Letting Jesus Heal Us

Little children like to "do it myself".  We've heard this over and over, and have to admit that this nugget sticks with us as adults.  A certain stubbornness refuses to allow others, yes, even Jesus , to intervene and give us a helping hand.  Only when we get very desperate do we allow a momentary lift.  Why are we so reluctant to refuse the loving hand of Jesus to help us?  We marvel at the miraculous cures recorded in the Gospels, but refuse that same help in our daily life.  Yes, when we are sick or are asked to pray for someone else who is in need, we turn to Jesus, but with our daily dealings with others, with our little projects, we rely solely, on ourselves...at least I do.  Am I ashamed to admit that I need help, that I can't do it myself?  It's not to late to let that stubborn child grow and are realize that Jesus came to save us from our sins, our weaknesses, and we are thwarting his mission as well as causing ourselves needless stress when we rely solely on ourselves.
Bro. Rene

Appreciation

Students and faculty at Central Catholic have designated today as "Appreciation Day", an opportunity for us to recognize the gifts we are and the gifts we are to each other.  So often we take each other for granted, as we do with the sun, moon and stars, hot and cold running water, electricity, supermarkets loaded with food, our brains, our digestive systems, the air we breathe; the list could fill pages. If we don't stop and make a conscious effort to show our appreciation by a simple "thank you" or proclamation of awe...."It's awesome"...a common phrase over used by the young to show their wonder, amazement and, unfortunately, limited vocabulary, but when looked at carefully, does express a humble sense of the magnitude and magnificence of God's creation.  What an "awesome" effect we can have on one another if we call attention to the beauty and gifts we see in each other and each carry in our own unique way, and if we make it a point to verbalize a "thank you", even at the slightest gesture of kindness.  Let's make this a real day of appreciation and, the beginning of a new way of approaching the wonders God has put in our lives.
Bro. Rene

Grandmothers Do Count

Today is the memorial of a great saint in the Eastern Church, but little known in the West:  St. Marcrina the Elder, the grandmother of St. Basil the Great, St. Gregory of Nyssa and St. Macriana the Younger.  St. Basil is a Doctor of the Church and along with his brother Gregory, highly regarded as one of the Eastern Church Fathers.  She instilled a great piety and love of the faith in these grandchildren and by her prayers and example, influenced them to do great things for the Church.
We know in today's society, with so many dysfunctional or broken families, the role of the grandmother as the woman of faith and anchor of the family has become more essential in the passing on of the faith.  They walk a narrow path in wanting to do this while not stepping on toes.   Perhaps through the intercession of St. Marcrina some light might be shed on exactly how to do this.  May we all pray to her for guidance in passing on this pearl of great price.
Bro. Rene

Recharging

At the end of our long and tiring days, we might take a few moments to reflect on Mark 1:29-39. the description of one of Jesus's long and tiring days and what he did to recharge his spirit.  He began the day by attending the synagogue and then going to the house of Simon Peter and Andrew for something to eat.  They found that Simon's mother-in-law was in bed with a fever.  Jesus cured her and she then got up and took care of them.  That evening, after sunset, the whole town gathered at the door with the sick and possessed looking for cures.  Jesus complied and cured them all.  It must have drained him, but after a short sleep, he arose  the next morning while it was still dark and went to a deserted place to pray.  It was there that he found new energy so that when Simon and the others found him, he went with them to the neighboring villages to preach and drive out evil spirits. "For this purpose I have come. (Mk 1:28). 
It's a simple lesson for us:  as humans we will get tired and overwhelmed by "the multitudes"---of people, meetings, e-mails, things-to-do, decisions to make, etc.   We need to step aside, go to a "deserted place, lay it all before our Father and let him supply the energy, both physical and spiritual, to continue our work, our mission, our lives.  Without these occasional "breaks" we will wear out, empty our tanks and have nothing to give ourselves or anyone else inspiration and motivation.
Bro. Rene

St. Marguerite Bourgeoys

Not unlike St. Marcellin in his devotion to Mary and passion for the education of youth, St. Marguerite Bourgeoys, the first Canadian to be canonized, answered the call she felt deep inside not only to consecrate her life to God, but to spend it, overcoming many obstacles, to educate the youth of Montreal. Her vocation began in France when during a procession she looked at a statue of Mary who seemed to recognize her. She became part of a "Confraternity of Mary" and decided to become a missionary in Canada where she landed in 1652. There she founded the Congregation of Notre Dame, a non-cloistered group (unique at the time) so that her sisters could move about freely to found and work in schools.  This style of religious life was opposed, and in addition to dealing with poverty and harsh living conditions, she had to fight to defend this "radical" form of religious life.   She won, as she won the hearts of everyone by her joyful spirit, holiness and boundless generosity.  When a young sister was ill, the elderly Marguerite offered her life in exchange for the recovery of the young sister; her prayer was answered, the sister recovered  and Marguerite died a few days later.  She was canonized in 1982 and the CND's still conducts schools in Canada and in the United States.
When our Marist Brothers first came to New York City, they taught the boys of the parish of St. Jean Baptiste (St. Anne's Academy) while the Sisters taught in the girls school.   For 19 years, the Marist Brothers and CND's lived and worked side by side in Pine Ridge, South Dakota. May St. Marguerite and St. Marcellin continue their work through all of us, both lay and consecrated men and women! 
Bro. Rene

Extraordinary Calls

As we enter Ordinary Time, a short period this year between now and Ash Wednesday on February 10th), we are reminded by today's Gospel that extraordinary calls can always happen, even in Ordinary Time.  The God of Surprises can hit us and Jesus hit the Simon and his brother Andrew with the call, "Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men." (Mk 1: 17).  James and John were given the same call and, like Simon and Andrew, left family and their lives as fishermen to follow Jesus.  At that point, they had no idea what this call would entail, but something magnetic in the person of Jesus enabled them to take this huge step into the unknown.  What had begun as an ordinary day, took an extraordinary turn.
Jesus calls us too:  "This is the time of fulfillment.  The Kingdom of God is at hand.  Repent, and believe in the Gospel." (Mk 1: 14).  These are not empty words, but a major challenge to leave the familiar, the secure, and move into the realm of risk, change, and dedication to the mission of redemption.  If it were not for Jesus, we could turn away from it, but like these four men, may we find the courage and the power of love to follow the call.
Bro. Rene

Our Brotherhood in Christ

The Baptism of the Lord today brings our Advent/Christmas Cycle to an end.  In this past week, we have already seen Jesus at work in his ministry, cleansing lepers, healing the blind, but today we look at the root of his mission: his role as the "beloved Son" in whom the Father is "well pleased." (cf. Lk 3:22).  Jesus will go to the desert for 40 days to clarify this role, through prayer and the three temptations he will experience. He will emerge focused on the reason he came into this world: to give his life for the forgiveness of our sins and to give us the opportunity to enter into the God Family as his brothers and sisters.  Jesus did not have to be baptized by John, but chose to do so for our sakes, that we would submit ourselves to the Father, to be his adopted children, and sharers in the mission of Jesus.
As we so often receive communion with our minds elsewhere, planning the day, mulling in self-pity over all that we have to do, so too do, etc., so too we ignore the profound privilege of our own baptism and the special relationship it gives us with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, as well as with each other. We share a common Father now, we share a real relationship with one another. May take time to reflect on our baptism today and often,  and may our words, actions, our lives, reflect it as we move forward into Ordinary Time.
Bro. Rene