“Fasting is the soul of prayer, mercy is the lifeblood of fasting. So if you pray, fast; if you fast, show mercy; if you want your petition to be heard, hear the petition of others. If you do not close your ear to others, you open God’s ear to yourself” - Saint Peter Chrysologus
(Psalm 51)
R. (see 3a) Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.
Have mercy on me, O God, in your goodness;
in the greatness of your compassion wipe out my offense.
Thoroughly wash me from my guilt
and of my sin cleanse me.
R. Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.
For I acknowledge my offense,
and my sin is before me always:
"Against you only have I sinned,
and done what is evil in your sight."
R. Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.
A clean heart create for me, O God,
and a steadfast spirit renew within me.
Cast me not out from your presence,
and your Holy Spirit take not from me.
R. Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.
Give me back the joy of your salvation,
and a willing spirit sustain in me.
O Lord, open my lips,
and my mouth shall proclaim your praise.
R. Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.
Today is the first day of Lent - Ash Wednesday: «Now is the day of salvation!» (2Cor 6:2). The application of ashes reminds us of two ideals; the ancient one: «Remember, man, that you are dust, and to dust you will return»; and the one which the Council's renewed liturgy has introduced: «Repent, and believe in the Gospel». Both thoughts are an invitation to look at our own life in a different way. Pope Saint Clement I reminds us that «our Lord wants all whom He loves to become converts».
After a forest fire, the forest floor is covered with ashes. The ashes are the residue of death and destruction. However, the ashes also are the beginning of new life for the forest. The fire clears away the accumulated litter on the forest floor which had been smothering seedlings which tried to grow every year. Now that the fire has burned away this litter, the ashes serve as a sort of mulch which protects and actually nourishes the new seedlings. Thus, the ashes enable the cycle of new life to begin.
We are like that. The Lenten ashes of our repentance and dying to self smother our selfish pleasures, enabling and nourishing new life to blossom within us.
What new life does the Lord want to spring up as a result of your dying to self this Lent?
Will it be a call to a new vocation, the conception of a new child, a new holiness, the courage to witness publicly for Jesus, or returning home to the Catholic Church? Repent! Die to yourself (Lk 9:23). Let Jesus create His new, abundant life (Jn 10:10) in you
Will the ashen cross remain on your heart after it has been wiped off your forehead? Do you have the heart to receive ashes today?
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
How do we know if we have a servant’s heart? By how we act when we are treated like one
The most powerful weapon to conquer the devil is humility. For, as he does not know at all how to employ it, neither does he know how to defend himself from it.--Saint Vincent de Paul
Gospel text (Mk 9,30-37):
Jesus and his disciples left from there and began a journey through Galilee,
but he did not wish anyone to know about it.
He was teaching his disciples and telling them,
"The Son of Man is to be handed over to men
and they will kill him,
and three days after his death the Son of Man will rise."
But they did not understand the saying,
and they were afraid to question him.
They came to Capernaum and, once inside the house,
he began to ask them,
"What were you arguing about on the way?"
But they remained silent.
For they had been discussing among themselves on the way
who was the greatest.
Then he sat down, called the Twelve, and said to them,
"If anyone wishes to be first,
he shall be the last of all and the servant of all."
Taking a child, he placed it in their midst,
and putting his arms around it, he said to them,
"Whoever receives one child such as this in my name, receives me;
and whoever receives me,
receives not me but the One who sent me."
Rankings! Ratings! Polls! Surveys! Standings! Our culture thrives on these measures. We constantly argue about who is most important (Mk 9:34). We have political approval polls, opinion polls, talk shows, sports standings, Most Valuable Players, Nielsen ratings of TV shows, Fortune 500 companies, and even TV shows which rank who is worthy to "survive" another week at the expense of eliminating someone else. However, our modern culture is not the first to be obsessed about ranking. The apostles on several occasions fell into this trap of rivalry. It's part of our fallen human nature (Jas 4:5). If we continue to live by the world's competitive standards, we will destroy ourselves or at least "vote each other off the island"! (see Gal 5:15)
In today’s Gospel reading, Jesus has to have a discussion with his disciples about humility. When Jesus confronted them about their argument, they were ashamed. Sitting down, Jesus tells them this: “Anyone who wants to be first must be the last, and the servant of all.” (Mark 9:35) Oh, how often we think we are better than everyone else, even though we are not! The ego is much easier to inflate than a balloon, but pops just as quickly when pricked with shame. The easiest way to avoid this is simply to follow this message: Be the servant of all. We must not be preoccupied with who is the best. Rather, we should think about ways to serve, and about how Christ is working within.
The modern, competitive world makes this rather difficult to do, and this is indeed frustrating. However, what might be even more frustrating is the competition that takes place within ourselves: the competition between desires. I want this, I want that. I want to do great things, and yet strangely, sometimes I want to do things that are terrible and not great in any way.
Where does the desire for God fall in with this internal war?
If only my desire for God won out in every single instance; then I would stop wasting time wondering where I stand in competition with others and spend much more time thinking about love, both divine and human, and how to submit to Christ’s workings within me.
Love and Christ ought to always win when in competition with hubris, and the only way for that to happen in every instance is to be “the servant of all.”
Gospel text (Mk 9,30-37):
Jesus and his disciples left from there and began a journey through Galilee,
but he did not wish anyone to know about it.
He was teaching his disciples and telling them,
"The Son of Man is to be handed over to men
and they will kill him,
and three days after his death the Son of Man will rise."
But they did not understand the saying,
and they were afraid to question him.
They came to Capernaum and, once inside the house,
he began to ask them,
"What were you arguing about on the way?"
But they remained silent.
For they had been discussing among themselves on the way
who was the greatest.
Then he sat down, called the Twelve, and said to them,
"If anyone wishes to be first,
he shall be the last of all and the servant of all."
Taking a child, he placed it in their midst,
and putting his arms around it, he said to them,
"Whoever receives one child such as this in my name, receives me;
and whoever receives me,
receives not me but the One who sent me."
Rankings! Ratings! Polls! Surveys! Standings! Our culture thrives on these measures. We constantly argue about who is most important (Mk 9:34). We have political approval polls, opinion polls, talk shows, sports standings, Most Valuable Players, Nielsen ratings of TV shows, Fortune 500 companies, and even TV shows which rank who is worthy to "survive" another week at the expense of eliminating someone else. However, our modern culture is not the first to be obsessed about ranking. The apostles on several occasions fell into this trap of rivalry. It's part of our fallen human nature (Jas 4:5). If we continue to live by the world's competitive standards, we will destroy ourselves or at least "vote each other off the island"! (see Gal 5:15)
In today’s Gospel reading, Jesus has to have a discussion with his disciples about humility. When Jesus confronted them about their argument, they were ashamed. Sitting down, Jesus tells them this: “Anyone who wants to be first must be the last, and the servant of all.” (Mark 9:35) Oh, how often we think we are better than everyone else, even though we are not! The ego is much easier to inflate than a balloon, but pops just as quickly when pricked with shame. The easiest way to avoid this is simply to follow this message: Be the servant of all. We must not be preoccupied with who is the best. Rather, we should think about ways to serve, and about how Christ is working within.
The modern, competitive world makes this rather difficult to do, and this is indeed frustrating. However, what might be even more frustrating is the competition that takes place within ourselves: the competition between desires. I want this, I want that. I want to do great things, and yet strangely, sometimes I want to do things that are terrible and not great in any way.
Where does the desire for God fall in with this internal war?
If only my desire for God won out in every single instance; then I would stop wasting time wondering where I stand in competition with others and spend much more time thinking about love, both divine and human, and how to submit to Christ’s workings within me.
Love and Christ ought to always win when in competition with hubris, and the only way for that to happen in every instance is to be “the servant of all.”
Monday, February 20, 2012
"Prayer carries us half way to God, fasting brings us to the door of His palace, and alms-giving procures us admission."
It is simply impossible to lead, without the aid of prayer, a virtuous life.--Saint John Chrysostom
Gospel text (Mk 9,14-29):
As Jesus came down from the mountain with Peter, James, John
and approached the other disciples,
they saw a large crowd around them and scribes arguing with them.
Immediately on seeing him,
the whole crowd was utterly amazed.
They ran up to him and greeted him.
He asked them, "What are you arguing about with them?"
Someone from the crowd answered him,
"Teacher, I have brought to you my son possessed by a mute spirit.
Wherever it seizes him, it throws him down;
he foams at the mouth, grinds his teeth, and becomes rigid.
I asked your disciples to drive it out, but they were unable to do so."
He said to them in reply,
"O faithless generation, how long will I be with you?
How long will I endure you? Bring him to me."
They brought the boy to him.
And when he saw him,
the spirit immediately threw the boy into convulsions.
As he fell to the ground, he began to roll around
and foam at the mouth.
Then he questioned his father,
"How long has this been happening to him?"
He replied, "Since childhood.
It has often thrown him into fire and into water to kill him.
But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us."
Jesus said to him,
"'If you can!' Everything is possible to one who has faith."
Then the boy's father cried out, "I do believe, help my unbelief!"
Jesus, on seeing a crowd rapidly gathering,
rebuked the unclean spirit and said to it,
"Mute and deaf spirit, I command you:
come out of him and never enter him again!"
Shouting and throwing the boy into convulsions, it came out.
He became like a corpse, which caused many to say, "He is dead!"
But Jesus took him by the hand, raised him, and he stood up.
When he entered the house, his disciples asked him in private,
"Why could we not drive the spirit out?"
He said to them, "This kind can only come out through prayer."
If you can? We picture Jesus, hearing the emptiness in our prayers, shaking his head. "O faithless generation," he sighs.
Today Jesus invites us to examine our demons with our whole hearts. What kind of demons do we want to drive out of our lives? What addictions cripple us, throwing us to the ground each day? We sometimes feel the most powerless over the patterns that have been in our life for a long time, perhaps all our lives. Why could we not drive that spirit out? Why do we feel like saying "Well, I've tried and I just can't do it!"?
Jesus reminds us that the most troubling, difficult, evil problems we face take serious prayer, and maybe even fasting. To break the bond, the hold that some things just have on us, it takes strong medicine. Complete trust in God is a desire we need to ask for, and we have to prepare a place for it in our hearts. We prepare our lives and our hearts for Lent by praying for our deepest desires and with a new awareness of the fasting we will do in Lent.
It is in this moment that Jesus will take us by the hand and raise us from the hard, cold ground onto which we have fallen.
Gospel text (Mk 9,14-29):
As Jesus came down from the mountain with Peter, James, John
and approached the other disciples,
they saw a large crowd around them and scribes arguing with them.
Immediately on seeing him,
the whole crowd was utterly amazed.
They ran up to him and greeted him.
He asked them, "What are you arguing about with them?"
Someone from the crowd answered him,
"Teacher, I have brought to you my son possessed by a mute spirit.
Wherever it seizes him, it throws him down;
he foams at the mouth, grinds his teeth, and becomes rigid.
I asked your disciples to drive it out, but they were unable to do so."
He said to them in reply,
"O faithless generation, how long will I be with you?
How long will I endure you? Bring him to me."
They brought the boy to him.
And when he saw him,
the spirit immediately threw the boy into convulsions.
As he fell to the ground, he began to roll around
and foam at the mouth.
Then he questioned his father,
"How long has this been happening to him?"
He replied, "Since childhood.
It has often thrown him into fire and into water to kill him.
But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us."
Jesus said to him,
"'If you can!' Everything is possible to one who has faith."
Then the boy's father cried out, "I do believe, help my unbelief!"
Jesus, on seeing a crowd rapidly gathering,
rebuked the unclean spirit and said to it,
"Mute and deaf spirit, I command you:
come out of him and never enter him again!"
Shouting and throwing the boy into convulsions, it came out.
He became like a corpse, which caused many to say, "He is dead!"
But Jesus took him by the hand, raised him, and he stood up.
When he entered the house, his disciples asked him in private,
"Why could we not drive the spirit out?"
He said to them, "This kind can only come out through prayer."
If you can? We picture Jesus, hearing the emptiness in our prayers, shaking his head. "O faithless generation," he sighs.
Today Jesus invites us to examine our demons with our whole hearts. What kind of demons do we want to drive out of our lives? What addictions cripple us, throwing us to the ground each day? We sometimes feel the most powerless over the patterns that have been in our life for a long time, perhaps all our lives. Why could we not drive that spirit out? Why do we feel like saying "Well, I've tried and I just can't do it!"?
Jesus reminds us that the most troubling, difficult, evil problems we face take serious prayer, and maybe even fasting. To break the bond, the hold that some things just have on us, it takes strong medicine. Complete trust in God is a desire we need to ask for, and we have to prepare a place for it in our hearts. We prepare our lives and our hearts for Lent by praying for our deepest desires and with a new awareness of the fasting we will do in Lent.
It is in this moment that Jesus will take us by the hand and raise us from the hard, cold ground onto which we have fallen.
Sunday, February 19, 2012
To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover that the prisoner was you
He who knows how to forgive prepares for himself many graces from God. As often as I look upon the cross, so often will I forgive with all my heart. --St. Faustina
(Isaiah 43)
Thus says the LORD:
Remember not the events of the past,
the things of long ago consider not;
see, I am doing something new!
Now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?
In the desert I make a way,
in the wasteland, rivers.
The people I formed for myself,
that they might announce my praise.
Yet you did not call upon me, O Jacob,
for you grew weary of me, O Israel.
You burdened me with your sins,
and wearied me with your crimes.
It is I, I, who wipe out,
for my own sake, your offenses;
your sins I remember no more.
When you hear the word “repentance”, what comes to mind? I immediately picture someone being sincerely sorry for committing a hurtful act and promising not to do it again.
I have found that too often Christians dwell on the past mistakes or sinful acts they have made. As a result, they feel discouraged or unworthy to live as Christ’s disciple. Today’s reading from Isaiah insightfully advises against this self-criticism when it says, “Remember not the events of the past, the things of long ago consider not; see, I am doing something new!” (Isaiah 43:18-19) It is important to realize that in every moment of every day, God lovingly gives us the opportunity to serve and grow in faith. In essence, we continually are able to grow closer to God. However, if we place all our attention on our failings, we are unable to see these opportunities to grow. Yes, we must recognize when we have done wrong, but we are called to use these moments to see how we can better become God’s disciples instead of falling in self-loathing.
However, I find myself compelled to ask, “How can I move on and grow from my failings?” I think the Gospel helps provide the answer by emphasizing that Christ has the power and love to forgive our sins. Christ does not want to punish or condemn us. Instead, he wants to bring us closer to him and share in his life. Therefore, he has given us the amazing grace of forgiveness. What a profound gift Christ’s forgiveness is? Christ knows that we will fall time after time, but he will pick us up just the same and compel us to live lives directed more towards him. Therefore, let us reflect today in thanksgiving for the gift of Christ’s forgiveness and look for ways to better see God in our lives.
The Church has taught throughout the centuries: "When Christ's faithful strive to confess all the sins that they can remember, they undoubtedly place all of them before the divine mercy for pardon" (Catechism, 1456). When we go to Confession, the Lord forgives all our sins even if we have accidentally forgotten to confess any of them or have not expressed them well. We are completely forgiven and truly free. We have reason to be full of joy. Let us "celebrate and rejoice" (Lk 15:32) because we who have been dead in sin have come back to life. Alleluia!
(Isaiah 43)
Thus says the LORD:
Remember not the events of the past,
the things of long ago consider not;
see, I am doing something new!
Now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?
In the desert I make a way,
in the wasteland, rivers.
The people I formed for myself,
that they might announce my praise.
Yet you did not call upon me, O Jacob,
for you grew weary of me, O Israel.
You burdened me with your sins,
and wearied me with your crimes.
It is I, I, who wipe out,
for my own sake, your offenses;
your sins I remember no more.
When you hear the word “repentance”, what comes to mind? I immediately picture someone being sincerely sorry for committing a hurtful act and promising not to do it again.
I have found that too often Christians dwell on the past mistakes or sinful acts they have made. As a result, they feel discouraged or unworthy to live as Christ’s disciple. Today’s reading from Isaiah insightfully advises against this self-criticism when it says, “Remember not the events of the past, the things of long ago consider not; see, I am doing something new!” (Isaiah 43:18-19) It is important to realize that in every moment of every day, God lovingly gives us the opportunity to serve and grow in faith. In essence, we continually are able to grow closer to God. However, if we place all our attention on our failings, we are unable to see these opportunities to grow. Yes, we must recognize when we have done wrong, but we are called to use these moments to see how we can better become God’s disciples instead of falling in self-loathing.
However, I find myself compelled to ask, “How can I move on and grow from my failings?” I think the Gospel helps provide the answer by emphasizing that Christ has the power and love to forgive our sins. Christ does not want to punish or condemn us. Instead, he wants to bring us closer to him and share in his life. Therefore, he has given us the amazing grace of forgiveness. What a profound gift Christ’s forgiveness is? Christ knows that we will fall time after time, but he will pick us up just the same and compel us to live lives directed more towards him. Therefore, let us reflect today in thanksgiving for the gift of Christ’s forgiveness and look for ways to better see God in our lives.
The Church has taught throughout the centuries: "When Christ's faithful strive to confess all the sins that they can remember, they undoubtedly place all of them before the divine mercy for pardon" (Catechism, 1456). When we go to Confession, the Lord forgives all our sins even if we have accidentally forgotten to confess any of them or have not expressed them well. We are completely forgiven and truly free. We have reason to be full of joy. Let us "celebrate and rejoice" (Lk 15:32) because we who have been dead in sin have come back to life. Alleluia!
Saturday, February 18, 2012
The first duty of love is to listen
You wish to see; listen. Hearing is a step toward Vision. - Saint Bernard of Clairvaux
Gospel text (Mk 9,2-13):
Jesus took Peter, James, and John
and led them up a high mountain apart by themselves.
And he was transfigured before them,
and his clothes became dazzling white,
such as no fuller on earth could bleach them.
Then Elijah appeared to them along with Moses,
and they were conversing with Jesus.
Then Peter said to Jesus in reply,
"Rabbi, it is good that we are here!
Let us make three tents:
one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah."
He hardly knew what to say, they were so terrified.
Then a cloud came, casting a shadow over them;
then from the cloud came a voice,
"This is my beloved Son. Listen to him."
Suddenly, looking around, the disciples no longer saw anyone
but Jesus alone with them.
As they were coming down from the mountain,
he charged them not to relate what they had seen to anyone,
except when the Son of Man had risen from the dead.
So they kept the matter to themselves,
questioning what rising from the dead meant.
Then they asked him,
"Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?"
He told them, "Elijah will indeed come first and restore all things,
yet how is it written regarding the Son of Man
that he must suffer greatly and be treated with contempt?
But I tell you that Elijah has come
and they did to him whatever they pleased,
as it is written of him."
I have often wondered how Jesus chose Peter, James and John to be witness to the special events of his life here on earth. In addition to witnessing the transfiguration they were also with Jesus during his agony in the garden. Presumably Jesus saw something in these three apostles that somehow set them apart from the other nine. They were privileged to be present at these special events. On this occasion they were able to hear the words of God the Father, and to glimpse something of the divinity of Jesus. Truly this was a very special privilege for Peter, James and John.
The transfiguration is a very mysterious event. It was reserved for these three alone to witness, and they had to keep it a secret until after the Resurrection of Jesus from the dead. Had they spoken immediately after they came down from the mountain, others might have been unable to understand what the apostles had seen and heard. Only later, when Jesus had completed his instructions and teaching to the apostles, would they have been able to understand what their brethren had witnessed, a very important and mysterious event.
I think the message of this gospel reading for us today is to take the words of God the Father from the Transfiguration as addressed to ourselves. Just as he called the apostles long ago, God is calling us today to listen to the words of Jesus. He is asking us not merely to hear the words of Jesus, but to really and truly listen to them. God wants us to listen very carefully to the words of Jesus that we hear in sacred scripture and in the teachings of the Church. He is calling us to imitate the apostles in our devotion to the following of Jesus.
Gospel text (Mk 9,2-13):
Jesus took Peter, James, and John
and led them up a high mountain apart by themselves.
And he was transfigured before them,
and his clothes became dazzling white,
such as no fuller on earth could bleach them.
Then Elijah appeared to them along with Moses,
and they were conversing with Jesus.
Then Peter said to Jesus in reply,
"Rabbi, it is good that we are here!
Let us make three tents:
one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah."
He hardly knew what to say, they were so terrified.
Then a cloud came, casting a shadow over them;
then from the cloud came a voice,
"This is my beloved Son. Listen to him."
Suddenly, looking around, the disciples no longer saw anyone
but Jesus alone with them.
As they were coming down from the mountain,
he charged them not to relate what they had seen to anyone,
except when the Son of Man had risen from the dead.
So they kept the matter to themselves,
questioning what rising from the dead meant.
Then they asked him,
"Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?"
He told them, "Elijah will indeed come first and restore all things,
yet how is it written regarding the Son of Man
that he must suffer greatly and be treated with contempt?
But I tell you that Elijah has come
and they did to him whatever they pleased,
as it is written of him."
I have often wondered how Jesus chose Peter, James and John to be witness to the special events of his life here on earth. In addition to witnessing the transfiguration they were also with Jesus during his agony in the garden. Presumably Jesus saw something in these three apostles that somehow set them apart from the other nine. They were privileged to be present at these special events. On this occasion they were able to hear the words of God the Father, and to glimpse something of the divinity of Jesus. Truly this was a very special privilege for Peter, James and John.
The transfiguration is a very mysterious event. It was reserved for these three alone to witness, and they had to keep it a secret until after the Resurrection of Jesus from the dead. Had they spoken immediately after they came down from the mountain, others might have been unable to understand what the apostles had seen and heard. Only later, when Jesus had completed his instructions and teaching to the apostles, would they have been able to understand what their brethren had witnessed, a very important and mysterious event.
I think the message of this gospel reading for us today is to take the words of God the Father from the Transfiguration as addressed to ourselves. Just as he called the apostles long ago, God is calling us today to listen to the words of Jesus. He is asking us not merely to hear the words of Jesus, but to really and truly listen to them. God wants us to listen very carefully to the words of Jesus that we hear in sacred scripture and in the teachings of the Church. He is calling us to imitate the apostles in our devotion to the following of Jesus.
Friday, February 17, 2012
“Waste no more time arguing what a good man should be. Be one!”
“The Christian ideal has not been tried and found wanting; it has been found difficult and left untried.” ~ G.K. Chesterton.
Gospel text (Mk 8,34-9,1):
Jesus summoned the crowd with his disciples and said to them,
"Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself,
take up his cross, and follow me.
For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it,
but whoever loses his life for my sake
and that of the Gospel will save it.
What profit is there for one to gain the whole world
and forfeit his life?
What could one give in exchange for his life?
Whoever is ashamed of me and of my words
in this faithless and sinful generation,
the Son of Man will be ashamed of
when he comes in his Father's glory with the holy angels."
He also said to them,
"Amen, I say to you,
there are some standing here who will not taste death
until they see that the Kingdom of God has come in power."
Today’s gospel challenges us to walk the talk. It is not enough to say we are faithful, indeed, to even be faithful, without actions to accompany that faith. Many Catholics and other Christians thought they could work their way into heaven. They were dead wrong. We are not saved by our works, but by grace through faith (Eph 2:8). In addition, many people, including Catholics, thought they needed only to profess faith without practicing it (Jas 2:14). “I believe in Jesus, therefore I am saved“! They also were dead wrong, for faith without works is dead (Jas 2:17-26). "You must perceive that a person is justified by his works and not by faith alone" (Jas 2:24).
We are saved by grace alone — not faith alone or works alone. How are you responding to God's grace? Are you believing but not doing much with your faith? Or are you working a lot but believing very little? Are your faith and works integrated or separated?
Faith and works can't live without each other. They both live together or they both die. Therefore, strengthen your faith by working out your salvation (Phil 2:12). Enliven your works by obedient faith (Rm 1:5; 16:26). Jesus said: "This is the work of God: have faith in the One Whom He sent" (Jn 6:29).
Believe and work!
Gospel text (Mk 8,34-9,1):
Jesus summoned the crowd with his disciples and said to them,
"Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself,
take up his cross, and follow me.
For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it,
but whoever loses his life for my sake
and that of the Gospel will save it.
What profit is there for one to gain the whole world
and forfeit his life?
What could one give in exchange for his life?
Whoever is ashamed of me and of my words
in this faithless and sinful generation,
the Son of Man will be ashamed of
when he comes in his Father's glory with the holy angels."
He also said to them,
"Amen, I say to you,
there are some standing here who will not taste death
until they see that the Kingdom of God has come in power."
Today’s gospel challenges us to walk the talk. It is not enough to say we are faithful, indeed, to even be faithful, without actions to accompany that faith. Many Catholics and other Christians thought they could work their way into heaven. They were dead wrong. We are not saved by our works, but by grace through faith (Eph 2:8). In addition, many people, including Catholics, thought they needed only to profess faith without practicing it (Jas 2:14). “I believe in Jesus, therefore I am saved“! They also were dead wrong, for faith without works is dead (Jas 2:17-26). "You must perceive that a person is justified by his works and not by faith alone" (Jas 2:24).
We are saved by grace alone — not faith alone or works alone. How are you responding to God's grace? Are you believing but not doing much with your faith? Or are you working a lot but believing very little? Are your faith and works integrated or separated?
Faith and works can't live without each other. They both live together or they both die. Therefore, strengthen your faith by working out your salvation (Phil 2:12). Enliven your works by obedient faith (Rm 1:5; 16:26). Jesus said: "This is the work of God: have faith in the One Whom He sent" (Jn 6:29).
Believe and work!
Thursday, February 16, 2012
The poor sick person is Christ again made visible
What does love look like? It has the hands to help others. It has the feet to hasten to the poor and needy. It has eyes to see misery and want. It has the ears to hear the sighs and sorrows of men. That is what love looks like. - Saint Augustine
(James 2:1-9)
My brothers and sisters, show no partiality
as you adhere to the faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ.
For if a man with gold rings and fine clothes
comes into your assembly,
and a poor person with shabby clothes also comes in,
and you pay attention to the one wearing the fine clothes
and say, "Sit here, please,"
while you say to the poor one, "Stand there," or "Sit at my feet,"
have you not made distinctions among yourselves
and become judges with evil designs?
Listen, my beloved brothers and sisters.
Did not God choose those who are poor in the world
to be rich in faith and heirs of the Kingdom
that he promised to those who love him?
But you dishonored the poor.
Are not the rich oppressing you?
And do they themselves not haul you off to court?
Is it not they who blaspheme the noble name that was invoked over you?
However, if you fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture,
You shall love your neighbor as yourself, you are doing well.
But if you show partiality, you commit sin,
and are convicted by the law as transgressors.
I feel personally challenged by this reading. It deserves serious reflection by all of us. James is obviously writing about a human behavior which he has observed in this community. Showing "partiality" is something we've all been guilty of at some time, perhaps all the time. A wealthy person in our assembly gets more favorable attention than a poor person does.
Do we want to be "rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom" of God? Then we should decide to be "poor in the eyes of the world." Most everyone says they want to be rich in faith, but hope for a way to do it other than choosing to be poor. This reluctance shows that most people are giving "lip-service" when they speak of their desire for a strong faith.
"Faith comes from hearing, and hearing from the word of God" (Rm 10:17). If we want to be rich in faith, we should devote time each day to reading, praying, and studying God's Word. Nonetheless, few people persevere in daily Bible reading, although all say they want a stronger faith. Faith in anyone, including the Lord, depends on building a strong relationship through frequent, personal conversation. In other words, faith implies daily, committed prayer.
Faith flourishes especially in the context of daily Communion. Yet how few people center their lives on prayer and Communion! "All depends on faith" (Rm 4:16), and faith depends on God's grace. The Lord has chosen to pour out the grace of faith in the contexts of Gospel poverty, Bible reading, and daily prayer. How to be "rich in faith" is no mystery. "But when the Son of Man comes, will He find any faith on the earth?" (Lk 18:8)
(James 2:1-9)
My brothers and sisters, show no partiality
as you adhere to the faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ.
For if a man with gold rings and fine clothes
comes into your assembly,
and a poor person with shabby clothes also comes in,
and you pay attention to the one wearing the fine clothes
and say, "Sit here, please,"
while you say to the poor one, "Stand there," or "Sit at my feet,"
have you not made distinctions among yourselves
and become judges with evil designs?
Listen, my beloved brothers and sisters.
Did not God choose those who are poor in the world
to be rich in faith and heirs of the Kingdom
that he promised to those who love him?
But you dishonored the poor.
Are not the rich oppressing you?
And do they themselves not haul you off to court?
Is it not they who blaspheme the noble name that was invoked over you?
However, if you fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture,
You shall love your neighbor as yourself, you are doing well.
But if you show partiality, you commit sin,
and are convicted by the law as transgressors.
I feel personally challenged by this reading. It deserves serious reflection by all of us. James is obviously writing about a human behavior which he has observed in this community. Showing "partiality" is something we've all been guilty of at some time, perhaps all the time. A wealthy person in our assembly gets more favorable attention than a poor person does.
Do we want to be "rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom" of God? Then we should decide to be "poor in the eyes of the world." Most everyone says they want to be rich in faith, but hope for a way to do it other than choosing to be poor. This reluctance shows that most people are giving "lip-service" when they speak of their desire for a strong faith.
"Faith comes from hearing, and hearing from the word of God" (Rm 10:17). If we want to be rich in faith, we should devote time each day to reading, praying, and studying God's Word. Nonetheless, few people persevere in daily Bible reading, although all say they want a stronger faith. Faith in anyone, including the Lord, depends on building a strong relationship through frequent, personal conversation. In other words, faith implies daily, committed prayer.
Faith flourishes especially in the context of daily Communion. Yet how few people center their lives on prayer and Communion! "All depends on faith" (Rm 4:16), and faith depends on God's grace. The Lord has chosen to pour out the grace of faith in the contexts of Gospel poverty, Bible reading, and daily prayer. How to be "rich in faith" is no mystery. "But when the Son of Man comes, will He find any faith on the earth?" (Lk 18:8)
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