Jn 2:13-25 In and Out

Third Sunday of Lent
(Click here for readings)

By FR ALFONSE NAZZARO

Since the Passover of the Jews was near, Jesus went up to Jerusalem.  He found in the temple area those who sold oxen, sheep and doves, as well as the money changers seated there.  He made a whip out of cords and drove them all out of the temple area. ...He said, "Take these out of here, and stop making my Father's house a marketplace."

As soon as I finished meditating on the first reading, taken from the Book Of Exodus, and the Gospel passage, taken from the Gospel of John, I couldn't help but think of...In and Out Burger! 

Well, not so much the "Burger" part, but more like the "In and Out" aspect.  

Lent is all about "In and Out."  In with the good; out with the bad.

Driving In our Lord.  This is good.  The Commandments are good for all of us, especially for teenagers.  We all need rules.  We all need boundaries.  Otherwise, the one thing we cherish more than anything else - our freedom - will be lost. 

Freedom without responsibility is a disaster!!  I have said this so many times in my life.  Now if I would only live by it!

Most adults have come to the brutal conclusion that freedom can quickly come and go; that is, choices made can easily become addictions never intended.  I find it shocking just how quickly the Promised Land of Freedom can become the Land (Egypt) of Slavery. 

Don't you remember:  by the time we are eighteen we couldn't wait to be FREE...free from our parents; free from all those age restrictions; and of course, free from the Church and all her medieval rules! 

Free at last!  Thank God Almighty we are FREE at last. 

But Freedom without responsibility leads to tears and regrets. 

The Ten Commandments were never intended to restrict our freedom.  On the contrary, they were intended to protect our freedom!  Of course this makes no sense to someone who has a confused or distorted idea of freedom. 

So what exactly does it mean to you to be free?  Does it mean you have the right to do whatever you want?  Good or bad?  Right or wrong?  Holy or unholy? 

Or does it mean something else?

I think freedom means to never be forced to offend my neighbor or my God!  Freedom means to have the choice - the liberty - to do what is right, good and holy. 

In with the Good.  Now out with the bad!

Driving out our demons.  In today's Gospel passage, the Lord reminds us - maybe even warns us - that if we don't drive out the demons from our lives and institutions, then they will drive out God from our lives and institutions. 

Will the temple of God be converted into a marketplace or will it remain a temple?  That is the question!  And the answer depends on who is more courageous and determined to win!

Hence, out with the bad!  Let's drive out our demons before they drive us insane!

This past Saturday, I was watching Forensic Files and I was stunned to learn about the life of a woman named Madalyn Murray O'Hair (1919-1995).  She was the founder of American Atheists and is considered the number one person responsible for eliminating prayer in public schools. 

To those who interviewed her, Madalyn appeared as a fouled mouth angry and bitter woman.  She disowned her very own son, William, after he embraced Christianity.  Wow!  So much for imagining tolerance, compassion, understanding and even forgiveness in a world without religion. 

It appears as though she had a difficult time with male relationships.  She married John Henry Roths in 1941.  While in the military and overseas, Madalyn had an affair with a married Catholic man, William J. Murray.  Some people think that William Murray refused to divorce his wife because he was Roman Catholic.  I doubt it, since he had an affair with Madalyn in the first place!  It sounds to me like he used his Catholicism as an excuse not to marry someone he didn't really love!   Regardless, Madalyn changed her last name and took Murray's last name.  

Finally, around 1954, she, along with her two boys, tried to defect to the Soviet Union - because of there promotion of state atheism - but was denied entry. 

But it wasn't her ideas that got her on Forensic Files.  It was how her life came to an end:  tragically.  In 1995 she was kidnapped, murdered and mutilated, along with her son Jon and granddaughter Robin by a convicted felon out on parole, David Roland Waters.  Waters was a member of the American Atheists and worked for the organization from 1993-1994.  He was apparently angry with Madalyn because she fired him and wrote an article about him, accusing him of being a homosexual. 

What a tragedy!

But the reason why I even mention Madalyn in this post is because she fought tooth and nail to have prayer removed from public schools, and won.  I won't even get into the debate about prayer in public schools.  I'm not sure I would disagree with her, especially if kids were being either forced to pray or punished for not praying. 

The point is this:  there are some people who are actively trying to drive God out from the public square.  In driving out the money exchangers, the Lord was simply reclaiming what was rightfully His and gradually being lost:  His Home, a place for Him to dwell. 

As for Lent, am I driving God out of my life ,as if he were some sort of demon?

Lk 4:24-30 No Thanks

Monday of the Third Week of Lent
(Click here for readings)

By KATIE GROSS
 

Jesus said to the people in the synagogue at Nazareth:

“Amen, I say to you,

no prophet is accepted in his own native place.

Indeed, I tell you, there were many widows in Israel

in the days of Elijah

when the sky was closed for three and a half years

and a severe famine spread over the entire land.

It was to none of these that Elijah was sent,

but only to a widow in Zarephath in the land of Sidon.

Again, there were many lepers in Israel

during the time of Elisha the prophet;

yet not one of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian.”

When the people in the synagogue heard this,

they were all filled with fury.

They rose up, drove him out of the town,

and led him to the brow of the hill

on which their town had been built,

to hurl him down headlong.

But he passed through the midst of them and went away.

​Why is a prophet never accepted in his own native place? Beneath this question lies one of the biggest controversies of our faith: that Jesus Christ became man for our salvation. The average Christian may not be floored by this fact anymore; after all, we hear it every Sunday and generally believe it to be true. However, what most Christians don’t realize is that 99.99% of all modern arguments against our faith revolve around the mystery of the incarnation. Here’s why: the world loves to believe in a “mush God,” and hates the idea of our personal God. I heard first of this “mush God” in a theology class, so I looked it up—and, bingo—it appears as though one writer has him pegged:

​“The Mush God has been known to appear all over the world on Sunday mornings to a great many people wanting to relax and read the Sunday paper and have a nice cup of coffee… During the week, the Mush God appears all over the place. He appears with politicians at ribbon-cutting ceremonies, and to clergymen speaking at the start of all the various legislative proceedings… The Mush God just adores politicians… He just loves to talk about his views on tolerance… [he] is a serviceable god who will fit in anywhere. Here is a God that will compromise with you. He will gladly relax the rules… Here is a god who is a good friend to everyone, in fact the Mush God tells all his friends that they can do no wrong, that all activities are fine with him. And most people just love him for that and are all too happy to follow him, wherever he might lead them.”

​This is where the incarnation becomes scandalous, because when God has a face and a voice, He can’t be bent every which-way to fit the occasion. The people of Ancient Israel just couldn’t accept that Jesus, the boy down the street who was the son of Joseph, could be their God. Their God was a theory, an intellectual idea that could be bent to fit their society—not a person with an opinion and a personality.  Much like the people of Ancient Israel, Americans love to have a convenient God to pull out at “National Prayer Breakfasts” and baseball games. But what now, that God is a person? What now, that God has a voice to object and to speak the real truth? What now, that there even exists a real truth? Well, that just doesn’t fit the bill.  Just like the people of Ancient Israel, some Americans are trying to drive Jesus off a cliff in favor of their “mush god.”

​More simply put, Jesus wasn’t accepted in His native place because we as humans have a hard time accepting that God exists concretely, entirely independent of our idea of Him. This is where the idea of the “personal God” of Christianity comes into play. The “personal God” of Christianity is not personal in the sense that He can be tailored to personal taste, but personal in the sense that… well… He is a person! This idea that Jesus is a person has to revolutionize our idea of how we relate to God. This is the basis of our faith.

​

​I equate this idea to my relationship with my parents. Let’s say that I wanted to take a Spring Break road trip alone with my friends to Mexico. Right now, being in high school, I would have to sit down face-to-face with my parents and ask for permission to go. I could try to propose a million theories of why it was right for me to go on the road trip. I could even present a thirty-slide powerpoint of why it was okay for me to go. However, even with all of my logic combined, I could not impose my will on them, because they are human beings who have a voice and a mind and an opinion. However, if I were to be in college, mom and dad would be more of “ideas” than people. I wouldn’t hear their voice or their opinion. I could very easily convince myself that mom and dad would be okay with me going, or that their opinion didn’t matter at all. Ideas can be molded into anything—people cannot. Jesus cannot.

​However, this concept of a personal God is not solely centered on judgment. Jesus’ voice is not harsh or dictatorial, and His judgment is always in the interest of our wellbeing. As a human, God has the power to relate to us and understand us like nothing else can. After all, “ideas” or this concept of “the truth” are just that—things written down on paper. These don’t transform lives—only a human relationship rooted in love can change lives. This is the beauty of believing in a personal God.

Lk 16:19-31 Willy's Story

Thursday of the Second Week of Lent
(Click here for readings)

By FR ALFONSE NAZZARO

Jesus said to the Pharisees:  "There was a rich man who dressed in purple garments and fine linen and dined sumptuously each day.  And lying at this door was a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who would gladly have eaten his fill of the scraps that fell from the rich man's table."

Angela Ambrogetti wrote a beautiful article for Catholic News Service (CNA) about a man named Willy.  Here is the article in its entirety.

Vatican City, Feb 27, 2015 / 03:08 pm (CNA).- Willy Herteleer, a homeless man who lived on the side streets outside St. Peter’s Basilica, made headlines after his death, when he received a special burial in the Vatican’s Teutonic Cemetery. The following is an account of his story as told by Msgr. Amerigo Ciani, a canon of St. Peter’s Basilica and painter who had become friends with Willy.
 
Everyone in the neighborhood outside the Vatican knew Willy Herteleer.

The “Borgo” – as the area that borders St. Peter’s Square to the north is called – has a small-town-feel. Alongside the monsignors, sisters, cardinals and Romans that live in the neighborhood, there are many homeless people. You can see them every morning at Mass at the Pontifical Parish of Sant’Anna, just off the Borgo inside the Vatican walls.

Willy was one of them.

His austere appearance, the cross around his neck and the pull-cart he had turned into a piece of luggage to carry everything he owned left an imprint.

He participated in Mass every morning. “My medicine is Communion,” he always said. He was always well-groomed, but didn’t seek much conventional medical attention.

Willy was one of the many men and women who live on the side streets around St. Peter’s, men and women who live on the margins of the tourist routes, who have friends throughout the neighborhood.

Among his closest friends were an Italian monsignor, an American religious sister and a German journalist.

More than 80 years old, Willy died one day in December at the hospital near the Vatican where he would often visit to use the bathroom or clean up a bit.

He had to look good because his days were spent as a street evangelizer. After morning Mass, he would stop for a while and speak with the people.

“When did you last go to confession?” he would ask everyone he met. “Are you going to communion? Do you go to Mass?”

He asked the same of other homeless people, those with whom he chose to live.

For a time he lived in a shelter. “Yes, it’s nice, welcoming and clean. Yes, you eat well and the people are nice,” he told people. “But I need freedom. I love freedom!”

He preferred his friends. He preferred the streets. He preferred the monsignor that brought him oranges, the journalist that took his photo.

After Mass, he would speak with his friend Msgr. Amerigo Ciani. “Thanks for your homily pronounced so calmly. I understand it well and it helps me to meditate throughout the day,” he said.

On Dec. 12, the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Pope Francis was celebrating Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica when Willy left his earthly life. His friends began to search for him when he did not show up to the usual morning Mass later that week.

One of them, a German named Paul Badde, had only recently become a confrere in the Confraternity of the Camposanto of the Teutons and Flemish, a small cemetery in the Vatican. He proposed that Willy – who was Flemish – be buried there, among the “confreres.”

The confraternity is made up of priests and men and women of German descent. German priests reside on campus, in a residence just next to the cemetery. It is all contained all within the Vatican walls, but is autonomous and independent – a little piece of Germany.

The cemetery dates back to the times of Charlemagne, who gave the piece of land next to St. Peter’s Basilica as a burial plot for pilgrims from German and Flemish lands who perished on their journey.

Willy’s friends organized everything, obtaining the necessary permission from the Vatican, Italy and Belgium, where Willy began his life. They made contact with his family – his four children whom he had not seen for decades.

Fr. Hans-Peter Fischer, rector of the Camposanto Teutonico, celebrated his funeral Mass, along with Msgr. Ciani. Some of Willy’s friends were present, including Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist Sr. Judith Zoebelein.

“Although he was alone, he didn’t feel alone,” said Msgr. Ciani in the homily. “The presence of God was strong and alive within him. He prayed and prayed. He prayed for the conversion of everyone, even for strangers to repent.”

And, that’s how Willy’s story on earth finishes, with a tomb in the Vatican’s cemetery, surrounded by the affection of those who were close to him in life.

His was a life lived in the margins, but a life full of love.

.....................

I wonder if Willy's children attended their father's funeral?  I hope they did.  It would be sad that grievances held on earth would be firmly held even in heaven!  But all things are possible with stubborn heads.

Even if someone from the dead goes to them, they will not repent.  I truly believe we all have a good brain, and that most of us know right from wrong.  I also believe we all have a good heart, and that very few of us want to offend the Lord.  So why do we sin?  Most of the time it's because of our will - the "muscle."  It's so weak.  It breaks under pressure, falls easily into temptation and takes off running when danger appears.

But after reading this story about Willy, I'm not so sure about the brain.  I think it works great but can easily be manipulated its user.  We have the uncanny ability to justify just about anything; that is, walking past the homeless, blaming or pointing fingers at others for our failures, holding grudges till death (and maybe after that!).

I think the first step to solving this problem is to be highly vigilant with our minds and fully honest with ourselves as to how easy it is to justify just about everything we do, even the evil we do or the good we fail to do.

Jer 18:18-20 Christ’s Drinking Buddies

Wednesday of the Second Week of Lent
(Click here for readings)
 

By BENEDICT AUGUSTINE

“Heed me, O LORD,

and listen to what my adversaries say.

Must good be repaid with evil

that they should dig a pit to take my life?

Remember that I stood before you

to speak in their behalf,

to turn away your wrath from them.”

Doing God’s work often means working against man’s works. With his ingenuity and cleverness, man works to create a world free of care, free of responsibility, free of judgment. The prophet then comes and also adds that this world is free of truth and filled withevil. People unfortunately need to hear this often, but they will never want to hear it, even once.

Jeremiah had the unenviable task of asking an unrepentant people to repent. He understood quickly that this would make him unpopular, and laments his situation on multiple occasions, but he persisted all the same. What other choice did he have? Jonah tried to avoid his calling as a prophet only to have God follow him and insist that he change his mind. To God’s credit, He never compelsa prophet to prophecy against the prophet’s will; He respects the freedom of His children.

However, in this freedom, God does take the opportunity to persuade both the prophet and the prophet’s audience to follow Him above all.Ironically, He does this by allowing the opposition to make their case. He allows them to answer the question of what would they do instead of what the prophet or the Messiah prescribe. They answer resoundingly, “Nothing! Except perhaps persecute those who suggest doing something.” They will maintain the status quo and enjoy the prestige that comes from doing such popular work.

The existence of petty people who criticize so loudly the defenseless and peaceful and hardly mention a peep against the truly evil proves that following God is certainly better than following man. Yes, prophet, or a disciple of Christ, will suffer ignominy, relentless rebuke, abandonment, along with torture and death, but at least these dangers will not corrupt his soul. A man of God might endure many hardships, but he will never feel guilty about his successfully applying his faith. Properly instructed and sincere, a person’s conscience will validate the acceptance of God’s call; otherwise, the call is not from God, but something much darker.

Nevertheless, no one should look indifferently at the demands made of a disciple. The cross never leaves, no matter what the time or place may be. Temptation and violence awaits every fervent Catholic, and it comes in different forms that afflict one’s vulnerabilities. Doubt will attack those most faithful; despair will attack those most hopeful; and hate will attack those most loving. Christ exemplified this reality; hence, he states quite bluntly to his two ambitious disciples, “You do not know what you are asking.” They would learn soon enough, particularly after witnessing the Lord’s passion.

Modern Catholics live in a skeptical, hedonistic, and appallingly indifferent age. They will face defiance in all forms for even doing making the smallest sacrifices. This is God’s way of approval. The genuinely faithful, whom Catholics should count as the greatest blessing, will praise goodness while the legion of unfaithful, whom Catholics should properly see as sick souls, will mock goodness. Some clever sophists may try to muddy the waters by calling for more nuance, less judgment, and endless dialogue, but they only hope to weaken a Catholic’s resolve. A Catholic should instead listen to God and His Churchin order to find solid footing.

As one strives to become more holy, this reality becomes much clearer. Lent provides the perfect opportunity to attain this clarity. Christ plans to drink the cup of His passion. As true friends, His disciples should not let Him drink it alone.

Mt 23:1-12 Setting Things Straight

Tuesday of the Second Week of Lent
(Click here for readings)

By FR ALFONSE NAZZARO

Jesus spoke to the crowds and to his disciples, saying, "The scribes and the Pharisees have taken their seat on the chair of Moses.  Therefore, do and observe all things whatsoever they tell you, but do not follow their example...They love places of honor at banquets, seats of honor in synagogues, greetings in marketplaces, and the salutation, 'Rabbi.'  As for you, do not be called 'Rabbi.'  You have but one teacher, and you are all brothers.  Call no one on earth your father; you have but one Father in heaven.  Do not be called 'Master'; you have but one master, the Christ.  The greatest among you must be your servant."

Titles.  Is this meant to be taken literally?  No.  Not at all.  We can call our dad, our father; and a Jewish teacher, a rabbi; and a child "Master William."  What we need to remember, and never forget, is that God is our Father, our Teacher and yes, even our Master.  Why?  Because He is the greatest!  He serves like no other!!!

Why did the Lord use these three titles?  Why not doctor?  "Call no one on earth your doctor..."  Our leader?  "Call no one on earth your doctor..."  Or even king?  "Call no one on earth your king, for you have but one King in heaven."  I think it's not so much the titles as it is the responsibilities. 

Those in high office must keep a low and humble profile. 

Jesus is not upset with specific words, like father or rabbi or master.  If he were, then the list would have been a lot longer!  Instead, He is upset with those who hold a position of authority and abuse it!  Who do they think they are?  

The Lord made clear that no one, absolutely no one, should consider themselves above the Law or above God.  Fathers may be the head of their household, but they have no right to be abusive to their children.  On the contrary, they must lead by the example given to us by God the Father.  Rabbis are God's teachers - "do and observe all things whatsoever they tell you" - and yet they must live as if they are the pupil!  Masters may be the leaders of our society, but they better get used to defending and serving others. 

Where much is given, much is expected.  The idea of having a high and mighty title is not to lord it over others, it is to serve others and help them to feel comfortable about it.

Not too long ago, I was speaking to a man who was calling me "Sir."  I told him, "Please, just call me father.  That's what everybody else does, including non-Christians!"  Well...he took offense to it.  Who do you think you are?  Mr. All-Mighty?   

I was shocked and surprised.  I told him, "Not at all.  "Sir" sounds way too formal, important and distant.  "Father" sounds like we are family.  And if "father" bothers you, then call me "brother."

Not too long ago, I read an article drawing a correlation between weight lifting (muscle building) and feeling superior towards others.  The same holds true of those who hold titles.  We can easily get caught up on our titles rather than on our responsibilities.  The Lord reminds us of our responsibilities:  If you are a father, than be a father.  If you are a teacher, than listen as much as you speak.  If you are a President or elected official or military officer, then serve your men and women.

Lent is all about removing pride, vanity and sensuality and replacing them with faith, hope and love.

Gen 22:1-2, 9a: Are You a Risk Taker?

Second Sunday of Lent
(Click here for readings)

By FR. ALFONSE NAZZARO

God put Abraham to the test.  He called to him, "Abraham!"  "Here I am!" he replied.  Then God said:  "Take your son Isaac, your only one, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah.  There you shall offer him up as a holocaust on a height that I will point out to you."

Abraham, the father of risk takers. At the age of 75, God spoke to Abraham and said to him, "Go forth from the land of your kinsfolk and from your father's house to a land that I will show you." 

Abraham didn't say a word, but went as the LORD directed him.  Why?  Because he knew His Father loved him.

Then God took Abraham outside and said, "Look up at the sky and count the stars, if you can.  Just so, shall your descendants be."  Again, Abraham didn't say a word, but believed in what the Father had told him.  Why?  Because he knew his Father loved him. 

Then God put Abraham to the test.  He called to him and said, "Take your son, Isaac, your only son, the son you love with all your heart, soul and mind, and go to the land of Moriah and offer him as a sacrifice for me."  Did Abraham say anything?  Nope.  He did exactly what the Lord commanded him to do.  Why?  Because he knew his Father loved him.

On the third day, Abraham took the wood for the holocaust and laid it on his son Isaac's shoulders, while he himself carried the fire and the knife.  As the two walked on together, Isaac spoke to his father Abraham:  "Father!" he said.  "Yes, son," he replied.  Isaac continued, "Here are the fire and the wood, but where is the sheep for the holocaust?"  "Son," Abraham answered, "God himself will provide the sheep for the holocaust."  Abraham had no idea what he was saying.  But he was entirely correct.  God will provide.

Abraham built an altar and arranged the wood on it.  Next he tied up his son Isaac, and put him on top of the wood on the altar.  Then he reached out and took the knife to slaughter his son.  Did Isaac say anything to his father?  No.  Not a word.  Why?  Because he knew his father loved him.

Today, we can read between the lines and see the love story written between these terrifying lines.  Today, we know that...

Abraham represents God, the Father;
Isaac, the Son, who carried the wood of the cross on his shoulders.
Finally, the fire, that represents the Holy Spirit.

The Father would never allow a father to sacrifice his son.  The Father would do it for him...and for all mankind.  Yes, God the Father would offer up His Son, His only Son, the Son that He loves with all His heart, mind, strength and will for the salvation of the world.

Now that is love, and love is all about taking risks.

ARE YOU A RISK TAKER?

Lent.  Lent is all about personal conversion and becoming a new man, a new creation, another Christ.  It's about all transfiguring or transforming oneself into the person of Jesus Christ. 

Now of course this transformation requires prayer, penance and sacrifice.  And sure it takes faith, hope and love, and a will made out of steel.  And without a doubt it means being faithful to our Lenten resolutions.  But there are two words that best describe the attitude we should have during Lent, and they are "RISK TAKER!"

Are you will to take a chance and risk it all to be more configured to the person of Jesus Christ, just like Abraham, Isaac, Moses, the Apostles, Mary and all the Saints?  If the answer is yes, then God bless you and welcome aboard!!!

The Lord wants only risk takers, not comfort seekers.

The transfiguration.  In today's Gospel passage (Mk 9:2-10), the Lord took Peter, James, and John and led them up a high mountain apart by themselves.  And he was transfigured before them.  Then Peter said to Jesus, Rabbi, it is good that we are here!  Let us camp out here.  The Lord ignored him.  Peter wanted the Christ without the Cross!

Along our journey towards holiness, we will be tempted to seek out and stretch out our hands and feet on what is comfortable, cozy and warm and fuzzy, just like the Apostles did on the day the Lord appeared in all his glory.  But this was just a temporary stop on the road to Calvary and Pentecost.  The Apostles were still very far from the finish line.  There still remained risks that needed to be taken.

This is something we must all learn.  Risk taking is part of process of becoming another Christ. 

Life on earth is not heaven; it is WAR...and Lent is our boot camp and the ideal place to learn all about risk taking.

Am I doing anything risky this Lent?  Am I reaching out to the unlovable and unforgiveable? 

Yesterday, I heard confessions for a bunch of teenagers.  I told them that Jesus was the greatest risk taker that ever lived.  They looked shocked until I told them that every time he forgives us, he is taking a big risk - the risk that we will commit the same sin over and over and over again.  From the look of shock came the look of relief.  Thank God!  Thank God! 

How many times must I forgive my brother?  Seven times seventy times.  The Lord is willing to take such risks.  Why?  Because He knows His Father loves Him.  I believe this is the secret to risk taking...and to becoming a saint. 

Are you will to take such risks?  Do you realize how much you are loved?

This is not easy. 
None of this is easy. 
That's why we need Lent.

Est C:12, 14-16, 23-25 Make a List

Thursday of the First Week of Lent

(Click here for readings)

 

By SOPHIE DRUFFNER

 

"And now, come to help me, an orphan.  Put in my mouth persuasive words in the presence of the lion and turn his heart to hatred for our enemy, so that he and those who are in league with him may perish.  Save us from the hand of our enemies; turn our mourning into gladness and our sorrows into wholeness."

 

The first time I ever heard of Queen Esther was when I watched a movie in Theology my eighth-grade year. In the movie, a beautiful Jewish girl wins the heart of the king and becomes his wife. But then, disaster strikes, as Haman, a noble close to the king’s ear, plots to kill all the Jews in the Persian Empire. When Esther learns of his plot, she plans to go to the King, an act that could mean death if the king does not grant her pardon. Before she goes, she dresses herself in all her finery and prays to God, hoping that he will hear the prayers of his faithful.

And he does.

Esther does all that she can, and God does the rest. I encountered that a few times in high school—when I do my best, God will do the rest. If one only prays and does nothing, then God cannot help that person—you must meet God half way, unless there is nothing left that a person can do.

But when one can do nothing else, prayer is the only answer. Coming into high school, I had never had any friends who cut themselves, were depressed, or made destructive decisions. At the beginning of high school, I discovered that these situations were all around me, and that sometimes, the only thing I could do was to pray. So I made a prayer list. I wrote down each person’s name I wished to pray for and I prayed that they would find Christ in their life, above all else. Once one finds Christ, everything else falls into place… God does the rest.

All of us has someone that they need to pray for on a daily basis. Even if there are no immediate results, God will answer your prayers, eventually. He will grant peace and healing to the people who need it the most, and he will reward your faithful prayers for your prayer list.

In the mean time, do all you can. Pray, but also do. Try to talk to those who might be making destructive decisions, or if you find that you cannot talk to them, talk to a trusted friend about it and seek advice. Talk to a priest in your parish, or a counselor. Maybe God has placed you in your loved one’s life so that you will be there to pray for them. Maybe you are the Body of Christ in your loved one’s life.

Pray, do all you can, and God will do the rest.