Rwandan Genocide Anniversary

From April 7, to mid-July 1994, 22 years ago, the Rwandan Genocide raged in that small country, the size of Maryland, killing close to a million people in those three and a half bloody months.  Easter was April 3rd that year, so from Easter Joy, the country plunged into hell.  Efforts at healing and forgiveness are still being made, and a recent article by Fr. Marcel Uwineza, SJ, in AMERICA magazine (April 4-11, 2016) writes about five "markers and distinctive signs of hope that emerge in the face of human suffering." They are helpful to ponder during our Easter Season reflections and lead us to the same place where Mary Magdalene found herself when she cried out "Rabboni!" (Jn 20:16)
1) Jesus is our hope.
2) We are destined for better things.
3) Our identity is rooted in Love.
4) We are agents of transformation
5) The Resurrection of Christ is the foundation of hope and forgiveness.
The article is entitled ON CHRISTIAN HOPE and appears on pages 24-27 of this issue.  Perhaps it an be reached through Google.  It bears reading.
Bro. Rene

Light vs. Darkness

There's no question that the powers of darkness still have a foothold in our world.  Some of the atrocities committed world-wide appear daily in Yahoo News available to all at just the click of a mouse. The darkness seems so thick that we might be led to believe that "This is the end"; "All is lost";"So steeped in sin are we that there's no turning back."  Our faith is undermined by the darkness and we forget, so easily, the Light we just celebrated so dramatically at the Easter Vigil.  There's hope in seeing a completely darkened church penetrated at first by the light of the Paschal Candle as the refrain "Christ our Light" is answered with a loud, "Thanks be to God."  Light spreads from the Candle and eventually the darkness is dissipated and light prevails. The solemn Exultet praises the light that dispels all darkness and urges us to allow the light to penetrate our hearts.  So, with this strong symbol of the Truth still fresh in our minds, how can we be skeptical or pessimistic?
And further, today Jesus reminds us, "...whoever lives the truth comes to the light..." (Jn 3:21). Let us cling to the truth and walk in the light.
Bro. Rene

Born Of The Spirit

Todays' Gospel passage recounts a conversation between Jesus and Nicodemus, one of the chief priests, that took place at night (for Nicodemus didn't want his colleagues to know about it) before the  events of the Passover a couple of years later when Jesus was crucified, died and rose again to life.  Jesus set the stage, the framework, the explanation for his sacrifice.  "...the Son of Man must be lifted up (crucified), so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.." (Jn 3:15).  Jesus uses the phrase "born from above" (Jn 3:7b) and refers to the wind as an example:  "The wind blows where it wills, and you can hear he sound it makes, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes, so it is with everyone who born of the Spirit." (Jn 3: 8).  Anyone who has experienced wind, especially the weeks of wind on the Plains, knows how exhilarating and maddening it can be.  It overpowers, it never stops, it challenges, it ignites prayer, it forces submission.  So it is with the life of the Spirit:  we are no longer "our own", but at the mercy of a force stronger than we are.  If we resist, we suffer, but if we comply, we are given a power beyond our imagination.  Nicodemus struggled to understand what Jesus was talking about, but when Jesus rose and appeared to others, he understood.  It takes an inner death to be born again; it takes a death to the flesh, to concupiscence, to self-centeredness; it takes a commitment, an adherence to Jesus,  to be born of the Spirit.
Bro. Rene

Mary's YES.

The Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord, normally celebrated on March 25th has been transferred to today, as the 25th fell on Good Friday this year. Because of the transfer, we might tend to forget it...just another Monday...BUT we can't neglect this solemnity and call ourselves Marist, or Christian, for this is the day when "it all began."  Mary's YES opened the door to the Incarnation, God becoming man, and Mary's "marriage" to the Holy Spirit, for it was by the Holy Spirit that she conceived the Son of God.  Without her consent, there would have been no God-man, Jesus, no Christian faith, no Little Brothers of Mary, no Marist network of schools educating 60,000 students in 80 countries. Her YES is the basis of our Marist spirituality; throughout our lives we repeat our Yes in imitation of Mary, as invitation after invitation, even in the most simple and routine events of the day, come our way, not delivered by Gabriel but by LIFE. Let us ask Mary for the grace we need to respond with her generosity, faith and trust, not holding back in fear, or without full understanding.  Let us pray the Hail, Mary and  the Angelus, often and reverently today, paying closer attention than usual, and making them the cornerstone of our relationship with God.
Bro. Rene

Divine Mercy

The second Sunday of Easter was selected by Pope St. John Paul II to dwell on the devotion to Divine Mercy popularized by St. Faustina.  This year in particular, the Year of Divine Mercy proclaimed by Pope Francis calls us not only to reflect on Divine Mercy, but to put it into action the  exercise of the corporal and spiritual works of mercy. We are encouraged not only to pray for the sick, but to visit them, similarly with prisoners, and literally to feed the hungry and clothe the naked. 
This is also the Sunday when we read how Jesus dispelled the doubts of Thomas and evoked his great act of faith.  Perhaps we are skeptical about our ability or the availability of time to put these works into practice, but watching Thomas and listening to Jesus, say "do not be unbelieving, but believe...Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed." (Jn 20: 27, 29) we have no excuse.  May we pray with St. Faustina "For the sake of your sorrowful passion, have mercy on me and on the whole world."  and find way to put mercy into tangible action.
Bro. Rene

Affirm Films Scores Again

The production company, Affirm Films that gave us WAR ROOM and RISEN have another quality film in theaters currently:  MIRACLES FROM HEAVEN...Fine acting, cinematography, screenplay...all...with a strong, non-preachy message of FAITH...so appropriate especially in this Easter Season.  A week after the dramatic Easter Vigil and the culmination of a six-week Lenten season, we might tend (already) to question our faith, in light of terrorism and the woe-begone headlines that plague us day after day. This film presents a story where faith is tested to the breaking point but as always, affirms that no matter how bad things get, God's love is ALWAYS with us, giving us every reason to remain steadfast in faith, hope and charity...with a good sense of joy and lots of laughter thrown in.
Bro Rene

Amazing Catch

The recent movie, RISEN, recreates the scene of today's Gospel from John, 21: 1-14,  the miraculous draught of fish which strain but do not break the net, after a whole night of unsuccessful fishing by these professional fishermen.  When they heed the advice of the stranger on the beach, whom they later recognize  as Jesus, they are amazed at how quickly their net filled up. The film depicts their joy an astonishment, not only at the number of fish, but at realizing it was Jesus who was guiding them. Their enthusiasm is genuine and exhilarating as they realize that Jesus is still among them, still working miracles.  They will remain a bit reticent and timid until they receive the Holy Spirit, then boldness and courage to attack the impossible will take over and drive them to the borders of the Roman Empire and to martyrdom.
It is further amazing to us as we realize how Jesus builds, little upon little, and gradually transforms these fishermen into fishers of men.  So too with us, in perhaps less dramatic ways, but nevertheless real, as he transformed the illiterate country boy, Marcellin Champagnat into a priest, founder and saint, can he work transformative marvels in us.  We need but ask, allow, and cooperate with our whole heart and soul, eventually finding our net full of grace and power to enrich and attract others to a deeper friendship with Jesus.
Bro. Rene