On prayer

Prayer for the Day

O Jesus, help me to obey You, even when Your command may not seem logical to my human understanding, especially when my own poor efforts have failed to produce results.

Amen.

Reflection

“Prayer is the raising of one’s mind and heart to God …humility is the foundation of prayer.  Only when we humbly acknowledge that ‘we do not know how to pray as we ought,’ are we ready to receive freely the gift of prayer” (Catechism of the Catholic Church #2559).  Prayer is a loving gift from God to us, His beloved.  Prayer is the manifestation of a relationship.  Prayer is what God does for me.  God initiates and I respond.  God loved me first and from all time.  God wants to love me more and more.  He wants to give to me.

Paul, when speaking to the Colossians, referred to their faith as the reason for his praying for them.  Paul says that he is praying that God will gift the Colossians into a rich and personal relationship.  The result of this prayerful relationship will be “knowledge and spiritual insight….You will multiply good works of every sort and grow in the knowledge of God.  By the might of his glory you will be endowed with the strength needed to stand fast, even to endure joyfully whatever may come….”(Colossians 1:9-14)  We recognize here the gifts of the Holy Spirit – knowledge, patience, and peace. 

In the Gospel according to Luke, Jesus demonstrates that we cannot succeed alone, and that obedience to His command is the key. (Luke 5:1-11) In spite of having worked hard all night with nothing to show for it, Peter, nonetheless, tells Jesus, "At your command I will lower the nets." As soon as he does, bingo! Peter hits the jackpot and hauls in more fish than his boat can hold! He is overwhelmed, recognizes a huge miracle, and fear from a realization of his sins grips him in the presence of God. But Jesus tells him, "Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men."

The gospel goes on to tell us, "When they brought their boats to the shore, they left everything and followed him." I find it a bit humorous, imagining those hundreds of wet, floppy fish glistening in sun; abandoned by the men who hauled them in. But in another way, I find it quite sad.  This was the “family business” after all, and this catch would have gone a long way to helping support their families.  Looking at the bigger picture though, they were going after "bigger fish," and following Jesus, ready to learn to "catch men," as He promised.

In the end, it's not about the fish. It's about Jesus.

Prayer is not something I do alone and for myself.  Prayer is a state of being ready and predisposed and eager and longing for the Lord to draw me closer and more deeply into a personal relationship with the Lord.  This relationship can only end in a more fulfilling and satisfying love of God, a deeper richer knowledge of the Lord, an outpouring of love and service to others, and a deep sense of peace. As with Peter, Jesus knows my sin and brokenness.  Jesus wants me to know His gentle healing love.  This is the gift of the Lord.  It is not something I can earn.  What I can do is sit quietly and be ready, for He will come.  The good news is that He loves me too much to keep His distance!

Admitting it is the first step to recovery

Prayer for the Day

“Lord, give me a bigger vision of you and your power to transform. I want to help spread your kingdom in this world!”

Reflection

I am a procrastinator. It’s been proven by my actions, but I don’t often admit it. I am sure it comes as no surprise to those around me as I offer excuses, turn things in late or push deadlines to their limits.  In fact, even though I’ve been thinking about it every day for about a week, I just now (11:30 pm on August 30^th) ordered flowers to be delivered to Marilyn for her birthday tomorrow.

Imagine my surprise when I read tomorrow’s gospel! (Luke 4:38-44) It was right on topic! Talk about procrastinators!  I imagine Jesus had been in town for quite a while, and when the crowds got news He was about to leave, all of a sudden they want Him to stay! Jesus tells the crowds who come looking for Him and want Him to stay longer that He has to go to other towns: “I must proclaim the good news of the Kingdom of God, because for this purpose I have been sent.” 

I, too, have a purpose: To live my life in the light, working, relaxing and praying, all the while knowing that I tried to live up to the good God sees in me. Procrastination blocks the light and perhaps serves as a mask to my fear of failure or not measuring up.

I want my life to proclaim the good news of the Kingdom of God. I want to stop putting off what needs to be done and to make the most of what is here and now instead of waiting until tomorrow. By opening myself to God, by praying for the strength and courage to do what needs to be done and beyond, I know I am opening myself to the light.

When I am praying for that strength and courage, I also am reminded by the first reading (Colossians 1:1-8) to give thanks for the people in my life. Truly, my family, my friends, my colleagues are a miracle every day. I am blessed with riches beyond measure.

I pray today (I won’t put it off until tomorrow!) for God’s help that I live that life of purpose. And I thank God for all of the people who have made my life so wonderful; especially my beautiful wife Marilyn.  Without her in my life, I would be so lost. I am grateful to God that He blesses our marriage in so many ways.  Happy Birthday, Sweetheart!  I love you.  I hope you like the flowers.  They aren’t as beautiful as you are, but then what is?  Sometimes we just have to “settle”, even if we don’t procrastinate.

Children of the Light

Prayer for the Day

“The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom should I fear?  The Lord is my life’s refuge; of whom should I be afraid?” Psalms 27

Reflection

Paul calls us “children of the light”.  (1Thessalonians 5:1-6, 9-11) How do we know that we are children of the light? 

I think the only truthful answer is, “we don’t”, not with absolute certainty.  Yet, even without certitude, we can have confidence in the authority of Jesus who has the power to deliver us from darkness.  Like the man in Luke’s Gospel (Luke 4:31-37), we all suffer with “unclean spirits” of various kinds.  Hopefully none of us is as debilitated by them as the person in this Gospel was by his.  Still, these spirits, whatever they are, are a form of darkness that can threaten to overwhelm us.  To these demons, we must respond with the words of Jesus, “Be quiet!” and trust in the power of Christ to transform us.  Right before sleep is a good time to go “demon hunting”.  A good examination of conscience will help us find those “demons” that have kept us from the Light.  Then, saying the rosary to ask for our Blessed Mother’s intercession, we can call on Jesus to help rid us of them. Then, at our earliest convenience, the Sacrament of Reconciliation and Penance will give us the grace we need to keep them at bay!

What we really need is Jesus' example of trust in God.  Often our world seems more dominated by evil forces destructive of human life and dignity than by forces supporting human life.  We may even wonder whether the power of evil is stronger than the power of good.

That’s when we need to remember that Jesus was not naive about the presence of evil in the world.   He was continually assaulted by evil forces and evil spirits; forces which eventually led to His crucifixion.  In spite of this He never yielded to despair, always remaining confident in the Father's love and care.  His anguished cry on the cross, "My God, my God, why have you abandoned me," (Matthew 27:45-46, Psalms 22:1) reveals the depth of His anguish; but His final sigh uncovers the depth of His trust, “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit." (Luke 23:44-46)

Our challenge is the same as Jesus': to live in communion with God, our most dear Father.   The Father is the Creator and Sustainer of the universe.  The world is in God's hands!  As we allow ourselves to be aligned more and more with God's power we become increasingly convinced with St. Paul that "nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord," (Romans 8:35-39) and that the power of good in us is stronger than the power of evil.

Human thinking is way too limited

Prayer for the Day

“Holy Spirit, come and renew my way of thinking. I want to become a vessel of your grace and power, and I know I cannot do this on my own. Spirit, make your thoughts my thoughts and your desires my desires!”

Reflection

The boss planned on taking this weekend off, so I had to fill in for him.  This isn’t usually a problem, unless he is scheduled in the one department I am the weakest.  I feel so incompetent when I have to do this part of our job.  I also hate having to tell customers I can’t serve them properly because of the volume of business, and dearth of product. 

I managed to muddle my way through Friday, grousing and moping all day and generally dreading Saturday.  I could tell everyone was having fun with my discomfort at first, but as the day wore on they were getting a little tired of my juvenile whining.  I thought I knew how to fix that—I would pray that Jesus deliver me from having to work in that department by giving me something I knew how to do.  I’ve mentioned many times on this blog that I believe God answers my prayers.  I forgot that He answers them on His terms, not mine. 

So when my cell phone rang at about 9am, I thought, “Here is the phone call that will deliver me from this trap!”  And sure enough, it got me out of traffic.  Unfortunately, the message was that Mom had taken a tumble and hit her head and she was in the hospital!  I quickly left for home, praying for Mom’s health and a safe drive to see her, along with an aside to Jesus; “Lord, thank You for delivering me from Traffic Department duties, but did You have to be so dramatic?”  By the way, Mom just had a bump on her head and was being released just as I got to the doors of the hospital.  I had no wait at all!  Praise be to God.

In last Sunday’s readings, Peter was given the keys to the kingdom, and in this week's readings, he nearly gets them taken away from him! Jesus is so upset with him that He exclaims, "Get thee behind me, Satan." Tough language! Peter got himself in trouble for strongly protesting Jesus' prediction of His Passion. In effect, Jesus is telling His disciples, "I never promised you a rose garden!"  He could just as well have said, “Peter, I just made you the foreman of a project that will change the world, and you want to stand in the way of that progress by changing the Father’s eternal plan!  Stand back, shut up, and learn!”

He also chastises Peter for “thinking not as God does, but as humans do.”  Ouch.  That hit a nerve with me after the way He answered my simple prayer to get out of an unpleasant task this morning.  I was expecting to be asked to go out in the field and work with the managers or even transfer equipment around—anything to get me out of the traffic department!  Instead, He substituted one form of "suffering"--my discomfort at work--with another--my worry about Mom's condition!

If we think Jesus is unfair, His Father had done this before. Jeremiah, in the first reading, had been made a reluctant prophet. Jeremiah even claims that God duped him into the job. He's so angry and discouraged at the rough treatment he has to take from his own Jewish people that he decides to quit.

However, he can't get rid of the fire in his heart, so he continues to prophesy that Babylon was chosen as God's instrument for chastising Israel. Why? Because Israel was just plain unfaithful, and they deserved punishment. Not that the truth makes a prophet's job any easier!

God has called all of us to discipleship, and we must be prepared for opposition. It goes against popular thinking and popular belief to be either a prophet or an apostle. How about just a plain, ordinary Christian? We don't fare any better. We get criticized at home, at the office, and even sometimes in Church from more comfortable Church members.

How many times in our lives have we felt that Jesus' teaching was just too much? We don't like turning the other cheek, or forgiving seventy times seven. We don't like being criticized or even ridiculed for standing up for Church teaching on abortion, or contraception, or stem cell research - or the death penalty. Even if we're loyal and faithful we don’t get a break.  We still have suffering to endure, whether it be family squabbles, illnesses, old age, unexpected deaths of family or friends, or having to perform tasks we don’t feel qualified to handle.

St. Paul gives us some very good advice in today's second reading. (You might even mark your bible, even memorize it!) "Do not conform yourselves to this age, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind" and "offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God."

Following Christ isn't for the faint of heart! We didn't know what life was really like when we were children, and neither did we know all the challenges of being a Catholic Christian. But that was a long time ago, and hopefully, we've grown up since then. So let's stir up our courage and readjust our priorities.

The cross is not an event of time, but the time-bound movement toward our own Jerusalems and resurrections. “Get up!” the voice said to Jeremiah, to Jesus, to Peter, and to each of us who hobble after the Master. We show up waiting for Him to show up and raise us all and that is the “conduct” of holiness.

Remember, as they say in the theater; there IS a final act!  It’s called Resurrection.

Got Talent?

Prayer for the Day

Dear Lord, help us to receive and come to appreciate the gifts You give us, to develop further and to share with others. Help us to be more generous in our love, risky in our generosity, and free from temptations to be less than You have created us to be.  Inspire us to see and trust Your gifts in others. Help us to call forth the gifts of others in our communities.  May we all one day be gathered to share Your joy.

On this day, the feast of St. Monica, the mother of St. Augustine, who shadowed him with prayer and presence, seeking his conversion, help us to recognize and acknowledge how complicated—yet gratifying—mother-son relationships are from each side. We pray for all mothers and sons today.

Reflection

It is wonderful to pause today to remember that Jesus has entrusted to us - put us in charge of - tremendous resources.  For us who are baptized into him, they are truly his resources.  It is good to remember that I probably don't fully appreciate what I have been given, and therefore, what I have to invest.  And I probably don't fully appreciate the gifts that others around me have, and what resources they might be able to share.  Even when I am stretched and learn new skills - becoming a better listener, changing a long standing pattern and discovering a new ability, taking a risk that pays off many times over - the inspiration and gift is from the Lord.  Whether we are practicing better patience, greater self-confidence and courage, fuller chastity, deeper generosity, these are all fruits of his Spirit - given to us for the benefit of all, for the building up of the Body of Christ.

Matthew 25:14-30 is probably familiar to many of us: “To one he gave five talents; to another, two; to a third, one – to each according to his ability.” The first two took the talents and invested them; they took certain risks, and showed a profit—again, each according to his ability.

When he asked for an accounting from the third servant, all he got was an excuse for not even trying!  “Master, I knew you were a demanding person, harvesting where you did not plant and gathering where you did not scatter; so out of fear I went off and buried your talent in the ground. Here it is back.”

Did you catch that?  The third person who received only one talent is the only one who speaks of the Master in the language of “demanding, fear, burying, and returning one for one what he was given.”

Notice that the other two never speak about their negative reactions to their master. Rather, a generous, non-self-focused response to the gift of the talents evokes a generous, non-self-focused additional blessing from the master. The two that focus on the gift seem free to accept and honor what they have received.

It makes one wonder about the role of dealing with whatever gifts or talents a person has been given. Perhaps the person with the one talent resents knowing the limitations he/she has to go through life with. Maybe this person envies the others. Whatever the case, in the final analysis, it was fear of the master that drove the 3^rd servant in the gospel to bury the talent.

I will admit that I’m not the sharpest tack in the drawer, and I don’t claim to be a psychiatrist or psychologist (neither of those “talents” were gifted to me by the Father), and I’m not into the whole “power of positive thinking” bit; but, this gospel is an interesting little revelation about the possible connections between self-acceptance, self-estimation, and fear of the master. It seems to me that having a healthy balance of all three elements is what makes us worthy of the talents we are given, “each to our own ability.”

I wonder if it has to do with the way some of us already look at God. I wonder what this might look like lived out in one’s prayer life and life of service to others.

We can look to Saint Monica (or any other saint for that matter) for the answer to those queries.

Free "oil" for your "lamp"!

Prayer for the Day

Dear Lord, thank you for stirring our desires for the oil of awareness, the oil of gratitude, the oil of being placed with you in all things.

Keep our torches burning brightly so that we might not miss your coming, your presence, your invitation each and every day.

Reflection

Saint Paul tells the Thessalonians to “conduct yourselves to please God”, and, “not to take advantage of or exploit a brother or sister”. (I Thessalonians 4:1-8)   The Psalms states, “The heavens proclaim his justice.” (Psalms 97:1, 2, 5-6, 10, 11-12)  And in Matthew, Christ tells the parable of the ten virgins.  Five are prepared and five are not ready for the arrival of the bridegroom.  Jesus warns us, “...stay awake, for you know neither the day nor the hour.” (Matthew 25:1-13)

All over the world, the economy is in the toilet and people are worried about what the future holds (me included).  In my opinion, this economic collapse is due to greed, plain and simple.  Material greed, political greed; you name the greed, and humanity suffers from it.  Yeah, fix the economy, but don’t you dare touch my stuff!  Christ’s model of generosity and humility seems to be lost.  Making money is a good thing, but it sure shouldn’t be the end goal.  

To try to be like Jesus is a life-long task.  It isn’t something that just all of a sudden happens.  It starts with a relationship with Christ.  And then it requires work—lots of work.  It’s kind of like preparing for a race.  As my wife and kids will tell you, you can’t just show up after eating a banana split and run 5 miles.  You have to work and train.  You have to be prepared.

All religious experience is prepared for.  How do we prepare?  We need to go out and buy the oil that will keep the lamps burning as we await the Bridegroom.

What then is this oil? It’s compassion, kindness, thoughtfulness, prayer, good works that support those around us, a focus on the eternal while working in the present to help those around us. The oil is supplied by God in abundance and we need do nothing other than be willing to accept it. This oil will keep our light burning out strong in a world that is progressively darker. We can await the Bridegroom and light the world with the light that God gives us. All we need to be is willing and ready.

One grace builds upon another.  When I take a deep breath and turn to God in my heart, even momentarily, the choices I make have more potential for being grace filled.  When I reflect upon the depths of the mystery of the suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus, the mystery of death is not frightening but freeing.  When I beg (every day) for the grace to love my spouse, my children, my parents, my friends, and my colleagues more selflessly, all kinds of new graces flow forth.  When I consciously gather the struggles, conflicts, joys and desires of my week, they prepare for a Sunday celebration so much fuller than just "walking in cold, to fulfill my obligation."  When I open my hands and ask for a growing desire to be servant, to hear the cry of the poor, to let my life reflect the coming of God's reign, then God will provide plenty of oil for a torch that is Light itself.

I was messing around on the ‘net this evening and came across this web site.  I’ve been alive well over 21,000 days (and still counting, thank God!).  And I have never had a day where I wanted for food, clothing or shelter.  And yet I worry about my retirement.  Why is that?  Why am I not more trusting of God?  Why don’t I conduct myself to please God?  Why am I not out buying more oil?  After all, it’s free!

Stay awake!

Prayer for the Day

“Father, fill my heart with more of Your love. Help me to move in Your peace and patience today, alert to what You want me to do for You.”

Reflection

When I was growing up, great emphasis was placed on what is called the “work ethic.”  This means doing the job at hand, not looking too far down the road, and trying not to get too distracted by extraneous thoughts or temptations.  If you’re digging a ditch, or picking fruit, or re-building an engine, or painting a house, or even balancing a checkbook you know what the end result should be.  But if you don’t concentrate on the details, or the steps to get there, you will not end up where you thought you would.  It’s also important to keep at it—the work won’t get done without effort.

So too with the end days, whether it be of our personal lives or the world itself.  Those events will happen.  We know that as a fact.  But if we lose sight of the details, the journey, the “how” we pick the fruit today, or apply the paint, we won’t end up where we planned, but somewhere else.

Jesus is encouraging us to have a “work ethic”, when He says, "You also must be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come." (Matthew 24:42-51)

Are you prepared? Are you doing the work the Lord has given you to do today? Stop and think a minute. As soon as you're done reading this, what is it that the Lord has given you to do next? Perhaps change a diaper? Finish a report? Wash some dishes or laundry? Read a chapter of a textbook? Say a rosary?  Send off that charitable donation? Only you and He know what it is.  So get to it!  And whatever the task is, do it well!  That’s the best way to evangelize!

News Round-up, commentary

The good thing about not being able to sleep is that I can catch up on some news stories.  I am particularly elated by this story.  Way to go, Arizona!

Then, how about the storm that occurred during one of Pope Benedict XVI's speeches to the crowds at World Youth Day in Madrid?  Hats off to the young people who know their priorities and have a faith that can change the world.  Hats off too, to 84-year-old B16 for hanging in there despite the storm and setting an example of prayer for the faithful.

I am moved to comment on the disparity between comments made from the perspective of people who were actully there and those who want to bad-mouth religion in general and the Catholic Church in particular on the secular on-line "news sites", which are actually nothing more than oceans of gossip and calumny where trolls who are in the grip of Satan abound.  Just type 'storm dampens WYD' into your search engine and you'll find out what I mean.  Pray for the world.  Start with the Divine Mercy Chaplet.

Some may think I'm being paranoid about negative comments about Christianity and Catholicism, but compare the comments in the secular media regarding the storm at WYD to the earthquake that struck the Eastern US (Washington DC included).  No mention of God's wrath at Washington politicians who support abortion (with millions dead already and the future of our country in the balance), but plenty of swipes at one of the most holy persons on Earth for his "failure" to handle the priests involved in the sex-abuse scandals!  Which, by the way he has apologized for and actually been instrumental in forming new guidelines for handling the wayward men who have damaged the priesthood and Christ's Church so badly.  But some people are so blinded by hate and greed that they will not be happy until the Body of Christ has been decapitated.  Take heart though, fellow Catholics, and remember His promise--"the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it!"

Keeping things simple is hard

Prayer for the Day

Dear Lord, give me the grace I need today to see clearly.  Simplify my heart.  Restore in me a new innocence.  Let me ask simple questions about the choices before me - where they will lead.  And, help me purify my desiring.  Heal my lust for more things, more comfort, more respect, or more power.  Let me know Your love and Your grace, and I will be rich enough, and ask for nothing more.

Reflection

Sometimes I wish I could be as simple with my faith as Bartholomew.  I would really like to know why Nathaniel (Bartholomew) was convinced that Jesus was “the Son of God, the King of Israel" simply because Jesus said, “I saw you under the fig tree.” (John 1:45-51)  

I’m thinking that Nathaniel was rather young at the time that this event occurred: he shows the sort of cynicism that is usually associated with young men in their late teens at the same time as being rather pure or "free from guile”; again, something associated with a young man trying to be innocent and pure of heart.  I don’t think that Jesus is being sarcastic in what He says; this is just part of the exchange of names and titles at the heart of this particular reading.

What happened under the fig tree is never going to be completely clear to us on this side of eternity.  From what Jesus says and from Nathaniel's reaction we can surmise that it was a very private and personal matter, one in which Nathaniel struggled (and won) in what was primarily a matter of honesty or straightforwardness, maybe of interior fidelity to God's love.  Jesus's next words are a matter of encouragement, a calling of the young man to great deeds.  Jesus will later go on to expand the "angels ascending and descending" to say that "no one has gone up to heaven except the One who has come down from heaven" (John 3:13) and to say "I am the way" (that leads to the Father) (John 14:6).

I think that we too are called to struggle with our devils, especially internally, so as to be pure of heart before God even more than before other people.  We need to review our values, our excuses, the things that we wish to hide from, and the things that we repeat to ourselves about our judgments of other people, their motives, why we have trouble with them, etc.  This is the fig tree where we wrestle with ourselves to become truly gentle and loving, without guile.

This past couple of months, I’ve been “sitting under a fig tree” of my own.  We have a relatively new “bigwig” in our company who has ruffled more than a few feathers (including my own) by his management methods.  My (and others’) inability to come to terms with this management “style” has resulted in some not so Christian epithets for him.  I know that instead of being angry and resentful for some of the unkind and—I might add—unwarranted remarks he has made about me and some of my friends I should be praying for him, but it is really difficult.  Just when I think I’ve “forgiven those who trespass against me”, he comes up with something new for me to brood about. 

Actually, I should be grateful for the struggle, because internal struggle opens the door to the Lord, letting Him reveal Himself to us as our Way to God. 

His coming to us will still be unexpected: we know not the day nor the hour, not the situation nor the messenger --- and it just might be one of those people from Nazareth that we have been spurning...although I’m pretty sure we can rule out Harold Camping.

Get through the "noise" to what truly matters

Prayer for the Day

Heavenly Father, through Your Son, please allow me to get through the mundane “noise” today and show me what really matters to you.  Help me to love You with my whole heart, mind, soul and strength and to use that strength to reflect Your image to others.  Amen

Reflection

Have you ever noticed how we are often scrupulous about minor matters and neglect the greater ones? We are often more concerned about appearances and opinions of others than what is in our heart and the purity of our thoughts and intentions.  I think that’s what Jesus was telling the Pharisees in the verses where He begins “Woe to you!” (Mt 23:23-26)

We are made in God’s image.  Anything and everything that is good about us--in our nature, our natural personality--IS a gift from God.  We are a reflection of God. Our natural abilities are natural only because God put them within us by design and choice, as a reflection of God’s nature for our benefit and for the benefit of the world.

And all of that true nature is only true because it's a gift from our Creator. Everything that's natural -- everything we were born with -- because if God hadn't chosen to give it to us, we wouldn't have it. THAT is the definition of "gift."

It’s been said, “The only way to preserve any gift of God is to give it away.”  Each of us has God given gifts that we are asked to share with others.  Paul received the great gifts of knowledge, understanding and discourse from God and he lived his life by giving those gifts to others.  Jesus took on human existence so he could give his life for us. What an awesome gift!

At the end of each Mass the celebrant says “Go now to love and serve the Lord.”  That is a declaration to go out and share our gifts with others.  What we do for others might not reverberate around the world, but even the simplest undertaking, such as smiling at the bank clerk, is a gift.  Everything we do is extremely worthwhile and important to the ones we serve.

So I guess my advice would be to “Go now to love and serve the Lord” …by loving and serving each other.

The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments

Prayer for the Day

O God, help us choose those values which will unite this world's people. Make us of one mind and heart to end our conflicts and bring us true peace and joy.   Amen.

Reflection

A few days ago I was not in a very good mood.  Nothing has gone well at work this week as far as the plans I had made and I was getting frustrated.   As I was coming out of Hometown Buffet after dinner, I noticed a young man (probably in his mid-20’s) coming straight at me.  “Uh-oh”, I thought, “here it comes!”  My standard line for avoiding pan-handlers is “I’m so sorry, but I don’t carry cash on me, ever since I was robbed at gunpoint.”  It’s a true statement, but in today’s society one doesn’t really have to carry cash to get just about anything one needs.  There are a few holdouts who charge exorbitant fees for credit cards or who are cash only establishments, but generally, just about everybody takes credit or debit cards, so my excuse to those in need is more self-serving than Christian. 

That being said, this guy walked up and asked for a few dollars to get something to eat.  I thought to myself, “Why not? I’ll pay for his dinner then leave.  It’s only about 10 bucks.  Maybe he won’t bother anyone else if I help him.”  Again, that was a self-serving excuse to talk myself into doing something I ought to do.  So I turned around and opened the door for him saying, “After you, sir.”  He thanked me and we walked up to the counter to pay for his meal. 

The girl behind the counter smiled at me (she was the same girl who had rung my dinner up earlier), excused herself, and got on the intercom to call the manager.  When the manager arrived, he didn’t greet me but gave me the once-over and said to my guest, “I told you you’re not allowed in here! Please leave!”  Then the manager, without even acknowledging me went back to wherever he was when he was called.

The girl then turned to me and said, “I’m sorry, but he was caught in her just a little while ago trying to steal some food.”  I was very tempted to point out that the reason he was stealing food was probably because he was hungry and broke, but I didn’t.  I don’t know why I didn’t stick up for the guy (Yes I do.  It’s because I was embarrassed at that point.)   Jesus would have told a parable or something to make it a teaching moment for the manager.  All I did was turn around as he was leaving and said, “Is there somewhere else in this shopping center where we can get you a meal?”

He smiled and said he didn’t know.  So I perused the shopping center quickly and saw a couple of restaurant-looking businesses on the opposite corner from where we were.  I asked him if he would mind if I bought him a dinner at one of those places.  Obviously, he never heard the expression “beggars can’t be choosers”.  He said, “I was hoping for a Mexican meal.”  I replied that we might get lucky, but I was a little pressed for time, so it would have to be whatever we found.  I started walking towards the restaurants.  He asked me, “You want to walk over there?”  I may have felt generous, but not stupid.  Giving a car ride to a total stranger who you know has recently tried to steal and might have the smell of alcohol on his breath is not a prudent decision.  I said, “Yeah.  I need to walk off my dinner.”  He replied that he understood, although I could tell that he didn’t. 

He asked my name.  I told him my first name.  He introduced himself, but I can’t remember it.  He touched my shoulder and said something about giving me positive energy or something and asking me if I felt it.  I wondered if I had bitten off more than I could chew with this “dinner guest.”  Pun intended. 

He asked if I was religious.  I replied that I am Catholic.  He grew silent for a few minutes until we got into the restaurant.  I don’t remember which one it was, but it was a chain fast-food joint.  I didn’t recognize the menu, so I must not eat there a lot.  He asked the clerk if they had any Mexican food.  “Nope, just hamburgers and chicken sandwiches, French fries and drinks,” came the reply.  He asked me what he should order.  I told him he could get whatever he wanted.  He said, “You’re the only person who has talked to me like a human being or helped me in a long time, and you didn’t hesitate to use your credit card.”  He pulled out an obviously used VCR tape and said he would like to give it to me.  I thanked him and said, “I’m just glad I could help”.  He ordered a value meal of some sort, and I paid for it with my credit card.  He asked me if I had a business card with my name and phone number on it.  I decided to give him one of my homemade “business cards” that has only my blog address on it.  He said he would check it out.  I told him good-bye and left for home.   For some reason I couldn’t put my finger on, I felt much less frustrated and angry than I was when I went to dinner.

I really didn’t think much about the episode again until I read the Gospel passage for Friday this week (Mt 22:34-40).

What is the greatest commandment of the Lord? Love God with all that you are. And love your neighbor as you love yourself. Jesus goes so far as to say that the whole of the law is summed up in these two laws. Between the two, everything is encompassed - soul, mind, spirit.

But what we often forget is that Jesus has commanded us to love our neighbors as ourselves. That is, we are commanded to love ourselves. Not to worship ourselves, but to love ourselves - being kind to ourselves, being aware of our strengths and weaknesses - asking the Lord for the opportunity to use the former and praying for help in places where we are weak.

Loving ourselves is often difficult because we don't feel loveable. But God loves each one of us as if we were the only person on Earth. We are loved as an only child is loved, and it is that love that we are supposed to bring into the world and express to all our brothers and sisters. But we must first feel it for ourselves or we cannot help others to feel it.

Love God with everything you are, and everything follows from that. When we love God, we can look upon ourselves as special creatures that God loves deeply and completely. In that light, we become capable of loving others as God would have us do.

“You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”  THAT’S why I felt better after helping a complete stranger to have something to eat.  In retrospect, I think Jesus was “rewarding” my actions by taking a little bit of the stress from me.  Praise be to God; in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen

More Than We Can Measure

Prayer for the Day

Loving and Just Father,

In Your kingdom we are worth more than can be imagined.  Greater even than the scales of justice is the gift You bestow on us. Help us to consider Your call to each of us and to all of us as a country as we approach the time to select candidates for leadership in the United States of America.  Amen

Reflection

In case my nieces and nephew read my blog yesterday, I thought I might continue with a similar theme today.

How do we recognize and raise up leaders in our midst?  Is it because we see talents and gifts which can truly lead, guide, direct , and show the way to our community as a whole?  Or do we choose them in less than good faith, hoping to further our own agenda, perhaps to the detriment of the greater community?   In the United States we continuously have the opportunity to raise up, support and elect our leaders.  With what kind of discerning do we weigh our choices?

Perhaps one way to discern the leadership abilities of potential leaders is to consider the parable of the vineyard owner, who hires laborers at various hours of the day… encouraging them to use their ability to work. (Matthew 20:1-16)  He empowers anyone who wishes to respond to his invitation.   At day’s end, the workers are paid, not according to a measured amount per hour of work, but for an honest effort to work.  Each and every laborer receives a day’s wages.  For some, this approach may not work in our economics today, but I think that the owner represents God’s presence to each of us.  We are invited to use our time and talents.  God holds us accountable to respond to the call to be all that we are created to be rather than measuring each of us according to how much we accomplish. 

Do our leaders (and do we) serve as guides, giving inspiration and showing the way to others so that all can use their gifts and talents to realize their vocations in life?  Or do they (we) get in the way of others by trying to put personal agendas ahead of the needs of others – of the community as a whole?

The Lord Himself will give His benefits

Prayer for the Day

 I will hear what God proclaims;

the LORD -- for he proclaims peace
To his people, and to his faithful ones,
and to those who put in him their hope.

Kindness and truth shall meet;

justice and peace shall kiss.
Truth shall spring out of the earth,
and justice shall look down from heaven.

The LORD himself will give his benefits;

our land shall yield its increase.
Justice shall walk before him,
and salvation, along the way of his steps.

Psalm 85

Reflection

Two Tuesdays ago, we learned that the great leader of Israel, Moses, "was by far the meekest man on the face of the earth." (Numbers 12:1-13)  Last Tuesday our Lord told us, "Whoever becomes humble like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 18:1-5, 10, 12-14)  Today, we hear about the calling of Gideon, who responds to the Lord, "Please, my lord, how can I save Israel? My family is the lowliest in Manasseh, and I am the most insignificant in my father's house." (Judges 6:11-24a)

Our latest novels, movies and television programs do not show us great leaders who are meek, humble and who recognize their relative insignificance. Rather, our modern world says that leaders should be fearless, brash, arrogant and proud, just to name a few traits; with an emphasis on arrogant. 

A discussion of young people at my house this past Sunday led one of them to ask the others if they were registered to vote.  “No way!” one of them replied.  I have to admit I was incensed at the vehemence with which she replied.  I asked her, “Why not?”  Her answer, with a couple of her cousins nodding in agreement was “because they’re all crooks!”  I explained that if everyone felt the way she does, things will never get better! I reminded her that if she took the time to study the issues and the candidates, she could weed out the “crooks” and maybe even change the world for the better!

Her body language told me she was uncomfortable with my advice.  I took that as a hopeful sign; it indicated to me that she knows, somewhere in that worldly mind of hers that I’m right.  And that she just might take it as a dare to do something about it.  Only time will tell. 

According to the US census, 218 million people in the US were eligible to vote in 2010.  Only 90 million people voted.  That means the decision of only 41% of those eligible to vote set the course that the rest of the country will have to live with at least until 2012.  Our total US population is 306 million people.  When only 29% of the population of a country controls how the country is run, the rest of the populace get what they deserve for their apathy, and at the same time, they give up their right to complain. 

As I reflected on this today, I decided to include in my daily prayer petitions a request to our Lord to help the US find more leaders who share the virtues of Moses, Jeremiah, and Gideon—because, to be quite frank about it, we’re going to need help of Biblical proportions; no, strike that, I’m thinking too small.  We’re going to need Jesus Himself to get this country back to what it used to be and can be again—a beacon for the world to follow.

Joyful Hope

Prayer for the Day

Deliver us, Lord, from every evil, and grant us peace in our day.  In your mercy keep us free from sin and protect us from all anxiety as we wait in joyful hope for the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Reflection

The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary into heaven, the fourth Glorious Mystery of the Rosary, reminds me that our Virgin Mother, though most blessed of all women, had a difficult life.

Think about it!  Even she, who was conceived without sin so she could bear the Son of God, had to be infinitely patient as the events of her life unfolded.  Her Son was “lost” in the temple as a child, then later, when He was a grown man He was wrongly accused, tortured and killed right in front of her!  For a few brief days after the Resurrection until the Ascension she got to see Him, but then she was separated from Him once again, and like all of us, had to wait for that time when at last she would be united with Him in heaven.

I can’t begin to tell you how much I miss Marilyn, Alicia, and Lily when I’m out of town for just a week!  Who knows how old Mary was when she “fell asleep”!  But however long she waited her longings must have been tremendous, because she faced a “double whammy” of anxiousness; not only was Jesus her son, but her Savior as well!  Can you imagine that feeling—one of inconsolable sorrow at the loss of a child tempered with an indescribable joy at the certainty of salvation?  Wow.

Like Mary, we all have to be patient, and let the chapters of our lives play out.

How do we do it; with reluctance and tepidity? Or do we follow the lead of Our Mother, who meditated on the Word, was faithful to it and supported and encouraged others to do the same?

As I reflect on this morning’s Mass, the words "joyful hope" said in the prayer after the Pater Noster are the words that, for me, characterize Mary and show me what kind of attitude I should cultivate as I await the time when at last the veil is broken and no more obstacles obstruct the view of our final and most longed-for destiny - to eternally dwell in the presence of the Lord.

Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now, and at the hour of our death.  Amen.