In the end...or the new beginning

And when your earthly life comes to an end, will anyone remember your indifference, your indecision, your inabilities, your meekness? No. Rather, to be remembered is to live boldly, intentionally, precisely, with passion and readiness to change the world and make an impression on those you have left behind. Then they shall say, because I knew this man, my life was changed for the better and so was our world. Be your faith! Be your intention. Be like our God.

"Great Is Your Faith!"

Two weeks ago we hear the gospel passage where the disciples are in a boat which is being tossed about in the water.  Jesus comes towards them walking on the water and they are very much afraid.  Peter cries out, "If it's you Lord, tell me to come to you."  Jesus replies "Come."  As Peter gets out of the boat and begins to walk on the water, the wind picks up and he begins to sink and cry out "Save me Lord."  Jesus rescues him and then questions why he faltered and lost faith.

In contrast, this passed Sunday we heard the gospel of the Canaanite woman shouting out after Jesus to heal her daughter who is possessed by a demon.  Jesus' response is far from charitable.   (It appears that Jesus too, may once in a great while, have “one of those days,” and is annoyed by one more request). 

Jesus begins to argue with this woman saying that His ministry is not for foreigners but for the people of Israel.  However, the woman is so desperate because her daughters life is at stake, she persists and argues that whatever He can give, “even the leftovers,” will be enough.  This persistence seems to awaken in Jesus a more merciful response; “O woman, great is your faith.”

When putting these two gospel passages side by side, there were a few things that were revealed to me.  First, Peter would be considered one of those Israelites Jesus came to save.  Yet we realize in comparison, Peter’s faith was not as great as this Canaanite woman.  Though I must admit, Jesus would not compare us one to another, it is important for us to make the comparison for our own growth and well-being.

Secondly, although Jesus appears to be less than pastoral in His approach, I think, like all things Jesus does, He is very intentional about what He is doing and the way He is responding.  After all, the disciples are telling Him to get rid of this woman who is bothering them.  They recognize she is a foreigner and they want nothing to do with her.  So it's as if Jesus takes upon Himself the attitude of the disciples.  Yet it is the woman's persistence and faith in Jesus that gains her the response from Jesus who points out, in front of His disciples, the greatness of her faith.

Matthew, the evangelist of the Gospel wants to make a very important point.  God’s love and mercy is for everyone who believes in Him and puts their faith in Him.  It's not just for a select few.  Moreover, whatever God has to give, however great or small, (even the scraps) are enough for us to receive whatever we need in our life for healing, mercy and most especially, salvation.

We too, like Jesus, must be INTENTIONAL about our faith and the way we seek to bring others to Jesus.  We cannot falter nor can we put another down because they are not like us or their blessings and or challenges are different from ours.  Faith, great faith in Christ alone, brings all things to peace and unity in Christ.

“Trust in HIM at all times,” and He will say to you,  “O my dear one, great is your faith.”

Before the Eucharist

"It is invaluable to converse with Christ, and leaning against Jesus' breast like his beloved disciple, we can feel the infinite love of his Heart. We learn to know more deeply the One who gave Himself totally, in the different mysteries of his divine and human life, so that we may become disciples and in turn enter into this great act of giving, for the glory of God and the salvation of the world. Through adoration, the Christian mysteriously contributes to the radical transformation of the world and to the sowing of the Gospel. Anyone who prays to the Savior draws the whole world with him and raises it to God. Those who stand before the Lord are therefore fulfilling an eminent service. They are presenting to Christ all those who do not know him or are far from him; they keep watch in his presence on their behalf."

-Bl. John Paul the Great

Falling In Love

Quote of the Day

“Nothing is more practical than
finding God, than
falling in Love
in a quite absolute, final way.

What you are in love with,
what seizes your imagination, will affect everything.
It will decide
what will get you out of bed in the morning,
what you do with your evenings,
how you spend your weekends,
what you read, whom you know,
what breaks your heart,
and what amazes you with joy and gratitude.

Fall in Love, stay in love,
and it will decide everything.”

--Pedro Arrupe SJ (1907-91)
28th Superior General of the Society of Jesu

Healing

I am filled with so many mixed emotions today.  In some ways I believe that this time can bring a great deal of closure and healing from the past.  At the same time, the future is unknown, it could be more of the same.


I turn this "turning" over to the Lord and to the intercession of our Blessed Mother.  May this be a time of new beginnings and joy for all affected.  May the hand of God guide and bless our future.


Amen.

True Freedom From The Burdens of Life

What is burdening you today?  What is weighing you down?  What has become so overwhelming you just can’t cope?  Maybe it’s not your burden.  Maybe you’re carrying the burden of someone else.  How is that robbing you of your joy?  How has it eatin’ away your peace?  Do you see the possibility of a change for the better in the near future?  Would you like to see a change for the better?

Jesus says in the scripture today, “Come to me all you who are weary and find life burdensome and I will refresh you.  Take my yoke upon your shoulders and learn from me for I am meek and humble of heart.”  Do you believe this?  Have you really tried to turn the burden in your life over to Jesus?  Are you willing to give up the control you have on these burdens and allow the Lord to carry them for you?

Perhaps you are willing but don’t know how!  So let me give you a bit of help.  Take a moment.  Find that quiet place in your house, free from all distractions.  If that’s impossible, come and sit before the Blessed Sacrament.  Close your eyes and imagine Jesus standing before you.  Whoever or whatever is the burden, place it before His feet.  Let Him know you want to be free of this and you need His help.  (The key here is to give up all control of this burden...once you give it to Jesus, you cannot take it back).  You see this is the way we become FREE!  But every time we start to take it back, God will freely give it back.  Is that what you want? 

True freedom means giving up control and learning to not be a victim of our own struggles.  Let’s pray for one another that we can rely more on Christ and less on ourselves.  In this way we can be free of our burdens and take on the yoke of Christ, which is easy and light!

Weeds Among The Wheat

Did you ever notice how easily it is to overlook the weeds among the wheat, or any vegetation for that matter?  The parable of the weeds among the wheat, I believe is precisely the point Jesus is trying to point out to us.  How often do we overlook the weeds?

Jesus speaks to His disciples about the “weeds among the wheat.”  Often times weeds can be overlooked.  Just take a good look in a garden.  There are so many things blooming, it can often be difficult to distinguish the weeds from the flowers.  In fact, some weeds even disguise themselves with little blossoms or  little flowers on them confusing most amateur gardeners.  Such weeds can be more destructive to the real beautiful flowers and vegetation in any garden.

Using this analogy, could we not say the same for some people?  How many disguise themselves each day as holy, humble, good people and yet they are out there gossiping, cheating, telling lies, not to mention any number of commandments they might be breaking.  What about those persons who may work for a company or the Church or government or some other organization who you think can be trusted because of the position they hold, only to find out they may in fact be some of the destructive weeds choking those who are really trying to do their best and make a difference.

First of all, we need to make sure we’re not “weeds.”  And if we are, we need to do some serious praying to begin some serious changing.  Secondly, we need to be more aware of others.  Do we surround ourselves with people who hold the same values we do or do we merely “go with the flow.”  Good wheat stands out and can produce abundantly to feed the many!