Tuesday, February 28, 2017

For my sake..

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Drink Up

When someone else comes to us and points out our own faults, we might not be very happy about it. But, when you think of it, that person often carries the same message Jesus carried to the Samaritan woman: take the living water, freely, and be renewed.

-from Sacred Silence

"The fast of Lent has no advantage to us unless it brings about our spiritual renewal. It is necessary while fasting to change our whole life and practice virtue. Turning away from all wickedness means keeping our tongue in check, restraining our anger, avoiding all gossip, lying and swearing. To abstain from these things— herein lies the true value of the fast."
— St. John Chrysostom

✞MEDITATION OF THE DAY✞

"Wait a little while, my soul, await the promise of God, and you will have the fullness of all that is good in heaven. If you yearn inordinately for the good things of this life, you will lose those which are heavenly and eternal. Use temporal things properly, but always desire what is eternal. Temporal things can never fully satisfy you, for you were not created to enjoy them alone . . . for your blessedness and happiness lie only in God, who has made all things from nothing."
— Thomas a' Kempis, p. 133-34
AN EXCERPT FROM
The Imitation of Christ

click to read more

Blessed Daniel Brottier

Saint of the Day for February 28

(September 7, 1876 – February 28, 1936)

Daniel spent most of his life in the trenches—one way or another.

Born in France in 1876, Daniel was ordained in 1899 and began a teaching career. That didn't satisfy him long. He wanted to use his zeal for the gospel far beyond the classroom. He joined the missionary Congregation of the Holy Spirit, which sent him to Senegal, West Africa. After eight years there, his health was suffering. He was forced to return to France, where he helped raise funds for the construction of a new cathedral in Senegal.

At the outbreak of World War I, Daniel became a volunteer chaplain and spent four years at the front. He did not shrink from his duties. Indeed, he risked his life time and again in ministering to the suffering and dying. It was miraculous that he did not suffer a single wound during his 52 months in the heart of battle.

After the war he was invited to help establish a project for orphaned and abandoned children in a Paris suburb. He spent the final 13 years of his life there. He died in 1936 and was beatified by Pope John Paul II in Paris only 48 years later.

Reflection

Blessed Daniel might be called "Teflon Dan" since nothing seemed to harm him while in the midst of war. God intended to use him in some pretty wonderful ways for the good of the Church and he willingly served. He is a good example for all of us.

Sacred Space
Tuesday of the Eighth Week in Ordinary Time

Reading 1 Sir 35:1-12

To keep the law is a great oblation,
and he who observes the
commandments sacrifices a peace offering.
In works of charity one offers fine flour,
and when he gives alms he presents his sacrifice of praise.
To refrain from evil pleases the LORD,
and to avoid injustice is an atonement.
Appear not before the LORD empty-handed,
for all that you offer is in fulfillment of the precepts.
The just one's offering enriches the altar
and rises as a sweet odor before the Most High.
The just one's sacrifice is most pleasing,
nor will it ever be forgotten.
In a generous spirit pay homage to the LORD,
be not sparing of freewill gifts.
With each contribution show a cheerful countenance,
and pay your tithes in a spirit of joy.
Give to the Most High as he has given to you,
generously, according to your means.

For the LORD is one who always repays,
and he will give back to you sevenfold.
But offer no bribes, these he does not accept!
Trust not in sacrifice of the fruits of extortion.
For he is a God of justice,
who knows no favorites.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 50:5-6, 7-8, 14 and 23
R. (23b) To the upright I will show the saving power of God.
"Gather my faithful ones before me,
those who have made a covenant with me by sacrifice."
And the heavens proclaim his justice;
for God himself is the judge.
R. To the upright I will show the saving power of God.
"Hear, my people, and I will speak;
Israel, I will testify against you;
God, your God, am I.
Not for your sacrifices do I rebuke you,
for your burnt offerings are before me always."
R. To the upright I will show the saving power of God.
"Offer to God praise as your sacrifice
and fulfill your vows to the Most High.
He that offers praise as a sacrifice glorifies me;
and to him that goes the right way I will show the salvation of God."
R. To the upright I will show the saving power of God.

Alleluia see mt 11:25
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth;
you have revealed to little ones the mysteries of the Kingdom.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Mk 10:28-31

Peter began to say to Jesus,
'We have given up everything and followed you."
Jesus said, "Amen, I say to you,
there is no one who has given up house or brothers or sisters
or mother or father or children or lands
for my sake and for the sake of the Gospel
who will not receive a hundred times more now in this present age:
houses and brothers and sisters
and mothers and children and lands,
with persecutions, and eternal life in the age to come.
But many that are first will be last, and the last will be first."

wau.org
8th Week in Ordinary Time

Appear not before the Lord empty-handed. (Sirach 35:6)

Religious brother Carlo Carretto once had a dream that changed his life. He was living in the Sahara Desert and had chosen not to give an extra blanket to an elderly tribesman. That night, he dreamed that he was lying paralyzed under a huge rock. He could see the old man shivering in front of him and tried to give him the blanket, but he couldn't move. Awakening, he realized how far he still had to go in following Jesus.

Carretto's dream echoes Sirach's warning about appearing "empty-handed" before God: if you make an offering to God while failing to love your neighbor, it's an empty sacrifice. Even a religious like Carretto, who had given up literally everything for God, could see that he still needed a deeper conversion of heart.

What does this mean for us? Our love for God must be concrete. It must be visible in the way we treat one another. God wants us to eagerly embrace every opportunity he gives us to love, even when it hurts. These opportunities often occur as God comes to us in our brothers and sisters, even in the "distressing" disguise of those who are hard to love. Everything we do for them can be our way of saying, "I love you, Lord!"

This may be easy to understand, but it's not so easy to do. That's because, just like Carretto, we, too, can be stuck under a rock of some sort or another.

Today, ask God to help you identify one of these boulders. Do it by imagining yourself as actually lying on the ground, pinned down by something. What is it? Perhaps it's fear or perfectionism or the pain of a wounded relationship. You may think this is just an exercise of the imagination, but if the "boulder" you imagine makes sense to you—and if you feel a sense of hope that you can be set free—then it could well be the Holy Spirit working through your imagination. So linger for a time, and see what comes to mind.

Whatever it is, imagine Jesus lifting that boulder from you. Imagine that the weight is gone and that it is replaced with God's love and presence.

"Lord, set me free so that I can love your people. Teach me to love as you love."

Psalm 50:5-8, 14, 23
Mark 10:28-31

my2cents:

We heard today "The just one's offering enriches the altar and rises as a sweet odor before the Most High. The just one's sacrifice is most pleasing, nor will it ever be forgotten." I once was in an experience, where I was taken in a blurry way to Heaven's Celestial Feast, and at the eternal banquet, the Lord in His grandeur was receiving myriads of people and their offerings, and one could sense that many were bringing a little, and the good was being accepted. How little we give to the Lord...and He accepts little, but how much work it takes! Why is it so? Why so little to the Lord? Why are we so afraid?

We pray "To the upright I will show the saving power of God.
"Offer to God praise as your sacrifice and fulfill your vows to the Most High. He that offers praise as a sacrifice glorifies me;
and to him that goes the right way I will show the salvation of God." It is unfathomable, this sacrifice, this praise, and all culminated in this glory given to God, all seemingly bundled up into one, although they are not all exactly the same, yet they are. We are one in God as He is 3 in one, mind, body, and spirit, how can we fathom and contemplate this? Our minds can't really comprehend this trinity, and so all we got is faith, and trust, and relying on the Word of God!

And so our Lord is asked by Peter "'We have given up everything and followed you", what's in store for us? And the Lord lets him have it "hundreds" for one. It's as if the Lord says "If you give me that one, I'll give you 200, no 500, even 1000". But we have a hard time trusting to give up that one...life. We don't try hard to save that one life. Heroes are hard to find. I made that picture real big of today's saint of the day, although he is a "blessed" not saint yet. I like horses, I ride them sometimes, and to see this man on a horse with a cross on him on his chest and arms makes for an image of God's soldier, one laying down his life for strangers, but this man sought souls. Suddenly, the Gospel speaks volumes through Jesus...it's about souls...not about me. I read a Spanish reflection today which I will attempt to translate: "And because no one gains the Lord in righteousness, He is tremendously "unjust" and offers us a hundredfold." God is unjust, paying a full day's wages for those that worked only a little while, and paying the same to those who worked all day the same. He is paying first the last and the last the first. It is God's grace, and it is amazing. I will be a happy soul in Heaven if I see a wretched sinner in Heaven that I'd been praying so hard for all my life. I'd be so ecstatic. Nevermind all the sacrifices I'd made all my life, the blood, sweat and tears for the Lord that this guy never made, I don't care, because it's not about me. The Spanish reflection went on "In a world that submits everything to the mercantile relationship, it is difficult for us to understand that love is priceless, that it does not return only what has been given, that it does not measure or measure, but that it overflows gratuitously and generously when we enter into its dynamic: a hundred times plus. Have you ever felt that in giving one has received much more? Do you expect to receive?" and ends with "Today we close a month. Tomorrow we begin a new time of grace where we are called to a delivery without calculations or limits. Let us enter the desert of Lent with a firm and determined step, not forgetting that we enter into the dynamic of God's love, so that the more we surrender, the more we will receive. Let's risk it."
Ah man that is awesome. Because I've been afraid of sacrificing this lent, been afraid of giving what I'm thinking about giving. And how crummy is that? Crumbs. Will I give crumbs to the poor? How much? How much will it cost? Will I give a break to the person that rubs me wrong? How much of a break? How much am I willing to give? Will I stop doing what I like and tend to what others like? Like spending time with God, like spending time doing productive things for God's flock, like attending one another with the love of God! How about giving up "people bashing", talking about them behind their backs! How hard is that to give up? How about becoming a "people defender" form the unborn to the elderly forgotten, and many who are abandoned in jails and hospitals and asylums, like nursing homes? How about giving more than you've ever given?

Jesus is waiting to give a hundred for one.

He loves His sheep that much.

His Children.

You

adrian

Monday, February 27, 2017

How hard it is

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Reflect on God's Mercy

If we don't take time to reflect on the ways we have been forgiven, it will be hard to be merciful to others. And yet we set this as our goal each time we pray the Our Father: "Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us."

-from The Hope of Lent

"Love is the most beautiful sentiment the Lord has put into the soul of men and women."
— St. Gianna Molla

✞MEDITATION OF THE DAY✞

"Jesus trembled and shuddered as He stood before the pillar, and took off His garments as quickly as He could, but His hands were bloody and swollen. The only return He made when His brutal executioners struck and abused Him was to pray for them in the most touching manner: He turned His face once toward His Mother, who was standing overcome with grief; this look quite unnerved her: she fainted, and would have fallen, had not the holy women who were there supported her. Jesus put His arms around the pillar, and when His hands were thus raised, the archers fastened them to the iron ring which was at the top of the pillar; they then dragged His arms to such a height that His feet, which were tightly bound to the base of the pillar, scarcely touched the ground. Thus was the Holy of Holies violently stretched, without a particle of clothing, on a pillar used for the punishment of criminals; and then did two furious ruffians who were thirsting for His blood begin in the most barbarous manner to scourge His sacred body from head to foot."
— Bl. Anne Cathrine Emmerich, p. 218-9
AN EXCERPT FROM
The Dolores Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ

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Saint Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows

(March 1, 1838 – February 27, 1862)

Born in Italy into a large family and baptized Francis, Saint Gabriel lost his mother when he was only four years old. He was educated by the Jesuits and, having been cured twice of serious illnesses, came to believe that God was calling him to the religious life. Young Francis wished to join the Jesuits but was turned down, probably because of his age, not yet 17. Following the death of a sister to cholera, his resolve to enter religious life became even stronger and he was accepted by the Passionists. Upon entering the novitiate he was given the name Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows.

Ever popular and cheerful, Gabriel quickly was successful in his effort to be faithful in little things. His spirit of prayer, love for the poor, consideration of the feelings of others, exact observance of the Passionist Rule as well as his bodily penances—always subject to the will of his wise superiors— made a deep impression on everyone.

His superiors had great expectations of Gabriel as he prepared for the priesthood, but after only four years of religious life symptoms of tuberculosis appeared. Ever obedient, he patiently bore the painful effects of the disease and the restrictions it required, seeking no special notice. He died peacefully on February 27, 1862, at age 24, having been an example to both young and old.

Saint Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows was canonized in 1920.

Reflection

When we think of achieving great holiness by doing little things with love and grace, Therese of Lisieux comes first to mind. Like her, Gabriel died painfully from tuberculosis. Together they urge us to tend to the small details of daily life, to be considerate of others' feelings every day. Our path to sanctity, like theirs, probably lies not in heroic doings but in performing small acts of kindness every day.

Saint Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows is the Patron Saint of:

Clergy

Students

Young People

Sacred Space
Monday of the Eighth Week in Ordinary Time

Reading 1 Sir 17:20-24

To the penitent God provides a way back,
he encourages those who are losing hope
and has chosen for them the lot of truth.
Return to him and give up sin,
pray to the LORD and make your offenses few.
Turn again to the Most High and away from your sin,
hate intensely what he loathes,
and know the justice and judgments of God,
Stand firm in the way set before you,
in prayer to the Most High God.

Who in the nether world can glorify the Most High
in place of the living who offer their praise?
Dwell no longer in the error of the ungodly,
but offer your praise before death.
No more can the dead give praise
than those who have never lived;
You who are alive and well
shall praise and glorify God in his mercies.
How great the mercy of the LORD,
his forgiveness of those who return to him!

Responsorial Psalm Ps 32:1-2, 5, 6, 7
R. (11a) Let the just exult and rejoice in the Lord.
Blessed is he whose fault is taken away,
whose sin is covered.
Blessed the man to whom the LORD imputes not guilt,
in whose spirit there is no guile.
R. Let the just exult and rejoice in the Lord.
Then I acknowledged my sin to you,
my guilt I covered not.
I said, "I confess my faults to the LORD,"
and you took away the guilt of my sin.
R. Let the just exult and rejoice in the Lord.
For this shall every faithful man pray to you
in time of stress.
Though deep waters overflow,
they shall not reach him.
R. Let the just exult and rejoice in the Lord.
You are my shelter; from distress you will preserve me;
with glad cries of freedom you will ring me round.
R. Let the just exult and rejoice in the Lord.

Alleluia 2 Cor 8:9
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Jesus Christ became poor although he was rich,
so that by his poverty you might become rich.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Mk 10:17-27

As Jesus was setting out on a journey, a man ran up,
knelt down before him, and asked him,
"Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?"
Jesus answered him, "Why do you call me good?
No one is good but God alone.
You know the commandments: You shall not kill;
you shall not commit adultery;
you shall not steal;
you shall not bear false witness;
you shall not defraud;
honor your father and your mother."
He replied and said to him,
"Teacher, all of these I have observed from my youth."
Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said to him,
"You are lacking in one thing.
Go, sell what you have, and give to the poor
and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me."
At that statement, his face fell,
and he went away sad, for he had many possessions.

Jesus looked around and said to his disciples,
"How hard it is for those who have wealth
to enter the Kingdom of God!"
The disciples were amazed at his words.
So Jesus again said to them in reply,
"Children, how hard it is to enter the Kingdom of God!
It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle
than for one who is rich to enter the Kingdom of God."
They were exceedingly astonished and said among themselves,
"Then who can be saved?"
Jesus looked at them and said,
"For men it is impossible, but not for God.
All things are possible for God."

wau.org
Catholic Meditations
Meditation: Mark 10:17-27

8th Week in Ordinary Time

Jesus, looking at him, loved him. (Mark 10:21)

God is omniscient—he sees everything. Nothing is veiled to him, not even our hidden sins. This truth might make us apprehensive. But in reality, we should rejoice! Because, not only is God all-knowing, but he is also all-loving! More than seeing our sins, he is on the lookout for every sign of virtue in us.

Today's Gospel reading gives us a wonderful illustration of this point. As the rich young man rattles off all of his virtuous habits, Jesus looks at him with great love. He approves and even applauds all that this man has accomplished in his spiritual life. But then his penetrating gaze fixes on the one thing that is holding this man back: his attachment to his possessions. Only by giving them away can he find true freedom.

For his part, the young man recognizes the truth of Jesus' analysis but seems unwilling to act on it. So he turns away sad. We never learn what happens next, but we do know that Jesus' words found a home in him. Who knows? Maybe he eventually returned to become a disciple!

As you spend time with Jesus in prayer today, let him look on you with love. Let him recount all the good he sees in you. He knows how hard you try. He knows how faithful you are to your family and friends, to your job and to your parish. He hears and remembers every prayer you have ever lifted up to him. He feels everything that hurts in your body and your spirit. Now let him show you how precious you are to him.

Then take a further step. Let Jesus put his finger on one thing you may treasure more than him—one thing that may be holding you back. Perhaps money has become too important to you. Perhaps you are caught in a persistent habit of sin, or you are nursing a grudge that you are having a hard time giving up. Join Jesus in looking these stumbling blocks in the face. Let go of them. Let Jesus, who loves you, encourage you and show you the way of healing and hope he is providing for you.

"Jesus, thank you for knowing me and loving me. I place all my hope in you."

Sirach 17:20-24
Psalm 32:1-2, 5-7

my2cents:
We begin today by hearing the Word of the Lord "To the penitent God provides a way back, he encourages those who are losing hope
and has chosen for them the lot of truth." He provides a way back...to those who repent. We are about to embark on a 40 day journey, that what we call lent, that what is lent to the penitent, and the whole Church joins together, our prayers, our efforts, to strive for what God wants.
We pray "Let the just exult and rejoice in the Lord. Blessed is he whose fault is taken away, whose sin is covered. Blessed the man to whom the LORD imputes not guilt, in whose spirit there is no guile." The Lord finds fault in the one who believes they are "good".

In comes the Lord and says "No one is good but God alone." He says this in reply to the man who had called Him "Good Teacher". The Lord shows the man to take a step down, to bow down, to be humble, to honor and revere who is truly God, who deserves all our attention...all our Love. The man was doing everything right, supposedly. And the Lord helps him in spiritual direction, which we all need, a spiritual director that will help us realize, with a different set of eyes, how we are doing in our spiritual life: "You are lacking in one thing. Go, sell what you have, and give to the poor", and the man walks away struck to the heart. Say WHAT? How could the Lord ask this of me? Now, this is the story of you and me in our lives. Oh sure, we say "I'm not attached to possessions, they are just junk". And we say "Oh, I'm "good", (yet no one is good but God), because I do things right, I'm not a killer, or a thief, etc". And that is the exact mentality of the man in today's Gospel.

Who told you that you are "good"? It is an overinflated spiritual ego, rich in self, and poor in charity.
I'll tell you what, I am sharing my testimony when I share my 2 cents, this accident a few weeks ago that landed me in the hospital, I have told many now in faith sharing groups in the last few weeks, that this has been a real eye opener. Because I too have been egotistical in my sense of spirituality. But in a sense that, I believed I was good in my faith, as if having plateaued, that is having maxed out and hit a ceiling in my spiritual growth, as if to have said without knowing "I'm good". Lies. Only God is good, and righteous and fully Holy. And He wants us to be like Him. And so I tell everyone that I have encountered, that I experienced a huge void in my life, where times I even cried "where are you God?!" If this has proven anything, this accident, and struggling to walk physically without crutches, this has proven one thing to me, this whole faith thing....God wants to me love Him MORE.

More than you think. More than you ever thought possible. And it is by Holiness, His Way. To be Wholy Holy. To not belong to this world, but to His and all His. And I am leading to perhaps a slightly overlooked completion of the invitation of Christ, to the man and to you and me in the Gospel: "....Go, sell what you have, and give to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me." Perhaps, selling all you have suddenly entails the true reality of what is being asked: to leave your world and follow Him. To leave all you love and follow Him. To become detached to what you believe is truth and happiness and take a leap of faith, and a lunge into unknown waters. The man wasn't looking for Jesus (God), but security. Jesus says, "I Am the rest and all of what you are looking for". And the man can't believe his ears.
How hard is it to live for Him? It is hard, very few make into the Kingdom of Heaven, to which the disciples even asked ""Then who can be saved?"

You can be saved.
Everyone can be saved.
It is 100% possible, Jesus said it.

He says "Follow Me".