Political threat

‘If we leave him alone, all will believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away our land and our nation.’  (John 10:31-42)

Today’s Gospel is another example of what I spoke about on Thursday – the reason Jesus was crucified.  Our typical Catholic response to the question of why Jesus was crucified was, “because of our sins”.  But the presenter of our clergy seminar on Monday claims that is wrong.  Jesus was crucified because he was dangerous!  He was dangerous politically.  He was dangerous socially.  And he was dangerous religiously. 

At first they just thought he was simply crazy, out of his mind.  But, he soon became a threat to just about anyone and everyone, because what he preached overturned the existing way of life in every way conceivable, and no one likes to change from a what is familiar and comfortable to something that is difficult and uncomfortable, to say the least.  And that was why he was eventually crucified.

Today’s passage follows the raising of Lazarus from the dead, and the Pharisees and chief priests have become so threatened by Jesus that they have called a special meeting of the Sanhedrin to discuss what they could do about him.  We see how their concern has evolved from a charge of blasphemy to a larger political threat: the loss of their nation.  And so he must die; his message must be stopped.

As we prepare to enter into Holy Week, let us take some time to reflect on both the message of Jesus, and the fact that this message has survived for over 2000 years.  Nothing has stopped this Good News from being passed down from generation to generation, and now it is our responsibility to pass it along to future generations as well. 

May our celebration of the events of Holy Week truly assist us to fulfill our role in the building of the Father’s Kingdom of true and lasting peace.

Works

‘If I do not perform my Father’s works, do not believe me; but if I perform them, even if you do not believe me, believe the works, so that you may realize and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father.’  (John 10)

Amid all of the Pharisees’ accusations of blasphemy, they still have to admit that Jesus’ actions are good – so good in fact that they are threatened by them.  Remember, as I said yesterday, the reason Jesus was crucified is because he was dangerous!  Jesus’ actions unmistakably reveal that he IS one with the Father.  And so many people were threatened by that.

In less than a week we will begin the Sacred Triduum.  But there is still time for us to join our actions with Jesus’.  There is still time to enter into the work Jesus came to do.  There is still time to visit the sick or bring comfort to the lonely.  There’s still time to bring food to the hungry or assist in paying someone’s heating bill.

As we abstain from eating meat today, let us be reminded of those who are less fortunate than we are, who need our assistance just to survive.  And let us pray that our good works will increase, so that through all we say and do, we might continue the works of Jesus himself in building the Father’s Kingdom of true and lasting peace.

dangerous

‘So they picked up stones to throw at him; but Jesus hid and went out of the Temple area.’  (John 8)

On Monday I went to a Ministry Enrichment Day at the Seminary to hear Sr. Dianne Bergant, a Professor of Biblical Studies at Catholic Theological Union in Chicago.  Although she did not focus on the lectionary readings for the Triduum and Easter as promised, her talks did focus somewhat on our Lenten readings.  And one of the things she pointed out was the reason why Jesus was crucified.

Our typical Catholic response to that question is that Jesus was crucified because of our sins.  But she claims that is wrong.  Jesus was crucified because he was dangerous!  He was dangerous politically.  He was dangerous socially.  And he was dangerous religiously.  He was a threat to just about anyone and everyone, because what he preached overturned the existing way of life in every way conceivable, and no one likes to change from a what is familiar and comfortable to something that is difficult and uncomfortable, to say the least.

At first people just claimed he was insane to make claims such as the one that he existed before Abraham.  They thought he was out of his mind to give the voiceless of society a voice, to stand up for those who did not count and had no legal standing. 

But then, as this type of speaking continued and more and more people were attracted to him, he became a threat.  And that was why he was eventually crucified.

Yet his message has survived 2000 years, and it continues to be passed on today by followers such as you and me. 

In this most holy season, as we draw near to Holy Week and reflect more closely on the sufferings and Passion of Jesus, let us ask ourselves how we can unite ourselves more closely to his teachings, and thus help to further the work he came to this earth to do – to build the Father’s Kingdom of true and lasting peace.

Freedom

'If you remain in my word, you will truly be my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.'  (John 8)

Living according to Jesus' teaching is not easy to do because he sets the standards so high.  But, Jesus says the effort will be worth it.

We will achieve freedom from all those things that trouble us or hold us back: freedom from anger, freedom from guilt, freedom from weakness, freedom from sin - all those things we are trying, in this Lenten season to overcome.

We will be set free - emotionally, psychologically, spiritually - in proportion to our ability to follow Jesus' precepts. 

This challenge is made every Lent: to take stock and attempt to improve in some area of weakness. 
Yes, the effort will be worth it, for we will then find ourselves drawing ever closer to our ultimate goal - eternal life in the Father's Kingdom of true and lasting peace.

The Crucifix

‘When you lift up the Son of Man, then you realize that I AM.’  (John 8)

The idea of homeopathic medicine is that one can use a small amount of a pathogen to fight off what, in full strength, would make you ill. 

In mainstream medicine too, a similar idea lies behind immunizations.

In both cases, the very thing that can cause disease becomes the means of healing. 

The bronze serpent that Moses crafted to cure his people if they looked at it, as well as Jesus’ vision of himself lifted up on the Cross and drawing all people to himself, evoke the same idea.  The very instrument of bitterness and death, through grace, becomes the source of life.

As we continue in this fifth week of Lent, we would do well to spend some time simply gazing upon the crucifix – not to dwell on the agony of Jesus, but upon the wondrous love and healing that the sign of the Cross has become, knowing that it is through Jesus’ Cross that we are now able to journey ever closer to the Father’s Kingdom of true and lasting peace.

Annunciation

‘I am the servant of the Lord.  Let it be done to me as you say.’  (Luke 1)

This year the church celebrates the Feast of the Annunciation one day late because the actual date – March 25^th – falls on a Sunday. 

But, contrary to what some may say, that does not mean that Christmas, too, will be one day late!

While we celebrate Jesus’ conception today, we also honor Mary, his mother, for her response to God’s messenger that allowed Jesus to be conceived within her.

Did you ever notice, Mary is not asked if she wants to be the mother of God; she just accepts God’s will for her and trusts in His divine providence.

While that was certainly the overriding quality of Mary, that is the trait we must seek to emulate as well in our own lives.  In this last third of our Lenten journey, as we begin to reflect more and more on the cross and the passion of Jesus, we must pray for the wisdom of Mary, so that we might accept the events of our lives, especially those events over which we have no choice or no control, and simply trust in Almighty God.

We must keep in mind that Mary’s life was filled with much joy, but also at times much embarrassment, much confusion, much fear, and certainly much suffering.

Today we honor her trust, and her willingness to carry out God’s plan, and we ask her intercession for us, so that we might do likewise in all that we say and do, knowing that it will be in this way that we will then draw ever closer to eternal life in the Father’s Kingdom of true and lasting peace.

Scrutinies

Once a month I get a 'break' from having to prepare a weekend homily as Deacon Angelo gets to exercise his faculties to preach.  This is such a weekend.  And so, I thought I would reflect briefly on part of the RCIA process we continue this weekend, something called the Scrutinies.  Each of the past two weeks, those preparing for baptism and for entrance into our church have undertaken the first two scutinies; this weekend is the third and final scrutiny.

Since early Fall, the two catechumens and two candidates have met weekly to learn about the Catholic faith, and then have gathered for Sunday Mass.  But, because they cannot yet receive Holy Communion, after the Universal Prayer (formerly known as the General Intercessions), they have been dismissed from the congregation.  Their team leaders go off to a quiet place where they reflect more deeply on the Scriptures they just heard proclaimed and how those Scriptures impact their lives personally.  We call this process 'Breaking Open the Word.'

On the First Sunday of Lent, they went to the Cathedral and were presented to the Archbishop in a Rite of Election ceremony.  Now, as the time draws near for their ultimate decision to ask to be baptized and/or brought into the church, they are asked to reflect more deeply on just what it is they are requesting of the church, just what it is they are committing themselves to.

They are encouraged to develop a way of seeing things from God's point of view, and of seeing sin for what it is, and Jesus as the One who can and will liberate them from sin.

And while this is an important part of their process, it is likewise just as important for each of us as well.  Even though we have been baptized, even though we are already a part of the church, nonetheless, often we lose sight of the way God sees things.  Often we are attracted to sinful ways and need to have our spiritual sight restored.

And so, as we pray for those preparing for the Easter sacraments, perhaps we can take the time to scrutinize our own life and life patterns, and turning everything over to the Lord, and recommitting ourselves to following Him, be reassured that we are indeed drawing ever closer to our ultimate goal - eternal life in the Father's Kingdom of true and lasting peace.

Jeremiah

‘Let me witness the vengeance you take on them, Lord, for to you I have entrusted my cause!’  (Jeremiah 11)

It’s not easy being a prophet.  Jeremiah was a very young man – perhaps just a teenager – when he felt God call him to proclaim to the Hebrew people that they had broken their covenant with God.

Jeremiah’s words were harsh: ‘Because of their disobedience, because of their stubbornness, because they have worshipped other gods, disaster will come upon them.  God will no longer listen when they cry out.’

Like many of the prophets both before and after him, Jeremiah’s words were not always appreciated.  Political and religious leaders saw him as a threat to their comfortable way of life.  As a result, Jeremiah suffered greatly.  He was imprisoned, beaten, and persecuted on more than one occasion.

But the key was that he listened to the voice of God, and he had the courage to go forth and do what the Lord asked of him, and through all that he said and did, indeed, through his very life, he sought to bring people closer to the Lord.

As we conclude our 4^th week of Lent and enter the final third of this most holy season, we would do well to spend some time examining just how well we are listening to the voice of the Lord speaking to us.  What is He asking of us?  What is He saying to us?  How well we are doing what He is asking of us.  Do our lives serve to lead others closer to the Lord?

May our Lenten prayers and practices strengthen us to follow in Jeremiah’s footsteps, however unpopular that might be at times, and thus allow the Lord to use us to help build the Father’s kingdom of true and lasting peace.

Differences

‘You know me and also know where I am from.’   (John 7)

The crowd does not know what to make of Jesus.  Some suggest he is the Messiah.  But they know his background, and so they think they know what to expect from him and what not to expect.  And when he no longer fits those parameters, that’s when things get dicey.

If it were up to us, everyone would share our opinions, uphold our values, imitate our manners, and vote as we do.  What a wonderful world that would be!

We live, however, in a land of free will and endless variety.  And that, regrettably at times, includes the way other people think and act and perceive reality and believe.

We can, therefore proceed in any number of ways, many of which historically have quite predictable outcomes.  We can kill everyone who thinks differently than us – obviously that hasn’t worked.  Or we can suppress all other perspectives – that hasn’t worked either.  Or, we can learn to dialogue across the differences.

As we abstain from eating meat today, imagine a world of mutual respect, free from a spirit of condemnation.  And let us then also abstain from such behavior in our own relationships, so that through all our Lenten prayers and practices, we might unite ourselves more closely with all our brothers and sisters throughout the world, and together draw ever closer to our goal of spending eternity in the Father’s Kingdom of true and lasting peace.

Moses

‘Remember Your servants Abraham, Isaac, and Israel.’ (Exodus 32)

While Moses has been up on the mountain receiving the Law – the Ten Commandments – from God, the Israelites have gotten tired of waiting for his return.  And so they ask Aaron to make them a new god. Aaron complies, gathering gold jewelry and trinkets from the people, melting it down, and fashioning a golden calf!

When God realizes what is happening, He wants no more to do with these people.  After all He has done for them, after having kept His end of the covenant through thick and thin, the people still turn away from Him so completely?  No, He wants nothing more to do with them.  And who could blame Him?

But  Moses pleads with God on behalf of the people.  He asks God how will it look to the Egyptians if God destroys the Israelites now?  Moses also reminds God that the covenant was established long before these people ever came on the scene – back in the days of Abraham, Isaac & Jacob.

Remarkably, God is persuaded by Moses and decides not to take immediate action against the Hebrew people.

In this season of Lent, we are reminded of two things in particular.  Like the Israelites, we too have turned away from the Lord, in different ways and at different times.  Despite all that the Lord has done for us and continues to do for us, we still at times decide there is something better than the Lord.  And off we go.

But the other thing we are reminded of in this holy season, especially as we look up at the Cross, is that the Lord does not renege on His end of the covenant – no matter what we do.  Fortunately for us, His mercy and His forgiveness are still there for us.

Our response, therefore, can be only one thing.  We need desperately to turn back to Him, to express our sorrow for turning away, to let Him know how much we need Him, and then pledge to never turn away again.

May our Lenten prayers and practices truly strengthen us to do just that, so that through all we say and do, we might indeed be drawing ever closer to our ultimate goal – eternal life in the Father’s Kingdom of true and lasting peace.

Spring

Ok, so I started this blog because I wanted to share some of what my life as a priest was really like - a behind-the-scenes so-to-speak perspective.  And, truth be told, I found that I did not write as often as I had wanted, for a variety of reasons.

But then came Lent, and I decided that perhaps the best way to get back into the habit of writing regularly was to 'publish' my daily homilies.  And, lo and behold, it seems I now have more followers, and even a comment or two left for me as well.  So, that seems to be a good thing.

However, I still have not succeeded in my original purpose, so I thought today I would do just that.  As many know, my 'weekend' is Tuesday and Wednesday.  This week I decided to take a trip up to my 'retreat' in New Hampshire, which, at this time of year, is a totally different world than here in CT!  The old joke is that there are only two seasons in New Hampshire - Winter and the 4th of July.  Whoever said that was wrong.  There are three seasons - Winter, the 4th of July, and Mud Season.  This is Mud Season!

The road to my property in normally dirt and gravel.  However, now it is a mud pit.  The town has been adding gravel daily, but it doesn't seem to be doing much good.  Since I had no use for my 4 wheel drive this winter, I was glad to be able to use it in the mud.  Without it, one's car would be swallowed by the road.

I was happy to see the ice and snow completely gone.  I quickly went about unwrapping my kayak from the tarps I used for protection from the winter, putting the bars on my roof rack, hoisting the 15' kayak up and securing it, putting the paddles and life preserver into the car, and navigating the mud back down to Lake Sunapee - a ten minute drive.

So, you can imagine my utter amazement, when I pulled into the harbor parking lot, to gaze out at the lake and see it was still completely covered with ice!  There WAS some water showing close to the edge, but it did not go very far.  Boy was I bummed.  An 80 degree day, and not able to get on the water.  I thought I was going to be able to go for a paddle for the first time ever in the month of March!  Instead, I walked the 3 mile loop that goes around part of the lake.

Today, I did not even bother taking the kayak to the lake.  I went down to the harbor, parked, and went for my walk once again.  When I got back to the harbor, to my amazement, all the ice had melted in the harbor.  And, as I watched, the ice was melting back literally before my very eyes - about 8 feet an hour!  I have never seen anything like it.  Not wanting to trudge through the mud two more times, I quickly dismissed the idea of going back for my kayak.

It truly is remarkable how the seasons progress at different rates in different climates.  While I have crocus, hyacinth and daffodil in full bloom in my garden here, along with leaves on my rose and butterfly bushes, there isn't a sign of flowers anywhere up there.  Eventually the seasons will 'catch up' with one another, but then autumn comes quicker up there than down here, too.

But, spring IS on the way in New Hampshire, too.  I noticed the phoebes, who make two nests every year on the overhangs on my house, have completed their annual trek from Mexico.  Fortunately for them, mosquitoes already abound!

Not forgotten

'I will never forget you.'   (Isaiah 49)

The Book of the Prophet Isaiah was written during the time Israel was living in exile in Babylon.  Throughout this book, Isaiah speaks of God's demands for compassion and justice, for honest worship and rituals - as well as God's promises: promises of a second chance, promises of a new beginning, promises of a return to their land and a completely different kind of leader.

But perhaps, and most importantly, God reminds the Hebrew people againa nd again and again that they ahve not been forgotten.  Even in the midst of exile, God was still indeed with them, and they were still God's people.

In this season of Lent, we are reminded over and over of the need to return to the Lord.  Why?  Because He does love us, and He does desire for us to be with Him forever.  It hurts Him when we stray, when we go off on our own and ignore Him and His commandments.  He will do anything to have us back again.

May our Lenten prayers and practices truly assist us in returning with our whole heart to the Lord, knowing that we are not forgotten.  For it will be in this way that we will draw ever closer to our ultimate goal - eternal life in the Father's Kingdom of true and lasting peace.

Healing

‘Do you want to be made well?’  John 5

Each one of us, to some degree, to some extent, is trapped by the circumstances of our lives.  Think about it. 

Do we not think back on the things we used to be able to do?  Do we not think about the ‘what ifs’ of our situations?

The man by the pool in today’s Gospel was just such a person.  For nearly forty years he spent his days beside that pool, waiting for someone to put him in the pool’s healing waters.  He couldn't do it himself; he needed someone - anyone - to do it for him.  But no one did.

When Jesus comes to this man , he asks a remarkable question. ‘Do you want to be well?’ 

Is Jesus being rude?  Insensitive?  I mean, what does he think, that this man likes to just sit here?  Maybe, maybe not.

But, we must remember another time, later in the Gospels where Jesus tells us, ‘I have come that you might have life, and have it abundantly.’  Life with God is meant to be an adventure – and thus it usually involves taking risks.

If we want to receive the gift of eternal life that Jesus came to this earth to give, then we cannot just sit around and do the same old things, day in and day out.  We must be on a journey, one that involves growth, one that involves change, one that involves entering fully into the process of walking with the Lord.

May we be strengthened by our Lenten prayers and practices to go forth and do whatever it takes to be healed, to be made anew, and thus draw ever closer to our ultimate goal of spending eternity in the Father’s Kingdom of true and lasting peace.

St. Joseph

‘Joseph, her husband, since he was a righteous man, yet unwilling to expose her to shame, decided to divorce her quietly.’

Today the church takes a break from our Lenten journey to celebrate the Solemnity of St. Joseph.

Have you ever seen a Christmas pageant where Joseph had the lead role?

Have you ever heard a sermon about St. Joseph?

Probably not, but don’t feel bad.  Even the Gospels pay little attention to him.

Nothing is said of the bewilderment Joseph surely must have experienced when Mary told him she was pregnant.

Nothing is said of the anxiety and doubts he surely must have experienced when he had to flee to Egypt after learning that King Herod planned to kill all the male infants in Bethlehem.

Joseph was clearly a man of faith, a man who knew Jesus’ divine identity and mission.

He knew that the only way he would make sense of all these things that came into his life was to place his complete faith and trust in Almighty God and, like Mary, to simply be the servant of the Lord.

As an instrument of the Lord, he remained in the background, but the work he did brought light to God and to His mission.

As we continue in this season of Lent, even as we pause to celebrate this solemnity, may we be strengthened to imitate the wonderful example Joseph gives to us, and turn our lives over to the Lord as well. 

May the bewilderment, anxiety and doubts we face in life never keep us from doing what the Lord calls us to do. 

And may all we say and do likewise serve to draw all people ever closer to eternal life in the Father’s Kingdom of true and lasting peace.

Exposed

In the Gospel of John we read: “For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come toward the light, so that his works might not be exposed.”  (John 3)

Now, it may seem as though people don’t like their imperfections, their faults, their failures, their sins to be brought out into the light because of what others may think.  And that’s probably true to some extent, but I don’t think that’s the primary reason.  No, I think that bringing the ugly stuff about us into the light is actually too painful and shameful - for us to deal with.  That’s right, for us. 

One example of this is reflected in the lack of long lines at the confessional.  I’m convinced that people often stay away from the Sacrament of Reconciliation not because of what the priest may think about whatever the person may or may not have done, but rather because of the difficulty most of us have in being required to actually acknowledge and name the things we are not proud of. 

That’s when we can no longer ignore them.  That’s when we can no longer pretend they don’t exist.  That’s when we can no longer rationalize them or make excuses for them.  No, once we bring our sins into the light it just seems as though they sort of become more real.  And that’s tough to deal with.

Looking at ourselves in an honest way is not as easy as it sounds. 

How many of us feel that our strained or broken relationships are mostly the fault of the other person? 

How many of us are waiting for someone else to apologize first? 

How many of us are convinced that the wrong we do really isn’t that bad and doesn’t actually cause that much hurt? 

How many of us are convinced that if everyone else were more like us, the world would be a better place? 

And how many of us can’t admit that there are things about us that should change, that can change, that must change?

In many ways Lent isn’t so much about “analyzing” and “figuring out” our lives as it is about illuminating our most authentic selves - good and bad, the things we are proud of, and the things we’d do differently if we had a second chance. 

May all our Lenten prayers and practices truly help us to refocus everything in our life toward doing the will of the Lord, so that come Easter, we might indeed find we are on our way toward the Father's Kingdom of true and lasting peace.

Reconciliation

‘O God, be merciful to me, a sinner.’  Luke 18

This simple prayer we just heard in our Gospel goes a long way toward reconciling us to our generous and forgiving Savior.  None of us likes to have our faults and failings brought out into to the light.  None of us likes to admit that we are less than perfect.  I think that is perhaps why so few people take advantage of the beautiful sacrament of Reconciliation any more.  We’d rather not have to admit to how we have fallen short of being the person God has created us to be.

Yet, it is in acknowledging our sinful nature rather than ignoring it or making excuses for it, that we take the most significant step in our return to the Lord.  We are weak.  We are flawed.  Therefore, it is only right that we turn humbly to God and seek reconciliation.  Only when we admit to our need for the mercy and forgiveness of God, can we truly receive that precious gift, and only then can we begin to make the changes we need to avoid doing the same things going forward.

As we continue in this holy season of Lent, let us plan to make some time to examine our conscience, and celebrate the wonderful sacrament of Reconciliation. For it will be in this way that we will remain on the path that leads to the Father’s Kingdom of true and lasting peace.

commandments

‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’  Mk 12

If we follow this commandment, then there really is no need for any others. 

If we truly love God, then all our other relationships will be good and right, for that love of God will be at our very core. 

Look at it from a different perspective:

How can we treat others unjustly when our whole being is in tune with God?

How can we mistreat creation, or disrespect our own dignity when we’re one with God?

You see, if we truly love God, then our very lives will reflect that intimate bond.

When we put God first, then we place ourselves and all the trivialities of this world in proper perspective.

This season of Lent is really all about reevaluating our priorities, to make sure that all we say and do does indeed bring us closer to our ultimate goal of being with our Creator for all eternity.

On this day of abstinence from eating meat, may we also seek to abstain from all that is preventing us from achieving this goal.  May we make certain that everything takes a back seat to our pursuit of heaven.

May all of our Lenten prayers and practices truly assist us in remaining faithful to our journey through this life, so that come Easter, we might indeed find ourselves ever closer to eternal life in the Father’s Kingdom of true and lasting peace.

Prophets

‘I have sent you untiringly all my servants the prophets.’  Jeremiah 7

Many people think of biblical prophets as people to whom God gave the mysterious power to see into the future.  Prophets, however, were not crystal-ball-gazers who ‘predicted’ what was to come.  Most of the time they talked about the present, and sometimes about the past as well.

But their main purpose was to focus on what the people of God were doing – or not doing – in their relationship with God.  In bringing God’s word to a particular situation, they attempted to call people back to God, and showed them that God could still be a guiding force in their lives; that God wanted to be a guiding force in their lives.

When we think about it, that is the purpose of this holy season of Lent, to be reminded of our need to turn back to God in all things, and to remember to let Him be the guiding force in our lives.  Three weeks ago we gathered to be marked by a cross of ashes, making it clear that all the things of this world will one day pass away.  If our ultimate goal is eternal life, then everything we say and do, each and every day, has to assist us on our journey to achieve that goal.

May our Lenten prayers and practices truly assist us in turning back to God, so that we might indeed draw ever closer to eternal life in the Father’s Kingdom of true and lasting peace.

Zeal

‘However, take care and be earnestly on your guard not to forget the things which your own eyes have seen.’  Luke 11

Zeal is an obscure virtue during this season of Lent.  We aim often for the virtues of self-denial, humility, fortitude, and others that seem to lend themselves to our desire for repentance, and movement toward the Resurrection.

With that repentance, however, is an opportunity to look at our life in relationship with God, and make some real and positive change.  That is where zeal can help.

Zeal is the quality of eagerness and ardent desire in pursuing something.  In Catholic language, zeal is love in action.

Let us continue this Lenten season with zeal, allowing love to impel us to look realistically, without judgment, at our life, and make choices that more fully reflect Christ’s life within us.  For it will be in so doing that we will draw ever closer to our ultimate goal – eternal life in the Father’s Kingdom of true and lasting peace.

Forgiveness

‘How many times must I forgive?  Jesus answered, ‘I say to you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times!’

Jesus, in other words, instructs us to forgive without limits. 

There’s always someone, however, whom we find hard to forgive. 

When that happens, we usually try to justify our lack of mercy. 

We tell ourselves we’ve been patient enough.  We tell ourselves that no one, not even God, could expect us to reach out yet again! 

Still, there are few things heavier to carry than a grudge.  Jesus asks us to forgive, not only for the benefit of those who have wronged us, but also for our own healing and wholeness as well.  When we don’t forgive, we are hurting ourselves as well.

In justice, we must be willing to reach out continually to our brothers and sisters in forgiveness, no matter how often or how deeply they have hurt us. 

May our Lenten prayers and practices strengthen us with the grace to model true compassion, and to forgive others freely and fully.  For it will only be in so doing that we will then be totally forgiven ourselves, and draw ever closer to eternal life in the Father’s Kingdom of true and lasting peace.

Elijah

‘There were many in Israel in the time of Elijah the prophet when the sky was closed for three and a half years and a severe famine spread over the entire land.’  Luke 4

Even in the presence of prophets, there is suffering.  It doesn’t matter if it is Elijah or Elisha or Jesus himself who prompts us to action.  If we dismiss their call, we remain in sorrow.

You see, it isn’t just the role of the prophet alone to ease the misery of this world.  It is the responsibility of all people of faith.  We cannot just sit back and make excuses and expect others to take up the task of caring for the lowly and the needy.  We need to take their message to heart, and be models of justice and compassion.

In interviewing the candidates for confirmation last night, I asked them what they did for their service projects, and got them to talk a little about the good they accomplished through the hours they spent doing them.  And I tried to impress upon them that we are called to continue to do these types of things all the time, that God has given us these gifts and talents to use to assist others.

May our Lenten observances and practices truly open our eyes and hearts to those the Lord sends into our midst, be they prophets or everyday people, and in cooperating with them and assisting them, truly help to build the Father’s Kingdom of true and lasting peace.

Trust Fall

'I, the Lord your God, bestow mercy on the children of those who love Me and keep My commandments.'  Exodus 20

There is an icebreaker used on many retreats called the 'Trust Fall'.  Everyone takes turns falling backwards, allowing others standing behind them, who they cannot see, to catch them.  It can be quite a powerful experience.

St. Francis of Assisi used the image of this kind of falling to suggest abandoning ourselves to God.  Quoting Scripture, he would say, 'It is a terrible thing to fall into the hands of God!'  He didn't mean 'terrible' as in 'frightening', but rather 'terrible' as in awesome.'

Falling is always scary.  But when you trust God's open arms, you place control of your life in the hands of the loving Creator.  Especially at those times when things seem out of control in our own life, how calming and reassuring is it to know that we have turned things over to Someone much greater than ourselves!

As we begin this Third Week of Lent, let us pray that our efforts and practices will strenghten us to take that kind of 'trust fall' with God, allowing Him to lead us and guide us through everything we face in this life.  For it will be in so doing that we will then draw ever closer to eternal life in the Father's Kingdom of true and lasting peace.

mother

In the Parable of the Prodigal Son we hear: ‘The older son became angry and when he refused to enter the house, the father came out to plead with him.’

There are three characters mentioned in this parable – the father and the two sons.  A lot has been made of and written about each of them. 

But I cannot help but think about another character who isn’t mentioned –

the mother.  Ever wonder about the mother in this family?

I imagine her waiting inside, perhaps standing at the window, longing for the return of her youngest, wayward boy.  When she finally spies him off in the distance, she encourages her husband to go out to meet him.  Then she hopes for reconciliation of these sons she loves so much, as she busies herself setting up for a huge party she hopes will happen.

I think God is like that mother who is pained at the way her children treat each other, wanting only to feed them, and hold them, and welcome them back into her house.

That’s what this holy season of Lent is all about, being reconciled – with God and with one another.  We pray the Eucharistic Prayers for Reconciliation at Mass, asking the Lord to heal us of whatever divides us, and to fill us with the vision of being united with all those in the world around us as brothers and sisters who are on the same journey.

May all our Lenten prayers and practices strengthen us to work tirelessly to put aside whatever differences we have with others, and in working together, help to build the Father’s Kingdom of true and lasting peace.

favorites

‘Joseph’s brothers said, ‘Come on, let’s kill him.  We shall then see what comes of his dreams.’’

Recent studies suggest that parents have favorites among their children. 

(My youngest brother was the favorite in our family.)  It’s hard for parents not to take special delight in the accomplished daughter, or the charming son, or the child who’s remarkably trouble-free to bring up.

Yet, good parents know that tucking these biases away is very important, because the struggling child needs encouragement and support even more than the darling child.

In our Biblical story today, Jacob wasn’t very good at hiding his preference for Joseph, to the predictable outrage of his brothers.

Today, as we abstain from eating meat, we might resolve to offer extra encouragement to those who need it, to those who may not be considered our favorites or society’s favorites.  And perhaps we might ‘fast’ from the impulse to favor or disfavor those whose paths cross ours.

For it will be in this way that we will indeed draw ever closer to our ultimate goal – eternal life in the Father’s Kingdom of true and lasting peace.

Heaven

‘If they do not listen to Moses and the prophets, they will not be convinced even if one should rise from the dead.’

The story of Lazarus and the rich man in Luke 16, tells us something about the next life.  When we die, I doubt very much that God is going to accept us or reject us, so much as we will be the ones accepting God’s offer of eternal life, or rejecting it.

However, when we come face to face with our God at the end of our life, if we have lived this life according to the will and the ways of Almighty God, if we have followed His commandments and reached out to those in need, then what we see when we get to heaven will be something we will definitely want to experience for all eternity.

But, if we have lived our life in opposition to the teachings of God, if we have been selfish and self-centered, if everything has revolved around us, then we will not see anything when we get to heaven that will make us want to be there forever.  And we will choose to spend eternity in the absence of God.  There wont be anything spectacular at the pearly gates that will wow us into changing our minds if we have not lived this life for God and for one another.

May we use this holy season wisely, making sure we are being attentive to the needs of those in the world around us, offering the gifts and talents we have been given to assist our brothers and sisters.   For it will only be in so doing that we will draw ever closer to eternal life in the Father’s Kingdom of true and lasting peace.

Perpetua & Felicity

‘Whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave.’

 In the Gospels, we hear how the mother of two of the disciples petitions Jesus for a higher place for her two sons, apparently at the encouragement of those sons – or else the other disciples might not have been so incensed!

Contrast that self-interested scheming with the saints Perpetua and Felicity whom the church honors today.  They are not only examples of extraordinary faith and courage, but of utter selflessness as well.  The well-educated Perpetua is martyred alongside the slave Felicity, both of them devout Christians.

An interesting side note: It was against Roman law to execute a pregnant woman because it would be taking an innocent life.  Only after Felicity gave birth was she permitted to be martyred alongside her friends.  Her newborn daughter was adopted and raised by a Christian family.

These young people were so compelled by the message of Jesus, that they were willing to face torture and death in order to be part of the Christian community!

May our Lenten practices serve to strengthen our resolve to follow Jesus at all cost, and through the intercession of SS Perpetua and Felicity and all the holy martyrs, be strengthened to persevere in living our faith today and every day.  For it will be in so doing that we will draw ever closer to joining with them one day in the Father’s Kingdom of true and lasting peace.

Learn To Do Good

‘Cease doing evil; learn to do good.’

That is certainly very simple, very basic advice.  Yet, we do need to be reminded of it every so often.

There is a family I know who have five teen-aged children.  Every so often, the mother calls what she refers to as a ‘reality check’.  She and her husband get everyone together to make plain the rules of the house, and the expectations of mutual family responsibility and respect.

It has become a sort of joke among her friends, but those frank and honest meetings do succeed in keeping the family healthy as the children grow into young adults.

That, also, is a way of looking at this holy season of Lent as well: reality-therapy in which we stand back and assess how it is between us and God, not by our own standards, but by God’s.

We are called to go back to the basics, and evaluate everything we say and everything we do, in the course of our days and weeks, against the very simple and basic mandates given us by Jesus, so that we can make certain that our life is unfolding according to the will and the plan of Almighty God.

For it will only be in so doing that we will draw ever closer to our ultimate goal – eternal life in the Father’s Kingdom of true and lasting peace.

Measuring

‘The measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you.’

This seems like the most obvious of lessons.  After all, we are largely who we are because of what we do, how we treat others, and what we expect out of life.

If we live generously, without holding harsh judgments, forgiving those who hurt us, responding to those in need, then we will find ourselves at peace – with ourselves and with others – and living the hundred-fold life.

As I said, this seems to be the most obvious of lessons.  So, why then is it so tempting to spend our energies finding fault and hoarding our blessings?

May our continued journey through this holy season of Lent fill us with a gentler spirit and a more generous heart, so that through all we say and do, we might assist in the building of the Father’s Kingdom of true and lasting peace.

Be-loved and loving

"If God is for us, who can be against us?"

One of the deepest human spiritual longings is to know ourselves as the beloved of God. 
Maya Angelou, in her memoir 'Wouldn't Take Nothing for My Journey Now' recalls being asked by her teacher to read a section from a book that ended with the words 'God loves me.'  He instructed her to say the passage again and again.

Eventually it dawned on her that there just might be truth on those words.  She writes: 'I suddenly began to cry at the grandness of it all.  I knew that if God loved me, then I could do wonderful things.  I could try great things, learn anything, achieve anything.'

As we beging htis second week of Lent, let us know that God does indeed love us.  And let us ask God to use us to help someone else also know that he or she is beloved, too.  For it will be in this way that we can help build the Father's Kingdom of true and lasting peace.

Stewardship

‘The Lord is to be your God and you are to walk in His ways and hearken to His voice.’

When you think of Catholic stewardship, does your mind go to collection envelopes and fundraising appeals?  For most people, that is what happens.  And while that is certainly part of what it means, stewardship goes far beyond financial contributions.

The US Catholic bishops wrote that stewardship is a call to receive God’s gifts gratefully, to cultivate them responsibly, then share them lovingly with others, and finally to return them with increase to God.

We see examples of such stewardship in the church through people like St. Katharine Drexel whom we honor today.  Katharine was born into a prominent family in Philadelphia in 1858.  She took an avid interest in both the black and native Americans.  She began by donating money from her estate, but soon saw that much more was needed.  As a result, she founded a religious order for women, the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament whose mission was to see to the needs of the black and native Americans.  She went on to found 63 schools for them in the south and the west, as well as Xavier University in Mississippi, and donated over $20 million in her lifetime.

May our continued journey through this holy season of Lent, through the intercession of St. Katharine Drexel, strengthen us to seek ways to use the gifts and talents the Lord has given to us for His greater honor and glory, and for the good of all those in the world around us.  For it will only be in this way that we can help build the Father’s Kingdom of true and lasting peace.

words

‘Whoever is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment, and whoever says to his brother ‘raqa’ will be answerable to the Sanhedrin.’  So says Jesus in the Gospel passage from today's Mass.  For the record, ‘raqa’ is the equivalent of calling someone an imbecile.

As Christians, we are not to act out of anger.  In fact, Jesus goes on record saying that reconciling with one another is more important than any other action we do, even worship itself.  Lent is the perfect time for us to measure our own personal relationships against this principle.

Someone gave me an article by Cal Thomas, a Tribune Media Services writer.  He had been invited to be part of a panel discussion about the Health Care Coverage proposed by our president.  And, as part of that discussion, he spoke before thinking, saying of his opponent that she is “the best argument in favor of her parents using contraception”.

Realizing his mistake the next morning, he called to offer a sincere apology, along with a public apology in his column, which was graciously accepted.  He said he realized that if he didn’t live the moral values he wrote about so often, he would be a hypocrite, and that what he said was contrary to his values.

In our day, abusive language is so common that many don’t even recognize it as abusive or hurtful.  A wonderful Lenten practice would be to examine more carefully our use of words, and to give up any critical, demeaning, sarcastic, or abusive language, and to seek reconciliation with those with whom we are at odds. 

Mr. Thomas asks in his article, why is it that we usually only watch programs that reinforce what we already believe?  Where is the potential for growth in that?

May our Lenten practices truly assist us in continuing the work Jesus came to this earth to do – to unite ourselves with everyone, as his Body, in the Father’s Kingdom of true and lasting peace.

Esther

The story of Queen Esther told in the Bible book that bears her name, from which the 1^st reading of today's Mass is taken, is a fascinating tale of subterfuge and intrigue.  Esther uses her wit and wile to get what she wants from the king.  But her masterstroke is to use prayer and petition to get what she needs from God: namely a plan for deliverance for herself and for her people.

Some people question why the season of Lent has to be so long.  Why can we not accomplish what we need in a few days, like most retreats? Why does it take 40 days?  Can't we just do this and get it over with?

Well the answer lies in the fact that Lent is a journey, a process.  And as such, it takes time, it takes effort, and, if done properly it is an extensive undertaking.

The first step in this journey is to ask God for the assistance to chart our course.  But then, like Queen Esther, we must fast, we must pray, and, above all, we must wait.  Then God’s plan for us will be revealed.

May the Lord strengthen us to enter into this Lenten journey properly, and give us the patience and perseverance we need, so that come Easter, we will indeed be able to find ourselves drawing ever closer to the Father’s Kingdom of true and lasting peace.