wisdom 2:23-3:9; Ps 34 I will bless the lord at all times; Luke 17:7-10
"God formed man to be imperishable; the image of his own nature he made them. But by the envy of the Devil, death entered the world, and they who are in his possession experience it. But the souls of the just are in the hands of God, and no torment shall touch them."
Think of these words for a moment.
The answer to the question, "Why is there death?" is found in these first verse. The envy of the Devil brought death to man.
The Devil did not want man to experience what he himself denied, friendship of God, harmony in grace, fullness of life.
This is what Envy is all about. Envy is when we can't have something we want and we don't want anyone else to have either.
It is a terrible reality to be so closed on oneself that we can no longer rejoice in the goodness of the other. It is a terrible reality when we are so blinded by our own self loathing that the goodness of the other causes us pain and remorse.
Envy! The remedy for envy is the willingness to rejoice in the goodness of the other. To rejoice in another's goodness prepares us to recognize the goodness God has put into our lives.
Secondly.
Notice the reading tells us that those in the devil's possession experience death while those in the hand of God, no torment shall touch them.
It seems that those who die in faith experience death but it is an abridged version of death. We do not experience the death of the faithless. There is something different about dying in faith, held by the hands of God, than dying in faithlessness and being gripped by the hand of Satan.
Even in faith, death is not what it could be. In faith, we already experience the fruits of redemption even as we die for death in faith avails us to the warmth and light of the presence of Christ who has filled death with his presence. Death is no longer cold and cruel for in faith we experience the warmth of Christ who has gone before us.
This is different. THis is the gift of the death of Christ for those who die in faith.
Just something to think about to boost your faith.
Death is waiting but in Christ, it is different.
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Monday, November 7, 2011
millstone
Wisdom 1:1-7; Ps 139 Guide me, Lord along the everlasting way; Luke 17:1-6
JEsus said to the disciples, "Things that cause sin will inevitably occur, but woe to the one through whom they occur. It would be better for him if a millstone were put around his neck and be thrown into the sea than for him to cause one of these little ones to sin."
IT is said that JEsus is a realist. He always has an eye for reality, the way things are. Perhaps his statement is really an insight into the human condition, "things that cause sin will inevitably occur."
Wrongdoing shall accompany humanity to the end. Things shall invoke and elicit a response of sinfulness.
But, in the cascade of wrongdoing that unfolds, we are not powerless. We do have a say. Just because sin, the turning from God, happens, it does not have to happen because of us.
We must strive each day a new to "do no harm."
Do no harm to ourselves and to others.
Jesus certainly doesn't treat sin lightly nor does he excuse it because it is inevitable, "better to have a millstone put around the neck than to cause one of these little ones to sin."
Yikes! A millstone around the neck is quite a load, quite a weight.
We should all use our power to avoid the near occasion of sin, either in us or in others.
How often have I heard the excuse, "Well, father we are only human." That doesn't fly before the Lord. Notice the Apostles are raised to a new standard of living, Not only should they not cause sin but they must also rebuke it.
"Be on guard! IF your brother sins, rebuke him;"
We have a dutiful obligation to no longer just stand idly by and watch sin unfold. We must speak up, stand up!
JEsus doesn't say that we should take the sin "personal" as so many do and get all caught up in emotion but rather simply be direct, be straight forward, and move on. Rebuke then and if they repent forgive them.
We just have to keep it real.
Perhaps this is why the apostles said, "increase our faith."
It takes faith to rebuke, it takes faith to not take things personal, it takes faith to personally involve ourself in the unfolding of life.
JEsus in today's gospel is inviting us to learn how to live.
Albert Camus, author, said knowing how to live is learning to reconcile vice and virtue.
Rebuke and forgive and thus the circle of life unfolds daily for us and in doing so we keep the millstone off our back.
JEsus said to the disciples, "Things that cause sin will inevitably occur, but woe to the one through whom they occur. It would be better for him if a millstone were put around his neck and be thrown into the sea than for him to cause one of these little ones to sin."
IT is said that JEsus is a realist. He always has an eye for reality, the way things are. Perhaps his statement is really an insight into the human condition, "things that cause sin will inevitably occur."
Wrongdoing shall accompany humanity to the end. Things shall invoke and elicit a response of sinfulness.
But, in the cascade of wrongdoing that unfolds, we are not powerless. We do have a say. Just because sin, the turning from God, happens, it does not have to happen because of us.
We must strive each day a new to "do no harm."
Do no harm to ourselves and to others.
Jesus certainly doesn't treat sin lightly nor does he excuse it because it is inevitable, "better to have a millstone put around the neck than to cause one of these little ones to sin."
Yikes! A millstone around the neck is quite a load, quite a weight.
We should all use our power to avoid the near occasion of sin, either in us or in others.
How often have I heard the excuse, "Well, father we are only human." That doesn't fly before the Lord. Notice the Apostles are raised to a new standard of living, Not only should they not cause sin but they must also rebuke it.
"Be on guard! IF your brother sins, rebuke him;"
We have a dutiful obligation to no longer just stand idly by and watch sin unfold. We must speak up, stand up!
JEsus doesn't say that we should take the sin "personal" as so many do and get all caught up in emotion but rather simply be direct, be straight forward, and move on. Rebuke then and if they repent forgive them.
We just have to keep it real.
Perhaps this is why the apostles said, "increase our faith."
It takes faith to rebuke, it takes faith to not take things personal, it takes faith to personally involve ourself in the unfolding of life.
JEsus in today's gospel is inviting us to learn how to live.
Albert Camus, author, said knowing how to live is learning to reconcile vice and virtue.
Rebuke and forgive and thus the circle of life unfolds daily for us and in doing so we keep the millstone off our back.
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.
Thursday, November 3, 2011
that one
Luke 15:1-10
Jesus gives us that beautiful and striking image of the Shepherd who leaves the 99 sheep in order to track down that one that strayed.
How dare he? How dare he abandon the 99 for the sake of that one?
You know which one I am talking about?
That one, who has abused his wife, that one who has drank himself unconscious, that one who now sits in prison with blood stains on his hands, that one who has lied and cheated his way to the top and there he finds himself empty, that one who brings down everyone in the room with their negativity, that one who gossips continually about everyone in the work place, that one who spreads her legs at every Tom, Charlie that comes her way, that one who is a womanizer and cheat, that one who is a home wrecker, that one who can't seem to put food on the table and clothed her chidlren but she finds time to be at the bar each night, that one...yeah, you know which one I am talking about, that one that is lot like you and I,
that one who is lost, and ridiculed, and made fun of, that one who is the butt of jokes, that one who every one turns away when they walk by, that one who can't seem to find a listening ear, that one.
Be on the look out for that one!
"What man among you having a hundred sheep and losing one of them would not leave the ninety-nine in the desert and go after the lost one until he finds it?"
"I tell you, in just the same way there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need of repenatnce."
Have you made heaven rejoice yet? Have you?
Jesus gives us that beautiful and striking image of the Shepherd who leaves the 99 sheep in order to track down that one that strayed.
How dare he? How dare he abandon the 99 for the sake of that one?
You know which one I am talking about?
That one, who has abused his wife, that one who has drank himself unconscious, that one who now sits in prison with blood stains on his hands, that one who has lied and cheated his way to the top and there he finds himself empty, that one who brings down everyone in the room with their negativity, that one who gossips continually about everyone in the work place, that one who spreads her legs at every Tom, Charlie that comes her way, that one who is a womanizer and cheat, that one who is a home wrecker, that one who can't seem to put food on the table and clothed her chidlren but she finds time to be at the bar each night, that one...yeah, you know which one I am talking about, that one that is lot like you and I,
that one who is lost, and ridiculed, and made fun of, that one who is the butt of jokes, that one who every one turns away when they walk by, that one who can't seem to find a listening ear, that one.
Be on the look out for that one!
"What man among you having a hundred sheep and losing one of them would not leave the ninety-nine in the desert and go after the lost one until he finds it?"
"I tell you, in just the same way there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need of repenatnce."
Have you made heaven rejoice yet? Have you?
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
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
And all the rest
Revelation 7:2-4,9-14; Ps 24 Lord this is the people who long to see your face; 1 John 3:1-3; Mt 5:1-12
Today we celebrate this Holy Day of Obligation.
Before we get into the actual day of celebration, All Saints Day, I thought I might reflect on the difference between a Holy Day and a Holiday.
These are the two realites we celebrate throughout lives, and sometimes they are the same reality, sometimes a Holy Day is a Holiday but seldom do we treat holidays as holy days.
Nonetheless here we go.
Frist, a Holiday is man made. It is the day we give to ourselves as we look on our history such as july 4th, labor day, Columbus day etc. We look to our human accomplishments and success or progress.
A Holy Day is not made but received. It is the CHurch's gift to us. It does not depend on what we have done; it does not depend on us at all; it is offered to us.
A Holiday is a break from the routine of work and the routine of living.
A Holy Day is not a break from something but rather a pause by which we are invited to take a step back and to recognize the living God who wants to breakforth into our lives and fill this routine with his presence, daily.
Thus a Holy Day reminds us that Time is not just measured by the 40 hour work week, by the movement of the stars and suns and planets that revolve; time is not just about theearth spinning or the seasons changes but rather time is a gift form the maker of the universe, the one who creates time, and sustaisn us in time.
Each Holy Day brings us face to face with the beauty that is awakened by Faith.
It is faith that gathers us on these days. Faith that unites us even in our differences. It is faith that build our community and reminds us as we gather that we do not stand alone.
In fact as we celebrate All Saints Day we remind ourselves of all those who have travelled before us on the path we seek to travel now.
We look to all those who have gone before us, those who have our back.
This is not just a caste of a chosen few but a "great multitude, too numerous too count" according to the first reading.
these are the named and unamed who have left us a pattern by which we are to pattern our lives.
Saints do not need our honor. Our celebration does not affect them but it does affect us. In honoring them we are inspired, encouraged and given a boost for the journey.
As we turn our gaze heaven ward we find a litle extra pep in our step as march to the rhythm of eternity with the saints in light. We want to do as they did so we might be where they are.
They awaken us a desire to be like them, simply Happy to be near God.
The saints invite us to never settle for second best. they invite us to run the race of faith as to win the prize.
The recipe for succes is simple. Primarily is is being oen to the action of grace in our life. We are invited to Lsiten to JEsus, Follow Jesus, and never lose heart as we journey toward Jesus. Then we simply repeat the process.
Oh! One last thing. Rejoice and be Glad for your reward will be great in heaven!
Mother Church welcomes us all to this family reunion where no one is left behind. We recognize those who are named but more importantly those who are not, these are All the rest.
May we strive to be with them and be counted among those "too numerous too count."
Today we celebrate this Holy Day of Obligation.
Before we get into the actual day of celebration, All Saints Day, I thought I might reflect on the difference between a Holy Day and a Holiday.
These are the two realites we celebrate throughout lives, and sometimes they are the same reality, sometimes a Holy Day is a Holiday but seldom do we treat holidays as holy days.
Nonetheless here we go.
Frist, a Holiday is man made. It is the day we give to ourselves as we look on our history such as july 4th, labor day, Columbus day etc. We look to our human accomplishments and success or progress.
A Holy Day is not made but received. It is the CHurch's gift to us. It does not depend on what we have done; it does not depend on us at all; it is offered to us.
A Holiday is a break from the routine of work and the routine of living.
A Holy Day is not a break from something but rather a pause by which we are invited to take a step back and to recognize the living God who wants to breakforth into our lives and fill this routine with his presence, daily.
Thus a Holy Day reminds us that Time is not just measured by the 40 hour work week, by the movement of the stars and suns and planets that revolve; time is not just about theearth spinning or the seasons changes but rather time is a gift form the maker of the universe, the one who creates time, and sustaisn us in time.
Each Holy Day brings us face to face with the beauty that is awakened by Faith.
It is faith that gathers us on these days. Faith that unites us even in our differences. It is faith that build our community and reminds us as we gather that we do not stand alone.
In fact as we celebrate All Saints Day we remind ourselves of all those who have travelled before us on the path we seek to travel now.
We look to all those who have gone before us, those who have our back.
This is not just a caste of a chosen few but a "great multitude, too numerous too count" according to the first reading.
these are the named and unamed who have left us a pattern by which we are to pattern our lives.
Saints do not need our honor. Our celebration does not affect them but it does affect us. In honoring them we are inspired, encouraged and given a boost for the journey.
As we turn our gaze heaven ward we find a litle extra pep in our step as march to the rhythm of eternity with the saints in light. We want to do as they did so we might be where they are.
They awaken us a desire to be like them, simply Happy to be near God.
The saints invite us to never settle for second best. they invite us to run the race of faith as to win the prize.
The recipe for succes is simple. Primarily is is being oen to the action of grace in our life. We are invited to Lsiten to JEsus, Follow Jesus, and never lose heart as we journey toward Jesus. Then we simply repeat the process.
Oh! One last thing. Rejoice and be Glad for your reward will be great in heaven!
Mother Church welcomes us all to this family reunion where no one is left behind. We recognize those who are named but more importantly those who are not, these are All the rest.
May we strive to be with them and be counted among those "too numerous too count."
Wednesday audience on Tuesday's feast
Words from Pope Benedict on being saints
"God wants your friendship. And once you enter into friendship with God, everything in your life begins to change. As you come to know him better, you find you want to reflect something of his infinite goodness in your own life.
You are attracted to the practice of virtue. You begin to see greed and selfishness and all the other sins for what they really are, destructive and dangerous tendencies that cause deep suffering and do great damage, and you want to avoid falling into that trap yourselves. You begin to feel compassion for people in difficulties and you are eager to do something to help them. You want to come to the aid of the poor and the hungry, you want to comfort the sorrowful, you want to be kind and generous. And once these things begin to matter to you, you are well on the way to becoming saints.
When I invite you to become saints, I am asking you not to be content with second best.
I am asking you not to pursue one limited goal and ignore all the others. Having money makes it possible to be generous and to do good in the world, but on its own, it is not enough to make us happy. Being highly skilled in some activity or profession is good, but it will not satisfy us unless we aim for something greater still. It might make us famous, but it will not make us happy.
Happiness is something we all want, but one of the great tragedies in this world is that so many people never find it, because they look for it in the wrong places. The key to it is very simple – true happiness is to be found in God.
We need to have the courage to place our deepest hopes in God alone, not in money, in a career, in worldly success, or in our relationships with others, but in God. Only he can satisfy the deepest needs of our hearts."
"God wants your friendship. And once you enter into friendship with God, everything in your life begins to change. As you come to know him better, you find you want to reflect something of his infinite goodness in your own life.
You are attracted to the practice of virtue. You begin to see greed and selfishness and all the other sins for what they really are, destructive and dangerous tendencies that cause deep suffering and do great damage, and you want to avoid falling into that trap yourselves. You begin to feel compassion for people in difficulties and you are eager to do something to help them. You want to come to the aid of the poor and the hungry, you want to comfort the sorrowful, you want to be kind and generous. And once these things begin to matter to you, you are well on the way to becoming saints.
When I invite you to become saints, I am asking you not to be content with second best.
I am asking you not to pursue one limited goal and ignore all the others. Having money makes it possible to be generous and to do good in the world, but on its own, it is not enough to make us happy. Being highly skilled in some activity or profession is good, but it will not satisfy us unless we aim for something greater still. It might make us famous, but it will not make us happy.
Happiness is something we all want, but one of the great tragedies in this world is that so many people never find it, because they look for it in the wrong places. The key to it is very simple – true happiness is to be found in God.
We need to have the courage to place our deepest hopes in God alone, not in money, in a career, in worldly success, or in our relationships with others, but in God. Only he can satisfy the deepest needs of our hearts."
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