Never Easy

Today's gospel reminds us that even Jesus had a hard time in his hometown, where the people knew his mother, Mary, his foster father, Joseph as well as his cousins. It was hard for them to accept the reality of Jesus, even with his profound teachings and multiple miracles.Indeed, Jesus could not work many miracles there because of their lack of faith. (Mt 13:54-58.
Fast-forward 1500 years or so to Spain where a young feisty soldier lay wounded and suffering for months:  Ignatius of Loyola by name. Over the time of his battle to recover the use of his leg, wounded in battle, a slow but remarkable conversion took place and he eventually became a soldier for Christ and founder of the Society of Jesus, whose 17,000 members today still play a key role in education and spreading the Faith.
As it was in the 16th century, a difficult task to help people turn their lives toward Jesus,  so it is today, but inspired by Ignatius and his Companions, we don't give up, following his example and trusting in the power and presence of Jesus who is always with us, even when things seem most bleak. May we be inspired today by the life of St. Ignatius of Loyola and remain confident that "All Shall Be Well."
Bro Rene

The Good Along With The Bad

Jesus uses  fishermen imagery to illustrate his point:  As with the dragnet that brings in both good and bad fish, so in our world, the good live alongside the bad. ( Mt 13:47-53). Just a look at the headlines or a TV news broadcast, we see that things haven't changed. So too the conclusion that Jesus gives us: we will live among all sorts of "weeds", and only in God's time will they be sorted out. We try to deal with them as best we can, and above all, try not to abandon our ideals, which means at least SOME tension in our lives between good and evil. What does Jesus expect of us, after all he has given us?  No big secret, to pursue the good as best we can.  May we not disappoint him.
Bro. Rene

Keeping A Balance

Today we observe the Memorial of St. Martha, sister of Mary and Lazarus. She is the "busy" one of the family, overseeing chores and doing the cooking herself.(Lk 10: 38-42).  She stands out in stark contrast to her sister, who seeing "the better part", devotes her time to simply being with Jesus. As Martha sees it, that' not how to prepare a meal. To Jesus, as it turns out, the meal is not as important and listening to him.
In these days of both less and more activity simply to make it from one end of the day to the other, it seems that a happy combination of work and listening is the ideal for which to strive.  While preparing a meal or cutting the grass or answering e-mail, we can also be at the feet of Jesus, simply by repeating his name or putting ourselves in the crowds who witnessed countless healings. A little silence, a little talk...a balance is possible. From what Jesus said to Mary about choosing the better part, we might take the hint that silent prayer with Jesus is more preferable than a lot of helter-skelter busyness.  Try it and see for yourself.
Bro. Rene

The Weeds And The Wheat

Jesus is pretty clear in his explanation of the Weeds and Wheat. (Mt 13: 36-43). The wheat refers to the good people, and the wheat, to the bad. They grow together but at the harvest, the weeds are thrown out and burned and  the good wheat saved  So it will be with the "good and the "bad" people at the Judgement.  Our challenge is to be the best we can while we live this life.  It's not easy being challenged for our goodness and efforts to help or tolerate other people, yet we must continue till "Harvest Time." If God is on our side, who can be against us?
Bro. Rene

Amazing Growth

Jesus uses two ordinary, everyday things, mustard seed and yeast to illustrate how his kingdom grows, almost invisibly, but inevitably. (Mt 13: 31-35). We take his word for it, even though most of us have never seen a mustard seed, but might have some experience with yeast.  Left to themselves, they grow, expand and multiply their original size a thousand fold, it would seem.  So too, Jesus says, the Kingdom of Heaven  has the inner power to expand beyond our imaginations, if we "let it grow within us" "do it's thing" within us.  We have the power to squelch it, and unfortunately, we too often do, but giving it free reign, we help Jesus complete his work of establishing the reign of peace, forgiveness, and love.  One glance at the daily news and we see the need for more mustard seeds and yeast.
Bro. Rene 

A Marist Celebration

Although the 17th Sunday of Ordinary Time takes precedence, the Marist Brothers of the United States commemorate this day (the feast of St. Anne and Joachim) as "Vow Day" for many older Brothers.  Known as the Province of St. Anne, it made sense for new members to take the Marist Habit and pronounce Vows on this day, a custom which prevailed for many years. The custom ended in the late fifties when August 15th became "the big day" for the taking of the Habit and pronunciation of First Vows. Now, with smaller numbers and the Corona Virus,  Vow day is fluid and at the choice of Master of Novices  and the candidate.
Today's Gospel would be a fitting reading for Vow Day, for it focuses on "the pearl of great price", a gift worth the sacrifice of  power, wealth, and fame, for it is for Christ, the Pearl, that he calls us to direct our energy and make him the Goal of Goals. Even for those who do not aspire to religious life, a fully authentic Christian life must have Jesus as its main focus and goal.  Today's Gospel reminds us that it is this that  "really matters". Can we take some time today to review what really matters in our lives?
Bro. Rene

A Higher Ambition

As we celebrate the Feast of St. James "The Greater", brother of John the Apostle and writer of the 4th Gospel, we are reminded that ambition can easily become muddled with a sense of pride and superiority, totally out of tune with the message of Jesus.  James and John fell into the ambition trap and even their mother approached Jesus about special recognition when he established his kingdom. (Mt 20: 21). A bold request sparking the ire of the other apostles. Jesus then described the ideal disciple and leader: "Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you shall be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave.  Just so the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many." (Mt 20: 27-28). There is where greatness lies...in abandoning ambition and making service to others a priority, placing one's life, one's talents and gifts at the disposal of the community.  A challenge that takes a lifetime to achieve, but certainly a higher ambition for which to strive.
Bro. Rene