Sent....

 

As each Catholic Mass comes to a close, the priest gives a blessing to all the faithful gathered to celebrate the Eucharist.  A blessing is a solemn act that calls upon and invokes the aid of God upon the person, asking that God grant him/her divine favor and sanctification.  In the case of Mass, the blessing is called down upon the people for sanctification that they may go forth from the Mass renewed in zeal for their mission and strengthened to resist evil and grow in the spiritual life.

Then comes the final dismissal, when the priest (or deacon, if he is present) says “the Mass is ended.”  In Latin, the phrase is “Ite Missa est”.  It means so much more, though. The Catechism of the Catholic Church gives the most succinct explanation of this phrase, explaining that, “the liturgy in which the mystery of salvation is accomplished concludes with the sending forth (mission) of the faithful, so that they may fulfill God’s will in their daily lives” (CCC 1332).  The holy sacrifice of the Mass not only renders worship to God and offers the most effective prayer to God for our salvation, but the Mass, by its very nature, enlightens our Christian vocation to share in the mission of Christ by bringing forth His message to the world.  This doesn’t need to be in extraordinary ways.  Rather, this mission is more properly concerned with an authentic life lived in accord with the Gospel, striving for holiness and spiritual growth in prayer.  This focus allows us to carry the Gospel message to our families, neighbors and world so that we, too, have an important role in the task of evangelization by the faithful witness of our lives.  All of this is reflected in some of the options added to the Roman Missal for the Dismissal: “Go and announce the Gospel of the Lord”; “Go in peace, glorifying the Lord by your life”; or simply, “Go in peace.”  Truly, at the end of the Mass, our Lord, through the priest, gives us this mission that demands a true witness of the Gospel.

We are all being missioned into the world, and we’re asked to take nothing with us except our faith and trust in God – this will be our walking stick – and courage – our sandals.  We’re to journey as we are and not cloaked with a second tunic of self-doubt and fear.   We’re to travel light as we go forward in service. (Mark 6:7-13)

Quite often when we’re about to travel for any reason, we usually have a written or mental checklist of things we need to remember to do, or things we need to remember to take along; the right clothes, the documents, money, and so on.  In a way, even when we pack the bare minimum, and decide on only the essentials, we’re still weighed down with the baggage of worry, fears, and our need to control every moment.  We still take too much upon ourselves and lose sight of the graces we receive along the way, the opportunities to experience God’s love, and the opportunities to experience fully all the gifts God has bestowed on us.  We are each a child of God, and when we walk into a room, our grace can bring a smile to the face of a hurting soul.  Our goodness can bring peace to a home filled with negativity.  Our light can drive out the darkness.  These are not just gifts for the twelve apostles; this is our gift as well; we’re being missioned out into the world to do good work – to serve for the greater glory of God – and we won’t be alone.  Just as the disciples were sent out two by two, we are sent to serve together.  Being successful in ministry is kind of a team effort.  We now live in a world that glorifies the idea of working on our own, or doing things our own way, or being independent.  These are not bad ideas in and of themselves, but we are somewhat created to work together, not alone.  We are members of the body of Christ, we function better together.  When you feel disconnected, remember, you’re not traveling through this life alone.  Yes, travel light, but let’s travel together.

What are those things that weigh us down as we journey through life?  What are those things that get in our way of doing God’s work?  Do we have the courage to go where we’re sent, to move on when it’s time, to take rejection, to lead and to serve when it’s difficult and inconvenient, to do work for the greater glory of God?  Do we have the courage?  I am still afraid to answer these questions for myself, but one thing I do know is that it seems our options open up when we travel light through life; leaving our baggage – physical or emotional – behind as we respond to the missioning into the world.  So, brothers and sisters, let’s pick up our walking sticks, put on our sandals, and do ministry together.

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The Highs and Lows and Ups and Downs of the Most Holy Rosary meditations on the luminous mysteries continues:

IV.  The Transfiguration of Jesus

Brief meditation:

To set the scene for this mystery, we see Jesus inviting Peter, James, and John to withdraw with Him from the busy plane of everyday life and come to a high mountaintop.  Pope John Paul II called the Transfiguration, “the mystery of light par excellence,” presumably because, during this exalted event, the glory of Jesus’ divine nature shown brilliantly through his humanity, totally transfiguring Jesus.  As the Gospel of Matthew put it, [Jesus’] “face shown like the sun, and his clothes became white as light” (17:2). The event reminds us that Jesus is truly divine as well as truly human.

Scriptural meditation:

1.  Jesus took Peter, James and his brother John and led them up a high mountain by themselves and was transfigured before them (Matthew 17:1)-Hail Mary…

2.  And his face shone as the sun and his garments became white as snow. (Matthew 17:2)-Hail Mary…

3.  And behold there appeared to them Moses and Elijah talking together with him. (Matthew 17:3)-Hail Mary…

4.  Now Peter and his companions were heavy with sleep.  But when they were fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men who were standing with him. (Luke 9:32)-Hail Mary…

5.  Then Peter addressed Jesus saying “Lord it is good for us to be here.  Let us set up three tents here, one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah” (Matthew 17:4)-Hail Mary…

6.  As he was still speaking, behold a bright cloud overshadowed them. (Matthew 17:5)-Hail Mary…

7.  And behold a voice out of the cloud said, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear him.” (Matthew 17:5)-Hail Mary…

8.  And on hearing it the disciples fell on their faces and were exceedingly afraid. (Matthew 17:6)-Hail Mary…

9.  And Jesus came near and touched them and said to them, “Arise, and do not be afraid.” (Matthew 17:7)-Hail Mary…

10.  And suddenly looking around, they no longer saw anyone with them but only Jesus. (Mark 9:8)-Hail Mary…

Called out...

 

For my gospel reflection today, I have two different personal stories, which point out my own struggles with what Jesus taught His disciples by telling the familiar parable of the unnamed rich man and the poor man Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31).  In it, Jesus highlights how “things” can blind us and hinder our need to reach out to those closest to us who are in need — the poor.

I went to the service station one morning to gas up my Pathfinder, which uses only premium fuel.   As I was pulling up, I noticed a man doubled over in pain, and obviously drunk.  My heart was torn, because although I wanted to walk up and talk to him to ask him how he was and if he needed any help, I didn’t.  When I went inside to pay for the gas, the kid behind the counter was LAUGHING about the man’s discomfort.  He said he had called the POLICE, when what the man needed was obviously an ambulance.  Not very Christ-like on either of our parts.  I was ashamed for both of us.

How could a man who has (relatively) everything allow another man, whose only possessions were apparently the clothes on his back, to suffer right before his eyes?  How could a man who fills his SUV with costly premium fuel not budge to share even a few dollars from his wallet, much less a kind word, with the troubled neighbor just trying to get by?

It seems absolutely unthinkable—and irreparably scandalous—but we know it happens all the time, like it apparently happened on my ‘watch’.   Like the rich man in the gospel story, we can use wealth and luxury to insulate us from the intolerable sufferings of others.  We can become so accustomed to making self-satisfying pleasures the driving desire of our lives that we become comfortably oblivious to the afflicted and destitute among us, the many who, like Lazarus, are so grievously deprived of what any human being needs to survive that they die a little more each day.

This parable’s punch shows us that when we fail to help a neighbor in need, intentionally distancing ourselves from them, we likewise distance ourselves from God.  After a while, that distance becomes an abyss.  As the rich man belatedly discovered, this truth may surprise us, but it will also condemn us.

My grandchild and I were at the drive-through at McDonald’s a few years ago, when Lily saw a young man standing and shivering in the pouring rain, holding a sign that said simply, “Need Help”.   When Lily saw him, tears began to form in her eyes, and she asked what we could do for him.  I had an all-weather coat in the back seat, as I was intending to donate it to the local homeless shelter.  I had inherited it from my brother Bob when he passed away.  He had purchased it while on a trip to Alaska.  It was a very heavy, waterproof, lined coat—perfect for that current day’s weather.  We could see that the guy standing out in the cold, driving rain was about the right size, so I had Lily hand it to him.  Both Lily and I noticed the young man’s posture straighten immediately, and a huge smile formed on his face!  As my compassionate granddaughter and I talked about it on our way home, we discussed things like how the guy may have become so needy, why I—and others—didn’t appear to ‘see’ him (in other words, ignored him), and more importantly, why we both seemed to feel the same warmth in our souls that the young man felt physically after donning the coat. 

Jesus has come to free us from our “slavery”.  Freedom is the key to the reality of both poverty and wealth.  If we’re attached to material things, we easily forfeit our freedom…like the rich man in the gospel with his fine clothes and sumptuous meals.  Apparently, he was so wrapped up in his pleasures that he paid little attention to God or his fellow human beings…even poor Lazarus begging at his door!  The rich man sacrificed his freedom because of his attachment to the pleasures of wealth – he had turned inward, selfish.

On the other hand, being poor limits a person’s freedom!  We need a basic share of God’s material gifts to have the leisure of time and thought to worship God and also be concerned about fellow humans.  If a person must spend their every energy trying to secure basic necessities – wondering about their next meal, or health or clothing or lodging – then they can hardly focus on God or others.  That person has lost their freedom because of the destitution which is poverty.

Lent is the time of year that we especially seek renewal in our prayer and our generosity, helping us move beyond selfishness to reaching out to others…be they the poor beggar at our door, on our streets, outside of the drive-through at McDonald’s, or the family member or co-worker or stranger who needs a listening ear and an encouraging word.  Together we can move beyond our petty differences to sharing healing and life.  Jesus and Lazarus call out to us today.

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The parable above is just one of many, many that Jesus used to proclaim the Kingdom of God, which leads me to my Lenten project of presenting meditations on the Highs and Lows and Ups and Downs of the Most Holy Rosary through the mysteries of the prayer.  I continue with the 3^rd Luminous mystery:

III.  The Proclamation of the Kingdom of God

Brief meditation:

Throughout the Gospels, Jesus reveals the Kingdom of God to us in various ways.  But the message is always clear and consistent.  We’re called to God’s Kingdom through Jesus Christ.  He came into our world to show us the way. We are to repent for our sins and trust in God.  For He, in His mercy, will forgive our sins and draw us to Him.

The Kingdom of God is nearer to us than we often think, for it is in God Himself and in all His creation.  It’s not in some far-off place or time.  We’re called each and every day by the voice of God to follow Jesus into God’s Kingdom.  We have but to trust completely in God and follow.  Crossing over into the Kingdom of God is a matter of faith for which we are completely dependent on the mercy and grace of God.

Do I seek the Kingdom of God each day by reconciling myself with God and praying for His mercy? Do I follow the example of Jesus each day by trusting completely in God for all things?

I pray for the grace and mercy of God so that I might empty myself and enter into His Kingdom by turning all things over to Him.

Scriptural meditations:

1.  Jesus came into Galilee preaching the Gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent and believe in the Gospel.” (Mark 1:14-15)-Hail Mary…

2.  “Unless a man be born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.” (John 3:5)-Hail Mary…

3.  “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:3)-Hail Mary…

4.  “Blessed are they who suffer persecution for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:10)-Hail Mary…

5.  “Unless your righteousness exceeds that of the Scribes and Pharisees, you shall not enter the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:20)-Hail Mary…

6.  “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls.  When he finds a single pearl of great price, he goes and sells all that he has and buys it.” (Matthew 13:45-46)-Hail Mary…

7.  “Amen I say to you, unless you turn and become like little children you will not enter into the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 18:3)-Hail Mary…

8.  “Children, how hard it is for those that trust in riches to enter the kingdom of God!”  (Mark 10:24)-Hail Mary…

9.  “I must proclaim the kingdom of God, for this is why I have been sent” (Luke 4:43)-Hail Mary…

10.  “My kingdom is not of this world.” (John 18:36)-Hail Mary…

Faith is where marriage begins

 

When my daughter Alicia was in 2nd or 3rd grade, she came to me and asked me a not-so-simple question: “Daddy, how come you and Mom don’t argue and fight like a lot of the other kids’ parents?”  I told her it was because we love each other very much and didn’t have much to argue about.  That settled it.  I didn’t ever have to answer the question again—at least for her benefit.

My reflection today on the second luminous mystery of the rosary (The Wedding at Cana) brought this memory to the forefront of my mind and had me prayerfully considering my love for Marilyn (and thanking God for her!)   Not to brag, but I think our marriage is a happy one, and has been for the last fifty years this October.  I think it’s because we never approach it simply as just something a man and woman do when they “have feelings” for one another.  Rather, we take our vows and the promises we made to each other and to God very seriously, even on those rare occasions when we do have disagreements or get mildly angry at one another.

The way I see it, the three cardinal virtues of faith, hope and charity are the cornerstone of any marriage in the Persons of the Trinity.  Marilyn and I, either consciously or unconsciously (and “prodded” by the Holy Spirit), have used this foundation since day one.

In the Scriptures the relationship between God and God's people is often described in terms of a marriage. The early Christians, reflecting on Christ's love for us, also used this image.  Christ and the Church embrace in mutual love and self-giving, even as do husband and wife (see, for example, Ephesians 5:21-33).  "'For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.'  This is a great mystery, and I am applying it to Christ and the church" (Ephesians 5:31-32).

Faith is where marriage begins.  Not only a faith in God, but in one another.  We will each make mistakes—it’s what makes us human.  The challenge in a marriage is to remember to give our partner the benefit of any doubts and believe that he isn’t acting out of selfishness but out of a concern for what is right for the union.  The word “fidelity” is derived from “faith”.  We sometimes forget that it takes three persons to make a marriage: a man, a woman, and God.  That’s why Jesus elevated marriage to a Sacrament—bringing the Eternal Father into the relationship provides us (through prayer) with an arbiter to help us see more clearly the path back to agape love.  That’s why including Him in the marriage is very important.

Hope is important to keep the flames of love alive.  We each have to share our hopes and dreams often by speaking “with” one another instead of “at” one another.  Obviously we already agreed a lot of these hopes and dreams during our courtship, or we wouldn’t have agreed to get married.  I always try to use the word “trust” along with hope because hope without trust is just an empty dream and that can kill love faster than anything.  We have to trust that we will realize our dreams as a couple “someday”—even if “someday” never comes!  That’s what keeps the marriage and the love alive through the blessings of the Holy Spirit.

Charity is probably the hardest virtue to accomplish in a marriage because it always—ALWAYS—requires sacrifice.  Sometimes, in fact most of the time, the sacrifices are small, but occasionally larger sacrifices have to be made for the good of the marriage.  Remembering the sacrifice that Jesus made for all of us on the Cross can help encourage us in this regard.  Charity can show itself in many ways, like preparing a special meal for our husband or wife even if we’ve had a hard day.  Simply remembering to say, “I love you”, even when we’re not in the proper mood or disposition.  The hardest part of the sacrifice is making it joyfully and without malice to our spouse.

There is no “Handbook of Marriage”.  Every relationship is different, but I guarantee that every relationship will grow stronger if we remember to keep faith (the Father), hope (the Son), and charity (the Holy Spirit) alive for as long as we live.

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Now that I’ve given a rather long meditation on the mystery, I’ll continue my Lenten project of posting a brief meditation and a scriptural meditation for each of the mysteries, with a special focus on recognizing the Highs and Lows and Ups and Downs of the Most Holy Rosary. 

The luminous mysteries:

II.  The Wedding at Cana

Brief meditation:

Jesus caused quite a stir at Cana when He changed the water into wine.  Jesus worked this sign and others to strengthen our faith in His divine mission.  John the evangelist writes that Jesus “let his glory be seen, and his disciples believed in him” (John 2:11).  At special times, such as at His Baptism, as well as in this “first sign” at Cana and at the Transfiguration, the divine glory shines through brightly.  We get a glimpse of God’s light and saving presence breaking into our world.  And when Mary tells Jesus, “They have no wine,” she seems to be causing something else—besides the changing of water into wine—to happen as well.  She’s very much like a mother bird nudging her fledgling to take that first flight from the nest.

Scriptural meditation:

1.  There was a marriage in Cana of Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there (John 2:1)-Hail Mary…

2.  Jesus also was invited, with his disciples, to the marriage.  When the wine ran out, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no wine.” (John 2:2-3)-Hail Mary…

3.  Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does that have to do with you and me?  My hour has not yet come.” (John 2:4)-Hail Mary…

4.  His mother said to the attendants, “Do whatever he tells you.” (John 2:5)-Hail Mary…

5.  Now six stone water-jars were placed there, after the Jewish manner of purification [each holding two or three measures (20-30 gallons)] (John 2:6)-Hail Mary…

6.  Jesus said to them, “Fill the jars with water.”  And they filled them to the brim. (John 2:7)-Hail Mary…

7.  And Jesus said to them, “Now draw from it, and carry it to the chief steward of the feast.”  And they took it to him. (John 2:8)-Hail Mary…

8.  Then, when the chief steward had tasted the water made into wine, since he did not know where it was from, for only the servants who had drawn the water knew, the chief steward called the bridegroom. (John 2:9)-Hail Mary…

9.  And he said to him, “Everyone serves the good wine first, and when the guests have drunk freely, then that which is worse.  But You have kept the good wine until now!” (John 2:10)-Hail Mary…

10.  This was the beginning of the signs that Jesus accomplished in Cana of Galilee, and it manifested his glory, and his disciples believed in him. (John 2:11)-Hail Mary…

My place in the world

 

Whenever I start thinking too highly of myself, I try to spend more alone time with my wife or daughters or grandchildren—or reading Matthew 23:1-12 or praying the rosary.  All of these provide a great reminder for me regarding my place in the world.  In that Gospel reading, Jesus is speaking to the crowds about the scribes and Pharisees.  Jesus acknowledges their standing and even told the people to “do and observe all things whatsoever they tell you.”  But then He tells them not to follow their example.

Jesus is clear in recognizing the authority of the scribes and Pharisees, but then hits them hard on several fronts.  First, Jesus notes that the scribes and Pharisees expect others to strictly follow laws central to their teachings (e.g., Sabbath, purity codes) without regard to the onerous burden these laws place on the poor or marginalized—or without assisting them, in any way, with these conditions.  He then states that the scribes and Pharisees engage in works meant to be seen.  They not only seek out, but “love” places of honor at banquets and being honorably recognized and called “Rabbi” or “Father.”  And then the final blow—"The greatest among you must be your servant.  Whoever exalts himself will be humbled; but whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”

Although there’s a lot to unwrap here, I would suggest we consider the following practical ways of living out these words of Jesus.  First, Jesus reminds us of the importance of flexibility and context when applying the laws of scripture.  He also emphasizes the value of humility in life.  And He’s keen to point out that we have but one Father in heaven and one Master and that is Christ.  So, it’s wise to listen to their words in scripture, but also to remind ourselves of the importance of following the example that Jesus provided to us on earth.  Never assume that we’re better than anyone else, treat all people in an egalitarian manner, search for opportunities to bring about justice, and act without fanfare, but with a sense of humility.  And remember: All for the great glory of God – not self.

 

Meditations on the Luminous mysteries of the Most Holy Rosary are reflections on the events in the life of Jesus that reveal His divine glory and his mission.  As with the other mysteries, the joyful, the sorrowful, and the glorious, there are five events: the baptism of Jesus at the Jordan, the miracle at the wedding feast in Cana, the proclamation of the kingdom of God, the transfiguration, and the institution of the Eucharist.  These meditations are based on the gospel accounts of these events and their significance for the faith of the disciples and the Church.

Over the next week, I’ll be presenting a brief meditation and a scriptural meditation format for each of the five, as I did last week with the joyful mysteries in the hope that it helps you to pray your own rosary more deeply.  Again, I will focus on the “Highs and Lows, the Ups and Downs of the Most Holy Rosary”.

The luminous mysteries:

I.  The Baptism of Jesus at the Jordan River

Brief meditation:

Jesus’ baptism in the Jordan River illuminates not only Jesus’ identity as God’s beloved Son, but it also reveals with bright clarity His mission as Messiah—the anointed one—as well.  When Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist, He was anointed by his heavenly Father “with the Holy Spirit and with power” (Acts 10:38).  When the evangelist John described the descent of the Holy Spirit upon Jesus, he placed these words on the lips of the Baptist: “I saw the Spirit come down like a dove from the sky and remain upon him” (Jn 1:32). The word remain in this context emphasizes the permanence of this ongoing relationship of God’s Spirit with us as well.

Scriptural meditation:

1.  John the Baptist said, “I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as the prophet Isaiah said.” (John 1:23)- Hail Mary…

2.  And [John] preached, saying, “After me comes he who is mightier than I, the thong of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie.” (Mark 1:7)- Hail Mary…

3.  “I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me . . . will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.” (Matthew 3:11)- Hail Mary…

4.  [John] saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29) -Hail Mary…

5.  Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. (Matthew 3:13) -Hail Mary…

6.  John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” (Matthew 3:14) -Hail Mary…

7.  But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.”  Then [John] consented. (Matthew 3:15) -Hail Mary…

8.  And when Jesus was baptized, he went up immediately from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. (Matthew 3:16) -Hail Mary…

9.  And behold, a voice from heaven, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” (Matthew 3:17) -Hail Mary…

10.  The Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness, and he was in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan. (Mark 1:12-13) -Hail Mary…

Stop judging others!

 

I think I was in the eighth grade and preparing for the sacrament of Confirmation when I first started examining my conscience each night before going to bed.  Sometimes I even do the examination while I’m in bed and trying to fall asleep, because I’m a little afraid of what I’ll discover about myself.  In those early days it was easier, because I tended to compare myself to my brothers or my friends.  I could excuse myself because I was (in my own self-centered mind) doing better at keeping God’s commandments through ritualistic worship than a lot of my friends—especially during Lent.  I always gave up something, usually candy or sodas, and back then we were obligated to abstain from meat every Friday, not just during Lent.  If one of my brothers chose the same thing, I had to ‘one up’ them.  If one of my brothers broke the Friday abstinence, even by mistake, I’d be all over them.  Truth be told, I broke the abstinence just as often if not more than any of them, but somehow it was OK, because they did it, too.  Granted, breaking the abstinence rule is/was a sin, but some would argue that it is a venial sin at most.  I have confessed to many more—even grave—sins.  Each of us, if we’re honest with ourselves, has sinned.  And hopefully confessed.

The Prophet Daniel expresses what each of us has confessed at some point in our lives: “We have sinned, been wicked and done evil; we have rebelled and departed from your commandments and your laws.” (Daniel 9:4-10)  But recognizing and confessing our sins and faults may be the easier Lenten task.

Looking back over my life, my cringe-worthy regrets are not so much what I did but what I didn’t do.  When I knew I could have been a better friend.  What I didn’t do that I knew even then I should have done.  How many times did I let fear or embarrassment get in the way of doing what was right?

I find Jesus’ injunction in Luke’s gospel (Luke 6:36-38) to be so pertinent and timely.  Stop with the judging, will you?!  We all know and count on the mercy of God to forgive us.  But then we turn around and just keep on judging others for who they are, how they vote, who they love, what their skin color is, or how they worship.  My goodness, we’re back to my childhood days of “My Lenten fast is harder than yours, so I’m better than you.”

So for the last 20 years or so, I’ve tried (emphasis on TRIED) to do some work of mercy or kindness in addition to giving something up during Lent.  This year, I decided to attempt to promote a better understanding of the rosary by providing within my blog posts brief and scriptural meditations on each of the mysteries of the prayer with an emphasis on the “highs and lows and ups and downs” in the mysteries of the Holy Rosary.  In whatever ways you choose to practice a Lenten discipline, maybe complement it with choosing a Lenten kindness that takes some of today’s pervasive judging of others off the table.

 

Tonight, I conclude the meditations on the Joyful Mysteries.

V.  The Finding of the Child Jesus in the Temple

Brief meditation

"Did you not know that I must be about my father's business?" (Luke 2:49).  To begin to understand the joy that Mary and Joseph felt on finding Jesus in the Temple, we must first imagine their distress when they realized He wasn’t with them.  For 12 years, they had been always at His side, their lives dedicated to Him in obedience to the Will of God.  Yet now—what had they done?  Where was the Child, this most precious Gift of God?  How could they ever endure it if something had happened to Him?

But here He is, "sitting in the midst of the doctors, hearing them, and asking them questions" (Luke 2:46). "And his mother said to him: Son, why hast thou done so to us? behold thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing" (Luke 2:48).  And then those wondrous words emerge from His lips, "Did you not know that I must be about my father's business?"

He’s always been obedient to Mary and Joseph, and through them to God the Father, but now His obedience to God is even more direct.  He will, of course, continue to obey His mother and His foster father, but today marks a turning point, a foreshadowing of His public ministry and even of His death on the Cross.

We’re not called as Christ was, but we are called to follow Him, to take up our own crosses in imitation of Him and in obedience to God the Father.  Like Christ, we must be about the Father's business in our own lives—at every moment of every day.

Scriptural meditations

1.  When Jesus was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem according to the custom of the feast. (Luke 2:42)-Hail Mary…

2.  And when they were returning, the boy Jesus remained in Jerusalem, and His parents did not know it. (Luke 2:43)-Hail Mary…

3.  They returned to Jerusalem in search of Him. And after three days, they found Him in the temple. (Luke 2:45-46)-Hail Mary…

4.  He was sitting in the midst of the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. (Luke 2:46)-Hail Mary…

5.  And all who were listening to Him were amazed at His understanding and His answers. (Luke 2:47)-Hail Mary…

6.  "Son, why have You done this to us?  Behold, in sorrow Your father and I have been seeking You." (Luke 2:48)-Hail Mary…

7.  "How is it that you sought Me?  Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?"  (Luke 2:49)-Hail Mary…

8.  And they did not understand the word that He spoke to them. (Luke 2:51)-Hail Mary…

9.  And He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was subject to them. (Luke 2:51)-Hail Mary…

10.  And Jesus advanced in wisdom and age and grace before God and man. (Luke 2:52)-Hail Mary…

Focus on the good

 

We live in a world of vengeance.  Whether it’s a military strike to show our might and power, cutting off a driver who angered us, or addressing a perceived slight from a co-worker, all too often the first thing we think about is how we can retaliate and make some country or person suffer for what they did to us.

Revenge has been part of our lives forever.  Even the second book of the Bible talks about revenge with the eye-for-an-eye, tooth-for-a tooth passage (Deuteronomy 26:16-19). From the Bible to the works of the ancient Greeks, and even Shakespeare’s “Midsummer Night’s Dream” line by Hermia -- What, can you do me greater harm than hate -- our culture has made hate and vengeance a popular staple of the film industry and an acceptable way to conduct our affairs.  Sometimes we even cheer for it.

Sadly, hate and revenge have rooted themselves deep into our psyche.  Scientists have concluded that parts of our brains are stimulated when we inflict revenge on someone who harmed us.  Unfortunately, for some, this “pleasure” needs to be repeated over and over, in a painful cycle of retaliation.

The downside to living a life of revenge and retaliation is that we’re constantly reliving what tripped our proverbial trigger in the first place.  Then the hateful events become imbedded in our memory, and the more we dwell on them, the less we focus on living the life to which Christ calls us.

Jesus knew there was a better way, a better course of action, and ways in which we can purge our minds of the hate, vengeance, and retaliation.  In Matthew, He instructed His disciples (people who were persecuted daily for their beliefs) that they should “… love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your heavenly Father for he makes his sun rise on the bad and the good and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust.” (Matthew 5:43-48)

As Christians, these are words we hold high and aspire to model.  But it’s not as easy as it sounds. Revenge rears its ugly head, and we feel compelled to act in a way that is contrary to what Jesus instructed His disciples to do.

As we continue our Lenten journey in this messy world of ours, I pray to God for His guidance and help, that we can control our desire to strike back at each perceived harm inflicted upon us and to, instead, let the event pass so we can focus on the good Christ asks of us, the good we want to dedicate our lives to, rather than the evil we can bring to bear on others.

As so aptly said by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., “an eye for an eye leaves us blinded.”

 Meditations on the fourth Joyful Mystery of the Most Holy Rosary…..

The Presentation of Jesus

Brief Meditation

In observance of the law of Moses, Joseph and Mary take the child Jesus to be presented in the temple to God.  Although not subject to this law, Jesus submits in obedience, and in like manner, Mary, not subject to the law of purification, humbly submits herself to it.  It is at this time also, that the old man Simeon beholds the Son of Man. Simeon immediately recognizes the child as the King and Savior foretold and declares the fate of Jesus as a sign that will be contradicted.  This mystery teaches us the importance of purity in thought and deed.  It is in humility that we are able to see our weaknesses and failings, while we recognize our constant need of God’s mercy and grace.

Scriptural meditations

1.  According to the Law of Moses, they took Jesus up to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord. (Luke 2:32)-Hail Mary…

2.  Now there was in Jerusalem a man named Simeon, and this man was just and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel. (Luke 2:25)-Hail Mary…

3.  And it had been revealed to him that he should not see death before he had seen the Christ of the Lord. (Luke 2:26)-Hail Mary…

4.  And when they brought in the child Jesus, he received Him into his arms and blessed God. (Luke 2:27-28)-Hail Mary…

5.  "Now You can dismiss Your servant, O Lord, according to Your word, in peace." (Luke 2:29)-Hail Mary…

6.  "Because my eyes have seen Your salvation, which You have prepared before the face of all peoples." (Luke 2:30-31)-Hail Mary…

7.  "A light of revelation to the Gentiles, and a glory for Your people, Israel."  (Luke 2:32)-Hail Mary…

8.  And he said to Mary, “Behold, this child is destined for the fall and for the rise of many in Israel, and for a sign that shall be contradicted." (Luke 2:34)-Hail Mary…

9.  "And your own soul a sword shall pierce, that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed."  (Luke 2:35)-Hail Mary…

10.  And they returned to Nazareth.  And the child grew and became strong, and the grace of God was upon Him. (Luke 2:39)-Hail Mary…

Beyond forgiveness-- Love is greater

Years ago, I was called into the boss’s office to sit with him and another coworker (who we will call Miguel) who had accused me of making racist remarks towards him.  When the accusation was made directly to me, I’ll admit I was quite angry, as I would never think of speaking against someone else’s ethnicity or culture or race—that’s not how I was brought up.  It turned out Miguel “heard” other coworkers alleging my behavior without asking me about it.  When the two of us confronted the others who made the allegations, they apologized to both of us, calling their remarks ‘misunderstood’.  After the issue was cleared up, Miguel apologized to me for jumping to conclusions, adding that he really couldn’t understand why I would make the alleged remarks, because it was out of character for me.  I told him to forget about it.  As far as I was concerned, the allegations were untrue, and he had nothing to apologize for.  As it happens, from that meeting forward we became more than colleagues; we became great friends.

Forgiveness of another is essential.  It can never be withheld.  But forgiveness is actually not even enough. The ultimate goal must be reconciliation, which goes much further.  Jesus exhorts us to “settle” with our opponents, therein implying reconciliation (Matthew 5:26).  One version of the Bible says it this way, “Make friends quickly with your accuser…”  Working to foster a “friendship” with one who has accused you, especially if it’s a false accusation, goes far beyond simply forgiving them.

To reconcile with another and to reestablish a true friendship means that you not only forgive but also do all you can to ensure that you reestablish a relationship of love with that person.  It means that you both put your grievance behind you and start anew.  Of course, that takes both people to cooperate in love; but, for your part, it means that you work hard to establish this reconciliation.

Jesus concludes this exhortation with strong words.  Essentially, if you fail to do all you can to reconcile and reestablish your relationship, you will be held accountable for it.  Though this may seem unfair at first, it is clearly not, because this is the depth of mercy that our Lord offers us every day.  We will never be adequately sorry for our sin, but God forgives and reconciles with us anyway.  What a grace!  But if we fail to offer this same mercy to others, we essentially limit God’s ability to offer this mercy to us, and we’ll be required to pay back “the last penny” of our own debt to God.

Here's the meditations for the 3^rd Joyful Mystery of the Most Holy Rosary:

The Nativity of Jesus

Brief Meditation

All love tends to become like that which it loves.  God loved man; therefore, He became man.  Thanks to His human nature, He could take on our woes and our sorrows, and feel the effects of sin as if they were His very own.

But all this was conditioned upon Mary’s giving Him a human nature.  Without her He would never have had eyes to see the multitude hungry in the desert, or ears to hear the pleading of the lame man of Jericho, or hands to caress children, or feet to seek the lost sheep.

For nine months, her own body was the natural Eucharist, in which God shared communion with human life, thus preparing for that greater Eucharist, when human life would commune with the Divine.

Mary’s joy was to form Christ in her own body; her joy now is to form Christ in our souls.  In this Mystery, we pray to become pregnant with the Christ spirit, giving Him new lips with which He may speak of His Father, new hands with which He may feed the poor, and a new heart with which He may love everyone, even enemies.

Scriptural Meditation

1.  It came to pass while they were in Bethlehem, that the days for her to be delivered were fulfilled. (Luke 2:6)-Hail Mary…

2.  And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling clothes. (Luke 2:7)-Hail Mary…

3.  And she laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. (Luke 2:7)-Hail Mary…

4.  And there were shepherds in the same district.  And behold an angel of the Lord stood by them. (Luke 2:8-9)-Hail Mary…

5.  "Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which shall be to all the people." (Luke 2:10)-Hail Mary…

6.  "For today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you, who is Christ, the Lord." (Luke 2:11)-Hail Mary…

7.  "Glory to God in the Highest, and on earth peace to men of good will." (Luke 2:14)-Hail Mary…

8.  And behold, Magi came from the East, and entering they found the child with Mary His mother.  (Matthew 2:11)-Hail Mary…

9.  And falling down they worshipped Him, and they offered Him gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. (Matthew 2:11)-Hail Mary…

10.  And Mary kept in mind all these things, pondering them in her heart.  (Luke 2:19)-Hail Mary…

Despite our weakness, the Church prevails

Think of the many human institutions that have existed throughout the centuries.  The most powerful governments have come and gone.  Various movements have come and gone.  Countless organizations have come and gone.  But the Catholic Church still remains and will remain until the end of time.  That’s one of the promises of our Lord in Matthew’s gospel (Matthew 16:18–19).

The Church hasn’t remained simply because of good leadership all of these years.  In fact, corruption and serious internal conflict have been evident within the Church from the beginning.  Popes have lived immoral lives.  Cardinals and bishops have lived as princes.  Some priests have gravely sinned.  And many religious orders have struggled with serious internal divisions.  But the Church itself, this shining Bride of Christ, this infallible institution still remains and will continue to remain because Jesus guaranteed it.

With today’s modern media by which every sin of every member of the Church is able to be instantly and universally broadcast to the world, there can be a temptation to look down on the Church.  Scandal, division, controversy and the like can shake us to the core, at times, and cause some to question their ongoing participation in the Roman Catholic Church.  But the truth is that every weakness within Her members should actually be cause for us to renew and deepen our faith in the Church itself.  Jesus didn’t promise that every Church leader would be a saint, but He did promise that “the gates of the netherworld” would not prevail against Her.

 If scandals and divisions have weakened your faith, then turn your eyes to our Lord and to His holy and divine promise.  The gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against the Church.  That’s a fact promised by our Lord Himself.  Believe it and rejoice in that glorious truth.

Continuing with my Lenten project on “The Highs and Lows and Ups and Downs of the Holy Rosary”, here is the second “Joyful mystery”.

The Visitation

Brief meditation

"And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?" (Luke 1:43).  Mary has just received life-changing news, news that no other woman will ever receive: She is to be the Mother of God.  Yet in announcing this to her, the angel Gabriel also revealed that Mary's cousin Elizabeth is six months' pregnant.  Mary doesn’t hesitate, doesn’t worry about her own situation; her cousin needs her. She ‘hastens’ to the hill country to be of service.  Childless until now, Elizabeth is beyond the normal childbearing years; she has even hidden herself from the eyes of others because her pregnancy is so unexpected.

As the body of our Lord is growing in her own womb, Mary spends three months caring for Elizabeth, leaving only shortly before the birth of Saint John the Baptist, who leapt in his mother’s womb in the presence of Jesus.  She shows us what true love of neighbor means: placing the needs of others above our own, devoting ourselves to our neighbor in his or her hour of need.  There will be plenty of time to think of herself and her Child later; for now, Mary's thoughts lie only with her cousin, and with the child who will become the Forerunner of Christ.  Truly, as Mary responds to her cousin's greeting in the canticle we call the Magnificat, her soul does "magnify the Lord," not least through her love of neighbor.

Scriptural meditation

1.  Mary set out, proceeding in haste into the hill country to a town of Judah, where she entered Zechariah's house and greeted Elizabeth.  (Luke 1: 39-40)  - Hail Mary...

2.  When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leapt in her womb.  (Luke 1: 41)  - Hail Mary...

3.  Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.  (Luke 1: 41)  - Hail Mary...

4.  She cried out in a loud voice:  "Blessed are you among women and blest is the Fruit of your womb." (Luke 1: 42)  - Hail Mary...

5.  "Blest is she who trusted that the Lord's words to her would be fulfilled."  (Luke 1: 45)  - Hail Mary...

6.  Then Mary said:  "My being proclaims the greatness of the Lord, my spirit finds joy in God my Savior."  (Luke 1: 46-47)  - Hail Mary...

7.  "For he has looked upon his servant in her lowliness;  all ages to come shall call me blessed."  (Luke 1: 48)  - Hail Mary...

8.  "God who is mighty has done great things for me, holy is his name."  (Luke 1: 49)  - Hail Mary...

9.  "His mercy is from age to age on those who fear him."  (Luke 1: 50)  - Hail Mary...

10.  Mary remained with Elizabeth about three months and then returned home.  (Luke 1: 56)  - Hail Mary... 

Lent is a time to review and renew

 

St. Paul of the Cross, Founder of the Passionists shared the meaning of prayer in a dialogue with Sister Maria Cherubina Bresciani, May 31, 1740:

“Prayer is accessible to us in every moment of every day.  It is our immediate connection with a God who is both transcendent and immanent.  Prayer can be verbal, meditative, or contemplative. We can pray with our whole body through movement, ritual actions or by serving others.”

The rosary fits into a whole lot of those categories if you ask me.  But the Psalms also remind us to, “Be still and know that I am God”. (Psalm 46:10)

Lent is a time to renew and intensify our relationship with Jesus.  I’ve found that it’s relatively easy to take time out of the busyness of daily life and spend 15 minutes talking with our God or in silence just being.  You can pray while jogging or walking or just being still sitting and enjoying the silence.  How much time daily are you willing to enhance your relationship with God this Lent?

As I’ve been writing about the last few days, the rosary is an important part of my everyday life experience.  Meditating on the “Mysteries” in the life of Jesus and Mother Mary is what keeps my mind on the prayer.  Otherwise, the repetition of the prayers can get monotonous.    

When I started praying the rosary in earnest, I was grateful for other sources of inspiration for reflection.  The more I’ve prayed the rosary, the more comfortable I’ve become in infusing my own life into the meditations.  Over the years that I’ve been praying the rosary, I’ve come across many, many different meditations for each of the “Mysteries” in the life of Jesus and His mother.  For Lent, I hope to present meditations in two formats for each of them; a brief two to four paragraph meditation and a set of Scriptural meditations said before each Hail Mary. 

I find myself using one method or the other, depending on my state of mind or my attention span on any given day.  Most days though, I prefer the brief meditation.  A few weeks ago during one of my reflections I noticed how often I used or thought about the words “up”, “down”, “high”, “low”, and other directional words and phrases as well as words describing the “highs and lows” of life. 

Over the next remaining 40 days or so, I will post meditations one mystery at a time, beginning with the Joyful mysteries, then the Luminous, followed by the Sorrowful, ending with the Glorious as we end Lent and begin the Easter season.  I will highlight in red words or phrases that I feel keep with my theme of “The Highs and Lows and Ups and Downs of the Holy Rosary”.  Please enjoy!

The Annunciation

Brief meditation

In the Annunciation, the birth of the Son of God in the flesh was made to hinge on the consent of a woman, as the fall of man in the garden of Paradise hinged on the consent of a man.

God in His power might have assumed a human nature by force, but He willed not to invade His great gift of freedom without His creature’s free response.  Through the angel who saluted Mary in words that have become the first part of the Hail Mary, “Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with thee,” Mary was asked if she would give God a son!

Mary learning that she would conceive without human love, but with the overshadowing of divine Love, consented, and a new humanity began, with Mary as the new Eve, and Christ the new Adam.

The Annunciation is the Mystery of the joy of freedom.  Our free will is the only thing in the world that is our own.  God can take away anything else, our health, wealth, power, but God will never force us to love Him or to obey Him.  The charm of Yes lies in the possibility that one might have said No.

Scriptural meditation

1.  The Angel Gabriel was sent from God....to a virgin betrothed to a man, named Joseph, of the house of David.  The virgin's name was Mary.  (Luke 1: 26-27)  - Hail Mary...

2.  The angel said to her:  "Rejoice O highly favored daughter! The Lord is with you.  Blessed are you among women."  (Luke 1: 28)  - Hail Mary...

3.  She was deeply troubled by his words, and wondered what his greeting meant.  (Luke 1: 29)  - Hail Mary...

4.  The angel said to her: "Do not fear, Mary.  You have found favor with God."  (Lk. 1: 30)  - Hail Mary...

5.  "You shall conceive and bear a son and give him the name of Jesus."  (Luke 1: 31)  - Hail Mary...

6.  "Great will be his dignity and he will be called Son of the Most High.  And His reign will be without end."  (Luke 1: 32-33)  - Hail Mary...

7.  Mary said to the angel,  "How can this be since I do not know man?"  (Luke 1: 34)  - Hail Mary...

8.  The angel answered Her:  "The Holy Spirit will come upon you and the power of the Most High will overshadow you."   (Luke 1: 35)  - Hail Mary...

9.  "The holy offspring to be born will be called Son of God."  (Luke 1: 35)  - Hail Mary...

10.  Mary said:  "I am the servant of the Lord.  Let it be done to me as you say."  With that the angel left her. (Luke 1: 38)  - Hail Mary...