Peter's Brother

Matthew's account of the recruitment of Peter and his brother Andrew has them leaving their nets and boats at the behest of Jesus to follow him, "Come after me and I will make you fishers of men" (Mt 4:19).  John has  Andrew and another disciple of John the Baptist spending an afternoon with Jesus and then telling Peter, Andrew's brother, that they had found the Messiah.  The next day, Andrew brought Peter to Jesus. (cf. Jn 1: 35-42).  Peter, James, and John accompanied Jesus to Mt. Tabor and to the Garden of Gethsemane, but Andrew was not included.  He assumed a quiet role among the Twelve, though he brought attention to the boy with the five barley loaves and two fishes in John 6: 8-9.  He seemed to avoid the spotlight and take care of practical details.  After Pentecost, tradition says he preached in Greece where he died a martyr upon an X-shaped cross, which adorns the flag of Great Britain today, since his relics were said to have been brought to Scotland.
There is a place for quiet folks behind the scenes among the followers of Jesus. Not all have to be great preachers or miracle-workers, but simply faithful care takers of details, or crumb sweepers.  If done in the spirit of St. Andrew, they might not merit a martyr's crown nor a national flag, but certainly a crown in heaven.
Bro Rene

Looking For A Sign

In his usual simple way, Jesus calls our attention to a simple sign from nature:  the budding of the fig tree and other trees...Even we know this ageless sign:  the buds mean that Spring is right around the corner, as the falling leaves signal, for those of us in the Northern Hemisphere, the coming of Winter.  Signs indicate wonderful things to come, or bad, but always seem to be there.  We wonder if our prayers will be answered, or we wonder what decision we should make and wish we had a sign to help us know the answer.  It's not forbidden to ASK for a sign, and God, as he did with Gideon and so many of his Old Testament prophets and Judges will give us the sign. It's not hocus pocus but really works...Try it.  God is right there and will hear us...Believe, Trust!
Bro. Rene

Thanking God

 In the United States, this day is dedicated to thanking God for the blessings we receive daily and often take for granted.  Stemming from a tradition dating back to the first settlers in Massachusetts who celebrated a successful year along with Native Americans, setting aside ONE day for an official thank you has become a national event.  Families gather around a traditional meal and gratitude, and the recognition of God's generosity are the theme for the day.  No matter where we are, it helps to pray in thanksgiving, for we thus acknowledge that without the help and grace of God, we would have very little, or nothing.  The following prayer by Fr. Herbert Yost, CSC,  puts the appropriate words on our lips and in our hearts:

God of abundant generosity, source of all blessing, on this celebration of Thanksgiving, we call to mind the blessings of this year. Many of us have much to be thankful for—loving relationships, good health, meaningful work and time to spend with family and friends. Bless all those who go without these gifts today, especially the poor, sick and lonely. May we share what we have been given with others, mindful that all that is good comes from You.
Please accept our feelings of gratitude and make those feelings our prayer of thanksgiving. We ask this in the name of Jesus the Christ, and through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Happy Thanksgiving..
Bro. Rene

The World That Will Never End

We continue today with Luke's description of the "Eschatological Discourse" of Jesus, the passing away of this world as we know it. (Lk 21:12-19) This has been a hot topic for centuries, with groups periodically appearing with the "definite date" of the end of the world, mistakenly taken so seriously be some that they have divested themselves of all belongings to be ready for "the end." The words of Jesus, are, however, a stark warning that we have not here a permanent kingdom, and the time will eventually come, in the life of each of us, and for the whole world, to move onto the next world.  Yes, we are to make every effort to help bring this world to its best possible state, but we also must be aware that the World That Will Never End, heaven, is our final goal.  Let us not forget that, especially as we accompany each other along the way.
Bro. Rene

Nothing To Fear

St. Marcellin Champagnat, who lived in a time of turmoil, from the Revolution of 1789, and through the revolution of 1830, in the clutches of poverty, borrowing and begging, would constantly remind the brothers to fear nothing for we have God as our defender.  In that same light, Jesus admonished his followers there was nothing fear, even though the temple be destroyed, nations rise against nations, famines, earthquakes, and plagues ravish the world. (Lk 21:5-11). The important thing is to trust and keep focused on him.  How true for us in the age of unrest and division in which we live..  God is faithful and ever remains our defender.
Bro. Rene

Two Coins Are Enough

When the rich poured their hefty gifts into the treasury, they did not receive any recognition nor accolade from Jesus, but a poor widow who gave two small coins has been immortalized as the model of generosity. (Lk 21: 1-4). Why?  Because she gave from her poverty, not from her abundance. This kind of giving says that love  does not count the cost, and that trust assures that in some way these coins will be replaced.  It's not  uncommon for a double-sized gift to appear out of the blue when one has given the last coin. The "coin" might not be just money, but time, advice, a kind word, a smile, a hand shake, a hug...something that on the surface is just "a small coin", but to the recipient, a treasure. No "coin" is too small when given with love and trust.
Bro. Rene

Christ Our King

The Solemnity of Christ the King, which we celebrate today, was introduced by Pope Pius XI in 1925 as a means in counterbalancing the drift toward secularism which was already making sharp inroads into traditional Christian beliefs and practices.  If it were needed then, how much more NOW?  The Gospel for today is not very regal, on the contrary, it presents the King of Kings hanging on the cross in a "discussion" with the two thieves hanging on their crosses besides him. (Lk 23:35:43). Yet it is fitting for the feast, for that death on the cross was the ultimate sign of the love the King of the Universe has for us, and the door to our salvation and entrance into the Kingdom of God.  It was a dramatic way of saying, "I love you."  He has left us with a mission to spread that love and will come again at the end of time to establish that Kingdom of Love in its definitive form.  It is up to us to carry on the mission, to ward off the powers of evil that still work so diligently to counteract our task by attacking us from within and without. Let us continue to work for our King, the King of Love and of the Universe, and tell him over and over again, "I love YOU!"
Bro. Rene