SPIRITUAL DIRECTOR'S REFLECTIONS
OCTOBER-DECEMBER 2001
ISAIAH COUNSELS PATIENCE, SAINT JAMES TEACHES IT, AND OUR LORD IS OUR EXAMPLE.
A SHEPHERD KING WHO OFFERS HIS LIFE ON THE CROSS ...
ZACCHAEUS' CURIOSITY: CHRIST REACHES OUT TO HIM WITH AN UNEXPECTED INVITATION
ONLY ONE RETURNS TO GIVE THANKS, AND HIM A STRANGER.
ISAIAH COUNSELS PATIENCE, SAINT JAMES TEACHES IT, AND OUR LORD IS OUR EXAMPLE.
THIRD WEEK OF ADVENT
Sunday, December 16, 2001
First Reading:
Responsorial Psalm:
Second Reading:
Gospel:
Let me set the Gospel scene of God’s message today. John the Baptist was in prison. It may be that John's question of Jesus was a question of impatience. John may have been thinking: When is Jesus going to go into action? When is he going to start blasting his enemies, when is the day of God’s Holy destruction on their peace less and immoral world? John may have been impatient with Jesus because he was not what he expected Him to be. On the other hand Saint John the Baptist sent his disciples to Jesus to detach them from himself. John did not doubt Jesus in the least. He sent them to Him for their own benefit, to let them see the miracles that Jesus was performing and for their own instruction.
Jesus' answer to John's disciples was: "Go back, and don't tell John what I am saying; tell him what I am doing. Don't tell John what I am claiming; tell him what is happening." The prophesies of Isaiah are being fulfilled, - the blind see, the deaf hear, the lame are healed, the speechless speak.
John preached the gospel of divine holiness with divine destruction and impending doom; Jesus preached the gospel of divine holiness with divine love and compassion. The things that Jesus did in Galilee, he still does.
Isaiah and John the Baptist and his disciples were both looking for miracles and were anxious for God’s response to their cries for help and relief, much like the people on this earth suffering injustice and enduring as the poorest of the poor.
The instruction of Saint James this morning, on the meaning of patience, describes the attitude and disposition of hopeful endurance. Peace will come, our trials and pains will cease ... patience involves teeth grinding and biting your tongue. Sometimes we mistaken patience as being passive and permissive, soft spoken or Milquetoast.
Isaiah counsels patience, Saint James teaches it, and Our Lord is our example.
As we prepare for Christmas we recognize the sense of impatient expectation. The impatience in young and old in your own experiences are, for example, children: what am I going to get; adults: no card yet from a dear friend or relative. How about the impatience of adults often shown in their irritability to get it done on time. "Impatience reigns" is a sign of our time, in our generation: the road rage of motorists, the quick fixes, the microwave cooking, e-mail ...
What happened yesterday we had to wait, trusting God that the mail would get through. Faithful patience is the foundation of our faith, and humility the sign of our personal discipleship. Trust in God that tomorrow and our conversion shall bring us closer to the Glory that has been promised by Christ for Christmas.
A SHEPHERD KING WHO OFFERS HIS LIFE ON THE CROSS TO RECONCILE AND DELIVER HIS FLOCK FROM DANGER AND DEATH.
THIRTY-FOURTH WEEK OF ORDINARY TIME
Sunday, November 25, 2001
Christ the King - Solemnity
First Reading:
Responsorial Psalm:
Second Reading:
Gospel:
The Gospel on this Feast day of Christ the King of Kings pictures Jesus Christ crucified as King of the Jews, who promises the Kingdom of Paradise to a thief who recognizes that Jesus is the Anointed Christ of God.
We give thanks to God on this Sunday that celebrates the Feast of Christ the King. God has given us a Shepherd King to shepherd his people, so that human beings can see and know their God. It is through Christ the King's sacrifice on the cross that humans have been reconciled and restored to a right relationship with God.
A shepherd King who offers his life on the Cross to reconcile and deliver his flock from danger and death and Life in His Kingdom.
This Feast Day gives us the occasion to recognize that Our Holy Father is the closest example to an image of a shepherd King though whom we humans can see and know God; and through whom we can be reconciled and restored to a right relationship with our God.
Our Holy Father, Pope John Paul II, is currently offering up his life to unite and guide us through perilous times. Not to mention the many missionary journeys he has undertaken.
Just last week he invited Christians and Muslims to come together to Assist on Jan 24, 2002. In the Spirit of St. Francis of Assisi to pray for peace.
Pope John Paul II asked Catholics worldwide to observe Friday, Dec. 14 as a day of fasting and prayer for peace. Less than three weeks from now.
Last Week at his Wednesday Audience, Our Holy Father addressed these words from the window of his study , I quote, "The international scene continues to be disturbed by worrying tensions. We cannot forget the intense sufferings that have afflicted and still afflict so many of our brothers and sisters in the world."
Briefly reviewing the tragedies the world has endured in recent weeks: He said , "thousands of innocent victims killed in the grave attacks of last Sept. 11; and now innumerable people forced to abandon their homes to face the unknown and, sometimes, a cruel death; women, the elderly and children exposed to the risk of dying of cold and hunger."
Our Pope added, "In a situation made dramatic by the always present threat of terrorism, we feel the need to cry out to God," ... "The more insurmountable the difficulties and obscure the prospects, so much the more insistent must our prayer be, to implore God for the gift of mutual understanding, harmony and peace,".
Pope John Paul recalled that fasting is part of the Jewish, Christian and Muslim tradition, and gives greater intensity to prayer. He proposed that Friday, Dec. 14 be a day of fasting to coincide with the Muslims´ month of fasting, Ramadan, which began the previous weekend. John Paul II mentioned the date as an opportunity for Catholics to fast and pray with fervor to God so that He will grant the world a stable peace, based on justice, and make it possible to find adequate solutions to the many conflicts that trouble the world."
In addition, our Holy Father proposed that, "what is saved by fasting be placed at the disposal of the poor, especially those who at present suffer the consequences of terrorism and war."
Pope John Paul II went on to "invite the representatives of the religions of the world to come to Assisi on Jan. 24, 2002, to pray for overcoming of the oppositions and a promotion of authentic peace." "In particular, we wish to have Christians and Muslims come together, to proclaim before the world that religion must never be a reason for conflict, hatred and violence," he said. "Whoever really accepts the word of the good and merciful God, cannot but exclude from his heart every form of rancor and enmity."
Our Holy Father justified his initiative by saying that "in this historic moment, humanity needs to see gestures of peace and to hear words of hope." "It is urgent that a common invocation be raised from earth to heaven, to implore the Almighty, in whose hands is the destiny of the world, the great gift of peace, the necessary condition for any serious endeavor at the service of humanity ´s real progress," the Holy Father said. He entrusted the success of the initiative to the Blessed Virgin.
ZACCHAEUS' CURIOSITY: CHRIST REACHES OUT TO HIM WITH AN UNEXPECTED INVITATION
THIRTY-FIRST WEEK OF ORDINARY TIME
Sunday, November 4, 2001
First Reading:
Responsorial Psalm:
Second Reading:
Gospel:
Zacchaeus' curiosity: Christ reaches out to him with an unexpected invitation. The grace of God is always present for those who have strayed away. And Jesus brought the opportunity for salvation - the forgiveness of his sins. How often is the experience of those who have been away from the faith or no faith at all. That occasion of curiosity - an invitation from some person to attend a service or a mission, an event such as a healing service or visit of a missionary or visionary - the person of lapsed or weak faith is touched by a special grace of interest and desire to see.
The response is much like that of Zacchaeus. A response of generosity; a desire to change and become active in the faith and in the Church. And in a more global reference, our Lord's words: "This man, too, is a son of Abraham", inferring that Zacchaeus may not have been a Jew.
The Book of Wisdom today speaks of the compassion of God: "But thou art merciful to all, for thou canst do all things, and thou dost overlook men's sins, that they may repent." You rebuke offenders, warn them, remind them and encourage their change.
Zacchaeus, motivated, said to the Lord, "Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have defrauded any one of anything, I restore it fourfold."
And Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to his house, since he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of man came to seek and to save the lost."
THY WILL BE DONE
TWENTY-NINTH WEEK OF ORDINARY TIME TWENTY-NINTH WEEK OF ORDINARY TIME
Sunday, October 21, 2001
First Reading:
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Second Reading:
Gospel:
In light of her faith, the persistent plea of the poor widow even before an unscrupulous judge won for her petitions, her faith never wavering. How much better shall we be when in faith our persistent prayers are addressed to Our God. Just and merciful is He because we believe in God’s merciful judgments.
All pleas, all prayer is to be made with faith, and with patient persistence, personal, private and communal. Take the example of Moses, or closer at hand, see the example of Our Holy Father. We the People of God, like Ben Hur and Aaron, are holding him up. We are all called to hold up our hands in prayers, especially praying the Holy Rosary, as those praying with him for victory over terrorism, over abortion, to overcome the evils of secularism, sexual permissiveness and injustice throughout the world.
On the point of our persistent prayers, persistence true, but it is no reason why we should expect to get whatever we pray for. Often a father has to refuse the request of a child, because he knows that what the child asks would hurt rather than help. God is like that. We do not know what is to happen in the next hour, let alone the next week, or month, or year. Only God sees time whole, and, therefore, only God knows what is good for us in the long run. That is why Jesus said we must never be discouraged in prayer. That is why he wondered if men's faith would stand the long delays before the Son of Man should come. We will never grow weary in prayer and our faith will never falter if, after we have offered to God our prayers and requests, we add the perfect prayer, "Thy will be done".
Let us then see what Paul says of the usefulness of scripture referring to the Old Testament.
He says that Old Testament Scriptures gives the wisdom which will bring salvation. Those Scriptures are of use in teaching, and Old Testament Scriptures are valuable for convincing a man of the error of his ways and for pointing him on the right path.
Paul makes a final point. The study of the Scriptures trains a man in right thinking until he is equipped for every good work. Here is the essential conclusion. The study of the Scriptures must never be selfish, never simply for the good of a man's own soul. Any conversion which makes a man think of nothing but the fact that he has been saved is no true conversion. He must study the Scriptures to make himself useful to God and to his fellow-men. No man is saved unless he is on fire to save his fellow-men.
In simple fairness, no man seeking for the truth has any right to neglect the reading of the Bible. A book with a record such as it has cannot be disregarded. Even an unbeliever is acting unfairly unless he tries to read it. The most amazing things may happen if he does, for there is a saving wisdom here that is in no other book.
ONLY ONE RETURNS TO GIVE THANKS, AND HIM A STRANGER.
Sunday, October 14, 2001
First Reading:
Responsorial Psalm:
Second Reading:
Gospel:
This Sunday’s message speaks to us about two aspects of our faith, humility and gratitude. The point of the Gospel story is a lesson in gratitude. Ten lepers healed - only one stranger returned with thanks. In the first reading, humility is the point of the story about Naaman the Leper..
Unless a person is humble they cannot be faithful to their Christian religion. Neither will they be faithful to their Christian religion unless grateful.
The problem with our ungrateful and pride-filled world today is that we have lost our sense of religion. We prefer coining our own personal meaning and understanding. Using religion for something to help us feel good, like a blanket keeping us warm. Or we use religion as a social service agency, which helps us to help others. Or more timely, using religion for geopolitical goals. What does religion really mean and demand?
What Religion means is our belief in a personal relationship to God and with God: God is Father, the Creator; Jesus is Redeemer, Savior; and the Holy Spirit is Advocate, your personal attorney and helper. Believing means acknowledging and trusting in the reality of that personal and intimate relationship. Faith believes in that relationship as real, and humbly and gratefully acknowledges it.
Humility is recognizing who we are before God, which means that we must realize without any doubt that I absolutely need and depend on God. All our blessings come from God, whatever we have, whatever our accomplishments, whatever our hopes, our fears, we need God.
In both stories Naaman the Leper and the ten lepers were healed, they were healed of sin. Leprosy in the Bible reference was a sign of sin. Today it is pride, the root of all sin.
PRIDE is the LEPROSY OF OUR DAY if it allows you to imagine you can do it without God’s help - or you place God in a very distant relationship to yourself, or call upon Him just when you need something.
Humility always recognizes that it is always dependent on God.
Gratitude is the our response to God for all He has done for us; gratitude is that recognition that all the good we have received come from God.
When we are humble what follows is gratitude, as was pointed out to us in the story about Naaman the Leper.
The point of the Gospel story is a lesson in gratitude. Christ heals ten lepers. Only one returns to give thanks, and him a stranger.
Gratitude to God strengthens the faith. The habit of thanking God helps us to accept and to endure reversals, when bad things come down ...
GOD NEVER OWES US
Sunday, October 7, 2001
First Reading:
Responsorial Psalm:
Second Reading:
Gospel:
The Gospel tells us that faith is the greatest force in the world - so the reference to the smallest of seeds, as the mustard seed, may be the measure of your faith. This saying means that even that which looks completely impossible can become possible, if it is approached with faith. We have only to think of the number of scientific marvels, of the number of surgical operations, of the feats of endurance which today have been achieved and which less than fifty years ago would have been regarded as utterly impossible. If we approach a thing saying, "It can't be done," it will not; if we approach it saying, "It must be done," the chances are that it will. We must always remember that we approach no task alone, but with Faith in God’s presence all things are possible in God.
St. Paul reminds us in his letter that we have received the gift of faith; in our Baptism, Confirmation, in the Eucharist we receive all the Sacraments - so put a flame under it, don’t be a coward, never be ashamed of your faith, show it off, and don’t hide it. Display it on your person. We have witnessed the display of flags testifying to our pride to be Americans and in support of the bravery of Americans. Why not your religion? How about our faith, the support of Our Holy Father, our missionaries, and Christians struggling in places like Africa and other places around the world.
The rest of the Gospel tells us that we can never put God in our debt and can never have any claim on him. When we have done our best, we have done only our duty; and a man who has done his duty has done only what is demanded of him. God never owes us.
The Prophet Habakkuk: The first reading the Prophet pleads for God’s intervention because of the violence and hate (during a wicked time like our own) a time of fanatic killing, merciless massacres of his people. Can you imagine how God will respond to the evils of our own day and society?
Is God’s intervention at hand: for the proud, judgment; but for those who walk by faith, hope. Those who pray need not be afraid. Trust in His Presence, His Mercy.
Pray for an increase of your faith ... Pray for courage to witness to your faith, faith in God’s reliability. Pray for Patience, a gift of the Holy Spirit.