Sharing the Light of Our Baptism

Light is a powerful image of how we are to live our faith.  God gives each of us a charism which has the potential to bring light to the world.  Jesus reminds us that we are expected to put our faith into practice (Luke 8: 16-18) and we do this by using our God-given gifts, talents and charism.   We are the igniters of our lights and they only begin to shine when we answer the call from the community and/or God.   We grow and discover new gifts throughout our lifetimes.  

If we imagine joining our light with the light of others, and the world is flooded with generous, grace-filled goodness, the power is almost incomprehensible.  “No one who lights a lamp conceals it with a vessel or sets it under a bed; rather… places it on a lampstand so that those who enter may see the light.”  (Luke 8:16)

If we are not igniting the fire of our light, then our charism may fade, and the light may start to flicker; even be extinguished.   Jesus emphasizes this when He says: “To anyone who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what they seem to have will be taken away.” (Luke 8:18)

When a child is baptized the parents and Godparents, family and friends, and possibly other parishioners gather for the ceremony.  The parents are asked by the priest if they understand the responsibility of the baptism and raising their child “as Christ taught us, by loving God and our neighbor.”

During the Sacrament, the child (and parents or Godparents) is given a baptismal candle with a flame shared from the Easter candle.  The pastor reminds everyone that our faith, like that flame, “is entrusted to you to be kept burning brightly. This child of yours has been enlightened by Christ.  She is to walk always as a child of the light.”

Our faith, our baptism, has been entrusted to each one of us to keep the flame burning brightly.  It’s not just our own faith lives that are kept aflame, but we have a responsibility as a member of the Christian community to keep that flame alive for each other.

How do we live our lives as Christians?  Pope Francis says about this gospel that the light we find in Jesus’ teachings comes from our love for the poor and for our neighbor.  This commitment, Francis says, takes place in our daily lives and in the here and now.  “Never put off the good,” Francis reminds us.  “The good is today, and if you do not do it today, tomorrow it will not be there. Do not conceal the good for tomorrow.”

He adds, “Do not say to your neighbor: ‘Yes, go, go, go... then pass again and I will give it to you tomorrow.’  If you have with you now what the person is asking for … do not make the needy person wait.”

What can we do with this day we have been given?  Today, how do we carry the light of our baptism?  How do we share it with others? Who will we encounter in our life today who needs to see the light of our Christian love shining?  What kind of example do we set for others in our community?

It begins with our neighbors and the poor, Francis reminds us.  Those we encounter each day.  Those we avoid each day.  Those who are in pain and suffering.  Jesus shows us the light and asks us to carry that light and love to those around us.

Sound advice

“First of all, I ask that supplications, prayers, petitions, and thanksgivings be offered for everyone, for kings and for all in authority, that we may lead a quiet and tranquil life in all devotion and dignity.” (1 Timothy 2: 1-2)

I think it’s interesting that Paul says to pray for everyone, then takes it even further by singling out kings and all in authority, as though they are in extra need of attention.  He doesn’t say to pray just for those whose politics we agree with or who we think are great people.  He says everyone.  Donald Trump?  Check.  Joe Biden?  Check.  Mike Pence?  Check.  Nancy Pelosi?  Check.  Vladimir Putin?  Check.  My worthless, no good neighbor who can’t stop his dog from barking at all hours of the night?  Check.  That so and so boss who passed me over for a promotion or is always on my case?  Yep.  Everyone!

I had such a boss one time.  He was very egotistical and demanding.  He also got a special thrill from belittling those that worked for him, including me.  He did everything he could to stifle my advancement and made no attempt to hide the fact he was out to either demote or fire me.  Since I had a reputation for following company policy, he never could find anything to justify either of those.  So he would set unreasonable goals for me that were nearly impossible to comply with.  I found myself hating him.  I didn’t like the feeling.  I told my oldest brother about my concerns and he shocked me with his simple solution.  “Pray for him.”, he said.  “Let him know you are praying for him.  Even if he doesn’t appreciate it, your own heart will start to soften for him and his actions toward you won’t matter anymore!”  I took his advice, and within days the prayers led to ‘a quiet and tranquil life’ at work and at home.

A bonus to following Paul’s advice is that it also leads to a real desire for mercy and forgiveness.  I can truly say I hold no grudges or malice toward anyone in my life.  I simply have no room in my heart for hate.    

“To pray is to stand spiritually before God in our heart in glorification, thanksgiving, supplication, and contrite penitence.  Everything must be spiritual.  The root of all prayer is devout fear of God; from this comes belief about God and faith in Him, submission of oneself to God, hope in God, and cleaving to Him with the feeling of love, in oblivion of all created things.  When prayer is powerful, all these spiritual feelings and movements are present in the heart with corresponding vigor.”  (Theophan the Recluse)

Simply put, we must pray because prayer is tied to the whole point of our existence, which is union with God.  The Father teaches us this in the Old Testament.  With just a quick look at the Psalms alone we find a juxtaposition of the life of the godly with the life of the ungodly relative to prayer.  We are exhorted to meditate day and night.

“Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the troublesome; but his will is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night.  He shall be like a tree planted by streams of waters, that produces its fruit in its season; and his leaf shall not wither, and whatever he does shall prosper…for the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the ungodly shall perish”.  (Psalm 1)

We know that prayer is tied to the whole purpose of our existence because the Son taught us to pray in the New Testament.  First, even as God, He set the example for us by praying.  “Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed.”  (Mark 1:35)  Second, He showed us how to pray.  Not only did He find a solitary place in order to be free from distraction, but He also did it early in the morning to demonstrate that prayer should be our highest priority and the conduit through which we help others.

We know that prayer is tied to the whole purpose of our existence because the Holy Spirit is with us to this day, teaching us all we need to know through prayer.  “These things I have spoken to you while being present with you.  But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name.  He will teach you all these things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I have said to you.  Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you.  Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” (John 14:25-27)

Got a few minutes?

"Follow me." (Matthew 9: 9-13)

At these words from Jesus, Matthew got up from what he was doing, I presume quitting his cushy tax collector job without notice and with no real plan other than to follow Jesus.  Here he was, a man reviled by all, and likely a man mired in sin and in the exploitation of the poor and powerless; in short, a man who had it made in the ancient world.  But such was (and IS—to those who will listen) the power of the voice of Christ; such was the joy of the service of Jesus that at one word from Him, this man was willing to give up everything.

We should recall Matthew’s action each time we drag our feet in one form of service or another. Each time the Lord asks us to smile at someone, speak to someone, have coffee with someone, feed someone, help in any way that lies within our power—we should recall this man who gave up everything to follow Jesus. He gave it up at a word and left all to be with Jesus.  So surely, we can follow with a service less drastic, with a task much less onerous.  Surely, when we remember what the great saints and apostles sacrificed for us, we can afford the little sacrifice of some of our time.

I am reminded of a true act of selfless love that I was the recipient of many years ago in Bakersfield after an extremely difficult day at work.  It was a Friday and I went to a very good Italian restaurant for some linguini and clams.  I was led to my table for one and sat down.  I barely noticed the couple who were sitting across the aisle from me, as I was busy solving my crossword puzzles as I ate; so I wasn’t aware they were watching me.  As they left though, they looked my way, and bid me goodbye with a look of familiarity.  I thought that was a little odd considering I had never seen them before (that I know of) and I probably wouldn’t see them again.  But I returned their friendly goodbye and went back to my crosswords. I finished my meal and patiently waited for the waitress to bring me the check.

Ten minutes passed. Then twenty. After a half-hour, I said to the waitress, “I’m sorry. I must have eaten my check, because I’m sure you brought it out while I had my head buried in my book!”

She laughed and said, “The couple who were sitting across from you paid your check.  And your tip! You’re all done!”  I asked her why they would do that—did I look homeless or indigent in some way?  She again laughed and replied that they are frequent customers who pay for others’ meals quite regularly!  I asked her if she knew their names—she didn’t.  I told her to please thank them the next time she sees them and tell them that I will pray for them and ask God to bless them for their generosity.

That was an example of simple love of neighbor.  I realize not everyone is in a financial position to do what this couple did for me, but we can offer a lot of service to the less fortunate simply by giving up a few minutes to an hour each day in prayer for them. If we all spent just a little more time praying for one another rather than preying on one another, we would see the world with a lot more optimism.

Thank God for women!

“For the love of money is the root of all evils, and some people in their desire for it have strayed from the faith and have pierced themselves with many pains.” ( 1 Tm 6:2c-12)

My first inclination was to write a meditation on this verse today.  It’s one of those Bible verses that everyone knows, but most don’t want to attribute it to the Bible because they’ll probably have to admit that they are one of those who has ‘strayed from the faith’ in pursuit of wealth.

But then I read the Gospel (Luke 8: 1-3):

“Jesus journeyed from one town and village to another, preaching and proclaiming the good news of the Kingdom of God.

Accompanying him were the Twelve and some women who had been cured of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, Joanna, the wife of Herod’s steward Chuza, Susanna, and many others who provided for them out of their resources.”

It’s two sentences; the first telling us that Jesus was proclaiming the Good News.  The second sentence is longer and reminded me of the importance of women not only in furthering Jesus’ mission, but the importance of the women in my own life. 

Thank God for the women in my life, starting with my mother Angela and my wife’s mother “GPat”, without whom Marilyn nor I would have life.

Thank God for Marilyn, who He blessed me with to teach me how to be a loving husband. 

Thank God for my daughters Alicia and Sarah, whom He sent to teach me how to be a loving father.

Thank God for my granddaughters Liliana, Josephine, and Paloma.  I am absolutely convinced He blessed me with them to teach me about pure joy and to show me the face of innocence.   

Thank God for my sisters-in-law; my brothers’ wives Sylvia, Marilyn, Janie, Wendy and Dottie, and my wife’s sisters Carolyn and Vickie, all of whom have supported me more times than I can list here.

And of course, I thank God for OUR Mother, Mary, the Mother of Jesus.  She's put in more than a couple of good words to her Son for me over the years. 

Thanks to all of you, ladies!  I can't begin to tell you how much I appreciate all of you!  Well, I can BEGIN, I just can't finish!

Encouragement and Perseverance

When I read the Epistle (1 Timothy 4:12-16) for this morning’s Mass, it struck a chord within me.  I realize it was St. Paul writing a letter of encouragement and perseverance to his protégé’ Timothy, but he could have been speaking to any one of us, as well.  He wrote:

“Let no one have contempt for your youth, but set an example for those who believe, in speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity.

Until I arrive, attend to the reading, exhortation, and teaching.

Do not neglect the gift you have, which was conferred on you through the prophetic word with the imposition of hands by the presbyterate.

Be diligent in these matters, be absorbed in them, so that your progress may be evident to everyone.

Attend to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in both tasks, for by doing so you will save both yourself and those who listen to you.”

One of the duties of my former job was to train managers in everything from basic customer service to housekeeping to the more intricate facets of management like leadership and organization.  I’m proud to say that most of the men and women I trained became my friends and I could depend on them to say what they felt. They truly let their "yes mean yes" and their "no mean no" (Matthew 5:37), and I encouraged that because it makes a relationship stronger.  One time, at one of our monthly meetings, the topic of my training methods came up.  One of the GMs made an off-hand remark, saying "Steve is a good trainer, but he gets really grumpy and short with you when you don't learn fast enough."  This got a laugh out of the group (and I joined in with them), but I put that little bit of information away, thinking a little self-reflection was in order.

A little later at the same meeting, I was doing a "hands-on" demonstration of a procedure that I often had to do in my position out in the field.  I would have to drill out tumblers from locks and open storage room doors before I could auction goods that had been stored and the customers had not paid.  I had to have a witness when I did this. That job usually fell to one of the managers I was training that day.  As I was demonstrating the lock removal procedure, one of the guys who had watch me drill a lot of locks said, "Steve, that's not how you do it. You have to use the "Catholic language".  I looked quizzically at him and he said, "You know, when you swear at the MF'n customer for not paying his bill or for not putting the lock on the right way that will make it easier to drill, or you'll swear at the lock for being too difficult to open once you've drilled it." This again got a huge roar of laughter and a lot of nodding heads as the rest of the team agreed with his assessment of my demeanor when faced with frustration.

It made me take a deeper look at myself and the pride I take in being a Catholic.  Is this the picture I want to paint for others as to how Catholics behave?  I was ashamed.  Since then, I have truly tried to think before I speak and ask Jesus to send the Holy Spirit to help me remember that, just as I see Christ in others, others should be able to see Christ in me.  It’s really hard sometimes and I fail, but that’s what the Sacrament of Confession is for.

Words matter

Words matter.  They help provide us with a way to grasp what is often beyond our ordinary ability to comprehend. There is a word in the Psalm response today that describes the works of the Lord and says they are "great and exquisite."

Exquisiteis not often used in our everyday speech. It isn't about just any old, run-of-the-mill, familiar, or common thing. Instead, it conjures up an image of something beyond the ordinary and leads us to enjoy the particular, precise, flawless characteristics of the object it describes.

How fitting then that a word like exquisiteis used to describe God's greatness, for isn't He great and wonderful, Who made you to know the greatness of His exquisitepower and the exquisitenessof His love?

In the first reading, Paul is writing to Timothy – his great friend, sometime emissary and devoted convert – saying that he hopes to visit him soon, but that if Paul is delayed to take comfort in the good works they are doing together. In the Gospel (Luke 7:31-39) Jesus seems almost wistful as He notes the rejection that both He and John the Baptist faced, but ends with the striking line: “But wisdom is vindicated by all her children.”

If we give to the poor and protect the innocent and oppose those who would exploit the poor and the powerless, then we are looked upon with suspicion by people who wonder what it is we want. If we speak the name of God, half the people we meet despise us for our weakness in dependence upon Him, and the other half despise us because we are trying to force "our God" upon them. 

"But wisdom is vindicated by all her children."Better a fool for Christ than a fool for our society as it stands now. Better to be thought a hypocrite, than to join those who criticize and become one. How much better to spread love to those who cannot love and be despised for it, than to spread hatred and destruction and be either hated or loved.

Jesus lived in a time of divided people, and we are still and profoundly a divided people. But let each of us who hears, who prays, who loves God to be a person of single heart—not divided, half against God because we are told by the wisdom of this world that we are fools to trust Him. Better that folly than the folly of those who can trust only in the perishable—in the empires that turn to dust and the gold that cannot go beyond the grave.

Both Paul and Jesus are acutely aware of the strains of earthly existence and the pressure it was putting on their relationships. So they wrote and spoke about it to comfort their friends and perhaps even to comfort themselves.

“But wisdom is vindicated by all her children.”I hope that holds true for me.

Moved with pity to action

When the Lord saw her, he was moved with pity for her and said to her, “Do not weep.” (Luke 7:13)

This verse struck a chord within me this morning when I heard it at Mass.  It reminded me that we are supposed to be ‘moved’ by pity.  Pity is synonymous with compassion.  In fact the Webster Dictionary defines pity as “the feeling of sorrow and compassion caused by the suffering and misfortunes of others.”  But I think it’s more than just a feeling.  It’s a call to action.  The word compassion means ‘to share in the sufferings of another’.   To have sympathy for someone who is suffering is just not enough.  We have to do whatever we can to take some of the suffering upon ourselves and make it easier for our neighbor to cope.

I was 11 years old and in the Boy Scouts.  It was going to be my first hiking and camping trip. Ken Jansen, the kid down the street and a good friend, was already in the troop.  He and I spent hours together while he showed me how to tie all of the knots I had to know to become a Tenderfoot.  Then he told me all about camping.  I would have to have a pack with a frame (which was a relatively new concept in those days, but quite common now) and, of course, a good sleeping bag.

Since we didn't have a lot of money, I used a hand-me-down pack from my brother Bob's days in the Scouts.  It had "Bob Farnsworth" written on the flap.  I crossed out the "Bob" and wrote "Steve".  I also had to use an old sleeping bag.  Ken and I built a frame assembly for the pack out of a lightweight wood (I think it was made out of 1/4" x 1" furring strips) in his back yard.  I was so proud of myself for my ingenuity and could hardly wait to try it out.

The hike was a 10-mile hike; 5 miles in, 5 miles out. Everything looked good. I had everything I needed, and everyone said they thought my pack frame was terrific.  We left early on Saturday morning from Our Lady of Lourdes Church, which was the sponsor of our troop.  Since I was the new scout, I rode with the scoutmaster, Dr. Haughey and his son Mike, who was the Senior Patrol Leader. There were other kids too, and we were all excited for the weekend!

It only took about an hour or so to get to the trailhead, which was near Sunland, California. We split up into "patrols" and each of us was assigned a "buddy". Of course, since Ken and I were good friends, we chose each other as buddies. We were supposed to stick together like glue for the duration of the camping trip.

Ken was a good hiker, with a good pace. It was very difficult to keep up with him. It didn't help that the frame I had built was falling apart with every step I took. In addition, the knots I had worked so hard to learn and that held my sleeping bag to my pack came loose and I had to carry the bag separately, like a bag of groceries. About a mile into the trip, I was close to tears.  I was not prepared for the weight of the pack, the destruction of my frame, or the pace of my “buddy”.

Mike saw the problems I was having and was “moved to pity” for me.  He then gave me a lesson in leadership, but most of all compassion that I will never forget.  Instead of berating me for not being able to carry my share of the load, he had the entire patrol stop right on the trail. He dissected his pack and showed each of us how he packed his own supplies and why.  Then he had each of us do the same. Of course, since I was the only one that didn't have a frame to attach my sleeping bag to, he showed me the proper way to tie it to the pack, under the top flap.

Some of the other boys were making fun of me for being so slow and unable to carry such a heavy pack. Mike made it clear that this was unacceptable behavior and that the only way somebody learns is through his mistakes. He asked each one of the other guys to come up with one idea each that would help me make it through the weekend.  When we started out on the trail again, he asked me if we could trade packs!  Since his outfit was state-of-the-art, I didn't refuse.  What a difference!  Then, he set a pace that ALL of us could follow the rest of the way in, singing songs with a cadence that made it seem easier and before we knew it, we had arrived.  It was on this trip that I learned the song “A Hundred Bottles of Beer.”

Mike decided to take me "under his wings" and for the rest of the weekend we were buddies. After that trip, I was inspired to save every penny I could and buy the right camping gear before we went out again.  With a little help from my mom and dad through a raise in my allowance, I made it happen.

Because of Mike's example of compassion and leadership, my years in the Boy Scouts were some of the most enjoyable of my life. In time, I even became the Senior Patrol Leader of the troop, and I was able to lead and teach the younger scouts in the same way Mike taught me on that first outing.

Compassion is a Good Place to Start

St. Thomas Aquinas taught that compassion is the most important characteristic of God and the quality that most fully reveals to us who God is. He said that God’s power is a power of compassion, and that we who are made in the image of God are most like God when we show compassion. This is one way of understanding the crowd’s proclamation about Jesus at the end of today’s gospel (Luke 7:11-17): “God has visited his people.” God continues to visit his people when we extend to others—especially the most distraught and desolate—the compassion that God in Christ has shown to us.  If we start with compassion, who knows what miracles might follow?  Maybe faith?

Having faith in God will help us in life to answer our prayers, comfort us in times of need, and help us celebrate in times of joyfulness. But what is the real meaning of faith, and why is it necessary to have a strong faith in our lives?

“Of mercy and judgment I will sing; to you, O LORD, I will sing praise.”  (Psalms 101:1)

This psalm gives us direction to help us find our faith in God.  In order to find and strengthen our faith, we must be loving and make good choices and judgments. Without this, our song of faith would not be full of melodious and beautiful sounds. Instead, it would be lacking in the right pitch or tune.

In the end, the trust that we have placed in God depends on the strength of our faith that we have in him. Again, in today’s gospel Jesus performed one of his many miracles in bringing the dead to life.  This is a very powerful gospel to those who are mourning the death of a loved one.  It illustrates Jesus’ comforting touch to the woman who had just lost her only son.  Anyone who has lost a loved one can empathize with the widow at Nain.  I know I can.   Jesus’ healing touch in Luke’s gospel comforts me to know that, with a strong faith, I can be confident that my grandparents, my mom and dad and the brothers who have preceded me to their homecoming with Jesus continue to walk with me every day.  In fact, I think of them often and sometimes ask for their intercession when I’m having a particularly frustrating day. 

We can bring the “healing touch” of Jesus to others through our witness of our faith in Him.  I have experienced this first-hand on many occasions; I’m sure you have, too.  How many times have you cheered up someone who was “down”, by simply listening to and praying with them?  Lots of times, I bet.  It’s just that we don’t recognize Jesus working through us in this way most of the time.  

Faith is an important aspect of life that not only helps us get past the hardships that we all endure, but also lets us celebrate the beautiful lives that we live. A question to ask ourselves is, “Do we truly have faith in God and what can we do to strengthen our faith?”

Humility, faith and mercy are intertwined

Sometimes, it’s hard to have faith. We are rational, scientific, and want tangible proof or explanations for everything.  But the centurion in Luke’s gospel (Luke 7:1-10) was not like this - he had incredible faith in Jesus.  He came to Jesus, humbled, and just stated a fact, “my servant is suffering”.  He didn't ask Jesus to cure him, he just had faith that Jesus would know what needed to be done.  Many of us, myself included, seem to think we know what we need.  Instead of telling Jesus how it is and trusting that He will provide and care for us, we ask for things.  We ask for that new job, for money, for things that we think will make us happy.  But that’s not what we’re called to do.  We must have faith that Jesus has the right answers and the right timing.  We might not know what we really need, or when something should happen.  As scary as it is, we need to trust that our loving God will take care of us, because He knows what’s best for us.  Some of God’s greatest gifts are unanswered prayers.  Jesus is the mediator between God and humankind. With a word from Jesus, God's will is done.

In the first reading at Mass today we are told that we need to pray for all those in authority. With great power comes great responsibility, and we should pray for our leaders to take that responsibility seriously. We pray that those in authority are good leaders, wield their power responsibly, and keep the well-being of their people in mind. They do have authority. They do have power. They can affect the lives of their people, so we pray they are good and wise leaders and use their power well.

Too often in our life of prayer we pray as if we have a right to God’s grace.  This is a profound mistake.  We must seek to follow the centurion’s example by understanding that we do not have a right to anything from our Lord.  Humility, faith and mercy are intertwined.  The humble profession of that truth was an act of great faith on the centurion’s part, a “man of authority”.  The result was that mercy was sent forth upon the centurion and his servant.

This humble acknowledgment is the necessary foundation for the reception of the abundant mercy of God.  Mercy is a gift, not a right.  But the good news is that God’s heart burns with a desire to pour forth that gift.  Acknowledging mercy as an absolute gift, to which we have no right, unleashes its power in our lives.  Understanding this humble truth is a profession of faith in God’s mercy and delights His heart abundantly.

Role Playing

It is a beautiful day and the sun is shining.  You have been following Jesus around for a while now, but you can't understand why He wants to spend an evening with the tax collector, Matthew.  Your friends are next to you as you sit and listen to Him.  He begins to tell a story.  He tells you to imagine everything He says.

“A man has two sons. The younger one decides he wants his inheritance.  Now.  So the father gives this son what he would eventually inherit.  The son packs up all his belongings and leaves for the city.”



The rabbi says, “Imagine you are the son”.  Jesus continues with his tale.



“You love city life.  You love the lights, the fast pace, the action.  You go to bars, stay out all hours, and party very hard. Eventually, you spend everything you inherited.  You are wiped out.  Your money is gone.  You find yourself on the streets without a place to live, or food to eat. So you look for a job.  The only job you can find is as a laborer on a farm.  But it still doesn’t pay enough for groceries or rent, and it’s very strenuous. You have to feed your hunger with food intended for the pigs, and sleep in the sty with them. Now you’re lying there among the pigs, hungry and thinking of home; the bed, the warmth, the food, the security. It’s time to make a decision.”



Jesus looks at you directly, raises and eyebrow, and smiles.



You’ll go back home and ask your dad to take you back.  You’re willing to work for your dad like a hired hand, because your dad treats his laborers better than the farmer you’re working for now. You start the trip back home, wondering if he will take you back.”



You don’t even notice your friends around you anymore.  It’s just you.  And Jesus.



“You’re almost home.  Down the road your father sees you coming.  He runs to you, with his arms outstretched.  Tears are running down his face and yours.  You both hug one another, as you ask for forgiveness. Your dad responds with unconditional love and mercy, telling one of his ranch hands to fetch some clean clothes, new shoes, and a ring to put on your finger.  Then he instructs another to prepare the finest calf for a feast and invite everyone they know to help celebrate.”



Jesus says,



“Now imagine you are the older son, arriving in the midst of the commotion at the house.  You ask one of laborers, ‘What’s going on?’  You are told, ‘Your brother has come home, and your dad is so happy that he is throwing the biggest party he has ever had!’

‘What?!’ you respond, ‘For my brother who took off with dad's money and left me to take care of everything?’

You refuse to go into the house, your anger is so great.”



Jesus smiles with understanding at your discomfort now.  Then He goes back to His parable.



“Your father sees you outside and comes out to talk to you.  ‘Isn't it great that your brother is back?’, he asks.

To which you reply, ‘You really aren't taking him back are you?  He left us, remember?  Remember the pain, the hurt, the anger?  How can you just forget all that? I'm the one who stayed!  But you've never thrown me such an extravagant party!’

Your father looks into your eyes with the love you have recognized since the day you were born. He replies, ‘You are right, it was very painful when your brother left. But he is back now, and I want to rejoice that he finally came to his senses.  Listen, I know you have always been there for me—everything I own is yours.  Don't ever forget that.  I haven't forgotten.  But we have to celebrate and rejoice.  This brother of yours was dead and he has come back to life. He was lost and is found.’"



Jesus calls you back from the story.  He looks at you.  You look at him.

He asks you, "Which son is more like you?"

The Holy Cross is Our Hope

“With their patience worn out by the journey, the people complained against God and Moses.” (Numbers 21:4b-9) I can relate to this.  The life of faith often seems like a long trip in the desert.  At times it can seem to bring very little reward, and in the midst of the struggle, the memory of slavery in our own “Egypt” can seem more attractive than God’s promise of freedom.  All who walk the path of discipleship will pass through this desert.  Indeed, the experience of wandering in a desert bereft of God’s presence is so common in the Christian life that our tradition has a name for it.  St. Mother Teresa and St. John of the Cross called it “the dark night of the soul”.  The desert fathers called it the “noon-day demon.”  The demon was not so much a little devil with horns as it was a description of the powerful temptation to leave the path to holiness.  The temptation can take many forms, and if we yield to it, we risk becoming bitter and alienated from God.  How odd it is that following God can lead to bitterness and alienation, but it can. 

The only real response to the noon-day demon and dark night of the soul is prayer and patience.  We must focus our gaze upon Jesus and what He has done.  We need to remember the cross and the resurrection and resist becoming dulled to its power and promise.

The words of St. Paul to the Philippians (Philippians 2:6-11) and of Jesus to Nicodemus (John 3:13-17) are also meant for us today. They tell us that God loves us all. That includes those who are suffering.  In spite of what other people do to add to their suffering, God loves them.  And because God loves them, there is hope.  Suffering people who believe in God and appreciate His love have the great hope of salvation.  Human suffering is just that, it is human or finite.  Human suffering will come to an end as our lives here on earth come to an end.  But God’s bright promise of eternal life is for all who believe in Him. That includes those who are suffering.  Today as we work to relieve the suffering of those around us, let us also thank God for His love for all of us.

Blind Guides

In our very flawed, very human way, we are all too ready to look upon the failings of others than we are to look in the mirror and see our own.  And we’re quicker still to let them know it and guide them to the path of righteousness.  Talk about the blind leading the blind!

One of the things Jesus tells us in Luke (6:39-42) is to purify ourselves, to see ourselves for what we really are. It is only by knowing ourselves thoroughly that we can begin to know and understand others. We have so much bombarding our senses in our culture today. Our thoughts go outward in response to these auditory and visual stimuli. We ponder the news, listen to music, read and watch too much television; don’t even get me started talking about social media! While these activities are worthwhile to a limited degree, they can cut into our time for quiet self-reflection. We might not be in touch with our innermost thoughts. We might not realize our tendencies to react inappropriately, such as by judging others.

We should evaluate how much time we are setting aside from the noises and harmonies of life to set our own house in order. For example, I have tried, over the last year or so, to curtail most of my television watching. I have replaced it with reading the Scriptures, writing my reflections in my blog, and trying to attend daily Mass.  And I’m still a long way off from where I should be in my spiritual life!

One of the reasons we are so willing to accuse others is that we know so little about ourselves. More often than not what enrages or irritates us about another is our own flaws that we know about and do nothing to correct; we’d rather deflect attention away from ourselves.  Jesus offers the remedy for this—self-awareness.  And it is in this self-awareness that empathy and sympathy for the sinner grows. It is in understanding our own sinfulness that we become aware of the splendor of the love and mercy of God. By looking in the mirror and seeing our sins, we learn the compassion of Jesus.  Frequent examination of my conscience and the great Sacrament of Confession has been a great source of comfort to me in these trying times.

We open the hardened heart of a sinner by sitting and listening without judging, without trying to fix all the problems we are hearing.

In short, the solution begins with unconditional love, prayer and compassion. And this awareness of our own sinfulness teaches us compassion and unconditional love.

"Easy" Instructions

When I heard the readings at Mass this morning, my first thought was “It sounds like the assembly instructions to Ikea furniture…simple, but you know it’s not going to be that easy!”

There are two very different ways of addressing people and events in our lives—we can either react or we can respond—each with dramatically different results.

God calls us to love; “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you!” (Luke 6:27)—but at the same time, He reminds us that it takes an enormous amount of strength and courage to fully answer this call to love—As Paul says, “to be compassionate, kind, humble, gentle, patient and forgiving to all” (Colossians 3:12-13).

There is nothing extraordinary about loving those who are caring and generous toward us. At some point in our lives we will encounter people who are deceitful, unkind and selfish. When this happens our natural tendency is to retaliate and defend oneself against them.

But the words and deeds of Christ teach a path that is different to that of violence, hatred or revenge—it is a path that demands us to face the injustice of our world with the courage and strength that come from trusting that our ultimate victory will be with God if we obey His command to love anyway.

So when we look back at our lives and the major influences that brought us to where we are today, do we find that we are passively reacting to the people and events we find along the way or are we responding with love, as Jesus taught us?

Is anyone worthy to unfasten the sandals of Christ?

I usually attend daily mass at 8AM at our neighborhood church, but I was running late this morning, so I decided to go to my old parish (St. Luke’s) at 8:30 instead.  In front of the altar was an icon of Our Lady of Perpetual Help.  My mom had a similar, yet smaller, version hanging on one of the walls in our homes since I can remember.  She told me once that popular legends claim that the icon is a true copy of a painting that was painted by Saint Luke using the meal table of the Holy Family in Nazareth.  Mary is pictured holding the baby Jesus in her arms. One of His tiny feet is bare, while the other has a dangling sandal that has been unfastened but not quite removed from His little foot.  

She was specially prepared by God, through her immaculate conception, to be sinless, and therefore worthy to bear God's Son. Although she was without sin, at the same time, Mary was completely human. So, like any human mother, she cared for her little baby.  If anyone is worthy to unfasten the sandals of the feet of the Son of God, it is Mary, his mother.

Think about that! Mary put on and took off Jesus' little sandals. She probably unfastened them every day. God had prepared her to be worthy of that little task, and so many others.  She did all the things a mother does for her baby; Like preparing His meals, giving Him baths, changing His diapers, kissing His “boo-boos”, and tucking Him in at night.  Except this baby was God—The Son of God, as well as her own human son.

Meditating on Jesus' tiny sandal pictured with Our Lady of Perpetual Help and furthering our understanding of Mary is well worth doing.  Because when Mary's role is clear, Christ's role is clear also. Mary always points us to her Son.

And on this day that we commemorate the senseless loss of so many lives on that fateful day 18 years ago, she reminds us that through the sacrifice of her Son, there is perpetual help and hope for all of us.

Am I a "Perfect Fit"?

“He spent the night in prayer to God.” (Luke 6:12)

This verse isn’t one most people remember, but it speaks volumes about Jesus. Before He made the crucial decision about whom He would choose as His apostles, He prayed. It shows how completely dependent Jesus was on His heavenly Father. He never made a move without asking which way He should go. And when the decision was important, He didn’t just offer a quick “Our Father”!  As in this case, He went to a place with few distractions and spent long hours listening in prayer.  It’s not unlike personnel departments and managers who spend hours poring over resumes and letters of recommendation, looking for the “right” person to hire.  The needs of a position matched with an applicant’s adequate credentials are needed for the perfect “fit.”

Whatever happened that night when Jesus spent hours “in communion with God” we don’t know for sure, but most of us who are or have been in positions to interview and hire would be amazed at “the Twelve” whom He selected from the disciples to be His most intimate followers and co-laborers.  Of the twelve, here is a sampling of their “job performance”:  one denied knowing Him when questioned about their relationship (Matt. 26:69-75; Mark 14:66-72; Luke 22:54-62; and John 18:15-27), two others were hot-tempered and rash (“Call down fire from heaven to destroy them!”[Luke 9:54]), one wouldn’t believe without seeing (John 20:25), and one, finally, betrayed Him, handing Him over to those who would put Him to death (Luke 22:48).  So much for careful screening!

But then again, with the exception of the last, all underwent remarkable transformations—conversions—leading them to become fearless proclaimers of the Name, even to their own deaths.  I guess it’s true what I read somewhere: if it is true that God often calls those who are qualified, it is also true that He “qualifies” those whom He calls. 

There is encouragement here for all those who “have been called.”  God often provides “on the job training,” drawing out of us what we did not know was there and transforming us into His instruments in ways we could not possibly imagine.  When faced with their inadequacies, all—with one exception—acknowledged their weakness and professed their faith anew.  Therein is found the seed of conversion and deeper witness.  Peter’s “Lord, you know that I love you” (John 21:15) and Thomas’ “My Lord and my God” (John 20:28) show us how to respond in the face of our own inadequacies and failures. 

If we’re serious about doing what Jesus did, we have to pray too. Of course, if you’re new to prayer, you won’t begin by staying up all night on a mountaintop! Your starting point can be just knowing that God wants to speak to you personally and recognizing that you want to hear His voice. It all begins when you trust in God’s promise: “When you look for me, you will find me. Yes, when you seek me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:13).

The fact is, there is no magical secret to prayer. We simply have to turn to Him, and God will answer us. So in part, it really is up to us. We have to take the time and effort to listen. We have to decide whether we will follow God’s plans or our own—and we have to discern how we’re going to implement them. We may even need the help of a trusted friend to help us along the way. But through it all, God will be right beside us!

If you haven’t done so before, why not start today to ask God about the decisions you are facing? You can begin by making small steps at listening and trying to put into practice what you hear. Tell the Lord about your schedule and ask Him to direct your steps.  Read the Scriptures and see if the Spirit gives you some sense about what you should do in a situation. Like anything else, prayer takes practice.  And the better you get at hearing the Lord, the more confident you will become—and the more effective you will be at building His kingdom!

“Lord, I ask for Your guidance today. Help me to hear Your voice and to know Your will, even in the small decisions I’m facing. Speak, Lord, Your servant is listening!”

May we, in discovering our shortcomings, allow the Lord to “qualify” us for the task to which He has called us.

Owe nothing to anyone except love.....

Every now and then I am surprised at how the Holy Spirit guides me to my reflections.  It’s usually the readings from Mass or a homily.  But tonight, He decided to use a movie I just happened across while channel surfing.  The movie is “The Fifth Element”.  The story's premise is that every five thousand years, in conjunction with a planetary arrangement, a 'Great Evil' appears whose purpose is to destroy life. The only thing that can save life is to get all 5 “elements” working in unison to destroy the evil.  One of the final lines is “What on Earth is worth saving?”  To which the hero replies “Love”.  It brought to my mind one of the great passages from Paul’s letter to the Romans. (Romans 13:8)

“Owe nothing to anyone except love . . .”

Love is the fulfillment of the law.  It is the fulfillment in a great many intricate ways.  Jesus said, “I come not to do away with the law but to fulfill it.” (Matthew 5:17).  And what is Jesus but incarnate Love?

Love does no harm. It wishes no ill. It does not flatter or puff itself up.  Love is selfless and love is joining with incarnate love in the desire for the salvation of the entire world.

Love cannot be outdone or undone.  Love speaks to us in our hearts and tells us what we should do. Love serves all and rejoices when there are more to serve.  Love is Jesus Christ entering for a moment into our lives.  Jesus Christ is Love incarnate, redeeming, protecting, and calling all to salvation.

Love is the fulfillment of the law and the first duty of all Christians. So let the world know we are Christians by the love we display each day.  Let love be our evangelization.

The Purpose of the Sabbath is to Keep Christ Present in Our Lives

Most of us are quite willing to recognize that God is there for us; that God saves our causes and sustains our lives day after day. In fact, as we grow older, we usually become more mindful that without God, we wouldn’t get through the scrapes we get ourselves into. Nor would we be able to get through the increasingly greater demands of this life. And in response, most of us grow more willing to offer our sacrifices to God, to bring our offerings. We are more likely to keep the Sabbath and to appreciate that God has reconciled us through the sacrifice of Christ’s death. As we grow older, we are more likely to persevere in the faith and to hold out hope in the Gospel message.

That describes a lot of Christians. But that brings a problem. What kind of sacrifice can we offer? What offering should we bring? Jesus tells us that retreating into obedience to rules isn’t it (Luke 6:1-5).  It isn’t about how perfect we are. Keeping the Sabbath and offering a sacrifice has more to do with finding Christ present in all that we do. It is about living our lives in faith and openness to what God calls us to do in the midst of our imperfections. We are called to offer what we can toward what is needed.

I think it’s important for us always to bring a heart that is at peace, intent on true re-creation of the whole person. It should always include Eucharist, but a spirit of outreach to our neighbor and time with our families as well. Whatever we do, should be done in the spirit of charity, inclusiveness, and true Christian joy. Joy comes from gratitude to God who has graced us with a beautiful world and opportunities for praise and reflection, activity as well as total relaxation. If we keep all this in mind, then Jesus will be truly the center and Lord of our Sabbath.

What is the purpose of the Sabbath?   The creation of the Sabbath followed on the heels of the creation of the world.  God took the time to step back and take satisfaction in what had just transpired.  In effect, He was setting a pattern for our lives to follow.   He knew that people needed a Sabbath in their lives to create rest and balance, a time to spend in worship of God and a preparation for the challenges of life ahead.   The purpose of the Sabbath is to help us:

*Relax:  In our harried and busy lives, we need a day set apart to take a deep breath, rest a little and take the time to be in the present and appreciative of the many blessings God has given us.

*Reflect:  We need the time to reflect on how God is working in our lives, as those moments are difficult to create during the busy week.

*Reconnect:  It is easy to lose sight of those who mean the most to us---our family, friends, and God.  We need to set apart time to invest in those important relationships.

*Refresh:  As we spend time in worship, we breathe in deeply God’s spirit, giving us life and energy for the upcoming week.

*Regroup:  As we look forward to the challenges of the week, a Sabbath can give us balance, centeredness and clarity.

*Renew:   Exhaustion and lethargy disappear as all of the disparate pieces of our life fall into place when a Sabbath is experienced.

New vs Old

Old skins, new skins, old cloth, new cloth, old wine, new wine . . . . (Luke 5:33-39)

Is this a commentary, of sorts, on the value of new things? Or is it rather a lesson on the importance of having some "order of precedence" in our lives: that is, doing what is most important and fundamental before charging ahead with things that are not?

One would think that something that is new would be better—new skins, new cloth, new wine, but then in the end the Gospel says, "The old wine is better."

The point is not about something new vs. something old, but about appropriateness of things old and new. In other words the substance of our choices must suit the requirements of the moment and yet be able to stand the test and stress of time.

It is likewise with forms of worship and praise. Be they old or new, they must be fitting praise to the Omnipotent God. They may for a time seem appropriate, but as needs and circumstances change, so too do our prayer forms. It doesn't mean necessarily that one is better than the other, but that one currently seems more suitable. You don't want to say the Grace Before Meals as you're going into surgery, or the prayers of the sick before dinner [unless the chef is a terrible cook!]. Likewise, you may not have the time to say a complete rosary, or even one of the longer prayers, like the Apostle's Creed. You may only have time to say one decade of the rosary.  There might even be times, as Mom taught me years ago, that we are sometimes in situations where a formal prayer can't come to mind. In this case, a simple and sincere "God, I believe!" or "Jesus, help me!" are the most potent prayers one can say.

Anyone who knows me well knows I love praying the rosary.  You can never go wrong by asking Our Blessed Mother to pray FOR you. You have to believe that she knows just the right words to say!

Prayer must be the preeminent activity in our life, lest we damage the cloak given for our salvation or have an old tired-out heart unprepared to receive the ever-new love of God.

Perhaps in the end we might say, "The old is better,"—like the first prayers we learned to say with all the love, praise and sincerity of innocent hearts: (The Sign of the Cross) "In the Name of the Father . . . . ", "Glory Be to the Father . . . . ", "Our Father who art in heaven . . . .", "Hail Mary full of grace . . . . ", "O my God I am heartily sorry . . . . "