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