Mk 8:22-26 Starting Over

Mk 8:22-26 Starting Over

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After the storm, the sky clears. After a long dark night, the sun returns and rises. These are just a few of the necessary cycles of life, and we are not surprised at all to read that after a period of flooding, the waters began to recede and land and life came back to earth. As the ancient Chinese proverb goes, “Even this shall pass.”

Why this flood? I do not believe that the Lord regretted creating life, especially man. No, He had regretted the decisions man had made. And so He sent the rain and the floods to destroy everything except a pair of all living creatures. The Lord had this tremendous desire to start all over again. And he did. The flood did not just simply destroy; it brought back hope, life and peace to its proper place. The flood washed away the iniquities of the world.

When I make a mistake, sometimes the best thing to do is to wipe the slate clean and start over. When my computer freezes, I’ve learned that the best way to solve the problem is to push the start button and reboot. As children we heard, if at first you don’t succeed, try-try again. The solution is never to give up but to get right back up and try again.

The Lord’s solution was to wipe the slate clean and renew the face of the earth. And so should we. Starting over is not above us. Going back and recognizing a mistake should be considered a huge success! Starting over again can actually be considered progress! It takes a tremendous amount of courage to begin again, to start over; to re-create myself.

The Lord wants all men to be saved and calls us to the knowledge of that truth. What is His truth? That He alone is Lord of life and love. When man does not hold these two things dear to him, he deserves to perish, for he is a foreigner in his native land. The emotional storms hit, the spiritual rain falls and the physical floods come. All of these catastrophes are the result of a world gone mad! But the Lord, like the potter, can begin again and He gave me dominion, not only over the earth but also of my very being, to open the flood gates of my heart and soul to do all that needs to be done: to start over!

Why this flood? Is it not the great symbol of Baptism? Born from the womb a sinful man; born-again from above a child of God. Where sin brought me to my knees; grace brought me to my knees in the sacrament of Reconciliation. Tears from sin; tears from contrition. Is the great flood not the tears of God over man's disobedience? Are my tears not the tears of remorse over my disobedience with God? We do not have to be held hostage by our past transgressions. We do not need to be labeled by our failures or past sins; we can now give witness of God’s amazing grace, over flowing and bringing hope, life and peace to its proper place.

The Lord can do all of this! He can re-create the earth as quickly as he can re-create the soul. Forgiveness is curative – immensely curative. It is refreshing to the soul. The Lord provides an abundance of life-saving-water. A parishioner here at St. Joseph reminded me of how scare water is in Africa. He told me that the songs in Nigeria are filled with themes around water, for water is such a scarce commodity. Then he mentioned to me how he noticed that American songs always talk about love. He asked me, “Is there an absence of love in America?”

Yesterday, we read how the Lord re-creates creation by filling seven baskets. Seven days of Creation; seven Sacraments; and seven gifts of the Holy Spirit. Jesus also re-creates the twelve tribes of Israel by giving the world His Twelve – the twelve Apostles.

What’s it all for? To make the blind see, the lame walk, and the sinners go free. Starting over is what we do all the time, or as G.K. Chesterton once wrote, “The best way to get home is to never leave."

Mk 8:14-21 Do You Still Not Understand?

Mk 8:14-21 Do You Still Not Understand?

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The disciples forgot to bring bread with them on their journey by boat. Jesus reminds them about the miracle of the loaves. All they need is one loaf. Actually, all they need is one crumb. They need nothing else because God is sufficient. He is enough for us. With God, nothing is impossible, nothing is lacking for nothing was at the beginning of Creation.

Be careful. Watch out! Do not be seduced by the present powers, by temporal possessions, or by the current administration. The Church, throughout the centuries, has seen them all come and go. The Church was there when Columbus sailed the ocean blue. It was there when not a single Christian lived in North and South America. She saw the birth of many languages such as Italian and French. She even helped to create the Slovak language. She saw the birth of nations – England, France, Spain, and Italy to name just a few. The Church was there with the rise and fall of the British Empire, the Nazi power; Fascist rule. She saw with her own eyes the Coliseum dressed in marble and adorned with statues. She traveled alongside Marco Polo and sent missionaries (well before any foreign diplomats) to the remotest of places. The Church witnessed many revolutions: the American Revolution, the French Revolution, and of course the Communist Revolution. Western civilization owes so much to the Church. It was the faith that helped them turn on the light well before their so-called Enlightenment. In summary, the Catholic Church throughout the centuries has seen nations come and go, leaders rise and fall, and modern theories become classic textbook examples of human failures and rational myths.

Today, two thousand years later, the Lord’s words continue to be light to my feet, sweet to my ears and lift up my heart because it is simple: With God, nothing is impossible. These words continue to resonate soundly. They continue to hit home with those who have ears to hear and eyes to see. The Lord’s words, first spoken then written so long ago, continue to have authority because they continue to penetrate into the heart of reality; the meaning of life. Christ’s actions show authority because they truly change lives, and to live is what we all have in common - yesterday, today and forever. Times have changed and eras have come and gone, but man continues to be born the same way the first man was born: naked, cold and frightened. We are born in a foreign land but with so much that reminds of our Home. Christ’s life is of interest to all because He reveals better than anyone who we are and who we are called to be. The only requirement needed; the only prerequisite required is that we use the God given eyes and ears we have to see and to hear the Good News before we begin to fail. Be careful; watch out that your heart not harden or that your tongue grow wicked and your senses – common sense grow weary. This is the only sin that cannot be forgiven: the sin of eyes that care not see or ears that do not hear. Use what the Lord has given to you – all that he has given to you – to see with New Eyes, New Ears, and New Hearts.

Christ is the most real, the most alive, the most satisfying man and God to all. He invites us to be like Him.

“Do you still not understand?”

Mk 8:11-13 Demanding A Sign

Mk 8:11-13 Demanding A Sign

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We know, from Christ’s parable, that even “if a man were to return from the dead”, people still would not believe in him. The problem is not the demand for a sign. The problem is what the sign demands: opened eyes. The Lord gave us eyes to see and ears to hear. We have received the gifts of faith, hope and love. Are we using them? Are we using what the Lord has freely given?

Those who oppose Christ refuse to see and to believe what Jesus said and did. Any stick is good enough to beat Christ over the head with, and the results are always the same, devastating. The Scribes and Pharisees preferred the release of a murderer over Jesus. To crucify Him, they made concessions that would make the prophets and Patriarchs of old blush. They conceded that Cesar was their friend and King. They relied on force; on false witnesses and lies to get their way and, near the end, as they turned their backs on the Son of God, they witnessed the beginning of the end of their own destruction and the destruction of the Holy Temple. Those who oppose the Lord will always regret what they have done.

Do we still meet people like this? Yes. Those who shout for Barabbas rather than Jesus! Those who prefer a false or counterfeit idol (Bar-abbas literally means “son of the father”) over the Real presence (Jesus literally means “God who saves”).

They demand a sign of God’s favor and no sign shall be given to them. After all, it is not a sign from God that they demand but their sign. They shout, “Show us a sign so that we may believe!” Over and over again, they wish to limit the infinite. And there is only One who is infinite and that is the infinite God of infinite love. For this reason the Lord dismisses their requests but continues to surprise and surpass those who place no demands or limits upon Him. He will not come down from the Cross; He will rise from the dead. He does not give until it hurts. He will give till his last breathe.

I cry to the Lord, “Show me a sign of your love for me?” What sign can you give to me? I need a sign from my Love. Show me Lord that you still care about me, please! But wait. Have I forgotten? To be totally honest with you, I have. I asked myself this question and searched for an answer. The reason for the delay in my answer is due to my cloudy vision and poor hearing. And these are the consequences of my daily sins. They cloud my thoughts and wound my heart; they deaden my senses to the wonder of it all! Of course the Lord loves me. Of course the Lord gives me a sign of his love. It is found etched into the crucifix. With a nail he writes, I love you to death! This is how my love shows his love for me.

My hope rests in the Lord. With time, we will come to see the goodness of the Lord. With time, opposition will cease. At first there will be, as always happens with those who rise by their own efforts, slander and calumnies. But then it will vanish entirely. This is the life the Lord invites for all of us. It is the life of Christ. This is the life of all Heroes, Legends and Saints. This is the trial that awaits us! Now, what is shocking and terrifying is the Lord asks a very similar question to me: “What sign will you give to me of your love?"

Mt 5:17-37 Water Or Fire

Mt 5:17-37 Water Or Fire

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A long time ago, someone approached me in confession and told me that a pastor had given his approval for her to use artificial birth control. She asked me what I thought. I asked her, “Why are you asking me? After all, didn’t he tell you yes?” In this particular case, the legitimate use of artificial birth control was clearly a “no-no”, and although her pastor had told her “yes”, it clearly did not sit well with her. Why? Because the truth imposes itself on us and falsehood does not leave us in peace. It is not because of old “Catholic guilt”. It is because we cannot escape from a well formed conscience; the Voice from within.

In his radio addresses, eventually compiled in a book entitled Mere Christianity, C.S. Lewis sets out in logical step-by-step arguments why we should believe in God, and, in particular, the God of Jesus. He does a fantastic job. Better than anyone I know. What does it mean to be a Christian? Does it mean whatever we want it to mean or does it mean what the Lord meant it to be? To be a Christian means to follow Christ. To follow Christ means to walk in his footsteps. To walk in his footsteps means to either be carried by him or to walk behind him. But it definitely does not mean to walk in front of him; otherwise, we may find ourselves lost and alone.

To follow God in the Old Testament meant to observe the Commandments. To follow God in the New Testament means to live by His grace the Commandments. What is the difference? To observe means to follow the letter of the Law; to live means to go beyond the letter; to go beyond the mind and allow it to sink in the heart. For this reason the Lord does not allow himself to be limited by traditions, customs, or even by the times. He goes right to the heart of the matter and cuts right through our stony hearts.

It appears as though marriage has always been a hot button issue. Do any of us really think the Lord’s comment regarding marriage and divorce (and now the exclusivity of marriage) did not create a negative reaction upon his disciples? The Lord was adamant in defending his Father’s Will. We can think that God is unjust. But how did we get this idea of just and unjust in the first place? Maybe we feel inclined to disagree with Him. But there is a difficulty about disagreeing with God. He is the source from which all our reasoning power comes: you could not be right and He wrong any more than a stream can rise higher than its own source. (C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity, Part I - Chapter 3)

So what shall we do? Let us take the wise advice of Sirach. “If you choose you can keep the commandments, they will save you; if you trust in God, you too shall live; he has set before you fire and water; to whichever you choose, stretch forth your hand. Before man are life and death, good and evil, whichever he chooses shall be given him. Immense is the wisdom of the Lord” (Sirach 15:15-16). The Lord is refreshing, like water; he is parched – on fire - for our love.

Love appears to be the answer to all our distresses. When I love the Lord I am willing to give him the benefit of the doubt. Doubt does not solve any problems, but rather paralyzes us and keeps us from walking behind Him or being carried upon His shoulders.

Mk 8:1-10 How Many Loaves Do You Have

Mk 8:1-10 How Many Loaves Do You Have

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The need is tremendous. The crowds are enormous. The resources are scarce. How will we get through the day? Where will we get enough food, clothing, medicine, or help for all these people?

The Lord provides with a little help from us. What is interesting is that the Lord demands all that we can give, nothing is held back, and when everything is said and done, there is an over abundance - too much left over to carry away.

Seven loaves are all they have and seven loaves are what He takes. “The Lord created the world without us but he will not save the world without us.” (St. Catherine of Siena)

I was saddened, so saddened, to read the latest report on female religious vocations in the United States. When asked about where they got the idea that a life of prayer and service was their vocation, fifty-two percent said they were encouraged by a religious sister, but fifty-one percent also said they were discouraged by a parent or family member. How sad! Of course there is nothing wrong with a family member being hesitant. When one mom was concerned over her son’s discernment to the priesthood, I helped her by clarifying her own concerns about the priesthood. I told her, “I don’t think you are so concerned about your son becoming a priest. I think you’re more concerned that your son will not be a holy priest. Ask him if he will be a holy priest. And if he says ‘yes’, then you have nothing to fear.”

A good friend of mine once told me that as a child she was interested in becoming a nun. She had, near her bed, maybe thirty or forty statuettes of Saints. The day she told her mother she wanted to become a nun, the statuettes disappeared.

How the Lord must be saddened with these holy Christian families that hinder their children from coming to him. How many loaves do you have? Whatever the number is, do you not realize that it all comes from God? He is the one who blesses. He is the one who gives. The Lord gives and the Lord takes, blessed be God forever!

Some observations:

1^st: Christ noticed a need. He is the one who is concerned. The people have been with Him all day long. There are friends that we know or have known for a long time. Do I notice a need that they may have? Do they need any help? Do I notice but prefer to remain silent? Today, the Lord invites us, along with his Apostles, to take a step forward and commit yourself to a challenge that you cannot handle on your own.

2^nd: In every challenge that I face, do I make an act of faith? Do I place my trust in the Lord? Do I commit all I have to the Lord? Or, do I hold back on anything? Do I look at every challenge as a means of giving the Lord recognition or thanks for all that I have? Am I ready to give it back with gratitude?

3^rd: Without taking any shortcuts or without breaking any rules, allow the Lord to perform his miracles on you and those around you. Do your part faithfully and allow the Lord to do his also. The results will be abundant – great! The needs shall be met. The resources shall be sufficient.

Mk 7:31-37 He Has Done All Things Well

Mk 7:31-37 He Has Done All Things Well

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Why is Christ (and Christianity) still hated in the world today? After all, He brought all good things to life! Everything He said and everything He did made life better for all of us.

We testify to the truth. We, who have been touched by Him, healed by Him and changed through Him, are more beautiful all because of Him. The deaf man begged Jesus to heal him and He did, and his life changed forever.

What do we know about this man? He was born deaf and had a speech impediment. We know that one leads to the other. We also know how these half-naked and half-starving people were treated. Were they of any benefit to society, family and neighbor? I will never forget reading of the remorse Dr. Jerome Lejuene felt when he learned that his discovery of the gene that caused Down syndrome was being used to abort babies. These beautiful children would come to me and ask me, “Why do they want to kill us?”

What could those children, born of a lesser god, do? Their only option was to beg for help, mercy and compassion. Often, too often, they were abused as children and cast aside as adults.

Physical pain and emotional abuse are color blind and deaf to pleas of mercy. We know all too well the story of King George VI of England and of his speech impediment. Although he was born in a family of excess, fed with silver spoons and placed in a beautiful crib, he lacked what we all most need: love, compassion and physical tenderness. He did not lack a voice; he lacked what we all desire: being heard and understood. He knew he was special and for all the more reason he felt broken hearted. But when God’s Providence truly kicked in and kicked his brother out, he rose to the occasion in the same manner he had learned, throughout his teenage years, how to survive: by never giving up. For this reason, he was able to attack that most primitive of doctrines that was plaguing enlightened Europe at the dawn of WWII: “The primitive doctrine that might is right.”

It has taken years for his story to be told and we are the better for it.

The deaf-man was healed. He dedicated himself to preaching the Good News - of what had happened to him and who had done it. His life was never the same again. He could live again and experience what we take too much and too often for granted! The deaf-man, like the blind-man and even the cave-man, would no longer be labeled by his handicap or discriminated out of ignorance. This unnamed man had a voice filled with passion to tell the world what God could do if we would only approach him with pure humility and unadulterated love. For this reason, he did not join the human race to make it a better place. He united himself to the Lord and showed the world that with God, nothing is impossible. Yes, a culture of life, freedom, respect, fidelity, compassion and forgiveness are all possible; that hopelessness can be replaced with unexpected joy, and love can conquer all things for those who believe.

What good thing did Christ do for me? He gave me back my true identity. I no longer need to be known for my defect, for my sin; I can now be known for His Grace!

Why is Christ still hated in the world? I have no idea. All I can say, is that its source is not of this world and it has failed to do good things.

Mk 7:24-30 Scraps As Daily Bread

Mk 7:24-30 Scraps As Daily Bread

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Be bread to my mind - that my every thought might be worthy of you; Be Bread to my will - that my every action , might be in harmony with You; Be bread to my heart - that I might never withhold my love from anyone. (-Martha Lamberti)

Yesterday I read how a mom left her new born baby in a toilet. Today, I read about how a pagan woman was willing to eat scarps, like a dog, to save her baby.

Are we more enlightened today than we were two thousand years ago? The rationalists, who are everything but rational, would love for us to believe so. But reality hits us squarely in the eye and the only thing that comes close to the modus vivendi of pagans, barbarians and aliens are the lost souls and creatures from Planned Parenthood and academia.

What faith this woman exhibited! What torture she must have went through! For the first time ever we are moved, not so much by Christ’s actions, but by the actions of a pagan woman. What is happening? The world is turning upside down or better, right-side up! The world is a much smaller place than we first thought. Pain afflicts all. Suffering affects us all. Tragedy hits home and strikes hard and is blind to race, nationality, even religion. We all need a Savior, even my next door neighbor who seems to have it all. All of us are deeply wounded, bruised beyond healing. All of us are dogs under the weight of original sin and the presence of the evil one. This woman was willing to bear all things, endure all things, believe all things, and hope in all things out of love for her daughter.

Unselfish love never fails. Love is the Commandment of God.

God’s attention is captured with the cries of love. He listens to love, bends to love, bends over backwards out of love and smiles at love. Love is His essence. He recognized this woman because of the way she loved her child. Willing to take ridicule, scorn, abuse and shame, this woman is in many ways a close relation to Christ – who was abused, scorned, mocked and shamed because of love! “Whoever wishes to follow me, pick up your cross and follow me in all things!”

Before the Syrophoenician woman can have the resurrection, she must undergo a grueling crucifixion. Before she can smile, she must shed many tears of pain and loss. Once you are at the bottom of the pit, it can only get better; and it does.

Purification leads to conversion, which leads to Imitation. Love costs dearly due to the fact that it is everlasting. Christ is willing to endure all things out of love. His love never fails. Mine does. I am who I am only because of His love for me, period.

The Syrophoenician woman was willing to endure all things. Christ endured all things for his Father, and for his pride filled brothers and sisters. This is what true love consists of – a love that endures all things while feasting on the scraps of insult, injury and humiliation; the stuff of true champions, and the stuff that falls to the ground.

Make bread of me, my God. Bless me - that I might love You for those who don't; Break me - that I might repent for those who won't; Give me Your people, Lord - that for Your sake I might be utterly emptied, ready to be filled by You again. (- Martha Lamberti)

May I never choke from the scarps that come from the Lord. May I never consider myself to "high above" the scraps that come from above. This woman had great faith and faith is tested against the standard of Christ. Her passion, her suffering and her "death" led to the salvation of her daughter; just like the Lord's suffering, passion and death led to the salvation of all mankind. This is what Jesus did for us. This is what we can do for others.