Everything in nature, culture, and the cosmos is passing away. Nothing here below finally lasts. Though certainly sobering, this is not, ultimately, bad news, for it orients us toward the one power that does last: the steadfast love of God. In the Gospel for today, the Word of God comes not to the mighty and powerful of the world, but to John who is living a life of renunciation and prayer in the desert. How...
Our life takes shape in relation to that which we are willing to trust. What then is worthy of our trust? Worldly powers can disappoint and will all ultimately fail us. The Scriptures insist that we trust in the Lord’s promises, promises that are proved to be true through the Resurrection of Jesus from dead.
In our second reading for this Sunday, St. Paul lays out his resumé. In terms of the Judaism of his time, Paul was about as accomplished as one could hope to be: he was a defender of the tradition, steeped in the wisdom of his people, and blameless under the law. But after seeing Jesus risen from the dead, Paul said that he counted all of those achievements as loss and refuse. So we, he...
Friends, on this Gaudete Sunday, we are called to rejoice! Detach yourself from the anxieties of the world and live in the peace and joy of Christ.
Friends, most of us are stuck in the boring and narrow confines of the ego-drama. Mary is not playing an ego-dramatic game; she is playing a theo-dramatic game. We hear of how she sets out “with haste”—the sign of the saints—and it’s because she knows her mission and her purpose in God’s story.
Friends, when our heart belongs to anything in this world, we live in an empty and lifeless spiritual space. But when our heart belongs to the Lord, the rest of our life falls into right order around that center. Our readings this week raise a crucial question: To whom—or to what—does your heart belong?
On this first Sunday of Lent, the readings give us a handy two-edged sword to help us have a Lent that leads us closer to God.
"It isn’t enough to keep Lent with some external behaviors. I need to open myself to God."
When I was a kid I often heard my Mother, Grandmother and Aunts say something like “Offer it up to God” if something went wrong or I was having a problem. I am not sure they knew what it meant. It was more of one of those Catholic “throw-away” lines that people used because it sounded like a good thing to say to someone who was having difficulties.
"No matter what type of suffering the world can throw at us, none of it can compare to what Jesus endured…for us. And he did not allow suffering to sidetrack His mission and His love of the Father…and His mission of sharing the Good News of the Father with anyone who would listen"
“But what about Eli?” my sassy, then-4-year-old used to ask me when it was time to stop playing on electronics or when it was time to set the table. My daughter, Evey, even asked this when she received a special treat. Everything was a comparison to her brother.
"As a 4-year-old, my daughter always wanted to know what her brother was doing rather than focusing on herself. Upon reflection, I now ask myself how often I fall prey to thinking in terms of Evey’s childish question, considering what other people are doing and instead of worrying about my own actions."
God, who is unseen, speaks through the prophets and says to the people, repent, come back to me who am your merciful, compassionate God. Remember and repent!
"The first step towards conversion is becoming conscious of our inordinate desires for transient and perishable things that draw us away from God"
Easter is the greatest and the most important feast in the Church. It can only be described as the core of the Church’s life.
"The Lord will never allow us to remain in despair and at his own time, he will transform our “Good Friday” tears into an “Easter sunday” joy"
My son loves sports. Right now, it is baseball season and this kid eats, breathes and lives baseball. A month ago it was basketball. And so I love to use sports as a means to teach – not so much about the game – but about life because there are so many parallels. Every moment is a teaching moment. Hard work pays off.
"We need to have courage that Christ will get us through the disappointments and trials, and help us to become better people"
So this is my garage right now. It is super-cluttered with stuff. All kinds of stuff. Old stuff, materials for various projects, things that just need to be put away. Some things we’re hanging onto for whatever reason, other things that just have no place right now. We don’t have a basement and we lack in attic space, and so the garage is just a dumping ground for numerous things. And unfortunately, this spills into...
"God needs the space to work in us. And we cannot let Him work, and we cannot do His work out in the world if we ourselves are cluttered with negativity, sin, and pain."
Moses gives some interesting advice in our first reading. He tells the people: when you finally claim the land that God has promised you and have begun to harvest the first fruits of its soil bring these first fruits to the altar and offer them up to God as a gift. And as you do so, testify. Testify before the priest and the people. Begin by reminding yourself where you came from; then, remind yourself...
"when the Gospel is at the front of our minds, we are more able to keep things in perspective, more able to choose the right path, more able to live in hope with our thoughts and emotions under control"
“They have had their reward !”(Mt. 6: 2) To whom is Jesus referring when he addresses these words? It’s an interesting question. Undoubtedly, he had in his sights the Pharisees, whom he referred to several times in Matthew’s gospel as ‘hypocrites’ ( 23; 25-29) ) – but was it only these upholders of the Jewish law who had attracted Jesus’ wrath? Probably not, I suspect.
"Lent is indeed a time for seeking an audience – but with God, rather than with other people"
In the liturgy for the fourth Sunday of Eastertide the Church presents us with the powerful and appealing image of Christ as the Good Shepherd. A common and very ancient way in which Christ as the Good Shepherd is depicted in Christian art is that of Christ carrying a sheep on His shoulders, holding its legs firmly with His hands. It is an image full of reassurance; one that promises safety and security; one that...
"if Christ’s word is to have any chance of sinking into our minds and hearts to the extent that we do recognise His voice and are motivated to follow Him by committing our lives to Him, then we have to discipline our minds in the art of attentiveness to His voice"
Putting on weight not only means that we can’t get into our favourite clothes but also that we don’t feel as well as we would like and don’t function as efficiently. So we try to get rid of it by eating sensibly. Many of us approach Lent in the same way. Since Easter of last year we have slipped back into bad habits that result in the carrying of the excess immoral weight that impedes...
"A close relationship with God is the purpose of our lives but we must have the will to devote all our efforts to it"
Do we spend our energy challenging God that we are unable to see God’s grace?
If our priority is on ourselves instead of God why do we think we can endure suffering?
Is our fear of God driving our lives or are we succumbing to the will of the world?
Are we letting our problems overcome how we approach Jesus in prayer?
Are we spending every part of our days spreading Jesus to the world?
Are we aware that by keeping our hearts away from God we begin to offend God?
Do we truly understand how God is unmatched?
Are our days oriented on gaining money or gaining God?
Are we truly giving up everything to follow Jesus?
What are we sacrificing for God?
Are we setting ourselvs apart and being Holy for God?
When we pray, are we allowing time to glorify God instead of just asking for things?
Are we stumbling in following after Jesus with our crosses?
Are we following after Jesus or are we dwelling in the evils of the world?
Are we continously aware of the many blessings from God?
Are we tied down to Jesus or being tied down by fears and concerns?
Can we overcome our fears and trust in God as God leads us in life?
Are we uniting ourselves to Jesus who holds all things together?
Are we spending our days for the earthly that perishes or for God who is life?
How have we humbled ourselves today to show others of our love for Jesus?
Where is our focus when we pray to God? Is it on ourselves or God?
Why do we spend so much away from Jesus when only with God do we have peace?
Are we being grateful and thankful to God throughout our day?
Mary shows us how to stay focused and joyful with God in us.
Are we properly focused on Jesus' resurrection or are we still seeking earthly things?