Jonah 3:1-10; Ps 51 A heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn; Luke 11:29-32
A year ago yesterday the Cardinals gathered to elect a new pope. They megan the process with these words, "I call as my witness christ the Lord, who will be my judge that my vote is given to the one who before God I think should be elected."
Thus began the process of the conclave. Cardinals from around the globe gathered in prayer and fasting to listen to the Spirit of God and to cast a vote and thus elect a successor to Peter, Vicar of Christ.
Tomorrow we celebrate the one year anniversary of the election of Pope Francis.
He certainly has shaken things up. He was on the cover of Time Magazine, Rolling Stone Magazine just to name a few. He has achieved Rock Star status.
Why?
Your guess is as good as mine.
Here are his words for Ash Wednesday last week.
May they guide you as you continue to enter in to this reality of lent.
"Lent is about two things: to have a greater awareness of the redemptive work of Christ and to live out our baptism with deeper commitment.
Awareness of the marvels God works should lead to thanksgiving. Conversion begins with a grateful response to the stupendous mystery of God's love.
Living out our baptism to the full means we no longer accept (mediocrity). We can no longer passively accept certain forms of behaviors. We need to be shocked once again by these behaviors (what people do or say).
We have grown to accustomed to these behaviors and we (let them slide).
We need to recover the ability to react to the reality of evil which challenges us."
Wednesday, March 12, 2014
Monday, March 10, 2014
No Spin zone
Leviticus 19:1-2,11-18; PS 19 Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life; Mt 25:31-46
What's really at stake? When it all boils down and all the spin is over, what really matters.
What is at the heart of the gospel message and all the doctrines that we hold and profess to be true and revealed by God?
What's at stake? What matters most?
Which brings us to the gospel for today this monday, first week of Lent. Jesus puts it all on the line. Clears the stage. He enters the no "spin" zone."
We thought only Bill O'Reily could claim that as fame, but Jesus was trying to stop the spin long before Bill ever came along.
Here it is as clear and precise as Jesus can lay it down: "what you do to the least of my brothers you do to me…what you do not do to the least of my brothers you do not do it to me."
It is the five finger gospel: You Did It To Me!
Read it. Read it again. Don't spin it. Learn the true motivation behind giving alms: solidarity with Christ.
What's really at stake? When it all boils down and all the spin is over, what really matters.
What is at the heart of the gospel message and all the doctrines that we hold and profess to be true and revealed by God?
What's at stake? What matters most?
Which brings us to the gospel for today this monday, first week of Lent. Jesus puts it all on the line. Clears the stage. He enters the no "spin" zone."
We thought only Bill O'Reily could claim that as fame, but Jesus was trying to stop the spin long before Bill ever came along.
Here it is as clear and precise as Jesus can lay it down: "what you do to the least of my brothers you do to me…what you do not do to the least of my brothers you do not do it to me."
It is the five finger gospel: You Did It To Me!
Read it. Read it again. Don't spin it. Learn the true motivation behind giving alms: solidarity with Christ.
Friday, March 7, 2014
HUNGER FOR MORE
Isaiah 58:1-9; Ps 51 A heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn; Matt 9:14-15
"The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast."
These are the words of Jesus in this Friday's gospel passage as we continue our journey of lent.
The bridegroom of course is Jesus himself and he as ascended to heaven though he remains with us his presence is not complete. We are invited to hunger for that full revelation of his glory and his presence.
The word "fast" as in "to fast" simply means to hunger for something. We are asked to hunger physically so that it may mirror our hunger spiritually for the full revelation of Christ.
Many times we focus on the lack of food as a source of hunger and thus we fast from various food items through the season of lent.
But Isaiah gives us another approach, something a little more "meaty" if you do not mind the pun since we are asked to abstain from meat on Friday's.
Hear again the invitation and exhortation of the prophet Isaiah, "This is the fasting I wish, says the LORD, releasing those bound unjustly, untying the thongs of the yoke, setting free the oppressed, breaking every yoke, sharing your bread with the hungry, sheltering the oppressed and the homeless; clothing the naked when you see them, and not turning your back on your own."
Now that is serious fasting. Lent is not for wimps. Why should we fast in such a manner.
Isaiah once again spells out the benefits of such behavior, "then your light shall break forth like the dawn and your wound shall quickly be healed, and the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard. THen you shall call and the Lord will answer, 'Here I am!'"
How is that for reason. Is it reason enough to get us off our butts. Will we heed the word of the prophet or do what we have always done: give up ice cream or cookies or whatever. Don't be boring this lent.
Shake things up as our Pope reminds us. Be bold! Be Brave! Be real!
Who wouldn't want the glory of God to be our rear guard? Who wouldn't want the wounds to be healed? who wouldn't want light to break forth in our life and the life of those around us?
Don't just fast but be hungry for the glory of God! Hunger for more!
"The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast."
These are the words of Jesus in this Friday's gospel passage as we continue our journey of lent.
The bridegroom of course is Jesus himself and he as ascended to heaven though he remains with us his presence is not complete. We are invited to hunger for that full revelation of his glory and his presence.
The word "fast" as in "to fast" simply means to hunger for something. We are asked to hunger physically so that it may mirror our hunger spiritually for the full revelation of Christ.
Many times we focus on the lack of food as a source of hunger and thus we fast from various food items through the season of lent.
But Isaiah gives us another approach, something a little more "meaty" if you do not mind the pun since we are asked to abstain from meat on Friday's.
Hear again the invitation and exhortation of the prophet Isaiah, "This is the fasting I wish, says the LORD, releasing those bound unjustly, untying the thongs of the yoke, setting free the oppressed, breaking every yoke, sharing your bread with the hungry, sheltering the oppressed and the homeless; clothing the naked when you see them, and not turning your back on your own."
Now that is serious fasting. Lent is not for wimps. Why should we fast in such a manner.
Isaiah once again spells out the benefits of such behavior, "then your light shall break forth like the dawn and your wound shall quickly be healed, and the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard. THen you shall call and the Lord will answer, 'Here I am!'"
How is that for reason. Is it reason enough to get us off our butts. Will we heed the word of the prophet or do what we have always done: give up ice cream or cookies or whatever. Don't be boring this lent.
Shake things up as our Pope reminds us. Be bold! Be Brave! Be real!
Who wouldn't want the glory of God to be our rear guard? Who wouldn't want the wounds to be healed? who wouldn't want light to break forth in our life and the life of those around us?
Don't just fast but be hungry for the glory of God! Hunger for more!
Thursday, March 6, 2014
POPE FRANCIS ON LENT
“Rend your hearts and not your garments” (Joel 2:13).
With these insightful words of the prophet Joel, the liturgy introduces us into Lent today, indicating the conversion of the heart characteristic of this time of grace. The prophetic call is a challenge for all of us, without exception, and reminds us that conversion is not a matter reducible to outward forms or vague intentions, but engages and transforms one’s entire existence from the center of the person, from the conscience. We are invited to embark on a journey in which, in defiance of the routine, we strive to open our eyes and ears, but especially the heart, to go beyond our “little garden.”
To open oneself to God and to others: we live in an increasingly artificial world, in a culture of “doing”, [a culture] of the “useful”, in which we exclude God from our horizon without even realizing it. Lent calls us to “give ourselves a ‘shake-up’”, to remember that we are creatures, that we are not God.
We run the risk of closing ourselves to others also: we risk forgetting them, too - but only when the difficulties and sufferings of our brothers challenge us, only then we can start our journey of conversion towards Easter. It is an itinerary that includes the cross and sacrifice. Today’s Gospel shows the elements of this spiritual journey: prayer , fasting and almsgiving (cf. Mt 6,1-6.16-18 ). All three involve the need not to be dominated by the appearance of things: the appearance of things does not matter – nor does the value of life depend on the approval of others or on success, but from how much we have inside.
The first element is the prayer. Prayer is the strength of the Christian and of every believing person. In the weakness and fragility of our life, we can turn to God with the confidence of children and enter into communion with Him. In the face of so many wounds that hurt us and that could harden the heart, we are called to dive into the sea of prayer, which is the sea of God’s boundless love, to enjoy its tenderness. Lent is a time of prayer, a more intense, more diligent prayer, [one] more able to take care of the needs of the brethren, to intercede before God for the many situations of poverty and suffering.
The second element of the Lenten journey is fasting. We must be careful not to make a formal fasting, or one that in truth “satisfies” us because it makes us feel as though we have all in order. Fasting makes sense if it really affects our security, and also if a benefit to others comes from it, if it helps us to grow in the spirit of the Good Samaritan, who bends down to his brother in need and takes care of him. Fasting involves choosing a sober life, which does not waste, which does not “discard”. Fasting helps us to train the heart to essentiality and sharing. It is a sign of awareness and responsibility in the face of injustices, abuses, especially towards the poor and the little ones, and is a sign of our trust in God and His providence.
The third element is almsgiving: it is a sign of gratuity because alms are given to someone from whom you would not expect to receive anything in return. Gratuity should be one of the characteristics of a Christian, who, aware of having received everything from God freely, that is without any merit, learns to give to others freely. Today often gratuity is not part of everyday life, where everything is bought and sold. Everything is calculation and measurement. Almsgiving helps us to live the gratuitousness of the gift, which is freedom from the obsession with possessing things, [freedom from] the fear of losing what one has, from the sadness of those who do not want to share their well-being with others.
With its calls to conversion, Lent comes providentially to rouse us, to shake us from our torpor, from the risk of moving forward [merely] by inertia. The exhortation that the Lord speaks to us through the prophet Joel is loud and clear: "Return to me with all your heart” (Joel 2:12). Why must we return to God? Because something is wrong in us, in society, in the Church - and we need to change, to turn things around, to repent! Once again Lent comes to make its prophetic appeal, to remind us that it is possible to realize something new within ourselves and around us, simply because God is faithful, continues to be full of goodness and mercy, and is always ready to forgive and start over from scratch. With this filial confidence, let us set out on our way!
With these insightful words of the prophet Joel, the liturgy introduces us into Lent today, indicating the conversion of the heart characteristic of this time of grace. The prophetic call is a challenge for all of us, without exception, and reminds us that conversion is not a matter reducible to outward forms or vague intentions, but engages and transforms one’s entire existence from the center of the person, from the conscience. We are invited to embark on a journey in which, in defiance of the routine, we strive to open our eyes and ears, but especially the heart, to go beyond our “little garden.”
To open oneself to God and to others: we live in an increasingly artificial world, in a culture of “doing”, [a culture] of the “useful”, in which we exclude God from our horizon without even realizing it. Lent calls us to “give ourselves a ‘shake-up’”, to remember that we are creatures, that we are not God.
We run the risk of closing ourselves to others also: we risk forgetting them, too - but only when the difficulties and sufferings of our brothers challenge us, only then we can start our journey of conversion towards Easter. It is an itinerary that includes the cross and sacrifice. Today’s Gospel shows the elements of this spiritual journey: prayer , fasting and almsgiving (cf. Mt 6,1-6.16-18 ). All three involve the need not to be dominated by the appearance of things: the appearance of things does not matter – nor does the value of life depend on the approval of others or on success, but from how much we have inside.
The first element is the prayer. Prayer is the strength of the Christian and of every believing person. In the weakness and fragility of our life, we can turn to God with the confidence of children and enter into communion with Him. In the face of so many wounds that hurt us and that could harden the heart, we are called to dive into the sea of prayer, which is the sea of God’s boundless love, to enjoy its tenderness. Lent is a time of prayer, a more intense, more diligent prayer, [one] more able to take care of the needs of the brethren, to intercede before God for the many situations of poverty and suffering.
The second element of the Lenten journey is fasting. We must be careful not to make a formal fasting, or one that in truth “satisfies” us because it makes us feel as though we have all in order. Fasting makes sense if it really affects our security, and also if a benefit to others comes from it, if it helps us to grow in the spirit of the Good Samaritan, who bends down to his brother in need and takes care of him. Fasting involves choosing a sober life, which does not waste, which does not “discard”. Fasting helps us to train the heart to essentiality and sharing. It is a sign of awareness and responsibility in the face of injustices, abuses, especially towards the poor and the little ones, and is a sign of our trust in God and His providence.
The third element is almsgiving: it is a sign of gratuity because alms are given to someone from whom you would not expect to receive anything in return. Gratuity should be one of the characteristics of a Christian, who, aware of having received everything from God freely, that is without any merit, learns to give to others freely. Today often gratuity is not part of everyday life, where everything is bought and sold. Everything is calculation and measurement. Almsgiving helps us to live the gratuitousness of the gift, which is freedom from the obsession with possessing things, [freedom from] the fear of losing what one has, from the sadness of those who do not want to share their well-being with others.
With its calls to conversion, Lent comes providentially to rouse us, to shake us from our torpor, from the risk of moving forward [merely] by inertia. The exhortation that the Lord speaks to us through the prophet Joel is loud and clear: "Return to me with all your heart” (Joel 2:12). Why must we return to God? Because something is wrong in us, in society, in the Church - and we need to change, to turn things around, to repent! Once again Lent comes to make its prophetic appeal, to remind us that it is possible to realize something new within ourselves and around us, simply because God is faithful, continues to be full of goodness and mercy, and is always ready to forgive and start over from scratch. With this filial confidence, let us set out on our way!
Wednesday, March 5, 2014
SPIRITUAL OLYMPICS
Joel 2:12-18; PS 51 Be merciful O Lord for we have sinned; 2 Corinthians 5:20-6:2; Matt 6:1-6,16-18
It is that time of year again. Spring cleaning for the soul. Or if you prefer the spiritual Olympics has begun and today is the opening ceremony. Though we do not have a dance routine or even a theme song to boot; we do not have a torch being carried to light an emblematic fire for the nations; we just have a simple splash of ash upon the forehead to kick start the season of discipline, a season of training in true love.
Prayer, fasting, and giving will be the events in which we compete that we might deepen our love for God, love for neighbor, and our detachment of self.
The keynote address revolves around two statements we shall hear over and over again: remember you are dust and unto dust you shall return and Repent and believe in the gospel.
Both are important if we are to understand the 40 days of Lent.
Remember you are dust and unto dust you shall return. Time is running out. Don't waste it. We are called to examine our life and see where we are headed. Many would suggest that since we do not have much time then we should make the most of it by doing whatever we want. Well, that would be a waste.
Remembering we are dust reminds us that we are dust alive in the hands of God. We have our existence from another and it is only in the other that we shall find ultimate fulfillment and true value.
This is why the second statement is valuable: repent and believe in the gospel.
Repent that is it is time for a change, a change in direction. The gospel now becomes a true compass of orientation. The good news helps us get our bearings straight and thus realigns us with true greatness, a greatness we are created for, written in our very existence.
Pope Benedict reminded us some years ago that the world will promise us comfort, but we are not made for comfort we are made for greatness.
The season of Lent has arrived in the nick of time to call out to us that reality once again that we are made for greatness and through prayer, fasting, and giving we can discover the greatness written into our existence by the maker's hand and let it out for the benefit of the world.
It is time to get our head, heart, and soul in the game.
"we are ambassadors for Christ, as if God were appealing through us…that we might become the righteousness of God in Christ…do not receive the grace of God in vain." 2 corinthians 5
The grace of the season has arrived. The invitation is laid at our feet. The ash has been splashed upon our forehead. Let the world experience true greatness: pray, fast, give.
Let the games begin.
It is that time of year again. Spring cleaning for the soul. Or if you prefer the spiritual Olympics has begun and today is the opening ceremony. Though we do not have a dance routine or even a theme song to boot; we do not have a torch being carried to light an emblematic fire for the nations; we just have a simple splash of ash upon the forehead to kick start the season of discipline, a season of training in true love.
Prayer, fasting, and giving will be the events in which we compete that we might deepen our love for God, love for neighbor, and our detachment of self.
The keynote address revolves around two statements we shall hear over and over again: remember you are dust and unto dust you shall return and Repent and believe in the gospel.
Both are important if we are to understand the 40 days of Lent.
Remember you are dust and unto dust you shall return. Time is running out. Don't waste it. We are called to examine our life and see where we are headed. Many would suggest that since we do not have much time then we should make the most of it by doing whatever we want. Well, that would be a waste.
Remembering we are dust reminds us that we are dust alive in the hands of God. We have our existence from another and it is only in the other that we shall find ultimate fulfillment and true value.
This is why the second statement is valuable: repent and believe in the gospel.
Repent that is it is time for a change, a change in direction. The gospel now becomes a true compass of orientation. The good news helps us get our bearings straight and thus realigns us with true greatness, a greatness we are created for, written in our very existence.
Pope Benedict reminded us some years ago that the world will promise us comfort, but we are not made for comfort we are made for greatness.
The season of Lent has arrived in the nick of time to call out to us that reality once again that we are made for greatness and through prayer, fasting, and giving we can discover the greatness written into our existence by the maker's hand and let it out for the benefit of the world.
It is time to get our head, heart, and soul in the game.
"we are ambassadors for Christ, as if God were appealing through us…that we might become the righteousness of God in Christ…do not receive the grace of God in vain." 2 corinthians 5
The grace of the season has arrived. The invitation is laid at our feet. The ash has been splashed upon our forehead. Let the world experience true greatness: pray, fast, give.
Let the games begin.
Monday, March 3, 2014
WHY DONT YOU
1 Peter 1:3-9; Ps111 The Lord will remember his covenant forever; Mark 10:17-27
Today in the life of the church we celebrate the memorial of Katharine Drexel that is Saint Katharine. A native of Philadelphia, born in to a very affluent family, a world traveler of sorts, St. Katharine, after nursing her stepmother through a three year period of terminal illness began to consider what mattered most in life.
On one of her trips to Italy, having encountered Pope Leo XIII, She asks him to send more missionaries to Wyoming for her fried Bishop O'Connor. The pope's reply was simple and to the point, "Why don't you become a missionary."
Think about that simple exchange.
How often do we complain about things not getting done? How often do we push the job off on others and just continue to complain? When was the last time we did anything about it?
This is exactly what God in the Holy Spirit was doing through Pope Leo XIII for Katharine Drexel.
It was an invitation to do something about it. IT was invitation not only to recognize the need but to supply what was lacking.
In 1889, Katharine decided to give the remainder of her life to the service of God and his church, forming a order of sisters dedicated to the education of the Native Americans and the African Americans, including having founded XavierUniversity in New Orleans.
She eventually passed from this life at the age of 96, having been born in 1858 she lived almost a century upon her death in 1954. She was canonized in 2000 by Pope John Paul II.
It all started with a compassionate heart to do something and invitation not to pass the buck but rather to take the reigns and make it happen.
These are the kind of people Jesus is in need of today. We have many who recognize problems and areas that need attention but so few who are actually willingly to do something about it because they lack commitment.
Why Don't you become a missionary?
Listen again to the words of JEsus in the gospel for today.
"A man ran up, knelt down before Jesus, and asked him, 'Good teacher, what must i do to inherit eternal life?…Jesus looking at him, loved him and said to him, ;you are lacking in one thing. Go, sell what you have, and give to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven; then come follow me."
Why Don't You become a Missionary? What are you still lacking?
Today in the life of the church we celebrate the memorial of Katharine Drexel that is Saint Katharine. A native of Philadelphia, born in to a very affluent family, a world traveler of sorts, St. Katharine, after nursing her stepmother through a three year period of terminal illness began to consider what mattered most in life.
On one of her trips to Italy, having encountered Pope Leo XIII, She asks him to send more missionaries to Wyoming for her fried Bishop O'Connor. The pope's reply was simple and to the point, "Why don't you become a missionary."
Think about that simple exchange.
How often do we complain about things not getting done? How often do we push the job off on others and just continue to complain? When was the last time we did anything about it?
This is exactly what God in the Holy Spirit was doing through Pope Leo XIII for Katharine Drexel.
It was an invitation to do something about it. IT was invitation not only to recognize the need but to supply what was lacking.
In 1889, Katharine decided to give the remainder of her life to the service of God and his church, forming a order of sisters dedicated to the education of the Native Americans and the African Americans, including having founded XavierUniversity in New Orleans.
She eventually passed from this life at the age of 96, having been born in 1858 she lived almost a century upon her death in 1954. She was canonized in 2000 by Pope John Paul II.
It all started with a compassionate heart to do something and invitation not to pass the buck but rather to take the reigns and make it happen.
These are the kind of people Jesus is in need of today. We have many who recognize problems and areas that need attention but so few who are actually willingly to do something about it because they lack commitment.
Why Don't you become a missionary?
Listen again to the words of JEsus in the gospel for today.
"A man ran up, knelt down before Jesus, and asked him, 'Good teacher, what must i do to inherit eternal life?…Jesus looking at him, loved him and said to him, ;you are lacking in one thing. Go, sell what you have, and give to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven; then come follow me."
Why Don't You become a Missionary? What are you still lacking?
Sunday, March 2, 2014
ARE YOU NOT
Isaiah 49:14-15; PS 62 Rest in God alone, my soul; 1 Corinthians 4:1-5; Mt 6:24-34
Remember the old song, "Don't Worry, Be Happy…" (Whistle here…)
What is the heart of our worry and anxiety in our life? Why do we get so caught up in things and let them consume us, control us, guide and direct us?
At the very heart of today's gospel as Jesus is speaking and inviting us not to worry he makes an observation, "Look at the birds is the sky; they do not sow or reap, they gather nothing into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them…Learn form the way the wild flowers grow. They do not work or spin. But I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was clothed like one of them…"
Right in between that observation, snuggled comfortably between the birds and wild flowers Jesus says these words, "Are not you more important then the?"
That is the question for us. Why do we worry? Why do we have anxiety? Why do we need medication for our nerves and for our ulcers? Simply this: We do not value ourselves sufficiently. We undervalue our worth before the eyes of our heavenly Father.
We suffer from spiritual low self-esteem. we don't think we count. We don't thin God is concerned? We under value God's care and concern even after he sent his son to die on the cross to prove his love, his undying faithfulness and desire for our well being.
We doubt. We refuse to accept the high value he has placed upon us.
This is the source of our worry and our anxiety an ultimately our misery: spiritual low self esteem.
As we get ready for Lent perhaps we should take that question and let it leads us through these 40 days of retreat: Are not you more import an than they?
Perhaps at the end we can say "Yes."
"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds…Are you not more important than they?…"
Remember the old song, "Don't Worry, Be Happy…" (Whistle here…)
What is the heart of our worry and anxiety in our life? Why do we get so caught up in things and let them consume us, control us, guide and direct us?
At the very heart of today's gospel as Jesus is speaking and inviting us not to worry he makes an observation, "Look at the birds is the sky; they do not sow or reap, they gather nothing into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them…Learn form the way the wild flowers grow. They do not work or spin. But I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was clothed like one of them…"
Right in between that observation, snuggled comfortably between the birds and wild flowers Jesus says these words, "Are not you more important then the?"
That is the question for us. Why do we worry? Why do we have anxiety? Why do we need medication for our nerves and for our ulcers? Simply this: We do not value ourselves sufficiently. We undervalue our worth before the eyes of our heavenly Father.
We suffer from spiritual low self-esteem. we don't think we count. We don't thin God is concerned? We under value God's care and concern even after he sent his son to die on the cross to prove his love, his undying faithfulness and desire for our well being.
We doubt. We refuse to accept the high value he has placed upon us.
This is the source of our worry and our anxiety an ultimately our misery: spiritual low self esteem.
As we get ready for Lent perhaps we should take that question and let it leads us through these 40 days of retreat: Are not you more import an than they?
Perhaps at the end we can say "Yes."
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