Acts 18:9-18; Ps 47 God is king of all the earth; John 16:20-23
Today we pause to remember Blessed Damien, a belgium priest, who decided he was called to minister to people isolated on a small island in the pacific called Molokai, a leper colony.
He spent a majority of his life being their shepherd. Here are few excerpts form letters he had written back to his homeland while ministering to the people of Molokai.
First letter:
"Here I am in the midst of my dear lepers. They are so frightful to see, it is true, but they have souls redeemed at the price of the precious blood of our Divine Savior. He also in his divine charity consoled lepers. If I can not cure them as he did, at least I can console them and by the holy ministry which in his goodnees he has entrusted to me, I hope that many among them, purified from the leprosy of the soul, will present themselves before his tribunal prepared to enter the communion of the blessed."
They are so frightful to see but they have souls redeemed at the price of the precious blood of our Divine Savior...If I cannot cure them at least i can console them...i hope them many of them, purified from leprosy of the soul, will present themselves before his tribunal prepared to enter the communion of the blessed.
How often we run from those who are not attractive? How often we put distance between ourselves and those who repulse us for whatever reason:social status, hygiene, physical looks, emotional instability? Yet, here Blessed Damien becomes like Christ who reaches out to those who are hideous on the outside yet his eyes penetrate to the interior and his loving gaze focuses on the state of the soul of each he embraces.
BLEssed Damien shows us another way; the way of Christ whose gaze always penetrates the surface of things and goes deeper.
Second letter:
"As you know, it has been already quite a while that Divine Providence chose me to become a victim of this repugnant disease of ours. I hope to remain eternally grateful for this grace. It seems to me that this disease will shorten and narrow the way that will lead me to our dear homeland. In that hope accepted this disease as my particular cross; I try to bear it as did Simon of Cyrene, following in the footsteps of our Divine Master. Please assist me with your good prayers, so as to obtain for me the strength of perseverance, until I reach the summit of Calvary."
it seems to me that this disease will shorten and narrow the way that will lead me to our dear homeland. In that hope I accepted this disease as my particular cross; i try to bear it as did Simon of Cyrene, following the footsteps of our Divine Master.
How often we gripe about sufferings or trials? How often we complain about this injury or that sickness? How many times have we refused to embrace the particular cross God has chosen for us on our journey home?
Rather than carry it, we throw it down and have ourselves a tantrum and begin to pity ourselves.
Blessed Damien sees in his affliction, his suffering and trial, his disease that will disfigure him, an opportunity to embrace the short and narrow path back home: "this disease will shorten and narrow the way."
What a beautiful perspective!
Yet, all he ask for are prayers for strength and perseverance that he may reach the summit.
He doesn't look for a way out. He embraces his cross and merely implores that with assistance of prayer, good prayers, that he might travel on the narrow path laid before him.
Godo prayers are requested.
How often are our prayers superficial and pretty lame? He wants prayers that matter, prayers that do not seek to eliminate the cross but give strength and encouragement while carrying it.
Good prayers that are not self centered, but always turned toward the will of God and our journey home.
Blessed Damien teaches us much. MAy we pray for the strength to follow in his footsteps and thus follow in the steps of Christ.
As The Song of Songs in the OLd Testament remind us, "follow the tracks of the flock" they will lead us to the shepherd.
to create a sense of beauty in those whose life is sordid and ugly; giving them power to see for the very first time...immeasurably generous is God's favor to us.
Showing posts with label saints. Show all posts
Showing posts with label saints. Show all posts
Friday, May 10, 2013
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
refusal to betray love
Hebrews 7:1-3,15-17; Ps 110 You are a priest for ever, in the line of Melchizedek; Mark 3:1-6
Yesterday since it was the anniversary of Roe v Wade, the church asked us to offer the mass for gratitude for the gift of life. So we did.
Yesterday was also the feast day of St. Vincent the Martyr, whose celebration we will commence today. We decided to move his feast day celebration here on retreat.
I am pleased with the decision. When we were in Madrid for world youth day, we stopped over in Valencia. We spent several days in VAlencia warming up for our trek to Madrid for the arrival of the Pope and the commencement of the youth day festivities.
While in Valencia, we came across the relics of St. Vincent the Martyr. He was a deacon int he early church and was killed for his faith in the 4th century. You do the math. That was over 1700 years ago.
Behind the Cathedral altar there is a box which contains the arm and hand of St. Vincent, still incorrupt for the most part. It looks like a hand and arm. Pretty amazing.
I remember having the opportunity to preach at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart while in Valencia with about 4 hundred pilgrims from all over the world and i was asked to preach on St. Vincent.
It was a pretty "cool"experience. I remember telling the pilgrims gathered that a martyr simply put is one who refuses to betray love.
They do not choose to die but rather they choose to live for God and in living for God and holding firm to their faith no matter the consequences they honor love in its highest degree.
The refusal to betray love, not our love for God, but rather God's love for us. This is what we celebrate in today's feast.
Martyrdom is the willingness to hold nothing back. Martyrdom can easily be likened to tithing. As you look toward today's first reading, we encounter Abraham apportioning to Melchizedek a tenth of everything.
What about us? How do we give of ourselves? What do we apportion out to God as a sign of our gratitude for him in our life?
Whether we are martyrs or not, we are all asked to give of ourselves as an opportunity to no longer live for ourselves but to live for God.
What say you!
Yesterday since it was the anniversary of Roe v Wade, the church asked us to offer the mass for gratitude for the gift of life. So we did.
Yesterday was also the feast day of St. Vincent the Martyr, whose celebration we will commence today. We decided to move his feast day celebration here on retreat.
I am pleased with the decision. When we were in Madrid for world youth day, we stopped over in Valencia. We spent several days in VAlencia warming up for our trek to Madrid for the arrival of the Pope and the commencement of the youth day festivities.
While in Valencia, we came across the relics of St. Vincent the Martyr. He was a deacon int he early church and was killed for his faith in the 4th century. You do the math. That was over 1700 years ago.
Behind the Cathedral altar there is a box which contains the arm and hand of St. Vincent, still incorrupt for the most part. It looks like a hand and arm. Pretty amazing.
I remember having the opportunity to preach at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart while in Valencia with about 4 hundred pilgrims from all over the world and i was asked to preach on St. Vincent.
It was a pretty "cool"experience. I remember telling the pilgrims gathered that a martyr simply put is one who refuses to betray love.
They do not choose to die but rather they choose to live for God and in living for God and holding firm to their faith no matter the consequences they honor love in its highest degree.
The refusal to betray love, not our love for God, but rather God's love for us. This is what we celebrate in today's feast.
Martyrdom is the willingness to hold nothing back. Martyrdom can easily be likened to tithing. As you look toward today's first reading, we encounter Abraham apportioning to Melchizedek a tenth of everything.
What about us? How do we give of ourselves? What do we apportion out to God as a sign of our gratitude for him in our life?
Whether we are martyrs or not, we are all asked to give of ourselves as an opportunity to no longer live for ourselves but to live for God.
What say you!
Wednesday, January 2, 2013
closed minded
Today on January 2nd we celebrate the memorial of St Basil and St Gregory.
As we turn our attention to the New Year, the church directs our gaze once again to the grace being active in the human heart, mind and soul as we venerate these two saints and doctors of the Church.
They stood fast to what was orthodox, that is, right teaching in regards to the faith and believe in the identity of Christ.
Basil and Gregory found themselves in the mix of contention as the early church struggled with Arianism, the teaching that Jesus was not one with the Father, that he was a creature, just a notch above the angels.
Basil and Gregory fought for the truth and they refused to tolerate false teachings in regards to the essential identity of Jesus, the one begotten from Father from all ages, eternal and truly divine.
It is because of Arianism we have the word "consubstantial" in our creed even today. We profess Jesus to be the same not similar to the Father, begotten not made, one in being with the Father.
We certainly have lost our way when it comes to taking a stand for what is true and good.
In our society we try to remain "opened" minded and thus tolerate all kinds of nonsense when it comes to opinion expressed about who God is from all eternity and who Christ is as well.
Sometimes, as Basil and Gregory teach us, that one's mind should be open only in so far as it can shut upon that which is true. We do not open our mind in order to keep it ajar but we open it in order to bite down on that which is of true substance, worthy of chewing.
Imagine walking around all day with your mouth open. We would soon discover that many un welcomed things would gather causing havoc to our health. It is the same with our mind. When we try to tolerate everything then we begin to believe in nothing.
Isn't this where we find ourselves in the current milieu.
This is where Basil and Gregory can assist us in our endeavor as we journey through the New Year.
"In 372 Emperor Valens sent Modestus, the prefect, to Cappadocia to introduce Arianism as the state religion. Modestus approached the holy bishop, upbraided him for his teaching, and threatened despoliation, exile, martyrdom, and death. To these words of the Byzantine despot, Basil replied with the peace of divine faith: "Is that all? Nothing of what you mentioned touches me. We possess nothing, we can be robbed of nothing. Exile will be impossible, since everywhere on God's earth I am at home. Torments cannot afflict me, for I have no body. And death is welcome, for it will bring me more quickly to God. To a great extent I am already dead; for a long time I have been hastening to the grave."
Astonished, the prefect remarked: "Till today no one has ever spoken to me so courageously." "Perhaps," rejoined Basil, "you have never before met a bishop." Modestus hastened back to Valens. "Emperor," he said, "we are bested by this leader of the Church. He is too strong for threats, too firm for words, too clever for persuasion."
These are the kind of Bishops we need today. As we honor the memories and life of Basil and Gregory, we should pray for our Bishops that they have the same kind of audacity to stand up against bullies of our current society, refusing to step down from what is true.
We should pray also for ourselves that we begin to discern what is true and good and worthy of closing our mind and heart around.
In the opening lines of today's first reading John poses a question, "who is the liar?"
Think about that for a moment. Lying presupposes the possibility of truth.
If there were no truth there could be no lying. But we know there is truth, especially in regards to the God's revelation. Not everything is acceptable, not everything is worthy of our belief.
Truth is greater than what we think or suppose or even hold to as an opinion.
There are lies and liars which means there are those who seek to speak the truth.
Where do we fit in this scheme of things? This of course begs the question, why are we Christians?
We are Christians in the first place, not because Jesus was a splendid teacher of morals in the first century Palestine or because we like his vision for ordering society. We are Christian because somehow in Christ we have been touched and even transformed by God himself.
This is what Basil and Gregory were insisting on in their fight for right teaching, orthodoxy. The one who is Consubstantial with the Father, God from God, Light from Light, as entered into our time and brought us face to face with God, truth has a face, in JEsus and through his church we know what it looks like and for this we are ever grateful. As we say in the Kyrie, "Lord JEsus, you have given us the consolation of the truth, Lord, have Mercy."
Mercy shines forth in truth! Basil and Gregory refused to forsake or take for granted the mercy of God by down playing truth. We should seek to do the same.
As we turn our attention to the New Year, the church directs our gaze once again to the grace being active in the human heart, mind and soul as we venerate these two saints and doctors of the Church.
They stood fast to what was orthodox, that is, right teaching in regards to the faith and believe in the identity of Christ.
Basil and Gregory found themselves in the mix of contention as the early church struggled with Arianism, the teaching that Jesus was not one with the Father, that he was a creature, just a notch above the angels.
Basil and Gregory fought for the truth and they refused to tolerate false teachings in regards to the essential identity of Jesus, the one begotten from Father from all ages, eternal and truly divine.
It is because of Arianism we have the word "consubstantial" in our creed even today. We profess Jesus to be the same not similar to the Father, begotten not made, one in being with the Father.
We certainly have lost our way when it comes to taking a stand for what is true and good.
In our society we try to remain "opened" minded and thus tolerate all kinds of nonsense when it comes to opinion expressed about who God is from all eternity and who Christ is as well.
Sometimes, as Basil and Gregory teach us, that one's mind should be open only in so far as it can shut upon that which is true. We do not open our mind in order to keep it ajar but we open it in order to bite down on that which is of true substance, worthy of chewing.
Imagine walking around all day with your mouth open. We would soon discover that many un welcomed things would gather causing havoc to our health. It is the same with our mind. When we try to tolerate everything then we begin to believe in nothing.
Isn't this where we find ourselves in the current milieu.
This is where Basil and Gregory can assist us in our endeavor as we journey through the New Year.
Here is an excerpt taken from the life of Basil in his conversation with the Emperor:
"In 372 Emperor Valens sent Modestus, the prefect, to Cappadocia to introduce Arianism as the state religion. Modestus approached the holy bishop, upbraided him for his teaching, and threatened despoliation, exile, martyrdom, and death. To these words of the Byzantine despot, Basil replied with the peace of divine faith: "Is that all? Nothing of what you mentioned touches me. We possess nothing, we can be robbed of nothing. Exile will be impossible, since everywhere on God's earth I am at home. Torments cannot afflict me, for I have no body. And death is welcome, for it will bring me more quickly to God. To a great extent I am already dead; for a long time I have been hastening to the grave."
Astonished, the prefect remarked: "Till today no one has ever spoken to me so courageously." "Perhaps," rejoined Basil, "you have never before met a bishop." Modestus hastened back to Valens. "Emperor," he said, "we are bested by this leader of the Church. He is too strong for threats, too firm for words, too clever for persuasion."
These are the kind of Bishops we need today. As we honor the memories and life of Basil and Gregory, we should pray for our Bishops that they have the same kind of audacity to stand up against bullies of our current society, refusing to step down from what is true.
We should pray also for ourselves that we begin to discern what is true and good and worthy of closing our mind and heart around.
In the opening lines of today's first reading John poses a question, "who is the liar?"
Think about that for a moment. Lying presupposes the possibility of truth.
If there were no truth there could be no lying. But we know there is truth, especially in regards to the God's revelation. Not everything is acceptable, not everything is worthy of our belief.
Truth is greater than what we think or suppose or even hold to as an opinion.
There are lies and liars which means there are those who seek to speak the truth.
Where do we fit in this scheme of things? This of course begs the question, why are we Christians?
We are Christians in the first place, not because Jesus was a splendid teacher of morals in the first century Palestine or because we like his vision for ordering society. We are Christian because somehow in Christ we have been touched and even transformed by God himself.
This is what Basil and Gregory were insisting on in their fight for right teaching, orthodoxy. The one who is Consubstantial with the Father, God from God, Light from Light, as entered into our time and brought us face to face with God, truth has a face, in JEsus and through his church we know what it looks like and for this we are ever grateful. As we say in the Kyrie, "Lord JEsus, you have given us the consolation of the truth, Lord, have Mercy."
Mercy shines forth in truth! Basil and Gregory refused to forsake or take for granted the mercy of God by down playing truth. We should seek to do the same.
Friday, December 14, 2012
procrastination
Isaiah 48:17-19; Ps 1 Those who follow you, Lord, will have the light of life; Mt 11:16-19
Today is the feast of John of the Cross, a spaniard, a reformer, a priest, a holy soul constantly seeking to draw closer to God through detachment.
Here are a few of his words of wisdom, ""With what procrastinations do you wait, since from this very moment you can love God in your heart?"
Today is the feast of John of the Cross, a spaniard, a reformer, a priest, a holy soul constantly seeking to draw closer to God through detachment.
Here are a few of his words of wisdom, ""With what procrastinations do you wait, since from this very moment you can love God in your heart?"
Here is a little story for your enjoyment
One day a young man moved into a cave to study with a wiseman. He hoped to learn everything there was to know. After giving his student a stack of books, the wise man sprinkled itching powder on his student's hand and left. Every morning the wise man returned to the cave to monitor his student's progress. "Have you learned everything there is to know yet?" the wise man asked.
And every morning his student said, "No, I haven't." Then the wise man would sprinkle itching powder on the student's hand and leave. This was repeated for months. But one day, as the wise man entered the cave the student took the bag of itching powder and tossed it into the fire.
"Congratulations!" said the wise man. "You've graduated. You've learned you don' t have to know everything to do something positive. And you've learned how to take control over your life and stop the itching."
Procrastination is all around us.
We even have habits we do to encourage procrastination rather then effect a change in our lives. Here are just a few: avoidance, distraction (we distract ourselves), trivialization (we treat what needs to be done as trivial or not as important as it really is), Humor (we laugh or make jokes about our procrastination), Denial.
Procrastination is when we replace higher priority action with lower priority tasks.
Where do you procrastinate? How do you encourage procrastination? How has procrastination effected your life style and stress level?
Hard work is usually easy work that has been set aside or pushed off until later.
Think about the priority in your relationship with God. Should this not be our top priority.
How do we act in this regard? How do we center our life around acting and not procrastinating when it comes to fulfilling the great commandment: love God with all our heart, mind, soul, strength.
How do we distract ourselves? How do we avoid? How do we trivialize our relationship with God? How often have we spoken those words, "God doesn't really care?" How often de we joke about how we could be better or we could be more loving or we could work on our relationship more?
Things to consider as we continue our journey in Advent, this season of waiting but definitely not a season to procrastinate.
Words of St James 4:13 Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit"; 14whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.
Monday, December 3, 2012
St Francis Xavier
Isaiah 2:1-5; PS 122 Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord; Mt 8:5-11
Today on this first Monday of Advent two quotes.
First we hear from St. Francis of Xavier whose memorial the Church celebrates on this December 3rd. In his missionary endeavor he was in constant correspondence with St. Ignatius. In one of his letters he speaks of the dire need for assistance as he looks out over the new converts to Christianity. He states the following in summation: "The native Christians have no priest; there is no body to say mass; no body to teach them the Creed, the Our Father, the Hail Mary and the commandments." And finally he states and "there is no body to make them Christians."
He speaks of the need for others to get involved in spreading the message of Christ. Too many sit idly by believe in Christ but not wanting to get there hands dirty. How he wished he go go to the places of learning, the universities to those people who have more "learning than charity" to tell them they should work as hard on being Christian as they do at their books and to settle their account with God for their learning and the talents he entrusted them."
Basically he was demanding people to be present to God's call. In advent we wait for the coming of Christ and yet we forget that Christ waits for our coming as well.
Just as we beg for Christ he begs for us to be present. As we pray 'come, Lord Jesus' so Jesus cries out come young and old, wise and foolish, men and women, come and be my voice, be my hands, be my heart to the world. This is what Francis Xavier the saintly man who spent his life spreading the message desired for us as well.
As we wait in Advent may we also be busy and active in living our Christian values to the full.
Secondly, we hear for Christ in today's gospel: JEsus said to the centurion, "I will come and cure him."
In deed this is the summation of the incarnation. Jesus comes to cure us. By his coming, by his taking on our flesh, by his entering the human state, he has bound our wounds and brought forth the healing remedy for all of humanity.
He has come; he has cured us; and yet like the man on the mat we are reluctant to rise. We are reluctant to receive the healing hand that stretches forth to meet us in Christ.
Advent is also about the realization that the answer to woes in our life as already come. We do not have to wait any longer. Our waiting has ended even as it begins. He has come. We must go out to meet him.
Today on this first Monday of Advent two quotes.
First we hear from St. Francis of Xavier whose memorial the Church celebrates on this December 3rd. In his missionary endeavor he was in constant correspondence with St. Ignatius. In one of his letters he speaks of the dire need for assistance as he looks out over the new converts to Christianity. He states the following in summation: "The native Christians have no priest; there is no body to say mass; no body to teach them the Creed, the Our Father, the Hail Mary and the commandments." And finally he states and "there is no body to make them Christians."
He speaks of the need for others to get involved in spreading the message of Christ. Too many sit idly by believe in Christ but not wanting to get there hands dirty. How he wished he go go to the places of learning, the universities to those people who have more "learning than charity" to tell them they should work as hard on being Christian as they do at their books and to settle their account with God for their learning and the talents he entrusted them."
Basically he was demanding people to be present to God's call. In advent we wait for the coming of Christ and yet we forget that Christ waits for our coming as well.
Just as we beg for Christ he begs for us to be present. As we pray 'come, Lord Jesus' so Jesus cries out come young and old, wise and foolish, men and women, come and be my voice, be my hands, be my heart to the world. This is what Francis Xavier the saintly man who spent his life spreading the message desired for us as well.
As we wait in Advent may we also be busy and active in living our Christian values to the full.
Secondly, we hear for Christ in today's gospel: JEsus said to the centurion, "I will come and cure him."
In deed this is the summation of the incarnation. Jesus comes to cure us. By his coming, by his taking on our flesh, by his entering the human state, he has bound our wounds and brought forth the healing remedy for all of humanity.
He has come; he has cured us; and yet like the man on the mat we are reluctant to rise. We are reluctant to receive the healing hand that stretches forth to meet us in Christ.
Advent is also about the realization that the answer to woes in our life as already come. We do not have to wait any longer. Our waiting has ended even as it begins. He has come. We must go out to meet him.
Friday, November 30, 2012
red rover red rover let Andy come over
Romans 8 10:9-18; Ps 19 The Judgments of the Lord are true and all of them just; Mt 4:18-22
Today is the Feast of St. Andrew the Apostle. He was the first one called to follow Jesus.
Think about being called to follow Jesus.
When did yo first experience a calling, an invitation to surrender your life and entrust it to Christ?
How do you live that calling, that invitation out in your life?
As St. Paul reminds us in the first reading, "And how can they hear without someone to preach? And how can can people preach unless they are sent? as it is written, 'how beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!'"
How are your feet? What news do you bring to your family, your job, your gatherings, your friends, your life?
As St. Paul reminds us, "not every has heeded the good news."
Indeed this is true. But who is responsible for making the news available to others?
Surely not just the clergy! We all have a part to play. The problem currently it only a few play the part given them by the call of Christ.
Many of us stand idly by with our hands in our pockets watching it all unravel before us. At some point we have to jump in and get with it. IT is our witness, each of us, that is lacking in the program of proclaiming the faith.
Our silence is deafening. Our voice needs to be rediscovered. Our witness needs to sharpen.
Remember when we are all young and on the playground. Remember how loud we could be.
Remember playing "Red Rover" and yelling at the top of our lungs, "RED ROVER, RED ROVER, LET, (insert name here) COME OVER!"
How exciting; how exhilarating! We need to rediscover that energy and redistribute it in our witness, our lives.
RED ROVER! RED ROVER! LET ANDY COME OVER! St. ANDY that is.
We need his intercession so that we can get on with fulfilling our duty.
St. Andrew upon hearing the call went to get his brother. HE spread the message. HE made it known.
"at once they left their nets and followed him." Fishers of men they became.
Fishers of men its who we are called to be!
Like a game of tag, it is our time to reach forth no longer sparingly and touch someone with our witness of faith. Imagine being on the play ground. Imaging that exhilaration and energy. Pray for strength to be that witness. Do not get discouraged, no, rather GET LOUD!
Today is the Feast of St. Andrew the Apostle. He was the first one called to follow Jesus.
Think about being called to follow Jesus.
When did yo first experience a calling, an invitation to surrender your life and entrust it to Christ?
How do you live that calling, that invitation out in your life?
As St. Paul reminds us in the first reading, "And how can they hear without someone to preach? And how can can people preach unless they are sent? as it is written, 'how beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!'"
How are your feet? What news do you bring to your family, your job, your gatherings, your friends, your life?
As St. Paul reminds us, "not every has heeded the good news."
Indeed this is true. But who is responsible for making the news available to others?
Surely not just the clergy! We all have a part to play. The problem currently it only a few play the part given them by the call of Christ.
Many of us stand idly by with our hands in our pockets watching it all unravel before us. At some point we have to jump in and get with it. IT is our witness, each of us, that is lacking in the program of proclaiming the faith.
Our silence is deafening. Our voice needs to be rediscovered. Our witness needs to sharpen.
Remember when we are all young and on the playground. Remember how loud we could be.
Remember playing "Red Rover" and yelling at the top of our lungs, "RED ROVER, RED ROVER, LET, (insert name here) COME OVER!"
How exciting; how exhilarating! We need to rediscover that energy and redistribute it in our witness, our lives.
RED ROVER! RED ROVER! LET ANDY COME OVER! St. ANDY that is.
We need his intercession so that we can get on with fulfilling our duty.
St. Andrew upon hearing the call went to get his brother. HE spread the message. HE made it known.
"at once they left their nets and followed him." Fishers of men they became.
Fishers of men its who we are called to be!
Like a game of tag, it is our time to reach forth no longer sparingly and touch someone with our witness of faith. Imagine being on the play ground. Imaging that exhilaration and energy. Pray for strength to be that witness. Do not get discouraged, no, rather GET LOUD!
Thursday, May 3, 2012
Get out there and dance
1 Corinthians 15:1-8; Their message goes out through all the earth; John 14:6-14
A poem I encountered recently:
The dead say little in their letters
they haven't said before.
We find no secrets, and yet
how different every sentence sounds
heard across the years.
My father breaks my heart
simply by being so young and handsome.
He's half my age, with jet-black hair.
Look at him in his navy uniform
grinning beside his dive-bomber.
Come back, Dad! I want to shout.
He says he misses all of us
(though I haven't yet been born).
He writes from places I never knew he saw,
and everyone he mentions now is dead.
There is a large, long photograph
curled like a diploma—a banquet sixty years ago.
My parents sit uncomfortably
among tables of dark-suited strangers.
The mildewed paper reeks of regret.
I wonder what song the band was playing,
just out of frame, as the photographer
arranged your smiles. A waltz? A foxtrot?
Get out there on the floor and dance!
You don't have forever....
It's silly to get sentimental.
The dead have moved on. So should we.
But isn't it equally simpleminded to miss
the special expertise of the departed
in clarifying our long-term plans?
They never let us forget that the line
between them and us is only temporary.
Get out there and dance! the letters shout
adding, Love always. Can't wait to get home!
And soon we will be. See you there.
I especially am moved by the last stanza of the poem, "Get out there and dance! the letters shout, adding, Love always....
How often have we lived the reality of the poem, where we uncover or recover or discover old letters from loved ones who have past on; or even simply find a postcard or a picture of time long ago when life was still vibrant and full of action for those who have since moved on.
Do we not reminisce and wonder what they were thinking, or saying, or feeling as the picture captures the moment and the frame binds them in that state of mind.
And yet, those pictures and letters also seem to speak to us in a real way about the fleeting reality of life. They remind us that time keeps moving and we too must get out there and enter fully into life for one day some one will discover or uncover or recover a letter we had written while our heart still was beating and blood was still pulsing; or they will see a picture where we are framed in a moment of time and they will wonder what we were thinking, feeling, doing.
Our letters will say the same thing as the letters of those who have gone before: Get out there and dance....
Get out there and dance.
As we celebrate the feast of St James and St Philip, apostles, martyrs and friends of God, we think about what they would say to us today.
In the words of Jesus in the gospel they might state, "whoever believes in me will do the works I do, and will do greater ones than these...whatever you ask in my name, I will do, so that the Father may be glorifies in the Son..."
In other words, Get out there and dance. Live while living is right. BE not afraid.
We have all received the same Spirit of God flowing through our veins. Get out there and dance, and love always...these are the words of those who have gone before us in faith.
James and Philip both were moved by the desire to "See the Father" and yet they are there and we are here and they root for us as we move toward them.
Their pictures and statues point us to the way. Get out there and dance! YOU will do the works I do, and will do greater ones than these.
There is greatness in all us waiting to be unleashed. How often we hide it, like a superhero who doesn't want his identity to be found out we too masquerade as just another guy or just another gal yet there is greatness in us for we believe and we have been set on a course that is bigger than we can imagine.
We got to let our hair down, remove our mask, and let the world know the greatness of being a believer, a lover of God, the one who is loved by God.
Don't stifle the gift. Don't put in a frame and keep it as a souvenir. We are not dead yet.
Get out there and dance! Love always...See you there...
Here is an excerpt from the letter of St James chapter 4:13-15
"Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we shall go not such and such a town, spend year there doing business, and make profit...you have no idea what your life will be like tomorrow. You are a puff of smoke that appears briefly and then disappears. Instead you should say, "If the lord wills it, we shall live to do this or that."
Get out there and dance!
St. Philip and St. James pray for us!
A poem I encountered recently:
The dead say little in their letters
they haven't said before.
We find no secrets, and yet
how different every sentence sounds
heard across the years.
My father breaks my heart
simply by being so young and handsome.
He's half my age, with jet-black hair.
Look at him in his navy uniform
grinning beside his dive-bomber.
Come back, Dad! I want to shout.
He says he misses all of us
(though I haven't yet been born).
He writes from places I never knew he saw,
and everyone he mentions now is dead.
There is a large, long photograph
curled like a diploma—a banquet sixty years ago.
My parents sit uncomfortably
among tables of dark-suited strangers.
The mildewed paper reeks of regret.
I wonder what song the band was playing,
just out of frame, as the photographer
arranged your smiles. A waltz? A foxtrot?
Get out there on the floor and dance!
You don't have forever....
It's silly to get sentimental.
The dead have moved on. So should we.
But isn't it equally simpleminded to miss
the special expertise of the departed
in clarifying our long-term plans?
They never let us forget that the line
between them and us is only temporary.
Get out there and dance! the letters shout
adding, Love always. Can't wait to get home!
And soon we will be. See you there.
I especially am moved by the last stanza of the poem, "Get out there and dance! the letters shout, adding, Love always....
How often have we lived the reality of the poem, where we uncover or recover or discover old letters from loved ones who have past on; or even simply find a postcard or a picture of time long ago when life was still vibrant and full of action for those who have since moved on.
Do we not reminisce and wonder what they were thinking, or saying, or feeling as the picture captures the moment and the frame binds them in that state of mind.
And yet, those pictures and letters also seem to speak to us in a real way about the fleeting reality of life. They remind us that time keeps moving and we too must get out there and enter fully into life for one day some one will discover or uncover or recover a letter we had written while our heart still was beating and blood was still pulsing; or they will see a picture where we are framed in a moment of time and they will wonder what we were thinking, feeling, doing.
Our letters will say the same thing as the letters of those who have gone before: Get out there and dance....
Get out there and dance.
As we celebrate the feast of St James and St Philip, apostles, martyrs and friends of God, we think about what they would say to us today.
In the words of Jesus in the gospel they might state, "whoever believes in me will do the works I do, and will do greater ones than these...whatever you ask in my name, I will do, so that the Father may be glorifies in the Son..."
In other words, Get out there and dance. Live while living is right. BE not afraid.
We have all received the same Spirit of God flowing through our veins. Get out there and dance, and love always...these are the words of those who have gone before us in faith.
James and Philip both were moved by the desire to "See the Father" and yet they are there and we are here and they root for us as we move toward them.
Their pictures and statues point us to the way. Get out there and dance! YOU will do the works I do, and will do greater ones than these.
There is greatness in all us waiting to be unleashed. How often we hide it, like a superhero who doesn't want his identity to be found out we too masquerade as just another guy or just another gal yet there is greatness in us for we believe and we have been set on a course that is bigger than we can imagine.
We got to let our hair down, remove our mask, and let the world know the greatness of being a believer, a lover of God, the one who is loved by God.
Don't stifle the gift. Don't put in a frame and keep it as a souvenir. We are not dead yet.
Get out there and dance! Love always...See you there...
Here is an excerpt from the letter of St James chapter 4:13-15
"Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we shall go not such and such a town, spend year there doing business, and make profit...you have no idea what your life will be like tomorrow. You are a puff of smoke that appears briefly and then disappears. Instead you should say, "If the lord wills it, we shall live to do this or that."
Get out there and dance!
St. Philip and St. James pray for us!
Monday, March 19, 2012
Joseph
Prayer to St Joseph
Remember, O most chaste spouse of the virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who implored your help and sought your intercession was left unaided. Full of confidence in your power, I fly unto you, and beg your protection. Despise not, O foster father of the redeemer, my humble petition, but in your goodness, hear and answer me. Amen
Litany of St. Joseph
Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Christ, hear us. Christ, graciously hear us.
God the Father of Heaven…have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world…have mercy on us.
God the Holy Spirit, sanctifier of souls…have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, One God, communion of eternal love…have mercy on us.
Holy Mary…Pray for us.
St. Joseph…pray for us
Illustrious son of David…pray for us
Light of the patriarchs…pray for us
Spouse of the Mother of God…pray for us
Chaste guardian of the Virgin…pray for us
Foster-father of the Son of God…pray for us
Watchful defender of Christ…pray for us
Head of the Holy Family…pray for us
Joseph, most just…pray for us
Joseph, most chaste…pray for us
Joseph, most prudent pray for us
Joseph, most valiant…pray for us
Joseph, most obedient…pray for us
Joseph, most faithful…pray for us
Mirror of patience…pray for us
Lover of poverty…pray for us
Model of workmen…pray for us
Glory of domestic life…pray for us
Guardian of virgins…pray for us
Pillar of families…pray for us
Solace of the afflicted…pray for us
Hope of the Sick…pray for us
Patron of the dying…pray for us
Terror of the demons…pray for us
Protector of God’s Holy Church…pray for us
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world…spare us O Lord
Lamb of God, You who take away the sins of the world…graciously hear us, O Lord
Lamb of God, You who take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.
O God who in your marvelous providence has deigned to choose St Joseph to be the spouse of your most holy mother, grant, we beseech you, that we may deserve to have him for our intercessor in Heaven whom on earth we venerate as our protector, You who live and reign forever and ever. Amen
Remember, O most chaste spouse of the virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who implored your help and sought your intercession was left unaided. Full of confidence in your power, I fly unto you, and beg your protection. Despise not, O foster father of the redeemer, my humble petition, but in your goodness, hear and answer me. Amen
Litany of St. Joseph
Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Christ, hear us. Christ, graciously hear us.
God the Father of Heaven…have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world…have mercy on us.
God the Holy Spirit, sanctifier of souls…have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, One God, communion of eternal love…have mercy on us.
Holy Mary…Pray for us.
St. Joseph…pray for us
Illustrious son of David…pray for us
Light of the patriarchs…pray for us
Spouse of the Mother of God…pray for us
Chaste guardian of the Virgin…pray for us
Foster-father of the Son of God…pray for us
Watchful defender of Christ…pray for us
Head of the Holy Family…pray for us
Joseph, most just…pray for us
Joseph, most chaste…pray for us
Joseph, most prudent pray for us
Joseph, most valiant…pray for us
Joseph, most obedient…pray for us
Joseph, most faithful…pray for us
Mirror of patience…pray for us
Lover of poverty…pray for us
Model of workmen…pray for us
Glory of domestic life…pray for us
Guardian of virgins…pray for us
Pillar of families…pray for us
Solace of the afflicted…pray for us
Hope of the Sick…pray for us
Patron of the dying…pray for us
Terror of the demons…pray for us
Protector of God’s Holy Church…pray for us
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world…spare us O Lord
Lamb of God, You who take away the sins of the world…graciously hear us, O Lord
Lamb of God, You who take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.
O God who in your marvelous providence has deigned to choose St Joseph to be the spouse of your most holy mother, grant, we beseech you, that we may deserve to have him for our intercessor in Heaven whom on earth we venerate as our protector, You who live and reign forever and ever. Amen
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
prayer not babble
Isaiah 55:10-11; Ps 34 From their distress God rescues the just; Matthew 6:7-15
Today we read in the gospel Jesus's catechesis on prayer. He invites us not to babble like the pagans who think they will be heard becasue of their many words.
In prayer, it seems, at least from the point of view of Jesus, less is best. In fact, structure seems all the more important as he gives us the "THe Lord's Prayer."
We all know, pagans aren't the only ones that babale in prayer, many of our christian separated bretheren also like to babble in fornt of people.
In fact, i had one so called minsiter, tell me that is was incorrect to recite the Our Father becasue it was a repetitions prayer and that is not JEsus meant.
Yet, we have the very words of JEsus in today's gospel, "This is how you are to pray: Our Father who art in heaven hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgiev those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us form evil."
Seems pretty straight forward to me.
St. Gregrory instructs us that there isn nothing pleasing to the God the father than to hear these words, this prayer echoing in his ears, for they are the very words of Jesus himself.
If we have Jesus in our hearts, should we not have him on our lips as well.
For as St. benedict reminds us, it is the words of prayer that leads our mind into the heart of Christ himself.
Let the prayer be pressed upon our lips and thus echo and ring in the ears of our Father and let honor be given to him who gave us this prayer in the first place.
With the prayer, we pray not with human words alone but with the very words of God himself.
This morning we woke up early as a parish and add our first 6:30 am mass on tuesday during lent.
FOr this special mass, which about 50 members of the community showed up, i am so grateful; i started my little homily section on wisdom of the saints for our lenten journey.
I quotes St. Josemaria Escriva, a modern saint comparatively, He died in 1975.
I was quoting his take on mortification. Mortification is the discipline of the body, thus the root of the interior life.
The saint says the following, "If you do not deny yourself you will never be a soul of prayer...IF the grain of wheat does not die, it remains unfruitful. Don't you want to be a grain of wheat, to die through mortification, and to yield a rich harvest? What kind of mortification? that word you refused to say to another, the cheerful smile for those who annoy you; the silence when unjustly accused; a friendly conversation with those who irritate you; the daily effort to overlook the irritable trait of another you live with; this with perseverance is indeed solid mortification and thus begins the fruit of the kingdom being laid bear though you."
Today we read in the gospel Jesus's catechesis on prayer. He invites us not to babble like the pagans who think they will be heard becasue of their many words.
In prayer, it seems, at least from the point of view of Jesus, less is best. In fact, structure seems all the more important as he gives us the "THe Lord's Prayer."
We all know, pagans aren't the only ones that babale in prayer, many of our christian separated bretheren also like to babble in fornt of people.
In fact, i had one so called minsiter, tell me that is was incorrect to recite the Our Father becasue it was a repetitions prayer and that is not JEsus meant.
Yet, we have the very words of JEsus in today's gospel, "This is how you are to pray: Our Father who art in heaven hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgiev those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us form evil."
Seems pretty straight forward to me.
St. Gregrory instructs us that there isn nothing pleasing to the God the father than to hear these words, this prayer echoing in his ears, for they are the very words of Jesus himself.
If we have Jesus in our hearts, should we not have him on our lips as well.
For as St. benedict reminds us, it is the words of prayer that leads our mind into the heart of Christ himself.
Let the prayer be pressed upon our lips and thus echo and ring in the ears of our Father and let honor be given to him who gave us this prayer in the first place.
With the prayer, we pray not with human words alone but with the very words of God himself.
This morning we woke up early as a parish and add our first 6:30 am mass on tuesday during lent.
FOr this special mass, which about 50 members of the community showed up, i am so grateful; i started my little homily section on wisdom of the saints for our lenten journey.
I quotes St. Josemaria Escriva, a modern saint comparatively, He died in 1975.
I was quoting his take on mortification. Mortification is the discipline of the body, thus the root of the interior life.
The saint says the following, "If you do not deny yourself you will never be a soul of prayer...IF the grain of wheat does not die, it remains unfruitful. Don't you want to be a grain of wheat, to die through mortification, and to yield a rich harvest? What kind of mortification? that word you refused to say to another, the cheerful smile for those who annoy you; the silence when unjustly accused; a friendly conversation with those who irritate you; the daily effort to overlook the irritable trait of another you live with; this with perseverance is indeed solid mortification and thus begins the fruit of the kingdom being laid bear though you."
Thursday, January 26, 2012
chain reaction
2 Tim 1:1-8; Titus 1:1-5; Ps 96 proclaim God's marvelous deeds to all the nations; Mark 4:21-25
To start with today I have two quotes that have little to do with each other but I find them humorous and insightful nonetheless.
First from author Christopher Hampton, "Asking a working writer what he thinks about critics is like asking a lamppost what it feels about dogs."
The second come from Pope Benedict, "The admonition, "be nice to one another", is certainly not to be scorned, but it does not reach the height of the gospel because it spares us the effort of setting out on the way to truth and so of really coming together."
Today is the memorial of the saints Timothy and Titus. These are two companions of Paul who later become bishops in the early church.
Yesterday we celebrated the Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul. Today we look at some of those who who were converted because Paul was converted.
Conversion is meant to be a chain reaction. True faith does not and can not remain isolated to an individual. Faith reaches out and touches those around us. Other people should experience our own conversion and be moved by it.
What is unique about Timothy and Titus is they come from different backgrounds. Timothy was raised by a jewish grandmother and mother, where as, Titus was a gentile through and through. Yet, the grace of Paul's conversion attracted both of them and led them to Christ, for whom they would give their lives fully, completely, tirelessly.
The words of Paul to Timothy are very much words to us as well, "stir into flame the gift of God that you have through the imposition of my hands. For God did not give us a spirit of cowardice but rather of power and love and self-control. so do not be ashamed of your testimony of the Lord, nor of me, a prisoner for his sake, but bear your share of the hardship of the gospel with the strength that comes from God."
stir into flame the gift of God...now, here is a nice task set before us all. How do you keep the flame of faith alive in your heart and mind? How do you guard the fire burning in your soul? Remember the words of Pope Benedict yesterday, we must develop an eco-system of faith that guards our spiritual lives. Fire needs fuel to burn. How do you fuel your spiritual selves so that you become the lamp that radiates the light of CHrist?
bear your share of the hardships of the gospel with the strength that comes form God...it is true we each have a share in carrying the gospel message. It cannot all fall on the shoulders of the clergy. There are a lot more lay people then there are of us. We expect the clergy and bishops to bear the hardship of the gospel daily, but all of us have to share in that lifting up and proclaiming the gospel.
We have many who claim to follow Christ but refuse to embrace the gospel message. We have many who want to do their own thing and thus the weight of the gospel is even heavier on those few who seek to live it fully and authentically.
we all must find a way to bear our share of the hardship of the gospel. As Benedict tells us there is an effort of seeking the way of truth and lifting the gospel.
It is a chain reaction of faith we seek to get moving. Let us let Christ to use us as a catalyst.
Catalysts that speed of a reaction are called positive catalyst; those that slow down a reaction are called inhibitors; those that increase the reaction of catalyst in reaction are called promoters; that which deactivates the catalyst in reaction isa catalytic poison.
Which are we?
To start with today I have two quotes that have little to do with each other but I find them humorous and insightful nonetheless.
First from author Christopher Hampton, "Asking a working writer what he thinks about critics is like asking a lamppost what it feels about dogs."
The second come from Pope Benedict, "The admonition, "be nice to one another", is certainly not to be scorned, but it does not reach the height of the gospel because it spares us the effort of setting out on the way to truth and so of really coming together."
Today is the memorial of the saints Timothy and Titus. These are two companions of Paul who later become bishops in the early church.
Yesterday we celebrated the Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul. Today we look at some of those who who were converted because Paul was converted.
Conversion is meant to be a chain reaction. True faith does not and can not remain isolated to an individual. Faith reaches out and touches those around us. Other people should experience our own conversion and be moved by it.
What is unique about Timothy and Titus is they come from different backgrounds. Timothy was raised by a jewish grandmother and mother, where as, Titus was a gentile through and through. Yet, the grace of Paul's conversion attracted both of them and led them to Christ, for whom they would give their lives fully, completely, tirelessly.
The words of Paul to Timothy are very much words to us as well, "stir into flame the gift of God that you have through the imposition of my hands. For God did not give us a spirit of cowardice but rather of power and love and self-control. so do not be ashamed of your testimony of the Lord, nor of me, a prisoner for his sake, but bear your share of the hardship of the gospel with the strength that comes from God."
stir into flame the gift of God...now, here is a nice task set before us all. How do you keep the flame of faith alive in your heart and mind? How do you guard the fire burning in your soul? Remember the words of Pope Benedict yesterday, we must develop an eco-system of faith that guards our spiritual lives. Fire needs fuel to burn. How do you fuel your spiritual selves so that you become the lamp that radiates the light of CHrist?
bear your share of the hardships of the gospel with the strength that comes form God...it is true we each have a share in carrying the gospel message. It cannot all fall on the shoulders of the clergy. There are a lot more lay people then there are of us. We expect the clergy and bishops to bear the hardship of the gospel daily, but all of us have to share in that lifting up and proclaiming the gospel.
We have many who claim to follow Christ but refuse to embrace the gospel message. We have many who want to do their own thing and thus the weight of the gospel is even heavier on those few who seek to live it fully and authentically.
we all must find a way to bear our share of the hardship of the gospel. As Benedict tells us there is an effort of seeking the way of truth and lifting the gospel.
It is a chain reaction of faith we seek to get moving. Let us let Christ to use us as a catalyst.
Catalysts that speed of a reaction are called positive catalyst; those that slow down a reaction are called inhibitors; those that increase the reaction of catalyst in reaction are called promoters; that which deactivates the catalyst in reaction isa catalytic poison.
Which are we?
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
devotion

2 Samuel 6:12-19; Ps 24 Who is the king of glory? it is the Lord; Mark 3:31-35
Today is the feast of Francis de Sales, the doctor of devotion.
He made continued effort to get people to understand that they could be devout no matter their state of life. God's holiness was for them, where they were. Each life had a duty to grow in perfection.
It is not unlike the words of Jesus in today's gospel, "For whoever does the will of GOd is my brother and sister and mother."
This line is at the heart of the devout life.
It was Francis de sales who noted that many people did exterior acts of devotion but were far from devout in their life. People put on devotional acts like clothes but never let it penetrate and change them. It is like putting lipstick on a pig, it remains a pig.
HE encouraged people to go deeper, to truly reach for perfection in their temperament.
HE mentioned that many people put on acts of devotion like clothing, it is merely an external dressing up but the inside remains the same. IT is like trying to dress up a pig, you could put a ribbon in its tail, spray perfume on it, and put lipstick on its snout, but what you get remains a pig.
True devotion is not like lipstick on a pig but rather the pig actually becomes transformed in the process.
Here is a bit from the Good Doctor.
"But, in fact, all true and living devotion presupposes the love of God;—and indeed it is neither more nor less than a very real love of God, though not always of the same kind; for that Love one while shining on the soul we call grace, which makes us acceptable to His Divine Majesty;—when it strengthens us to do well, it is called Charity;—but when it attains its fullest perfection, in which it not only leads us to do well, but to act carefully, diligently, and promptly, then it is called Devotion. The ostrich never flies,—the hen rises with difficulty, and achieves but a brief and rare flight, but the eagle, the dove, and the swallow, are continually on the wing, and soar high;—even so sinners do not rise towards God, for all their movements are earthly and earthbound. Well-meaning people, who have not as yet attained a true devotion, attempt a manner of flight by means of their good actions, but rarely, slowly and heavily; while really devout men rise up to God frequently, and with a swift and soaring wing.
In short, devotion is simply a spiritual activity and liveliness by means of which Divine Love works in us, and causes us to work briskly and lovingly; and just as charity leads us to a general practice of all God’s Commandments, so devotion leads us to practise them readily and diligently. And therefore we cannot call him who neglects to observe all God’s Commandments either good or devout, because in order to be good, a man must be filled with love, and to be devout, he must further be very ready and apt to perform the deeds of love. And forasmuch as devotion consists in a high degree of real love, it not only makes us ready, active, and diligent in following all God’s Commands, but it also excites us to be ready and loving in performing as many good works as possible, even such as are not enjoined upon us, but are only matters of counsel or inspiration. Even as a man just recovering from illness, walks only so far as he is obliged to go, with a slow and weary step, so the converted sinner journeys along as far as God commands him but slowly and wearily, until he attains a true spirit of devotion, and then, like a sound man, he not only gets along, but he runs and leaps in the way of God’s Commands, and hastens gladly along the paths of heavenly counsels and inspirations.
The difference between love and devotion is just that which exists between fire and flame;—love
being a spiritual fire which becomes devotion when it is fanned into a flame;—and what devotion adds to the fire of love is that flame which makes it eager, energetic and diligent, not merely in obeying God’s Commandments, but in fulfilling His Divine Counsels and inspirations."
Monday, January 9, 2012
john the almsgiving
Today marks the beginning of Ordinary Time. As we bid farewell to the Christmas season and welcome ordinary time. Ordinary time is a period in which we see JEsus in action. HE enters fully into his public ministry.
To start this ordinary time we are invited to recall St. John the Almsgiver. He lived in the 7th century. HE was a widower and was elevated to be patriarch of Alexandria.
His focus was almsgiving. Giving everything to support others continually.
He always referred to the poor as his "lords and masters", because of their mighty influence at the Court of the Most High.
What a unique focus on life. What if we just focused on giving.
How often do we excuse ourselves from giving with excuses such as they should get a job, or they just are going get drunk or blow it on cigarettes.
It is nice to be in the position of making excuses not to give.
What if we were on the other side of things.
ponder this quote from St. Vincent de Paul
"When the demands of life seem unfair, when you are exhausted and have to pull yourself out of bed yet another time to do some act of service, do it gladly, without counting the cost without self-pity. for if you persevere in serving others , in giving yourself to the poor, if you persevere to the point of completely spending yourself, perhaps someday the poor will find it in their hearts to forgive you. For it is more blessed to give than to receive, and it is also a lot easier."
Almsgiving isn't just for Lent; it must accompany us throughout our life. IT is the primary way we imitate Christ, giving ourselves.
Friday, January 6, 2012
porter

1 John5:5-13; Ps 147 praise the Lord Jerusalem; Mark 1:7-11
Perhaps we should meditate on the opening lines of today's first reading, "Who indeed is the victor over the world but the one who believes that JEsus in the Son of God."
What does it look like to stand victorious over the world?
For this, the church gives us the saints; as we look into their lives we begin to see what victory looks like. In their life, the mystery of God's love shines through and light pierces the darkness and the glimmer of hope brightens our lives and encourages us onward.
Today we see love perfected in the life of Blessed Andre Bessette, who stands as a champion of faith, a victor in Christ.
Born 1845, one of ten, he lost his father at the age of 9 and his mother at age 12 and his family was dispersed. He did odd jobs between the border of U.S. and Canada and finally found his way to the Congregation of the Holy Cross at the age of 25.
The congregation soon discovered that he was illiterate, he could hardly read or write, and was always sick with stomach ailments.
Because of this, the congregation wanted to dismiss him. At the Bishop's request, however, the congregation kept him on and sent him to Notre Dame College for boys in Montreal where he was the porter.
He was in charge of answering the door, welcoming guests, waking up the school, giving the boys haircuts, washing the windows and the floors, and delivering mail. He spent 40 years as the porter.
Later in life he would joke that after his first year in the congregation they showed him the door and there he stayed for the next 40 years.
He loved what he did. His attention to the visitors and all who would come his way was tremendous. His care and concern brought consolation to all. He often invited people to invoke the intercession of St. Joseph for healing and strength.
He was so driven by his devotion to St. Joseph that he desired to build a basilica in St. Joseph's honor.
HE collected money, nickels and dimes, from haircuts and small donations and slowly with the bishops permission a makeshift building was erected.
It started as a 15 ft by 18 ft building with out a roof. Slowly, one step at a time over a period of
30 plus years things were added: a roof, heat, a paved road. Pilgrims started to come and gather and pray and ask Blessed Andre to pray. They were all moved by his poverty and humility.
He died at the age of 92 in 1937.
His road to sainthood was simply patience with the routine of life, allowing each moment to lead to a deeper conversion of God's love being perfected in him.
He is buried in the beautiful St. Joseph Basilica with a tombstone that reads: "poor, humble, obedient servant of God."
Quotes of Blessed Andre:
"It is with the smallest brush that the artist paints the most exquisitely beautiful pictures."
"It is surprising that I am frequently asked for cures, but rarely for humility and the spirit of faith. Yet, they are so important..."
Blessed Andre, porter, pray that we may open our hearts to God's love and allow it to be perfected in our life.
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
St Nick

Isaiah 40:1-11; Ps 96 Th Lord our God comes with Power; Mt 18:12-14
Click here for the origin of santa claus
Today we celebrate the feast of St. Nick, the bishop of the 4th century that was known for his charity. It was on this day growing up that we children in the Berger home would rise real early for we knew there would be a special treat for us on the table.
When we entered the kitchen, there would be 12 bowls laid out overflowing with candy, chocolate and otherwise. We would quickly select the bowl we thought held the most candy in it and then go hide it so the our siblings wouldn't get their fingers on it.
Funny thing about this reality. We were supposed to have learned about charity and giving and yet we all were a little bit selfish in receiving, wanting ours and not wanting others to take from us what we received.
I guess we are all that way at moments. We can all be a bit greedy with the gifts we receive never realizing or realizing only later that it is a gift undeserved and how foolish it is to claim it as our own when we all know gifts are meant to be given not hoarded.
Our PArents tried to teach us that charity is sweet. Good ole St. Nick, may he continue to intercede for us that we may learn how to generously receive and thus generously give in return.
Here are a few words from Pope BEnedict concerning John the Baptist
"Therefore, John’s appeal goes far beyond and deeper than a call to a sober lifestyle: it is a call for inner change, starting with the recognition and confession of our sins. As we prepare for Christmas, it is important that we find time for self contemplation and carry out an honest assessment of our lives. May we be enlightened by a ray of the light that comes from Bethlehem, the light of He who is "the Greatest" and made himself small, he who is "the Strongest" but became weak."
We look to the gospel today and Jesus asks for the "opinion" of his disciples. We are his disciples so perhaps he is asking us what is our opinion.
What do you think about this shepherd who leaves the 99 to search for the one who strays? Before you think about that notice that the JEsus tells us that the shepherd leaves the 99 in the hills, that is on the heights.
The shepherd doesn't abandon the 99 recklessly but rather he makes sure they are safe and sound; they are away from the wolves in the valley. In the hills, on the heights close to the heavens.
Only then does he search diligently so that he might bring the stray upward as well. In deed the one who strays is the one who goes down but in Christ we are all raised to new heights and thus given a cause to rejoice.
JEsus always brings us up, lifts us high, raises us to the Father.
The one who is from on high comes low to us so that w eight be raised, elevated to new kind of living and loving.
This beautiful story truly encapsulates the incarnation, the one on high comes low so that we who are lowly can be raised and in being raised the heavens rejoice.
As Isaiah proclaims, "in his arms he gathers the lambs, carrying them in his bosom, and leading the ewes with care."
Have you been raised lately? Have you been carried in his arms? If so then rejoice and remember do not entertain false joys always keep your joy real.
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
come after me
Romans 10:9-18; Ps 10 Your words, Lord, are SPirit and Life; Mt 4:18-22
Today we celebrate the Feast of the Apostle Andrew, the second in the list of the twelve to be called, according to Matthew and Luke, and the brother of Peter.
According to Matthew's gospel, Jesus calls Peter and Andrew simultaneously, while they were casting the net into the sea.
I would like to direct your attention to the fact that Jesus calls these future apostles while they were working, earning their bread by the sweat of their brow.
This is so very important for us. The encounter with God we often hope for and look for in our life will often comes in the midst of the daily grind, while at work.
God comes to us where we spend most of our lives, at work. It was at work that Andrew heard from the lips of JEsus, "Come after me." Listen carefully, for it is there we too shall hear the invitation to transform our world from making a living to making a life.
What do we know about this apostle, Andrew.
We believe that he was crucified ona cross the shape of an X in Patras, Greece.
According to the gospel of John, he was a disicple of John the Baptist and it is through the John the Baptist that he was stirred to be and stay with Jesus.
During the multiplication of the loaves for the 5000, it was ANdrew who pointed out the boy with five loaves and two fish. Andrew recognized that the small amount the boy had was insufficient for such alarge crowd but noentheless he brought to Jesus to see what He could do with it.
Jesus of course utilized this minimal resource to bring about an extravagant transformation. Andrew was unfraid to take what little was available and bring it to Jesus so that he may do what he desired with it.
It was Andrew and Philip who brought some greek speakers to Jesus for a chance at a conversation and it was in this conversation that Jesus gives one of the most quoted passages from scripture, "unless a grain of wheat falls to the earth and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat; but if it dies, it produces much fruit."
Perhaps it was this conversation that gave Andrew the strength to follw Christ in giving his life for the sake of the gospel and thus being crucified on the cross the shape of the X.
Our own crosses in life acquire value if we consider them and accept them as part of the Cross of Christ, if a reflection of his light illuminates them. It is by the cross of Christ alone that our sufferings too are enobled and acquire true meaning. It is when we become like the One who is the wheat that falls to the gound then fruit shall be produced by the life we live.
We read from the letter to the Romans "Thus faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the word of Christ. But I ask, did they not hear? Certainly they did; for their vocie has gone forth to all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world."
The life of the Saints continue to spread the message and thus faith is born by the word that comes form the faith they lived.
May it be so with us.
Today we celebrate the Feast of the Apostle Andrew, the second in the list of the twelve to be called, according to Matthew and Luke, and the brother of Peter.
According to Matthew's gospel, Jesus calls Peter and Andrew simultaneously, while they were casting the net into the sea.
I would like to direct your attention to the fact that Jesus calls these future apostles while they were working, earning their bread by the sweat of their brow.
This is so very important for us. The encounter with God we often hope for and look for in our life will often comes in the midst of the daily grind, while at work.
God comes to us where we spend most of our lives, at work. It was at work that Andrew heard from the lips of JEsus, "Come after me." Listen carefully, for it is there we too shall hear the invitation to transform our world from making a living to making a life.
What do we know about this apostle, Andrew.
We believe that he was crucified ona cross the shape of an X in Patras, Greece.
According to the gospel of John, he was a disicple of John the Baptist and it is through the John the Baptist that he was stirred to be and stay with Jesus.
During the multiplication of the loaves for the 5000, it was ANdrew who pointed out the boy with five loaves and two fish. Andrew recognized that the small amount the boy had was insufficient for such alarge crowd but noentheless he brought to Jesus to see what He could do with it.
Jesus of course utilized this minimal resource to bring about an extravagant transformation. Andrew was unfraid to take what little was available and bring it to Jesus so that he may do what he desired with it.
It was Andrew and Philip who brought some greek speakers to Jesus for a chance at a conversation and it was in this conversation that Jesus gives one of the most quoted passages from scripture, "unless a grain of wheat falls to the earth and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat; but if it dies, it produces much fruit."
Perhaps it was this conversation that gave Andrew the strength to follw Christ in giving his life for the sake of the gospel and thus being crucified on the cross the shape of the X.
Our own crosses in life acquire value if we consider them and accept them as part of the Cross of Christ, if a reflection of his light illuminates them. It is by the cross of Christ alone that our sufferings too are enobled and acquire true meaning. It is when we become like the One who is the wheat that falls to the gound then fruit shall be produced by the life we live.
We read from the letter to the Romans "Thus faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the word of Christ. But I ask, did they not hear? Certainly they did; for their vocie has gone forth to all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world."
The life of the Saints continue to spread the message and thus faith is born by the word that comes form the faith they lived.
May it be so with us.
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Cecilia, martyr

Hosea 2:16-17,21-22; Ps 45 Listen to me daughter, see and bend you ear; Mt 25:1-13
Victor Frankl, a psychologist and a Holocaust survivor, in his book as he reflects on life in the prison camps during World War II, A man's Search for Meaning, speaks about the will to live. He noticed that when the men that were with him had no reason to live and nothing to hope in they quickly gave up and died, even committing suicide. But those who had hope, those who clung to the hope of being reunited with their families or being rescued, these were the ones who fought to survive.
He sums his experience up with one little line, "when we have a why to live, we can find a how to love."
Listen to the words of the prophet Hosea in today's reading as we celebrate the memorial of the life of St. Cecilia, "Thus says the Lord: I will lead her into the desert and speak to her heart. She shall respond as in the days of her youth, when she came up from the land of Egypt. I will espouse you to me forever. I will espouse you in right and in justice, in love and in mercy; I will espouse you in fidelity, and you shall know the Lord."
When we have a why to live, we can find a how to love!
As Jesus tell us in the gospel, "those who were ready went into the wedding feast with him."
When we have a why to live, we can find a how to love!
What is our purpose, what is our meaning. We have all been created and placed on a track to be espoused to God. Union awaits us. Why did God makes us? To love him, to serve in this life and to be with him in the life to come.
When we have a why to live, we can find a how to love!
Is this not what the saints teach us. They choose death because they have a reason to live. The martyr isn't one who dies but rather primarily a martyr is on who finds a "how" to love, who has a deep reason to live. A martyr is always the one who is alive.
St. Cecilia found a way to love. Perhaps this is why God allowed her body to be incorrupt. She was martyred in 230 and her coffin opened in the 16th century and her body was then as it was when she was laid in the cypress box upon her burial.
The incorrupt body of a saint points toward the reality of life and love.
Here is an excerpt written on the life of virtue:
"young parents need to be taught that love -- any love -- means more than sweet sentiments. Real love means the willingness and the ability to endure hardship, difficulty, sacrificial struggle for the sake of someone else's welfare and happiness. Love is sacrifice. A life lived in this way, giving one's whole self to others, is mankind's most noble achievement, and a sure road to real happiness".
St. Cecilia pray for us
Friday, November 11, 2011
Dice v Scrabble

Wisdom 13:1-9; Ps 19 The heavens proclaim the glory of God; Luke 17:26-37
Listen to the words of the book of wisdom: "All men by nature are foolish who were in ignorance of God, and who from the good things seen did not know him who is, and from the studying the works did not know the artisan...For if they so far succeeded in knowledge that they could speculate about the world, how did they not more quickly find its Lord"
I have recently been reading a book entitled, "I do not have enough faith to be an atheist." The book's premise is that atheist in order to be atheist actually require more faith than believers. There is more evidence for belief in God by looking and examining the world around us than the reverse.
It is a fascinating read. I don't agree with all of the "logical" conclusions because I think the authors makes some jumps, but the authors make good points. In the book there is this statement from Einstein, "God does not play dice with the universe." Then Philip Gold continues, "Einstein was right, God does not play dice with the universe, rather God plays Scrabble!"
I like scrabble. I like Word with Friends. SO I really enjoy the analogy.
Scrabble requires some intelligence or cleverness. It is not just random. The quote implies that when you look out into the world, we recognize order, design, specific complexity. The simplest life forms consist of such amazing complexity that it is equivalent to 1000 complete sets of Encyclopedia Britannica.
As the first reading tells us, so many have been distracted by the works of God they have missed the one who worked it. The psalmist tells us that the "heavens proclaim the glory of God." SO today, spend some time thinking about the created world. Spend some time looking at the design of it all. Let the heavens tell the story. Let the heavens proclaim the message. Be amazed.
*************
Today we celebrate the feast of St. Martin de Tours. At the age 15 he joined the army of the Roman Empire in 4th century. While a soldier he had an encounter with a poor naked beggar who was requesting alms. Martin, having only his sword and his mantle, cut his mantle in half and gave it to the poor naked beggar. THat night he had a dream in which JEsus was the poor naked beggar.
He chose ot leave the military and join the ranks of serving Christ. He told the general that he would "do more with than the sign of the cross to the enemy than with a shield and sword."
He did. At the end of his life as we was facing death, surrounded by his monks who he helped guide and formed, upon their request for him to turn on his back so that he might be more comfortable he responded
"Brothers, rather let me look toward heaven than to earth so that my soul in its journey home may take a direct flight to the Lord."
St. Martin pray for us.
How do we carry the cross in our life? What good do we do with the sign of the cross as soldiers of Christ?
*******
We remember our Veterans today on this 11th day of November. Countless men and women have served our country and the nations of the world in seeking to restore peace and bring about liberation. They have put themselves in harms way. They have put their lives on the line. We stop and pause to remember them, to thank them, to honor them. We ask God to protect those who continually serve.
Today thank a Veteran. Pray for them all that they may heal from the wounds incurred on the battle field. Work for Peace.
***********
Lastly here is a excerpt from a blog I follow. Melanie Ringley had an insight I thought worth sharing. Read if you like. She recently wrote a book about coming back to the church.
"That’s one of the things about people, whether they’re contemplating a return to the Church or conversion, or even if they’re cradle Catholics. Sometimes, we choose to ignore or criticize Church teachings because we don’t like them or think the Church is wrong, outdated, misogynistic, behind the times… in essence, we decide our knowledge is correct and superior to anything we might find in dogma or doctrine. It’s easier to criticize… and either walk away or ignore what’s there, to preserve our life and our views as they are.
It’s harder to research the reason for the Church teachings on birth control or celibacy or purgatory and determine where precisely we disagree. Sometimes, the results may even change our minds, or at least make it easier to submit our will and intellect. Sometimes, we lose our knee-jerk reactions… and gain knowledge. Or, having gained that knowledge, we are all the more capable of engaging in intelligent discussion over knowing God as He is.
Thursday, November 10, 2011
eyes peeled

Wisdom 7:22-8:1; Ps 119 Your word is forever, O lord. Luke 17:20-25
Today we celebrate the memory and life of Pope Leo the Great. Before we get to Leo. Yesterday, Pope Benedict in his wednesday audience gave a reflection on Psalm 119. Since today we incorporate this psalm in our celebration I thought I would leave a snippet of the Pope's reflection:
"And this psalm is wholly pervaded by love for God's Word -- it extols its beauty, its saving power, and its capacity to bestow joy and life. For the divine Law is not a heavy yoke of slavery but a gift of grace that liberates and leads to happiness. "I will delight in thy statues; I will not forget thy word" (Verse 16); and again: "Lead me in the path of thy commandments, for I delight in it" (Verse 35), and yet again: "Oh, how I love thy law! It is my meditation all the day" (Verse 97). The Lord's Law, His Word, is the center of the life of the one praying; in it he finds consolation, he makes it the object of his meditation, he keeps it in his heart: "I have laid up thy word in my heart, that I might not sin against thee" (Verse 11), and this is the secret of the psalmist's happiness; and again: "The godless besmear me with lies, but with my whole heart I keep thy precepts" (Verse 69).
The psalmist's faithfulness is born of listening to the Word, of keeping it in his inmost heart, of meditating on it and loving it --"
Now back to Leo the Great.
The fame of Leo the Great is centered around the meeting between him and Attila the Hun in 452. Yea, that is correct, Attila the Hun. Attila was for lack of better words a "bad ass" of his time.
Here we have the Pope riding out to meet him to convince him not to continue his war of destruction on Italy. IT worked.
Certainly, Pope Leo the GReat had courage and strength and was willing to defend peace and any cost even it meant putting himself in harms way.
Pope Leo the Great also presided over the Council of Chalcedon which reaffirmed the identity of Christ who in union of his one Person of his two natures, human and divine.
Jesus Christ is true God and true man: the Hypostatic Union. Sounds pretty darn cool if you ask me. Jesus is both Human and Divine which means he brings heaven to earth in the incarnation; it also means Jesus brings earth to heaven when he ascends. Thus, Jesus takes our humanity to heaven when he ascends. THere is one like us in heaven.
Pope Leo the Great also, tried to instill in the faithful the reality that the Christian liturgy is not the memory of past events but the actualization of invisible realities which act in the lives of each one of us. Grace is always present to us at each moment. The past helps us visualize what grace does but it is lived in the present moment.
Hence we have the reading from the book of wisdom, "Wisdom passing into holy souls from age to age, she produces friends of God and prophets. " Grace is always right now and it is ever present everywhere.
The words of the gospel, "the kingdom of God cannot be observed..." The kingdom of God can only be lived. This is the task of grace in our lives. Believe it, love it, live it!
Now we go to the very end of today's gospel, "But first he must suffer greatly and be rejected by this generation."
Even here in this cryptic passage there is truth. What is it about the fallen nature of man that rejects perfect goodness? What is it about the fallen nature of man that refuses to receive the offer of grace? Grace is all around us but when it comes in a package we are not ready for, we run from it or we reject out right. There is a diligence required on our part. Daily we must surrender and trust that the hidden and disguised reality of grace is what we need for it is what God offers.
Grace will come and we will know it because it will irritate us and make us uncomfortable.
How many times in our life we have come face to face with God's invitation and like the pharisees and the scribes we reject it because we didn't like it.
Keep you eyes peeled!
Pope Leo the GReat pray for us.
Friday, November 4, 2011
friend of God

Romans 15:14-21; Ps 98 The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power; Luke 16:1-8
Look at the psalm once again and hold it in your mind: The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power.
How? How has the Lord revealed his saving power to the nations?
Now, we instantly think of the cross, Christ dying and rising or we think of the miracles in the gospels of Jesus curing the sick, making the blind to see, walking on water, raising the dead.
Or perhaps we think of other miracles, other events that have refused to be bound by the natural laws.
But in reality, we miss the point if that is all we think about and if that is all we look for.
The answer to the question, "How does God reveal his saving power to the nations?" is a simply one.
You and me! We are the vehicles of that saving power. Our words, our actions, our lives knit together reflect the power of God.
Today the Lord will reveal if we let him his saving power through us. What an amazing purpose and calling we have received.
THis is why we celebrate the feast of the saints, like Charles Borromeo.
Their lives reflects something of that saving power we not only what to see and experience but we are invited to be part of each day anew.
This is what it means to be a friend of God.
"Life is no more than the swift passing reflection on the changeless mirror of eternity and men who burn with love of God wear out their mortal sheath before old age dulls their mind and spirit."
Charles Borromeo would often say, "be mindful of others but not forgetful of self."
Know your role. Know what God wants to do with you by the life you lead. Open yourself up to him and let him have his way with you.
Things to remember about Charles Borromeo. He was born in a castle and he lived like a Rock Star. His uncle was the Pope and in those days it meant you had the world at your finger tips.
Then something happened. In the lives of the saints there is always something that happens that turns the light on. He gave up all of his worldly stuff and began to work tirelessly for the sick and dying and poor, as a priest of God.
He got it. He realized that he couldn't wait around for the saving power of God to just happen but rather he allowed God to use him to make his power known, to revealing his saving reality in the world.
What about you and I, today, here and now, as we are, where we are, what we are. OPen you life, your heart, your mind, let God reveal his saving power through you, as a wife, as a mother, as a husband, as a Father, as mechanic, as a farmer, as a rancher, as teacher, as genuine lover.
Go on, be not afraid, your destiny awaits. Be a child of the light.
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Faithful departed
Wisdom 3:1-9; Ps 23 The Lord is my Shepherd; there is nothign I shall want.Though I walk in the valley of death, I fear no evil, for you are with me. Romans 5:5-11; John 6:37-40
Today we celebrate the Feast of all Souls. Yesterday we raised our eyes heavenward to recognize the saints in light in doing so we also became face to face with the reality that we are created for glory. The Church Triumphant stood before us singing the heavenly chorus: holy, holy, holy Lord God of Host.
Today we turn our gaze to the not yet reality, to all those who are on their way, who are experiencing the purification of God's love for them as their own selfishness is slowly removed and thus they are made ready for glory.
The Church Suffering, and suffering here is not to be understood as soley punishment but rather the pain of letting go, the pain of union, the pain of full surrender of self so as to be conformed to the image of Christ, as gold is refined in fire, so too the soul is purified.
We as the Church Militant unite our prayers for those on the way.
Here we are reminded of the beauty of the communion of saints. The merits and prayers of one can help all, thus no one is insignificant in the eyes of God. All have value, all are valuable.
We give what we can as we pray for the faithful departed and we trust that our prayers are effcetive and aid the souls on their journey to join the saints in light.
Today as we pray for the dead, the faithful departed, we live out the need for charity and justice in a concrete way.
Today also teaches us about the consequences of sin. It reminds us that true love remains not just and ideal but a reality by which we strive.
Surely, those who have dragged their feet in selfishness, though professing their faith in Christ, must be purged and made ready. Surley, justice demands this and charity makes it a reality lest we make a mockery of the heavenly banquet.
We all must wash our hands before we eat becasue of the dirt that had gathered beneath our fingernails.
So too the soul must be made ready. Think of all the wounds and filth and dirt our soul gathers through our life. What do we do with this? How do we accoutn for this?
Thus arises the teaching of purgatory. The Lord gives us the possibility of being made ready by his charity to us on the cross. Purgatory reveals the power of crucified love.
It is this crucified love that the souls of the faithful departed must pass through on its way to the fullness of glory.
And we here and now assist them with our offerings, our prayers. Christ has made our prayers significant for others, let us not waste the gift we have received.
Listen to the words of Jesus in the gospel today: "Everything that the Father gives me will come to me, and I will not reject anyone who comes to me...this is the will of my Father, that I should not lose anything of what he gave me, but I should raise it on the last day."
The golden rule applies for us. Let us do unto others as we want them to do to us. We pray for the faithful departed so that when they arirve their celebration in heaven will assist us on the journey as well. Reciprocity is part of the communion of Saints; They hope is us and we hope in them and together we find hope in Christ.
Here is a article on all souls and indulgences
Eternal rest grant unto to the O' Lord.
Let perpetual light shine upon them.
May they rest in Peace. AMen.
May the souls of the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in peace. AMen
Today we celebrate the Feast of all Souls. Yesterday we raised our eyes heavenward to recognize the saints in light in doing so we also became face to face with the reality that we are created for glory. The Church Triumphant stood before us singing the heavenly chorus: holy, holy, holy Lord God of Host.
Today we turn our gaze to the not yet reality, to all those who are on their way, who are experiencing the purification of God's love for them as their own selfishness is slowly removed and thus they are made ready for glory.
The Church Suffering, and suffering here is not to be understood as soley punishment but rather the pain of letting go, the pain of union, the pain of full surrender of self so as to be conformed to the image of Christ, as gold is refined in fire, so too the soul is purified.
We as the Church Militant unite our prayers for those on the way.
Here we are reminded of the beauty of the communion of saints. The merits and prayers of one can help all, thus no one is insignificant in the eyes of God. All have value, all are valuable.
We give what we can as we pray for the faithful departed and we trust that our prayers are effcetive and aid the souls on their journey to join the saints in light.
Today as we pray for the dead, the faithful departed, we live out the need for charity and justice in a concrete way.
Today also teaches us about the consequences of sin. It reminds us that true love remains not just and ideal but a reality by which we strive.
Surely, those who have dragged their feet in selfishness, though professing their faith in Christ, must be purged and made ready. Surley, justice demands this and charity makes it a reality lest we make a mockery of the heavenly banquet.
We all must wash our hands before we eat becasue of the dirt that had gathered beneath our fingernails.
So too the soul must be made ready. Think of all the wounds and filth and dirt our soul gathers through our life. What do we do with this? How do we accoutn for this?
Thus arises the teaching of purgatory. The Lord gives us the possibility of being made ready by his charity to us on the cross. Purgatory reveals the power of crucified love.
It is this crucified love that the souls of the faithful departed must pass through on its way to the fullness of glory.
And we here and now assist them with our offerings, our prayers. Christ has made our prayers significant for others, let us not waste the gift we have received.
Listen to the words of Jesus in the gospel today: "Everything that the Father gives me will come to me, and I will not reject anyone who comes to me...this is the will of my Father, that I should not lose anything of what he gave me, but I should raise it on the last day."
The golden rule applies for us. Let us do unto others as we want them to do to us. We pray for the faithful departed so that when they arirve their celebration in heaven will assist us on the journey as well. Reciprocity is part of the communion of Saints; They hope is us and we hope in them and together we find hope in Christ.
Here is a article on all souls and indulgences
Eternal rest grant unto to the O' Lord.
Let perpetual light shine upon them.
May they rest in Peace. AMen.
May the souls of the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in peace. AMen
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