Giving Evidence of our Wisdom and Intelligence!

In today's first reading, Deuteronomy 4:1, 5-9, Moses reminds the people of Israel to respect the law and to cherish the greatness of its nation as one privileged in having God so close to it: "Now, Israel, hear the statutes and decrees which I am teaching you to observe, that you may live, and may enter in and take possession of the land which the Lord, the God of your fathers, is giving you.....Observe [these laws] carefully, for thus will you give evidence of your wisdom and intelligence to the nations, who will hear of all these statutes and say, 'This great nation is truly a wise and intelligent people.'  For what great nation is there that has gods so close to it as the Lord our God is to us whenever we call upon him? Or what great nation has statues and decrees that are as just as this whole law which I am setting before you today?" 

The author of Deuteronomy is speaking to us today, as well as to the Israelites. We, too, have been given laws and decrees that are just and wise. How carefully do we observe them? We listen to the news each night and, inevitably,  are face to face with individuals who despise the law, scoff at laws, and, most likely without realizing it, put themselves above the law. The question is: Do I, do you,  do the same?  Do I, do you,  live as though God's commandments or laws handed down by our ancestors, by the founding fathers of our nation, are obsolete and stupid!  Do people observe our observance of law and say that we are "truly...wise and intelligent" persons?  In knowing us, do people realize that we are privileged to have God close to us and we close to God?  If not, why not? What might you or I do to draw closer to God, to know God's intimacy?

Being Wise or Foolish?

Today's liturgy readings, Ecclesiastes 1: 2; 2: 21-23, Col 3: 1-5, 9-11, Luke 12:  13-21, as well as the responsorial psalm, Psalm 90, all speak to us of what is important to God, what matters and what life here on earth is all about.

Ecclesiastes speaks about vanity. One person labors strenuously, applying all of one's energy and skills to productivity and, when he/she leaves this earth, leaves the results of that work to one who has not labored at all.  In the Gospel, a rich person is thinking of building larger barns to contain all of the possessions accumulated over the years--this person has been very productive and needs more storage space. This individual's plan is, then, to enjoy life, saying to oneself: Now you "...have so many good things stored up for many years, rest, eat, drink and be merry."  God says to such a one:  "You fool, this night  your life will be demanded of you; and the things you have prepared, to whom shall they belong?  Thus shall it be for all who who store up treasures for themselves but are not rich in the things that matter to God."

Am I storing up material things, renting more storage space for all that I have accumulated while neglecting the things of God, ignoring the needs of my neighbor for love and kindness, for understanding and compassionate caring, for honesty and forgiveness? Am I scrambling each day to store up things which the world says is important or am I growing "rich in the things that matter to God"?

The responsorial psalm of today's liturgy reminds me that I will return to dust and that I need to remember that, to God, "a thousand years...are like...a watch in the night." The psalmist reminds me that God makes "an end of [us] in [our] sleep; the next morning [we] are like the changing grass, which at dawn springs up anew, but by evening wilts and fades."  With the psalmist let us pray:  "Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain wisdom of heart....Fill us at daybreak with your kindness, that we may shout for joy and gladness all our days."  May we share that joy and gladness with others.  May we make a difference in the lives of others today by the love we give to them, by our honesty and compassion. May we spend time with others today in a way that brings them joy, relieves their pain or suffering and glories God.

A Need for Wisdom and Justice in Today's World

Today's liturgy offers us two Entrance Antiphons:  The first one reads: "In the midst of the Church he opened his mouth, and the Lord filled him with the spirit of wisdom and understanding and clothed him in a robe of glory."  As I reflect on what is happening throughout the world, my prayer is:  "Lord, in the midst of the chaos in this world, raise up persons of wisdom and understanding of the untruths being proclaimed, the narcissistic goals being pushed forward by those competing with one another at the expense of the poor and oppressed, the persons seeking asylum, those wanting just laws and legislature that protects the environment and promotes the common good. I ask this in Jesus' name!"

The second Entrance Antiphon reads:  "The mouth of the just [person] utters wisdom, and his tongue tells  forth what is just; the law of his God is in his heart." My prayer is:  "Lord, we need just persons running every nation on this earth, persons who tell "forth what is just," persons whose hearts reflect Your will, O God, and whose hearts follow your law, not the laws dictated by human selfishness, narcissism, prideful competition, lust for power and prestige and control; persons who are not caught in the snares laid down by the Father of Lies, Satan Himself.  Help world leaders, Lord, recognize their motivations: are they, in truth, working for the good of their nations, the rights of all people to breathe clean air, have food to put on their tables, have just wages so as to educate, feed, and clothe their children according to God's plan that righteousness prevail and every person's rights are respected!  Help us, Lord! Please intervene in ways that change the course of this world when such seems to be leading to more and more unjust legislative actions that harm the earth and each other, especially the poor and persons treated as minorities with little or no rights equal to the so called majority. And have mercy on us Lord for the many times we have not spoken what is just, when Your Law written on our hearts has been ignored in our actions toward others.  I ask for these graces in Jesus' name and through the intercession of Jesus' mother Mary. Amen!"

Aware that Our Actions Have Consequences

In today's gospel, Mark 1: 40-45, a leper approaches Jesus, kneels down and says: "'If you wish, you can make me clean.' Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand, touched the leper, and said to  him, 'I do will it. Be made clean.' The leprosy left him immediately, and he was made clean."  Jesus asked him to tell no one about the healing. However, he broadcast it everywhere to the point that "it was impossible for Jesus to enter a town openly. He remained outside in deserted places...."   Jesus suffers the consequences of the leper's inability to respect Jesus' request for privacy and ends up in the position of lepers who had to remain apart from people and stay in deserted places.

The question we need to ponder is: Are we aware of the consequences of the choices we make when faced with sharing our pleasant or unpleasant experiences? When something exciting or painful or traumatic happens, it is easy to get caught in the trap of impulsively sharing it with someone, if not everyone who crosses our path. The temptation to blurt everything out "on the street corners"  is powerful! However, God is far more powerful than Satan and is always at our side with His guidance and wisdom!  May God's wisdom prevail!  

St. Stephen's Faith and Ours

Today, Dec. 26, we celebrate the feast of St. Stephen, the first martyr.  "Stephen," we are told in Acts 6: 8-10; 7:54-59, "filled with grace and power,  was working great wonders and signs among the people. Certain members of the so-called Synagogue of Freedmen, Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and people from Cilicia and Asia, came forward and debated with Stephen, but they could not withstand the wisdom and the spirit with which he spoke...[Stephen's debaters] were infuriated, and...ground their teeth at him.  But he, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked up intently to heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God....[Stephen's persecutors] threw [Stephen] out of the city, and began to stone him...As they were stoning Stephen, he called out 'Lord Jesus, receive my spirit."  Like Jesus on the cross, Stephen asked God not to hold the sin of his executioners again them. WOW! A man unafraid to stand up for what and for whom he believed!

Jesus tells us in the Gospels that, like Him, we will meet opposition, that we will be persecuted for our faith and testimony to the Father, just as Jesus was.  We will encounter the cross--misunderstandings, hatred, and an onslaught of  obstacles on our way to eternal life.  Will we, like Stephen, keep our eyes on Jesus! Will we look up to heaven from whence comes our help, as we are told in the psalms, or will we downplay our faith, water it down, to avoid difficulties that are likely to arise from detractors, unbelievers, or those who have chosen other gods? Will we join the "Synagogue of Freedmen, Cyrenians, Alexandrians" of our day and throw "stones" at those who disagree with us?

May we, like Stephen, stand up for what we believe,  especially when others want to debate us. Let us also hold on to God's promise that He will instruct us on what to say when we are dragged before the "tribunals" of our day!  God is with us always!  Let us not be afraid!

Guidance from the Author of Proverbs

Today's first reading,  Proverbs 21:1-6, 10-13, again instructs us, clearly stating what God expects of us as His sons and daughters, that is, what gives God pleasure. "Like a stream is the king's heart in the hand of the Lord; wherever it pleases [God], God directs it."  My prayer is that my heart and your heart are like streams in the Lord's hands, in that we allow the love of God, God's compassion and forgiveness, God's justice and truth to flow out of us into the hearts of others.  "To do what is right and just is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice," the author of Proverbs tells us.  I may think that I need to do this penance or that penance, treat myself harshly, endure strict fasts, and/or, for instance, sacrifice needed sleep to spend hours and hours in prayer in order to be "acceptable to the Lord."  No, Proverbs tells us!  What God wants is that we act justly and do what is right, as also emphasized by the prophet Micah (cf. Micah 6:8).

This passage of Proverbs also clearly speaks of what displeases God:  "Haughty eyes and a proud heart--the tillage of the wicked is sin....Whoever makes a fortune by a lying tongue is chasing a bubble over deadly snares. The soul of the wicked...desires evil; his [her] neighbor finds no pity in his  [her] eyes....A [person] who shuts his [her] ear to the cry of the poor will himself [herself] also call and not be heard."

Some questions that I need to honestly ask myself are:  Would I describe my behaviors as haughty or deceitful? Am I chasing bubbles or desiring evil?  Do neighbors wait in vain for me to show compassion and have pity on them when they are in a crisis situation? Have I shut my ears to the cry of the poor?

A Prophet's Warning

In today's first reading, Isaiah 10: 5-7, 13b-16, the Lord God again warns Assyria, saying: Woe to Assyria! My rod in anger, my staff in wrath." As God watches the poor being neglected, truth being scorned  and lies being protected, could God be saying to us: "Woe to you"? As justice is being eroded by persons who have assumed the position of being guiltless and beyond reproach,  I believe that we need to get on our knees and beg Jesus to send the Holy Spirit, opening our eyes to God's presence, our ears to God's voice giving direction, our wills to follow God's precepts and our hearts to love and act on God's decrees!  "Against an impious nation," God sends prophets and prophetesses, warning us of being deceived by the powerful and cunning men of this world! Are we, am I, listening?  Are we, am I, seeing?

De we realize when other people and when we ourselves are, in fact,  saying: "By my own power I have done it [whatever good we project we may be doing, even when that good may actually be harmful for the people we are called to protect]? Do we realize when we, or others, are also saying: "...I have done it,...by my wisdom, for I am shrewd."  Are there times when we rejoice in having "put down the enthroned," by our power, by bullying, by making fun of others, by whatever means to this end?  The prophet points out the wrong being done by people of power in his day, when, in fact, they say:   [L]ike a giant, I have put down the enthroned; my hand has seized like a nest the riches of nations".  It seems that persons in power in our day are "seizing like a nest the riches" of others.   The question, however, that I need to ask myself is: Am I competing to be richer than others and willing to go to any expense to raise myself  above others in material or other kinds of riches?

The prophet asks the questions:  ....Will the axe boast against him [the bully] who hews with it? Will the saw exalt itself above him [the bully] who wields it? As if a rod could sway him [the bully] who lifts, or a staff him who is not wood! Therefore the Lord will send among his fat ones leanness, and instead of his  glory there will be kindling like the kindling of fire."

Is it time for us to heed the prophet's words? Is it possible that we have the "an impious nation" and the bully?

Wisdom Admired and Recognized

In today's first reading, 1 Kings 10: 1-10, the queen of Sheba visits King Solomon to see for herself this King, of whom people spoke so highly.  She had heard about his wisdom and came to see for herself.  She was amazed. Every subject about which she inquired, King Solomon's explanation gave witness to the wisdom with which God had blessed him.  "Your wisdom and your prosperity surpass the report I heard. Blessed are your men, blessed these servants of yours, who stand before you also and listen to your wisdom. Blessed be the Lord,  your God whom it has pleased to place you on the throne of Israel. In his enduring love for Israel, the Lord has made you king to carry out judgment and justice."

First of all, whom do you consult for wisdom, for insight, for knowledge of subjects in which you are interested?  Do you have the humility of Queen Sheba to seek out wisdom greater than yours? Notice Queen Sheba's response! First of all, she recognizes King Solomon's wisdom and blessings. Are you able to affirm others for the gifts God has given them or does pride or jealousy hold you back?  Secondly, Queen Sheba gives praise to God, from whom Solomon received his wisdom and riches. Do you recognize all good--that of other persons and your own--as coming from God?

As you apply this reading to yourself, you might ask yourself the following questions: who are the wisdom figures in your life?  When was the last time that you acknowledged the gifts God has given to your spouse, your children, your coworkers, yourself?  And, when you see good in others or in yourself, to whom do you give the credit?

Wisdom Who is God

In today's first reading, Wisdom 7: 22b-8:1, we are told that "Wisdom is a spirit, intelligent, holy, unique, manifold,..., unstained, certain, not baneful, loving the good,...,beneficent, kindly, firm, secure, tranquil, all-powerful, all-seeing, and pervading all spirits, though they be intelligent, pure and very subtle.  For Wisdom is mobile beyond all motion, and she penetrates and pervades all things by reason of her purity....

Wisdom, I believe, is God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.  "[S]he, who is one, [three persons in the one God] can do all things, and renews everything while herself perduring; and passing into holy souls from age to age, she produces friends of God and prophets...."

St. John says to us in 1 Jn 4:4 that  we "are from God and [we] have in [us] one who is greater than anyone in the world.  That "one who is greater than anyone in the world,"  I believe,  is Wisdom, God, our Lord and Savior.  Why is it, I ask, that we encounter within ourselves and others "a spirit, intelligent, holy, unique...not baneful, loving the good,...,beneficent, kindly, firm, secure, tranquil"?  Are we not encountering in ourselves and others God, from all good comes?

Thank you God for your intimacy with us!  

Discerning Good and Evil Spirits

In today's first reading, Wisdom 1; 1-7, we are told that God "is found by those who test him not, and [that God] manifest himself to those who do not disbelieve him. For perverse counsels separate a [person] from God, and [God's] power, put to the proof, rebukes the foolhardy; because into a soul that plots evil, wisdom enters not, nor dwells she in a body under the debt of sin. For the holy Spirit of discipline flees deceit and withdraws from senseless counsels;and when injustice occurs it is rebuked."  

Truly, believe,  God is at work in those involved in the presidency of the U.S. and in all those involved in our governing body.  The foolhardy are, I believe, being rebuked. Those who plot evil are being denied wisdom. In those "fleeing discipline" and following "senseless counsels" wisdom has withdrawn its presence.  And, finally, "justice is being rebuked" over and over again. When will we wake up to God at work in our world? Or are we blind because we, too, are "fleeing discipline" and following "senseless counsels", disbelieving in our God, and "plotting evil"?  Are we deaf and blind because we dwell "in a body under the debt of sin" ourselves? Have we separated ourselves from God by believing in "perverse counsels"?

May we remember, at all times, that "God is the witness of [our] inmost self and the sure observer of [our] heart and the listener of [our] tongue. For the Spirit of the Lord fills the world, is all-embracing, and knows what [you and I and all humans say]. We are who we are before God and no other!

The Challenge of Discipleship

In today's second reading, Philippians 2: 1-11, St. Paul admonishes us to do "nothing out of selfishness or out of vainglory; rather humbly regard others as more important than yourselves, each looking out not for his [her] own interests, but also for those of others."  Paul's statement--"but also for those [the interests] of others," implies that it is important to meet one's own needs and the needs of others. Self-neglect will lead to anger and resentment.

In terms of doing "nothing out of selfishness or out of vainglory; rather humbly regard others as more important than yourselves,"  we have Jesus as an example of these behaviors. "Christ Jesus,...though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God something to be grasped [vainglory]. Rather, he emptied himself [for our sakes]  taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness; and found human in appearance, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross" [regarding us more important than himself].

In today's responsorial psalm, Psalm 25, we pray:  "Your ways, O Lord, make known to me; teach me your paths, guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my savior."  Jesus teaches us, by example, to follow God the Father's way, as He, in fact did throughout his life for our sakes.  As a disciple of Christ, you and  I are challenged to set aside our pride and selfishness and, with the courage, wisdom, humility, and generosity of Jesus to do as He did--give our lives for others! May God give us the graces today to follow Jesus' example.

Being Fertile and Fruitful

In  today's first reading, Isaiah 55: 10-11, the Lord reminds us that "[j]ust as from the heavens the rain and snow come down and do not return there until they have watered the earth, making it fertile and fruitful, giving seed to the one who sows and bread to the one who eats, so shall my word be that goes forth from my mouth; my word shall not return to me void, but it shall do my will, achieving the end for which I sent it."

As a parent, imagine that each instruction that you give to your children bears fruit, that is,  it does not return to you void but accomplishes the good for which you intended it. Imagine, also that, because of your guidance--the words of wisdom you speak to them-- you see your children grow in grace and wisdom, in strength to do what is right, especially when peers are pressuring them to make choices that will bring them harm!  Your words, as stated in the Gospel of today, Matthew 13: 1-23,  "fell on rich soil, and produced fruit, a hundred or sixty or thirtyfold." And you are truly proud of you sons and daughters, your grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Now, apply this to your relationship with God. God instructs you every day, sending His Word to you through the Spirit who dwells within you, through the Scriptures read at a Sunday liturgy and explained in the priest's homily, or in your reflection on a cherished spiritual resource which we read each day.  The word "fell on rich soil, and produced fruit, a hundred or sixty or thirtyfold." And God is truly proud of you!

An Enlightened Heart

In  today's first reading, Ephesians 1: 15-23, St. Paul prays that "the God of  our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation resulting in knowledge of him. May the eyes of your hearts be enlightened," Paul prays, "that you may know what is the hope that belongs to his call, what are the riches of glory in his inheritance among the holy ones, and what is the surpassing greatness of his power for us who believe...."

What a prayer! Again, I encourage you to insert your name in that passage, so that it reads, and I  paraphrase:  "Dorothy Ann (insert your name),  God the Father gives you a spirit of wisdom and revelation resulting in knowledge of Him."  What gifts: wisdom, revelation, and knowledge of God Himself!  Knowing God, believing in God, surrendering to God, loving God with our whole mind, our whole heart and our whole will is all we ask of You, O God. That is enough for us! But Paul adds: "May the eyes of your hearts be enlightened."  The eyes of our hearts are our inner eyes. Maywe see and know God within the very core of our existence.  And why does Paul ask that the eyes of our hearts be enlightened? So that we may know "the hope that belongs to [our] call "to praise his glory,"  ( See Ephesians 1: 11-14) here on earth and in eternity when we possess the inheritance of our redemption.  Paul also wants us to be enlightened regarding the "riches of glory in [our] inheritance among the holy ones. and what is the surpassing greatness of his power for us who believe."  The wealth and the greatness Paul alludes to is beyond our imagination and reduces anything on this earth to rubbish, as Paul also exclaims in his preaching.

Jesus, have mercy on us, when we think and act otherwise!

God's Inheritance

In today’s first reading, 1 Cor. 1: 25-31, St. Paul reminds us that we “are in Christ Jesus” and that Jesus, through a gift from God the Father, became for us “wisdom,…righteousness, sanctification, and redemption.”  Those of us chosen, called to become Jesus’ disciples, to live “in Christ Jesus,”  St. Paul reminds us, were not “powerful.” We were not “of noble birth.” No! God “chose the foolish of the world to shame the wise, and God chose the weak of the world to shame the strong, and God chose the lowly and despised of the world, those who count for nothing, to reduce to nothing those  who are something, so that no human being might boast before God. [In fact, it] is due to [God] that you [and I] are in Christ Jesus.”

How difficult it may be to absorb the truth that before being  and living “in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from  God, as well as righteousness, sanctification, and redemption,” you and I were  weak, foolish,   lowly and the despised of the world, counting for nothing and that there is nothing you and I can boast about, nothing!   Then turn this around and realize that Christ Jesus is your strength and mine, your wisdom and mine, your righteousness and mine, your sanctification and mine, your redemption and mine.   Furthermore, the author of Psalm 33, today’s responsorial psalm , tells us that God has “chosen [us] for his own inheritance.” God’s inheritance! What? You and I are “God’s inheritance”?  WOW!

St. Jane Frances de Chantal: A Woman of Deep Faith

Today is the feast day of St. Jane Frances de Chantal, a close friend to St. Francis de Sales.  Saint Jane Frances lived an heroic life of virtue as a married woman, a mother and a foundress of a religious community.   Her marriage started out with the possibility of she and her husband losing the home he inherited as a baron.  Under her detailed supervision, the finances of the estate were brought under control.  She and her husband were of one heart and soul!  They were devoted to each other and to their four children.

Faith was Jane Frances’ unwavering approach to life’s challenges, a faith she instilled in her children. Discussions of religious topics were a daily occurrence.    The children were allowed to talk about anything, even topics considered controversial.   Reaching out to the poor who came to her door for food was also a regular practice in Jane Frances' home. No one was turned away, even when they came back repeatedly for the same meal. When employees complained, she said to them: “What if God turned me away when I came back to him again and again with the same request?”

Jane Frances’ happiness was shattered when her husband Christophe was killed in a hunting accident. Before taking his last breath, Christophe forgave the person who accidently shot him: “Don’t commit the sin of hating yourself when you have done nothing wrong.” Brokenhearted, Jane Frances had a more difficult time with forgiveness but eventually was able to forgive the person who killed her husband.  Her struggles led her to an insatiable thirst for God and a deeper spiritual life. She sought direction from Saint Francis de Sales, who encouraged her to found the Visitation order for women who were rejected by other religious orders because of poor health or age. She strongly believed that people should have a chance to live their religious calling regardless of ill health.

Many sought spiritual direction from Jane Frances. She was always gentle and loving in her approach to living the spiritual life.  She’d say to a distraught directee:  “Should you fall even fifty times a day, never on any account should that surprise or worry you.  …[G]ently set your heart back in the right direction and practice the opposite virtue, all the time speaking words of love and trust to our Lord…Once we have humbled ourselves for the faults God allows us to become aware of in ourselves, we must forget them and go forward.”

Source: St. Jane Frances de Chantal, Catholic Online

Who Am I Trying to Please

In today’s Gospel, Matthew 11: 16-19, the people complain about John the Baptist as being possessed by a demon  because he did not drink nor eat with them as they expected.  Jesus, on the other hand,  did eat and drink with people and they called him a “glutton and a drunkard.”  Matthew concludes this passage with the statement: “…wisdom is vindicated by her words.”  We probably all know that we will never please everyone no matter what we do.  We can try but our efforts will be in vain and we will be left feeling empty and a bit crazy!  “…wisdom,” in our lives, will be “vindicated” by the works we do in accord with God’s will for us, not by whether or not we pleased everyone.   If we are true to what we are called to as unique persons with a special mission/purpose  to fulfill  as the Spirit leads us through the gift of each day, Wisdom will vindicate us. We will then be at peace. On the other hand, if our goal is to please everyone we will not rest in the peace of Christ, a peace the world cannot give. The choice is ours to make.

Power, Divinity, Wisdom and Strength

“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and divinity, and wisdom and strength and honor” (Rev. 5:12).  Jesus, the Lamb of God who was slain, is  God’s wisdom, divinity, power, strength and honor.  Jesus is God, one with the Father and the Spirit. “Out of His fullness  we have all received grace upon grace “( Jn 1:16).   His giving and loving is without end and was planned from the beginning of the world. In His creation of humankind love was shown. In our rebellion and disobedience, love was shown, as God covenanted with us to save us from sin and death by sending a Savior: Jesus, the Christ.  “No  one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends,” we read in today’s Gospel, John 15: 12-17.  In verses 34-35  of Chapter 15, Jesus says to us:  “A new command I give you: Love one another.  As I have loved you, so you must love one another.  By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

Jesus does not only command us to love one another as He loves us, He  also gives us , in the sacraments, in the Scriptures, in the indwelling of the Trinity within us, the ability, the power, the support, the love, the wisdom we need to love as He loved. Truly, as we pray in the responsorial psalm of today’s liturgy: “…[Y]our mercy towers to the heavens, and your faithfulness to the skies. Be exalted above the heavens, O God; above all the earth be your glory” (Psalm57)!

Lord, today, may each one of us, by the way we love as you loved, reveal your faithfulness and your glory working within us. May we allow your power, divinity, wisdom, strength and honor bestowed on us through the Word and sacraments,  become stronger by the choices we make today to love when we are most inclined to walk away from the challenge. I ask this in Jesus’ name.

The Closeness of Our God

In Dt 4: 1, 5-9, Moses exhorts the people to obey the “statutes and decrees which I am teaching you to observe, that you may life, and may enter in and take possession of the land which the Lord, the God of your…[ancestors] is giving you….Observe them carefully, for thus will you give evidence of your wisdom and intelligence to the nations, who will hear of all these statutes and say, ‘This great nation is truly a wise and intelligent people.’ For what great nation is there that has gods so close to it as the Lord, our God, is to us whenever we call upon him? Or what great nation has statutes and decrees that are as just as this whole law which I am setting before you today.”

Laws and decrees that are just! Laws and decrees that give life! Laws and decrees that, when observed, reveal the intelligence and wisdom of the observer. A few days ago on the news we were told of the police officers who rescued Lily, a toddler! Also in the news a few days ago we saw two little children running after a man who kidnapped their little brother. The thief was caught! Day in and day out, men and women, the young and the old, obey the laws and statutes of our God to reach out to save others, to rescue persons from that which could cause death, both physical and spiritual: addictions, crime, hate, corruption, abuse of any kind. Good choices are made because our God is so close to us that, from within the core of our beings, we are directed by God’s Spirit of Wisdom and Justice, Mercy and Compassion, Love and Forgiveness to follow laws that give life and reject those that lead to death.

The Challenges of Living our Faith

Today we have the story of the prophetess Anna who was in the right place at the right time and recognized Jesus, the Messiah, being brought to the Temple for circumcision and His mother presenting her self to fulfill the purification rites prescribed by the Law of Moses.  Yesterday, I had asked Jesus for the grace to be in the right place at the right time to recognize Jesus as He presented Himself to me through the events of the day.  A situation arose in which a needy person needed help. I was asked if I would help out, as each member of the staff was too busy to respond to this unscheduled need.  I erupted—where  were the persons assigned to this ministry of hospitality, I asked.  Grudgingly, I responded and later when more demands were placed upon me that I did not expect, I erupted in anger.

In prayer later, I said to the Lord: I asked to recognize you in the situations and encounters of this day and when a needy person needed help and my routine, my agenda, my day were interrupted, I erupted!  Lord, you revealed your will that I reach out to help a person in need and I rejected it.  Give me feedback, Lord.

Dorothy Ann, you are right. It was an opportunity  to help a person in need. You failed, though you did it. You did it grudgingly without joy or gratitude.  There is sin in you—a streak of selfishness and pride. You were “generous”  on your terms.  

Jesus, help me. What do I need to learn from this so I am predisposed  in the future to be helpful to those who are helpless?

Pause and call upon me before reacting so that you can respond with patience, wisdom, generosity and joy. I will always arm you with these gifts of the Holy Spirit when you call upon me. As with Mary, in difficult situations, the Holy Spirit  will overshadow you.  Remember, Dorothy Ann, faith in action always involves sacrifice. Trust that when you are being asked to do something on behalf of others that it  will include sacrifice—I gave my life for you—and sacrificial love always leads to an unforeseen good. Remember, too, that living your faith always includes surrender, sacrifice, trust, letting go of your right to yourself. 

Thank you, Lord.

Who is this Messiah?

This week the first readings of the liturgy are from the prophet Isaiah.  Yesterday, in chapter 11: 1-10, Isaiah tells us that “the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him: a Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, a Spirit of counsel and of strength, a Spirit of knowledge and of fear of the Lord, and his delight shall be the fear of the Lord, not by appearance shall he judge, nor by hearsay shall he decide, but he shall judge the poor with justice, and decide aright for the land’s affected. He shall strike the ruthless with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall slay the wicked. Justice shall be the band around his waist, and faithfulness a belt upon his hips.”

This means that Jesus is filled with the Spirit of the Father, that He is filled with wisdom and understanding of who we are and who we are becoming. Jesus knows when we are separated from Truth, Justice, Wisdom, Wholeness, Understanding and Holiness. Jesus sees our needs and responds wisely, lovingly, compassionately, justly and with strength against Satan, against all that is not of God in our lives.  Jesus comes filled with knowledge of the Father’s will for our salvation, reverencing, respecting, honoring the Father’s plan for our redemption.  We also know that Jesus does not judge us by appearances or by hearsay.  What an awesome God!

From this Scripture passage, we also know that the poor will be judged with justice, that God will decide aright for Blacks and Whites, Native Americans and Asians—all races, persons of all sexual orientations, persons of any religious denomination. Jesus will strike down the wicked: those abusing women and children, those abusing boys and men, those involved in any crime--human trafficking, slave labor, the sex industry, corruption and deceit of any kind.  God comes in power!

As a disciple of Jesus, what am I doing to bring justice to the poor, to right wrongs among us? How do I alert people to the coming of God’s kingdom? To the coming of the Messiah?