What are our chains?

I was reflecting on today's reading that thought came to me. What are the chains that hold us down and what kind of earthquake needs to take place to set us free.

These questions can be applied to multiple situations in our lives. 

Vocational:  

What are the chains that prevent us from looking deeper into our heart to see if God is calling me to a deeper relationship as a vowed religious. 

What is holding me back from pursuing the inner longing in my heart?

Spiritual:

What are the chains that are holding us back from bringing our faith in to the world. How would you like God to help with the fears. 

What is holding us back from encouraging family members, friends, co-workers, etc...to seek out how God is working in their lives?

Thoughts and questions to ponder.

Alleluia

Today's second reading for vigils caught my attention. I have read this passage every year and I was surprised in that I have read this passage many time and today it was like I had never seen it before.

This is why lectio is very important in our lives, you never know how God is going to speak to you today.

From a discourse on the psalms by Saint Augustine, bishop

The Easter Alleluia

"Now therefore, brethren, we urge you to praise God. That is what we are all telling each other when we say Alleluia. You say to your neighbor, “Praise the Lord!” and he says the same to you. We are all urging one another to praise the Lord, and all thereby doing what each of us urges the other to do. But see that your praise comes from your whole being; in other words, see that you praise God not with your lips and voices alone, but with your minds, your lives and all your actions."

From the Liturgy of the Hours 2nd vol pg 865

It makes me stop and think about how my actions are praising God.  Is my life an Alleluia life?

Glory in the Cross

I was struck by the questions in today's (Feb 7th 2013) second reading from Vigils. I have read this passage for over 11 years now and still new things jump out at me. This is why it is a very good idea to come back and reread and ponder passages from books especially the Bible that might not have made sense to us at the time. It is amazing how much we miss the first time around.

These are the passages that jumped out at me this morning:
From the Catecheses by Saint Cyril of Jerusalem, bishop


At Siloam, there was a sense of wonder, and rightly so. A man born blind recovered his sight. But of what importance is this, when there are so many blind people in the world? Lazarus rose from the dead, but even this affected only Lazarus. What of those countless numbers who have died because of their sins? Those five miraculous loaves fed five thousand people. Yet this is a small number compared to those all over the world who were starved by ignorance. After eighteen years a woman was freed from the bondage of Satan. But are we not all shackled by the chains of our own sins?

Certainly in times of tranquility the cross should give you joy. But maintain the same faith in times of persecution. Otherwise you will be a friend of Jesus in times of peace and his enemy during war. Now you receive the forgiveness of your sins and the generous gift of grace from your king. When war comes, fight courageously for him.

Jesus never sinned; yet he was crucified for you. Will you refuse to be crucified for him, who for your sake was nailed to the cross? You are not the one who gives the favor; you have received one first. For your sake he was crucified on Golgotha. Now you are returning his favor; you are fulfilling your debt to him.



~I hope that the Holy Spirit fills your day with joy.

Duties toward God ~ Sirach 2

Sirach

Chapter 2

~ My child, when you come to serve the LORD, prepare yourself for testing.

~Be sincere of heart and steadfast, undisturbed in time of adversity.

~Cling to him, forsake him not; thus will your future be great.

~Accept whatever befalls you, in times of humiliation be patient;

~For in fire gold is tested, and worthy men in the crucible of humiliation.

~Trust God and he will help you; make straight your ways and hope in him.

~You who fear the LORD, wait for his mercy, do not stray or else you may fall.

~You who fear the LORD, trust him, and your reward will not be lost.

~You who fear the LORD, hope for good things, for lasting joy and mercy.

~Study the generations long past and understand; has anyone hoped in the LORD and been disappointed? Has anyone persevered in his fear and been forsaken? 

Has anyone called upon him and been rebuffed?

~Compassionate and merciful is the LORD; he forgives sins, he saves in time of trouble.

~Woe to craven hearts and drooping hands, to the sinner who treads a double path!

~Woe to the faint of heart who trust not, who therefore will have no shelter!

~Woe to you who have lost hope! what will you do at the visitation of the LORD?

~Those who fear the LORD disobey not his words; those who love him keep his ways.

~Those who fear the LORD seek to please him, those who love him are filled with his law.

~Those who fear the LORD prepare their hearts and humble themselves before him.

~Let us fall into the hands of the LORD and not into the hands of men, For equal to his majesty is the mercy that he shows.

Worldly Possessions

From a homily on the Gospels by St. Gregory the Great, pope.(lib. 2 hom. 36, 11-13; PL 76, 1227-74)

  "I would urge you to forsake everything, but that I do not presume to do. Yet, if you cannot give up everything of this work. Whatever you possess must not possess you; whatever you own must be under the power of your soul; for if your soul is overpowered by the love of this world's goods, it will be totally at the mercy of its possessions.
  I other words, we must use make use of temporal things, but our hearts are set on what is eternal. Temporal goods help us on our way,. but our desire must be for those eternal realities which are our goal. We should give no more that a side glance at all that happens in the world, but the eyes of our soul are to be focused right ahead; for our whole attention must be fixed on those realities which constitute our goal.
....You see, my brothers, I dare not say to you, give up everything. Yet, if you will, you can give everything up even while keeping it, provided you handle temporal things in such a way that your whole mind is directed toward what is eternal. A man can use the world as if he were not using it, if he makes all external needs minister to the support of his life without allowing them to dominate his soul. They remain external to him and under his control, serving him without halting the souls's drive to higher things. For such men, everything in this world is there for their use, not to be desired. Nothing should interfere with your souls's longing; no created pleasure in the world should ensnare you."

You will show me the path to life...

"Learn a lesson from the fig tree.
When its branch becomes tender and sprouts leaves,
you know that summer is near."



33rd Sunday of Ordinary Time

Responsorial Psalm Ps 16:5, 8, 9-10, 11

R. (1) You are my inheritance, O Lord!
O LORD, my allotted portion and my cup,
you it is who hold fast my lot.
I set the LORD ever before me;
with him at my right hand I shall not be disturbed.
R. You are my inheritance, O Lord!
Therefore my heart is glad and my soul rejoices,
my body, too, abides in confidence;
because you will not abandon my soul to the netherworld,
nor will you suffer your faithful one to undergo corruption.
R. You are my inheritance, O Lord!
You will show me the path to life,
fullness of joys in your presence,
the delights at your right hand forever.
R. You are my inheritance, O Lord!

 

Thoughts to ponder...

Have I truly set the Lord ever before me?

Have I trusted in the Lord so that I might not be disturbed?

Have I followed the path that He has set before me?

How do these questions affect my vocational discernment?

On Loving God...

Hear, O Israel!
The Lord our God is Lord alone!
You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart,
with all your soul,
with all your mind,
and with all your strength.
(from The Book of Deuteronomy and the Gospel of Luke)

These words from today's first reading and the Gospel are a powerful statement of how our relationship with God should be:  a totality of self.  Not half-hearted.  Not when it's convenient.  Not when I feel like it.  Not when I need something.

Our God is infinitely patient, infinitely generous and extremely merciful.  But, it is up to us to be in relationship with Him.  He won't force us, but He always has His door open waiting for us to turn to Him.

Today take a few moments to ponder how these words of scripture apply to your life, your prayer.  Do you try to be present to Him always?  Do you apply your whole self to your prayer?  Do you allow God total access to your heart?  Your thoughts?  Your actions?

"Master, I want to see."

Today's Gospel reading from St. Mark has Jesus healing the blind man named Bartimaeus.  Others in the crowd tried to silence him, but he called all the louder, and added a very telling title, "Son of David", to his request for the Lord's pity. 

On hearing this title, Jesus could tell that this man had great faith, and Jesus tells him that it is his faith that has saved him.  Not that he is healed, but saved.  He receives two gifts from the Lord:  both his sight and his salvation. 

He, in turn, followed him on the way.  One could well imagine that he became a devoted disciple of Jesus.

Something to ponder today:  Do you ever ask for what you need with great faith?  Or do you simply presents your needs to the Lord?

You are lacking in one thing...

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...

(from the Gospel of Mark, 10:17-30)

Jesus' words to the rich young man in today's Gospel cut him to the quick.  Why?  Not necessarily because he had so many possession but that his possessions possessed him.  He couldn't believe he had any worth or value without them. 

Jesus was inviting him to know his true worth, his true value.  Mother Teresa said,

We think sometimes that poverty is only being hungry, naked and homeless. The poverty of being unwanted, unloved and uncared for is the greatest poverty. We must start in our own homes to remedy this kind of poverty.

Perhaps this was also the rich young man.  Perhaps he only had things and was not loved or cared for. 

 

Our society and culture always stresses getting more, getting bigger, getting better.  An accumulation of things verses doing those things that have greater value:  spending time, spending ourselves in the service of our loved ones, our neighbors and those whom we encounter.  Today, spend some time and ask yourself what possess you -- is it the Lord? or the things you own?

If we love...

If we love one another, God remains in us,

and his love is brought to perfection in us.

(1 John 4:12)

These words from the Gospel verse from today's Mass are powerful indeed.  The first word, if, is so often used in our conversation.  "If I had done this..."  "If this happens..." 

In his letter, St. John tells us that If we love one another...  The love John is referring to is not the warm fuzzy love we so often think of when we hear the word love.  The love he has in mind is more of the love that we express by bearing with, being compassionate with, suffer with.  The love that is willing to go the extra mile. 

When we love others selflessly, then God can remain in us because we are loving as He loves. 

Lord, help me to love as You love so that your love may be brought to perfection in me...

The Lord Is My Shepherd

Psalm 23 is one of those wonderful texts that is so familiar yet, when we take time to prayerfully pray through it line by line, it opens up tremendous riches to be mined.  In today's Gospel reading, Jesus saw the crowd that had gathered as sheep without a shepherd.  We are blessed, because we know our shepherd is Christ.  Today take some time to prayerfully read over and meditate on this text.  How do you allow Christ to be your shepherd?  How to you block him out?  What do you need to do to be in better communion with Him?

Psalm 23

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
In verdant pastures he gives me repose;
beside restful waters he leads me;
he refreshes my soul.
He guides me in right paths
for his name's sake.
Even though I walk in the dark valley
I fear no evil; for you are at my side
with your rod and your staff
that give me courage.
You spread the table before me
in the sight of my foes;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
Only goodness and kindness follow me
all the days of my life;
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord
for years to come.

I have glorified it and will glorify it again

Today's Gospel reading from St. John gives us words from the Father:  "I have glorified it and will glorify it again."  What is he glorifying? 

Jesus has just been anointed by Mary in Bethany at a dinner given for him by Martha, Mary and Lazarus and the next day he entered Jerusalem to shouts of "Hosanna!  Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!"  Now there were some Greeks who wanted to see him.  Unlike us, Jesus is not getting a big head.  He had already told his disciples to let Mary alone about the costly perfumed oil she used to anoint him, telling them:  Let her keep this for the day of my burial.  Jesus knows the course is set, and that He must follow it.

He tells them, Amen, amen, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat; but if it dies, it produces much fruit.  A few verses later, He continues, it was for this purpose that I came to this hour.  Father, glorify your name.  It is then that we hear the Father's voice.  Jesus is united intimately with his Father -- and the will of the Father and the will of Jesus are one.

Are our wills united to the will of Jesus?  Today take a little time in prayer to listen for the Lord to speak in your hearts so that you may know his will for you.

"Do you want to be well?"

When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had been ill

 for a long time, he said to him, "Do you want to be well?" 

The sick man answered him, "Sir, I have no one

to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up,

while I am on my way, someone else gets down there before me."

Jesus said to him, "Rise, take up your mat, and walk." 

Immediately the man became well, took up his mat, and walked.

(from John 5:1-16)



This excerpt from today's Gospel reading only tells part of the story.  It goes on to share that when Jesus came upon him later in the temple, he admonishes him, "Look, you are well; do not sin any more, so that nothing worse may happen to you."  It does make one wonder why he had no one to help put him in the pool. 

Unlike some of the miraculous healings that where Jesus first tells the person, "Your sins are forgiven," in this healing he heals first and then finds him later and admonishes him do not sin any more. 

During the remaining days of Lent, take some time to ponder those areas of your life that are in need of healing.  Are there hurts that weigh you down?  Are there things you expereinced while growing up that need to be forgiven?  Are there perhaps those things that you need to seek forgiveness for having done? 

Lent and the Transfiguration

Jesus took Peter, James, and John
and led them up a high mountain apart by themselves.
And he was transfigured before them,
and his clothes became dazzling white,
such as no fuller on earth could bleach them.
Then Elijah appeared to them along with Moses,
and they were conversing with Jesus.
Then Peter said to Jesus in reply,
"Rabbi, it is good that we are here!
Let us make three tents:
one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah."
He hardly knew what to say, they were so terrified.
Then a cloud came, casting a shadow over them;
from the cloud came a voice,
"This is my beloved Son. Listen to him."
Suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone
but Jesus alone with them.

As they were coming down from the mountain,
he charged them not to relate what they had seen to anyone,
except when the Son of Man had risen from the dead.
So they kept the matter to themselves,
questioning what rising from the dead meant.
( Mark 9:2-10)

At first read, today's Gospel seems to be for the wrong day!  It is Lent, after all!  

On further reflection, I think it's Holy Mother Church in her infinite wisdom, who gives us like Peter, James and John this Gospel passage to help prepare us for what lies ahead.  After all, we are not even two full weeks into Lent yet. 

We like the Apostles continue to journey with Jesus through these days of fasting, prayer and almsgiving and need to continue to unite our hearts, minds and souls with His as He travels through the difficult days of the sacred Triduuum that lie in the not too distant future. 

We, too, need the encouragement like the apostles so that we may continue joyfully on our Lenten journey -- with hearts and minds and souls renewed so that on Easter morn we too may rejoice and proclaim the truth of His Resurrection from the dead!

Reflecting on the Gospel of Matthew (4:1-11)

This passage from St. Matthew's gospel is one we often associate with Lent:  Jesus going out into the desert and fasting 40 days and 40 nights and being tempted by the devil.  In the following lines, I would like to share some things that I noticed about this particular passage that I discovered after spending some time reading and reflecting on it:

St. Matthew tells us that Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil, and that He fasted for forty days and forty nights and afterwards he was hungry.  Now at first glance at these opening lines, one would tend to think that the temptations were during the forty days and forty nights.  However, the temptations occur after this time has elapsed. 

The first temptation has to do with something that all of us typically enjoy:  food.  If you don’t eat for forty days and forty nights, you are going to be hungry – not to mention weak.  Now the devil must have been watching and waiting for his chance, seeing it he approaches Jesus and says to him:  If you are the Son of God, command that these stones become loaves of bread.  You can hear the criticism along with the tempting:  if you are.  Now the devil knew full well who and what Jesus was.  He was trying to force Jesus into a show of power.  Kind of like good ol’ Adam and Eve and the forbidden fruit: your eyes will be opened and you will be like god.  Yet, Jesus, simply says in reply:  It is written:  One does not live on bread along, but on every word that comes forth from the mouth of God. 

Okay, strike one!  Time to try something else.  So the devil takes Jesus to the holy city and to the parapet of the temple, and says:  If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down.  For it is written:  He will command his angels concerning you and with their hands they will support you, lest you dash your foot against a stone.  Not bad, God’s dwelling place among man, surely here God’s Son will manifest his identity and show his power.  Wrong again!  Jesus comes back with:  Again it is written, You shall not put the Lord, your God, to the test.  Sorry, devil – strike two!

Okay, one last chance.  Can you see it?  It’s the bottom of the ninth, bases are loaded.  Team Devil is trailing by one point.  They just need to get one guy home to tie the score, a second to win the game.  The devil pulls out the big guns. 

A higher point is needed – a very high mountain.  The splendor and might of all the kingdoms of the world are spread out for view, and the devil plays his last card:  All these I shall give to you, if you will prostrate yourself and worship me.  This has to do it, right?  Wrong!  Sorry devil, you struck out – again!  Jesus simply says to him:  Get away, Satan!  It is written:  The Lord, your God, you shall worship and him alone shall you serve! 

What can we learn today?  Perhaps that simple double commandment of love is the answer:  Love of God and love of neighbor.  Loving God, you trust Him to provide what you need – when you need it.  Loving your neighbor, you only want what is good for him – and don’t put yourself ahead of his needs.  Isn’t that what Christianity is about in a nutshell?  Isn’t it what we’re trying to do with our Lenten sacrifices and prayers?  Putting things in the right perspective and allowing God to live, and move and work through us for the good of others – which ultimately will also be for the good of ourselves.

Now, Master, you may let your servant go in peace...

Now, Master, you may let your servant go in peace,

 according to your word,
for my eyes have seen your salvation,
which you prepared in the sight of all the peoples:
a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and glory for your people Israel.
~ From the Gospel of Saint Luke

These words from Saint Luke's Gospel which is an option for today's feast, are prayed each night at Compline -- the Office that closes our day and begins our time of sacred silence until the next morning.  In these short, yet poignant phrases, Simeon praises God for seeing the Messiah, and prophesies that Jesus will not only be a light for his own people, but also for all peoples. 

Tonight as you pray your final prayers, perhaps Simeon's words can be added and well as a few quiet moments to ponder this tremendous gift of faith that we have received from God.

I will make you fishers of men...

As he passed by the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting their nets into the sea; they were fishermen.  Jesus said to them, "Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men."  Then they abandoned their nets and followed him.  He walked along a little farther and saw James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John.  They too were in a boat mending their nets.  Then he called them.  So they left their father Zebedee in the boat along with the hired men and followed him.  (from Mark 1:14-20)

Can you imagine what it was like for Simon Peter, Andrew, James and John?  Had they been waiting for Jesus to come by?  Searching the horizon for Him while they worked?  Hoping, against hope, that they could at least catch a glimpse of Him?  Can you hear their conversations:  "Did you see Him yet?"  "Do you think He will be on shore when we get there?"  "Do you think He'll let us spend some time with Him today?"  "What do you make of that last story He told?" 

Today, let's put ourselves in this Gospel passage and think about how we would react if we were called like Simon Peter, Andrew, James and John.  Would you, do you, have to courage to follow Him as unreservedly as these apostles?

The Wheat and Tares

First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles for burning;

but gather the wheat into my barn.

(Matthew 13:30)

The householder in today's Gospel passage shows no anxiety and distress at the presence of the weeds in his field.  Although his slaves want to go out and remove them as they began to appear, the householder is more prudent and realizes that the tender young plants may likely suffer harm as well.  The seed is good, the soil is good.  Allowing the weeds to grow along side the wheat will not harm it.  Patience will bring in a good harvest.

For me, the householder represents Christ.  He sows His Word and His Love in our hearts, but we allow "weeds" to grow there just as much as we allow what God has planted to grow. 

By approaching Christ each day in our examination of conscious and in the Sacrament of Reconciliation we bundle those weeds together for the fire.  Christ, like the household, is patient and waits for the harvest and helps us destroy the weeds that hold us back for fully loving Him.

A Handy Little Chart

God has a positive answer:

YOU SAY	GOD SAYS	BIBLE VERSES
You say: "It's impossible"	God says: All things are possible	(Luke 18:27)
You say: "I'm too tired"	God says: I will give you rest	(Matthew 11:28-30)
You say: "Nobody really loves me"	God says: I love you	(John 3:16 & John 3:34 )
You say: "I can't go on"	God says: My grace is sufficient	(II Corinthians 12:9 & Psalm 91:15)
You say: "I can't figure things out"	God says: I will direct your steps	(Proverbs 3:5-6)
You say: "I can't do it"	God says: You can do all things	(Philippians 4:13)
You say: "I'm not able"	God says: I am able	(II Corinthians 9:8)
You say: "It's not worth it"	God says: It will be worth it	(Roman 8:28 )
You say: "I can't forgive myself"	God says: I Forgive you	(I John 1:9 & Romans 8:1)
You say: "I can't manage"	God says: I will supply all your needs	(Philippians 4:19)
You say: "I'm afraid"	God says: I have not given you a spirit of fear	(II Timothy 1:7)
You say: "I'm always worried and frustrated"	God says: Cast all your cares on ME	(I Peter 5:7)
You say: "I'm not smart enough"	God says: I give you wisdom	(I Corinthians 1:30)
You say: "I feel all alone"	God says: I will never leave you or forsake you	(Hebrews 13:5)

My Soul Proclaims the Greatness of the Lord

Today we celebrate the Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary.  In the Gospel for this feast, we hear those words that today we know as the Magnificat that is sung each day at Vespers as well as have part of the text that has become the much loved prayer, the Hail Mary. 

Can you imagine the scene in your mind?  Mary comes to Elizabeth's home and at the sound of her greeting, the child leaps in Elizabeth's womb and she is filled with the Holy Spirit and she proclaims Mary's blessedness and recognizes the presence of the Lord in their midst.

What is even more moving is Mary's response, a song of praise to God for all that He has done, His mercy, His remembrance of His promise of old.  What joy must have been welling up and overflowing from Mary's heart.

Today, take a moment to pray the Magnificat and make it your own hymn of praise to the Lord.