Living the best life - ours!

Wednesday of 11th week/OT: Daily Readings

Today, the Gospel makes me aware that Jesus is looking for something specific in my life: good fruits. This is why He came, this is what He wants from us: that we may produce fruits.

He is pointing at something that must have been quite common to the hearers of this message. Maybe He was pointing at the bushes as He was talking.

Something that is also common for us today - not everything that shines is gold. If we want to find out if something is valuable, is real we have to take a closer look, a much closer look.

We are too blinded, nowadays, by too many choices. When I go shopping, I am amazed how many type of the same thing is available. Sometimes, even the box or the container looks alike: the cheap version next to the better one. Even commercial confuse us: you buy the cheap stuff, put it into a fancy container and, voila', it's like magic: everything is the same. But, is it?

We know it's not the same but we are attracted by the savings. I wonder if after a time of using the cheap stuff we may even grow convinced that it's just as good as the other.

We do the same in our spiritual life. Our Christian lives is getting filled with "generic" alternatives and we have grown convinced that "it's all the same."

Jesus doesn't seem to be thinking i the same lines. When it comes to our lives, He is not willing to accept "generic" fruits but the best fruits. Look alike are not welcome. And, though we may fool our guest when we show them generic stuff into fancy containers, we can't fool Him.

The first reading seems to contain the answer to the question: what can I do so that I may start producing the best fruits ever? They "find" the book of the law of God. They really didn't lose it, they just forgotten it was there: they had grown so accustom to their own things that the Word of the Lord remained stored.

It happens with us as well; sometimes we are so used to going to Mass, to hear the readings and the homily that we don't even pay attention anymore. And our spiritual lives start deteriorating as we continue to find new ways to justify our behavior: I can go late or leave early because God understands me.

We need to rediscover the role of the Word of God in our lives. We must reclaim the effects that the Word has in our lives. We must welcome and celebrate God's Word because when we live the Gospel we live our true life, we live ourselves. And a life fully lived is what God really wants from us.

Living the Gospel will allow to produce the best fruits my life can produce. Who wouldn't want that? Who would settle for a life lived in a "generic" way. This is the only life I am going to live here, shouldn't I expect the best? By living the gospel I will live the best possible life I can live: my own.

This is worth doing!

Can we really "not judge?"

Monday of 12th week/OT: Daily Readings

Every once in a while this passages comes up, and whether I like it or not I have to live it out. Every time I read it and meditate upon these wonderful words of Jesus, I shiver and their depths. And I understand how easily they can be misunderstood.

"Do not judge so that you will not be judged." Sharp saying, I know. But I am asking myself "can we really live by these words? Can we live a life without judging ourselves and others? Would this lead to chaos? anarchy? A society where everything goes and nothing can be forbidden?

We experience judgement. When I was a teacher I had to "judge" my students if they were able to go to the next level. Based on my "judgments" the principal of the school "judged" me if I should return to the school the upcoming year. Judgement is all around. What are we to do: avoid it?

I have to be honest. I do not like to be judged but I catch myself over and over judging others. At times, when I hear people saying that they are not judgmental I realize that what they really are after is not to be judged.

First of all, to judge means to pass on a sentence. It has a juridical tone which makes us "THE" judge of the situation. We tend, after we judge someone, to put that person in a "box." This is waht we are not supposed to do. We cannot treat the other as though we are the judge, the measure by which everybody else must be evaluated against.

When we judge in this way, we tend to consider the other only superficially, looking at the external. It's very shallow.

We are called to call out evil when we encounter it, to denounce subjective" truths (as in "It's wrong because I think it's wrong," and "it's right because I think it's right, or because i like it."). If someone is making the wrong choice, we are called to alert, to support, and to motivate the person so that better choices can be made.

This requires something more from me. It requires that I "enter" into the others, look at what is in their hearts, what motivates, what inspires their actions.

Firstly, I have to appreciate the other's "otherness." People are different than me. Sometimes, some people inspire "judgment" because they are too different. It's not their problems, I have to admit; it is I who has a problem accepting other ways of doing things.

I have to understand why they are doing what they are doing: what is in their hearts. Sometimes people do things because they really think it's right. With love, I can help them to go beyond what they think and see if there are other ways of looking at the same reality. In our culture, we are not taught how to think and many believe that they are correct only because they are louder or make fun of others.

I can evaluate or judge as long as I do not become "the ultimate judge." I will not be silent about what's wrong and I will do my best to help others to understand the issues rather than placing them into "judgment boxes."

Seed Life: Extravagant Prayer

Thursday of XI/OT: Daily Readings

Yesterday, the Word challenged me to take a look at the hidden part of my life - the part that includes my relationship with God who is the Great Motivator of all I do. Today, I take another plunge into this relationship. Jesus talks about Prayer. But He adds something that I always found puzzling: forgiveness.

Prayer has always been something that I found myself attracted to and yet incredibly frustrating about. Listening to Jesus talking about prayer always opens my eyes. It's not about "talking." It includes it, of course. But ultimately it's about "loving each other."

I wonder: would our relationships survive or grow stronger if we would apply to them the way we relate to God? I mean, I imagine if I were married. After a full day of work, I go home and instead of spending time with my spouse I would simply do five minutes of talking - doing all the talking - and most of this time was spent asking her for what I need. How long would my marriage last? Then, how can we expect that our relationship with God grow when we relate to Him in the same way: a couple of minutes each day, doing all the talking, asking Him for what we need. 

Other people think that Prayer is about a relaxation technique: it's all about being quiet, peaceful and relaxed. Again: would it work if I would relate to my spouse only in this way? After a full day, I go back home and instead of talking to her, I sit in front of her, take deep breath and quiet myself down. After a couple of minutes of this, I go one and continue with my life.

We need to do some serious thinking about what Prayer is about. I need to become a real man of prayer, a man who lives in union with God, knowing that He lives in me.

Why, then forgiveness? It makes sense! True prayer begins when we understand who we are. As Christians who have been baptized we know that Christ now dwells in us and we in Him. We share each other's lives. But, the same Christ who lives in me also lives in the other. If we are honest, when we get into an argument with another, or even when we take it too far and we cannot forgive, our union with Christ is impacted by this. There is an impediment in us, prayer becomes "difficult" because we cannot love Christ who is in the other. Therefore, we find difficult to raise our minds and hearts to Him.

Once we forgive the other, we re establish union and the Love that has been poured out into our hearts continues to flow. Seems easy! But it's not. That's why I have to remain focused on making sure that Christ in me continues to "grow." My daily "mortification" are not done to put myself down or deny myself of something. They are done so that Jesus may live in me. And I want Him to love everyone I meet.

Seed life: Healthy roots

Wednesday of XI / OT: Daily readings

The Gospel seems to highlight a precious part of our life, probably one that we do not pay much attention: the "hidden" life. Like the seed, that once is planted spends most of its life hidden in the ground so is my relationship with God is fostered and nurtured in the "hidden" room. And it is here, in this "hidden" part, that the great miracle happens.

Our society values the extroverted dimension of life: we share our thoughts, change our status on our social network pages, get tweets so that we let people know immediately what is going on with us. Nowadays, whenever we are asked to be quiet and introverted, meditative, we struggle as fish outside water.

Today, I feel invited by the Father to return to the "hidden" room, making sure that I can be my truer self, knowing that He is watching me. And God values more what goes on here, in teh secret room of my heart, because what He really cares about is.. me. Just like a plant, in order to be healthy, has to have good roots able to support the stem, I have to make sure that my "hidden" life is strong enough. The risk is evident: I can become a hypocrite, one who pretends to be someone who is not. Yuck!

The eyes of the Lover are not far from where the Beloved is. The Father is always looking at us, not scrutinizing us or controlling us, but with loving gaze. He looks at us in order to find the truth. By allowing God to see my heart, I grow in freedom; I am free to be who I am, to acknowledge my shortcomings and be able to do something about it. 

I know how I can take care of my "hidden" life. Fasting, alms giving and prayer. It's a three-part movement towards wholeness and holiness. I take something from myself in order to give it to another. It can be the temptation of saying "the last word," the unkind gesture or look, or even time that I wanted to use for myself. I give it to the other out of love. In doing so, I love Jesus in the other, turning everything into small acts of love for Him. 

This is the time when I become more transparent with the Father who sees what's in my heart. 

Seed Life: Being "unusual"

Tuesday of XI / OT: Daily Readings. 

Ah, the life of a seed! Full of potential, ever ready to bring forth life.
The challenge we received this week is to live our lives by going against the current that tells us that we are always "number one." Really? How many "#1" can there really be? Isn't this a set up for great conflicts? Of course it is.

Meditating on the mustard seed, allows me to approach life with humility, the virtue that most of all allows us all to grow because it makes us aware that we are part of a greater whole - the world.

Humility allows the voice of Jezebel (see yesterday's meditation) to remain quiet. It forces us to work against the need we seem to have to put ourselves always in front, manipulate others so that they do what we want, give us what we want. Humility allows me to open myself to the other and respect him or her, value him or her for who truly is: a child of God.

Humility allows me to understand that "unusual" element that Christianity brings into the world. Jesus said: "If you behave like any other, what is unusual about that?" True, as Christians we behave, or should behave in a very unusual way. It's the way that is rooted in the radical call of the Gospel: see the other through the eyes of God and relate to the other as God would and not as we want. Unfortunately we have reduced Christianity only to something that is private, that is devotional, that is warm and fuzzy. The "unusual" element of the Gospel has been completely muted. In doing so, we have made the message of the Good News completely "usual." This is the reason, I think, people consider Christianity as one of the many ideas and opinions that are out there.

I want to reclaim the "unusual" of the Gospel and live it out. I have to start by doing what Jesus wants me to do: Love the other, especially those who are hard to love: the persecutors and the enemies.
With all humility, I have to confess that I do not find this appealing or easy.

So what to do? The Gospel tells me something even more unusual than to love my enemies. Jesus told me that now He lives in me. Then, with Humility and through some "mortification" (putting my Jezebel's voice to death), I can let Jesus in me love the enemy. Like a seed, I choose to die so that He can bring life to others.

By loving my enemies, I actually allow God's love to grow in me. Who knew? Well, I can't wait to go out there and find the many opportunities I will have throughout the day to love everyone, especially those who seem to be unlovable. Even better, I will let God love them through me.

Seed life: Forget the wrongs received

Monday of XI/OT: Daily Readings

I continue my life as a "seed." I must do my best today to remain "small," allow my old self to die so taht I may become a plant in the Kingdom of God.

The Word today allows me to start by looking at my heart: how do I react when things do not go my way? when I do not get what I want? when I do not see things done in the way I want them to be done?

There is a big temptation in us, truly strong that wants us to assert ourselves at all cost. We do this both openly or in a more hidden way. We tend to manipulate circumstances, talking to people so they take our side and add themselves to the push I am applying so that circumstances may become favorable and, in the end, what I want becomes a reality. For many people, Jezebel is alive and well.

The Gospel gives me the antidote. Not too long ago, Jesus reminded me that He wants each Christian to live in a righteous manner, righteousness that is greater than that of the Scribes and Pharisees.

We live in a society where everything is based on "rights," nobody talks about responsibilities anymore. You cannot have one without the other, but this doesn't seem to be acceptable anymore. Of course, even the concept of justice is changing. Within this environment, the Gospel seems to ruin everything because it tries to change this way of thinking. Jesus introduces a new element and adds to justice something unheard of: love and grace.

We treat others not as they should be treated but as God would treat them, offering grace in love. This concept seems to be an abomination: if we offer love and grace to whomever wronged me, what happens to my pain, to my situation? does it mean I am not worthy? Does that mean that wrong is acceptable?

These are big questions that deserve to be answered. But we must be honest. Although we do not tolerate wrong, we have to realize that when we hold on to the wrong we have received, we tend to become unjust people. The lex talionis, an eye for an eye..., was given to limit revenge not to let it escalate. The issue of forgiveness is tricky: sometimes we hold a grudge only to punish the offender. And most often than not, we get angry because the offender doesn't seem to care about our grudge. forgiveness means to let go of the power the offender has and start anew. 

I have to find, instead, a new way of handling the wrongs I receive: expose them to God's love, to His grace and let Him take care of me. I want to remain firm in the Gospel knowing that if I live the "something more" a new fruit will sprout forth in due time.

... in due time. Like the time of the seed that lives invisibly underground, allowing itself to let the earth transform it into the source of new life. I know that the choice to forget the wrongs I receive today, a choice made in love and faith, can bring grace to others, new life to the one who offended me, and refuge to those who may be involved.

But, how can I live this page of the Gospel knowing that I, too, offend others?

The life of a seed

XI Sunday in OT: Daily Readings

The parables of Jesus touch me in a particular way, today. I am amazed how Jesus can describe the most mysterious of things in such simple ways. I believe that this kind of explanations are possible only to those know extremely well what they are talking about.

And so Jesus, with two brushstrokes, paints a wonderful portrait of the Kingdom of God in our midst, linking intimately both sower and seed. It's challenging but I can't help to enter into this passage and pray that my heart will be open to handle the Mystery of God's action in the world.

As I read, I see myself not only as the sower who spread the seed of God's love everywhere I go but also, and especially, I can see that God's love turns me into a seed as well. The most challening thing of the first parable is the fact that the sower seems to be living in total faith, that whatever he has done will bring fruit. He does what he must do and let God take care of the rest.

How do I react and behave during the "waiting time?" I have no problem in understanding the job the sower has, but waiting for the seed to grow is quite disarming, because it does not depend on me but on God. I would rather do something than simply waiting. But this is how things work. I have to learn to be patient, and rely on Him who is, after all, the true sower and the true gardner - He knows what He is doing.

I like the sense of collaboration between the sower and the seed in the ground. It's a collaboration that creates surprise and amazement: what a marvel to see a plant sprouting out of a seed!

Have we lost this kind of amazent? Perhaps we are more attracted to the many special effects and new sounds and lights that we receive from the environment of today. The miracle of nature is too simple, too slow, too "normal," too "low tech." But all fades away, and after the latest special effect we are immediately searching for new ones. And the miracle of nature continue to go on; nature itself continues to say its 'yes' to God giving us signs of a world that exists and acts in silence and that grows invisibly.

I often feel myself as the mustard seed. Terrifyingly small. I do feel in me the capacity of growth but I also experience difficulties and shortcomings. I was listening to the homily of Deacon Tom and he helped us to remain focused on "being small." Small ego, small sense of entitlement, small amount of fear... in order to bring fruit, I have to remain "Seed" and let God help me to understand in which way I can give my life for His Life, for His Kingdom. This is the life I have to live: the life of a seed, that has all it needs to sprout but needs to die in other to give life to a tree. There are a lot of opportunities to die to one self throughout the day - die to the desire to be always number one, die to the desire to be always listened to, die to the desire to be always first, etc. He planted me in good soil; unlike the real seed, my growth is not automatic. God wants me to collaborate with Him. I am ready! (I think!)

Challenging, yes! But I know that God will allow the seed he planted in me to bring fruit. May I allow Him to bring His plan into action.

Seeing the little cloud

Thursday of X week/OT: Daily Readings

Elijah asks his servant to go out and see. Six times the servant goes and sees nothing. On the seventh, he sees a small cloud coming from the sea.

The verb "to see" caught my attention today and made me think about all those times when something or someone was happening, or has been happening around me and I had absolutely no clue. I remember that once I heard about the great talent that a person had, I was living with this person in the same religious house but never saw him as a talented person.

I feel very close to the servant. Many times God has to tell me to go out and see, and only after many times I can see the great things He does in my life. I am getting better but I continue to pray that my eyes may be opened.

When we do open our eyes, we are able to see the marvels that God does; the Gospel wants us today to live with a righteousness that "is greater than that of the scribes and pharisees." These people were famous for being righteous, how can we be more righteous than they? I think we can do this by opening our eyes and seeing what's happening.

Jesus wants us to live more righteously especially when it comes to our relationship with others. By opening our eyes, we can see the other as always new. What we think about the person who is next to us shapes the way we behave, the way we listen, the way we talk. If I think that the person next to me is annoying then everything will reflect this thought: my eyes movements, my body language, my mind (drifting), etc. But if, by an act of will and an act of Love, I see that person as new, and most especially i see in that person God who lives within that person, I can change everything.

It is obvious to me that Jesus values relationships above all things. This new way of seeing others must reach every dimension of our lives and even goes beyond the boundaries of right/wrong. It goes even before our worship of God - if we think of someone who has something against us (and not us against the person), we have to reach out to that person, making sure that the relationship is sound. Then, we can go and worship God. Why? Because it is not possible to love God whom we do not see if we do not love the brother whom we see.

Now, these two dimensions - God and neighbor - are intertwined, and it's impossible to see where one ends and the other begins.

Jesus wants us to live this "greater righteousness" and bring it into the world. It's what allows me to see the other, especially the opponent, in a different light: now we know that God lives in those people, too.

It may take us seven time, or more; but what matters is that we start asking God to open our eyes and constantly go out there and see what God is creating around us. At the end of the day, when we examine our consciences we can tell God that we saw the little clouds. It will be these clouds that will create a great outpouring of Love into our hearts which will become a blessing for us and for all those we meet.

Today I want to see every person I meet as "new." I know they are bringing the great outpouring of grace and love my soul greatly needs.

Be amazed by God!

Tuesday of X week/OT:  Daily Readings.

I continue to say my "yes" and live the Word of God in the simplest way I can, trying to invest all I have in the "food that does not perish, that the Son of Man can give" (Word of Life, June 2012)

Today I reflect on the strange command that God gives to Elijah: "Move to Zerephath of Sidon and stay there. I have designated a widow there to provide for you." I am personally familiar with these kind of commands. I have been asked to move many times in my life, sometimes the moves were easier but so other were way more difficult. I also know how it feels to be transferred to a difficult place, where resources are scarce, where there are no structure, etc. Many time I have responded: why me? why there? why going where there is always so much to do, where I can't even live comfortably like others do....? Elijah goes to a place that was arid, dry and moribund and he's supposed to find all his resources in a family where they cannot even take care of themselves. ISn't this a setup for failure? for a tragic failure?

What touches me is the faith that both Elijah and the widow have. They act against human logic. She doesn't even know who the strange man is, and still they act on the Word of God. The act as though there is a relationship of trust between each other. They act as though they know that God has put the other in their lives. It is in the simplicity of the obedience that they both see the wonders of God. Everything changes: they live in the wonders of God (see the Psalm).

It is very possible to focus only on the human aspect of our lives; looking at the resources and the support system around us. There is that need in us to know that we will be ok and a faith like this, a call like this, really upset this need we have. It seems that we want to do the will of God only after getting the resources, only after we know that people are in place, the money is in the bank and all is ready to go. Then we say: ok, Lord, what you want me to do.

It's human, true but we are called to live in faith. We are certainly called to make sure we have the necessary amount of bricks before we build our tower but at times we have to consider also the "God factor." God will intervene and open the way to different wonders.

In a very small part, I have experienced this myself. Nothing seems to make sense, and yet I continue to say "Yes" and I see new life around me. I hear so many people telling me the same thing. It's amazing what the "God factor" can accomplish in us.

How can I remain in God's wonders? I read the Gospel passage and I hear Jesus speaking of salt and light. The salt must not lose its flavor. The problem with the salt is that impurities attach themselves to the crystal making it impossible for it to release its flavor.

I must remain "pure," true to myself avoid getting these impurities onto me. It's not easy; but I have to remain strongly firm in the Will of God. Now, if I live the life of Jesus rather than mine, I have the possibility of truly remaing faithful to what God wants me to be. He is the true life, then I will live my life truthfully. If I live mine, I will mess the whole thing up.

The smartest thing we can do to ourselves is to live the Gospel becuase we will be living our true life.

Today, I want to say Yes to God as I live the Gospel and I want to live this day with the enthusiasm of knowing that I am part of God's wonders, I am part of God's miracle. I know that I will see great things today. I pray that I can live today with my eyes wide opened and allow myself to be amazed by God. 

Who knows what awaits for me out there. I better go and find out!

(c) 2012 Heavenwards; do not copy without permission. 

picture found at http://jameswoodward.files.wordpress.com/2009/07/amazement.jpg?w=510

Experiencing the Grace of God. Possible?

Memorial of St Barnabas:   Daily Readings

Yesterday, I have taken the challenged that the liturgy gave me seriously: appreciate and understand better the gift of the Body and Blood of Christ but also the reality and the meaning that this gift creates in me. I continue my journey today, opening myself to the Word of God.

My attention is taken by the first reading. "In those days a great number of those who believed turned to the Lord." It seems a bit odd: it is those who believed that turned to the Lord. It's the most fundamental of choices: to choose God above all things. Everyday I have to turn to the Lord, convert my heart so that it is He who shapes my thoughts and guides my path. I also see here the beginning of the "new evangelization." When we decide to share the message of the Gospel, we begin by turning to the Lord, we begin by living it out ourselves.

"This news about them reaches the ears of the Church of Jerusalem." What a wonderful reputation did the Christians of Antioch had. Usually, when we do something bad everybody seems to know. It's more difficult to spread good news; it doesn't come natural to us, it seems, to say good things, especially about a Church. I asked myself: what kind of reputation does my parish have?

The Church of Jerusalem responds to the news and they sent Barnabas. When he arrived "he saw the grace of God." What marvel this must have been! Barnabas does not see what they were doing, what programs they were implementing, or how many charity works they were doing. He sees the grace of God. It must have been such a powerful experience that it is the Grace of God became so visible. It was an experience of God's grace.

I want a church where the grace of God is experienced in the same way by all those who come in. It's a church that I want to belong, too. But how can I do?

I found the answer in the first verse of this reading. It is by "turning to the Lord" that allows me to experience Grace personally, and it is by people deciding individually and as a community to choose God, to open themselves to grace that grace becomes truly Amazing. If this is what I want, turning to the Lord, converting everyday, must be what I must do!

How I wish I could talk to every person who sits in the pews, and help each one of them to really appreciate what God has done for them: He gave Himself so that we could be united with him intimately, living and nurtured by His Grace. What is the greatest challenge? Why is it that it seems so difficult to accept this gift? We have to undo what decades of "religionism" has done: making us believe that it is what we do for God that counts, that as long as we say the words, we show up at Mass, we are done. We don't have to engage, we don't have to convert.

I have to take Barnabas' advice to heart. He "encouraged them all to remain faithful to the Lord in firmness of faith." Firmness of faith. We can't take shortcuts or deviation. There is one way and it is the path opened by Jesus who died on the cross and rose up again. This is the only guarantee we have that we can remain in His will. We can't make it up.

"And a large number of people were added to the Lord." Here's the "unseen" consequence of people turning to the Lord and experiencing Grace. Their lives become so attractive that others want to experience it too. I like the fact that these people were added to the Lord. We have to invite people to join the Body of Christ, not an organization or a denomination. What our soul longs for is to belong to the One who gives life. The other dimension of the "body of Christ," the Church, makes sense only if we understand it as the incarnated dimension of Christ, not separate from Him. When we evangelize and invite people to join us at the Table of the Lord, we must make absolutely sure that they are becoming part of a living, vibrant, though many times unseen Body of Christ. How about my life (not my words), does it attract people to the Lord or does it scare it away? 

Living the Word of God brings me so much Joy. I know I can expect great things from the Lord today... and I want to be part of this. Here I am , Lord, I come to do your will.

Body to body, Blood to blood

Feast of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Jesus: Daily Readings

This feast used to be called "Corpus Christi." I honestly prefer the current English translation for two reasons. Languages change in time and space and what was meant by a word may not be what is understood today. "Corpus" is becoming more and more understood as "corpse," and therefore points only to the physical component of what is identified. It's more than that: we are looking at Jesus in His totality,
The addition of "Blood" not only brings up the life-dimension but also underlines the aspect of the Covenant, the agreement between two people (or groups of people) about each other which was sealed with the blood of an animal sacrificed for the purpose. The concept of Covenant and the role of the blood in it, allows us to understand why the first and second readings are used today.

As I prepared myself for this celebration, I realized that today's feast is connected with that of last week, On the Trinity. Last week we celebrated who God is in Himself, a Trinity of Persons and one Godhead. We dared to look "up" at Him; now, in a way we switched point of view and looked at what God sees: The body of Christ. The lenses through which we look at each other is Christ dead and risen. What a mystery. And we are totally involved in it. I feel as though I have to take my shoes off because I feel as I am walking on holy ground.

Meditating on the Gospel, I have been touched by a little detail. The disciples approach Jesus and ask where does he want to make preparation for the Passover. They take the initiative. In the Body of Christ, the Church, there are no spectators but all are co-protagonists. Unfortunately, we have been trained to be spectators and consumers and "channel-changers," attitudes that never allow us to be involved in anything. In the family of God, we all have a role to play, we are all necessary.

Just as in our own bodies, each cell and each organ has a role to play. Nobody has the understudy role.

They ask Him, "where do you want us to prepare the Passover." "Where...?" This word resounded in me in a particular way. Now, the little room on the second floor is not sufficient anymore. His "upper room" is the whole world, each and every heart ...

We must feel part of this great New Covenant. But we must start by being honest with ourselves: do I feel I am a co-protagonist in the New Covenant? Where am I in the celebration of this New Covenant? Do I feel as though I belong, that I am part of the Body of Christ? Why do I receive the Eucharist? Do I go to Mass because I want to "become what I receive?" (as St Augustine said).

We respond to the invitation to enter into the New Covenant in faith and in mystery. Everything is not always clear (the instructions that Jesus gave the disciples sound a bit odd. A man with a water jar? men didn't carry water jars, is this a "secret" code?) But they responded in faith, doing what Jesus had told them to do. We also realize that when we act on the Words of Jesus, odd as they may sound to us, they are true. Am I willing to obey Jesus even though I may not understand? even though I have doubts?

Within the Solemnity of Passover, Jesus introduces the elements of the New Covenant without introduction or explanation. One command is issued. This sounds more like an invitation: "Take this!"

I hear an invitation to satisfy the inner drive that wants us to take. This can undo the original sin (where Adam and Eve 'took' the fruit of the tree without permission). Yes, Jesus knows that we are drawn to certain things but He has changed everything: now it's all a gift.

He gives Himself. How awesome is this: God gives Himself to us, He lifts us up to His level so that we can enter into the New Covenant as friends, as relatives (we call Him Father and He calls us His children), as spouse (the Body of Christ, the Church, is also identified as the Bride).

To whom is He giving Himself? To a traitor, to one who complains, to one who wines, one who doubts, and to those who, when things got tough, abandoned ship. This was the original audience, the original congregation of the celebration of the New Covenant. Jesus focuses on the "take it," not on their ability to be good people. IT's about what He has done for us, what He can offer us more than what we can do for Him.

"Take it" Do not think of the past or the future. Take now, and do not think of the many questions that you have, about your doubts and your struggles. Do not even think about your sin and your failings. We are commanded to take He who makes us who we are supposed to be, becoming one body, HIS! There is always time for a return home. Nothing should keep us apart from Him. Nothing is so great that will make Him disown us.

How do I receive? His Body and Blood have been given to us so that we can be transformed, changed into "our truer selves," and in so doing the original image in which we have been created can be restored.

How do we celebrate this holiday? It should make us think about what is going on in us. We have Jesus giving HImself totally: Body to body and Blood to blood. It's a total, intimate and spousal relationship that unites us with Him.

This forces me to think how I celebrate the Eucharist, how I approach the Blessed Sacrament. The sense of sacred in my life, the way I approach, receive, prepare myself for this daily spousal encounter.

I cannot allow to go to Mass without preparation; or go to mass with a causal attitude, saying the words without even thinking about them. No; I have to renew the commitment to STOP MASS AS USUAL. And start living it as member of the Body of CHrist, knowing that He gives Himself to me because He wants me to become more like Him.

Yes, this is holy ground.

"Be eager"

Thursday of the IX Week in OT : Daily Readings.

This word appears again: "Be eager." Once again I am invited to go back into my heart and see if I have this deeply rooted motivation that makes whatever else Paul is going to say my highest priority. He adds, "to present yourself as acceptable to God." This is my highest priority and my highest motivation: to do what I need to do so that HIs grance in me is not in vain." By myself I cannot make myself acceptable to God. The gap is too wide. But He has provided a way; therefore, what I need to do is to remain in Him. In His hands, by becoming accepted by God I also see that He has made me acceptable to Him, approved. I have to work on this, as though I were to pass an exam. I will have to pass a test, which will be based solely on Love. This process of turning from accepted to acceptable require time and effort. It's the Holy Journey where every step is taken by faith and shaped by the Word. It's the journey that, I hope, will lead me to sanctity.

I need to convert here, and a lot. The journey is so often challenged by many ideas. The biggest roadblock is that we have become culturally narcissistic - we think we are at the center of the universe. Each one of us is its own gravitation point. Chaos! Insanity! In order to re-focus, I reclaim today my original choice: I choose God as the sole Ideal of my life. It is He who is my gravitational point.

My disposition has to be that of a "workman who cause no disgrace." Integrity. What a great value. It will lead me to do whatever I need to do being ready to lose rather than "lording over." Living a life of honor. I am a child of God, after all. What happened to these values?

"Imparting the Word of truth without deviation." Here's how I can do all this. I have to handle the Word of Life with the same attention that a master mason will use to cut a stone according to a pattern. I must live the Word, confronting myself with it, without taking detours, "sine glossa," without finding a loophole. What does my life reflect? Me and my ideas? or the Gospel? It's interesting to see how my prejudices find their way into the Gospel, but the light of the word 

How to live it out today? Love of God and Nighbors. These are the two nails on which I have to hang my portrait. Paul reminds me today that I have to remind people (and me!) of these things and "charge them before God to stop disputing about words. This serves no useful purpose since it harms those who listen." We live in a world (and a church) where we are constantly disputing over words and details. These are important, I know, but we can't reduce all we do to this. Besides, how well are we doing? Have we become a better society? a better church? Not even close! So, I think Paul is onto something.

Drop the chatter, focus on the Word. Live the truth in Love. And keep contronting ourselves with the Word of LIfe. It's what I am going to do today. And do it eagerly!

Flame and life

Wednesday of IX Week OT: Daily Readings.

I continue to live out my life allowing the Gospel to inform it, to form it and shape it. The eagerness that the Gospel asked me to live out yesterday brought me to gratefulness for all that God has done for me.

Today's first reading, from 2 Tim 1, begins with Paul's statement of gratefulness. Am I grateful to God, even in the midst of difficulties and messiness? The challenge for me is to remained focused on God and see Him for who He is rather than for what He does. When I start to love Him as a person (vs a "vending machine") then I am open to see the world differently. I am not going to be disappointed when I don't get what I want. True freedom!

Do I worship God with a clear conscience? One of the effects of living a life based on the Gospel is that we make room for Jesus to live in us. All that is selfish and proud is slowly removed in order to make room for Him. In the end, our conscience will be clearer because He can remove all that corrupts our conscience. Who knew? You live the Gospel and you sleep better at night!

Paul is clear; we have to move away from the mentality of spectators and consumers and become co-protagonists in this life of ours. We continually expect others to entertain us, inspire us, motivate us. There is nothing wrong and we have to do that but I think that we have become totally dependent on others to the point that we don't have any more responsibilities: Stir into flame the gift of God that you have. At Baptism, we have been given a candle and the minister invites parents and godparents to keep the flame burning. What did we do with that flame? Have we entrusted it to others so? We are responsible of keeping our faith alive, of making sure our soul are not dormant. We cannot stir the flame by doing nothing.

God has given us all that we need to keep ourselves from slumbering. But we must make the choice of using the gifts of God. He has not given us a spirit of cowardice but of power, love and self-control. Do we live as powerful people? (I remember that Christian power is not manifested by lording over people but through loving service).

I need to turn everything into a springboard. "Do not be ashamed," Paul says. I admit, there is a lot of being ashamed - the brutal realization that we, each one of us, can mess up so easily God's plan is absolutely shameful. But it's a reality. Cowardice will lead me to think that I cannot be part of it because I am better than they are. None of us is, and all of us share the same reality: we can mess up.

I have to turn this shame into a source of power and love. Embrace the sinner as God has embraced me as such.
I, too, have to bear my share of shardship for the Gospel, as Paul says. I do this not on my own; I would be crushed. I bear my hardship with the strength that comes from God. It is that makes me journey meaningful. It is He who has given me a spirit of power.

God has saved and called us to a holy life. This is not a life that is marked by all the good deeds that I am capable of doing but it's the life that comes from His gifts.

Now I know that as I stir the gift of God into a flame, what I am really doing is allowing myself to live in God. This is true life. Then, my life will be fire. This is worth any hardship!

Tenacity and Eagerness

Tuesday, June 5th Daily Readings:

Today the Word challenges me in so many ways. It always does, but I think today something special was brought up by the Spirit when I was in prayer. The words of Peter resound deeply in me: "Be eager to be found  without spot or blemish before Him, at peace." The Word invites me to go deep within my heart and look honestly at what moves my steps, what motivates all I do. In other words, "am I eager to become a saint?"

Eager: "keen or ardent in desire or feeling; impatiently longing." This is what the dictionary says. Is my desire to be seen by Jesus as another Christ here on earth really ardent? Am I impatiently longing to be seen by Him as someone who has been transformed by the Word? Hmm.... is it like being on fire or more like "well, when my time comes, I will handle it when I get there?"

No doubt! There is a great need of conversion on everybody's part. I need to start, or start again, to live life in the right way. Today is the day when I can point my compass again towards the North and go.

What to do? Peter, in his letter, gives me some points. "Be on your guard not to be led into error by the unprincipled and to fall from your own stability." The first thing to do, then, is to make sure that I keep an eye on what comes into my soul and mind. The "unprincipled" are not standing outside with big boards saying "do it wrong." They actually whisper something like "it's ok for you not to be loving to that person," or "it's ok not to do things in the way the Church wants it, what people like is more important" (big temptation for pastors!!!).

"Grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ." Ah! That's the turning point. By remaining in Him and grow in Grace and Knowledge we will all be able to stand strong on what is right. There is only one way to scattering darkness: turn on the light! And there is only one way of understanding where the errors lie: know the Truth!

Eagerness to live our lives as Christians comes from our attachment to Jesus. It's really a gift that He has already given us: we long for Him more than we long for ourselves. We just have to tap into this Desire that God has given us and live it out. We have to go to the Source: God. It is by His grace that we can approach Him. Once we are safely in His hands, we will be able to hear His voice and the undisciplined errors will become more evident.

Easy? Not at all. But we can take a step further every day by living the Word with tenacity

Living the Annunciation

Monday of the 5th week of Lent - Daily Readings. 

We celebrate today the feast of the Annunciation, the event that commemorates the visit of the angel to Mary who brought her the Good News of the Incarnation. This is the beginning of the greatest adventure ever. This is an invitation for all of us to enter into the event and partake of the Good News. 

"May it be done to me according to your word." I think these are the most beautiful words spoken by Mary. This also reminds us of what we are supposed to live this week. Yesterday we reflected on what we must do if we "want to see Jesus." Like the grain of wheat, we are asked to die in order to bear fruit. We die to ourselves, to our pride, selfish tendencies. But I was also thinking that it's important to find the right kind of soil in which the grain of wheat. Mary reminds us that the soil in which we must die is the Word of God. We don't simply "die" to ourselves to be better people. We "die" to ourselves so that we can be more like Jesus. In order to do this, we must allow the Gospel to form, inform and shape us. Mary does not let her own fear or preoccupations to take over. She says the most beautiful of Yes because it's a yes based on the Word of God and not on our own understanding. 

This response is possible because Mary engaged the Good News brought to her by the angel. "You have found favor with God." What happens to us when we discover that we are someone's favorite? Maybe we were the teacher's favorite? or we know someone important or popular and we are their favorite friend? Something interesting happens to us: our confidence is boosted because we realized that we have been seen, appreciated, valued by someone else, someone we consider important. God considers us "favored," and He sees us, appreciates us and values us. We don't have to do anything to merit this love. We, however, are asked to take it, enjoy it and let it shape our lives. 

How much does God love us? trust us? Does He really consider us "favored?" The angel tells Mary: "You will conceive... a son." This is how far God trusts us: He gives us Himself. He gives us Himself in His Word, in His Body and Blood, in each other. What are we going to do with this gift? Can we be trusted? 

"How can this be since...?" It's a fair question. Mary must have been quite shocked by this Good News. We, too, tend to question what God wants to do. I think it's quite a normal reaction. The angel does not engage in arguments or further discussions. He points Mary to the source of all this: "The Holy Spirit will come upon you." Sometimes we can say to God: "how can this be since I am too busy, too old, too young, too ..." and God reminds us that we are not required to do impossible things but only to say Yes and in faith enter into a fellowship and partnership with Him. We are not only told what to do but we are also empowered by the Holy Spirit to do it. It is God who does "impossible things." 

Mary responds by herself and keeps in her heart this incredible secret: there is no prohibition to talk about it but she knows that there are certain things that are meant to be kept in our hearts. 

"Behold, your cousin Elizabeth..." A sign is given, a sign that was not requested. God gives us a lot of people who are really a sign for us, a sign that is given to us so that our faith, our strength and our hope can be restored and rekindled. These are saints. It's good for us to keep an eye on them and let their lives inspire us. 

"Then the angel departed." This departure signs the beginning of the great adventure of humankind. Now, God who was only in heaven lives in our midst. He is closer to us than we can imagine. This is the Good News that we bring to the world: we are not alone, God has not left us orphans. 

If we say Yes to the Word of God, Jesus will be born in us and, like Mary, we can bring Him into the world. What a great task we are given. This is the time to live the Annunciation. This is the time we become it. 

An intellingent and wise nation: possible?

Thursday of the 3rd week of Lent - Daily readings

As I continue my journey towards Easter, I realize that I have to grow as a Christian on solid foundation: I cannot let Christianity be reduced to what I think it's right or wrong. I do not make up Christianity! 

Following yesterday's meditation, I realize more and more how important it is to put the Word of God in its right place. The Gospel is the solid rock on which I can build my house. I heard yesterday that by following the Word of God we can become an intelligent and wise nation, we can grow healthier and happier. Is it true? Well, I look around and I ask myself, "Are we growing as a nation? Are we getting better? Are we culturally more "advanced" as we were before?" I can't come up with a true positive answer because I realize that that we have placed ourselves out of the center of the universe and we have been replaced by something else: profit. 

I noticed that by removing the Word of God we have removed ourselves from the center. We, as humans, are not the reason for doing anything. All that we do, it seems, has an ulterior goal: either defending profit (see how much cheating there is out there) or making profit (at all cost). We, for example, have become accustomed to the idea that it's acceptable for consenting adults to engage in sexual activities. We just don't want to admit to ourselves now that all of the sudden we seem to be incapable of keeping healthy and long lasting relationships. We think it's normal, but we are made for long lasting relationships. Is there a cause and effect? More indiscriminate sexual encounters equals shorter and unhealthier relationships? Prove me wrong, I'd say!

The Word of God helps me to see things differently. Not only makes me aware that sometimes I miss the mark but it also tells me where the mark is. I am reminded that I am created in God's image. If we know anything about God is that He is Love. Therefore, the target is love. I miss the mark when I do not become a person who loves. This is the "original condition" of our creation. IT is when I think only about myself, defending what I have, what I think and what I do at all cost that I miss the mark and become unhealthier. When I am loving, giving, supporting, considering the other more important than myself, I find myself happier; yes, maybe I find myself with less "things" to hold on, but way happier than I was before. 

The Commandments, for example, were given to us so that by obeying them we have have and enjoy life. WOW. If this is God's reason for giving them to us, why wouldn't anyone take a second look at it and ponder if without we can have the same thing. Let's see: "Thou shall not steal." To steal or not to Steal? Which will make me enjoy life the most? Apparently, the first because I think that if I take something, I will be happier. But what happens when the rightful owner finds out I have taken something that belongs to him? He will certainly retaliate and either takes it back or takes something else from me. Then, this will force me to protect my goods more forcefully, which in turn will create anxiety in my heart because whenever I leave the house I am concerned if this is the day when someone will come and take my things. Hmmmm.... it's a slippery slope, eh? 

The Word of God is given to me, to us, with a choice. Today the prophet Jeremiah speaks out with God's voice and invites me to Listen to His Voice. As I do that, God will be my God and I will be His people. By living the Word I can accept to be in a very special and unique relatinship with God that will allow me to live my life as it is supposed to be lived. 

I want to make this choice. Because I value life I want to say Yes and not being identified with those who belong to a nation that does not listen to His voice where "Faithfulness has disappeared; the word itself banished from their speech."It's time to be faithful again, faithful to the Word of God that makes us into a great and wise nation. It's about time! But I... we... need to make this choice now.

 

"Operation: Clean up" continues

Tuesday of 3rd week of Lent - Daily Readings

We are challenged by the Gospel to invited Jesus into the Temple of our body as together we continue to "clean it up," by removing all the things that we tolerate, things that ought ot to be there.

Today we hear the prophet Daniel say "deal with us in your kindness and great mercy." It's important that we always start by keeping in mind that God loves us immensely and that He has our well-being in mind. Because of His great love and mercy towards us, we can grow into a person who can reflect this Love to others.

What to do? We hear Jesus talks about forgiveness and He invites us to handle our hurts and our negative experiences well: there are certain people that we could forgive easily, there are other people who have hurt us so much that forgiveness is almost unthinkable. 

Why do we find forgiveness so hard? This is a very common issue that comes up in many ways in my ministry: from spiritual direction to confession - we know we must forgive but at times we simply can't. I don't think this inability comes from the fact that we are bad people; I think it's due to the fact that we may not understand forgiveness properly.

Forgiveness is something that we do to ourselves more than to another. It's a form of release that allows us to move forward again. When we are hurt we create an emotional freeze point in our lives. It's like being stuck in the past; the rest of our lives continues to be lived but there is a part of us that is still dwelling on the event that happened in the past.

We find it hard to forgive for several reasons and among them, in my opinion, the top ones are: if I forgive the person who hurt me, then I am saying that what I feel is not important; if I forgive the person who hurt me, then I am saying that whatever that person did is something it's ok to do again. We hold on, therefore, onto the feeling because we want to hurt the other person: we withdraw our friendship, for example, thinking that this will hurt them (then we may even get mad because we realize that the person is going about life and doesn't not even miss us). It's a spiral that never ends, and we know that it can even lead to violence.

To forgive, again, means that I acknowledge the hurt that has been done to me, I acknowledge that what has been done to me was wrong and should not be done by anyone (including us) for any reason whatsoever. To forgive does not mean that I ignore what happened but I take charge and decide to stop the cycle of violence done against me and release the bond - I let go and choose to live life as a whole. It's realizing that holding a grudge, ignoring someone, or even being nasty by thrashing the person does not bring me to healing or to move forward but it cements my staying in the past, in the original "freeze point." Forgiveness allows us to let go, it empowers us to take hold of the situation and turn it around so that we can move forward again. It takes time, but it can be done.

According to the Gospel, this process of forgiveness must be repeated constantly, without keeping track and without prejudice. It's an invitation to live a life in a constant state of freedom which I constantly give to myself and to those who hurt me. In the eyes of the world, this process cannot be accepted because it seems to diminish the person who has been hurt. But if we look closely, revenge and divisions (the obvious result of a life lived by holding on to the hurt we have received) do not generate healthier lifestyle and those who hold grudges aren't happier than those who don't.

Then, we are faced with a choice: how am I going to live my life? Before we respond, let's take a look at the issue from the other direction. IF we tell ourselves the truth, we would acknowledge the fact that we have also hurt some people and, among them, God. It may have not been our primary intention to do that but in the end we have hurt someone. We could choose to ignore the event and claim that "it's not my fault," but we know that we are the cause of the hurt. We know what to do: we must ask for forgiveness. Being forgiven is just as liberating as forgiving. We want God to forgive us so that His grace may continue to work in us. We want others to forgive us because we are sorry. to be forgiven allows us to be whole.

If forgiveness is what we want, forgiveness is what we must give. No exceptions. 

An Unusual Gesture to clean up our messes

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3rd Sunday of Lent - Daily Readings.

We move deeper into our Lenten Journey and this means we move deeper into our hearts so that we can prepare ourselves to celebrate Easter. As we follow Jesus and we make this Gospel passage our own, we must ask ourselves: "What do we tolerate in our lives that is keeping us down, separated from God and from the life He wants us to have?" Tolerance is on everybody's mouth nowadays and usually is used to feed into this crazy "Live and let live" ideology as it is applied to everything and everybody, paralyzing our growth (both as individuals and as a society) and turning everything into a mediocre life. 

How many of us would really allow one ant to go around our kitchen sink without being concerned that very soon a whole colony would move in? We know that in our life the situation is the same: one bad habit gone unchecked will turn into sin, etc. This is indeed a wake up call. 

Tolerance, like Judgment (see last week's meditations), is an ambiguous term: we know we are supposed to be tolerant but we also feel that there ought to be some boundaries. But where? We must realize that there are things in life that can be tolerated if they are not sinful and morally wrong. I don't like popcorn, but I tolerate it when people eat it because I consider them to be more important than "my issue." It's not a sin to eat popcorn and my friends are free to eat it. I don't have to be intolerant towards them and it would be really wrong of me to expect that they would change that just to make me feel better. There are other things that are morally wrong and sinful and it is expected of me to do something about it. 

Jesus teaches us how to handle all these things. First of all, He is not in the Temple area to pick up a fight. He was there because it was the Passover. He, like many other Jews, noticed something and did something about it (unlike all the other ones who were there).  The lesson for us is clear: we don't pick up a fight but when we are challenged to take a stand, we do it and we do all we can to right the wrong. 

The motivation of Jesus heart should also be our motivation. The disciples remembered this action and they associated it with the verse: "Zeal for your house consumes me." Jesus was motivated by zeal for God's house. This zeal fired him up, ate Him up, shaped all that He did. We should keep this in mind: every stand we take should be motivated by the same love and zeal for God's Church and God's people that Jesus had. All our actions are shaped by God's love; we should never act outside of these bounds. 

"Stop making my Father's house a marketplace." All the people who were selling in the Temple area were not doing anything illegal. They were supposed to be there: it was their "ministry," to provide people with all they needed for the sacrifice. But obviously Jesus sees something else: maybe they were really in an area that was supposed to be free of vendors, or maybe they were surcharging. They were there because their presence was tolerated. Maybe at the beginning there were just few table and then it all turned into a circus.The point is that we have to take Jesus' challenge seriously; take a look at what we tolerate in our life and, after examining it according to what the Gospel teaches us, have to decide where we need Jesus to clean up the mess or not. 

We do have a tendency of relating to God as a "vending machine." Our prayer is nothing more than a business transaction: "Dear God, I am going to give you something (going to Church, light a candle, giving up chocolate, etc.) and you are going to give me what I want. Through Christ our Lord. Amen."

Jesus reminds us that we cannot go anywhere in life if we keep this mentality, most especially if we apply it to God. God is not for sale and His grace is free. As we continue our journey of Lent, we must take a look at how we relate to God. When we relate to God in this way only, we turn our heart into a marketplace.

If Jesus were to come into the Temple of our bodies, which room, which area of our life, would He clean up first? Would I let Him in, or ask to come back next year? 

Living the Transfiguration Story

Sunday, March 20, 2010

I believe that we must live the whole Gospel, and each page invites us to enter deeper and deeper in to the life of God so that we can live our lives with Him and viceversa. How can I live the story of the Transfiguration?

Peter, James and John get a glimpse of the glorious Christ; it must have been a wonderful and awesome experience. Although I understand why the disciples were terrified, I can also understand why Peter told Jesus that he wanted to build three tents. We have this human need to put everything into boxes so that we can control, catalog, shelf and use when needed whatever it is that we are experiencing.

There is always the temptation of putting “Moses” into a box or a tent. Moses represents the Law, the regulatory aspect of our Christian life. In him we find all the rules and regulations that are given to us as an aid. Putting him in a tent can give me the feeling of being in charge or domesticate the rules, making everything serve me rather than God. Also, I can become a victim of rubrical fundamentalism or a total dismissal of liturgical norms.

Elijah is the “prophetic” dimension. The Church cannot live without it. This is the aspect of our christian life that constantly pushes us forward and finds new ways of expressing our love for God. But it can be messy and unruly; it’s easier to put it in a box and control it so that everything happens under my control. In doing so, I can risk to stifle the Spirit and become unable to “sing the new song”.

God, however, is always ready to interrupt our lives and to surround us with His presence. It is only when we let go of our tendency of putting everything - even God - into a box that we can experience God’s love around us and it is only then that we can hear Him speak. Just as Moses and Elijah were engaged in the wordless dialogue with Christ, so God invites us to listen to Him. Only Christ and HIs word can bring us to understand Moses and Elijah, only when we live the Gospel that these other two dimensions of our lives make sense. Jesus is the center, the one who brings harmony between the two.

What is Jesus telling us? “Rise!” Yes! He can help us get up and continue our Journey with HIm to Jerusalem, to the Cross. Our journey requires that we keep our eyes only on Jesus and He alone. But we know that things are going to be better.

The secret to "greatness"

Wednesday of the 2nd week of Lent - Daily Readings.

Yesterday we heard Jesus saying that we must be servant of all if we want to be great. It's the opposite of what the world tells us: everywhere we look we see that people want to be great at all cost and they are willing to do whatever it takes. In our life, however, happens the same thing. Not all of us will make it to the big screen or to American Idol but all of us know the desire of being great.

In today's Gospel we get an example. An ordinary scene: a mom wants the best for their sons. it's quite common to see parents pushing for their children's success. Sometimes to an excess. This woman is no less than all other moms. And in a way it's not really her fault for what she is asking: probably she didn't hear Jesus saying "If you want to be the greatest, be the servant of all" or that "the Son of Man had to suffer and die and on the third day he will rise again."


She is not been formed and informed by the Word of God. She follows her human instinct and makes the request: "put my children in the spotlight, so that everybody knows how successful they are" ("and finally know what a great mom I really am?") After the words of Jesus, this request sounds like it's out of tune, it clashes against all that Jesus said and done. See what happens when we don't take the Gospel seriously?

We find it hard to accept that greatness comes from service. We want to be heard, and so we scream; we want to assert ourselves, and so we protest. These things in the Kingdom will never work because Jesus told us that is not they way. History proves it: those we consider the greatest today are those who served the most.

It's very tricky. We are really attracted to greatness. We are destined to it but we can't get there on our own and in our own way, especially in the way we are trained to do: by pushing other people down. If someone is really good, does he really need to tell people how bad other peoples are?

Also, today we have new ways of asserting ourselves that make us feel great and grand. We demand that we may talk to the supervisor at the local fast food restaurant because our fries were not as we wanted them. We demand people being fired from their job because they couldn't fulfill our demands properly. I see the same in the Church: we don't agree with the Church so we want to the Pope to step down and put someone else there. From the point of view of the Kingdom, these things sound just as silly as that woman's demand. They are silly because they are motivated by pride, that makes us want to hold on to what we think, what we like. Certainly there are times when we need to speak out and demand justice when people's rights are trampled on. But that is an expression of service, not of pride.

What to do, then? This is another call to remain focused on the Word of God, and let Jesus teach us how to live so that the inner desires of our soul and mind may find true satisfaction. We know now that it is by loving others that we can really be great. It is by focusing on what the person in front of me really needs and make that need my own... this makes us really great.

Then, it's time to go out there and live our "greatness" by loving the other a bit more today than we did yesterday. Who's with me?

Judging with virtues?

Tuesday of 2nd week of Lent. - Daily readings

Today the Word invites us to go deeper into our hearts in order to find the place where our actions and our intentions can become more united. How interesting: today we find Jesus "judging" the Scribes and the Pharisees. As we learned yesterday, the type of judging that we are allowed to do is the kind that makes us "evaluate in order to correct" another. This is what Jesus is doing. But, Why is He so upset? because "All their works are performed to be seen." (Mat 23:5). They have confused a basic tenets of religion: what we do must match what is in our hearts, and viceversa. 

How easy it is to focus only on the externals, believing that if we look holy, then we must be.  Why are they doing things in order to be seen? Because, it will give them satisfaction and made them feel good. What was really motivating them is pride. Usually, Pride leads us to a very dark place and always creates conflicts in our relationships. 

How does Pride work? Pride, the 'general' of the army of sins, makes us believe that "our way" is always the best way, our opinion is the best, etc. Pride makes us grow attached to things rather than people. Pride makes us want to get more things or protect the ones we have. Now, imagine what happens when two proud people get closer to one another: each want something that the other has. Something similar happens in our spiritual life. Just think about most of our conflicts about liturgy. They each based on "what we like," or "what is supposed to be." We want to see "our" way accepted by everybody else. What we want becomes more important than what God says, or what the Church wants us to do. As matter of fact, God's Word and the Church's teaching can easily become secondary if not totally unimportant. 

What can we do? There is a virtue that allows us to act properly: Humility. This is not an easy virtue to understand and I believe there is as much misunderstanding with this virtue as with the concept of Judging. Humility is not an invitation to live with low-self esteem or claiming that we are not good or worthy of anything. Rather the contrary! Humility allows us to tell ourselves the truth about who we are and what we can do. It brings things in perspective and allows us to appreciate what others can do so that balance can be always maintained. Humility allows us to see each other as necessary, as important, as required so that we can really grow and become better persons. Humility makes us understand that the other is a gift to us rather than someone I can exploit in order to feel better about myself. 

Humility is also the doorkeeper of God's grace, according to James 4:6. As we continue to look into our hearts and face our tendency to judge people (in the negative way), we want to start taking our first steps towards the practice of Humility. James, in his letter (chapter 4) tells us that a good place to start practicing this virtue is by stop talking evil, trashing, others, especially other Christians. When we speak evil of others we become their judges and are certainly motivated by pride. Guess what kind of results will this produce? 

How can we grow in humility? By remaining grounded in Jesus' Words. Only He can tell us how to live our lives properly and only He really helps us understand the motivation of our hearts. Let's commit ourselves to live the Word of God at all times. Only in this way, humility will grow in us and with it we will be able to see each person we meet with new eyes. 

Can you really Judge me?

Monday of the 2nd week of Lent - Daily Readings

We begin the second leg of our Lenten Journey. We started on the days after Ash Wednesday by setting our Journey up; last week, we had an opportunity to focus on that which is probably the most difficult aspect of "fasting, alms giving and prayer": to love our neighbor concretely. This week we are going to go a bit deeper into our souls making sure that our actions match what's in our hearts. 

Today the Gospel brought up an interesting question, "can people really judge me?" and, of course, the reverse is also true: "Can I? Should I judge anyone?" 

Where do we start? Jesus gives us the opportunity to focus: "Be merciful, as the Father is merciful." All that we do must be a reflection of what God has done for us and to us. This is, then, the modus operandi, the way we behave: mercifully, lovingly. St Augustine used to say: "Love, and do what you want." And last week we had an opportunity to learn how to do this.

With this in mind, we hear that Jesus tells us "not to judge and not to condemn." It's so difficult to understand these concepts today. Lots of people tell me that they have left the Church because they felt "judged." Yet, does it mean that we are supposed to let people behave as they want because we are not supposed to judge them? 

It doesn't seem to be what is going on here. Yes, Jesus said that we are not to judge unless we are going to be judged as well. And Paul, in 1 Cor 5:12, said that we are to judge each other and in Romans 14:13 he said that we are not to judge one another. So, what are we do to: judge or not to judge? 

The answer is in the understanding of what "to judge" means. What we are forbidden to do is to "be a judge," that is "to pass on a final sentence on someone." This is what God does. At times, when we judge someone, we place that person in a box. We consider someone "bad" or a "thief" or something else, and we will never look at that person differently. When we behave in this way, we behave as a judge. 

On the other way, we are to "judge" each other in the sense of "discerning what one person is doing so that the behavior could be corrected." If we understand that we have the duty to help each other become a saint, than we want to help the other to become aware of some trait or action that may impede him or her to reach the goal - sainthood. It goes without saying that if we are willing to go that way, we must equally willing and ready to hear someone telling us what we have to change in our lives. This kind of "judging" does not put the person in a box and does not pass on a final sentence but becomes an opportunity for both to grow in love, in truth and in holiness. 

The difference between the two meanings of "to judge" is to be found in our hearts. If we want to "incarcerate" our neighbor, then our judging is forbidden; if we want to correct and help the other, then this form of judging can help the community to grow. 

Then, yes... you can really "judge" me. And as matter of fact, you should. But before you do it take a look at what is in your heart and ask yourself: "Am I being merciful as God is?" Then, Go ahead and help me become a saint. 

The true "Secret" of Christianity: Loving Jesus in everyone!

Friday of the 1st Week of Lent - Daily Readings

There is much talk nowadays of a book called the "secret." Apparently, it speaks of an "ancient" way, a way that only few seem to know (unless you get the book and then you are part of that 'club'). It makes me wonder why are we so attracted to these kind of things. The "secret" tells you that if you really want to something, you can really really wish it and the universe will re-arrange itself so that you can get it. Awesome, isn't it? These things appeal to us, I believe, because they take away personal involvement, personal accountability, and most especially personal responsibility. I want it, I wish it, I get it.  Who wouldn't sign up for that? Of course, if you - like me - wish something and you don't get it, you get a clear  answer: you either didn't really want it, or you didn't wish it enough. Possible. Or, maybe, this is not how things work!

We get the same kind of reasoning in today's readings. In the first reading, Ezekiel reminds people that we are all involved in each others well-being. Problems start when we think either that someone "owes" me something or that I don't have to do something for another. So, someone else is responsible for the problems of the world, of the country, of my town, of my family. It's always someone else, and never us individually. 

The reality is simple: we must avoid looking at the problems as "the government's fault, the world's fault, or even God's fault," and start by asking "what is my role in this? what can I do so that I can 'convert' - change my mind on this issue - and take responsibility.

Confronted with the Gospel, we see that in a world that seeks to find always a scapegoat we are invited to look at our own faults and our own righteousness.

Jesus is clear: our righteousness must be bigger than that of the scribes and Pharisees. These guys were famous for being super-righteous. They committed themselves to live every single commandment of God (not just the "10" but also the others, for a total of 613). Now, Jesus really wants us to do that? YES!

And that's where the true "secret" of Christianity comes out. It's simple but it may not get us what we really want. It may, however, make us grow in holiness. And this is worth more than anything!

We live knowing that Jesus is present in each person we encounter and therefore we want to "love Jesus in the other" with the same love and affection we have for Him when we are in Church. It is the same Jesus, after all. We do not have different ones: the one in the Word, in the Assembly, in the Priest, in the tabernacle, etc. It's only one! And the very same one who gives Himself to us on the altar is the same one who lives in our Neighbor.

By keeping this in mind our "righteousness" changes and becomes the kind that He desires. Our relationship with other people change as well; we change also, because we become more ourselves when we love. I am reminded of a song I used to sing all the time when I was younger: "Love and you will understand."

This is the true secret - Jesus lives in each one of us, and if we love Him there we can truly get what our heart desires. The universe doesn't have to re-arrange itself anymore because God (the creator of this "universe") has already poured in us all that we need.

This is our time: this is the time when we can truly make a difference in the world. Let's go out there and love Jesus in everyone.

Touching the Father's heart: loving our enemies

Thursday of the 1st week of Lent - Daily Readings

Another day, another month: a new opportunity to walk towards our goal - to draw nearer to God. So far, we have been invited to focus on the role and place that our neighbor has in our life. He or she is not "in the way," is not an impediment to our walk but, as matter of fact, is really like a trampoline that makes us jump higher. Oh, if we could only understand the role each one of us plays in our lives.

We continue, then. We enter into this new day knowing that God is love and that that will happen to us today is an opportunity to remain focused on Him. We want to grow, therefore, in this awareness: God is with me and I can rely on Him.

Both readings and the Psalm allow us to grow in this sense of confidence. As Christians we are immersed in a world that considers God to be irrelevant. We do so many things throughout the day, and we are so focused on these things that we may forget that God is involved in each one of them. It's easy to live our life as though God is irrelevant to us as well. Many can even think: "Yes, God exists. Yes, God loves me. Yes, God provides. But when it comes to me, I can do it all."

Then, what difference does God make in our life? Unless we live throughout the day with this awareness, then there is very little difference between us and those who don't believe in God.

Prayer is what helps us to remain grounded in this new reality that God gives us - "I am with you till the end." Prayer is the mean through which we communicate with God, we remain connected with Him. It doesn't have to take a lot of time to "tune in" throughout the day. By making an effort (and I know it's going to be more difficult at the beginning but then it gets easier), we can use every single action of the day as an opportunity to "check in" with God. Here are some examples:

What really counts is that you become aware of God in your life. As you go to the day, remember that is more important that you think of Him rather than remembering the content of the handout

As the Alarm Clock goes off and you push the snooze button, say to the Lord: “This is the day you have made for me. Thank you for this gift.” Say one Our Father while you’re still in bed.

As the Morning begins:

•If you prepare lunch for your children or spouse, make sure to say a prayer of blessing for each of them

•As you go to work, as you pull out of the driveway (before putting the gear in Drive_ say to the Lord, “Here I am, Lord, I come to do your will.”

•If you stay at home, as you go through the house, from room to room or even just in one, ask the Lord to bless the house and those who live in it. Say to Him, “As for me and my household, we shall serve the Lord.”

At Lunch Time: make sure you say grace before meal. If you can, be quite for at least 5 minutes. At the beginning of your quite time say “Speak, o Lord, your servant is listening.” At the end of the 5 minutes say one Our Father.

In the Evening: as the family gathers, make sure you pay attention to each person. Make eye contact and smile. At the end of each “one on one encounter” say to the Lord, “Bless him/her, o Lord.”

As you get ready to fall asleep, think about the day and, if you can and want, write down on a journal or index card at the least three things you considered a blessing today. Tell the Lord something that is pressing onto your heart. End the day with another Our Father. Say to the Lord, “Thank you for this day. Keep me and my family safe throughout the night.”

How far do we go with our prayer? We must go as far as we can. This means that we can also start making a difference in the life of people whom we don't care about: our enemies. Yes, today we can really make a special effort and start praying for those who have hurt us, have spoken ill of us. We can pray for our enemies and, maybe, moved by the empowering presence of the Spirit in us, we can make a loving gesture for them. Jesus clearly told us that we have to Love our Enemies. Love must be concrete but it's not easy. That's why we prepare oureslves to love them by praying for them and then we can take a little step towards concrete Love.

How do we pray for our enemies? In the most loving way. We ask God to make that person as happy as we would like to be, with no string attached.

Prayer always leads us to life and is shaped by our life. We never escape life through prayer. We are ready to take this further step. Let's invade the world with supernatural love, love that comes from the heart of God into ours through "real" prayer. 

As we touch the Father's heart through our prayer, let's bring to Him everything and be an extension of His arm that touches all people, especially those who are farthest from Him and from us: our enemies.