Suscipe

Prayer for the Day

Suscipe

St. Ignatius of Loyola

Take, Lord, and receive all my liberty,
my memory, my understanding,
and my entire will,
All I have and call my own.

You have given all to me.
To you, Lord, I return it.

Everything is yours; do with it what you will.
Give me only your love and your grace,
that is enough for me.

Reflection

Mom used to (and still does, when the situation presents itself) always remind us "Be thankful for what you have!" whenever we would begin grousing about what we didn't have.  I think Dad’s favorite was, “If you don’t stop whining, I’ll give you something to whine about!” It was a threat I never saw carried out, but it certainly made us kids understand that being grateful is always preferable to being deprived.   It occurs to me that throughout the Old Testament, God’s first inclination was to use the former method in dealing with the Israelites rather than the latter.  These are the first thoughts I had when reading Numbers 11:4-15 tonight.

The Israelites are roaming around the desert working their way to the Promised Land.  They are learning to be dependent on God. First they grumble about water, and now they are grumbling about food.  They weren't hungry, but they weren't satisfied.  They had full stomachs, but they craved greater variety and "better" food than what the manna provided.

I don’t believe the Israelites were intentionally ungrateful, unsatisfied, or unwilling to accept the gift they received for what it was and not what they wanted it to be.  They were just human, reacting on a sensory level instead of on a spiritual level.  They were overly concerned with the immediate and did not have enough concern for the bigger picture.  They were so blinded by the desire to have better food that they forgot the price they paid for the food was the loss of their freedom!

I know I have an attitude like the Israelites many times.  I suspect many of us have had this attitude of not being thankful for what we have.  I suppose most of us forget at times that all we have - our homes, and jobs, and families, and wealth, and health, and our very existence - are gifts from God.  And so we complain, or desire, or crave, other "better" things.  And yet, we have received from God all we need.  That is one lesson from the wandering in the desert - God will provide all we need.  We need to accept that truth - we need to be thankful for what we have.  This is a priceless gift, and we should rejoice in its simple power and be conscious of our gratitude.  Saint Ignatius Loyola’s prayer - the Suscipe - is a wonderful insight into the interconnectedness of gratitude and dependence.

Yet so many times we are ungrateful.  Today, my prayer is that I can be genuinely grateful for what I have, and not grumble about what I don't have, that I can give all back to God and take only what I need - the Creator's love and grace.

Amen!

Prayer for the Day

O Prince of Peace, bring peace to our world through all who feed on your word and on your Body and Blood.  Amen.

Reflection

The multiplication of the loaves and fish is the prelude to Eucharist, the continuation of the greatest act of Love the world has ever known.  As Jesus dies, He is transformed into the food of love, transforming everyone who dares to share in this divine nourishment.  Just as for the hungry crowd on the hillside, so too at Mass, we bring up to the altar our meager gift to the priest, and Jesus, through the priest, changes that gift into food for our souls and the strength to feed others with love and healing.

Unfortunately, it appears to me that as the miracle is repeated over and over again, our appreciation is dulled. We believe, of course, that Jesus redeemed the world from Satan's power, but we often neglect our role in being "God-bearers." If we really understand that we must be "bread for others," then we will share in Jesus' yearning to transform the world, to make every person holy. So often our "Amen" at Mass is feeble and half-hearted. Our "Amen" as the priest offers us this precious divine food should also impel us to seize this God with passion and love and draw Him to our souls. Then we should become channels of justice and hope for the world around us.

Perspective:

An artist's concept of 5000 people

 A real crowd of 5000

The Holy Spirit Convicts Us

Prayer for the Day

O Lord, may we heed your Word alive in our souls and protect your presence within us. Let us humbly hear the correction we need so as to live with you forever.  Amen

Reflection

We know when we do wrong. The spirit convicts us. We may have all the excuses in the world for having done it. There may be some very good reasons in and among all the rationalizations -- but we have a sense of what is right and what is wrong -- it is a sense that is stronger than our individual nurturing. An example of this is Herod (Matthew 14:1-12).  He knew his evil, even though he was raised with the idea that as ruler he could do as he chose.  (I can't help but think of all those who think "the right to choose" is morally acceptable as "Herods" in a way.)

The Holy Spirit convicts us -- not just to make us feel bad, but to bring us back home.  God is a father who loves us intensely.  When we sin, we have chosen to leave His house and go outside to the mud and wallow.  The Father continues to call us back.  Sure, He could come and bring us back, but He wants us back of our own accord, because as anyone knows of a willful child, the only way to keep them is to let them come back on their own. (Luke 15: 11-32) We can choose to stay outside of His house, but we will know that we are apart.  We'll feel it in our hearts, in our minds, in the actions of the day.  Each day will be like swimming through molasses as we seek to avoid His love.

So why do it? Acknowledge the wrong, return to the Father Who loves you. The Church offers many formal ways to do this, and each has a special place, but start right now, speaking from the Heart. "I am sorry to have caused You so much grief, Father."  You'll be amazed at how much better your own life becomes when you start with this, return to confession, and align your life with what God wants from you.  And you don’t have to do alone.  Ask our Blessed Mother for her help.  Or pick a Saint—any Saint; I’m sure they would be glad to help!

Simple faith and prayers

Prayer for the Day

O blessed St. Martha, your faith led Jesus to proclaim, “I am the resurrection and the life”; and faith let you see beyond His humanity when you cried out, “Lord I believe that You are the Messiah, the Son of God.” With firm hope you said, “I know that God will give You whatever you ask of Him”, and Jesus called your brother Lazarus back from the dead. With pure love for Jesus you welcomed Him into your home.

Friend and servant of our Savior, I too am “troubled about many things”. Pray for me that I may grow in faith, hope and love, and that Jesus, who sat at your table, will hear me and grant me a place at the banquet of eternal life. Amen.   

Reflection

Mark tells the story of Jesus visiting Martha and her sister Mary.  Martha complains that she is doing all the work, while Mary just sits at the feet of Jesus while He teaches.  Jesus reprimands her, telling her not to worry about the small stuff, and that Mary has chosen the better path. (Lk 10:38-42)

In the Gospel of John, the evangelist tells us of another encounter (probably later) where there is the conversation between Jesus and Martha at the home of Lazarus right after he (Lazarus) has died. (Jn 11:19-27)

It appears that Martha has grown—spiritually, at least—because she tells Jesus, “even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give You.”

Jesus obtains from God everything that is good for us. When we turn to Him and ask for anything, He turns to God the Father with the prayer, and God delivers what we most need. God knows what is good for us and is sure to deliver it through Jesus Christ.

This is one of the reasons that we, like Martha, are admonished to ask for everything that we need through Jesus Christ. Sometimes we ask His Mother, which, for all intents and purposes is the same as asking Him, because she holds nothing back from Him. But the truth of the matter is that Jesus receives all prayers, all requests, all petitions, and He lovingly brings them to the Father.

Jesus is our brother and Lord. He is the Son of God and nothing that Jesus asks for from Him can be denied. Even so, today as you pray, remember to ask Jesus for what you need - - not for what you want - - but for what you must have to make it through the day. Jesus will obtain all for you.

Changes for the better

It is not so much fear of the Lord that should guide us, but the desire for beauty, goodness, truth, and joy. There is no comparison between the loveliness of the way of the Lord and the unsatisfying lure of lesser goods.  Consider Psalm 84 for your

Prayer for the Day

"How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord, Mighty God!

My soul yearns and pines for the courts of the Lord.

My heart and my flesh cry out for the living God!

Even the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow a nest in which she puts her young ---

Your altars, O Lord of hosts, my king and my God!

Blessed are they who dwell in your house! Continually they praise you.

Blessed are the people whose strength you are!  They go from strength to strength.

I had rather one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere;

I had rather lie at the threshold of the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked."

Reflection

Exodus is full of stories of God intervening in the lives of people in a very real way.  These events seem supernatural and miraculous at times, but, in reality, these experiences may have been no different from the way God intervenes in our lives today.  When Moses came down from the mountain (Exodus 40:16-21, 34-38), "he did not know that the skin of his face was radiant."  Aaron and all the Israelites witnessed the change in his appearance.  Moses had conversed with God and was changed perceptibly.

Perhaps this was no more miraculous than the change that comes over most people when they meet God "face to face" in some religious experience or even in daily prayer.

When I reflect on my own life over the years, I am aware of greater patience and the fact that the things that used to get to me no longer bother me.  I even find that greater attentiveness to God in the ordinary situations of daily life inspires a greater trust in Him, and I have less anxiety.  When prayer changes to more listening to God, as Moses did, I can "hear" more subtle "messages" that change my behavior over time.  I have had co-workers remark on the changes (for the better) in my attitude and interactions with them especially after spending an hour in “conversation” with Jesus in the Adoration chapel.

All who "meet God face to face" in prayer, on retreat, at a special liturgy, in a traumatic event, or even on a mountain top, viewing a breathtaking panorama will change if we let the experience move us.  Perhaps the radiance will remain hidden, but the inner glow will eventually seep through, manifested in a peaceful countenance or in a more centered manner.  A real 'God experience' motivates a change of heart.  A new heart is a treasure worth one giving all.

Radiance, Remembrance

Prayer for the Day

"Lord Jesus Christ, give me the eyes of faith to see your glory. Inflame my heart with love for you and with zeal for your kingdom and for your righteousness."

Reflection

“His face had become radiant.”  (Exodus 34:29 – 35) There.  I told you I would try a reflection on the Old Testament today for a little change-up!

Have you ever had just a great day, one of those days where everything—or everything that matters—seems right, and sometimes even better than right? Days when the sun shines, it’s not too hot or cold, and it’s just great to be alive in the world that’s been given to us?

These kinds of days are about radiance, joy, and thanks. Let’s be honest; life in the 21st century doesn’t often seem to give us abundant opportunities for joy. Sometimes we have to look for joy, and sometimes we have to look hard for it.

When we find this joy, we often seem “radiant” to others. When we are like this, we are like the people we see all the time who are often relentlessly happy, full of enjoyment of their lives and their conditions. You know the people I mean—sometimes their constant happiness is kind of irritating, especially if we encounter them on the days in which we haven’t found much joy.

Some days we’re hard put to accept the joy all around us. At such times it takes work to just leave ourselves open to joy and happiness.  For me, every July 27^th is one of those days.

My dad passed away on that day in 1970 while my brother Tom and I were visiting our brother Dick and his wife Janie for the summer in Washington State.  One of the things I try to do to get me through this day is to remember some of his “pearls of wisdom”.  

One such pearl is the advice I heard my father give to all of his boys (there were 6 in all) and even some of our friends quite often when we were leaving the house –“Be good! And if you can’t be good, be careful!”  He knew quite well we would do our best to be good, because that’s what he expected from us; I learned over the years to understand that the words “be careful” were just code words for “be good anyway!”

 I trust that I haven’t disappointed him. I really miss Dad and hope to see him again someday with Jesus Christ in the kingdom of heaven.

Surely Moses must have felt a sense of what the kingdom of heaven will be like.  Jesus tells us how valuable it is, in practical terms that we can relate to in our earthly lives. (Matthew 13)  It is worth all we have in this life – it is worth sacrificing all we have and possess in order to obtain it. There’s no reason we can’t be as radiant, inside and out, as Moses was. The joy left for us and which can inhabit us is reflective of the pearl of great price that, when found, fills our life with happiness and love.

It is good to recall that each of us is already in eternity. We will always be. For now though, we have time to enjoy and build on our relationships, especially our relationship with Christ. Christ is always present to us, always sees us and awaits our turning toward Him. Love is always reaching out to us.

Calling all Green Thumbs!

Prayer for the Day

Saint Joachim and Saint Anne Prayer

Great and glorious patriarch, St Joachim, and good St Anne, what joy is mine when I consider that you were chosen among all God's holy ones to assist in the fulfillment of the mysteries of God, and to enrich our earth with the great Mother of God, Mary most holy.

By this singular privilege, you have become most powerful with both the Mother and her Son, so as to be able to obtain for us the graces that are needful to us.

With great confidence I have recourse to your mighty protection, and I commend to you all my needs, both spiritual and temporal, and those of my family.

Especially do I entrust to your keeping the particular favor that I desire and look for from your intercession.

And since you were a perfect pattern of the interior life, obtain for me the grace to pray earnestly, and never to set my heart on the passing goods of this life. Give me a lively and enduring love for Jesus and Mary.

Obtain for me also a sincere devotion and obedience to Holy church and the sovereign pontiff who rules over her, in order that I may live and die in faith and hope and perfect charity.

Let me ever invoke the holy Names of Jesus and Mary.

And may I thus be saved.   Amen.

Reflection

Since tomorrow is the Feast Day of Sts. Joachim and Anne (Jesus’ grandparents, according to tradition), I was going to reflect on how much I rely on their intercession now that I am a grandfather.  So naturally, my thoughts turned to Lily. I love that kid so much! She cracks me up! She is 2 ½ years old and learning more and more each day. Her mom and Marilyn have her to themselves most of the week when I’m at work, so I get the privilege of spoiling her when I get home on weekends!  One of the ways I can do that and still be involved in teaching her is to watch a couple of her favorite cartoons with her—“Super Why” and “Dirt Girl World”.  “Super Why” has been a great help in teaching her the ABC’s and basics of reading by phonics—and a “plus” for me is that I never outgrew cartoons myself..  But for fun—and learning about the Earth and its resources—“Dirt Girl World” can’t be beat.  Thinking about these programs I share with Lily I found myself reflecting again on the 7 parables that Jesus presents in Matthew 13, about the kingdom of God and how seeds, sowing, growing, reaping, soil and so forth resemble the kingdom. I know that most of my posts lately have seemed redundant in content, and I’m sorry about that; but usually I just start typing after reading the next day’s Old and New Testament and let the Holy Spirit take over!  He must think I need to meditate on this subject a bit more! 

Jesus points out that we need good seed and soil for a crop to grow healthy and strong. But what else is needed? Certainly, we need water and abundant sunshine; maybe some fertilizer and some cultivation to allow all the water and nutrients to pass freely to the roots of the crop. While not mentioned in the parables, I think these things must be present in our lives as Christians if we are to grow in Him.

To quote “Dirt Girl”:  Calling all “Green thumbs”!  I challenge you to grow a “Kingdom of Heaven Garden”! Here’s how to do it:

We need a daily watering of prayer. Prayer is that time we have with the Lord when our souls are filled with the Lord Himself as he brings us living water.

We need the abundant sunshine of Holy Communion. As all things grow with energy from the sun, we too grow with the blessing of the Eucharist.

We need the fertilizer of the Word of God in regular scripture reading. This is where our nourishment comes from and where we get the good things we need to grow.

Finally, we need the regular cultivation found in reconciliation and penance. This is where the crusty, hard parts of our soil are broken down so the water, sun and Word can pass to our roots and help us grow as Christians.

So, we have the seed, sower, reaper and all things in between. With these, Jesus' crop grows strong and healthy.

Maybe I’ll start blogging on the Old Testament for the rest of the week, but for now, I’m going to visit Lily’s blog and get back to waiting for the weekend when I can see her again in person!

Suffering mothers

Prayer for the Day

Dear Jesus, the Psalms tell us "Those who sow in tears shall reap rejoicing." (Psalm 126:5) Please show mercy and forgiveness to those who are today “sowing in tears” through their suffering, and hear their prayers.  Amen.

Reflection

As I’ve stated before, most Sundays for me are spent going to Mass, sometimes going to the hospital to distribute Holy Communion, and visiting my mother.  Very often, I have to cut the day short to make the drive back to work in Fresno so I can get an early start on Mondays.  Today was one of those.  But it’s OK, because I love the chance to meditate and reflect. 

I was thinking today of my mother, and how much she is suffering from the effects of arthritis, vertigo, and other symptoms of old age.  Throughout it all, she has made it her mission to pray for everyone and everything under the sun, including me and my family! (Note to self:  remember to return the favor tonight!)  In light of all the praying she does, I was trying to make sense of Mom’s suffering and coming up short.  So I fired up my laptop when I got to the Fresno apartment to write tonight’s entry and—what do you know?  Looking at tomorrow’s Mass readings, I was pleased that the first reading for tomorrow deals with the topic of suffering!  And to top it off, the Gospel speaks of a woman very much like my own mom!  Thanks, Holy Spirit!  You take such good care of me!

St. Paul speaks so well of the mystery of human suffering (2 Corinthians 4:7-15).  That is, that by God's grace, we carry in our own bodies the sufferings of Christ. It is a difficult concept, especially in the face of the apparent senselessness of catastrophic illness or injury.

What can we say to those who are suffering?

Holy Scripture tells us that in response to human suffering, Christ sighed, groaned and wept. Therefore in imitation of Christ let us be present to others who are suffering, not by trying to construct for them the whole of salvation history in the Word becoming Flesh, but by what is most effective, by having the living Christ animate our flesh that we might be Christ for others.

Bishop Fulton Sheen in one of his presentations encouraged the audience to remember that no one remained dead in Christ's presence, not the daughter of Jairus, not the widow of Naim's son, not Lazarus.

So, too, will it be for others who, by God's grace and their cooperation with His grace, recognize their suffering as a means of salvation for themselves and others.

The calling of Sts. James and John, the sons of Zebedee

Even though he is my patron saint through Confirmation, St. James is one of the apostles about whom we know very little.  And since we know so little about him, I find it difficult to distinguish him from the other apostle called James.  We do know that this James was the son of Zebedee and the brother of John the evangelist.  James and John were favored by Jesus to be present at some of the most memorable events of his public life here on earth.  They were present at the Transfiguration and at the agony in the garden.  St. Luke in the Acts tells us that James died when he was beheaded at Jerusalem by order of King Herod Agrippa.  He was the FIRST of the apostles to die.  (As a side note, my namesake saint—St. Stephen—was the FIRST martyr!  I’m beginning to sense a trend here, you know?) lol.

We get only a glimpse of the mother of James and John in Matthew 20:20-28.  Interestingly enough, St. Matthew does not even tell us her name.  (Some say that she is the Salome mentioned in St. Mark's gospel.)  Even in this one brief appearance this nameless woman caught my attention when I read this gospel passage.  I think there is something very human and very attractive about her. She reminds me somewhat of my own mother; she only wants the best for her sons.  

This mother made a very bold request, but she made it in a most proper manner.  She didn’t make the request behind the backs of her sons, but rather in their presence and presumably with their consent.  Before making her request she did homage to Jesus, showing that she respected Him as a great teacher and a good leader for her sons.  She has the deference to wait until Jesus asks what her wish is before stating it.  Then she simply departs the scene and the gospel story.  This one brief scene is all that we know of her.  The remaining dialogue in this scene is between Jesus and the brothers.  Of their mother we hear no more.  Although her life presumably continues she vanishes from the gospel story as quickly and completely as she came into it.  Her brief appearance in the life of Jesus is similar to that of a number of others; people such as Simon of Cyrene, Zaccheus, and the Samaritan woman at the well.  We are left with a beautiful picture of a woman whose name we do not know and who only wanted what was best for her two sons.

There has been much speculation about the mother of James and John.  One tradition says that she was the sister of the Blessed Virgin Mary.  Even if that were not true, it is very possible that she was privileged to know and spend time with Mary when John took her into his home.  I like to think that this mother lived to see her son James enter into the heavenly kingdom.  I am sure that it was a great joy for her even if James did not have a place at the right hand of Jesus.      

Pearls of Wisdom

Christ, the Pearl of Great Price

Prayer for the Day

“Father, fill me with your love today. I give you free rein to do whatever you want in me.”

Reflection

Have you ever spent hours looking for something, searching every possible nook and cranny, going through drawers and boxes and piles of things, only to find it right under your nose?

How many of us are searching for the kingdom of heaven and finding that it's right out in plain sight?

The kingdom of heaven is like a pearl of great price, a treasure hidden in a field, a net full of fish! (Mt 13:44-52) And each one of us in every time and place is meant to fill in the blanks;  Whatever our treasure is, doing something important with our life, doing something that will help others, finding happiness and contentment.  And there it is! The kingdom of heaven is right here, right now, staring us in the face, challenging us to take possession now. (Rom 8:28-30)

And how does each one of us "take possession"? That all follows after we have had the wisdom to make a right decision in the first place, to let that decision open up for us a thousand and one little, daily decisions to seek what really matters. Decisions like, “Will I spend time with the Lord in prayer and reflection and scriptural or spiritual reading for a while each day, or decide to waste it on more TV, more shopping, more running around just for the sake of getting rid of my boredom?”  If we really want wisdom for all this, we'd better start praying today that God will grant us that gift. Solomon asked for wisdom, and then God gave it to him. (1 Kgs 3:5, 7-12)

Some of us may say, "But if I ask, and God gives it to me, then what? It could change my life, and I'm kind of frightened."  Don't worry. Wisdom will show you the way for each succeeding decision, and they'll be the right ones if you let God take over. You can't lose!

Separating the wheat

Prayer for the Day

O Lord, help me with Your Grace to offer You a humble and contrite heart. O Lord Jesus, help me with my weeds!

Reflection

Jesus compared the kingdom of heaven to a man who sowed good seed in his field. (Matthew 13:24) Our all-loving God only sows the very best of seeds in the “field” of our hearts.  But the weeds that are the influences of the world and the sinful desires that follow them attempt to change our focus from the life to come to the good times here.

There is a weed that closely resembles alfalfa that has become quite a nuisance in some areas of Iowa.  This weed is unpalatable to livestock and no effective herbicide can kill it without also killing the desirable alfalfa.  Before this weed blooms, it takes a careful eye to discern it is different from the alfalfa.  But once the weed sends forth its yellow flowers (in the midst of the purple alfalfa blossoms), the distinction is clear. The untutored might think there are pretty wildflowers in the field, but others know better.  If those plants proliferate, the alfalfa has to be destroyed.

We must differentiate ourselves from the weeds that we allow into the field of our hearts before they proliferate by obeying the simple commands Jesus gave us; to love God with our whole heart, mind, soul and strength and to love one another as Jesus loves us.  

We must hope, pray and strive with all our might, so that the harvest of the good wheat in our hearts is sufficient for eternal life. Only God's grace through Jesus Christ can accomplish this, then we might be able to "offer God a sacrifice of praise"(Psalm 50:14A) that is acceptable and appropriate.

The apostle to the Apostles

Prayer for the Day

Lord, help me to be eager to serve the needs of others as Mary did in recognizing and hearing You, and then responding by sharing Your blessings with them.

Reflection

Because she was the first witness to the resurrection of Jesus, St. Mary Magdalene is sometimes referred to as the “apostle to the apostles”.   Mary went to Jesus’ tomb early in the morning on that first Easter day and found the stone at the entrance of the tomb rolled away and the tomb itself was empty.

Soon Jesus approached Mary, but she didn’t recognize Him. She thought that she was speaking to a gardener. Mary asked Him where the body of Jesus was. Then Jesus simply said her name, “Mary!” and she recognized Him. She held Him in an embrace of sheer joy, but He told her not to “hold Him back.” He commissioned her to go to the disciples, still hidden in fear, and to let them know that He is alive; risen from the dead.

Thinking about this encounter, I am reminded of the tongue-in-cheek saying, “It feels like Déjà vu all over again!”  The encounter between Mary Magdalene and the Risen Lord shows a pattern that all the rest of the resurrection stories in the gospels exhibit:  Jesus approaches the disciple, but He is not recognized, then a dialogue ensues (sometimes short, like the one with Mary Magdalene, but at other times lengthy; as with the men on the road to Emmaus). Eventually, the disciple recognizes that it is Jesus; then Jesus leaves the disciple, whereupon the disciple returns to the others with the good news that Jesus lives.

That same pattern continues to be made real in our encounters with Jesus. Since that first resurrection appearance to Mary Magdalene, we continue to encounter Christ- in our lives and in our sacraments. Like Mary Magdalene we are invited and commissioned by Jesus to be His disciples and to receive the same wonderful news that He makes a difference in our world and to let others know about it.

Parables

Prayer for the Day

"Holy Spirit, fan the flame of God's love within me and consume me with your fire; that I may grow in the knowledge of Jesus Christ and ever seek to do his will.  May my heart never grow dull and may my ears never tire of listening to the voice of Christ."

Reflection

Jesus told His disciples that not everyone would understand His parables.  He was speaking from experience. He was aware that some who heard His parables refused to understand them. It was not that they could not intellectually understand them, but rather, their hearts were closed to what Jesus was saying. They had already made up their minds to not believe. God can only reveal the secrets of His kingdom to the humble and trusting person who acknowledges the need for God and for His Truth. The parables of Jesus will enlighten us if we approach them with an open mind and heart, ready to let them challenge us. If we approach them with the conviction that we already know the answer, then we, too, may look but not see, listen but not hear or understand.  God's word can only take root in a receptive heart that is ready to believe and willing to submit.  If we want to hear and to understand God's word, we must listen with fear (a "fear" of God can also be described as "respect given out of love for Him and awe for Who He Is) and reverence.  
==============================================
 

A man decided to join a very small and very selective order of monks. The order was so devoted to prayer they were only allowed to say 2 words every year.

After the first year passed, he went into a small room where he was given the chance to say his two words to the head monk. His two words were "Too cold." The head monk nodded and gave him an extra blanket.

The next year passed and he was once again taken into the small room. This time his 2 words were "Bland food." Again the head monk nodded and gave him a box of salt.

When the next year had passed they took him back into the small room, and his 2 words were "I quit."

"Fine!" exclaimed the exasperated head monk, "All you've done since you got here is complain anyway."

Those who have ears ought to hear

Prayer for the Day

"Lord, faith in Your word is the way to wisdom, and to ponder Your divine plan is to grow in the truth.  Open my eyes to Your deeds and my ears to the sound of Your call, that I may understand Your will for my life and live according to it".

Reflection

Well, it’s the 3^rd Tuesday of the month, so that meant another meeting of all the General Managers to get us ready for the end of the month business.  We call them “End of Month Meetings” or “EOM”.  Sometimes they are fun, sometimes they are boring; but they are ALWAYS longer than they need to be, so I am exhausted when they are over.  I did not have any inclination to post tonight, but after reading tomorrow’s Gospel (Matthew 13:1-9), I laughed because it brought to my mind something that was said at the meeting today.

One of the topics we discussed was our customer review program.  It is a program that allows our customers to evaluate the service they received from us and post that evaluation on the internet for other customers to see.  We, as managers, then use these evaluations and comments to address problems before they get out of hand.  A lot of the GMs don’t take the critical comments well, and make excuses for their teams’ poor service (as perceived by the customer).   This is not the objective of the reviews.  The objective is to “get into the mind of the customer” and give him what he is asking for.

What I thought was funny about today’s presentation on this topic is that the CEO added a couple of sentences to his normal directive:  “Some of you are LISTENING, but you’re not HEARING.  And even if you’re hearing, you’re failing to ACT!”

Jesus' teaching method was a very simple one.  He used parables – short stories and images taken from everyday life to convey hidden truths about the kingdom of God. Like a skillful artist, Jesus painted evocative pictures with short and simple words. A good image can speak more loudly and clearly than many words. Jesus used the ordinary everyday to point to another order of reality – hidden, yet visible to those who had "eyes to see" and "ears to hear". Jesus communicated with pictures and stories, vivid illustrations which captured the imaginations of His audience more powerfully than an abstract presentation could. His parables are like “buried treasure waiting to be discovered” (Matt. 13:44).

Jesus' parable of the sower is aimed at the hearers of His word. There are different ways of accepting God's word and they produce different kinds of fruit accordingly.  There is the prejudiced hearer who has a shut mind. Such a person is unteachable and blind to what he or she doesn't want to hear. Then there is the shallow hearer. He or she fails to think things out or think them through; they lack depth. They may initially respond with an emotional reaction; but when it wears off their mind wanders to something else.  Another type of hearer is the person who has many interests or cares, but who lacks the ability to hear or comprehend what is truly important; such a person is forever too busy to pray or too preoccupied to study and meditate on God's word.  He or she may work so hard that they are too tired to even think of anything else but their work.  Then there is the one whose mind is open.  Such a person is at all times willing to LISTEN, to HEAR, to learn, and to ACT on that learning. He or she is never too proud or too busy to learn. They listen in order to understand. God gives grace to those who hunger for His word that they may understand His will and have the strength to live and act according to it.

I wonder if the CEO read tomorrow’s Gospel to help him prepare his meeting notes!

The Essence of being a Christian

Prayer for the Day

O God, we ask that the gift of Your divine life of love and truth offered to us through Christ will grow in us as we respond in loving obedience to Your Spirit's bidding. Amen.

Reflection

What is the essence of being a Christian? It is certainly more than doctrine, precepts, and commandments. It is first and foremost a relationship – a relationship of trust, affection, commitment, loyalty, faithfulness, kindness, thoughtfulness, compassion, mercy, helpfulness, encouragement, support, strength, protection, and so many other qualities that bind persons together in mutual love and unity. God offers us the greatest of relationships - union of heart, mind, and spirit with Himself, the very author and source of love (1 John 4:8,16).

God's love never fails, never forgets, never compromises, never lies, never lets us down nor disappoints us. His love is consistent, unwavering, unconditional, and unstoppable. Nothing can deter Him from never leaving us, ignoring us, or treating us unkindly. He will love us no matter what. It is His nature to love. That is why He created us - to be united with Him and to share in His love and unity (1 John 3:1). God is a trinity of persons - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit - and a community of love. That is why Jesus challenged His followers and even His own earthly family to recognize that God is the true source of all relationships. (Matthew 12:46-50)

The Lord knows that all of us love our families more than anything else in this world and He is showing that those who do His will are dearer to Him than anything else and His love for them is complete. God wants all of our relationships to be rooted in His love.

Appreciation for His Gifts

Prayer for the Day

Let us sing to the Lord, He has covered Himself with glory! (see Exodus 15:1bff)

Reflection

How many of us realize that every moment is like a sacrament and has its own outward sign that communicates to us something of God's love?

The Israelites (Exodus 14:5-18) didn't realize it. Instead of being grateful they grumbled and complained against Him. In a similar way the Scribes and Pharisees in the Gospel (Matthew 12:38-42) turned a blind eye to God's presence among them and tauntingly asked Jesus for a sign.

What about us? Do we grumble and complain and wait for a sign before we will love Him unreservedly? Or, do we pray for an open and receptive heart that finds Him and adores Him in the sacrament of the moment.

What better signs do we have than the Sacraments? 

As children we learned the definition of a sacrament either from the Baltimore Catechism  (No.3, Lesson 13) or from the “new” Catechism of the Catholic Church  (CCC 1113-1134).  But do we appreciate these gifts? 

How many of us turn a blind eye to Jesus’ presence in the priest when He (not the priest) absolves us from our sins and bestows sanctifying grace on us? 

What greater miracle can there be than Jesus’ very Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity taking on the appearance of ordinary bread and wine?  What about the Mass itself?  God allows us to be present at the very same supper where Jesus first performed this miracle!  Why would we not pay attention? 

If Jesus Christ were to appear to me today as He did to the Apostles in the days following His resurrection, I would like to think that I would prostrate myself before Him and proclaim, “My Lord and My God!” as Thomas did.  Do I owe Him any less respect because He is humble enough to take on the appearance of everyday foods?  Shouldn’t I at least approach the Sacrament with respect and take a few minutes to realize Who it is that sustains me?  Or do I wonder how long is Mass going to go on?  I am not making judgments here, because I am as guilty of a wandering or inattentive mind at times as anyone else—maybe even more so.  I do know that when I give our Lord my full attention, He rewards me a hundred-fold with His.

And what better way to show our appreciation for these gifts than by keeping His commandments; To love God with our whole heart, mind and strength and to love one another as Christ loves us.

Good seeds

Prayer for the Day

O Lord, sow your good seed within us and then grace us to cultivate this attentively, lest we become as one who sleeps, susceptible to the weeds sown by the evil one that may choke out the good life within.
Amen.

Reflection

How do you describe a sunset? You can't, really.  In Matthew 13:24-43, Jesus tried to describe heaven. He used parables: "The kingdom of heaven is like. . . ." First, He used the parable of the wheat and the weeds. "The kingdom of heaven may be likened to a man who sowed good seed in his field. While everyone was asleep, his enemy came and sowed weeds all through the wheat, and then went away."

Who would do such a thing? Right away, we think of the devil. We know he's still alive and well! But sometimes, we ourselves are God's enemy when we sin. Sometimes it's through bad example, or through our failures to instruct our children, or when we fail to help our neighbor in need or in distress, when we fail to support Catholic teaching in our conversation or in our actions. 

We need to look into our hearts to see in what ways we are responsible. What then? We ask the Holy Spirit for the grace to repent, to make a good confession, and to change our ways.

But even the righteous need to take care in labeling others as "children of evil." Notice what advice the farmer in the parable gives to his employees? He tells them to let the weeds grow with the wheat. The harvest-time is coming (in other words, the final judgment). "Be patient," Jesus tells us. Work and pray to change hearts. Heavy-handed crusaders sometimes do more harm than good. Use charity, gentleness, good example and prayer. Let God do the weeding-out.

Jesus used other parables, like the mustard-seed and the yeast in a batch of dough. These all have to do with the actions of the Holy Spirit in our world. We must never give up hope in God's ability to bring ultimate peace, final unity, and a "new heaven and a new earth!" 

All we have to do, as Mother Teresa tells us, is to "do small things with great love, and make the Eucharist the center of your life." 

Can you imagine?

Prayer for the Day

"Thank You, dear Lord. Forgive my insensitivity and ingratitude. Help me to appreciate your unending and incredible love."

Reflection

The exodus of six hundred thousand men as well as their wives, children, and livestock--all in one night--from slavery in Egypt to freedom in Canaan--is truly beyond our imaginations (Exodus 12:37-42). 600,000 men!  Even if only 25% of them had wives, that would be another 150,000 people.  If each of the married couples had just one child between them, that would be another 150,000 people. That puts the total at 900,000 people!  I checked the 2010 census figures for cities that fall between 600,000 and 900,000:

Imagine every man, woman and child living in one of these cities having to leave in one night without time to prepare food or pack properly for the journey.  And yet, this is what happened to the Israelites without benefit of even the methods of mass communication and transportation we have today! 

It was a stupendous work of a powerful God. No wonder that God wanted to be sure that Israel would never, never forget that night. It was to be celebrated with dramatic intensity each year, even to the present day.

It was this powerful God who also accomplished our redemption from sin to the freedom of adopted children through His Son Jesus. We, too, are commanded never to forget this action, but to celebrate it daily in liturgy of the Mass. Like the Israelites, we must be ever grateful for this event.

Unfortunately, we often take this great action for granted.  Perhaps it would help if we ask ourselves the question, "What would life be like for me if Jesus had not loved me to the death, but rather had left me in slavery, alienated from God and from an eternal life of joy?" Think about that. You and I would have to helplessly accept the condition of alienation, emptiness, barred from love, forgiveness, and happiness.