In today's Gospel, Luke 5: 27-32, Jesus calls Levi to follow him. Levi is a tax collector, one who has been known for his unjust practices in taxing the people. In short, he cheated people! Following the privilege of being called to be a follower of Jesus, Levi throws a huge banquet in his home for Jesus and his disciples. The Pharisees and scribes see this and complain to Jesus: "'Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?' Jesus said to them in reply, 'Those who are healthy do not need a physician, but the sick do. I have not come to call the righteous to repentance but sinners.'"
Levi had nothing to boast of as an apostle. Neither do you and I as Christians or as members of a religious community or as priests, deacons, missionaries, Knights of Columbus, married men and women or any privileged group of people. We have been called, not because of our holiness, but because we needed, and still need, a physician. We are sinners who need to repent of our sinfulness.
The other lesson in this Gospel is that none of us can say: God would never call me to such and such! Our weaknesses, our shortcomings, our vulnerabilities and, yes, even our sinful lives are not a deterrent in God's mind. God called an Augustine who lived a promiscuous life to follow Him. Other persons with backgrounds as mired by sin as Augustine's were also called to a life of holiness! No matter how bleak and scandalous our lives may have been or now are, God calls us to holiness, to turn away from sin and embrace goodness, justice, truth, holiness, altruistic pursuits, lives of integrity. And we do it because we are empowered by grace to do so. God equips us to accomplish that to which He calls us.
Let us with the psalmist of today's responsorial psalm, Psalm 86, pray: "Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth," as did Levi.
Saturday, February 29, 2020
Friday, February 28, 2020
How One Is Vindicated
In today's first reading, Isaiah 58: 1-9a God asks the prophet to tell the people their wickedness, and the house of Jacob their sins. They seek me day after day and wonder why I do not answer their prayers when, in fact, they have abandoned my law. They fast but continue to carry out their own pursuits. You "drive all your laborers. ...[Y[our fast ends in quarreling and fighting, striking with wicked claw." The kind of fast which God wants of them and us is the following:
- "Releasing those bound unjustly, untying the thongs of the yoke.
- Setting free the oppressed
- Breaking every yoke
- Sharing your bread with the hungry
- Sheltering the oppressed and the homeless
- Clothing the naked when you see them
- Not turning your back on your own"
Have we turned our backs on our own by gossiping, by being indifferent to the needs of one's spouse to be helped with the ordinary burdens of caring for the children, cooking the meals, cleaning the house, doing grocery shopping, helping the children with their homework, teaching and modeling the faith to the children and maintaining one's job so as to help support the family? Are we actively involved in building relationships within the family, within one's religious community, within the diocese and/or parish? When the opportunity presents itself, do we "share bread with the hungry, shelter the oppressed and the homeless, clothe the naked"? At work, in our communities and in our families and parishes, do we "set free the oppressed, release those bound unjustly, untie the thongs of the yoke"? If we do these things, God says to us: "Then your light shall break forth like the dawn, and your wound [of sin] shall quickly be healed; your vindication shall go before you, and the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard. Then you shall call, and [I] will answer, you shall cry for help, and [I] will say: Here I am!"
Thursday, February 27, 2020
Choose Life, Not Death
In today's first reading, Deuteronomy 30: 15-20, Moses has a heart-to-heart talk with his people before he passes on to eternal life. He challenges his fellow Israelites, and each of us, to choose life, not death! How? By keeping the commandments, serving the one true God, loving God, walking with God, listening to His voice, holding fast to God, turning away from idols, and not worshiping false gods, (and they are all around them and us)! The responsorial psalm, Psalm 1, further instructs on what it means to serve the one true God: follow not the way of the wicked (and they, too, are all around us), walk not in the way of sinners who press us on every side, do not take a seat among the insolent, the lackadaisical, the proud, the arrogant or those who lust for that which causes death to the soul or spirit. Rather, delight in the ways of God and meditate on God's laws day and night! In other words, stay close to the Lord, cling to Him, love Him, serve Him, worship Him. In today's Gospel, Luke 9: 22-25, Jesus also shares his concerns with us lest we forfeit that which gives us life and denies us eternal life. "If anyone who wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whosoever loses his life for my sake will save it. What prof\it is there for one to gain the whole world yet lose or forfeit himself?
When you and I, at all costs, run after false gods, sit with the arrogant, the proud, the lustful, the insolent, the wicked, sinners bent on evil pursuits, are we not then refusing to deny ourselves? Are we not then not refusing to "take up [our] cross daily"? Is it possible that we fall into these traps because we fail to keep our focus on the Lord, who alone can help to make right choices and to remember our vulnerability to make poor choices that do not lead to life but to death?
May we heed the voices of the Spirit in each of the readings in today's liturgy. Forgive us, Lord, when we turn from you and rely on ourselves alone or seek only the help of fellow human beings, who, like us, are vulnerable to worship idols.
When you and I, at all costs, run after false gods, sit with the arrogant, the proud, the lustful, the insolent, the wicked, sinners bent on evil pursuits, are we not then refusing to deny ourselves? Are we not then not refusing to "take up [our] cross daily"? Is it possible that we fall into these traps because we fail to keep our focus on the Lord, who alone can help to make right choices and to remember our vulnerability to make poor choices that do not lead to life but to death?
May we heed the voices of the Spirit in each of the readings in today's liturgy. Forgive us, Lord, when we turn from you and rely on ourselves alone or seek only the help of fellow human beings, who, like us, are vulnerable to worship idols.
Wednesday, February 26, 2020
Jesus Made Sin for Us to Save Us from Sin
In today's responsorial psalm, Psalm 51, we pray: Have mercy on me, O God, in your goodness; in the greatness of your compassion wipe out my offense. Thoroughly wash me from my guilt and of my sin cleanse me.... A clean heart create for me, O God, and a steadfast spirit renew within me.....Give me back the joy of your salvation...O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall proclaim your praise."
God did that for you and me on Calvary. St. Paul tells us in today's second reading, 2 Cor 5: 20-6: 2, that God, for "our sake made [Jesus] to be sin who did not know sin, so that we might become the righteousness of God in him." Think of the most heinous of crimes. Those were put on Jesus. He became sin itself in all its ugliness, repulsion and heinousness: the sins of hatred and murder, the sins of deceitfulness, cheating, and corruption; the sins of lust and gluttony, of envy and jealousy, of sloth and avarice, of pride and covetousness, of indifference, disobedience, and disdain and any other sinful act of which you and I are unaware. As sin, Jesus was crucified, proclaimed a sinner and put to death as a criminal. He took upon himself the sins of the entire world and everyone in this world and set us free. "[I]n the greatness of [God's] compassion, [God wiped] out our offenses, [t]horoughly [washed us] from [our] guilt and of [our sins cleansed us]. A clean heart [God created] for [us. He gave us] back the joy of [His] salvation!" And for that reason, our "lips and [our mouths] shall proclaim [God's] praises." We Catholics do so especially in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass when, in memory of Jesus and with all of the angels and saints in heaven, we offer Jesus' body and blood--the consecrated bread and wine--to God in atonement for our sins and the sins of the entire world.
In our prayers and fasting, this Lent, O Lord, we bring our sins and the sins of the entire world to you and beg your forgiveness, your mercy and compassion. Be merciful to us sinners and restore us to your friendship this day and every day of our lives. And may we, in turn, be merciful, compassionate and understanding of one another, taking time to reconcile with each other, as You reconciled us to the Father.
God did that for you and me on Calvary. St. Paul tells us in today's second reading, 2 Cor 5: 20-6: 2, that God, for "our sake made [Jesus] to be sin who did not know sin, so that we might become the righteousness of God in him." Think of the most heinous of crimes. Those were put on Jesus. He became sin itself in all its ugliness, repulsion and heinousness: the sins of hatred and murder, the sins of deceitfulness, cheating, and corruption; the sins of lust and gluttony, of envy and jealousy, of sloth and avarice, of pride and covetousness, of indifference, disobedience, and disdain and any other sinful act of which you and I are unaware. As sin, Jesus was crucified, proclaimed a sinner and put to death as a criminal. He took upon himself the sins of the entire world and everyone in this world and set us free. "[I]n the greatness of [God's] compassion, [God wiped] out our offenses, [t]horoughly [washed us] from [our] guilt and of [our sins cleansed us]. A clean heart [God created] for [us. He gave us] back the joy of [His] salvation!" And for that reason, our "lips and [our mouths] shall proclaim [God's] praises." We Catholics do so especially in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass when, in memory of Jesus and with all of the angels and saints in heaven, we offer Jesus' body and blood--the consecrated bread and wine--to God in atonement for our sins and the sins of the entire world.
In our prayers and fasting, this Lent, O Lord, we bring our sins and the sins of the entire world to you and beg your forgiveness, your mercy and compassion. Be merciful to us sinners and restore us to your friendship this day and every day of our lives. And may we, in turn, be merciful, compassionate and understanding of one another, taking time to reconcile with each other, as You reconciled us to the Father.
Tuesday, February 25, 2020
Humility and Servant-hood
In today's first reading, James 4: 1-10, challenges us to answer the questions: "Where do the wars and where to the conflicts among you come from? Is it not from your passions that make war within our members?" If my passion is to be number one, to win at all costs, I will set myself out to take down anyone who attempts to block me from achieving that goal. This is not only true on a personal level, it is also true of nations or countries that insist on being number 1! Military buildups operate, I believe, in this same way.
Do we not, in many cases, teach our children that they, too, must win over others and sometimes at any cost! Setting ourselves in conflict against others and needing to be the greatest, the smartest, the BEST in whatever we do and in whatever competition we enter is not what Jesus teaches in today's Gospel, Mark 9: 30-37. When the disciples are arguing among themselves about who was the greatest, He said to them: "If anyone wishes to be first, he shall be the last of all and the servant of all." Jesus did not flaunt being the Son of God, the Messiah, the King of all. In fact He makes it clear that He did not come to be served but to serve! He modeled service when He washed his disciples feet and says to the disciples: Do you see what I have done for you. Do likewise!
Lord, have mercy on us when our passions make war within ourselves and with our fellow human beings! May we learn from you to be the servant of all and not seek to be first in anything! May we also honestly answer St. James' questions of the sources of our conflicts with others!
Do we not, in many cases, teach our children that they, too, must win over others and sometimes at any cost! Setting ourselves in conflict against others and needing to be the greatest, the smartest, the BEST in whatever we do and in whatever competition we enter is not what Jesus teaches in today's Gospel, Mark 9: 30-37. When the disciples are arguing among themselves about who was the greatest, He said to them: "If anyone wishes to be first, he shall be the last of all and the servant of all." Jesus did not flaunt being the Son of God, the Messiah, the King of all. In fact He makes it clear that He did not come to be served but to serve! He modeled service when He washed his disciples feet and says to the disciples: Do you see what I have done for you. Do likewise!
Lord, have mercy on us when our passions make war within ourselves and with our fellow human beings! May we learn from you to be the servant of all and not seek to be first in anything! May we also honestly answer St. James' questions of the sources of our conflicts with others!
Monday, February 24, 2020
Finding Favor with the Lord
In today's first reading, James 3: 13-18, St. James asks us whether we are wise and understanding and then says to us: "...[S]how your] works by a good life in the humility that comes from wisdom." There is no way to do this if "bitter jealousy and selfish ambition" dominate our hearts. How do we know whether these motivations have entered our hearts? Their presence reveals itself when we give in to boasting and abandon truth. In James words: [D]o not boast and be false to the truth. Wisdom of this kind does not come from above but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every foul practice." And we see the effects of jealousy and selfish ambition every night when we listen to the nightly news. Our country has stooped, I believe, to a new low where selfish ambition is applauded and rewarded, where earthly wisdom darkens our minds and hearts and will. Yes, there is a aura of the demonic clouding, I believe, the U.S. Every kind of disorder and...foul practice" are the order of the day, it seems.
But what about you and I personally? Because we live in this kind of climate does not exempt us from taking James words seriously! You and I as Christians are called to be wise and understanding, to live "a good live in the humility that comes from wisdom, divine wisdom that is, not earthly wisdom. When you and I act from divine wisdom, we are relying upon the Holy Spirit for guidance and strength to make right choices, to follow, in the words of today's the responsorial psalm, Psalm 19, "the law of the Lord." Only God's laws and decrees are "trustworthy, giving wisdom to the simple,...rejoicing the heart,...enlightening the eye....The ordinances of the Lord are true, all of them just." With the psalmist, we pray: "Let the words of my mouth and the thought of my heart find favor before you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer."
But what about you and I personally? Because we live in this kind of climate does not exempt us from taking James words seriously! You and I as Christians are called to be wise and understanding, to live "a good live in the humility that comes from wisdom, divine wisdom that is, not earthly wisdom. When you and I act from divine wisdom, we are relying upon the Holy Spirit for guidance and strength to make right choices, to follow, in the words of today's the responsorial psalm, Psalm 19, "the law of the Lord." Only God's laws and decrees are "trustworthy, giving wisdom to the simple,...rejoicing the heart,...enlightening the eye....The ordinances of the Lord are true, all of them just." With the psalmist, we pray: "Let the words of my mouth and the thought of my heart find favor before you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer."
Sunday, February 23, 2020
Imitate God in His Holiness, Compassion, Justice and Love
Today's first reading, Leviticus 19: 1-2, 17-18, exhorts us to "[b]e holy, for I, the Lord, your God am holy." How? By following the counsel given in this same passage: "Take no revenge and cherish no grudge against any of your people. ..[L]ove your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord." Paul, then, in the second reading, 1 Cor 3: 16-23, asks us the question: "Do you not know that you are the temple of God, and the the Spirit of God dwells in you? ...[T]he temple of God, which you are, is holy,." In the Gospel, Jesus amplifies the teaching of Leviticus, saying to us: "[L]over your enemies and pray for those who persecute you." And he exemplifies this calling when, on the cross, Jesus prays for his enemies, asking the Father to forgive them for they know not what they are doing!
Holiness is not just something to talk about or read about. It must be lived by us by the way we treat each other, especially those who hurt us, treat us poorly, gossip about us, hold us in disdain, refuse to greet us or who have nothing good to say to us or about us. In today's Gospel, Mt. 5: 38-48, Jesus challenges us to imitate His Father, who shines the sun on the good and the bad and orders the rain to fall on both the just and the unjust. You and I are also to shine the "sun" of love, of grace and of goodness and justice upon those who sin against us. We are to radiate God's holiness within us upon everyone, especially upon those we do not particularly like or who do not like us. If we greet only to those who cherish us, Jesus is then speaking directly to us us when He says: ...[I]f you greet your brothers [or sisters] only, what is unusual about that? Do not the pagans do the same? So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect." Be compassionate just as God is compassionate. Be caring just as God is caring. Love just as God loves!
Holiness is not just something to talk about or read about. It must be lived by us by the way we treat each other, especially those who hurt us, treat us poorly, gossip about us, hold us in disdain, refuse to greet us or who have nothing good to say to us or about us. In today's Gospel, Mt. 5: 38-48, Jesus challenges us to imitate His Father, who shines the sun on the good and the bad and orders the rain to fall on both the just and the unjust. You and I are also to shine the "sun" of love, of grace and of goodness and justice upon those who sin against us. We are to radiate God's holiness within us upon everyone, especially upon those we do not particularly like or who do not like us. If we greet only to those who cherish us, Jesus is then speaking directly to us us when He says: ...[I]f you greet your brothers [or sisters] only, what is unusual about that? Do not the pagans do the same? So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect." Be compassionate just as God is compassionate. Be caring just as God is caring. Love just as God loves!
Saturday, February 22, 2020
The Lord Shepherds Me
In today's responsorial psalm, we pray: "The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want....Even though I walk in the dark valley, I fear no evil; for you are at my side with your rod and your staff that give me courage. You spread the table before me in the sight of my foes; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Only goodness and kindness follow me all the days of my life;and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord for years to come."
As I pray that psalm, I am deeply touched by the phrase that reminds me that only goodness and kindness follow me all the days of my life! Believing that, I am filled with gratitude and confidence! I am lifted up above the problems that I might encounter each day! And even in those times when encountering darkness, I know that God is with me, that He light up my way and carries me when the "waters" of life are too deep for me to cross safely! And what a promise that God Himself spreads the table before me in the sight of my foes! It's like saying: "Satan, get lost. God feeds me with the best of wheat, with His own Eucharistic body and Eucharistic blood that destroyed you and diminished your power over me. You have no chance. God is at my side. He has anointed my head with the oil of grace. My cup overflows, as I stand beneath the cross of Jesus with the chalice of my being receiving the blood that flows from His Sacred Side."
As I pray that psalm, I am deeply touched by the phrase that reminds me that only goodness and kindness follow me all the days of my life! Believing that, I am filled with gratitude and confidence! I am lifted up above the problems that I might encounter each day! And even in those times when encountering darkness, I know that God is with me, that He light up my way and carries me when the "waters" of life are too deep for me to cross safely! And what a promise that God Himself spreads the table before me in the sight of my foes! It's like saying: "Satan, get lost. God feeds me with the best of wheat, with His own Eucharistic body and Eucharistic blood that destroyed you and diminished your power over me. You have no chance. God is at my side. He has anointed my head with the oil of grace. My cup overflows, as I stand beneath the cross of Jesus with the chalice of my being receiving the blood that flows from His Sacred Side."
Thursday, February 20, 2020
The Way of the Messiah and Our Way
In today's Gospel, Mark 8: 27-33, Jesus and his disciples are traveling to the villages of Caesarea Philippi. Along the way, He asked his disciples:"Who do you say that I am?" And Peter answers: "You are the Christ," that is, the Messiah, the one sent to set the people free. The people were hoping that Jesus would free the people from Roman rule and occupation of their country. So when, later on this journey, He tells them that he "must suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and rise after three days," Peter vehemently rebuked Jesus. "Get behind me Satan. You are thinking, not as God does, but as human beings do."
First of all, who do I say that Jesus is? Do I truly believe that He is the Son of God, the One sent by the Trinity to save me personally, to set me free from the evil that is capable of separating me from God forever, that has the power to destroy me spiritually? Do I believe that Jesus is the One who will raise me to eternal life with Him following the end of my mission here on earth? Do I believe that Jesus is the One who created the universe and all that is in it for the glory of God, that He is the One who created me and all human beings in the image and likeness of God Himself for the same purpose, that is, to give glory to God here on earth and in heaven itself?
What do I believe? And how strong is my belief? When Jesus says to me: "Dorothy Ann, I am going to be rejected. I am going to suffer greatly. In fact, Dorothy Ann, I am going to be put to death!" The One who is sent to free me will Himself be brutally killed? Do I say with Peter: "No, Lord! Never! You're crazy! No way! You are the Messiah. You cannot be killed by the rulers of this age! You don't know what you are talking about!" End of conversation!
When I look around and see good people killed by others, dying prematurely, evil people taking over the world, good people rejected, suffering greatly at the hands of others, do I rise up in protest and say: "No way, Lord! This is not to be!" Do I repel? Perhaps I did not hear the rest of Jesus' statement "And rise after three days"! Life involves great suffering, death and rising to new life forever following our sojourn here on earth. That is what life is about and Jesus was not spared that. He was no exception to being a human being! At times, we are baffled by what happens to us and to family members and all others! At times life is simply incredible, a mystery to be lived, not solved. Life treats us no differently that it treated Jesus and Jesus teaches us to believe in what he taught us: Death is not the end! Suffering will not destroy us. We have immortality within us. We have the power of the Spirit to raise us up beyond the cross, as the Spirit did for the Incarnate God, God made human for us.
First of all, who do I say that Jesus is? Do I truly believe that He is the Son of God, the One sent by the Trinity to save me personally, to set me free from the evil that is capable of separating me from God forever, that has the power to destroy me spiritually? Do I believe that Jesus is the One who will raise me to eternal life with Him following the end of my mission here on earth? Do I believe that Jesus is the One who created the universe and all that is in it for the glory of God, that He is the One who created me and all human beings in the image and likeness of God Himself for the same purpose, that is, to give glory to God here on earth and in heaven itself?
What do I believe? And how strong is my belief? When Jesus says to me: "Dorothy Ann, I am going to be rejected. I am going to suffer greatly. In fact, Dorothy Ann, I am going to be put to death!" The One who is sent to free me will Himself be brutally killed? Do I say with Peter: "No, Lord! Never! You're crazy! No way! You are the Messiah. You cannot be killed by the rulers of this age! You don't know what you are talking about!" End of conversation!
When I look around and see good people killed by others, dying prematurely, evil people taking over the world, good people rejected, suffering greatly at the hands of others, do I rise up in protest and say: "No way, Lord! This is not to be!" Do I repel? Perhaps I did not hear the rest of Jesus' statement "And rise after three days"! Life involves great suffering, death and rising to new life forever following our sojourn here on earth. That is what life is about and Jesus was not spared that. He was no exception to being a human being! At times, we are baffled by what happens to us and to family members and all others! At times life is simply incredible, a mystery to be lived, not solved. Life treats us no differently that it treated Jesus and Jesus teaches us to believe in what he taught us: Death is not the end! Suffering will not destroy us. We have immortality within us. We have the power of the Spirit to raise us up beyond the cross, as the Spirit did for the Incarnate God, God made human for us.
Sunday, February 16, 2020
The Importance of Free Will to God
In today's first reading, Sirach 15: 15-20, I am/you are reminded that God "has set before [us] fire and water; [and] whichever [we] choose, [we are to] stretch forth [our hands]. Before [us] are life and death, good and evil, whichever [we choose] shall be given [us]..." God's wisdom, Sirach reminds us, is immense, his power mighty and His seeing infinite. "The eyes of God are on those who fear [reverence] him; [God] understands [our] every deed." [And] [n]o one does he command to act unjustly, to none does he give license to sin."
How awesome is God and how humble. He's given each one of us free will to choose life or death, good or evil. God knows that at times we will choose that which is evil and yet He does not stop us. That is how important our free will is to God. God wants us to freely choose what is right, what is just and what unites us in love with others. No way will God force us to do these things! When we choose evil, there are consequences to those choices. In suffering those consequences, hopefully, we turn from the evil back to the good. God waits in the background and, with open arms, welcomes us back into His arms to counsel us, advise us, forgive us and give us strength. Having learned from the poor choices we might have made, we, in turn, grow in wisdom and are equipped, even more, to continue doing good! If we fall--and Jesus fell many times on his way to Calvary--we, through grace, are empowered to pick ourselves up and start over again. And each new day gives us the opportunity to try again to remain faithful in choosing good over evil, life over death, just deeds over unjust deeds.
May we do so!
How awesome is God and how humble. He's given each one of us free will to choose life or death, good or evil. God knows that at times we will choose that which is evil and yet He does not stop us. That is how important our free will is to God. God wants us to freely choose what is right, what is just and what unites us in love with others. No way will God force us to do these things! When we choose evil, there are consequences to those choices. In suffering those consequences, hopefully, we turn from the evil back to the good. God waits in the background and, with open arms, welcomes us back into His arms to counsel us, advise us, forgive us and give us strength. Having learned from the poor choices we might have made, we, in turn, grow in wisdom and are equipped, even more, to continue doing good! If we fall--and Jesus fell many times on his way to Calvary--we, through grace, are empowered to pick ourselves up and start over again. And each new day gives us the opportunity to try again to remain faithful in choosing good over evil, life over death, just deeds over unjust deeds.
May we do so!
Saturday, February 15, 2020
Making Poor Choices and Restoring Relationships
In today's first reading,1 Kings 12: 26-32; 13: 33-34, we encounter Jeroboam, who is fearful that the kingdom that he has been given will return to David's house and that, if the people go up to Jerusalem (David's kingdom), he will be killed. That fear drives him to erect false gods--two calves of gold-- in two locations: in Bethel and in Dan. He invited the people to worship these gods and consecrates anyone who wants to be a priest. Not giving up his evil ways, the house of Jeroboam was "cut off and destroyed from the earth."
The consequences of our sins also include destruction of sorts and being cut off in some way. Our sinful ways may alienate us from those we love, causing intense pain to our spouses, our children, our parents and friends. Such may also cause us to lose our livelihood, as we may be fired from our jobs. When we commit sin, we are the first ones to know because we feel the alienation within ourselves. We know when we do wrong and many times "beat" ourselves up for the wrong we have done. Instead of shaming ourselves "to death" we need to acknowledge our wrongdoing, ask forgiveness of those hurt by the mistake we have made, make restitution and move forward with ways to restore our reputation, regain employment, if such is lost, and make good again. God will not ever forsake us and awaits our return, as we learn from the parable of the Prodigal Son in the Gospels.
Lord, give us the grace to be honest about what we may have done wrong and the ways we may have caused alienation, unrest and disunity in our families, our community or our workplace. I ask this in Jesus' name.
The consequences of our sins also include destruction of sorts and being cut off in some way. Our sinful ways may alienate us from those we love, causing intense pain to our spouses, our children, our parents and friends. Such may also cause us to lose our livelihood, as we may be fired from our jobs. When we commit sin, we are the first ones to know because we feel the alienation within ourselves. We know when we do wrong and many times "beat" ourselves up for the wrong we have done. Instead of shaming ourselves "to death" we need to acknowledge our wrongdoing, ask forgiveness of those hurt by the mistake we have made, make restitution and move forward with ways to restore our reputation, regain employment, if such is lost, and make good again. God will not ever forsake us and awaits our return, as we learn from the parable of the Prodigal Son in the Gospels.
Lord, give us the grace to be honest about what we may have done wrong and the ways we may have caused alienation, unrest and disunity in our families, our community or our workplace. I ask this in Jesus' name.
Tuesday, February 11, 2020
Temples of the Holy Spirit, the Father and the Son
In today's first reading, 1 Kings 8: 22-23, 27-30, Solomon says: "Lord, God of Israel, there is no God like you in heaven above or on earth below; you keep your covenant of mercy with your servants who are faithful to you with their whole heart. Can it indeed be that God dwells on earth? If the heavens and the highest heavens cannot contain you, how much less this temple which I have built!....May your eyes watch night and day over this temple, the place where you have decreed you shall be honored...
We have a God who cares for each one of us personally, a God full of mercy for us, so merciful that He took on human nature with all of its weaknesses, except sin. He took on death for us and destroyed its power over us. Because Jesus destroyed death, it is not the end of our lives but the door through which we pass on the way to our eternal inheritance, earned for us by Jesus reconciling us to the Father through His obedience to the Father even unto death. It is only because of God's mercy that we, with Jesus, can learn to be obedient to God even unto our earthly deaths and the daily dyings asked of us in doing God's will each day: sacrificing our time and energy for the sake of another. And just as God guarded the temple built by Solomon and "decreed [God] shall be honored" there, so, too, does God guard us, who are temples of the Holy Spirit, the Father, and the Son of God, and wants to be honored in the temple that we are.
Truly, there is no God like our God!
We have a God who cares for each one of us personally, a God full of mercy for us, so merciful that He took on human nature with all of its weaknesses, except sin. He took on death for us and destroyed its power over us. Because Jesus destroyed death, it is not the end of our lives but the door through which we pass on the way to our eternal inheritance, earned for us by Jesus reconciling us to the Father through His obedience to the Father even unto death. It is only because of God's mercy that we, with Jesus, can learn to be obedient to God even unto our earthly deaths and the daily dyings asked of us in doing God's will each day: sacrificing our time and energy for the sake of another. And just as God guarded the temple built by Solomon and "decreed [God] shall be honored" there, so, too, does God guard us, who are temples of the Holy Spirit, the Father, and the Son of God, and wants to be honored in the temple that we are.
Truly, there is no God like our God!
Monday, February 10, 2020
God's Dwelling among Us
In today's first reading, 1 Kings 8: 1-7, 9-13, "the priests brought the ark of the covenant of the Lord to its place beneath the wings of the cherubim in the sanctuary, the holy of holies of the temple....When the priests left the holy place, the cloud filled the temple of the Lord so that the priests could no longer minister because of the cloud, since the Lord's glory had filled the temple of the Lord. Then Solomon said, 'The Lord intends to dwell in the dark cloud; I have truly built you a princely house, a dwelling where you made you may abide forever."
I look outside at the beautiful freshly fallen snow--8 inches of it covering the ground. The snow sparkles outside my window! God's glory radiates from all of creation, just as God's glory shone forth in the temple. The Chosen people recognized God's presence in the cloud. Do you, do I? Or do we recognize God only in that which shines brightly, only in the glorious events of our lives and the lives of others? Do you, do I realize that God is also present in the "clouds" of our lives, in the dark moments that we encounter in life?
I look outside at the beautiful freshly fallen snow--8 inches of it covering the ground. The snow sparkles outside my window! God's glory radiates from all of creation, just as God's glory shone forth in the temple. The Chosen people recognized God's presence in the cloud. Do you, do I? Or do we recognize God only in that which shines brightly, only in the glorious events of our lives and the lives of others? Do you, do I realize that God is also present in the "clouds" of our lives, in the dark moments that we encounter in life?
Sunday, February 9, 2020
Maintaining the Strength of our Faith, Hope and Love
In today's Gospel, Matthew 5: 13-16, Jesus reminds us that we "are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its taste, with what can it be seasoned?" Jesus also reminds us that we "are the light of the world." Our light is to be set on a lamp-stand where everyone can see it: "Your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father."
Salt brings out the flavor in foods! We, too, are to bring out the "flavor," if you will, of the gifts of faith, trust and love of our God and others. Knowing us, if our salt has not lost its flavor, others taste how good the Lord is and how strong our love for another! However, if our salt has lost its flavor, that is, if our faith is "dead," our love has wilted, and our trust has been smothered by distrust and anxious worries, then there is no way that we are able to enhance or strengthen the faith, hope and love of others.
Regarding being the light of the world around us, the same is true. If our light is dim, that is, smothered by worries and cares of the world or weakened by unresolved grief and anger and hatred, we are unable to bring light to the lives of others. If we do not "charge" the "batteries" of our faith, hope and love by good works, by holy reading, by reception of the sacraments, by times of solitude, by drinking in the beauty of the earth and by being faithful to our vocational commitments, the light we are called to be could burn out or become so dim that we are ineffective in radiating God's love and presence in our marriage, our religious lives, our priesthood or our lives as single men and women.
What are you, what am I, doing that "charges" and maintains the vitality of our faith, hope and love?Is yours or my salt flavored and our lamps burning brightly?
Saturday, February 8, 2020
Needing God's Assistance Doing What is Right in God's Eyes
In today's first reading, 1 Kings 3: 4-13, God says to Solomon, who succeeded his father King David, as king of Israel: "Ask something of me and I will give it to you." God says the same thing to you and to me. What will you, will I, ask of the Lord?
In responding to God's question, Solomon first acknowledged the many blessings God had given to his father King David and then says to God: "O Lord, my God, you have made me, your servant, king to succeed my father David; but I am a mere youth, not knowing at all how to act....Give your servant, therefore, an understanding heart to judge your people and to distinguish right from wrong. For who is able to govern this vast people of yours?"
May the Lord, our God, give you, and me, an understanding heart to distinguish right from wrong and to judge rightly the people whom God asks us to lead to His Son Jesus. May we, like King Solomon, recognize the blessings given to our ancestors but also realize that there are times when we do not know how to act and need God's help in upholding Gospel values. Without God's help, we will do poorly and are likely to choose that which is wrong in the sight of God but seen as right in the eyes of men/women caught up in our country's moral decay.
Forgive us, Lord, when we stray from the right path and make choices that are wrong in Your eyes but appear right in the eyes of those abandoning Christian values and morals according to the Gospel of your Son, Jesus Christ. May we turn back to you and repent of wrongdoing and recognize our need for Your help to do good and avoid evil. I ask this in Jesus' name.
Thursday, February 6, 2020
"They went off and...drove out many demons"
In today's Gospel, Mark 6: 7-13, Jesus sends the twelve apostles out two by two to cast out unclean spirits of mind and body and instructs them to "take nothing for the journey but a walking stick--no food, no sack, no money in their belts....So they went off and...drove out many demons, and... anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them." They also preached repentance on this journey. The work the apostles did they did in Jesus' name and by the authority God gave them through His Son.
It is no different for you and me! By our baptism, we, too, were sent out to cast out demons of hatred, jealousy, envy, covetousness, pride, lust and other demons that spring from these sinful forces within human nature. We are asked to sow seeds that bear fruit into eternal life.Am I, are you, doing so? Or are we going along with the crowd that cries for vengeance and are driven by a thirst for power and control over others, including the control exhibited by those who resort to raping and sexually assaulting women and children. Are we among those whose drive is to be richer than anyone else or who boast of their accomplishments as though any good they might have done was done without God? Are we part of the crowd with no backbone when it comes to standing up for what is right and who make fun of those who are men and women of integrity?
Sadly, that is what we see so often on the nightly news. The media focuses mostly, but not all, on crime, on persons clamoring for power and control, persons who seem to be consumed by jealousy, pride, lust, hatred, vindictiveness, bigotry, misogynistic forces and so much more that is contrary to the Gospel. Lawlessness, it seems, is now the norm and vindicating and applauding the criminal the new normal. As Christians, we are called to challenge this development and stand up for what is right, even if everyone around us does otherwise.
We do not need to be like the persons who go along with the crowd that exhibits anti-Christian values and cower in the face of opposition, abandoning truth! God has given us, in baptism, the power to resist Satan's lies! As Christians, we have the power of the resurrection within us as we died and rose with Christ in the waters of baptism! We can rise above fear and resist satanic forces in Jesus' name. Yes, with the apostles, we can drive out demons in Jesus' name and through power given us by Jesus. This task begins with ourselves!
Wednesday, February 5, 2020
Vulnerabilities of Human Nature
In today's first reading, 2 Sam 24: 2, 9-17, David orders a census taken of all the tribes in Israel that he may know their number. He learns that there are 800,000 men fit for military service in Israel and, in Judah, 500,000, a total of 1,300,000 men that he can employ in wars against Israel's enemies. His pride and engaging in a task apart from God is an insult and an offense against God. A prophet is sent to David with the instructions to offer David three alternatives to David, one of which God will inflict upon David: three years of famine, a three-day pestilence upon the land, or that David himself flee from his enemies for three months. David chose the pestilence. Seventy thousand Israelites lose their lives as a result of this scourge upon the land. David begs the Lord to spare the people, saying: Lord, punish me, not these people; I am the one who sinned against you.
How easy it is for us to play God, to engage in activities without consulting God, to go against God's wishes. By doing so we are saying to God: I don't need you! We may be surprised at King David, as he was the one who took on Goliath, saying that God would be on his side, as He was in sparing David's life from the lion when thrown into the lion's den by his enemies! David, as God's chosen one had done both great things and things that revealed significant weaknesses and vulnerabilities to sin. And each time, confronted, David listens and repents of his wrongdoing.
None of us is exempt from the weaknesses of human nature, neither the rich nor the poor, neither those in privileged positions or those in positions considered lowly. All of us need God and, at times in our lives, need God desperately as did St. Dismis, who, during his crucifixion, turned to Jesus and begged for mercy.
May you and I, like King David and St. Dismis, acknowledge our sinfulness and turn to the Lord for His mercy and assistance.
How easy it is for us to play God, to engage in activities without consulting God, to go against God's wishes. By doing so we are saying to God: I don't need you! We may be surprised at King David, as he was the one who took on Goliath, saying that God would be on his side, as He was in sparing David's life from the lion when thrown into the lion's den by his enemies! David, as God's chosen one had done both great things and things that revealed significant weaknesses and vulnerabilities to sin. And each time, confronted, David listens and repents of his wrongdoing.
None of us is exempt from the weaknesses of human nature, neither the rich nor the poor, neither those in privileged positions or those in positions considered lowly. All of us need God and, at times in our lives, need God desperately as did St. Dismis, who, during his crucifixion, turned to Jesus and begged for mercy.
May you and I, like King David and St. Dismis, acknowledge our sinfulness and turn to the Lord for His mercy and assistance.
Tuesday, February 4, 2020
Faith, Love and Forgiveness in Action
In Today's Scripture, 2 Sam 18: 9=10, 14b, 24-25a, 30-19:3, David learns that his son Absalom, who was out to kill him and take over his kingdom, is killed. David is crushed and cries out: My son Absalom! My son, Absalom! If only I had died instead of you, Absalom, mu son, my son!" The Incarnate Son of God does die in our places. And He weeps when any one of us does not accept the gift of life He has given us by taking on human flesh, all its weaknesses, except sin, and is put to death in our places that we will inherit eternal life. Nothing is more painful for God than the death of one unrepentant sinner.
This love of God is also revealed for us in the Gospel of today, Mark 5: 21-43. One of the synagogue officials, Jairus by name, approaches Jesus and begs him to go lay his healing hands upon his 12-year-old daughter who is dying. Jairus' friends inform him that his daughter has died and that he should stop bothering Jesus. Jesus says to him: Disregard your friends' report. "[J]ust have faith." His daughter is healed! Also, a woman suffering from an illness for 12 years touches Jesus' clothes, saying to herself: "If I but touch his clothes, I shall be cured." As soon as she touched Jesus, her affliction left her. Jesus knew that someone in the crowd had touched him and asked who had done so. The woman comes forward and tells Jesus her whole story and Jesus says to her: "Daughter, your faith has saved you. Go in peace and be cured of your affliction."
Who am I in these Scripture stories of faith and love? Absalom filled with hatred toward a family member and out to kill this person? David, who grieves the loss of his son and does not condemn him for seeking to kill him? Jairus, a non-Jew who believes in Jesus and seeks His help to save his little girl? the woman who believe that in just touching Jesus' clothing she will be healed of an illness that plagued her for 12 years? Jesus, who responds to people in need, even persons not of His religious beliefs?
Am I, are you, a person of faith like Jairus and the woman seeking healing? Am I, are you, a person of forgiveness and love like David? And if I am like these persons and like Jesus, how does my faith translate into actions such as modeled in these Scriptures?
This love of God is also revealed for us in the Gospel of today, Mark 5: 21-43. One of the synagogue officials, Jairus by name, approaches Jesus and begs him to go lay his healing hands upon his 12-year-old daughter who is dying. Jairus' friends inform him that his daughter has died and that he should stop bothering Jesus. Jesus says to him: Disregard your friends' report. "[J]ust have faith." His daughter is healed! Also, a woman suffering from an illness for 12 years touches Jesus' clothes, saying to herself: "If I but touch his clothes, I shall be cured." As soon as she touched Jesus, her affliction left her. Jesus knew that someone in the crowd had touched him and asked who had done so. The woman comes forward and tells Jesus her whole story and Jesus says to her: "Daughter, your faith has saved you. Go in peace and be cured of your affliction."
Who am I in these Scripture stories of faith and love? Absalom filled with hatred toward a family member and out to kill this person? David, who grieves the loss of his son and does not condemn him for seeking to kill him? Jairus, a non-Jew who believes in Jesus and seeks His help to save his little girl? the woman who believe that in just touching Jesus' clothing she will be healed of an illness that plagued her for 12 years? Jesus, who responds to people in need, even persons not of His religious beliefs?
Am I, are you, a person of faith like Jairus and the woman seeking healing? Am I, are you, a person of forgiveness and love like David? And if I am like these persons and like Jesus, how does my faith translate into actions such as modeled in these Scriptures?
Monday, February 3, 2020
Catching Sight of Jesus
"Unclean spirit, come out out of the man," Jesus was saying to a demoniac whom He encountered in the territory of the Gerasenes (See Mark 5: 1-20). This man lived "among the tombs and no one could restrain him...even with a chain. In fact, he had frequently been bound with shackles and chains, but the chains had been pulled apart by him and the shackles smashed, and no one was strong enough to subdue him. Night and day among the tombs and on the hillsides he was always crying out and bruising himself with stones.Catching sight of Jesus from a distance, he ran up and prostrated himself before him....
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How terrifying for anyone and for the demoniac himself! Jesus was unafraid and approached him. As He got near to him, the demon in the man shouted: "What have you do do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, do not torment me! ....He asked him, 'What is your name?' [The Devil] replied, 'Legion is my name. There are many of us.'" The legion of evil spirits, united in their desire to stay in the region and not be driven away, spoke through one of them: "Send us into the swine. Let us enter them." Jesus granted their request and the possessed pigs dashed down the hill and into the sea where they all drowned.
Jesus has power over Satan and all of his fellow devils. There are legions of them roaming the earth, seeking someone to devour us. Their last desire is to be confined to hell, where they will be sent at the end of the world along with their followers, those bent on doing evil and avoiding the good here on earth, those who deny Jesus or God's existence, who do not accept God's give of salvation, who do not call out to God for deliverance from the chains and shackles that bind them to wrongdoing, to deceitfulness, to corruption, to avarice, to hatred and divisiveness, to covetousness and abuse of any kind, who submerge themselves in the "pleasures" to which Satan lures them at the expense of others and their own demise from living wholesome lives pleasing to God.
May you and I cling to God, catch sight of Jesus, who, in fact, does not leave us out of His sight,
and beg to be freed from the chains and shackles that bind us to any kind of wrongdoing. May we seek God's deliverance, knowing that God is a warrior God, a God who is on our side and feared by Satan and his legion of helpers. Let us not be afraid to approach Jesus in the Eucharist, in the sacrament of Reconciliation, in private, communal and family prayer time, no matter how we may have bruised ourselves or others by our sinfulness.
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"
How terrifying for anyone and for the demoniac himself! Jesus was unafraid and approached him. As He got near to him, the demon in the man shouted: "What have you do do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, do not torment me! ....He asked him, 'What is your name?' [The Devil] replied, 'Legion is my name. There are many of us.'" The legion of evil spirits, united in their desire to stay in the region and not be driven away, spoke through one of them: "Send us into the swine. Let us enter them." Jesus granted their request and the possessed pigs dashed down the hill and into the sea where they all drowned.
Jesus has power over Satan and all of his fellow devils. There are legions of them roaming the earth, seeking someone to devour us. Their last desire is to be confined to hell, where they will be sent at the end of the world along with their followers, those bent on doing evil and avoiding the good here on earth, those who deny Jesus or God's existence, who do not accept God's give of salvation, who do not call out to God for deliverance from the chains and shackles that bind them to wrongdoing, to deceitfulness, to corruption, to avarice, to hatred and divisiveness, to covetousness and abuse of any kind, who submerge themselves in the "pleasures" to which Satan lures them at the expense of others and their own demise from living wholesome lives pleasing to God.
May you and I cling to God, catch sight of Jesus, who, in fact, does not leave us out of His sight,
and beg to be freed from the chains and shackles that bind us to any kind of wrongdoing. May we seek God's deliverance, knowing that God is a warrior God, a God who is on our side and feared by Satan and his legion of helpers. Let us not be afraid to approach Jesus in the Eucharist, in the sacrament of Reconciliation, in private, communal and family prayer time, no matter how we may have bruised ourselves or others by our sinfulness.
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Saturday, February 1, 2020
Accountability, Integrity, Honesty
In today's first reading from the second book of Samuel, 2 Sam 12: 1-7a, 10-17, God sends the prophet Nathan to confront David, who covered up his sin against Uriah, having taken his wife as his own and having relations with her leading to Bathsheba becoming pregnant. His initial lying led to the greater sin of arranging for Uriah's death. David thought that he would get away with his crimes against Uriah and his family, but did not. Neither will you and I get away with whatever wrongs we have committed. Being held accountable, hopefully, will happen for us here on earth and not wait until eternity.
Every night when we listen to the news we hear of cover-ups, denials and persons enabling others to get away with their crimes against humanity. And so much more of this kind of corruption occurs that is not part of the news. This behavior goes all the way back to the story in Genesis of Adam and Eve covering up their sinful behavior. "I hid from you," Adam tells God, "because I was naked." God held both Adam and Eve accountable for their sins and continues to all you and me to openness about our wrongdoings, as He did with David. David repented, modeling the importance of owning up to how we have harmed others.
Can God count on you and I to be a "Nathan," a woman/a man of integrity, a person who will stand up to truth and hold ourselves and others accountable? Or do we cower from those who threaten us and bully us to remain silent, either of our own sinfulness or that of others?
Every night when we listen to the news we hear of cover-ups, denials and persons enabling others to get away with their crimes against humanity. And so much more of this kind of corruption occurs that is not part of the news. This behavior goes all the way back to the story in Genesis of Adam and Eve covering up their sinful behavior. "I hid from you," Adam tells God, "because I was naked." God held both Adam and Eve accountable for their sins and continues to all you and me to openness about our wrongdoings, as He did with David. David repented, modeling the importance of owning up to how we have harmed others.
Can God count on you and I to be a "Nathan," a woman/a man of integrity, a person who will stand up to truth and hold ourselves and others accountable? Or do we cower from those who threaten us and bully us to remain silent, either of our own sinfulness or that of others?
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