Meditation is an ideal way to pray. Using God's word (Lectio Divina) allows me to hear, listen and reflect on what the Lord wants to say to me - to one of his disciples - just like He did two thousand years ago.
The best time to reflect is at the beginning of the day and for at least 15 to 30 minutes.
Prior to going to sleep, read the Mass readings for the next day and then, in the morning, reflect on the Meditation offered on this website.
I hope these daily meditations allow you to know, love and imitate the Lord in a more meaningful way.
God bless you!


Saturday, January 22, 2011

Mk 3:20-21 Out of Your Mind

Mk 3:20-21 Out of Your Mind

(Click here for readings)

Are you out of your mind?

Was the Lord out of his mind? It appeared to many that he was, including his Apostles. Afterall, he went to Jerusalem even though he knew how that would end. He cured the ill knowing that they would not stay quiet. He preached and traveled to the point of exhaustion. He ate little, prayed much and sacrificed his time and life for his Father's Kingdom. In doing all these things, he revealed the mystery of who He is: The Son of God.

For a couple of weeks now I had on my schedule to celebrate a Mass for a group of scouts out at Purtis Creek State Park. It’s about an hour and a half away from Richardson. On the day of the Mass, I realized that it would conflict with a Confirmation retreat that would be going on over at our church, so I asked them to bump up the Mass to 5:30 pm – actually, change it to a Communion Service - so that I could get back in time for the retreat at 8:00 pm. The head of the group recommended that we just cancel it. Why bother driving out there for just a half hour? I insisted that we do it. After all, I had already told the children that I would be there.

What is remarkable about this true story is that on the same day of the Mass, I had lunch with a great family man and I invited him to come out with me, just to have some company; but he too had a conflict in the evening, and if I could change the time of the celebration, make it a little earlier, then he would be more than willing to drive for me.

Are we both out of our minds? Yes. Are we both in love with the Lord? Yes. I really believe this is how we show our love for others, even little stinky scouts! And this is how the Lord shows his love for us: by giving us all the help we need.

Today, let us show our love by extending ourselves beyond belief! By going the extra 80 miles! By giving when it hurts! By showing the miracles the Lord would love to give and by increasing our faith, hope and love for a world that is so in need.

Today, let us be driven by our love - the Lord's Love, and not so much by our mind. Let us march for the Lord!

Today, let us reveal, by our works of love, the mystery of who we are: We are Christians!

7 comments:

  1. Your intentions are wonderful, but you are only one man, and I think you are spreading yourself too thin, father. then that leads to stress, to fatigue, and to illness,because your body is so overworked that it can't protect itself and fight off infections, germs, whatever. then you won't do anyone any good. The maternal me is speaking now. I'm sorry, just my opinion. Staying healthy, vibrant, energized, and alert are all priceless.

    Have a wonderful day, padrecito.

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  2. "He preached and traveled to the point of exhaustion."
    - Sounds like someone I know!!!! You learned from the best.

    "And this is how the Lord shows his love for us: by giving us all the help we need."
    - I see this in my life everyday, even looking back. The sad part is even with this awareness there are still times I don't fully acknowledge Him. Truly no one loves me more.

    "Today, let us reveal, by our works of love, the mystery of who we are: We are Christians!"
    - Amen!

    I love your stories; so inspirational and teach by example.

    Have the best day!

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  3. Great Meditation today Father!

    The Gospel today was short but sweet and so true! Mk 3:20-21

    The Bishop today talked a lot about how crazy us Christian's are. And that it is better to be crazy with Christ than crazy against Christ. Your blog today sounded similar to what the Bishop really stressed in Mass.

    Thank you so much for your sacrifice to bring Christ to others. I know you love what you do but I wanted you to know that we all deeply appreciate it. You are always constantly in motion, moving forward to serve Him on earth. And also bringing others closer to the Kingdom in heaven....maybe sometimes not knowing where that is until it pops up on your outlook reminder an hour before. j/k

    God Bless You,

    Rose :)

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  4. "Little stinky scouts" LOL!
    My son was not a scout, but when he went to camp for a week, he came home with a suitcase full of clean clothes. He never changed them!

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  5. I agree with Teri, please take care of your self Father! Oh by the way the talk that you gave to the womens guild was both inspirational and humorous, and for some one who was told that he would never be a priest,well you certainly have become a good one.I hope that both you and Bishop Doug will be here for many years to come.

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  6. I haven’t read this blog in a while. But for some reason when I got home late this evening, I felt the Lord, telling me to go read it before I went to bed. So I did. And honestly I thought, “OK, nothing earth shattering there”. Sorry Father. I was exhausted and ready to crash.

    Anyway, I got into bed and just wanted to sleep. But your words were going around and around in my head and I couldn’t sleep.

    I was thinking about how often I go out of my way to help acquaintances or friends of friends that I don’t even know while I neglect the people I am closest to, the ones I have made a personal commitment to, my family and friends or those I call friends or who call me their friend.

    You got me thinking about why I do that. I like to think it’s because I am so loving and giving, but no. If I’m going to be honest, I have to admit that it is because those people that I barely know or don’t know at all appreciate me so much more than the ones I’m closest to. They are always so happy to see me, and shower me with praises and make me feel like a saint for giving my time and talent to them. They are my fans.

    I’ve been thinking to myself, “I’m just so wonderful that I give so much to those I don’t even know.” Isn’t that what Jesus wants? Then I thought what about those who know the real me, and accept me anyway, what about those I have intimate friendships with or my family? I am neglecting them in order to give to strangers. Is that what I’m supposed to do? As I looked at some of my relationships through the years, I realized that many of those people who started out as my ‘fans’ and became my ‘friends’, people that thought I was so self sacrificing and wonderful had become ‘a hassle’ and didn’t massage my ego anymore. That’s when I started moving away from them; ignoring them and actually hoping they would leave me alone so I could be around those who appreciate me.


    Is that what God wants from me? To stretch myself beyond my limits and commit myself to more and more people that I neglect and ignore the ones I’m closest to, the ones I’ve made a commitment to, or the ones that know the real me and love me anyway, while I am getting my ‘need’ to be important met by strangers?

    As I write this the word ignore stands out. I just realized that I ignore those that I’ve grown used to, those that don’t ‘excite’ me or that I don’t ‘excite’ anymore and move on. It’s interesting because I remember my mother telling me when I was in school that when someone harassed me or was mean to me that I should just ignore them because that hurt way more than anything I could say. She was right back then and she’s right now. When I ignore someone it is really mean. It is saying, “You are not even important enough for me to waste my time responding to or even being mean to.” Yes I remember that. It hurt me so much more to be ignored than for someone to say mean things to me.

    I guess I need to re-evaluate my motives for giving so much time and ‘love’ to so many people, accept my limits, appreciate those that God has placed closest to me, quit using people to make myself feel good and quit ignoring and treating those who know the ‘real’ me poorly.

    Now I can go to sleep and wake up with a new resolution to start being honest with others and myself.

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  7. I absolutely believe that we are called to extend ourselves beyond our own little world and to bring Christ to others. But we have to be careful that we don’t stretch ourselves too thin.

    Sometimes when every minute of the day is packed we don’t have time to enjoy life. How are you supposed to be there for a family in a crisis situation if every minute of your day is already filled with obligations? How can you ever have an impromptu lunch with a friend you haven’t see in months if you don’t have a free moment in your day?

    When you over extend yourself and forget about obligations you have already committed yourself to doing, then the Mass gets changed to a Communion service, the hour of Spiritual Direction turns into a rushed 30 minutes that is interrupted by phone calls or text messages.

    How do you replenish your soul and take care of your physical needs when you stretch yourself so thin that you have no time for yourself. Mothers do this all the time. Taking care of everyone else and forgetting to take care of ourselves. But it gets to a point where you no longer have anything to give.

    It’s ok to say “No” every now and then, let someone else step up and help out so that you can be replenished and ready to serve with a refreshed spirit.

    I am not trying to be critical. I have been the recipient of your kindness many times but have also experienced the frazzled, distracted Fr. Alfonse when you have over extended yourself.

    You have so much to give but you have to take care of yourself too!

    Keeping you in my prayers.

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