DailyWalk Heavenwards

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

2012-03-02T10:50:00.002-05:00

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

2012-03-01T07:59:00.000-05:00

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.

Making myself one with other or Supernatural Empathy

2012-02-29T09:13:00.000-05:00

Wednesday of the 1st week of Lent - Daily Readings

I like reading the book of Jonah. It speaks to me on so many levels. Nineveh is the opposite of Jerusalem. It's the place where "those other people" live, those who do not belong to our "club." If I change Nineveh with "the world" (or my town) and Jerusalem with "the Church" I can see why the book speaks to me - it challenges me to look at the world out there and forces me to think of new ways in which I, like Jonah, can bring the message of God's reconciliation.

The most comforting thing about the story of Jonah is that God's Love for the Ninevites was stronger than Jonah's reluctance and inability to see past his points of view. He's the most successful prophet and yet he's the most callous and capricious one. As someone who wants to live the Gospel I have to come to term with this reality: God's message must be offered to all, regardless of what I may feel about a particular group of people. If someone becomes the "object" of God's love, I have to love them with God's love, I must love them as "loved by God."

Not an easy task, I am the first to admit. But there is no way out. What matters is that I "repent and believe the Good News." I have to change my mind about those people. This is where, I think, Jonah failed - he was not able to see the Ninevites for who they really were, God's children. Jonah let his feelings and ideas get in the way.

The Gospel offers us another way. We are learning from Jesus that we are to Love Everybody. Then, we must be The First To Love. Now, Jesus is teaching something new: when we go out there and open ourselves to others in love, and be the first one to initiate love, we must go and "share people's joys and hurts." In other words, when I encounter another person, I want to live what they are living, understand their points of view, feel what they are feeling - both joys and sorrows.

If Jesus prayed that "All May be one as we are one so that the world may believe" (jn 17:21) then today I want to love the other by "making myself one" with him or her. Jesus did the same with me: He left heaven and became human. He made himself one with me in all things but sin. He felt what I feel. He did this because He loved me. When someone talks to me, I do not want to think of anything else but I want to focus on what they are saying. If they are sharing with me a painful situation, then I want to open myself to the point of feeling that sorrow myself, so that the other may know that he is not carrying it alone.

Loving in this way will generate love in the other. Love is the most powerful way in which God leads us closer to Him. Then, I want to love as Jesus did - making myself one with all those people I encounter today. It's "supernatural" empathy.

Like Jonah, I want to go into the new "Nineveh" and proclaim that God loves them, and that He is inviting us to make different choices, choices that will not destroy us. Unlike Jonah, however, I want to go there and not be indifferent to people's pains, hardship, etc. I want to share with them their joys and sorrows. I want to make myself "one" with them because that's what Jesus did. Loving this way will make the message of the Gospel more credible.

This is going to be, perhaps, the hardest of my lenten sacrifices. It's easier to give up chocolate or pizza; it's harder to love as Jesus did. Yet, I know that only this kind of love will really allow me to encounter the Risen One already living in our midst.

This is going to be a great day!!!!!!!

Be the First

2012-02-28T10:03:00.000-05:00

Tuesday of the 1st week of lent - Daily readings

Lent is a journey that leads us to the heart of Christianity: God's love for us expressed concretely and fully in the death and resurrection of Jesus. Lent clearly tells us that Christianity is a life lived concretely, shaped by God's love. Love has only one desire: unity between Lover and Beloved.

Yesterday, we meditated on the fact that God wants to see and love in us what He sees and loves in Christ. The more we live as Jesus did, the clearer our identity as Baptized and the Love of God gets stronger in us. We take a further step, today; we now look up and look at God. And the Spirit in us cries out "Abba, Father."

We dare to call God "Our Father." How many times have we said this prayer? 1,000? 10,000? 100,000? Yet, how many times have we actually paid attention to what we said? Immediately we understand something that is very important: God is not only something we talk about but must especially someone we talk to. This someone is a person who relates to us in Love. God is someone that allows us to relate to Him in the most human of all relationships: parent-child. "Father." Regardless of our experience with our earthly fathers, we know that behind this word there is all that our hearts desire: needs for guidance, protection, comfort, support, etc. This is who God wants to be for us. The word Father also leads us to think of relationships. To be a Father means that there is a family. To call God our Father means that we believe we are never alone: not only God is always with us but that we have brothers and sisters all around us. There are many people who dare to call God in the same way. While they relate to Him, they also claim a relationship with us.

Lent is a journey that leads us to the heart of Christianity: here we find that what God's love does in us is to transform our single "I" into a "We."Becoming aware of this reality, that we are a family, allows us also to grow in hope and joy. We are not in this alone. We can rely on each others.

Praying the Our Father also allows us to understand that God wants us to be involved in His work. Since the beginning of creation, God created Adam and wanted him to be involved in creation. This work of sub-creation has not ended. We know we continue the work of the Father everywhere we go.

Every word we say, every gesture we draw carry the imprint of the one who Loves us. Whenever we meet someone, our words are like a seed that can be planted into the heart of this person. The seed. we hope, will grow into a Tree, the Kingdom of God that lives in each one of us.

Yesterday we learned that we are to love everyone. Today, we want to take a further step and be the first to love. We want to be those who can't wait to plant the seed of God's love into people's heart. We do not wait for the other to be loving towards us; we love first. If the other doesn't respond to our love, we continue to love. We believe that the seed planted will not return to God without bringing fruit. We hope and pray that all the people we love today will be part of our Bouquet of Love that we want to offer our Father when we see Him face to face.

To Love Everyone

2012-02-27T09:18:00.007-05:00

Monday of the 1st week of Lent - Daily Readings

The Lenten Journey continues. The Word of God allows us to focus on the "practices" of Lent. This Journey cannot be made by ourselves alone: although we have to take a step as individuals, we can become saints together. The other, the neighbor is necessary for our journey.

How do we relate to others? What roles do others have in our life, in our Christian life? Lent helps us to focus on our relationship with God; the Sacrament of Reconciliation is typically and largely celebrated during Lent. When we take a look at our lives, we immediately realize that we fall short - we have not responded properly to God's love. For this we ask to be reconciled with Him.

But there is no reconciliation with God without a reconciliation with our neighbor. At times we fall so easily into this terrible trap: we believe that it's only about "Jesus and me." But there is no such a thing as "solitary sin." A true and honest Christian life cannot be lived without taking into consideration that we can love God as we love the other.

Today we are reminded of this: the ultimate judgment will be based on how much we loved. I wish it were based on how much we prayed, or how much we learned, or how much we have given to the Church or to charities. Instead, it will all about our concrete love for the one who is next to me.

Why? The goal of Christianity is not to score points with God by saying a prayer here and there or to drop a coin in the box. The goal is to become a "saint," that is, to let God transform me (with my free help and agreement) in becoming another Christ. In other words, God wants us to become more and more like Him. This is accomplished by entering into a relationship with God which allows us to become what we celebrate. Therefore, our prayers, our works of charities and our practices are meant to support this transforming relationship.

IF God is love, then only Love can make us more like Him. The more we love as He has loved us, the more God can see in us what He sees and loves in Christ (as one of the Sunday Prefaces says). God's love for us is concrete, real, and free. It's proper to respond in kind: we want to love Him as He loved us - with a concrete, real and free way. Now, Jesus told us that He wants us to love Him in a particular way: by loving each other. Then, our love for each other must be concrete, real and free. The more we do this, the more we get closer to God. Simply, no? Maybe... but certainly not easy.

This is the week we focus on this love. Today we simply focus on this: to love everyone. Everyone! We are going to have so many opportunities today. People who passes by, people who at at the stores we go in, people who interacts with us. Every single time, we can say to ourselves "here's my chance to love Jesus" and we forget about ourselves and we are feeling at that time and we open ourselves to Him who lives in the other. The more we will do this, the more we realize that we are becoming more and more like Him.

The Journey Begins with a Choice

2012-02-23T09:38:00.001-05:00

Thursday after Ash Wednesday - Daily Readings

The Journey really begins today. After the big celebration of yesterday, with Crowds and Ashes, we take our first steps. God immediately helps us to remained focused on what this is all about: LIFE.

Life. As I look around, as I read in the newspapers, watch on television and as I hear people speak, I am growing more and more aware that we are losing the meaning of this word. We live our life, yes, but we don't consider it for what it is anymore. We are so used to it that we have cheapened it.

I am pro-life. Not only in matters of abortion but in matters of daily life Living life fully; abundantly, as Jesus told us. I am pro-life because clearly God is. It's not matter of being just pro-birth; life must be lived everyday, and we can only do that if we remain attached to the source of true life.

We have become indifferent to life and this is the worst situation ever. I believe we passed the "culture of death" stage. Now, people don't seem to care about life itself.

How can we, therefore, make sense of what God is telling us today? "I offer you a choice: life or death? It's up to you but I really, really want you to choose life." I can hear many people saying, as they shrug their shoulders, "Whatever!"

We cannot journey without this choice. We can choose Life, and even though we may not really feel excited about it or understand what this really means, we can trust in God and, by faith, jump in.

Jesus tells us how to do this. With God things always seem to work "upside down." He tells that the best way to start expereicing Life is to lose one's life. Jesus is proposing us a very strange logic. It is the logic of the Cross, of the seed that dies in order to bring life.

We are to die to ourselves in order to live our life. This is, after all, what's behind Lent, behind our Lenten Practices and "sacrifices," behind our commitment to Journey with Jesus.

It means that I have to choose to "die" to my own selfish desires, to that voice that is in me that wants me to do everything my own way (this is a form of fasting from one's own desires). I have to choose to bring life: to make sure that during this Lent I can focus on others first (this is also a form of almsgiving).

I am ready to die to myself and be the first to give life, the first to love. What a plan for Lent!!

I found this note in a notebook I have: today, make two lists - on one I can write all those things that I do, as habit or skills or choices, that have been impacted others positively. On the other, I can write all the thigns that always create conflict with others. WIth God, as I look at Jesus on the Cross, I can start choosing which one we can start uprooting.

It's the "heart" of the Journey - choosing Life at all cost, the Life that God has made it possible for us to enjoy.

Let's put our trust in God and continue to live our life fully. Everyday. The whole day.

Lent, Ashes and Special Time

2012-02-22T17:33:00.002-05:00

Ash Wednesday - Readings of the Day

I can't believe it's Lent again. I feel as though only a few weeks ago I finished sending my Christmas "Thank you" cards. It's an interesting experience, though: realizing that Time passes by, too fast, and I can't seem to catch up. Why? I have been obviously focusing on so many things except the "present moment."

Lent is a special time, when together we take a special journey for a very special reason; we are not vagabond but pilgrims - we have a goal, a destination. The goal is a stronger Union with God.

It's a time of retreat, of meditation. It's God-Time, that which doesn't seem to pass and yet it's always new. We have to enter into this kind of time and look at us from the point of view of God.

The journey of Lent has two elements: one that is always the same and one that changes. The part that is always the same: reception of Ashes, "Giving up something," prayer, fasting and almsgiving. The part that is (or should be) always new: the part of me that needs redeeming, needs to be united with God, needs to be reformed.

(for example: What one gives up must be somehow attached to this part. One could give up chocolate if he realizes that I find consolation in food, in sweets, etc; another could give up Television if she depends on entertainment in order to avoid silence, and reflection. Yet, others could give up alcohol if they rely too much on the exuberance or escapism that it creates in them. And so on...)

Lent is more than just "giving something up." It's opening up to God who wants to do something New in us - wants us to create a new life in us. We give up and fast because we want to open ourselves up to HIs love and love Him as He wants to be loved: by caring for others (alms-giving). And love is always based on a relationship (prayer).

This is the day when the goals can be written down. Which part of my true self needs to be redeemed by God's grace? What can I do to open myself up to God so He transform that part of my self? What penance can I offer so that I can let Him transform me?

This Lent must be different from the previous one because I am different from last year.What I am going to do to respond and move closer to God but must different as well.

Am I ready for this new Journey? This is God's special time. It's OUR Time together. My Yes to Him begins with Ashes and will end in the great light of resurrection.

How far will He Go to make us Whole?

2012-02-12T20:23:00.001-05:00

VI Sunday in Ordinary Time - Readings -

I continue to reflect on the words of the demon: does Jesus have anything to do with us? Mark shows us that God cares about us more than we can imagine. Jesus is obviously preoccupied with making people well, touching them, taking them by the hand. I have seen it many times in this chapter: the same deamon-possessed man, Simon's mother in law, and the many that were brought to him.

But, how far is God willing to go? He is willing to go quite far, and reach out to those who were the worse, the people who have been cast aside, considered to be living corpses: the lepers. Leprosy is not only a matter of medical attention but also, and most especially, as a spiritual matter: leprosy, more than any other illnesses clearly shows the effects of sin on us - sin disfigures us, and destroy us. Healing from leprosy was almost impossible. A leper had the same chances of being healed as a dead person had to be raised from the dead. Therefore, only God had the power to heal a leper.

Yet, as Jesus walks a man stops Him. It's a leper and he, for some strange reason has the intuition that Jesus is different. He begs him and says "If you are willing, you can make me clean." He does not say: "If you are willing, you can ask God to make me clean." The leper knows that Jesus can do only what God can do.

Jesus touches him and heals him immediately. But then He sends him away with two clear directives: tell no one about what happened and go to the priest to be declared "clean." It was in the man's best interest to comply, most especially to the second request. I am sure he wanted to be reconciled with the family and return to his social life. This is an interesting twist: Jesus behaves as though he is above "the law," but He does not think we are - the man has to follow the purity laws! Nobody is above the law!

How about the first request. Obviously he disobeyed. Yes, he proclaimed to many the Good News and many went to Jesus. But I can't avoid thinking about his disobedience to a direct command; I can see also the consequence of such disobedience: Jesus could no longer enter into towns. How ironic: the leper couldn't enter his own town and was forced to live outside, now it is Jesus who cannot. They almost switched places. Jesus is indeed the one who took upon Himself our sins.

But the fact remains: Jesus could not longer enter into a town openly. I think: how many times our disobedience did not allow Jesus to continue to carry own His plan (I remember that He told the disciples that He wanted to leave Capernaum because he wanted to go to the nearby villages). How many times our disobedience keeps Jesus away from our hearts, our homes, our workplaces...

Thankfully, God's grace always finds its way. The people came to Him....

Jesus' cleaning touch is transforming. I can touch Him everyday, receive him into my own life; now I have to bring His touch to all the people out there and help them understand that God cares about us, about them and that the demons were lying (what else is new!). We can truly experience Jesus' new life only when we gladly obey His Word and enthusiastically share His Love with all people

What are the demons saying?

2012-01-31T11:34:00.002-05:00

Between Sunday and Monday we have been looking at some demons. They are different stories but to me they had something in common. The demons told Jesus the same thing. Oddly, it's what I hear when people tell me why they don't come to Church anymore. Coincidence? May be not!

"What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth?" How many people think that Jesus doesn't have anything to do with them? This is the lie that the devil is spreading: God doesn't care. I believe that many of us bring this belief even to our Churches: Yes, we know God exists but our lives don't intersect. We go to Church because it's what we do, but... God caring for us? Really? NAH.

I believe that it's time for us to listen to the demons. If this is what they are telling people, we want to be ready and make sure that people hear the truth: God is interested in them, God cares because He loves us.

God's love and care for each one of us must be the starting point of any conversation we can have with people. It's the first point of the "new evangelization" and of any true Christian spirituality. No wonder Pope Benedict chose this topic as his first encyclical.

How can we be witnesses of God's love for us? Do we really believe that God has something to do with us?

Authority of Jesus and "our little demons."

2012-01-29T06:21:00.002-05:00

From: Très Riches Heures du Duc de Berry

IV Sunday in Ordinary Time - Readings of the Day

Jesus gathered his first followers as He walked around the lake. He called them to follow Him and to be His collaborators ("I'll make you fishers of men."). I also follow Him and in faith I begin a new adventure, my Holy Journey.

Jesus stops at Capernaum, a large city, and goes to the synagogue. He's given permission to do the teaching; He's already known in town and people heard about Him and respected Him enough to invite Him to teach. We are not told what He was saying. Perhaps some of his radical ideas were already being preached; we know that people recognized in His words something different, something new. Jesus knows what He's talking about and His teaching, somehow, connects to life making it more meaningful, more bearable, more ... alive. This preaching is contrasted with that of "the other guys," who, according to what we know, just recited quotes and notes of other great Rabbis. Jesus' preaching is sees as fully of "authority" not because He was telling or ordering them what to do but because He was telling them how to live. As a preacher I find myself challenged to take a look at my form of preaching and do an "examination of conscience."

I am sure their preaching was interesting but apparently it didn't move anyone; in the midst of the congregation there is a man with an unclean spirit. What is an unclean spirit doing in a place of worship? Is it possible that he was so comfortable there? We certainly have to admit that evil is a reality and "it" can live in our midst, even in places where we think would be safe from its influence. Thinking that our Churches are off-limit to demons is foolish. The fight between good and evil has no demilitarized zone. Confronted with a life fully lived, the unclean spirit can't take it anymore and engages Jesus' teaching.

It's interesting to see that the evil spirit reacted only at the teaching and words of Jesus; this is another example of the power of the Word of God: it makes us aware of our "little demons," those ugly things we carry with us. The more we strive to live the Word the more Jesus gives us the power to face our own evil and eventually He takes our demons out.

This man was "filled with" an evil spirit. It's a spirit that stands against all that God desires for us. While Jesus has come to give us life, demons take our life and, although they promise to give us all that we want, we always find ourselves diminished, belittled and all together "less human" than we were before. Every time we are "filled" with our own pride, our own points of view, with all that goes against God and His vision for all of us, we have to question ourselves if we need to start again. We need to pray that God will allow us to see more clearly what fills our hearts....

"What have you to do with us? Have you come to destroy us?" How many times we also think that Jesus has nothing to do with us, nothing to do with our lives. We put Him somewhere on a shelf and expect Him to stay there until the following Sunday. But Jesus has a lot to do with us! A lot to do with our everyday life, and Yes! He has come to destroy all that our pride has created, all that separates us from others, from God and from ourselves.

"I know who you are...." Even the devils know who Jesus is. In the story of the Temptations, we learned that the devils even know the Bible. Knowledge by itself cannot do much, we need to live what we know. This is the difference between us and the demons. We can live the life of Grace. They can't.

Jesus takes care of the demon with very few words. "Be quite!" or "Be muzzled." Demons confuse us by making us think and talk too much. We need to "have the mind of Christ" (1 Cor 2:16). And we can only have it if we fill it with His Word and constantly meditate upon them and act accordingly. Falsehood is not defeated by arguing with it but by standing on the Truth. And the Truth for us is a person who left us His Word as the only guidance. As a Church, we collectively and individually, proclaim and live out the Gospel. Standing on this Rock, we will stand secure. But it starts with a choice... God cannot force us.

The destructive power of evil is mostly seen when someone tries to get rid of it. Sometimes we are so deeply involved with evil that liberation is physically demanding. Jesus is after the well-being of the host not of the demons. He's not influenced by the shrieks and convulsions of the man; it's part of what needs to happen in order to be set free. Freedom is worth a bit of suffering! Never give up, Jesus is there with His grace!

People are amazed; they have seen Jesus' authority changing someone's life. They have seen that His teaching is "integrated," it's not just words, theory, nice thoughts but something that can change lives.

Ever since that day in Capernaum, Jesus has continued to offer all of us freedom from the snares of evil. We can come to Him for liberation but we have to acknowledge his authority on us. Do His Words bind us? mean anything to us? They have the power to give us new life, but are we willing to take and use this power?

It's the beginning of a new adventure: a life lived in Freedom under the authority of Jesus. How do we respond?

Falling from a horse is not required

2012-01-25T07:34:00.002-05:00

Jan 25th - Conversion of St. Paul - readings of the day

Our life as followers of Jesus may or may not begin or have dramatic moments of conversions like Paul's. Although my personal life did not have moments as dramatic as Paul's, but I can certainly say that I had moments in which I faced truly the "Truth" that made me a different kind of person. All of us, therefore, have a moment in which we "convert," we become aware that we have to change our way and respond to God's love and grace.

The Conversion of Paul is recorded and given to us for many reasons: historically speaking, it's the event that represent the major turning point in the spreading of Christianity - Paul's strenuous effort to share his experience of Jesus Christ as risen from the dead gave birth to "the Church as we know it." It is also given to us for another reason: we are called to convert constantly, to move from our opinions to God's will, from our sinfulness to God's grace. This has to happen over and over again.

Paul is a vivid example of what this conversion is all about. He put so many Christians to death because he couldn't understand how the Messiah could be put to death on the Cross. He was not an evil man, but simply unable to understand that God is bigger than himself. How many times I claim to know what God is doing and really become a hindrance to His grace. I pray to St Paul that he may pray with me and for me so that I, too, may "fall from the horse" and surrender to God's grace.

I like what Pope Benedict says about Paul's conversion:

"Paul's conversion matured in his encounter with the RisenChrist; it was this encounter that radically changed his life. What happenedto him on the road to Damascus is what Jesus asks in today's Gospel: Saulis converted because, thanks to the divine light, "he has believed in theGospel". In this consists his and our conversion: in believing in Jesusdead and risen and in opening to the illumination of his divine grace.In that moment Saul understood that his salvation did not depend on goodworks fulfilled according to the law, but on the fact that Jesus died alsofor him the persecutor and has risen. This truth by which every Christianlife is enlightened thanks to Baptism completely overturns our way of life.To be converted means, also for each one of us, to believe that Jesus "hasgiven himself for me", dying on the Cross (cf. Galatians 2: 20) and, risen,lives with me and in me. Entrusting myself to the power of his forgiveness,letting myself be taken by his hand, I can come out of the quicksands ofpride and sin, of deceit and sadness, of selfishness and of every falsesecurity, to know and live the richness of his love." (from addressgiven on January 25, 2009)

As followers of Jesus, we are invited today to become aware of the great gift that God has given us: to be called to be members of His household, His body. It happened on the day of our Baptism, the moment in which a new creation happens in us.

Do I understand what it means to be a Baptized? Do I understand that everyday I have to renew this Baptism, and join in the death and resurrection of Christ? This is what it means to be converted: put the "old man" (as St Paul called the "old self," or as I call it, "the even twin," the part in me that wants to take over, do it my way...)

How can we convert ourselves? The death of the old self happens when we focus our mind fully on His Word. By letting the Gospel become "Good News" to us, we embrace His way and everytime the evil twins wants to come up, we can bless ourselves (if possible), or simply tell Jesus to help us to die to ourselves and give us the grace to rise up with Him.

Christian: Family or Bystanders?

2012-01-24T07:57:00.000-05:00

Tuesday of 3rd in Ordinary Time - Readings of the day

I am called to follow Jesus and become a "fisher of men." Jesus called the first disciples and made them what they were, fishermen. Yet, something new was added. They were sent to fish for people. This is always what is at the center of God's heart: people, not things. By becoming "fishers of men" we also see that our dignity is lifted up. We become what God is looking for.

There is a double call: to follow Jesus and to be a fisherman. I cannot help but thinking of the "new evangelization" the Church asks us to do. It is by following Him that we can invite others to join us. To become a Christian is not to enroll in a class or in a program. It's to let Him transform my whole life.

As I follow Him I find myself invited to become part of something bigger, something that I have never could have been part if I were not invited: become member of God's household as a family member. It's a nice and conforting thought but quite challenging. As I see Jesus' own family members taking a central role today, I wonder: do I know I am part of God's family? When I see and hear Jesus, do I stay outside or go in and sit with Him? When I see what Jesus does in the world today, do I hinder His ministry or actually help Him?

It's a fine line. Sometimes I want to be surrounded by strongly committed people, who are uplifting and inspiring and then I see Him calling the poor, unfortunate and the sick. Sometimes I want Him to strengthen me to move ahead in my life and instead He asks me to take care of the outsider. Sometimes I want to get to now Him more intimately but He calls me to go out into the world. I desire the intimacy of a family and a small group of friends, and He calls everyone to be part of it.

What do I do? where do I go? Do i follow my desires and wants or do I follow Him? do I help or hinder? do I stay outside or do I go in and be with Him? I think that Jesus' family went there with good intentions: I am sure they saw him overworked and tired. They wanted him to take a break. And that is good but probably it wasn't the right time. Do I also withdraw sometimes thinking that "it's good for me to take a break from living the Gospel?"

Something amazing happens when we allow ourselves to follow Jesus: we become family. His family. God's family. How can I really understand this reality? I dare calling God my father but do I understand the consequences? If I call God my Father, then each person who does the same is member of the same family. This is a stronger reality than the natural family because it is God who binds us together. How do I see the other? Even in my own church? Are they my brothers and sisters, or simply people who pass by?

It's tough to talk about family nowadays; I am quite aware that many people have very different ideas and experience of what a family is and how family members live with one another. Too many times I see people living like roommates, using each other for whatever they need and want. It's only natural, then, that talking about family can be misunderstood. How can I understand this reality properly? Obviously, what Jesus has in mind is quite different than what goes on today in many households. He was thinking of people who make reciprocal love their only rule of conduct, people who desire to be together, work together, and share life's burdens and joys. Is it like this today in our churches? If not, what can I do? how can I change things? how can I change myself and start experiencing God's love?

"Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother." Here's how! It's forgetting all about my desires, wants and needs. Empty myself so that I can live the Word of God and start changing my point of view. This is an invitation to embrace His will. Seems easy! But I can take little steps everyday: I can find His will in His Word, the Gospel especially. The Ten Commandments, the directives the Church gives me to live a christian life. What matters is that I start today to say Yes to His will and enjoy whatever He is going to do with me.

After all, I have chosen to live in His houseld, not as a bystander but as a family member.

Am I going to be a murder or a lifebringer today?

2012-01-05T07:58:00.001-05:00

January 5th - Readings of the day

He comes and calls us to follow Him. This encounter with Him and His invitation change us completely: both from within and from without. Following Jesus is never only a matter of the "spirit" or the heart but it's a life lived fully.

I continue my meditation on the first letter of John. After speaking about how much God loves us and how much this love transforms us making us His children, he invited me to think about how my life really reflects this transforming love. John clearly states that those who are children of God do not sin anymore. What?!? Certainly he is saying that once we accept the invitation of God we stop doing certain things which are considered sinful and focus on doing others which are considered virtuous. But even when we commit an individual act of sin we should not loose our hope because we have someone interceding for us with the Father. This is certainly a life lived in a deep and intimate Fellowship with God.

But now things seem to be getting more demanding. The love that I have received from God, this new life that God has "planted in me" with the "seed" of the Holy Spirit has to germinate. The fruits are seen and found in the way I live my life and my relationships with others, starting with those who are members of the Community. Everything is regulated by Reciprocal Love.

This is the key to live a fully developed and mature Christian love. A choice is given: Cain or Christ? Which of the two most represents me? It is interesting to notice that both lives are motivated by a relationship with God. Cain slaughtered Abel because God did not accept his sacrifice but Abel's. This makes me think: does my "spirituality" make me "murder" my neighbor when I don't get my way? or, like Christ, do I bring life? Is this why John says that whomever does not love their neighbor is a murder?

Christ clearly came to bring life and life in abundance. How did He do it? By loving to the end (John 13:1). If I claim to be a Christian, that is another Christ, how can I justify my lack of love?

I have to choose how to live my life: will be a murderer? or a a reflection of God's love that brings others to life? Hmmm..... how does this concept carry over all my relationships, especially with those who don't agree or persecute the Church, or.... ? my leadership style? Is there ever a good reason for not being loving?

Christmas Witness Program

2012-01-02T08:18:00.001-05:00

January 2 - Readings of the Day

After a week spent looking at the manger and contemplating the great gift that God has given us, the gift of His own self, now I am asked to look at my relationship with this mystery. How do I react to the coming of the Lord into my life? What kind of life am I supposed to live now that I know that God is with us?

As I continue to meditate on 1 John, I hear in the background the controversies that were going on at that time; although a bit different, these controversies are still going on today: Who is Jesus? And what does it have to do with me?

How strong the temptation to romanticize the "first time" of Christianity, when everybody seemed to get along, when they understood who Jesus is, lived out His words and were filled with the Holy Spirit. The reality is that they struggled more than I do in understanding who Jesus is. I have the luxury of standing on the shoulder of the great thinkers of early Christianity, from John to Basil and Gregory (whom we remember today). Yes, they struggle to understand who Jesus was: was He simply a powerful and spiritual man? was He God? but if He is either a man or God, then what does salvation mean? Today these questions can only find a bit more clarity then at the time of John, since they are all a mystery... but we all struggle.

The struggle points to something deep and important: if we stay with what Jesus said, and we understand Him correctly than we can talk about a fellowship with God, about a deeper communion and union with Him. This is what we have been called to: sharing in God's life as He now shares in ours.

But how can I do that? How can I grow in this relationship? The story of John in the Gospel helps me. Before the manger I hear, too, hear the question: "Who are you?" and "what do you say about yourself?" I need to answer these questions. If I want to proclaim Jesus as Messiah, I have no other choice but to answer these questions.

"I am not the Messiah, the Christ." This is how John answers. This is how I am supposed to answer, too. "I am Not...."If I say that Jesus is the Messiah, the Savior, the Redeemer than I say that I am NOT all those things. But, as I keep my eyes on the manger, I know that these opposing realities are now merged into one as a "holy exchange". I am not the Savior but I live as a "saved" person. I am not the redeemer but I live as a redeemed.

This is what I want to witness, then. The "holy exchange" is a reality and we can live our lives together with God. Ultimately, the truth comes up again: we are more truly ourselves when we think less about ourselves.

It's time to start a new kind of Christian Witness Program.

Peace and blessing: from where?

2011-12-31T16:14:00.001-05:00

Dec 31-Jan 1 - Mary, Mother of God - Readings of the Day -

It's the last day of the year. The liturgy is filled with images and thoughts: end of the year, day of peace and the solemnity of Mary, the mother of God. Is it too much? How can I focus when all these things, apparently competing with each other, fill my mind and take all my attention?

Actually, when I let the Spirit guide me through the readings I can see that everything is there. Mary takes the prominent place even though she does and says nothing: she is the background against which all the characters in the Gospel act and make the Good News of Christmas a new reality for all of us.

Because of her Yes to God's Will, we have now received not just "a" Blessing from God; we have now the source of all Blessings living in our midst as we let Him be born and re-born in us. In the First Reading, we hear that God keeps His face shining before us, and He is gracious to us.

What does that mean? Before the coming of Jesus, God's people were afraid to see His face because they knew they would die. Now His face is a human face: it's Jesus' face. We can gaze upon Him and see God's own; more surprisingly, we can see it reflected upon each other's face. It seems natural, when we see a newborn baby, to see if the baby looks more like the mother or the father. Now that we have all made God's children, we all have something of our Father in heaven impressed on our face. Each person I meet looks a bit like Jesus (or viceversa). Every time I see myself in the mirror I can courageously say that I look a bit like God and when I talk to whomever is before me, I have to develop and keep a sense of awe because I am talking to someone who is related to God.

The Lord be gracious to you. It's a way of saying that now the Lord has turned His face towards you, looking at you. It's the beginning of a new type of relationship with God, one that begins by looking at Him and call Him "father." What a privilege we have to call Him this way. How can I grow in this awareness this upcoming year? How can I make a new year resolution to grow in this intimacy that is proper of a child with the Father?

Beginnings are hard... but possible

2011-12-29T07:47:00.002-05:00

December 29 - Fifth day of Christmas - Readings of the Day.

Christmas time is almost overwhelming. Since the celebration of Christmas Masses, I have been taken - once again - but the maddening Love that God has for us: "The Word became flesh and dwelt among us." For me, this is truly the most scandalous verse in the Bible. This is the verse that motivates me and urges me to do whatever it takes so the reality of "Jesus living in our midst" can be experienced by many.

As a Church we are meditating on the stories of the Birth of Christ and we have as a background the First Letter of John. We hear powerful words: fellowship, light/darkness, love/hate.

If we believe that Christ is truly born, then we can live a new type of lifestyle: we are in fellowship with God and with one another; if we believe that Christ is truly born, then we see the world differently because He is the light that pierces through the darkness; if we believe that Christ is born, then we see each other differently and we realize that the Fellowship we have with God is lived out by loving each other.

How often I see Christianity reduced to some form of devotionalism ("I say my prayers, I go to a prayer meeting or adoration... I am fine with God"), or a form of activism ("I do a lot of charity work, so I am doing fine") or a form of Gnosticism ("I read a lot/know a lot about God... so I am fine"). But John the Evangelist tells us that our life as Christian is based on a Fellowship: all these things, prayer, works of Charity and learning about God, sustain our fellowship but do take its place. But fellowships point to a relationship and these are "lived out" every day, concretely. And this is the hardest part of Christianity: living out a coherent lifestyle.

Today we take a further step. I read somewhere "Beginnings are hard." How true is that! Every time I start something new I always feel mixed emotions: enthusiasm and excitement but also anxiety that comes from knowing that I am about to do something new. How appropriate that we read this Gospel passage today: in the Presentation of the Lord to the Temple we see the "old and the new" meeting each other. While I see "Prophecy" and "Fulfillment" dialoguing together, I can't help thinking of my old year and the new one. These two dimensions do not take each other out but complement and must be integrated.

Our life of Fellowship with God and Neighbor is hard. The reading given to us today makes us aware that this Fellowship must be concrete. John helps us by making us aware of two things: 1) we must live the Word (this will help up to avoid turning Christianity into something made in our own image); 2) we must focus on Reciprocal Love. This last point seems to be the obsession of John. I understand who important Reciprocal Love is. Only when we love we can experience and understand Christianity fully.

Then I know how we can continue to live these days of Christmas: clothing ourselves with the Word and let the Word of God shapes every gesture of ours so that by the way we Love one another we can let Jesus be born everywhere and in everyone we meet today.

This Christmas leads us to new beginnings. They are hard, but with Christ with us they can be possible.

Lowliness

2011-12-22T07:54:00.004-05:00

22 December - Readings of the Day

"He has looked upon his lowly servant."

"My only ideal in life is to be the servant to whom the Lord gives the place He wants in His own heart and who desires only that I be faithful" (Teilhard de Chardin, my translation)

As the Advent season gets closer to its end, I am given the image of two mothers who able to see past beyond the life-changing events of their lives and are able to praise the Lord with a song. Certainly the situations are quite different: Hannah and Mary are on the opposite spectrum of life but it is what they have in common that seems to strike my attention today: they are both "lowly."

What does it mean? Who is the lowly? The dictionary based definition refers to the lowly as the "one who is humble, low in a position of honor before another who is greater." In Scripture the lowly is the one who before God is able to claim dependence and total reliance for everything. God always seems to prefer this claim so that He can do "great things."

Preparing for Christmas, therefore, requires a sense of lowliness, a sense of openness to one who is able to accomplish what we can't. How paradoxical that the image of the Greater One who comes to save is that of a vulnerable Child. Maybe this is also given to us a way of breaking away from our belief that only the strong can face battle. Mary's Magnificat seem to agree: those ones, those who rely upoin their strength, their possessions, their talents and gifts are diplaced and replaced by those who can't do a thing but they rely on God to finish up what they started.

What happens when we embrace lowliness ? We are able to see the "great riches" that God wants us to have and enjoy. Certainly not the kind of riches that allows us be stronger and more separated from Him, but that sense of fulfillment and meaning that our lives need in order to thrive, in order to be ourselves.

When we realize that lowliness leads to "new and great riches" we understand why people choose to rely on God and are willing to do His will: it brings out the best of ourselves, the best IN ourselves. Doing the will of God is truly the smartest and healthiest thing we do for ourselves.

Then, like Mary and Hannah, I want to sing a song today, a song thankfulness because He's allowing me to grow in the image of His Son which will lead me to be truly who I am.

I say Yes again; I say Yes and I commit myself to rely on His today... in all that I do, no matter how big or insignificant this might be. I know that He will do great things and in them and through them I will be greatly enriched.

Visited and Visiting.

2011-12-21T07:45:00.000-05:00

December 21 - Readings of the Day

Today is the shortest day of the year. The theme of the increment of light seems to be present in the Word as well. The light of the world is coming to bring us out of darkness, to put an end to the trials of this age. The blinking lights I see all around me seem to tell me about Him, too. Immediately I think, do I let His light shine through me? Do I rejoice at His arrival? Can I imagine a world without light? What difference does Light make?

These last days of preparation are becoming quite challenging for me. Yesterday, I thought that the "favored by God" lifestyle would be easier to achieve. Yet, I found it at times hard to focus and really consider myself and my neighbor as God's favorite. But I tried harder than ever to live this reality and I kept saying "Fiat," let it be done to me according to your Word.

Today, as I meditate on the Word I asked myself a question: while we are all preparing for the Coming of the Lord, what is God doing? I realized that He is preparing as well, for our coming to Him. Like the husband in the first reading, He looks forward to His coming home where He and His Bride can live in love and in intimate union. He, who created the world, longs to live in us.

I can see this longing even in the Gospel reading. The arrival, quite unexpected, of the Lord marks the newness of times. Ancient Israel experienced God's presence in the Ark which they will carry with them everywhere they went. Now the place of God's presence has been changed: no long a thing but people carry the Lord's presence. Just like Mary brought Jesus to Elizabeth, each one of us who have said Yes to God and let Jesus be born in us have the responsibility to bring Him out into the world. The Angel didn't tell Mary to go visit Elizabeth but the Lover cannot wait to encounter the Beloved and so she takes the journey to bring Jesus to her cousin. Love is dynamic, can't be stopped

Do I wait for His coming like the Bride waits for her shepherd-husband coming after a long time away? Do I long for the love and intimacy that He brings to me? Do I bring Jesus-in-me to others? How do other people react when I am present: do they feel blessed by the presence of Jesus in me? or threatened? or indifferent?

What a responsibility! In the story of the Visitation, I enter into the reality of God coming to me through another person; also, as someone who believes in God and wants to live the Gospel, I also see myself like Mary who brings Him into everywhere I go.

How can I become aware that He has changed me into a living and movable "Ark" of the covenant? How can I protect and defend the new born King so that nothing in the world can damage Him?

Creating a "Favored by God" lifestyle

2011-12-20T07:50:00.001-05:00

December 20 - (readings of the day)

The story of the Annunciation has come up quite a lot this month. And it's a familiar story which may lead to the temptation to skip it, assuming that there is nothing new for me today. It's always a mistake!

The words of the angel touch me today. "Full of Grace." Again, having already meditated on these words I was trying to focus elsewhere but my attention kept going there. These words are so filled with Good News!

I remembered that another way of translating these words is: "you have found favor." She was "favored" by God in order to be part of the new story that God wants to write with us, as one of us.

Elsewhere Jesus talks about this also: "It was not you who chose me but I who chose you..." Once again, the words speak of a favored gaze that Jesus places on each one of us. Yet, another word reminds me that "God plays no favorite." Which means that those words are not spoken only to me but to everyone.

Not only by baptism I am "full of Grace," but I am also "favored." This means that God looks at each one of us in a particular way and this way makes us "favored" by Him.

What does it mean? The dictionary says that this adjective means "to be regarded or treated with preference or partiality: or 2. enjoying special advantages; privileged: (to be born into the favored classes)." Then, when I take the Words of the Angel I understand that God regards me and treats me with preference and that I enjoy a special privilege. The best part of this is that God thinks that everybody is now "favored," and therefore there is no competition among ourselves.

What is this special privilege that God bestows on me? It's His presence. "The Lord be with you." Indeed, this is the greatest gift one can have - God who moves from the heavens now into one's heart. It's a privilege that I have received as a gift. Nothing I did or that I am doing can make me worthy of such a presence. Sadly enough, I can reject it and void the privilege.

This happens because I have found "favor" with God. Do I believe that these words are now addressed to me? Do I even grasp the real meaning of these words? I find myself catapulted again in the great mystery of God's maddening Love for us and realize that if I believe that Christmas is real, it's the feast of the Impossible things made real, then I have to believe that I have found favor with Him and that He's now willing to live in me.

If this doesn't change one's life, I don't know what does. And how beautiful it is that this reality is given to us as a premise to the whole Gospel story. The Words of Jesus make sense if they can be lived "from within." Knowing that it is Jesus who lives in us, it is He who lives the Gospel in me. And I with Him, so that the day will come when I can say "it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me."

I want to enjoy this reality: I found favor with God. But enjoyment is not sufficient: I have to live accordingly so not to waste this gift.

How can my life change and reflect what God has done? How can I see my neighbor and remind myself that even he or she has found favor with God? How can I, then, treat my neighbor as "favored" by Jesus who lives in me?

I think this is going to start a new revolution! I can't wait to go out there and start living this new lifestyle - I am "Favored." This will be my new name today.

Impossile things are possible as we say "Yes"

2011-12-19T07:50:00.000-05:00

December 19 - Readings: 1: Judg 13:2-7,24-25 R: Ps 71:3-6,16-17 G: Lk 1:5-25

It's time to change gear. The liturgy invites me to increase my attention to the Good News. The time is nearer: Christ's coming is closer than I think.

One part of my brain just panicked: Christmas is so close and I still have cards to mail and gifts to buy. Yet, the other part seems to be rejoicing because I have been trodding the Advent path for a month and now I am ready to say Yes to the "Word-Made-Flesh," Immanuel who comes to me.

The liturgy today invites me to enter into the "impossible things" that God can do, things that the angel told Mary in yesterday's liturgy. Both readings highlight this reality: God uses my own limitations and shortcomings and transforms them into something new. I see the pattern: Both Samson's and John's parents cannot have a child: barren, old age... impossible! Yet, God uses what seems impossible and unusable by our own earthly standards and lifts them up as instruments of Christ's coming.

How many times I have said that something was impossible to be done because the "structures" (manpower, money, lack of volunteers, etc.) were not up to the task? And how many times I have been blown away by the results? The difference? One group relied completely on God and He used their "Yes" to make something beautiful. I want and I need to keep this in mind: if I believe that God is with me then I ought to remain focused on the fact that only He can do the impossible; all that is required of me is to say "Yes, let it be done to me according to your word."

I can't help noticing that the story of Zachariah happens in the Temple. Yesterday I meditated on the fact that Mary was visited by the angel in her own home. This story seems to be going in the opposite direction than that of Mary. Why? Both Mary and Zachariah expressed doubt at what the angel was telling them. But it is Mary that takes the further step and moves forward in faith, putting all her trust in the Word of God.

When I fail to take that step, I too experience a sort of spiritual "mutism." I focus on what I think it's the right thing to do, on what I think it's the right thing to say and I get dry, I realize there is nothing to say and nothing I do or say seem to bring fruit. It's the Zachariah's syndrome. Unlike him, I don't have to wait nine month to shake this off - I can ask God for forgiveness and start again by making Mary's "fiat" ("Yes, let it be done....") as my own.

But I feel Zachariah's words: How can I know this? I want to know what is ahead, I want to plan and be ready. I understand this is not always possible and I am learning, formed by the Gospel, to say Yes. I found this quote of Teillhard de Chardin: "What really matters is to adhere to the divine action that can be found everywhere; the more we submit to Him our destiny, by subtracting our planning and our control, the worthier it is of adoration." (my translation)

Christmas is a home-based reality

2011-12-18T06:23:00.001-05:00

Fourth Sunday of Advent/B (1: 2 Sam 7:1-5,8-12,14,16; R: Ps 89:2-5,27,29; 2: Rom 16:25-27; G: Lk 1:26-38)

The Advent wreath is fully lit. Its bright light allows us to see further: He comes to us in unexpected way. He comes on His own terms which challenge me to enter into the reality of God-with-us a bit more deeply.

There is a human tendency that I must become aware and do the best I can to avoid. Like King David, at times in order to make sense of God I try to put Him into a "house," into a box. In so doing, I fool myself in thinking that I can control the divine presence, I can, therefore, manipulate Him to behave as I wish. I know this because often I have been disappointed by God: He didn't behave according to my expectations; He didn't do what I wanted Him to do. God reminds me that He's coming and while He is going to stay in my box, He's also inviting me to see Him acting creatively and majestically outside of my expectations. I think it's normal for us wanting to control things and people and we do this in so many ways. But we must reach a point in our lives when we must trade these boxes for truer relatinship with people, where everybody can be more than we expect them to be. I know I don't want to be placed in a box and stereotyped.

What happens when we let God be who He is? We are going to see the unexpected. This week we are going to have Mary as our model and guide to prepare ourselves for the coming of the Lord. She is visited by an angel who brings to her the Good News. I am touched by the fact that the Incarnation, this incredible and awesome event doesn't have the Temple as a background but a simple house. The Gospel passage is filled with proper names - of people and of places - almost to underline the reality of God coming into our own history, into our own hometown, into our own house. And the angel is not bringing the Good News to a group of priests, or scholars but to a girl.

Christmas is lived in this way; God comes to us in the reality of our own life, in the messiness of our own homes. And this new story begins with a simple but life-changing reality: "You're full of Grace because the Lord is with you." If I believe that Christmas is real then I have to believe that God is with me, with us, all the time. This presence must generate in us and around us "Grace," His presence must make a difference. Grace is a wonderful, free gift that God gives us when we open ourselves to Him - it fills our hearts and fulfills our desires. How often do I live my life forgetting that He is with me? How often I act as though I have never been touched by Grace? This is the time when I, with the help of everybody I meet, can change it all, and I become more aware of this Good News: God is with me and my life has changed because of this.

I understand why Mary argues with the angel. "How can this be...?" I do the same: "Doesn't God know who I am? Are you really sure that He picked me? Shouldn't He go and ask that person over there who seems to be holier than I?" But the angel brought her attention to another level, making her aware that if God is with us, then it is God who creates this newness of life: "The Holy Spirit will overshadow you..."Yes, God knows very well what He's getting into when He comes to live with me. He chose me and overshadowed me with His Spirit. Christianity is something that He does in me and asks me to collaborate, to correspond to grace so that this process of transformation can happen.

I am sure that Mary did not understand it all and, yet, she makes an act of faith: "Let it be done to me according to your word." Ultimately, I am asked to do the same: do I trust His Word more than my own ideas and opinions? Can I let God act outside the box I put Him in? And can I let Him help me to live my life outside the boxes I put myself in? It all begins with a Yes to live "according to His Word," the Word that became flesh and dwelt among us.

I am immersed by the mystery of God's presence. I am going to work extra hard this week to see God not only in the places where I expect Him to be but also, and especially, in the "realities of home." He comes into my ordinary history, into my home, into my life in a concrete way. I am going to welcome Him even thought I might not know what He's going to do.

I know this Christmas will be different.

I Got a "Faith Stimulus" Check

2011-12-15T07:55:00.002-05:00

Thursday of the 3rd week of Advent ( 1: Isa 54:1-10; R: Ps 30:2,4-6,11-13; G: Lk 7:24-3)

He comes and His coming creates a new reality in my life. Today He comes in Love.

"My love shall never leave you
nor my covenant of peace be shaken"

A couple of years ago, I remeber receiving a check in the mail from the goverment: it was my economic stimuls check - a bizzare move to invite me to spend more money in order to change the economic situation of this country. Today I feel I am getting a Faith Stimulus from the Word of God, something that God is giving me in order to change my faith situation.

The first reading brings me back to the reason that motivates God to incarnate Himself - He wants me back. He has come so that each one of us can be called back to the "original love" and live a life renewed. The images received a couple of days ago - that of unfaithfulness and prostitution - are completely reversed today: He knows very well my infidelities and yet He calls me back and invites me to enter into an intimate, spousal relatinship with Him.

This is a God who is mad. Completely mad. Totally committed to His "enduring love" that doesn't the unthinkable and reaches out to me in such a way ... becoming like me so that I can become like Him.

He looks at me as married to Him. His love shall never leave me. Yet, this love is so transforming that He says that He won't remember my sins, my infidelities, my "prostitution."

This image is very difficult to comprehend. As a human being I don't forget easily but He does. Quite arrogantly, I immediately thought that my sins are really not that big (really?). And yet, as a "coincidence" I stumbled upon a note written long ago about "invisible" sins.... those little acts of cowardice that fill my everyday life:

Pride camouflaged as caring and attention to other
ostentatious piety lived to snatch a word of praise from someone
fraudulent irritability justified for a holy cause
calculated avarice justified by hypothetical calculations to defend the common good
lavish suppers motivated by perceived social conventions
laziness before our duty motivated by assumed health reason

God has healed and forgotten them all but I have to forget them, too and start living my life as one who is married to God, the Maker (who said that priests don't get married?)

Today, God's word come to me as a faith stimulus. Another invitation to be faithful and live my life concretely with Emmanuel, He-who-comes.

I want to bask and revel in His love today. I want to say Yes and start again.

On His Own Terms

2011-12-14T07:59:00.001-05:00

Wed of Third Week of Advent (1: Isa 45:6-8,18,21-25 R: Ps 85:9-14 G: Lk 7:18-23 )

The coming of the Lord is a cosmic event. And it happens, as it did two thousands years ago, in a way that goes beyond our expectations. Yes: He comes on His own terms. Am I willing to accept them? or do I continue to put Him under my own expectations? I have to be honest with myself: His coming is not as clear as I would like it to be.

I understand why John the Baptist sent the delegation to Jesus. He had been working so hard to prepare the way of the Lord, to preach the baptism of repentance, and now he hears that Jesus is nothing like he had imagined. What happened? Like I usually do, the first to question is not me but the other. The delegation brings up the question to Jesus: Are you the one? Jesus doesn't answer directly (what else is new! He never does) but He invites them to be more attentive, more "contemplative" and see what was happening around them: He is the One because new things are happening - people are experiencing the Messiah's presence. The coming of the Lord is not something that satisfies the mind or the intellectual curiosity but it is experienced in our lives.

How can I proclaim to the nations that He is coming? I wish i could tell everyone "look at what He has done for me, to me, through me... " but that makes me think: "Have I really let Him transform me as He wants?" Can people read the Gospel by the way I live? Hmmm... lots of more work needs to be done here. Once again, I sing: "O Come, O Come Immanuel..."

He comes! He comes on His own terms, using whatever and whomever He can to reach out to me, to us. Isaiah underlines this reality: His coming is something that involves both heaven and earth. It's interesting that at the time of the prophet, Cyrus a pagan emperor was called Messiah because he brought freedom to the Israelites. Am I opened to the work of God done "outside" of the box in which I comfortably place Him? Do I consider every kind of good work worthy of praise? or do I think that they are not as good because they are not done by "us?"

What happens to us when we open ourselves to the creativity of God? What happens when we open or eyes and start looking for His coming all around us? I believe that we will be able to live out a true aspect of Christianity: the believe that it is a religious based on revelation, on the fact that it is God who reveals Himself to us, and not a religion when we decide what God can or cannot do.

I enter into the Word today with opennes of mind and heart. I pray that I can let the Spirit to help me re-focus on Him-who-is-to-come and I pray that I can recognize His coming today in all the creative ways He decides to use.

He comes on His own terms; I say Yes to Him and start again.

Faithfulness and Prostitution

2011-12-13T07:58:00.001-05:00

I don't usually see the link between Faithfulness and prostitution but somehow it became clear today as I meditated on the Word. I see it as clear opposite - spiritually, being faithful means to be exclusively fixed on the love relationship one has with God in faith; the opposite, then, is the tendency of finding elsewhere - in the likenesses and images of gods - the comfort, ease, consolation that God promises us.

Clear opposite! The difference is even more evident when I call "unfaithfulness" by the real name, "prostitution." I need to handle this and resist the temptation of making it sound more polite or even politically correct. It is what it is: when someone claims a relationship with God and then finds what God gives in the embrace of someone or something else and pay for what God gives us for free ... well, it's a type of prostitution.

In the first reading (zep 3:1-2,9-13) I see the consequences of this infidelity. One kingdom has already been destroyed and the other is close to share the same fate. Yet the prophet doesn't seem to be concerned with that but with the internal divisions - within the People of God there is a group of people who think that they do not need to repent because they are "good enough." Because of this arrogant attitude they are not able to see what is about to happen: destruction. But this destruction is not total; there is a group of anawim, the poor of God, who remain faithful. They function as a seed of hope. They are dependent on God and struggle to remain faithful. The secret? The consider doing His will, acting on His Word more important than what they feel or think.

I can see this lesson in the Gospel as well (Mt 21:28-32). Two sons, both having a deep and intimate relationship with the father (or at the least in words). Both are given the same opportunity to do the Will of the father and act on his word but there are two different attitudes with two different results: the difference is faithfulness.

What about me? Am I willing to sign up for the anawim or do I continue on my own thinking that I am good enough for God (which means, that I really don't need a savior and messiah in the first place...)?

I am called to be faithful. It's a struggle but God seems to be more concerned with my struggle to be faithful than with the results of this struggle. As matter of fact, the more I fail the more I become dependent on Him. The more I become dependent on Him the more I discover that... I am a anawim.

Let it be done according to your Word, then. I am going to say Yes again today.

He comes for our Joy

2011-12-10T14:56:00.001-05:00

The third Sunday of Advent seems to have a special place: it's the day when we light up the "rose" candle on the Advent wreath. The pink / rose candle reminds us to focus on a particular aspect of this week's liturgy: the call to rejoice and be glad. Why? Because the Lord comes for our Joy. Especially the joy of those who are poor. We are invited to rejoice greatly and completely in the Lord.

John the Baptist becomes the guiding figure this week; he shows us how to prepare the way of the Lord. How do we do this?

John was a witness to the messiah; we are called to be witnesses as well. If we are preparing for his coming, then we have to make sure we don't fall (too much) into what the world out there believes: that Christmas is only about music, lights and shopping. How can I be a witness to the Light in the midst of all these competing blinking lights?

John teaches me two lessons this week: 1. I have to make straight the paths. If my life could be placed on a map it would most certainly be drawn as a series of curves and u-turns. These turns mostly represent the times when I deliebrately have chosen to do it my way thinking that it would be the best way for me. Ironically, these turns make the journey longer. following the straight path is the shortest way to reach the destination. Following the Will of God, tehrefore, is the smartest thing that I can do for myself. I pray that I will keep this lesson in mind. But in order to make the road straight I have to fill up the holes and smooth up the hills.

A hole is a place where there is not enough dirt. I ask myself, what is missing in my life, is there something that I don't have enough of? Not enough silence? not enough prayer? no enough....? What am I going to do to fill up these holes? A hill is a place where there is too much accumulated dirt. I ask myself, is there something in my life that I have too much of? too much television? too much drama? distractions? What am I going to do so that I can eliminate some of these things?

The goal is simple: by filling up the holes and smoothing the hills over, I will bring balance into my life and so straighten the paths, making it easier for Him to come!

2. The other lesson I learn from John comes from the questions he gets: "who are you?" and "what do you say for yourself?" I ask myself, do I think I am the messiah? do I have this complex that leads me to believe that only I can fix all the problems in the world? or that my way is absolutely and uniquely the best way for everyone? I realize that on Christmas day, I will see a manger and this holds the place only for one person: who is it going to be laying there? Jesus or me? Is He the new born King, the savior? or do I think it's going to be me?

I pray that I will have the strength to acknowledge that I need a Messiah and Savior and that I will make room for Him to be born.

This week I want to rejoice as I pray "O come o come Emmanuel..." because I know that His coming will transform my heart. And He will be the source of my joy.

A Trembling Yes that Made the World tremble

2011-12-08T07:12:00.001-05:00

It's the feast of the Immaculate Conception. It's difficult for me to understand it fully. I wonder if there is really anyone here on earth who really understands it full. Because of its difficulties, I understand why it is, as it has been, so easy to misunderstand the whole thing. I want to surrender these difficulties today and look at what we are celebrating and enter into this solemnity.

Every feast of the Church has something about me, about each one of us. When we look at Mary, we see ourselves as well: she is what we can be, what we should be, what we will be. After centuries of theological reflections and preparation, we have this feast and I want to take it as an opportunity to enter more deeply into the mystery of Emmanuel, "God-with-us."

The Word brings us to the core of our existence: our story begins in the Garden of Eden. It was not something that just happened. God had a particular project, as Paul tells us in the second reading. Because of the great power of Love, this project "backfired" and turned into a tragedy. But God didn't let death and sin have the last words. His faithfulness is everlasting. His Dream continues.

In Mary we see it all: she is "full of grace," true representation of what we are supposed to be. Of what we can still be. Although she was conceived without orginal sin, she still had to say "Yes." I can hear in her voice some trepidation; rightly so, it's impossible not to wonder what would happen if she agreed with the angel. That's not the problem. Sometimes we let this "wondering" paralyze us, and because we do not know what the future will bring, we never make a decision.

She disrupts the plan that Sin and Death had created since the days of Adam and Eve; with that trembling Yes she manages to make the whole world tremble: now God is truly with us.

I am enjoying the reality of this feast celebrated in the context of Advent. I can see what happens when I say Yes to the great message: "The Lord is with you." It's a new life, never lived a alone but always with Him.

"Full of Grace." What a gift! Now, God's love and grace has a face, a body: Jesus made flesh because of a yes. I can understand and enter into this mystery as well: in Baptism, God removed original sin. Although I was not conceived in the same way, I can live now the reality of Mary and, when I say Yes to Him-who-comes-to-be-with-me I, too, experience a fullness of Grace. It's the grace that comes from Christ living in me.

With a Yes, I also become pregnant with Jesus. I can be another Mary, and bring Him everywhere I go. But He must be born first within me.

Today, I want to join my Yes to that of Mary. I want to make the trembling louder. The world out there expects me to fill it with His grace.

I, too, have no idea of what the future will bring me. But I say Yes "According to his word." I want to live the Gospel more fully, then so that I can experience Advent more fully.

I wonder... who else will join her today?

A double invitation: celebrate and become

2011-12-07T07:29:00.001-05:00

The Word of God is always surprising. Today, I have been touched by the image that is at the heart of the Advent season: "when the messiah will come, the Lord will give His people strength and He will let them rest."

The coming of the Lord creates two things in us today: strength and rest.
Jesus always comes in a particular, historical situation. He comes in my own "Bethlehem," in my own struggles, in my own weariness. And His coming makes a difference: everything is changed; hope is restored and I get a new chance in life.

For Him to come, however, I have to acknowledge first of all that He's not my peer. Isaiah makes it clear: the One who is coming is the Lord of the universe, the creator of heaven and earth. How quickly I can reduce the Lord to something or someone warm and fuzzy, completely lost in the sounds and lights of the season.

When I say, "Come, Lord Jesus," am I aware that I am asking the Lord of Creation to come into my heart? Am I humbled about this coming?

He comes. He comes to change me from within. He is not coming to change my situations or to do my job. He comes to renew me so that whatever I do will be done in a new way. That's how God operates. At times I crash in this mentality: "I have asked God to do something for me, He didn't do it. Then, God either doesn't care or doesn't exist." I recognize this because I was one of these disappointed Christians. It's a very popular way of thinking and today's Word wants to destroy this false sense of religiosity.

Advent teaches us that God does not change others or the situation so that we can be happy. He changes us by giving us a new hope, a new heart, a new way of looking at things.

It's an invitation: Come. How interesting that during the season when we sing "O come, o come Immanuel..." it is He who tells us "Come to me." It's a true Advent, then; two hearts, who long for each other, invite each other to a closer relationship.

It's a double invitation: not only I am asked to celebrate Advent but today I am invited to become Advent as well. , He is asking me, each one of us, to come to Him."

How? How can I respond to His invitation? How can I invite Him closer to me?

Today I remembered the power of saying 'Yes' to God's will. It's the day when a young girl, in 1943, felt that God was asking her to "give herself totally to HIm." She said Yes, without knowing what would happen. But, as she said later, "she had married God, and she was expecting from Him everything." She became one of the most influential person in the today's Church and society. Chiara Lubich, with the Yes she uttered on this day 68 years ago, allowed God to renew her and renew the Church and the World, gifting us with the Charism of Unity. Today, the Focolare Movement (also known as "The Work of Mary") celebrates its existence.

This is how this Advent becomes real life: by saying YES to His Will, to His Word, to His "reality."

"Here I am, Lord, I come to do your will." It's a conscious act. It's a humble word, it's the beginning of a new adventure.

I want to say 'yes' by going into my heart and allow myself to feel what I long to feel. There is something in me that, in spite of weariness and weaknesses, pushes me to move forward because I know there is something "more" in life: desire of new life, desire of love, desire of eternity. By touching these inner desires, I can ask Him to come and renew them so that I can find new strength and new rest.

It is by welcoming Him into my "true" life that I can really begin to prepare the way of the Lord, the One who comes in power, the One who created the whole universe. The one I can call Lord.

In Joyful expectation

2011-11-26T21:01:00.001-05:00

Today everything feels new: it's a new liturgical year, a new translation of the Missal, a new opportunity to start again. It's Advent; and this is what this season does: it allows us to re-set ourselves without forgetting what we have done in the past.

Advent: in a way this is the life of every Christian. Living in tension, like in between two fires: Christ who came two thousand years ago and Christ who will come in glory. But, although it seems that I am stretched to embrace the whole of history, I am reminded to be watchful and remain grounded in the present. In every present moment, if I live each as each is supposed to be lived, I experience a new kind of coming: the "third" coming, as some of the spiritual masters used to call it. The coming of the Lord I experience every day, every moment. He is the one who comes to us constantly. What a great gift!

This year, I am reminded that He comes as "Father" and "redeemer" (1st reading.) These are images of family relationships: the father is the source of family life and the redeemer is the one in charge of rescuing or vindicate the family member who has been killed or has been taken as slave. In the touching prayer of Isaiah, I see God's love in action. I know what His Dream is: to take us away from slavery and restore us into His household. St Paul finds the realization of this Dream in the "gift of God," Jesus Christ.

He comes! in the middle of my crisis, in the middle of my "why?" He comes even when I think He's away. The reality Advent points is that He comes but I can run away from Him. I know He is Father but I refuse to be His child. I know He rescues me from slavery but I often enjoy the shackles of slavery. Advent highlights the paradox of my life: I have to make a decision - who do I want to be? This year, am I willing to follow Him? Am I willing to pay the price for singing "O come, o come Immanuel?" "If" He comes, then what?

The prayer of the Psalm, "Turn us to you..." makes me understand. By myself I cannot live Advent, I cannot make myself available to Him. I cry, with the people of Isaiah, and beg Him to return back to me, to us. He longs to have my heaven rip open so that He can come in and do wonders, the total reconstruction of His kingdom in our midst.

Then, I want to be open to His coming. I long to be "turned" by God so that He can be welcomed as Father and Redeemer. I want to be ready for this; I also want to be ready for others to encounter Him. I want to be Advent.

As the season demands, I keep vigil with joyful expectation.

A Side effect of Giving Thanks

2011-11-24T07:52:00.001-05:00

Today, all the people in the United States are invited, as much as possible, to gather with their families and friends to raise their voices and offer Thanks. I want to join them and especially this year since I have a lot to be thankful for.

The Word tells me that Giving Thanks is not an option for me. "In all circumstances, give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus" (1 Thes 5:18). Reading this verse I was struck by the fact that Paul considers it as the Will of God. I knew that giving thanks is the polite thing to do, the right thing to do... but the Will of God? If it is the will of God, then, I have to approach the whole thing very differently.

The whole passage from 1 Thess 5 makes me believe that it is possible that there was some tension in the community: with the leaders, with those who are in "psychological" need, with each other. Very common problems in a community. Yet, Paul seems to build up to this verse. Even the command to "rejoice always" and "pray without ceasing" come before this verse.

I got a little insight. I noticed that all these issues, which are still present in today's culture, are caused by something subtle but powerful. I happen to think of it as a tyrant that demands a bit but in the end is capable of taking all that we have.

This is the time we dethrone the tyrant of this age; it whisper to us that we can be happy if we push our own agenda, without regard of others. I can't imagine how this attitude can bring anything but tension and division everywhere. And I see division and tension everywhere because everybody thinks that their own agenda is all that matters.

How can we destroy this tyrant? According to Paul, it is by Giving Thanks. Why? Because when we give tanks we get out of ourselves, we consider the other as "real," as worthy of our attention. The more we do this, the more the tyrant will starve. The more it starves, the more we can live our lives in freedom.

Imagine what will happen to a family where husband and wife are thankful for each other? The children will pick it up, and they will bring it to schools, etc. It's truly the beginning of a network of blessings that is based on the "other" rather than on ourselves.

I discovered a side effect of Giving Thanks: it changes me and changes all the people around me. It makes me open my eyes to the gift that is my neighbor. It's the door to a life of Blessings.

In the Tears of the Lover

2011-11-17T07:39:00.001-05:00

Thursday of XXXIII/A

We continue to pray "Lord, let me see." We want to see Jesus and recognize Him as the one who passes by, offering us peace. Both Barthimeus and Zaccheus have taught us that the proper response is to get closer to Jesus in order to "see" Him, "to encounter Him-who-can-change-our lives. In today's Gospel, Jesus cries as He looks at Jerusalem. In His tears there are centuries of history of faithfulness and indifference from His people. History of Love that God has poured out on them.

In His words, filled with the lament of a heartbroken lover, there is a call to shake off indifference, to stop looking only at ourselves and think of the consequences of keeping ourselves locked in the walls of our own lives.

Jesus sheds new light on an old temptation: to think only about ourselves, and build walls around us. Slowly but surely, we keep people out, we become less interested in the events of the world. Eventually, even God doesn't have permission to pass through the walls. Jesus' warning is stern but it's given for our wellbeing: watch it, because someone stronger will come and destroy your walls and you won't survive.

The story of the Maccabees continue to inspire me and I find that their story and their struggles are similar to ours today. After Eliazar the Elder and the Mother and seven sons, we now look at Matthatias and his sons. He is tempted with gold. How often we, too, compromise our faith thinking that "business is business," and therefore whatever happens in the workplace is justified because "it's tough out there." We compromise our faith for our carrier advancement, too. "If I really want that position, who cares if I say something evil or make something up about the other candidate. After all, if I get that job, i will get more more and if i get more money, i will be able to help my family and my kids to go to college ... and doesn't God want me to send my children to college? Then, it's ok if I do what I do." The end justify the means.

No, no it doesn't. Jesus invites us to more active in our faith and make a choice to live our lives as a Christian.

The Maccabees start a revolution that will change their society. We need to start another one. Certainly not by using swords (let's keep in mind that God had not yet commanded us to "keep our swords in the sheath" ) by the most powerful weapon we have: love.

Today, let's bear witness to God even and especially in difficult environments. Who knows, maybe a kind words to a nasty co-worker may change the whole day. Let's start a competition, today: let's see who is the most creative i creating a loving response to hostility. Something tells me that the Maccabees will smile at us today and let's us them to help us to "recognize the time of our visitation" by the Lord.

"Engage!"

2011-11-16T07:58:00.001-05:00

Wednesday of XXXIII/A

The parable of the talents comes back again. This time from Luke, who changes it a bit. The command is the same: "Engage in trade with these until I return." No matter how I turn it, He wants me to take a look at whatever He has given me and "engage" it so that the Kingdom may be enriched.

Moved by a false sense of humility, at times I struggle even to admit to myself that God has given me a talent for His kingdom. Ignoring it, or diminishing what He has done, doesn't help me and dishonors God. Then, facing the reality of who I am, I have to do something about it.

"Engage in trade." I found this quote" For the success of the immense work of creation, God needs only one thing: that I do my very best. If you give what you are able to give, you will be united to the greatest degree to the creating action of God. You couldn't be a more useful servant" (Teilhard de Chardin).

All He wants is that I do my best. My very best. The degree of success is not in question - He rewarded both the servant who produced ten and the one who produced five. I am sure if one of them would have said that the gold coins were lost due to a bad investments, the servant would still be rewarded. What matters is to engage the gifts. Engage who I am for the Kingdom.

Why do I experience resistance? I understand Mr One Talent: sometimes playing safe is ... well, safer. Sometimes I experience fear of failure, of judgment. But by playing safe I deprive myself of something that is part of who I am as a person. The talents and the call to "engage" them are part of my DNA. We are all born with this "calling." I know this because when I do engage my gifts and they produce fruits, I experience satisfaction, joy, energy, meaning: this is who I am, someone who has been gifted in order to enrich others. When I stop doing that, I become cynical, depressed, sad.

This is, then, the ultimate call of being faithful to oneself. I want to be faithful to who I am. I have to act in faith, then, believing that by living His Word I will produce fruits that will last.

IT becomes difficult, however, to engage the gifts in a culture that does not support the Kingdom. It creates a clash. The kingdom's values are not popular and there is always the temptation of stepping back, and compromise the whole thing.

I continue to be inspired by the Maccabees. Today, I look at the mother and her seven sons who are forced to make a decision: violate God's law or die. How cruel. I may think it's barbaric and that ours is a more evolved society but I would be fooling myself. We do the same things today, if not worse. I read in a paper that nurses are forced to be involved in abortions or they will lose their jobs. We need new Maccabees who will help us see how ugly things are becoming..
I want to believe that these brothers were inspired by Eleazar, the elder. Never underestimate what the younger ones see.

Do I take a stand? When my "life" all that I hold dear, my values and my ideas) are at stake, do I compromise or am I willing to be put to death so not to betray the Master's call?

It's time for me, for all, to be who we are meant to be. Let's get out and "engage" the gifts and let's be protagonist in the new Civilazation of love.

In the Gaze of God

2011-11-14T09:30:00.001-05:00

Tuesday of XXXIII

Like yesterday, the theme of "seeing" comes up again and this challenges me to ask myself: "how do I prepare myself for the coming of the Lord?" when I will "see Him face to face.

Yesterday, the blind man heard that Jesus was passing by. He had to seize that opportunity of a lifetime: he made himself heard. Two challenges: physical and social, he was blind and people wanted him to be quite. Nothing stopped him. He was determined to meet Him-who-could-change-his-life.

"What do you want me to do for you?" Jesus asks him. What would I have said in his place? But Jesus is not like a genie. This question came after the blind man responded to the coming of the Lord. He asks: "I want to see." What a wonderful prayer!

I want to see, too. I want to see Him, I want to see also what separates me from Him. The readings from Maccabees are terrifying: a foreigner culture slowly creeped in and began to unleash its destructive power: the abomination of desolation, the erection of the statue of Zeus in the temple of God.

If God is disappearing from our culture, our society, our families could it be that it is our fault, who are not keeping guard and compromising our faith?
What to do? "Lord let me see..."

Zaccheus wants to see Jesus, too. He also faces two issues: physical and social, he's too short and there are too many people in between him and Jesus. Zaccheus reacts to the news of Jesus' arrival and takes the initiative. He doesn't know that this would change his life. But what a surprise: he discovers himself as "the one who is being seen." Jesus knows him by name. Jesus has a plan for him, "I must come to your house."

It's a call to renew myself and understand I am the one who is the object of God's search, of God's love. My response to Him is "the second act," He has chosen me first. He comes and changes me: from on an individual who wants to be on the benches to watch the show... to a man of Communion, the protagonist of God-centered civilization of love.

How do I do this? Eleazar teaches me how. Take a stand, don't compromise with what is becoming popular. Remain fixed in God and let His Word renew you constantly by changing and forming your own mind to His likeness.

When society "forces me to eat pork," to comply to what seems popular, I have to ask myself if what is behind it is of God or not. He trusts me with His own Kingdom, with his own possessions.... I have to return the talent received, will it bring fruit?

"Lord, let me see... let me see You. Let me remain in this eternal gaze, within the gaze of the Father and the Son and the Spirit: my true dwelling place. Let me become part of your "vision" so that, as I bring you to the people of the world, and them to you, I can help you to renew the face of the earth until you come again. Lord, let me see you, and this will be enough for me."

Nothing gets you nothing!

2011-11-13T06:30:00.001-05:00

XXXIII/A

I am puzzled by this Gospel passage. I have always found it difficult but this week its radical message seems to have become stronger. My attention is taken by the dialogue between the third servant and the master. What went wrong?

From this parable, two opposing views of life come forth: how do I see life, do i see it as an opportunity to be fruitful, to use what the Master has given me in order to give meaning and direction to my life? or do I consider my whole existence as a long trial, something to be lived in fear of failure and rejection?

And who is the master? If he stands for God in the parable, what do I think of Him? Is He the one who is after my well-being or someone harsh and demanding who only wants to use me for His advantage?

These questions, I think, are at the core of this passage. If I answer, I may get the key to understand and live out this page.

I don't buy the third slave response: if he knew that the Master is someone who is powerful enough to turn every opportunity to His own advantage, then his behavior and excuse just doesn't make sense: he believes so deeply that he's doing the right thing that he can't understand it doesn't make sense - he's justifying his sloth on the account of the power of the master: "I didn't do anything because I was afraid of you." Doesn't make sense and yet often it's what I do with God, too. It's very easy to fall into this trap - justify my behavior and blame God. But the Gospel always unveil my stupidity and forces me to be truthful. (I even wonder if this servant actually spent any time thinking about what excuse to give to the Master, or he just said the first thing that came to his mind.) He is paralyzed by his worldview: the Master is powerful, I can fail... why try? Lots of people live their lives using the same worldview.

The other servants seem to have a different attitude. I like the "Immediately" that Matthew puts int he text. There seems to be some kind of energy in what they do. Not only they invest the money but they are totally involved in the work. I can understand why they are so excited about their profit. They live their lives "out there,"taking risks with the gifts they have received. They trust the Master and they know that they are trusted by Him. What difference does this make in my life: I know that I trust God, but am I trustworthy, can He trust me? And, does the fact that He trusts me make any difference in my life? Do I live i fear of failure or do I feel empowered to use my gifts?

These guys don't seem to be concerned about the Master's powerful attitude. What can I conclude? Is the Master really harsh? or was only the way the third slave saw Him? (I noticed that the image of the master has not been discussed in the text: the Master doesn't refute the lazy servant's view of Him. What to make of this?). Obviously they feel different about Him. I know that our image of God shapes our behavior. I need to explore what do I think of God.

I do tend to be closer to the two servants: they seem to have acted moved by a positive worldview. Their mater knows them personally: each of them had a particular gift for administration; the master has been respectful of this and has given to them according to what they could handle. Also, when He comes back He just doesn't take the money and gets rid of the servants: He blesses them with more. Even more surprisingly, the Master praises them publicly (pretty unheard of!). He gives them more and more importantly, allows them to share in the master's "joy." This doesn't seem the behavior of a harsh and demanding Master. He behaves quite differently than I would expect. The servants relate to the Master in an open way and this openness allows them to experience an inner transformation (which has obvious physical consequences - Joy).

There is no tyranny or capitalism, there is no blaming the Master about being after profit. Sorry, third servant, but I still don't see your point of view: you wanted to cover-up your own issues and lack of interest. Didn't work because it never does. In the end, accountability is a very personal issue and we can't blame anybody for your failures. The Master saw through it - if you were really that scared, you could at the least put the money in the banks: that's quite risk-free, and takes little effort on your part. You didn't even do that. Don't buy it. I bet the Master would have been more merciful if you had lost your money in an investment - at the least you tried. But nothing begets nothing.

That's why Jesus closes the parable with those hard words: "for to everyone who has, more will be given and he will grow rich; but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away." We always bring to God more and more request to get more and more "blessings" (=stuff). Why would He give us more if we don't take car of what we already have? How can we ask for blessings when we are not willing to get rid of sin? Can blessing and sin co-habitate?

The key to understand this passage is to see how the servants behaved: they were given a task, which was based on trust and personal love, and they were asked to be faithful to it.

Called again to Communion

2011-11-07T13:20:00.000-05:00

It happened. And I am glad it did.

I am at a workshop for new pastors. I have been trying to prepare myself for this week by putting in order my thoughts and my notes on the identity and role of the pastor. Not knowing what the workshop was really about, I tried to create some kind of background. Last night I was reading some of my notes and I read something that struck me. It's about Communio, the unifying bond that exists among all the baptized. "It is all en-compassing for it embraces every member of the Church."

It sounded so beautiful. I feel a particular calling to create and live Communio and probably that's why I felt it so close to me. I pictured it in my mind, like a mantle that covers every single person bestowing both dignity and equality to all.

I went downstairs for Night Prayer. I went earlier so that I could some time to meditation. I found my seat and I looked up: the icon of the Trinity. I kept looking and looking and suddenly the idea of Communion and the Trinity became one. The Trinity is the source and model of Communion. Everything flows from there and goes back to there.

I wonder: is the reason we experience so much lack of Communion in our world, in your families and in our Church to be found in the lack of understanding of the Trinity? Is it possible that we have forgotten what we are supposed to live - the life of the Trinity in us and in our midst?

A strong desire: I need to deepen myself in the mystery of Baptism, the Sacrament that allows me to be immersed in the Trinity and that allows me to live the life of the Trinity. How can I be successful in my ministry as pastor if I don't help people to live out their own Baptism? This should most certainly be a priority of mine. I know that life has a way of moving priorities around and that the "everyday grind" finds always a way to demand our attention, but our Baptism must shape all we do, at all times.

As JP2 said, the Church must be "home and school of Communion,"the Trinity is the protagonist, and our Baptism the way to realize and live out this Communion.

How can I do that? What can I do to understand and help people understand this great gift?

Live in the light or darkness?

2011-11-06T06:19:00.002-05:00

XXXII/A Ordinary Time

(Wisdom 6:12-16/Psalm 63:2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8/1 Thessalonians 4:13-18/Matthew 25:1-13)

We are moving towards the end of the liturgical year and it's only normal that we face the topic of the end of the world and the coming of "Jesus to judge the living and the dead." Contrasting images make this reality more vivid: wedding celebration and a door shut, brightly burning torches and dim lamps. Lifelike, these images reveal to me not only an eternal condition but also a choice I am given: the light does not go out suddenly but as a result of a choice the foolish maiden made. Then, from the start I have to ask myself which group do I want to join, how am I going to live me life? In darkness, with a half-lit lamp or in the brightness of full torch? The dominant image of the Kingdom is found in the maidens. The kingdom is like them....

"Here's the Bridegroom!" I like to think of this image. My life is a response to this cry, the bridegroom, whom I have been waiting, is coming. This is a powerful image for me: life as "going out, moving to encounter Someone who comes for me." Whose voice is it?

I am surprised, though; I do not associate wedding celebrations with sleeping (what a party!). Yet, the delay of the bridegroom causes everybody to fall asleep. In life I experience the same: sometime the routine or the occupations of life make me "drowsy," dull to the primary duty I have - to keep that lamp burning. I, too, fall asleep. As the song of songs says: "I sleep, but my heart keeps vigil." The problem is not in falling asleep but ignoring my duty completely. The foolish and the wise have been asked to do the same thing and given the same opportunity: why the difference?

Wisdom is a great gift that God has given us. It allows us to see the world and think in a different, practical way. The maidens were wise because they remained focused on the task; the others were foolish because they assumed the Bridegroom would behave according to their expectations. They didn't consider that he could be late. How wrong they were! how many times I also have some expectations of God: I want Him to behave in a certain way at a certain time. The problem is not here, I think; the problem is that I consider my way as the only way and therefore I get caught unprepared. Although I can still let Him know what I think, I must always keep my attention on what He is about to do. After all, it's His party! It's His Wedding. I am only one of the invited.

A Cry comes in the middle of the night, waking everybody up. Whose voice is it? Why don't we know? Is it the Bride? I wouldn't be surprised. Like the Bride in the Song of Songs, her heart would be vigilant, her eyes sharp to distinguish in the darkness of the night the shape of her Beloved.

In the reality of His arrival, everything makes sense: our actions are revealed for what they are. Foolish or wise we will all react to His presence. Now the party can really start!!!!

This parable is about relating to the arrival of the Bridegroom and the fulfillment of the task given. That's why the wise maidens do not respond as I think they ought to. They do not want to share what they have. Isn't that... unchristian? In this case, they are doing the right thing. There are times in our lives when we cannot let anyone else do something for us, or we cannot share in the work of another. Our response to the task has to be fully personal. Nobody goes to heaven (to the party) by proxy. Nobody can be loving in my stead, or be good instead of me, or be honest. These are all things that I have to do on my own, for myself. The invitation I received to participate to the party was not shareable. It's only for me. It's a personal call, lived out communally. But it depends on my constant "Yes."

I noticed something else in the foolish maidens. They leave to get some more oil. They come back and knock at the door. Once again they think the Bridegroom will behave according to their expectations, they still consider themselves as party of the wedding party. But the door is shut. They are left out.

It's a tragic reality that sometimes I do not want to think about. Sometimes I don't even want to talk about but it's there, in the Gospel. Black and white. I have to keep watch of what I do and how I live my life - I don't want to be left out of the party.

Then, I want to be vigilant. I want to be prepared for His arrival. How? If He's the bridgegroom, then I will keep constant vigil, like mom used to do when I would come home late: she was up, waiting for me (even though she would pretend she was up for other reasons). He's constantly coming to me. I have to keep my eyes sharp in order to find Him. Like when as a child I would play "hide and seek."

I will find Him in every person I meet. I will love everyone because He is behind them; and I also learned that He hides in the "least of our brothers."

If I choose to love, I will find Him. If I choose to love, I will be prepared. Love is the oil that will keep my lamp constantly burning until the day when I will be invited in the greatest party ever! I can't wait!

Judging or Rejoicing: Which?

2011-11-03T08:56:00.001-04:00

After the big celebrations of "All Saints" and "All Souls," I continue my Journey in the ordinary and I continue to focus on the Gospel of last sunday - the call to authenticity is strong; I do not want to be identified by Jesus as one of those who preach but do not practice.

Today's Word helps me (of course!). The first reading ends with this command: "Then let us no longer judge one another, but rather resolve never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother." Judging the other is the eternal temptation. I realized that the Pharisees were criticizing Jesus no because they were bad people with evil intentions. Behind their accusations there were false ideas and misunderstandings. True: we judge others based on our prejudices. Therefore the challenge begins within me not in the other, it is my heart that needs to be changed not the other.

I think of the past. How many times, in order to make my ideas and thoughts be heard, I disrespected the other or even ridiculed their positions. Never acceptable. And I am so glad that I have been at the school of the Gospel, learning how to live and relate better. But the temptation is always strong and comes at unexpected times. Why? There is the inner desire to be accepted and to be respected and valued for what we think gives meaning to our lives. (But don't I already know that what gives meaning to my life is God's Love?)

This must end. The Gospel teaches me to become more "active" in loving the other and loving him or her as a "whole," not just the parts that are convenient or I like. I have to keep in mind that the other is not going to heaven because I approve his/her ideas or opinions but because God loves him/her immensely.

What to do? How can I get better at this? The parable that Jesus gives me today points to something that seems to be God's favorite activity: rejoicing over us. Then, I want to rejoice in and about what makes God rejoice. If He rejoice because a sinner changes his way, then I will do the same.

I can do this if I remain fixed in the will of God, keep my gaze on His face and my head on His heart. I have to start seeing things and people from His point of view.

Judging the other or rejoicing for the other? I will choose Rejoicing. I know that in living this way "I shall see the good things of the Lord in the land of the living."

Another great day ahead of me!!!!!

"Eternal Rest grant unto them..."

2011-11-02T10:11:00.000-04:00

All Souls

Today, we take another look at the large multitude of people who were presented to us yesterday from the readings from Revelations. Today, we remember all those who died - from our first "parents" to the latest parishioner . They are our grandparents, our friends, family member, neighbors,... we are so connected to them and this bond will never be severed.

It's difficult to meditate on this topic. Culture has a way of "dressing" up death and to make it more acceptable. Why? Do we really gain something by avoiding this reality? I am amazed how respectful and honest the "ancient" were. One of the first rituals that we developed as humans was burial rituals. Death was part of their life. Nothing to be scared of.

How should we, who live the Adventure of Faith, approach this topic? Does it make any difference? Answers can be found in our hearts, in the depth of our faith. Death for us is not the tragic ending of the game of life. We look at death within the reality of the death and resurrection of Christ: yes, it is a bitter cup to drink because it is fruit of the original sin; but it is also part of the Will of God of a loving Father who waits for us on the other side. God is and will be there with open arms, rejoicing because His dream for us is being brought to completion - We will live united with Him forever.

Why celebrating the dead today? It's a wonderful reminder for all of us, living and dead, that life does not end. The bond we have with one another cannot be easily cut. Our love for our beloved allows us to remain united as a family. This should give us hope that, when it will be our time to see God face to face, we will leave behind a community of people who will continue to relate to us in love. Because Love is stronger than death that is why our bond is everlasting.

Just as in life, we can help each other: we can help our beloved dead by praying for them, so that they can continue to feel our presence and make sure that their purification process may be hasten by our love. We want them to be happy, don't we? Let's keep praying for them, then. They will intercede for us as well.

It's beautiful to see how our "family" will remain strong forever. Not too long ago, we meditate on the fact that nothing can separate us from the Love of God. Neither death nor life... Today we are saying to each other, to our beloved dead and to God, that we have chose to remain united with them. Nothing will separate us from them, nothing... not even our sorrow, our loneliness and our tears.All these things we feel are witnesses of the great love we have for them. They should push us closer to them not way from them.

Love is eternal; therefore, today in love we pray that eternal rest may be granted to them.

Saints and Sainthood: possible today?

2011-11-01T10:04:00.001-04:00

Solemnity of All Saints (Revelation 7:2-4, 9-14/Psalm 24:1bc-2, 3-4ab, 5-6/1 John 3:1-3/Matthew 5:1-12a)

"Who are these wearing white robes, and where did they come from?" If I want to understand and remain faithful to the true meaning of this feast, I have to answer to this question; otherwise, it will be easy to disconnect it from the rest of the Liturgical Calendar and my Adventure of Faith, my life. What we celebrate as a Church is that true Christian life is possible to live! And we have thousands and thousands of witnesses to prove it!

It's easy to misunderstand this solemnity: we tend to look at the Saints in our churches as men and women with the Halo on their heads and we tell stories of their heroic virtues and supernatural deeds. How easy it is to think that is impossible for me to see myself as (potentially) one of them. Forgetting they are "of this world" and they made it: their earthly passions were real, their struggles were real, their victory is real, too.I remember when I heard the story of St Francis making a deal with the wolf of Gubbio. I could not even manage to get my cat respond to my commands, how could I be like Francis and talk to wolves.... I am glad I didn't give up and continue my Journey.

I got to keep this in mind. I cannot look at them only in their final stage but also, and especially, consider them as a whole person. Then, I can even entertain the idea that I am called to the same life. And, by God's grace, I can make it, too.

What does it mean to be "Saint?" I think about the meaning and development of this idea. God was the only one who was called "Saint," that is, "Other," "Separated from..." God was/is so entirely different than us. But by calling His own people, God began to share His "otherness" with them, asking them to be "other", to be a saintly people. He gave them some means (the Law) to demonstrate daily, in their concrete lives and worship, a different way of living. Eventually, they were called to focus on their "interior otherness" as well and a new understanding of Sainthood began to develop: we can only participate in God's sainthood and we cannot become saints on our own. Yet, this participation was still incomplete and for centuries, the God's people yearned for another way.

In Christ, God's Sainthood is shared fully. This idea was so strong in the early Christians that they called each other Saints and called the Church "a communion of Saints." This sainthood was expressed in a particular way in the Eucharist where Saints partecipate to a saintly reality.

Now I get it: to be a saint is to participate in God's life through the means that God Himself has given us through the Church, especially the Sacraments. It is not the fruit of my effort but a gift that comes from the Love that God has for me. Sainthood is my response to His Love.

Now I also understand why Sainthood is associated with the Beatitudes. It's an invitation to live a life of happiness, of blessedness, a life fully realized. It's to live God's own life. I long for this life and I know deep within me that I was made for this.

I can be a saint today; we can be saints today. It is still possible because God continues to make it possible. As matter of fact, now more than ever, the world longs for happiness, for true meaning. Now more than ever the message of the Good News needs to be proclaimed. With such a hunger for happiness, I can see the great potential of a new generation of saints.

I must recommit myself to this life and i must do whatever I can to help people understand that in God they can all find all they long for.

I can almost see new saints marching in....

A different point of view

2011-10-31T09:29:00.000-04:00

Monday of 31st week, A.

(Romans 11:29-36/Psalm 69:30-31, 33-34, 36/Luke 14:12-14)

This week I have to live my life formed by my encounter with Christ I had yesterday at Mass. The Call is strong: I have to practice what I preach; I cannot say one thing and do another. I am called to honesty as I face the Hidden Deception.

I take my first step today. St Paul helps me. When I look at things from my point of view I realize that when I do something, even something for God, I do it doing my best but then eventually it gets twisted around by my sin. My weakness comes to the fore and I ask God to help me. I know that He takes whatever I have done and turns into a blessing. Knowing this makes my very thankful to Him. So, from my point of view: sin comes first and then God's mercy.

But, thinking about it, I realize that it is not so. In the Garden of Eden, Adam's sin wasn't the first event. The fruit was already there, given to him freely by God. Therefore, God's Grace comes first and than our actions and sin, which leads us to God's Mercy.

The Word has already reminded me about this a couple of days ago. "Everything works together..." that is, everything leads me to Him, not against Him. Events and circumstances are an expression of God's loving will for me, almost like a "sacrament of mercy." All is Grace. The challenge is that I don't always remember this and I don't always act on this concept.

Looking at my sin first may actually work against me. I read in my missal today that "God does not love me because I am good but that I may become good." I like this! It opens me up to God's presence and makes me remain in the freedom that comes from being loved by God.

I got a different point of view: focusing on Grace and Love first generates in me a change in my relationship with God. I want to live this way and if I make this choice today I know I can build and live in a community that reflects God, that imitates Him.

The Gospel brings me deeper into this reality. I cannot see my neighbor as someone from whom I can profit (not only economically but most especially psychologically). Once I see the person who is in front of me as a gift of God to me, I relate to him or her freely without calculations. I know this deep in my heart: I don't like to feel "used" by people so I cannot use them either. Everybody is a gift of God to me: I know, sometimes I want to "return one of the gifts back to the store and settle for a gift card" :) but I have to resist the temptation to dismiss my neighbor as unimportant or as an intrusion. Welcoming everybody as a gift will allow me to live as though it's always Christmas!

What to do then? Doing the Will of God in every present moment allows me to remain focused on God's wisdom which illumines me to see God-in-the-other. By welcoming and loving the other freely and without calculations I can realize that I can build the Civilization of Love. By loving my neighbor freely, I can find Him living with me.

Facing The Hidden Deception

2011-10-29T22:26:00.000-04:00

Do we wear a "Church" mask on Sundays?

The Liturgy of the Word address us with rough words. Both Malachi and Jesus are using violent words. But if we look at what is at stake we see that the language is proportionate to what is happening: the distortion of life of faith. When it comes to our Christian life, we should have the same kind of attitude that Jesus has and allow nothing to compromise it.

I know the setting quite well. At the time of Malachi, they rebuilt the new temple on the vestiges of the old one destroyed by war. Yet, people instead of offering the first-fruits to the Temple's sacrifice were bring leftovers. The priests felt "yucky" about the whole thing and began to change into mere "clerks" of the cult and focused extensively solely on the rules and regulations, especially those that impacted the liturgy. Yet, for God that is not a good reason to change focus - things, even if they are "sacred things" (like sacrifices) cannot replace God. Today, we still struggle with the same situations: churches are seen by some only as "sacramental service stations" where people go to get their sacraments (and most of the time, asking to do them according to what they think should be done) and focusing only on the externals. We also have groups of people who only focus on the "legalistic" aspects of our christian life - wanting bells, and altar railings, etc. and then they continue to leave God out there in heaven, having no impact on their lives. (Thankfully, there is a new springtime in the church that is creating a whole new people who really want to be committed to live the Gospel and live as children on the Church!!!)

I don't blame the Pharisees and the scribes: they were committed to live their Adventure of Faith fully and, as a group, they made the free choice to renew the religious life of the time. I feel close to them because I made that commitment, too and as part of my ministry I, too, feel the desire to renew people's relationships with God. But as a disciple of Jesus, I need to take these words at heart, too otherwise I may risk to commit the same mistakes they made. I guess, they were afraid of losing their roles and presenting themselves to the people as "those who know, those who are orthodox." Unable to be humble and acknowledge their shortcomings and sin, instead of presenting to God their empty hands and ask for mercy they reduced faithfulness to God to fulfillment and mere observance of the practices of the law. If religion, then, means this - only doing religious things, then of course they were better than others, and I understand why they had a superiority complex: they kept more rules and laws than the rest of the people. But Jesus unmasks them and brings to the fore the real issue: at the center of our religious life there is God, who is a person... not a "thing."

The Pharisaic spirit has been forced out: to lie to one self and to deceive others. This is what drives Jesus mad. This "new form" of religion only appears to have God at the center but really has human pride as sole motivator. It's all about what I can do for God. Yikes! Jesus tells us that nothing is more foreign and false in Christianity than Legalism ("just keep the rules and all will be fine!"). Legalism ignores the heart completely.

Before I point the finger at them, I better watch out and look into my heart to see if I am not doing the same. Jesus is shedding light to a Hidden Deception that lives in our hearts and in our Church today as well. Why is it that one of the most popular accusations against Christians is to say something and do another, at times exactly the opposite? Hypocrisy is the temptation "par excellence" of all those who make a choice to trod the path of Christian life.

As a priest, I cannot ignore the words the Jesus is speaking: Do I preach without practicing? Do I help people to live out their Christian life or do I just tell them "the rules"? Do I perform deeds only to be seen, to be honored, to be respected publicly? Do I use titles, religious or "scholarly" in order to impose my opinions on others?

The Good News is that God's grace is effective in spite of my sins and shortcomings. Jesus said that the people are not to ignore what the Pharisees and Scribes teach: their words are valid. It's just not imitate their behavior, and therefore remain focused on God. This, instead of depressing me, allows me to live my life in freedom and actually inspires me to commit myself to be servant of all.

I have to remain totally grounded in the Word. It is like a mirror that Jesus holds up to my face so that I can see myself in a more truthful way and, in His light, escape the Hidden Deception of Hypocrisy. And when I celebrate sacraments, I don't want to say "Here are the rules and my job is done," I want to say, like Paul, "I am ready to give my life for you."

One Strong Foundation, One great Household

2011-10-28T10:33:00.005-04:00

Today we celebrate the feast of Saints Simon and Jude, two of the first followers of Jesus. Looking at them, I am reminded that this month - with the Word of Life - I, too, am called to renew my decision to follow Jesus. I find strength and consolation looking at the first group of followers. Jesus chose them! One betrayed Him, another was a traitor, and all of them abandoned Him at the Cross. Yet, He chose them and built the Church on that bunch.

There is a deep sense of freedom, however, in thinking that Jesus knows very well what He was getting into when He chose me to be His follower. I don't need to pretend to be good in order to follow Him. He knows who I am. This awareness not only makes me feel fully accepted by Him but also allows me to open myself up even more to God's love and grace. I see this in the saints, too. They all reached a point where they became aware of their own weaknesses and they experienced God's grace and allowed God to do great things in them and through them. Does it mean that my desire to become a saint can actually become a reality? Well, I hope so; otherwise why would the Church, echoing Scripture, would call all of us to it?

What would happen to us as a Church if we would focus our attention more on this reality: to be followers of Jesus? Would our in-fights stop? Would people actually have the opportunity to respond to this basic call and live out their faith rather than get stuck in what they agree or disagree, etc? hmmm.. I have to do something about this, both personally and in my community. We must all recommitt ourselves to be followers of Jesus. And it must begin with me.

Would this also give us an opportunity to reclaim the Oneness that should be typical ours? The Church is so divided. What a shame! And over what? No wonder the world doesn't believe in what we do; if Jesus' call to be One doesn't work for our Church and with all churches, no wonder people won't accept the Gospel message. (somehow John 17:21 always seems to come out!).

Things need to change and they will never change if we... if I... don't focus on following Him. It is walking on His path that He can do what He wants to do. Jesus didn't write any books or left us with a strategic plan. He just told us to follow Him. Then this must be the plan to follow.

But obviously there is more in this following Him. This path is totally transformative. The first reading launches me into the depth of this mystery: I am transformed into a member of God's household! WOW, from sinner to "member of God's family." Not only this, but I become a little "temple," the place where He dwells. How amazing is God's love for us: not only does He call us to Him but He "moves" in us. Love is always unifying.

Now God-in-me reaches all the people I encounter today. It is in the way I love them that they will (I tremble as I think of this) feel loved by God. And this means that every person I meet gives me an opportunity to love God-in-them (which is the theme of this week, to love God and neighbour).

Now I know what to do today: I will love Him in everyone I meet and by choosing to follow Him I will fulfill God's plan for me. This is going to be a great day!

Under the wings

2011-10-27T10:21:00.001-04:00

Today the words of Jesus are tough. He speaks openly, with words filled with many feelings: hurt, disappointment and tenderness. Jesus was a real person and today He opens His heart. What do I see? I can peek in and see the vastness of His love for us as He desires to "gather" us with Him, like a hen gathers her chicks. What would happen if we, all Christians in the world, would focus on this tender image and consider ourselves one of those chicks? (Isn't it interesting that the word "to gather" is ekklesia, the Greek word for "Church?")

Somewhere I read: "the most powerful force in our lives is experienced when we become aware of being loved and accepted unconditionally" We experience this with God: unconditional love that lasts in spite of life's difficulties: life, death, anguish, sword. All these things do not work against me but help me to reach the Father's heart (as I learned yesterday). Nothing, then, can separate us from this love. Nobody, except myself.

There is resistance to Jesus and to the love of the Father; Jesus continues to be upsetting to us because we cannot manipulate Him or "sponsor Him. Just like Herod, I also have a tendency of replacing the Jesus of the Gospel with the Jesus of my mind. I can only follow Him according to His way, not mine.

Mine is the choice to remain under His wings. By saying Yes to His will in every moment, doing whatever He asks of me, I will make sure to remain where I truly belong. What a peaceful thought....

I remember that long time ago I did something in order to live the words "You shall not see me again until you say: 'Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord'." I decided to say (quietly, to myself) this verse everytime I was about to meet someone, whether at a meeting, or an appointment or even in the streets or at the store... "Blessed is He who comes..." Who is the one who comes in the name of the Lord? It's Jesus... this helped me to love Jesus in the other. This is the challenge of this weeek, so living this verse will help me to live better His Commandment.

Then, this is what I shall do today: I shall remain under His wings by doing His Will and love Him in the one who comes to me in the name of the Lord.

The narrow door

2011-10-26T10:19:00.001-04:00

Today the liturgy the Word strikes me as very powerful. Saint Paul says that I am predestined to be conformed to the image of God's son. This reality is so deep that gives me almost vertigo. But I can also see the mystery of Christian life in this verse. I have to let the Father continue to do this in me: fuller conformity into the image of His Son, so that - as one of the Sunday Prefaces says - "He can see and love in us what He sees and loves in Christ."

I find great comfort in knowing that God, in His great Love for me, sends the Holy Spirit to help me in my weakness; I really like knowing that God knows I am weak and I need His help.

When I let the Holy Spirit strengthens me I realize that my life can be lived in a different way: without Him I rely only on my own strength and I always find myself "against the whole world." I want to be patient but at times people can drive me crazy. I am driving to go somewhere and I am in a hurry and traffic may force me to change my plans. With His help, I realize that "all" things - all people and all events - are nothing else but a concrete Will of God for me, and since God is love and He loves me immensely, everything is a manifestation of His love for me. The problem is not Him, but me who am unable to see Him acting in my life. The Holy Spirit changes this and makes me see that "everything works together for good."

It's not easy, then, but it is possible; that's why Jesus reminds me today to strive to enter through the narrow gate. To pass through the door - that is, through Jesus Himself - I have to let go of all that is mine, my luggage that is full of opinions, ideas, thoughts, judgments, etc.

In this Gospel passage there is something that concerns me a bit, though: the possibility of not making it, of seeing that Door be shut before my very eyes. But I know how to avoid this: to say always Yes to the will of God in every present moment.

How do I know if I am truly passing through the narrow gates? Jesus tells me how to know: by looking at the way I love Him-in-the-other. It's my love of neighbor that shapes and demonstrates my love of God. I want to be a living Gospel, a living "Credo"... living and lived out, not just spoken or preached.

So, I know how to live today: by striving to pass through the narrow gate by loving Him in the other in every present moment.

one heart. two loves. one revolution

2011-10-26T07:17:00.001-04:00

Jesus does something amazing: he brings two great commandments and puts them all together, making them into “his” commandment. In doing so, He started a great revolution, which is at the heart of Christianity: it’s impossible to separate our love of God and love of neighbor. Now we know that how God wants us to love Him: by loving our neighbor.

The true measure of love is love without measure. This is what is at the heart of the Gospel. By placing the two commandments together Jesus has lifted us up and now we are able to see God. Like a loving parent who lifts a child up and talks to him face to face.

We love our neighbor in the same way we love God: “with all our hearts” - love is a response from the innermost center of our live. “With all our minds” - sometimes our love requires some creativity, some attentiveness, something that makes us go deeper and farther. “With all our soul” - allowing the person who is next to us to be considered as the only one in the world. God-in-the-neighbor is the One we can encounter every day and in every moment. Understanding this, we know that we can never be alone, we can never be separate from Him.

We ought to strive to love God with two loves (that are actually the same): for Him and for Him-in-the-Other. These two loves are not exclusive but they both need to be there if we want to grow in the image of the Son, if we want to do His will.
How do we know if we are loving God with these two loves? Jesus said that on these two commandments the whole Law and the Prophets rest. For us, then, it means that we can check if we are making progress by seeing how quickly, how well and how strongly we love others. Should a situation rise and asks me to make a choice, I have to ask myself first: which one will allow me to love my neighbor? then, which is more “convenient” or suitable for me?

“In Love, what counts is to love.” Then, let’s all say yes to His will and focus on Love

Encountering Christ in our life's storms

2011-08-07T06:00:00.005-04:00

This week Christ invites us to join Him in walking on waters. Is it really possible? Do I believe that He can ask me to do such a thing?

The disciples find themselves in a frightening situation: they have obeyed Jesus’ command to leave the place where they were, to get into a boat and precede Him on the other side. To do the Will of God does not mean that our rides will be smooth or that we will not encounter storms on the way, storms that always seem to come at night. To say Yes to God means to know that He is with us, even in the storm; this allows us to live our lives even more deeply because we know that everything is allowed by our loving Father. We become aware that even in the darkest night there is “someone else” with us. How often and how easy it is to forget this and to live as though we are all alone on our little boat.

Fear, it is said, always tricks us. It makes us see things and people in a different way, it makes us act and speak differently as well. It changes our perception and it’s easy to confuse people for ghosts. Our neighbor doesn’t look like our neighbor anymore and we fight him or her as though they we have seen a ghost. But it’s always Jesus who, like a new dawn, brings to us a new day. Although He may not appear as clearly as in the day, it is always Jesus.

Where was Him? As the disciples left for the sea He went on a mountain. to pray. The disciples and Jesus are in opposite places: sea and mountains. One, the sea, is the place where the chaotic and evil spirits who oppose our journey dwell; the other is the place where God speaks to us, not in the rumbles of the sea storm but in the gentleness of the breeze. Sometimes it seems as though Jesus is in the opposite place of where we live, in a place where He is too far to come and help us out. But space and time are in His hands and nothing can separate Him from us.

The boat is buffeted by the wind. Interestingly, the word to describe the effect of the wind on the boat is also used to translate the english word: to torture. In the Gospel of Matthew is used in two other places: in reference to paralysis and to demonic possession. Like that boat, we also are buffeted and tortured by the winds of our lives storms.

I look at that boat. Back then, the floor of the boat was flat and not curved as today’s boats. They were really surfing the surface of the sea. It was easy to lose stability, even the smallest of waves and the gentlest of winds would have quite an effect on that boat. I think about my life: it seems that the storms of life have a more devastating effect on those aspects of my life that seem to be the most “flat” and not curved and shaped by the Will of God. I want to welcome, therefore, the Word of God that shapes me from within. The more I allow God to shape me, the safer my journey through the rough waves.

Jesus comes into our storms and calls us to peace. He invites us to share with His authority over chaos. As Peter did, we also are called to walk on water and move towards Him. Peter focused on his fear that became self-fulfilling prophecies: nobody can walk on water and therefore neither can I. He sank. How many times we sabotage our own faith by believing more what seems to be normal rather than putting our faith in the supernatural that comes from Jesus’ invitation to “come” to Him? Yet, even in these situations, when our faith becomes inadequate, He is there to pick us up.

But, as our boat reaches the shore, we find ourselves totally transformed: He has changed us and empowered us to be like Him.

If we want to start walking the supernatural walk... our walk on water, and encounter Christ in our lives’ storms, we ought to get out of the boat.

Finding true Rest

2011-07-03T06:10:00.000-04:00

Life is full of contradictions and paradoxes.

I see them everywhere. This weekend, the liturgy of the Word allows me to enter into this very basic human reality and come to terms to it. How can I deal with contradictions and paradoxes? and what does Jesus wants me to do with those?

The Word presents the King who comes to rule from “sea to sea” not riding a mighty horse but a mule; His dominion will not oppress but bring peace and freedom. Paul translates this in terms that are more familiar to me: flesh and spirit. Jesus tells us that God chooses to reveal Himself not to the smart ones but to those who are simple.

On one hand, I claim to loathe contradictions and compromises but on the other hand I live with them every day. With Paul, I also know what it means to know what the right thing to do is and yet I find myself unable to do it.

I experience these most especially about people and things that mean the most to me. If left unguarded, I tend to make choices because I long to “rest.” (how important, therefore, to live well this month’s Word of Life!). If I can chose the easier way out, I tend to do so... so that I can go back and do what I really wants to do.

This “Rest”, that Jesus brings up, is a powerful force in me and in every human being. In order to get it, I am willing to do whatever. I see it all around me! What power this force has: how many people has chosen to find “Rest” in alcohol, sex, drugs, TV, shopping. Anything that can take our minds off life’s problems. Yet, when we wake up the next day, we find ourselves bound to a heavier yoke. No rest but only more and more problems.

Jesus is calling us to come to Him to find rest. He is not telling us that life’s burdens will not be there anymore. He is just promising us to replace the Yoke that we have made ourselves with one that fits us better. But that’s not enough! He is willing to bind HImself to us so that He can help us out and share the load with us.

What love He has for us!

It comes down to a fundamental choice: acknowledge that we are messed up and not together. Offer to Him all that burdens us and clearly declare the need we have to “rest”. He will exchange the yokes; the more we do the will of the Father the more the new yoke will lighten up; the more we realize we don’t carry it all by ourselves.

This week, then, I do not want to do things “for Him” only, but also “with Him.” All that I do, I will start by saying “With You, Jesus.” Whenever I face my “old self” (my “evil twin,” as I call it), I will choose to exchange it with what Christ wants me to have and do at that time.

Living in this way, then, I will make sure that this exchange of yokes will never be undone and that we can continue to live as one with HIm forever and that the Love that is generate by this union with Christ will continue to bring life, true life, into the world.

I don’t want to avoid contradictions and paradoxes anymore; I just want to chose to have Christ involved in them so that He carry the burden with me.

The Easter Journey (so far)

2011-05-30T13:55:00.000-04:00

This Easter Journey has brought us to a closer relationship with Jesus: He is always with us and He encounters us where we are in life. We learned that we cannot look for Him among the dead because He’s alive. Where, then, can we find Him?

We can find Him in the assembled gathered in His name, to worship Him. The disciples were together when Jesus first showed Himself to them wishing them peace. Thomas unfortunately was not there; eventually, he too encountered the risen Christ once he joined the worshipping community.

Like the disciples on the way to Emmaus, we find Him in the Breaking of the Bread. It is when we celebrate His memorial that we experience the burning presence of Jesus in Scriptures and Sacraments.

We find Him in His word. He guides us like a shepherd guides his flock. How important it is for us to train ourselves in recognizing the voice of the Shepherd over those who compete for our attention and devotion. Just as it is matter of life and death for a sheep to recognize the voice and follow, so is for us: our eternal life depends on knowing the Voice of God in our hearts everyday.

We find Him in our lives when we pattern our own on His who is “the truth, the way and the life.” He is the true way of living our lives. Jesus is the incarnated will of God for everyone; looking at Him, we can truly see ourselves and how God wants us to be truly alive.

We find Him in Love, especially when, our of Love for God, we love one another. In every loving relationship we can see Jesus present in our midst. The more we becoming loving the closer we feel to God because He is love.

Where did you find Him?

Easter: Let God roll the stone back

2011-04-24T07:42:00.001-04:00

This has a been a journey focused on transformation: God has a specific plan on us and He is willing to do whatever it takes to bring it about. If we let Him, He will wash our feet and take away the mud the world puts on us. If we let Him, He will open the doors to Heaven for us as He took on Him all that separates us from God.

If we let Him, He can roll back the stone on the tomb and allow us to experience New Life, experience Him alive and living in our midst. God is not dead, but too many look for Him among the dead. They will never find Him, and yet, they are those who go around in the world saying that “God is dead.”
God is alive. In Jesus, God has accomplished the unthinkable: He who was “in heaven” is not living in our midst, we who were His enemies have become friends and now able to share His life in us through Baptism.

If we let Him wash us in this living stream of new water that He provides, we will be able to see that we are His children. And Life can start again.
What will it take? and, how will this new life look like? Can you imagine: living a life with a heart as big as the world?

This is the beginning of a new era for each and everyone of us. this is the time when we can taste the Newness that we long for.

I am ready to follow Him; who else will join me?

Good Friday: "we are the 'Because' of God

2011-04-22T18:27:00.000-04:00

We walk together on this most beautiful of days, following Jesus who carries His cross. We go with Him all the way to Calvary where we see Him, true God and true Man, hanging on the Cross, dying for our salvation.
We walk today with Him and we will see Him crying out “My God, My God why have you forsaken me?”

“Why have you forsaken me?”

In this Cry we find the cry of every people, of every age, of every nation who struggle to find God today. We walk with them, we walk for them, and we walk on their behalf. With Jesus, we cry with them as they wonder: “where is God when tragedy struck? Where is God, when I can’t find a way to sustain my family due to loss of jobs, poverty, illness…? Where is God, when I experience injustice and discrimination?”

“My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?” In the abandonment of Jesus, this terrible feeling of isolation and forsakenness, we can find ourselves.
It seems as though the Father remains silent and does not answer to the “Why?”
But we know that something else was happening. As true man, Jesus uttered those words two thousand years ago; as true God, He utters them eternally.
Jesus cries out “Why have you forsaken me?” and one day you were born, “Why have you forsaken me?” and another day you were born. “Why have you forsaken me?” And yet another day I was born.
By God’s grace, in the power of the Spirit, we become part of this wordless dialogue that the Father has with His Son. We, therefore, become the “Because” of God. We are God’s answer to Jesus’ cry on the Cross.

We walk with Jesus because we matter to God; we walk because we know that His great love has reached its most sublime form: He died for us.

We walk with Jesus to Calvary because we find today the answer to humankind’s greatest question: “’Who am I?’ and ‘Why am I here?’ ” We are here because He loves us immensely; we are here because we are God’s gift to His Son (John 17:6)

We walk also with those who cannot, those who don’t believe yet in His Love. We take their sufferings, their questions, their own “Whys?” and make them our own and we put them in the Cry of Jesus today and we pray that they too become aware of what HE does for them.

We walk with Jesus, with grateful hearts, and we say “Yes” to His love as we live our lives as “the ‘because’ of God”

We walk with Jesus together as the family of the redeemed, and we will continue to do so, brother to brother, sister to sister, until we will realize what He dreamt for us - that we can “Become one as He and the Father are one… so that the world may believe”(John 17:21)that He died for the salvation of all. They He died because HE loved us to the end (John 13:1)

Letting Jesus wash our feet

2011-04-21T23:15:00.000-04:00

I look at the story of the washing of the feet and wonder how can I enter into this reality so that I, too, can do this and, therefore, partake of the Kingdom.

He loved them to the end. This is the framework. Whatever Jesus does is out of Love for us. How far does this Love go? He does the unthinkable: at the table He washes the disciples’ feet.

I understand why Peter has a problem with this: those feet not only were covered with dust, but also with the human and animal waste that run in the streets. When they came into the house, they were too smelly and the lowest rank slave would wash people’s feet.

Are we willing to let Jesus do that, take away all the mud and yucky stuff that we collect from the outside? are we willing to let Jesus take away from us the mud that other people put on our feet?
The world out there wants us to believe that the Church, for example, is an old institution that needs to be taken away, filled with corrupted people who do nothing for the world. Once I let Jesus take way the mud, I see the Church as a family, made one by the meal we share at the Table of the Supper of the Lord.

Are we willing to let Jesus transform us into someone New?

New Life

2011-04-11T23:49:00.000-04:00

The story of the resurrection of Lazarus speaks to me very strongly. I can get a glimpse of God’s heart from this story: He wants us to have and enjoy a new life, a new type of life - the resurrection life. How can I...we... experience this life?

I enter the story by following Martha. “If you had been here.” How many times I told God the same thing: where were you when that tragedy struck? when that child was being hurt?

“I am the resurrection and the life... do you believe this?” I am invited to answer. Do I believe that He is the source of this new life? nobody else and nothing else. Can I rely on Him alone for this Life?

“They brought him to the tomb.” If I want to experience new life, I need to bring Jesus to that part of my soul or my body or my mind that is dead or dying. This may be the place where I let nobody get close but it is at the tomb that new life begins. I have to bring my pain and my needs to Him, even if I am embarrassed or do not know how to talk to Him about it.

“Take the stone away” It’s not enough to bring Jesus to the tomb, He wants to face the darkness. I need to face the stench of the sinfulness, the reality that death creates. It stinks in the cave because I allowed to many dead thing to accumulate. It’s impossible to clean up. Now what? I cannot continue to cover things us. The smell will never go away. There is only one way of letting the stench go away forever.

“Lazarus, come out!” I cannot exit the cave on my own strength but He can. And He calls me to a new life. Every time He calls us by name we are being re-created again.
But now, I have to answer. Do I have the courage to follow the voice and get out of the dark cave or will I ignore it and remain where I feel “comfortable?” Life is risky but I have to make a choice.

I choose the new life. I am ready!
Are you?

Got Living Water?

2011-03-27T15:56:00.000-04:00

The world out there is full of questions and one in particular seems to come out very often, most especially when we take a look at the great tragedies of our times: “Is the Lord in our midst or not?” (Ex 17:7, first reading). Today we enter into this question and have an opportunity to find the answer.
Jesus tells us that God is still in our midst but not in the way we may think or expect Him to be. He is in our midst in a very ordinary way and we find Him when we respond to the needs that people have. We find Him when we love; when we discover ourselves as “beloved of God” and when we love “the other” with the Love He has poured into our hearts. Then we understand how God is present in the world today.

In that “Give me a drink” that Jesus says to the Samaritan woman we find more, however, than a simple request to be charitable. This request opens us to the revelation of God and of ourselves; this request allows us to dialogue with God and this dialogue moves two hearts closer and closer together until they become one.

We know that our lives demand something more, something that like the thirst of midday in a desert, haunts us until we find anything that can bring relief. The tragedy of life is that most of the time we settle for water from the well... if we are lucky. Some even settled for the water of a cactus. The gift that God brings to us is more enriching and totally satisfying - living water. No wonder the woman wants to know where it is. She knows that that’s what we long for!
This living water is not like well water. It moves and moves things. A well can be covered: you put sand on it and it’s covered. No one can cover a stream: there will always be water.
The Living water comes from within, but like a stream with an underground source, it may carry with it the dirt of the earth. We can not drink it until all the impurities have been removed. So it is with us. The Living water has been given to us, but we carry a lot of junk (impurities) which muddy the water. What to do?

“Call you husband....” Why switch the conversation on to the husbands? The Samaritan woman has five husbands and the one she has now is not her own. As I meditate on this word, I am reminded that the Hebrew word for husband is the word for “master” (Ba’al) which is also used for idols. Earthly idols made of earth, of dirt, of clay.

Now I know what to do. There are too many attachments in our lives, attachment that can function like idols, something that we give all our attention and devotion. For as long as we keep those clay idols the living water will always be muddy. By getting rid of them, they will not contaminate the water any longer and I can drink of that water and be truly and forever satisfied.

Only in this way, we can be part of the thirst-quenching network that Jesus invites us to be. If we hold our idols in our hands and tell people that God can satisfy our hearts, how truthful are we? Can they really believe us? I don’t think so.

If we say that God is living in our midst but we don’t let go of the idols of self interest and pride, how credible are we?

But when we allow the Love that God has poured into us to purify our hearts and transform our lives we can be made into credible aqueducts, capable of bring the LIving water to all those who long for it.
We can be the answer to the world’s question: God is in our midst because He lives among us when we love each other with His love.

Living the Transfiguration Story

2011-03-26T11:50:00.003-04:00

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.

"Salty" relationships

2011-02-07T11:27:00.000-05:00

I can't help it. I keep thinking about being called "Salt of the earth." I know I am called to bring the flavor I received and share it to the world, making everything more flavored.

What I received is God's love; this is what makes everything different. God's love, then, must be my "salt."

Today, the Word proclaimed at Mass brought two stories together: creation (from Genesis) and the visit of Jesus to Gennesaret which brought about many healings (from Mark).

Beyond every healing, behind every miracle there is a relationship. Jesus never heals anonymously. Relationships are the most important things we have. They must be appreciated as special and unique.

Each relationship has to be flavored, too. And this is where the challenge is: the amount of salt is different with each relationship.

It's like being on one of those cooking shows where the contestants get a "mystery ingredient." Each ingredient cooks and relates to other foods in a particular, unique way. The chef who wins is the one is careful with the "mystery" and brings the best from it. It's the same with our relationship. We can't salt in the same way. We must respect its uniqueness and administer the right amount of love.

I pray that God will help me to become sensitive to know how much salt is necessary with each individual person I encounter each day, so that they will have the right amount of God's love and they won't leave too "insipid" or "too salty".

It's challenging but quite rewarding, I am sure.

Jesus calls us by two new names

2011-02-06T21:25:00.000-05:00

As Jesus continues His teaching we continue to meditate on what it means to live our lives as children of the Kingdom of God. Jesus continues to call us by new names; in doing so, He tells us how He sees us but also creates in us that vision. By calling us “Salt of the earth” and “Light of the world” He makes us so. But what does it mean?

I am amazed at how many references are in our languages about salt. One in particular seems to be meaning: “salary,” comes from the Latin, salarium, referring to the allotted amount of salt a roman soldier would get as remuneration for his services to the Empire. By being called salt, Jesus it pointing out how valued we are - we are worth someone’s salary.

Salt has so many functions: preserves, disinfects, but most of all, although not considered food itself, it touches and changes every food it reaches. It allows all other ingredients to “come alive” and bring forth their own flavor. By being called salt, Jesus is telling us that we have a particular function in the world: to preserve it from going bad, cleaning up their wound and making sure they don’t become infected but most of all we called to “flavor” everything we do, every conversation and relationship we have with the extra flavor of God’s Love. What a mission! But also, what a trust has God in us.

At the time of Jesus Light and Darkness were considered “things,” one pushing the other away. As St John of the Cross said, we are like stained glass windows: allowing the light inside to shine forth. But, what do people outside see when they look at our windows?

The point of these two parables, I believe, is found not in the opening statements. Jesus points to something that we, as humans, find very annoying: when we get something that doesn’t work properly, we get annoyed and tend to put the object away as it is considered useless. Salt and Light have specific functions; if they lose the ability of doing what they are supposed to do, they are useless. Jesus tells us that useless salt can be thrown away. Is that what we want Him to do with us?

How can salt and light lose their function? Salt is a sodium chloride - common salt - is a stable compound, a crystal that does not decay. How can it lose its flavor? By being mixed up with impurities. Technically salt doesn’t lose its flavor but looses the ability of transferring the flavor because the impurities keep it from being active.

If the window is dirty, light does’t go through properly and changes its brightness.
The Word today also suggests that we ought to take away the impurities and injustices that life throws at us. When we do that and behave as people of the beatitudes we will be able to be fully active in the world and experience God’s presence in us. We can start by looking around us; what is missing in our family? attention? let’s put it there by making sure that each member of our family gets the attention and supports we want to have. What about our workplaces? all around us? in the street, where we shop? How about in our churches? We can take the first step and by doing so, our little light will shine a bit brighter and people (and we, too) can start experiencing the flavor of the Kingdom.
Jesus is calling us to something beautiful and is transforming us into what the World needs now more than ever. Are we ready to take up this challenge?

The Kingdom is at hand

2011-01-26T11:47:00.000-05:00

Jesus begins His own ministry; instead of establishing a center from where He would preach, He goes around and calls people to Himself. He has not stopped doing this since that day. I am called; personally called to follow Jesus wherever He goes.

I hear the proclamation: “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.” The journey of a Christian begins with this act of repentance; I am challenged since the beginning to change my mind, my opinion about what God is doing. How many times I think I have figured God out, I can read His mind, I pretend to know what He is going to do next. Fool! I have to change my mind, being constantly opened to what He is going to say, to do, to reveal. Repentance: a humbling act that gives me freedom.

The Kingdom of God is at hand. He will repeat this message to the disciples when He will send them out. He spent an incredible amount of time teaching about this topic. I think it deserves to be understood better. Not a geographical place, of course, but still concretely real - the established presence of God living in our midst.
The Kingdom belongs to God; only He can establish it. Yet, I can create the condition for this establishment. Never thought of it, I am involved in this. When I pray “Thy Kingdom come,” I can hear Him say to me: “what are you going to do so that My kingdom may come.” Yes! What can I do?
Jesus talked about the kingdom being present in our midst and also within us. What a great gift: the Kingdom is within me. It begins with me. It begins when I say Yes to Him and live out His words, one after another. That’s how He wants me to love Him.
But the Kingdom is also in our midst. The second reading of this week, from Paul’s letter to the Corinthians, speaks of the necessary condition for the Kingdom to be established among us - the unity that comes from loving one another.
Unity and the Kingdom. One and the same? I can see how important it is to remain focused on reciprocal love. When we love one another, God lives in our midst. This is what really matters then, this is what makes us true Church.
I know what I must do, now: live out the kingdom that is in me so that it can be established in our midst. Another call to love, but this time I know that I am an active participant in the Kingdom that is at hand but that has already started being established here.

Follow the Lamb

2011-01-19T14:00:00.000-05:00

John helps us to focus on Jesus. I believe there is a point in our lives when we have to make a personal choice to follow Jesus. Nothing can substitute for Him. The reason we pray, the reason we go to Church or read the Bible, etc, must be to be close with Him. Have I made the fundamental choice to follow Jesus and let nothing take HIs place? not even what I do for Him?

John points to Jesus and identifies Him as the “Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.” I wonder, if He has taken away the sin of the world why do we experience sin all the time? True, we are sinners... all the time. But why is it that some sins seem to be more “present” than others?

Jesus does take away our sins but sometimes we have a hard time to give them up to Him. We want to do everything by ourselves... even get rid of our sins. How can that be possible? We cannot erase sins from our souls! This only complicates our lives...

Then, we have to come up with a plan. A plan that can help us correspond to the Grace that He have given us. How can I experience victory if I fight with no shield or sword?

A Plan, then; first step is to identify the biggest sin, then come up with a solution so that I can avoid triggering the sin.

I pray that I may discover more and more what the role of sin is and most especially the great gift that is to have Jesus being the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world

In the waters of new life

2011-01-11T20:32:00.003-05:00


By saying Yes to God's will I can be reborn

The Christmas cycle ends. With the feast of the Baptism of the Lord we are closing the Christmas season.

Reading the story closely, I understand the difficulties that both John the Baptist and the early communities had about Jesus’ baptism. Why would he go to be baptized? Why forgiveness of sin? Wasn’t Jesus the one without sin?

Jesus brings with Him the sin of the nations, of all ages. Jesus is bringing with Him my sins as well. I know that whatever happens to him happens to all of us. With the forgiveness of sin, the Trinity allows me to be born and re-born everyday. What a great gift I have found!!!!!

The baptism of Jesus challenged the early christian communities! My own baptism challenges me. How do I live my own life as a child of God? Do I keep that “dignity” given to me unstained?

As a community, how can we grow in our understanding as members of God’s household?

I know we have to grow; the challenge exists and we have to keep the light burning.

The Courage to follow the star

2011-01-04T23:11:00.001-05:00

There is something wonderful about this story - God’s revelation now reaches all the ends of the world. We are all invited to encounter Christ: it doesn’t matter who we are, where we come from or.. whatever.

God wants us to encounter Jesus and does all that He can - He gives us all a star, guidance and direction in life. God uses what we are into, what we like and are interested and invites us to journey through it. The challenge is to follow the guidance that God provides. How many times we prefer to do what we want and ask God either to make it happen or to clean up after ourselves when things go wrong.

What is the star that God has sent us? sent me?

I am saddened by the other characters in the story. Herod and his scholars knew where the Messiah would be born and yet they stayed home. They asked the Magi to go and then go back and tell them all about. WOW... centuries of waiting and that’s all they did. Sure, I understand: this wasn’t the first time someone claimed to be the messiah, but how many of these wannabes had people from the east undertake such a journey. The Magi were Herod’s star. He didn’t follow.

Not only we are to follow the star but we are also a star for someone else. Would God entrust us with guiding someone to Christ? Do we understand how much He loves us that He asks us to do what He did in the past?

I want to live this feast totally taken by following the star that God has given me.

It's time for the impossible to happen

2010-12-08T11:34:00.001-05:00

(please, refer to the meditation from the Journal section of heavenwards.org)

The readings of this week are really helping me to visualize what the effects of the doing the will of God are: by saying "Yes," I can enter into His wonderful Vision and let God realize the impossible through the work of my hands. It's amazing how but God loves and trusts us: He allows us to become part of His creation. It's certainly risky on His part but I appreciate the Love.

How can I live this reality? How can I say a deeper yes and understand that this is the time when the impossible can happen.

Advent: The Journey begins

2010-12-02T22:58:00.000-05:00

Where are we going this Advent?

I am feeling challenged to move towards a Christmas life, a life lived with Emmanuel, God-with-us. In order to reach this goal, I have to prepare myself to this encounter which will transform all of me. Part of this transformation is to change my own "sword" - that is, everything that is aggressive and based on Pride - into "ploughshare" (something that is a blessing for others.

the Sound of Silence

2010-12-02T11:34:00.002-05:00

I haven't been updating the blog page in a long time. Sorry.
It seems that time is slipping through my fingers....
I am thinking about changing the whole system and combing everything into one place.
What do you think?

Zaccheus

2010-11-02T21:58:00.001-04:00

(please, first read the entry in My Journal section at heavenwards.org)

If the story of Zaccheus could be used as a way to see our spiritual life, where are we? in the crowd? looking for a tree? hidden in the tree? at home, having a party with Jesus?

or are we still wondering what is this fuss about Jesus is all about?

facing challenges

2010-10-20T21:40:00.000-04:00

After reading the Gospel passage of this week, are you more like the widow or the judge? why?

A life of Thanks

2010-10-12T21:20:00.000-04:00

What can we be thankful for? suggestions?

The Spark

2010-10-04T01:51:00.002-04:00

Faith is a great gift; Jesus reminds us that it's not about the size of the gift but it's about using it, and stirring up the flame so that we can experience God's love in our lives.

How can we stir up the flame? What can we do, personally and as a community?

in pursuit of what?

2010-09-26T02:46:00.001-04:00

Please, read the entry at www.heavenwards.org in the My Journal section. Thank you.

We make so many excuses as we continue to justify our unwillingness to share. I found this little "litany" and I wanted to share it with you. let me know what you think? is it right? should we take some out or add some new ones?

"I WAS HUNGRY and you circled the moon.
I WAS HUNGRY and you told me to wait.
I WAS HUNGRY and you set up a commission.
I WAS HUNGRY and you talked about bootstraps.
I WAS HUNGRY and you told me I shouldn't be.
I WAS HUNGRY and you had napalm bills to pay.
I WAS HUNGRY and you said, "Machines do that kind of work now."
I WAS HUNGRY and you said, "The poor are always with us."
I WAS HUNGRY and you said, "Law and order comes first."
I WAS HUNGRY and you blamed it on the Communists.
I WAS HUNGRY and you said, "So were my ancestors."
I WAS HUNGRY and you said, "We don't hire over 35."
I WAS HUNGRY and you said, "God helps those who help themselves."
I WAS HUNGRY and you said, "Sorry, try again tomorrow."

-- T. T. Crabtree, 1985 Pastor's Manual, (Zondervan, 1985), p. 91.

Introducing Chiara Luce Badano

2010-09-20T11:17:00.002-04:00

On September 25th, the pope will make Chiara "Luce" Badano a blessed. She is one step closer to be a Saint.

I never met Chiara Luce but after reading her biography I feel very close to her. She met Jesus Crucified and Forsaken first hand when she was told she had cancer. Her answer to this encounter has become my own prayer: "Jesus, if you want it, I want it, too."

From this encounter, a new life. From her life, a whole new generation of people can learn to say Yes to the will of God and find behind everything the hand of a Father who loves us so much.

Yes! there is still hope in the world and God's love shines brighter than ever in the life of so many young men and women who have said yes to God.

Get To know Chiara Luce Badano:

You can watch the Celebration on Sept 25 live from here:

Live Streaming from Rome, Italy

Life in the Father's House - The Tranquil Life

2010-09-20T10:56:00.000-04:00

Does it make any difference that we are "found" by the Father? or, do we live our life as though we are still lost?

In other words, what does it REALLY mean to live a Christian life? Why does Paul say that we should live a "quiet and tranquil life?" Is it possible today?

Like Mary, Mother of Sorrows

2010-09-16T22:54:00.000-04:00

A meditation by Chiara Lubich (May 1987)

There are a great many ways of honouring Mary.
But there is one which is the best of all: imitating her, act as she would on earth, as if her other self. I believe it would be the way to please her most, because it enables her, in a certain way, to return to the earth.

This is what we need to aim at, without excluding all the other possibilities we have for honoring Mary. Imitating her.

But how? What do we imitate in her?

Let's imitate her in what is essential. She is a mother, Jesus' mother and spiritually our mother. From the cross, Jesus gave her to us as such in the person of John. We have to be like her other self, as a mother. In practice we have to state this intention: during the Marian Year I will behave toward every neighbour I meet, or for whom I shall be working, as though I were their mother. If we do that, we will discover a conversion in ourselves, a revolution, not only because we will find ourselves acting as a mother even to our own mother or father from time to time, but because we will have adopted a particular, specific attitude.

A mother is always welcoming, always helpful, always hopeful, and covers up everything. She forgives everything in her children, even if they are delinquents or terrorists.

The fact is, a mother's love is very similar to the charity of Christ of which Paul speaks about.
If we have the heart of a mother, or to be exact, if we propose to make Mary’s heart our own, who stands out as the most perfect model of motherhood, then we shall be ever ready to love others in all circumstances, so that we keep the Risen One living in us. We will play perfectly the part asked of us to keep Jesus, the Risen One, present in our midst.

If we have the heart of this mother, we will love everybody, not just the members of our own Church,
but those of others too. Not only Christians, but also Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus, etc., and all people of goodwill, everyone dwelling on the earth, because the maternity of Mary is as universal as the Redemption.

Even when she is not loved back, she always loves, and loves everyone.So here we have our intention for the next two weeks: to live like Mary, as if we were mothers to
everyone.

Lost? Not anymore!

2010-09-12T10:30:00.009-04:00

(please, refer to the journal entries at www.heavenwards.org)

It's beautiful to hear the Father's voice calling us home. It's beautiful to know we are found. Our lives changes the moment we realize that we are not alone anymore.

The Father is looking for His own, calling each one of us back home. How can we answer to this invitation? How would our lives look like as someone who is "lost no more?"

In remembrance

2010-09-11T13:39:00.001-04:00

Icon by Lewis Williams, bridgebulding.com

9 Years ago we faced the greatest tragedy of our times. 9 years ago we promised not to forget.
Our lives will never be the same, we have the honor and privilege today to remember and call out the names of those who lost their lives in the events now known simply as "9/11."

We keep them in prayer. We remember. We share our memories, our pains, our hopes for a more united world.

Today I prayed at Gates of Heaven Cemetery. The Mass was celebrated by the Bishop. Once again I promised "never to forget" and decided to go a bit further this upcoming year to build a more united world.
I really like the icon. What do you think?

How are you remembering?

Discipleship

2010-09-06T13:46:00.001-04:00

Are you a follower of Jesus or a Disciple?

What is the difference? The Cross. It is by picking up the Cross that we become more like Jesus. What does it mean for us, living today to pick up the values of Jesus and make them our own? Are we tempted to transfer our own values onto Him?

(Please, make sure you read the main entry on heavenwards.org).

Appreciating the Gift

2010-08-30T10:50:00.000-04:00

Pride and Humility. Do they impact the way we think about the gift of salvation?

Word of Life - September 2010

2010-08-30T10:49:00.000-04:00

How can we live these words this month?

“I say to you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.” (Mat 18:22)

The Gate

2010-08-23T22:27:00.002-04:00

(please, read first the entry in my journal section on the website...)

How do you feel about the gospel passage? what do you feel about the crowd left out?

The Woman and the Dragon

2010-08-16T20:40:00.001-04:00

(please, read the post on the website first)
Is there a war going? Who is winning? why did you say that?

Word of Life - August 2010

2010-08-14T23:05:00.002-04:00

AUGUST 2010 - “Blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment
of what was spoken to her by the Lord.”

--------------
What is the Word of Life?

The Word of Life is a word of scriptures taken from one of the Sunday liturgies of the Month. It's given to us to put it into practice and live it out in our daily life. Check the mail website, www.heavenwards.org, for a brief commentary and suggestions on how to put into practice. Come back here to share your experience, both negative and positive.

Living the Gospel is not easy but we can certainly strive to do that. Eventually, we can get better at it. What matters is to remain focused on God's Word.

Treasure and heart

2010-08-13T10:02:00.001-04:00

More about possessions and attachments. Why? Wasn’t the work we did last week enough? Apparently not! And with good reason. Possessions create deep roots in our hearts, and these may shape the form and give direction to our lives.

Of all that I have, what do I consider a treasure? I would like to say that God is my treasure, but I am not there yet. When I say it, I know that I desire that with all my life, but I struggle. Struggling is good, I believe; we struggle for things that we consider important enough to struggle. (This made me think of the lyrics in a song “what’s worth the prize is always worth the fight.”)

God is all that I want. God is all that I seek. And yet, at times I feel as though He escapes me. I cannot box God and place Him into a treasure box.

The continuous struggle towards the Treasure becomes a basic struggle for importance, meaning and relevance in my life. What fills my thoughts? What gives reason to my being?

If God is my Pearl of Great Price, the Treasure hidden in the field, what am I going to do to protect such a gift?