One Body

St. Paul reminds us that we are not just individuals floating around on our own, but members of ONE BODY and thus part of one another.  When one of us suffers, we all do, and when one of us is successful, we all share in that success.  We dont't think that way in our very individualistic culture, but in truth we cannot survive without being part of this Body, this community.
So, "Let love be sincere; hate what is evil, hold on to what is good; love one another with mutual affection; anticipate one another in showing honor."(Rm1210)
Bro. Rene

Marist Martyrs

Prayers  are being offered globally for the 26 members of the Baptist Church outside of San Antonio, Texas who were shot to death while attending a Sunday Worship Service, as well as for the many wounded.  We choke at yet another atrocity, evil taking place in a sacred space. It brings to mind the atrocities in Civil War Spain in the 1930's when a staggering number of priests, religious, and lay people were martyred.  Pope John Paul II beatified 233 from all walks of life who were killed for professing their faith during a time of persecution, not for any political involvements.
. This group of martyrs is only a small portion of the more than 10,000 people killed and include 13 bishops, 4,154 priests and seminarians, 2,365 religious, 283 nuns and about 4,000 lay people killed for helping or hiding nuns or priests. Among the religious, 47 were Marist Brothers. Although the Thirties seem long ago, wholesale slaughter finds its niche in our day as well. These Texans, simply by being present in their Church, never expecting such a final Amen, can now join can now join them in singing Alleluia, Praise and Glory to our God.
Let us pray for the happy repose of their souls, those who mourn them,  for God's mercy on all, including the shooter, and for an end to such senseless acts of violence.
Bro. Rene

"Whoever Feeds On Me"

Today's Gospel again advocate humility and will reach a wider audience because of Sunday Mass attendance.  Jesus speaks of servant leadership, "The greatest among you must be your servant." (Mt 23:11).  Leaders with this quality appeal to us and are the most effective, for the lead by example more than by word.  How do they get that way? They take to heart the example of Jesus, himself the greatest Servant Leader.  "Just as the living Father sent me/ and I have life because of the Father,/ so whoever feeds on me shallhave life because of me."  (Jn 6: 58).  Jesus is speaking of himself as the Bread of Life in St. John's Eucharistic discourse in Chapter 6, but we can alse read it with the idea, of yes, the more I feed in Jesus, follow his teachings, observe his ways, spend time with him, the more I will feed myself on who he is and the more I will grow to be like him.
As we receive the Eucharist today, may we be filled with the Essence of Jesus and become stronger, more confident, more humble and more like him.
Bro. Rene

Learning Humility

In today's Gospel, Jesus concludes his parable with the haunting truth: "Everyone who exalts himself witll be humbled, but the one who humbles himself, will be exalted." (Lk 14:11). When we accept our limitations, when we come to know what they are through failure, but see that "there is life after failure," when we recognize our gifts as well as the gifts others possess and learn to be content with ours and not jealous of theirs, then a true confidence comes to us and we can now genuinely BE OURSELVES and assume a leadership role that will be respected and followed.  We can then take our place with the "exalted"...those who are respected as role models and leaders.
Bro Rene 

God Our Healer

All Souls Day "continues" as we pray for the souls of our loved ones throughout the months of November.  Aside from Thanksgiving, this is a fairly mournful month, including Veterans Day in the USA.  We are approaching Advent and our Scripture Readings will be dealing more and more with "The Last Things", the end of the World, the Second Coming of Jesus, etc...We are starkly reminded of our mortality and the long hours of darkness don't help keep our spirits on a high level.  The cycle of life is important to remember again, lest we delude ourselves with visions of man-made immortality.
However, we DO have some consoling words from the Scriptures which should keep hope alive, and even foster it, as well as bring us comfort:  "I will restore you to health, of your wounds I will heal you." (Jer 30:17).  "I will heal their defection,/ I will love them freely." (Hos 14:5)
This prayer too will help:
O God, our Healer and our Good, you sent your Son to cure the world's sickness by taking upon himself the burden of its guild.  Heal the diseased vision that causes us to mistake evil for good heal the sickened mind that causes us to mistake selfishness for love; heal the unhealthy habits that we have made our own, so that we may stand before you, whole in body, soul and spirit, to sing your praise  forever with all the saints, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.      
Bro. Rene

"Hope Does Not Disappoint"

St. Paul tells us today that "hope does not disappoint because the love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us." (Rm 5:5). Jesus assures us that "Everything that the Father gives me will come to me, and I will not reject anyone who comes to me, because I came down not to do my own will but the will of the one who sent me. 
And this is the will of the one who sent me, that I should not lose anything of what he gave me, but that I should raise it up on the last day." (Jn 6: 37-39). 
This is why we pray ardently today, All Souls Day, for those whose journey to heaven is not yet finished as they await our prayers and the purifying effect of being temporarily separated from complete union with God.  They will not be "lost", but eventually will enjoy heavenly bliss.  Let us pray with hope and confidence that our prayers for the souls of the faithful departed will be heard.
And let us continue these prayers the whole month of November, which is dedicated to them.
Bro. Rene

Blessed Are We

As we celebrate with great joy and festivity the Solemnity of All Saints and hear the Beatitudes read to us, we might pause to reflect on the great GIFT of having the example of so many "recognized" (canonized) people whose holy lives from all spheres of life serve as models for us.  These have lived the Beatitudes and show is that certainly with God, all things are possible.  They struggled as did St. Marcellin, with personal limitations and opposition from others.  St. Therese of Lisieux lived a secluded life as a cloistered Carmelite Nun, suffering greatly with tuberculosis in the  final months of her short life, and even in the darkness of those days, was able to turn herself over completely to God.
It might be helpful today to review the lives of our favorite saints and ask them for the grace to understand and follow the command of God:  "Be holy, for I, the Lord, your God, am holy." (Lv 19:2)
Bro Rene