that comes with living and spreading the Gospel. Jesus also reminds us that our preaching can be a simple action, like giving a cup of cold water to someone who is thirsty. Actions as well as words make for effective preaching and teaching. May these few but poignant verses motivate us to be willing and effective evangelizers who are willing to pay the price, whatever that might be.

Bro. Rene

Dear Jesus, with your strength and grace and I can be an effective disciple. Lead and guide me. Amen.

Spread the Good News

 

 

 

  Mk 6:7-13

 Our Mission

⁷ Calling the Twelve to him, he began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over impure spirits.

⁸ These were his instructions: “Take nothing for the journey except a staff—no bread, no bag, no money in your belts. ⁹ Wear sandals but not an extra shirt. ¹⁰ Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you leave that town. ¹¹ And if any place will not welcome you or listen to you, leave that place and shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.”

¹² They went out and preached that people should repent. ¹³ They drove out many demons and anointed many sick people with oil and healed them.

It's a big wide wonderful world we live in, filled with with people ranging from a close relationship with Jesus to none at all. The mission given to the Twelve is still as relevant to as it was when Jesus first sent them out. Who is going to introduce Jesus to the multitudes, or even to the family next door, if not each one of us who are blessed to be believers.  It's not a case of "Let Joe do it" but of what am I going to do about it? Through simple conversations, letters, volunteering and prayer, we can carry out the mission to evangelize, that is to lead people to realize there is a God who knows and loves them and who is eager to become part of their lives. What is God asking me to do to make him known and loved?

Bro. Rene

Dear Jesus, as you sent out the Twelve to bring the Good News to others, send me to do the same wherever and however I can. Amen.   

Speak, Proclaim, Bear Witness

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mt 10:24-33

More Than Many Sparrows

²⁴ “The student is not above the teacher, nor a servant above his master. ²⁵ It is enough for students to be like their teachers, and servants like their masters. If the head of the house has been called Beelzebul, how much more the members of his household!

²⁶ “So do not be afraid of them, for there is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. ²⁷ What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs. ²⁸ Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. ²⁹ Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. ³⁰ And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. ³¹ So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

³² “Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. ³³ But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven.

We have a mission: to proclaim the Good News, the Word of God. There will be non-acceptance and even opposition, but we are to continue proclaiming by word and the example of our lives no matter what.  Jesus reminds us that even as the sparrows are protected by the Father's care, so are we. God knows us, even the number of the hairs on our heads; we have nothing to fear. Let us speak, proclaim and bear witness at all times, "when convenient and when inconvenient." God does not waver in his presence and support. Neither should we waver in our living and proclaiming of the Word.

Bro. Rene

Dear God, thank you for my mission to proclaim the Good News. Give me the stamina to do it fearlessly and faithfully. Amen.

 

 

 

 

No Easy Task

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Mt 10:16-23

 Like Sheep Among Wolves

¹⁶ “I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. ¹⁷ Be on your guard; you will be handed over to the local councils and be flogged in the synagogues. ¹⁸ On my account you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles. ¹⁹ But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, ²⁰ for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.

²¹ “Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death. ²² You will be hated by everyone because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. ²³ When you are persecuted in one place, flee to another. Truly I tell you, you will not finish going through the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.

An old hymn, "I Never Promised You a Rose Garden" comes to mind in reading this passage. Jesus warns us that being his disciple means pain, suffering, and willingness to die. We've seen this lived out over the centuries and certainly it continues today. We need this reminder that remaining faithful to our mission will take a lot more than just natural strength, but the strength that comes from prayer, sacrifice, and self-denial. Soldiers do not fight without training, nor do professional athletes compete without hours of practice. So too do we as disciples need daily reinforcement for the demanding task God has given us.

Bro. Rene

Dear God, only with your grace and help can I be an effective disciple. Direct, guide and strengthen me. Amen.

Keep It Simple

 

 Rules For The Road

 Matthew 10: 7-15

⁷ As you go, proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ ⁸ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give.

⁹ “Do not get any gold or silver or copper to take with you in your belts— ¹⁰ no bag for the journey or extra shirt or sandals or a staff, for the worker is worth his keep. ¹¹ Whatever town or village you enter, search there for some worthy person and stay at their house until you leave. ¹² As you enter the home, give it your greeting. ¹³ If the home is deserving, let your peace rest on it; if it is not, let your peace return to you. ¹⁴ If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, leave that home or town and shake the dust off your feet. ¹⁵ Truly I tell you, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town.

A fitting Gospel passage as we honor St. Benedict.  Keep it simple, Jesus says...no "flah-flah": give the message, and if it is refused, give it elsewhere. For over 1500 years the Benedictines have lived this way and still thrive today.  We might look to see how we can eliminate non-essentials from our lives and homes and return to the "basics". The prayer for Peace might become our prayer today.

Bro. Rene

Prayer to

St. Benedict for Peace

St. Benedict, you were a man of peace. Through your powerful intercession with God help us to be peacemakers. Aid us to work for peace, to take the first step in ending bitterness, to be the first to hold out our hands in friendship and forgiveness. Help us to achieve peace; peace in our hearts, peace in our homes, peace in our sorely troubled world. And at the end of our lives obtain for us the reward of peacemakers, the eternal blessed vision of God in heaven. Amen.

"Prayer to St. Benedict for Peace," adapted from Work of God: Benedictine Prayer, Judith Sutera, OSB, editor.  ©1997 by Order of Saint Benedict, Collegeville, Minnesota. Used with permission.

Happy Feast of St. Benedict!
May his wisdom and guidance inspire you today and always.

 

Go, Proclaim

 

 Mt 10:1-7

Jesus Sends Out the Twelve

10 Jesus called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out impure spirits and to heal every disease and sickness.

² These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon (who is called Peter) and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; ³ Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; ⁴ Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.

⁵ These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. ⁶ Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel. ⁷ As you go, proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’

Our Gospel reading today reminds us of our call, our mission, as apostles to help spread the Good News, just as the original Twelve.  Yes, you and I, not Joe or Mary next door or down the street. And Jesus tells us to go to the "lost sheep." The assignment is not easy. We can begin by prayer for guidance: who, how and when. A delicate task, but if we hold back, who will do it? From the Apostles to preachers and teachers through the centuries, this commission has been taken seriously and has worked. It can work for us; let's give it a shot.

Bro. Rene

Dear Jesus, help me to implement your command to go and proclaim your Word by my words and actions. Amen. 

 

Workers Are Needed

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

³² While they were going out, a man who was demon-possessed and could not talk was brought to Jesus. ³³ And when the demon was driven out, the man who had been mute spoke. The crowd was amazed and said, “Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel.”

³⁴ But the Pharisees said, “It is by the prince of demons that he drives out demons.”

The Workers Are Few

³⁵ Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. ³⁶ When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. ³⁷ Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. ³⁸ Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”

 Still today "the harvest is plenty and the workers are few." The decline in vocations to the priesthood and religious life in First World countries is obvious as "missionaries" from the Third World pour in to fill in the gap. God's call still echoes through the valleys of materialism and self-centerdness but goes unheeded. Giving up ALL to serve Jesus is a demanding, but an overwhelmingly satisfying step. As Jesus suggested, let us ask the Lord of the Harvest to touch the hearts of generous people to give their lives in his special service.

Bro. Rene

Dear Jesus, please touch the hearts of more and more men and women to devote their lives to you as priests and religious. Amen.

Asking With Faith

 

 

 Mt 9:18-26

The Ruler's Daughter and the Woman Who Touched Jesus' Garment

¹⁸ While he was saying this, a synagogue leader came and knelt before him and said, "My daughter has just died. But come and put your hand on her, and she will live." ¹⁹ Jesus got up and went with him, and so did his disciples. ²⁰ Just then a woman who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak. ²¹ She said to herself, "If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed." ²² Jesus turned and saw her. "Take heart, daughter," he said, "your faith has healed you." And the woman was healed at that moment. ²³ When Jesus entered the synagogue leader's house and saw the noisy crowd and people playing pipes, ²⁴ he said, "Go away. The girl is not dead but asleep." But they laughed at him. ²⁵ After the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took the girl by the hand, and she got up. ²⁶ News of this spread through all that region.

Two astounding responses to bold requests.  Both the synagogue leader and the hemorrhaging woman presented their needs simply and directly to Jesus and he responded immediately to their faith.  The woman didn't even ask, just simply touched his garment and was healed.  We think we do the same, but something must be lacking, for our prayers are not always answered as we would like. May our reflection on this passage enkindle our faith that is weak or lacking and enable us to receive the answer Jesus sees as best for us.

Bro. Rene

Dear Jesus, deepen my faith so that I may be open to receive the answer to my prayers that you deem best. Amen.

The Lack of Faith

 

 Mk 6:1-6

A Prophet Without Honor

6 Jesus left there and went to his hometown, accompanied by his disciples. ² When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed.

“Where did this man get these things?” they asked. “What’s this wisdom that has been given him? What are these remarkable miracles he is performing? ³ Isn’t this the carpenter? Isn’t this Mary’s son and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas and Simon? Aren’t his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him.

⁴ Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own town, among his relatives and in his own home.” ⁵ He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them. ⁶ He was amazed at their lack of faith.

Jesus Sends Out the Twelve

Then Jesus went around teaching from village to village.

If Jesus were to come to our town today, would he be be amazed at the lack of faith he would find? Granted there are "pockets" of faith and fervor, but a Sunday morning trip to the mall, a stadium or the beach would reveal more people than would be in the pews. Even in his own hometown, he was ignored. What does it take to stir our faith into practice? We are a people who RESIST, who look for excuses, or who are just plain lazy.  It's time to wake up and "turn to' as the Navy would put it, and give Jesus the honored place in our daily lives that he deserves.  Sunday is certainly his day. Let's give it to him.

Bro. Rene

Dear Jesus, help me to give you at least one hour today. Amen.

New Wine Into New Wineskins

 

 Mt 9:14-17

Jesus Questioned About Fasting

¹⁴ Then John’s disciples came and asked him, “How is it that we and the Pharisees fast often, but your disciples do not fast?”

¹⁵ Jesus answered, “How can the guests of the bridegroom mourn while he is with them? The time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast.

¹⁶ “No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, for the patch will pull away from the garment, making the tear worse. ¹⁷ Neither do people pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the skins will burst; the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved.”

Most of us are familiar with bottles of wine, not wineskins, but the point Jesus makes is clear: he has come to establish a new way of looking at things, or doing things.  Yes, love those who hurt you, bless those who  persecute you, forgive those who mistreat you. He invites us to act and think contrary to our natural inclinations. It's a "stretch", a necessary one, if we are to bring new life to a tired world. What can I do to replace my old wineskins with new ones?

Bro. Rene

Dear Jesus, help me embrace the invitation to make essential and necessary changes in my attitudes and dealings with others. Amen.

Follow Me

 

 Mt 9:9-13

The Calling of Matthew

⁹ As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,” he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him.

¹⁰ While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him and his disciples. ¹¹ When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”

¹² On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. ¹³ But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Two simple words changed Mathew's life and his turn about has given us the Gospel of Matthew which has affected countless lives over the centuries. How SIMPLY, how POWERFULLY does Jesus work! Who can resist him, who would WANT  to resist him? Yet, we know that some do. May we who munch daily on these "slices of bread" continue to respond to the invitation to follow Jesus and help others to do so as best we can.  

Bro. Rene

Dear Jesus, like Matthew, may I leave what impedes and follow you unreservedly. Amen.

Take Heart

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Mt 9:1-8

Matthew 9: 1-8

Jesus Forgives and Heals a Paralyzed Man

9 Jesus stepped into a boat, crossed over and came to his own town. ² Some men brought to him a paralyzed man, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the man, “Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.”

³ At this, some of the teachers of the law said to themselves, “This fellow is blaspheming!”

⁴ Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said, “Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts? ⁵ Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? ⁶ But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the paralyzed man, “Get up, take your mat and go home.” ⁷ Then the man got up and went home. ⁸ When the crowd saw this, they were filled with awe; and they praised God, who had given such authority to man.

Two wonderful and encouraging events happen in these 8 verses: a man is cured and his sins are forgiven.  Jesus gives him a new life. What blessings!  In many ways we need the forgiveness of our sins and the healing of our aching backs or limbs.  May we turn to Jesus in faith for what might seem like the impossible and in faith receive his healing and forgiveness.

Bro. Rene

Lord, Jesus, cleanse me of my sins, and heal my aches and infirmities. Amen.

 

Stop Doubting

 

 

 Jn 20:24-29

Jesus Appears to Thomas

²⁴ Now Thomas (also known as Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. ²⁵ So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!”

But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”

²⁶ A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” ²⁷ Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”

²⁸ Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!”

²⁹ Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

As we celebrate the Feast of St.Thomas, often called the "The Doubting Thomas", we take a look at our own faith and doubts.  Do we look for tangible "proofs" as did Thomas, or is our faith in the words and deeds of Jesus, enough to overcome the daily doubts that linger in the background?  We wonder why our petitions have not been answered, or why suffering, poverty, wars and increasing agnosticism and atheism spread. Yes, there is cause for doubt, as the Thomas within is wrestles with these facts, but Jesus continues to call us to touch his wounds, stop doubting and believe. 

Bro. Rene

Lord, I do believe; help my unbelief. Amen.

Lord, Save Us!

 

Mt 8:23-27

Jesus Calms the Storm

²³ Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him. ²⁴ Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. ²⁵ The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!”

²⁶ He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.

²⁷ The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!”

When things are not going our way or when "storms" seem to engulf us. Jesus reminds us that he is with us and there is nothing to fear. We've heard this many times, but there is always a freshness to it as we apply it to our current "storm". It took the apostles time to learn not to fear, even the lesson of this dramatic rescue rescue had to be learned up and till the time of the Resurrection and beyond.  How many times in our own lives have we panicked, been reassured, and fallen into panic again? Jesus never tires of calming our storms. May we continue to learn not to panic but to trust.

Bro. Rene

Dear Jesus, strengthen my faith and trust in you. Amen.  

Jesus First

 

 Mt 8:18-22

The Cost of Following Jesus

¹⁸ When Jesus saw the crowd around him, he gave orders to cross to the other side of the lake. ¹⁹ Then a teacher of the law came to him and said, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.”

²⁰ Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.”

²¹ Another disciple said to him, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.”

²² But Jesus told him, “Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead.”

Any death, in the family, among friends, expected or suddenly out of the blue, sends shock waves through our hearts and souls, and yet Jesus calls us to put him above our grieving, leave all behind and follow him. Jesus likes to use hyperbole to make his point but nevertheless, his point is clear: following him first is a priority and demands the relinquishment of even such fundamentals as grieving the loss of a parent. It's "ALL FOR JESUS" or nothing.To follow him demands setting aside even the basics. To do so requires a solid relationship with him, one that builds slowly, gradually day by day. Let's work on it today.

Bro. Rene

Dear Jesus, you call me to follow you totally, something I can't do without your help. Help me. Amen.