Our Daily Cup

Responding to the desire of the ambitious mother of James and John for Jesus to place them at his right and left, Jesus poses a question:  "Can you drink the chalice that I am going to drink?" Not fully aware of what that cup might contain, they eagerly answer, "We can."  (cf. Mt 20: 24). 
If the question were posed to us, we might give the same answer.  It is asked of us, however, as we begin each day.  We don't know what lies ahead for us and we might think that we can handle anything, but we might be biting off a bigger chunk than we can handle.  Best to say humbly, , "With your help, Jesus, I will do my best to swallow what's in my daily cup, for with you I can do anything, but without you I can do nothing."
Bro Rene

Our True Self

Polonius tells Hamlet, "To thine own self be true", echoing the advice of Socrates, two thousand years before.  Jesus decries the hypocrisy he sees in the scribes and Pharisees who do not practice what they preach. (cf. Mt 23:1-12). They were not being true to themselves.  We might ask, "What is my true self?"  Can I describe it?  If not, then how can I be true to it?  Ego has  way of raising its "ugly head" in all of us, and it takes careful reflection and self-examination to sort through the images and projections of ourselves that we present to the world.  We tend to exalt ourselves in lieu of being what we really are.  Jesus says, it works the other way:  "Whoever exalts himself will be humbled and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.." (Mt 23:12).  When we realize that we are not the center of the universe, and that others have gifts and talents equal to, if not better than mine, then we can begin to see our true selves and act out of genuine humility.
Bro. Rene

Living With Imperfection

Life's experiences with people and institutions teach us daily that we live in an imperfect world.  Indeed, we don't have to go much further than our nose to realize that as part of the human race, we too lack the perfection we seek to impose on ourselves or on others.  Would that the world would be a tidy place, where everyone is on time, where meetings are short and to-the-point, where it rains only at night, or where I accomplish everything according to the time-line in my head. Not so, Magee!
The injunction against judging others in today's passage from Luke (6:36-38) begins with a command to be merciful:  "Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful." (Lk 6:36).  Leave room for the imperfect, be forgiving of self and of others and there will be no room for judging.  We are grateful that God's mercy gives us chance after chance, otherwise we would be the first to suffer.  As he is merciful to us, so too are we to be to others.  There is a Lenten "task". goal, sacrifice, if ever there was one.
Bro. Rene

"It Is Good For Us To Be Here"

God is never bested in his timing.  Here on the Second Sunday of Lent, we listen to Mark's version of the Transfiguration,.  Peter's comment, "Rabbi, it is good for us to be here."(Mk 9:5) rings in our ears.  Yes, it is good for us to be here, still at the beginning of Lent, and to reflect on the Transfiguration...a preview of the resurrected Jesus.  Wisely, the Church sets apart these 40 days for us to STOP, take stock, renew, and be transfigured, so that on Easter we may rise again in the newness of the  God-life we received at Baptism. We have set aside time for more prayer, reflection, sacrifice and charitable works that will help us to be better disciples of Jesus and more like the ideal self that God has created us to be, and for which we long.  More than working out in the gym tones and builds up our muscles, Lent brings us to the heart of the matter:  being transformed into the likeness of Jesus, so that our every thought, word and deed might come from him, make us more like him, and bring others to him.
Lord, THIS IS the time for us to take our faith seriously, and IT IS GOOD FOR US TO BE HERE.
Bro. Rene

Stretching

Anyone who has had physical therapy or worked with a personal trainer knows the benefits of stretching as we discover that a lot of our aches and pains are the result of over-tight muscles that seem to affect every part of the body, especially the back.  When "doing the stretches" we feel that we can't go any further, yet our instructor insists that we push a little further.  We do, and day by day we find ourselves able to go far beyond what we thought were our "absolute limits."  Our whole being becomes more limber and our feelings about ourselves and others take a noticeably positive turn.
In today's Gospel passage from the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus challenges us to stretch beyond loving just those who love us, to loving our enemies and praying for those who persecute us. (Mt 5: 44-45). Yes, he's asking us to go beyond what we think is our limit, with the ultimate challenge to be "perfect" (well rounded, complete, the best that we can be), as our heavenly Father is. With Jesus as our  "personal trainer", how can we go wrong?
Bro. Rene

The Need For Reconciliation

In the Sermon on the Mount,  Jesus speaks directly about the need to forgive and be reconciled with those who have offended us (Mt 5:20-26), an elaboration of the words from the Our Father, "forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us." (Mt. 5:12). Anger against another is included as well. (Mt 5: 22). Before laying our gift at the altar, we must seek reconciliation with our brother first.(M5:23-24).
Even from a psychological point of view, it has been shown that bottling up anger or  not forgiving another does harm to both and allows resentment to build and last for years.  No, get it off your chest now and peace will come internally as well as with the other.  Something else that might draw our attention during Lent.
  The following prayer by Fr. Herbert Yost, C.S.C. sums up the proper attitude:
Lord, as we get older, we realize more and more the truth that anger exacts a high price. Anger that stews and ferments, day after day, is a prison of our own making. So please help us in a special way today. Grant us the grace of reconciliation where it’s needed. Or maybe we need to go a step back, and ask for the grace to desire to be reconciled. Either way, we yearn to be free from the angry prison in which we've placed ourselves—help us grow towards your kingdom. Amen.  
Br. Rene

Taking A Clue from Peter

The Church honors the "chair of St. Peter today," that is, his primacy among the disciples and, as Jesus declares, the Rock upon which he will build his church (Mt 16:19). He give Peter the "keys of the kingdom" as a symbol of his authority, which his chair in Rome also symbolizes.  This feast is celebrated today, which scholars have determined to be the anniversary of the exchange between Jesus and Peter.  Roman Catholics trace the linage of the Popes from Peter to Francis from this moment as well.  For all Christians it is the occasion to identify Jesus as the Son of God, the Messiah, fully God and fully human, who has come among us to show us the Father and the best way to live in communion with him. Spontaneous Peter answers the question, "Who do you say that I am? by blurting out what was in his big heart: "You are the Christ, the Son of God." (Mt 16:16).  This too must be our response....one that is a gift, (faith is a gift) and one that takes a lifetime to fully understand and appreciate.  May we take a clue from Peter's lead, and acknowledge Jesus for who he is and ask for the grace to live accordingly.
Bro. Rene