Where Is the Kingdom of God?

For some unknown reason, yesterday's slice of Daily Bread, composed earlier than usual because of the Freshman Retreat, did not make it to your table.  Today, there might then be two slices.

As we draw closer to Sunday's Solemnity of Christ the King and the end of the Liturgical Year, we will be hearing a lot about the Kingdom of God.  It will come to full glory with the return of Christ the King at the end of time, but do we have to wait that long?
One of Central Catholic's international students has thrown himself wholeheartedly into the full Central experience:  studies, sports, E-Board, and, even, though not a believer, (yet), into our retreat program.  He began leading the school prayer at the end of the day last year and continues this year.  In view of all of this, I said to him, "You are not far from the Kingdom of God." (Mk 12:34).  He asked, "Where is it?"  I tried to explain, as Jesus did, that "the Kingdom of God is within you." (Lk 17:21)   Still not concrete enough 
Meditating further on it, I can say that it comes into being when we empty ourselves as Jesus did, love God with our whole heart and soul, and our neighbor as ourselves, and "preach" by word and action, "Let us love."  Let us love always, in good times and bad, with compatible people, and those not so easy to get along with.  Let us forgive where wronged, be aware of our wrongs and ask pardon for them.  If we live the beatitudes, we certainly will be living in the Kingdom of God.
Bro. Rene

Inflamed by God's Love

A slight Italian Sister, Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini arrived at Ellis Island with six sisters in 1889 and began a dynamic career that lasted 28 years and established schools, hospitals and orphanages across the United States, in Brazil, Argentina and Nicaragua. Her Institute is also located in England, France and Spain  Supposedly too sickly to be admitted to the convent, as her health improved, she became a teacher and then founded the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart. She had a huge heart, and deep trust in Divine Providence, and allowed herself, inflamed by God's love, to be his unwavering and dynamic instrument.
We might think ourselves "too sickly" to undertake much smaller requests from our communities, our families, our parishes, or God himself, but Mother Cabrini stands as an example of what love, trust and God's grace can do.  May we never underestimate the power of such a combination.  Lord, what do you want me to do? With you, nothing is impossible.  Lead me and I will follow.
Bro. Rene

Doing Our Duty

There may be two slices of  Daily Bread today...Yesterday's about Veteran's Day, didn't seem to make it out of the oven.

Today, we are challenged by Jesus to simply go about our business without fanfare, and not expect any reward for doing what we are supposed to do.  Our Marist tradition has always held to the "doing good quietly" in imitation of Mary.  The Marist Fathers and Sisters stress this in their living out of our Marist Spirituality.  It keeps us humble, and free from "entitlement", an attitude that seems to be growing in our society.  We are not God, nor do we have a God made to OUR image and likeness.  On the contrary, it is WE who are made to HIS image and likeness.  All that we are, and all the good we do, comes from him and doesn't even deserve a prize.  In our "Everyone-Wins,- Everyone-Gets- a-Trophy" world, we too can fall into the trap of expecting God to jump up and down for the slightest thing we do.  No, as Jesus reminds us, we are not worthy to share the same table. (cf Lk 17:7-10), We do what we are commanded, and let it go.
Lord, let me walk humbly with you and carry out your commands because of who you are and who I am.
Bro. Rene

Veterans Day 2013

This year's Veteran's day with its ring of "the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month", the Armistice that ended "the War to end all Wars", Pearl Harbor, the Arizona, the shrinking number of WWII veterans,'the 60 anniversary of the armistice ending the Korean Conflict,  efforts to rehabilitate the more recent veterans of Viet Nam, the Gulf War, Iraq and Afghanistan, falls on the Memorial of St. Martin of Tours, himself a veteran of the Roman army.  Encountering a beggar, he took his sword and cut his cloak in half, to help the beggar keep warm. The beggar turned out to be Jesus himself.  Martin then left the army, became a monk, a bishop and a great defender of the faith and advocate of the poor. His zeal combined with his gentle spirit of compassion sheds a guiding light on our times.
Peace is always the goal of war, but war is never pretty, and doesn't seem to bring about lasting peace unless a spirit of forgiveness and compassion fills the hearts of governments, soldiers and citizens. We admire and honor those who have served our country, without whose sacrifice we would not be able to live the ideals set forth by our Founding Fathers. We continue to see young men and women serving their country with that same sense of sacrifice and dedication, and when they come home, continuing to serve their fellow soldiers and citizens with equal zeal and self-sacrifice.  We pray for those who have served, given their lives and are serving now; we pray also for the grace of conversion that turned the soldier Martin into the monk and saint, to touch our governments and bring an end to war.
Bro. Rene

Encouraging One Another

One of the endearing, enduring and admirable gifts of St. Marcellin, was his uncompromising care for the brothers and their students. He answered their letters with empathy and encouragement, and took pains to walk the mountains to their communities and schools to see with his own eyes, speak to them face to face, and to make sure their zeal was focused on the mission of making Jesus known and loved.  The brothers and students loved his visits, for his positive "pep talks" helped them to let go of their "problems" and see the good that was right under their noses, but missed because of their negative attitudes. St. Paul in his prayer for the Thessalonians, reminds us that like Jesus, our role is to encourage and strengthen one another May our Lord Jesus Christ encourage your hearts and strengthen them in every good deed and word.  May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the endurance of Christ." (1Thess 2: 16, 3:5) St. Marcellin did it...how can we find ways this morning, this day...tomorrow...to do the same?
Bro. Rene

Living Stones

Today's feast, the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica, the Pope's Church and the Mother Church of all Christendom, is a reminder to us that not only is a building important, but we too, as St. Peter says,  are "living stones" being built into a "spiritual house."  "Be built up like living stones, into a spiritual house, a royal priesthood."  (cf: 1 Pt 2:5). The Church is as strong and holy as its individual members, stones, building blocks, built on the foundation of  Jesus Christ and held together by the "mortar" of the Holy Spirit. The Lateran Basilica as beautiful as it is, is also symbolic of the living organism of the People of God, and as such calls us to fulfill our baptismal promises to live the gift of being adopted children of God and thus the calling to be a holy people, a royal priesthood which carries on the mission of Jesus. 
With Mary's help on this Saturday, our good words, our good deeds, our trust, our love, our compassion for those who suffer, can continue the construction of this living Church and bring it closer to completion.  Just DO IT.
Bro. Rene

A Minute and a Half Well Spent

 Thanks to my cousin, JoAnne Connolly, our slice of daily bread today is a special treat.  You'll want to bite into it more than once.  Just click on this address and another will appear as a link...which will make you think.  Now she's got me doing it!
Bro. Rene

http://www.youtube.com/embed/WGnEuGwvXqU?rel=0 [1]