Mk 2:23-28 Grow Up!

Mk 2:23-28 Grow Up!

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The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.

The Lord would love to open the eyes of the hearts of the Pharisees. To see things the way He sees them. He invites us today to modify our behavior; to change our course of action; to go sane and do something different!

How quickly I judge and am quick to anger, especially when I am out to get someone - when I have a bone to pick. The Pharisees do not allow themselves to see anything other than the obligation of the Sabbath. They live out of love for the Law, and not so much out of love for the Lord. That may be a little harsh of me, a little too judgmental too, but I think I can say it because I have lived it myself! I know what it means to be a Pharisee: to make the other side look evil.

Abby Johnson, former director of a Planned Parenthood clinic in Texas, writes, in the opening of her book “Unplanned”, that her story is not at all a comfortable story to read. It’s uncomfortable not because it goes into gruesome detail with regards to abortion, but rather because it does not portray the enemy as “The Enemy.” Instead, it portrays the reality of life on earth. There are good people on both sides of the issue. Yes, the abortion side is dead wrong. But some of them believe, in the most profound aspects of their heart, that what they are doing is good. The same of course is true of the pro-life advocates: they love life. However, I would not be shocked to think that some of them may also be the most grievous of sinners as well.

The Lord, like the Church, is very balanced: Love the sinner, hate the sin. It is a catchy, easily understood phrase which carries a significant punch in the way Christians live in the world. But the practical aspect is hard to do. It takes grace. It takes love. “This is how the world will know that you belong to me.”

As children we learn to see things as black and white. We love to draw lines. They make everything look so neat. Lines help to separate one person, doctrine, belief from the other. Christians are called to walk across the line, to reach out and to listen.

May the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ enlighten the eyes of our hearts, that we may know what the hope that belongs to our call is. Christ loved to speak in parables to turn our lives upside down, right-side up! Our faith is full of paradoxes. It is better to give than to receive. If you wish to find your life you must lose it. These paradoxes, by definition, point to a deeper truth. It takes a big man to know how small he is. Which leads to another paradox: The first shall be last and the last shall be first. Our Lord calls us to be happy, without falling into sin.

The Catholic convert Joseph Pearce states, “Happiness consists in humor and humility; gratitude and humility; wisdom and innocence. They may seem to contradict each other, but there is a deeper truth in all of this. Unless you become child-like, you cannot enter the Kingdom of Heaven. But St. Paul counters: ‘When I was a child I would talk and think like a child, but I have left all my childish ways.’ The reality is this: We must all remain child-like without being childish. We must remain child-like while ceasing to be childish.”

Let us grow up! The challenge is set before us: Do not lose your innocence in order to advance in wisdom and you do not have to grow in innocence at the expense of becoming naïve. We must learn from Christ who, as he advanced in age, grew more and more into a lamb, sacrificing all, but his innocence.

Mk 2:18-22 The New Skins

Mk 2:18-22 The New Skins

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With the Lord’s arrival, the celebration must begin. God among us is cause for celebration. We are and will never be alone, orphaned – forgotten. In fact, Christ’s first miracle begins in Cana, at a wedding feast. The celebration must continue. His hour begins while a wedding takes place. This is the beginning of a relationship that will last forever. The symbolism is rich between the wedding feast and the relationship, the love, between man and God. The Lord decides to marry his people, “for better or for worse, in sickness and in health, till death do us part!” “Can the wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them?” Here we have a vivid reminder of the creation of man and woman and their fall – but also the promise, the vow, made by God to man: I will never leave you.

The Lord is present at the wedding and therefore the celebration will never end. When the wine runs dry, a disgrace or sin for the couple, it becomes the catalyst for God to bless the couple, his people, with grace upon grace, blessings and abundance. The Lord is all I need. There is nothing I shall want. There is nothing I shall need as long as He is with me through the long and difficult night.

The wine has not run dry. In fact, the quality has improved. Of course all were amazed! All are joyful! All are grateful. Is it so hard to see the parallel with the old and new wine and man’s beginning and his re-creation? The Pharisees, and John’s former disciples, cannot understand the reason for the celebration. They have eyes only to see the fall and not the grace; ears to hear only the past and not the promise; hands to touch the wound but not to cure; and tongues to speak about sin, but not about the Savior! In order for the celebration to last it will require a new wine in a new wine skin! There will have to be a new union, a lasting union, between men, and between man and God. A new heart, mind, soul, hands, tongue and a new pair of glasses are needed to recognize the amazing gift of grace, meaning and purpose the Lord of has given to us.

I must make it my constant duty to uphold, to the highest degree, the value of all that surrounds me. I cannot point out another’s weakness without guiding them in the right direction. I cannot condone without offering an acceptable sacrifice to the Lord. If I must correct, then it must be to help and not to hurt. I must remember that the temptation to wound is strong for we have fallen, we have all hit bottom. Rather than a curse, this should be a reminder that I can never give up on anyone.

Lord, help me to remember the graces and not the falls; the joys of the day more than the terrors of the night. I remember the times I have been hurt rather than the times I have been helped. The Pharisees were blind but their greatest sin was to make others blind as well.

Lord, increase in me a desire to point out the strengths of others; to be an authentic witness of grace. To appreciate, value, the life that has been given to me so that I can help others see the goodness of the Lord.

John 1:29-34 Jesus Coming Towards Me

John 1:29-34 Jesus Coming Towards Me

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If I saw Jesus, would I recognize him? If he came towards me, would I bow down before him or would I run away from him - turn my back on him? This question is not so hypothetical. In fact, it is easily answered by the choices I have made in the difficult times of my life. Have I chosen God over myself? His Will over mine; his selflessness or my selfishness? This is a question we can all answer. Have I abandoned my spouse, broken my promises or vows, thrown chaos and confusion, darkness and fury over all who are around me? Yes, I can answer this question too. All I need to do is open my eyes and see what I have done.

John saw the Lord coming towards him and immediately recognized him. He told his disciples, the gems of his hard labor, to no longer follow him but to follow the Lord. Saints do not give to the world themselves; they give to the world Christ. John, like Mary, gave to the world the Son of God. Lord, let there be light, and there was Light!

A man is coming after me who ranks ahead of me. What does it take to be a disciple of the Lord? Humility. What does it mean to be humble? To accept myself for what I am. I am a speck of sand – in time and in space! I am a dot in the universe – in length and in width! Our planet is not even in the center of our solar system! Copernicus pushed us off to the side! Hubble kicked us out of our unique galaxy! And I think to myself…How comforting this is. Nothing I do makes any difference. I can do whatever I want.

But in reality, in the eyes of all that can see, I am a spiritual giant! Taller than any redwood, more conscious than any existing matter, more intelligent than our sun, more nurturing than Mother Nature, more loving than all the precious stones below, and much more forgiving than the Universe! I belong to my Creator in a unique, singular way! I belong to the Lord who is my Father, my brother, my God. Only man and woman can look up into the sky and say, “What a beautiful night.” No animal, no-thing can do that! Only man and woman can say, “I am here”, and no one can take my place. And what is truly remarkable is: My God knows me. “To those who accepted him, he gave power to become children of God.” Now I know who I am. I can make a difference! “Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will!”

Now I must accept who the Lord has made me to be: his child. I will not run away from the Lord. I will run to the Lord and embrace Him. He has given me depth and length, purpose and meaning. He who ranks ahead of me is coming to me! I am his and he is mine. I am not an insignificant speck. I am a drop of God’s infinite love, capable of making another smile, of bringing joy to another, of opening heaven to those sunk into despair.

This power to become children of God means to rise above the existing confusion of this world and set some order to it! We have been called to bring some light; to open the skies and discover the heavens above. To see life for what it is: an overflow of God’s love. Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will. I will not succumb to the greatest lie ever! That is, “I’m so sorry. I can’t help you.”

We will soon be witnessing the beatification of John Paul II. He was a giant. He was a speck in the eyes of evil. Born in an insignificant country; orphaned at an early age. His nation was run over by Nazis and then Communists, but he stood straight up and faced the evil giants that surrounded him. He did so because he loved God. This is what love can do!

May I never be comforted in thinking that I am a speck! May I be terrified in knowing that I am a drop of love – infinite love – from God! This drop makes all the difference in the world.

Mk 2:1-12 An Invitation to All

Mk 2:1-12 An Invitation to All

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I am a fool for Christ. After years and years of wandering, I came back home. I decided to leave it all and follow the Lord. “There are two ways of getting home; and one of them is to stay there” (G. K. Chesterton). How many times have I traveled around my world, only to come back, again and again, to my Father’s House? It starts the same way, over and over again: I sin and fall over. I ask for His grace and arrive home in peace. The world is round and so are my sins. Sins lead to chaos that wounds my soul and leaves me in pain. And so, what do I do? Again and again, I seek the Lord who rebuilds his home within my soul. I am a sinner and yet, he calls me his friend.

I am a fool for Christ. I am still unpacking. Still examining this life of mine and the miracles it has brought into my life. I am still deciphering all its codes and mysteries. What will be next? What will come from this or that encounter? Who will I meet next? What will it all mean? The Lord seeks me. He invites me to dine with Him.

I am a fool for Christ. Open to scorn and ridicule; open to labels and categories; lies and mistrust. In order to live the truth, I must be transparent with, in and through the truth. When I speak, all listen. Am I listening to my own words? Following the Lord and truly leaving everything behind? The Lord did not come to call the righteous but sinners. He invites me to follow Him.

I am a fool for Christ. I still hold on to dear life. I still hold tight to my deepest desires – my pride, vanity and a deep desire for comfort. Those who disagree with me, WATCH OUT! Not so much out of love for God but more so out of love for self. I hold on to my greatest possession: my will! It’s all mine! And I will not share it with others. And so I have become a single-edged sword, one that only knows how to slash and wound. How ineffective! It strikes at the heart, regardless of whose heart it is. It penetrates deep, but only striking flesh and spilling blood. It has no power over the spirit and soul. In reality, it will never kill. “The word of God is living and effective, sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating even between soul and spirit.” (Heb 4:12) The Lord invites me to sharpen my sword and slay the dragon.

And so, I have walked a life time - not much different from all those before me. I seek to understand and to be understood. How I long to come back home, to my resting place, my home, my Father’s House.

Make every turn and twist count! Make every single decision end with grace! Turn what was evil into a grace. Do we realize that every decision we make is a yes or no to God. Every decision has its consequences in time and eternity. Give the Lord the final word! “Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.” (Jn 6:63) A decision is a way to show what side we are on: faith or reason, grace or sin; life or death; trust or fear. “Let us confidently approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and to find grace for timely help” (Heb 4:16). Amen.

Mk 2:1-12 Paralyzed!

Mk 2:1-12 Paralyzed!

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Similar to the man with leprosy, we encounter another seeking God’s help. Lord, come to my assistance. Make haste and rescue me! Does the Lord wish to heal us? Of course he does! Do I wish to be healed? That again is the question. What am I willing to do? How far am I willing to go? How strong is my faith? How loving can I be? How far can I bend my knees and kneel before the Lord? What risks am I willing to take?

Yesterday was an overflow of graces for me. I met with a young man who is seriously considering the priesthood. He has taken his exams, written his autobiography, submitted himself to the interview process and now he is waiting for the verdict. At the same time there is a woman who loves him. He loves her too. And yet, his heart, the Lord of Love, is calling him. He told me, “Father, sometimes I think I am the biggest fool!” “Yes,” I replied, “we are fools for Christ!”

After I had completed my meditation early in the morning I received an e-mail from a desperate woman seeking help for her young daughter who has somehow lost her way in College. And yet, the girl does not want to be a bother to anyone. Immediately the words, “Do you want to be clean?” came from my heart. Here it is. What will stop me from the love of God? We allow deceit to occupy so much of our lives. Lies such as: “I am not worthy.” or “I’m not worth so much trouble.” How quickly we forget the enormous price the Lord paid, out of love, for us! Of course you are worthy! Of course you are worth all the trouble. For this reason he suffered and died. For this reason alone, his love endures forever!

“Let us enter into his rest.” How beautiful are these words. How soothing they are. “Let us be on our guard while the promise of entering into his rest remains” (Heb 4:1). The Lord came to give us peace, a peace the world can never give. A peace that releases me from my paralysis – my fears, my anxieties, my phobias! It’s okay to live. It will be okay! The sins you have made in the past are not more powerful than I. I conquered the world! Allow me to conquer you with my love! Allow yourself to be loved by me. Do whatever it takes to come closer to me. Do not allow your sin to paralyze you. Every step you take is already your response to my grace.

We are truly silly creatures! The more we need him, the less we are willing to seek him.

And yet, when we do reach out to him that is when the miracles happen.

A couple of days ago, I received a phone call from a man who has lost much, a treasure in his life. The family has gone through so many trials and difficulties. Doubts begin to surface and paralysis settles in. The only way to break the chain is to reach out. He did. And the chain was broken by a miracle. He received within the hour what he most needed. The Lord works according to his timetable, which is the best timetable.

May I never forget the works of the Lord! (Ps 78:7b) And yet, I know in my heart, I probably will. This is the greatest tragedy of the human race. We are slow to learn from our past and the paralysis returns.

Do not allow anything or anyone to stop you from reaching the Lord!

Mk 1:40-45 He Was Made Clean

Mk 1:40-45 He Was Made Clean

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“If you wish, you can make me clean.” Of course the Lord can make him clean and for this poor leper, he does. But, if I had been in this situation, I would not have responded so kindly as the Lord. I would have rebutted, “Do you want to be clean?

I am not sure if anyone is aware that in the Catholic Church, January 1^st is not only the feast day of the Mother of God, but also the World Day of Peace. We are now twelve days into the New Year and it appears as though peace will not come. Peace is still searching for a place to stay. We have been bombarded by shootings and massacres; threats and terrorism. Does the Lord not listen to his people? Does he not see? He does! He does listen and he does see. He listens to every thought and word that comes out from his “holy” people! He sees what others do not see. He sees our very acts! And he is moved with pity. He stretches out his hand and finds nothing to hold on to. There are far too many lepers who do not wish to be made clean.

It is sad to see how the shootings in Tuscan are now being played out in the political arena. Political language is now being blamed for the massacre. And yet, when satanic music and video games were suggested by some conservative organizations as influencing the murderous teenagers in Columbine, Michael Moore turned it into a nonsensical comedy!

Why so much violence across America? Because we have turned our backs on the words of our Lord, “Love your enemy. Love your neighbor as yourself.” And in America, we must heed these words for we are a multicultural nation. We do not all share the same history, language or blood. We must make an effort to unite ourselves to more than just freedom and the pursuit of money. We must unite ourselves to the Bringer of Peace and Love.

But how? By these beautiful words from the psalm of the day: “If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts” (Ps 95:8). Listen to what the Lord has to say to you. He has much to say. He will speak to your heart today. Pray – meditate - and listen. You will think things you never thought before. You will think yourself crazy with what comes forth from your heart and soul. “Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the LORD who made us.” He made me; he knows me; he alone can save me. The world’s salvation will not come by my hands. Salvation comes from the Lord. But I am here to help. “Take care brothers and sisters, that none of you may have an evil and unfaithful heart, so as to forsake the living God.” (Heb 3:12) My words, my actions can transmit the love of God to my enemy and to my neighbor or they can leave them bruised and torn. What will it be? How shall I do? “If you wish, you can make me clean.”

“Encourage yourselves daily while it is still ‘today,’ so that none of you may grow hardened by the deceit of sin. We have become partners of Christ if only we hold the beginning of the reality firm until the end.” (Heb 3:14)

Hold on for dear life to those who lift you up, encourage you and support you. Christians are important for one another. Where two or more are gathered, the Lord is present. They are gifts from God. They are partners of Christ. They will remind you of sin’s deceits: hating oneself - especially after a fall, blaming others, pursuing selfish desires and purposes, hidden or cloaked agendas, spoken lies or useless and harmful words, exaggerated fears, prayers or sympathies.

The beginning of love starts with the truth, “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life.” Start here and it will lead to love – true love of God and neighbor – wishing the best for them. There are many things we can do without, but love and truth are essential, it is what binds us together.

Let’s get beyond the superficial smiles. All who meet me must see in me a gift from God to them. It doesn’t have to be me, it could be anyone. That’s true, but if I notice the beautiful red sky early in the morning and I am amazed at its beauty, then it was all for me. It didn’t have to be, but it was a gift to me. Likewise, if someone can thank me for being there for them, it didn’t have to be me, but it was. I don’t have to be here, but I am.

Love God and love your neighbor is a vocation we all have. This love can only be sustained through prayer and by being made clean.

Mk 1:29-39 When to Pray

Mk 1:29-39 When to Pray

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Rising early in the morning, Jesus went off to pray.

Before Jesus did anything - before he preached; before he healed; before he journeyed or traveled, he always prayed. He never preached, healed or traveled until he knew His Father’s Will. He was a man after His Father’s heart and for that reason alone, he knew why he was on this earth.

Some of us have stressful jobs or, to say the least, highly intense jobs. Those who work in hospitals have it hard. Those who travel, have it hard. Those who are raising a family – yes, they too have it hard. But it would be impossible if we did not know why we were doing it. That’s one of the reasons why I left my career. I couldn’t imagine doing it for the rest of my life. Never did I imagine that the “rock” – Kodak – would turn into dust! “Get a job with Kodak and you have it made for the rest of your life.” That’s what people would say the year I left. Today, from 60,000 employees, the company has been reduced to approximately 3,000 employees. Some “rock”! I learned before they did that there is only one ROCK!

All great men and women throughout history have prayed. That’s how and why they did great things. We know we should pray too. But do we? Do we understand the power of prayer? The value it has? The Saints prove that the power of prayer is capable of overcoming all human limitations or weaknesses. The weak become strong. The most “unlikely to succeed” succeed! A 4’5” saint conquers a nation! Prayer shows the glory and power of God. The command to love your enemy is only possible through a life of prayer. The command to forgive your neighbor, your friend, is impossible – literally – without divine intervention. For this reason, it is so hard to love your enemy and forgive your friend. Most of us do not because most of us do not resort to prayer. And it’s NOT because we don’t know how to, it’s because we’re not ready to do so. Prayer softens the heart, makes it human again, and allows the Lord to write his law into it.

This year everyone’s “To do List” must include 15 to 30 minutes of prayer time. It is essential for nourishment and fulfillment; for grace and peace; for understanding and for life. Find a quiet moment, preferably at the very beginning of the day, to settle in and snuggle up to your favorite Holy book and reflect on the life of our Savior. This is what makes life worth living. Otherwise, we are a fish lost at sea – swimming frantically but for little or no purpose.

A priest once told me that life is lived one day to the next, but reflected upon looking backwards. See how the Lord himself was tested through what he suffered, and how he is able to help those who are being tested (cf. Heb 2:18). He experienced the loss of a friend, rejection and betrayal, ridicule and torture. He lived sleepless nights, endured trial and hardship. He was one like us in everything except in sin – that is, he never gave in or gave up. Because he knows us so well, our Lord can lift us up ever higher! “He approached, grasped her hand, and helped her up.” The same will happen to you! The power of prayer is timeless.