A Tough Road Back

We all experience hurts and injuries; it is part of the legacy of the Disobedience in Eden, when our first parents chose to break away from God.  The family split, brother killed brother, pain, toil and division reigned.  The pain is not only physical, but pain in the heart and feelings as disrespect, abuse, power turn one against the other.
Today we hear the Parable of the Prodigal Son, (Lk 15: 11-37)  which appeared in our liturgy last Saturday. We see the Father's untiring and unconditional love and rejoice in it, as well we should on Laetare Sunday (Rejoice Sunday).
Turning to the youngest son, the prodigal, we see the archetype of the family member who wants to sever all ties with home and relatives and "go it alone". In some instances it might be the hurt one has experienced from the people who should love and care, but don't, or who take advantage of another's goodness to the point of crushing  him or her. The pain is so great that escaping seems to be the only solution.  In today's world, we can block all social media contacts and disappear to avoid the pain.  What does it take when one "comes to one's senses" and realizes that happiness was not found outside and forgiveness and reconciliation must be sought?  A hard road, a tough road. How do we help such a soul?
We know that peace will return when the time comes, but does the "prodigal" know?  Prayer, patience, presence, accompaniment, "being there", gently nudging, encouraging, supporting these will help the one who has chosen to stray, to experience the love and welcome of the Father.
Bro Rene

Humble Prayer

The contrast between the praying Pharisee and the praying publican is clear:  the Pharisee's is a boastful, self-righteous prayer.while the publican's is humble, honest and from the heart.  It is also clear where Jesus stands regarding the two. The Pharisee has his reward in the esteem of others;  the publican is seen through the loving eyes of Jesus and receives HIS endorsement. Which would you rather have? :Everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and ghe one who humbles himself ill be exalted." (Lk 18:14)
Bro. Rene

"Worth More Than Burnt Offerings and Sacrifices"

One of the Scribes asked Jesus what the first of all commandments was, knowing himself the Shema, recited daily by pious Jews, even today:  Love of God with all one's heart and power, and love of neighbor as oneself. He also knew that keeping these two commandments was "worth more than bunt offerings and sacrifices" (Mk 12:33) because they demand the turning of heart and desire away from self to another, outside the self:  to God and neighbor.  This requires more that offering the body of even a choice calf or young bull on a fiery altar; it requires the sacrifice of something deep within our core. There's nothing we cling to more than our will, our being in control, our ego, the Me, Me, Me we want to promote. There is pain, and humility that come with  turning from self-love, a self-centered, selfish love, to an "other-centered" love,  one that purifies, that empties, so that the ensuing cavern can be filled with the all-satisfying love that God gives with great abundance.  We prove our love for God by reaching out to our neighbor...or do we love God first and so happy and filled are we, that our love overflows into a selfless love of neighbor?   Either way, we cannot have one without the other.
Bro. Rene

Siding With Jesus

Even while driving out  a demon who had made a man a mute, Jesus was attacked by the "naysayers" who claimed he used the power of evil to work his miracle.  Jesus pointed out that a "house divided" cannot stand, and it would be foolish to think that evil spirits would work against each other.  No, it had to be good over evil, or nothing else.  Either a person was for Jesus or against him. ""Whoever is not with me is against me. and whoever does not gather with me scatters." (Lk 11: 23).  Jesus wanted clarity.
For centuries, we, as humans, have tried to dodge this clarity, seeking to live in the shadowy gray, thinking that we can muddle our way successfully through. It doesn't work. We can have understanding, compromise, and mercy, (highly recommended) but we cannot play with or fudge the truth to serve our own purposes. In so doing we open the door to victory for the evil spirits.  But in siding firmly with Jesus, we clearly send them back to hell.
Bro. Rene

Obeying and Teaching God's Commandments

Who is the greatest in God's Kingdom?  Is it a Hollywood celebrity?  An NBA superstar? The world's oldest person?  The World's Richest Person?  None of these, in the eyes of Jesus, but rather, "whoever obeys and teaches these commandments will be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven." (Mt 5:19).  If we look at our world through the media, it would seem there are no Greats or even "Greatests", for it seems that the Commandments are not being taught, and much less obeyed. But rather, we have a lot of "Leasts" who break them and by their example, teach others to do so.
The teaching of religion to the very young used to be a joy, and solid foundations were laid. High school brought challenges and required effort, but today, "challenge" has been enhanced by a materialistic culture so much so that it has evolved into indifference or downright rejection.  Yet, we are mandated not to give up:  "Go, teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of he son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching time to observe all that I have commanded you.  And behold, I am with your always, until the end of the age." (Mt 28: 19)  Where prayer, grace and effort unite, goodness prevails and the Kingdom grows stronger through strife.
Bro. Rene

Forgiving and Forgiving

Lent is a time for "reconstruction", "restructuring", rebuilding, renewing, renovating, turning things around, spiritually, but sometimes, as in the case of forgiveness, it demands action:  going to someone we have offended and asking for forgiveness, or forgiving someone who has offended us.  There is a verbal interchange, sometimes, tears (or sorrow or of joy) and often concluding with a hug to "seal the deal." As we hear from today's gospel, there is no limit to forgiving:  "seventy-seven times" (Mt 18: 22)  (seven being the perfect number in Hebrew, indicating infinity.  Experience has shown that this is very hard to do without help from above, so prayer is an essential element in forgiving and reconciling. Praying the Our Father, and remembering God's forgiveness is a big component in forgiveness.  The grace of the sacrament of Reconciliation is another source of spiritual aid in this process.  When we confess the sin that separates us from the other, grace comes to make he face-to-face possible.  Dear God, help me to forgive and forgive and forgive, for you have forgiven me more times than I can count.
Bro. Rene

Overshadowed

The Solemnity of the Annunciation is a major celebration for world-wide Marists, since Mary's YES not only brought us Jesus, but also became the foundation of Marist Spirituality. We can imagine the puzzlement running through Mary's mind when she beheld the Angel, was addressed "Full of Grace, and told, "Behold you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus.  He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father, and he will rule over the house of Jacob for ever, and of his Kingdom there will be no end." (Lk 1:31-32)  The explanation of how this will be, ""The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore the child to be born will be called holy, and the Son of God," (Lk 1:35) might not have been fully comprehended, but Mary humbly agreed with her YES and history was changed forever.  What would happen to us if we welcomed the Power of the Holy Spirit to overshadow us...take control of us...so that we might bring forth Jesus to our world, by becoming as much like Jesus as possible?  The Holy Spirit can do it, has done it via the Marist Family which continues to make Jesus known and loved.  Come, O Holy Spirit, overshadow me with your Power and Grace that like Mary, I might present Jesus to the world.
Bro. Rene