His Word Today: Saint John Bosco

Good morning everyone,

Today, the Church celebrates the Memorial of Saint John Bosco, a priest who lived in the nineteenth century, mostly in the city of Turin (Italy).  Don (Father) Bosco - as he was most well known - was born 16 August 1815 in the hillside village of Becchi (Italy).  John's family were farmhands and since the early 1800s was a time of great shortage and famine in the Piedmonte region, this meant that he and his family had to work very hard to earn their living.  This resolve was strengthened even more when John's father died and left his mother a widow with still-young children.

Poverty prevented John from any serious attempt at schooling.  Rather he was a shepherd and received his early training from a priest.  John left home at the tender age of 12 and went in search of work as a farm-servant.  At first he begged unsuccessfully but eventually he ended up working on a wine farm.  Finally, in 1830, John met a priest who identified some talent and supported his first attempt at formal schooling.  He went on to study at the seminary in Chieri and was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Turin in 1841.

Having known the effects of poverty as a child, John had a particular concern for helping street children, juvenile delinquents and other disadvantaged youth in the metropolitan city to overcome poverty through education.  He developed teaching methods based on love rather than punishment: something quite revolutionary for his time.  Don Bosco's legacy lives on today in the presence of the Salesians of Don Bosco; the Institute of the Daughters of Mary, Help of Christians; the Association of Mary, Help of Christians; and the lay movement known as the Association of Salesian Cooperators.

His ingenuity and ability to find techniques to teach children using unconventional methods made Don Bosco all the more like Jesus who also found ways to reach out to people's hearts and to help them come to believe in themselves by first believing that God truly loves us.  Jesus always believed that others could learn new things, even if they themselves found it difficult to accept his words because they could only see him as the carpenter's son (Mk 6:3).

Today, ask Saint John Bosco to pray with you, to help you to see the potential that is possible when children learn to believe in themselves.  Ask him to help us - even though we may be children with many years of experience - and to encourage our hearts so that we can be living examples of love for others today.

Have a great day.

His Word Today: Pleading for others

Good morning everyone,

There is a wonderful thing that happens when God is at work: seeing evidence of joy - in the life of the demoniac who is cured, in the blind man whose sight is restored, in the leper who is cleansed, in the sick who are healed ... -  others are captivated and live in hope of experiencing this joy in their own lives.

This is the case in today's gospel, where we meet one of the synagogue officials who has perhaps heard about Jesus' ability to heal the sick and the possessed.  Jairus has recognized something special about Jesus.  He comes to him, falls at his feet and pleads earnestly with him (Mk 5:22). The anxiety is evident in his voice as he pleads his case:  My daughter is at the point of death.  Please, come lay your hands on her that she may get well and live (Mk 5:23). It's not difficult to understand how distraught Jairus must have been.  Even the hope that Jesus might be able to do something to help his daughter would have been enough to motivate him to go in search of help.

When a parent has to tend to a sick child, when that child is so sick that there seems to be no hope, the parent(s) will do anything to restore the child to health. We can imagine what that encounter with Jairus was like.  Jesus looked into his face and saw the panic in his eyes.  What did Jairus see in Jesus' face? ... warmth, welcome, compassion and hope?  I'd like to think he did ... and then Jesus went off with him (cf Mk 5:24).  Along the way, word arrives that Jairus' daughter has died; why trouble the teacher any longer? (Mk 5:35).  These are the words of someone who believes that somehow human beings can define limits for God's goodness, for love and concern for his beloved children.  Jesus did not stop and turn away that day, as though he would be powerless to help the child.  Instead he continued, encouraging the grieving father: Do not be afraid, just have faith (Mk 5:36)

Jesus walks with us at all moments of our lives.  Sometimes we are aware of his presence and sometimes we aren't, but he is always there, encouraging us with these same words: Do not be afraid, just have faith.  If we can come to believe in this truth, we will soon find that we are indeed captivated by Jesus and able to live in hope of experiencing the joy that he freely shares in our own lives.

Have a great day.

His Word Today: The Gerasene demoniac

Good morning everyone,

Today's gospel passage describes an encounter that Jesus had with a man who was possessed by an unclean spirit and who dwelt among the tombs (cf Mk 5:2).  This poor man had probably been shunned by his family, friends and community and found himself confined to a graveyard - where very few other living humans were to be found.  This man crossed paths with Jesus that day, and their meeting provided Jesus with an opportunity to make a difference in his life.  The writer of the gospel of Mark goes into quite some detail so that we are aware of the extent of this man's suffering, but Jesus is portrayed as meeting him only for a moment: a significant moment.

This story allows us to know the depth of the possessed man's suffering (cf Mk 5:3-5) but it also allows us to see the tender and merciful heart of Jesus in action.  Mark does not tell us the precise words that Jesus spoke to the possessed man, except that he continually called the unclean spirit to come out of him (Mk 5:8).  We can imagine that Jesus would have been extremely respectful of the person who was standing in front of him.  Although he was firm in his commands for the unclean spirit to leave him alone, he was also tenderly concerned for the well-being of the man who had been suffering for so long.

Eventually, Jesus was able to convince the unclean spirits to leave the man alone.  He (Jesus) probably didn't make friends that day with the swine herders but he managed to restore health to the man who had been tormented for far too long.  Perhaps worried that Jesus had managed to destroy a herd of swine that was relatively considerable in size, the townsfolk asked him to leave the territory of the Gerasenes, and as he was preparing to leave, the man who had been made clean wanted to go with him (cf Mk 5:18).  This is understandable, but Jesus knew that the man could do more good sharing the story of his own encounter with others, so he told him: Go home to your family and announce to them all that the Lord ... has done for you (Mk 5:19).

Jesus is constantly at work, encountering us each day and doing wonderful things in and through us.  He is always calling us to do our part to share the news of all that he is doing in our lives with our family members and friends and with those we meet.  Not everyone's story is as dramatic as the Gerasene demoniac's encounter, but each of us has a story to tell.  Open your ears today to listen in love to the adventures that are recounted by those you meet.  You never know who will share a tale of faith with you, and if the opportunity should present itself, be willing to share your own story with others.  We have no idea how our lived example may influence another person who is thirsting for the life-giving presence that an encounter with our God can give.

Have a great day.

Into the silence

Today’s gospel places us in the Synagogue in Capernaum.  Even today, the foundations of that place of worship are still outlined, and as we stand inside the space where it once stood, it isn’t difficult to see that it would have been a place of encounter, a place where all manner of social gatherings would have taken place.

Jesus and his disciples went to the Synagogue on the Sabbath.  At the time, everyone in town would have been there, listening to Jesus as he taught.  As they listened, they were astonished at his teaching (Mk 1:22) and would have been paying close attention.  Perhaps they were totally unaware that someone else had made his way into the crowd.  The words that this newcomer spoke would have broken the spell that had seemed to keep them captivated by Jesus’ words.  This new voice cried out harshly: What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth?  (Mk 1:24).   In response to this interruption, Jesus simply says: Be silent! (Mk 1:25).

The society around is so filled with noises of all kinds that we can sometimes forget that it is possible for us to be silent.  Silence is not merely the absence of noise, but a living reality that helps us to stay connected to ourselves and, more importantly, to stay connected to our God.  It is often only when we are disciplined enough to sit in silence that we are able to take a second look at things that are concerning us.  Silence allows us to look at life from different angles.  In fact, it is often from the depths of silence that great pearls of wisdom are able to find a home in our minds and hearts.

In the case of the demoniac presented in the gospel, silence allowed Jesus to free the possessed man from his imprisonment.  Those who were standing around and witnessed this act of mercy were amazed at what they saw as Jesus commanded the evil spirit: come out of him! (Mk 1:25).

In the silence of prayer, Moses heard the Lord entrusting him with advise for his people: The Lord, your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me (Deut 18:15) ... and anyone who does not heed the words that he shall speak in my name, I myself will hold him accountable (Deut 18:19).

I wonder whether our modern-day insistence on being surrounded by noise is not a rebellious way of trying to fill the silence – which is God’s gift – with activity and sound that is an attempt to fool ourselves into thinking that silence is the absence of something instead of the place where we are invited to encounter our God, the place where He invites us to be free of all our anxieties (1 Cor 7:32) so that we can begin to see the various details of our lives not as competing for attention but rather as an opportunity to marvel at the way God uses our busy-ness to remind us of his presence.

Take time this week to be silent and you may be surprised at how it will help to put everything else into perspective.

His Word Today: Saint Angela Merici

Good morning everyone,

Today, the Church celebrates the Memorial of Saint Angela Merici who was born in 1541 in Desenzano del Garda (Lombardy, Italy).  At the age of 15, she and her siblings were orphaned.  The brothers and sisters were split up and Angela and her sister went to live with their uncle in Saló.  Not long afterward, her sister died and Angela joined the Third Order of Saint Francis.  Following the death of her uncle, Angela moved back home to Desenzano where she lived with her brothers.

Angela was deeply devout and received visions from time to time.  In one such vision, she was instructed to establish an association of virgins who were to devote their lives to the religious training of young girls.  This association was a success and she was invited to establish another school in the neighbouring city of Brescia.

On 25 November 1535, Angela gathered with 12 young women who had joined in her work in a small house in Brescia near the Church of Saint Afra, where together they committed themselves in the founding of the Company of Saint Ursula, placed under the protection of the patroness of medieval universities. Angela's goal was to elevate family life through the Christian education of future wives and mothers. Four years later the group had grown to 28. Angela taught her companions to be consecrated to God and dedicated to the service of their neighbour, but to remain in the world, teaching the girls of their own neighbourhood, and to practice a religious form of life in their own homes. The members of the new Company wore no special habit and took no formal religious vows. Angela wrote a Rule of Life for the group, which specified the practice of celibacy, poverty and obedience in their own homes. The Ursulines opened orphanages and schools. On 18 March 1537, she was elected Mother and Mistress of the group. The Rule she had written was approved in 1544 by Pope Paul III.

When Merici died in Brescia on 27 January 1540, there were 24 communities of the Company of Saint Ursula serving the Church through the region. Her body was clothed in the habit of a Franciscan tertiary and was interred in the Church of Saint Afra.  Today, the Ursulines are still present, educating young girls all over the world.

Pray today that Saint Angela Merici will intercede on our behalf to help us identify the needs of our world, the places where Jesus needs us to be so that we can do our part to calm the storms that so often bring doubt and fear to people of our times (cf Mk 4:39-40), and instead do our part to elevate the family and faith lives of our brothers and sisters.

Have a great day.

His Word Today: Timothy and Titus

Good morning everyone,

Today, the Church celebrates two Saints: Timothy and Titus.

Saint Timothy was born in Lystra, the child of a Jewish mother who had become a Christian believer, and a Greek father.  He met the Apostle Paul and became one of his companions and co-workers - along with another man by the name of Silas.  In time, Timothy travelled with his mentor Paul, who entrusted him with important assignments.  We have copies of some of the correspondence that Paul wrote to his companion Timothy in the New Testament.  We call them the First and Second Epistles/Letters to Timothy.

Among the other followers of Paul, we find the other Saint who is celebrated today.  Titus was an early Christian missionary and a church leader.  Like Timothy, Paul also corresponded with Titus, and we still have a copy of at least one of those letters in the New Testament.  Titus is believed to originally have been a Gentile who was converted to Christianity by Paul's teaching and example.  According to tradition, Titus was consecrated as Bishop of the island of Crete.

The lives of Timothy and TItus both provide us with examples of the wonderful ways in which God's wisdom and teachings are spread among us: We are often unaware of God's efforts at work, but the result is that God continues to sow the seeds of faith in people's hearts.  These seeds take root and grow without us noticing, as though the growth takes place while we sleep and rise, night and day: it sprouts and grows (Mk 4:27).

Inspired by the example of these two holy men, may we grow day by day to realize that when we extend our humble efforts to share the good news of the gospel with others, it is in fact Jesus who continues to sow faith in the hearts of his beloved people, like we might sow mustard seeds in fertile ground.  Jesus constantly and patiently cultivates the precious gift of faith so that it can spring up and grow ... like a large plant, putting forth large branches so that the birds of the air can dwell in its shade (Mk 4:32).

Have a great day.

His Word Today: A life-changing experience

Detail of 'The Conversion of Saint Paul'
by Michelangelo da Caravaggio

Good morning everyone,

Today, the Church celebrates the Feast of the Conversion of Saint Paul (who is referred to as an Apostle, although he was not part of the twelve that Jesus called).  The details of Saint Paul's conversion are recounted (in the first person) in the Acts of the Apostles.  There, Paul explains that he was born a Jew and educated by one of the most revered and respected of the elders (cf Acts 22:3).  His faith was strong, so strong in fact that he describes himself as zealous for God and he admits that out of that zeal he persecuted the followers of Jesus, binding both men and women and delivering them to prison (Acts 22:4) in the hopes of bringing an end to them.

At a certain point, he even set out for Damascus (Syria) to bring back to Jerusalem in chains for punishment, those there as well (Acts 22:5).  This was serious business! ... but on his way to Damascus, something happened that changed his life forever.  He recounts the details: a great light from the sky suddenly shone around me.  I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, 'Saul ... why are you persecuting me?' (Acts 22:6-7).  It is interesting to note the degree of detail that he includes, for anyone who has lived through a life-changing experience will forever be able to recount the details (usually with amazing clarity).  It is also interesting to note that up to this point, Saul had no idea who he was encountering.  Until now, the only God he had ever known was the God of Abraham (remember that he was fervently attached to his faith) but this was different.  Whereas he was very well acquainted with the rituals surrounding Jewish prayer, dietary laws etc, this was the first time that he had ever encountered God in such a personal way.  God spoke to him and called him by name!

As further proof that this encounter was not a dream, Paul was given a mission: Get up and go to Damascus (Acts 22:10).  There, he met Ananias, another highly-respected Jew.  Ananias explained Paul's mission: The God of our ancestors designated you to know his will, to see the Righteous One, and to hear the sound of his voice, for you will be his witness before all to what you have seen and heard (Acts 22:14-15).  This commission is strikingly similar to the commission that Jesus gave to the other disciples on the shores of the Sea of Galilee.

Anyone of us who has had a similar experience - of encountering God in a personal way, of hearing him call us by name - will forever be able to tell the story of such a moment.  We are never granted such a moment of grace just so that we can keep it as a nice memory.  Jesus always calls us and gives us a mission: to be his witnesses in the world, to tell others about what we have seen and heard.

Pray today for the courage to be a witness for Jesus in the world today, to tell others about him and all that he has done and continues to do.

Have a great day.

His Word Today: Our common home

Good morning everyone,

In today's reading from the second book of Samuel, we hear about a vision that was granted to Nathan.  He was asked to share the details of this vision with King David.  Remember, David had brought the ark to Jerusalem and now he wanted to build a house of cedar (a precious commodity) for God to live in.  In David's mind, this was an act of homage, but God is much bigger than any building.   In his vision, God tells Nathan to inform David of his question:  Should you build me a house to dwell in?  I have not dwelt in a house from the day on which I led the children of Israel out of Egypt to the present (2 Sam 7:5-6).

Far too often, we try to build a house for God to dwell in.  We think that we can define limits for God, but that's the wonder of being in a relationship with a living God: our God is much bigger than any limits that we might try to define.

Instead of thinking of God as someone who can be limited, let's try today to think of God as the sower who constantly goes out to sow seed (cf Mk 4:3).  He throws the seed with amazing generosity and seems to pay little attention to where it lands - some seed fell on the path ... other seed fell on rocky ground ... some seed fell among thorns ... and some seed fell on rich soil (cf Mk 4:4-8).  In reality, our God is exceedingly attentive to every detail.  He cares for every detail of our existence, providing a home for us to live in (cf Encyclical Letter, Laudato Si'), a place where we can flourish and discover the depth of his love for us.

Today, the Church celebrates the liturgical memorial of Saint Francis de Sales, a venerated Bishop who lived in the sixteenth and seventeenth century.  Most noted for his deep faith and gentle approach to the religious divisions - resulting from the Protestant Reformation - in his native France and in Switzerland where he served as Shepherd of the Diocese of Genève (now known as the Diocese of Lausanne et Genève), he was also known for his writings on the topic of spiritual direction.  Saint Francis de Sales was well aware of the need to attentively care for the relationship that each of us is called to cultivate with our loving God and the care that our loving Father extends to each one of us.

Have a great day.

His Word Today: A reason to celebrate

Good morning everyone,

Today's reading from the Book of Samuel speaks of the moment when David brought the ark of God ... into the city of David (2 Sam 6:12) amid festivities.  As the bearers of the ark advanced ... oxen were sacrificed, David danced, there were shouts of joy and the sound of the horn (cf 2 Sam 6:13-14).  The celebrations also included the distribution of loaves of bread, cuts of roasted meat and raisin cakes (2 Sam 6:19).

With the arrival of the ark in the city of David, everyone knew that the Lord was present, and in the presence of the Lord, there was great reason for celebration.   Even in the time of Jesus, there was great reason for celebration as people gathered to listen to his teachings ... even to the point that the mother of Jesus ... arrived at the house (Mk 3:31) but had to stand outside and send word of her arrival to him, presumably via those who had gathered inside the house.

And what of us?  Have we experienced the great joy of gathering in the presence of the Lord?  Do we truly believe that Jesus is present in the Blessed Sacrament that is still kept in the tabernacles within our churches?  Are we excited about celebrating in the presence of the Lord?  When we meet other people, do we truly understand this as another opportunity to celebrate and to be in the presence of the Lord too?

Have a great day.

His Word Today: Courage in some cases

The City of David

Good morning everyone,

Today, we continue our reading of the second Book of Samuel and the story of David who is chosen by the tribes of Israel and anointed for service (cf 2 Sam 5:1-3).  David was thirty years old when he became king, and he reigned for forty years (2 Sam 5:4).  Even at the age of thirty, David would probably have had questions - at least at the beginning of his reign - about what he should do, when he should do it and how he should go about it.  These are the questions that everyone must ask of him- or herself when they find themselves in situations of leadership.

Self-doubt can be debilitating, but every leader must also deal with the doubt that comes from others, for no matter how clever an idea may be, there will always be some people who will question its wisdom.  When David and his men set out for Jerusalem ... David was told, 'You cannot enter here' (2 Sam 5:6), yet David did not give in to this expression of mistrust.  He took the stronghold of Zion, which is (now known as) the City of David (1 Sam 5:7).

Many effective leaders have really good ideas but they must always find a way to deal with the nay-sayers.  If we give in to the doubt that is expressed all around us, we would constantly be questioning ourselves, effectively standing still or seeming to be sliding backwards.  Today, pray for the wisdom that was David's gift.  Pray for the wisdom to know when we should stop and question yourself before you make a decision that might be harmful to others, but pray equally for the wisdom and the courage to trust your instincts when the decision that must be made is for the greater good of all those concerned.

Have a great day.

Our common call

During this coming week, the Church is encouraged to pray together for the grace of unity, especially among Christians.  Every year, this week reminds us of a time when all those who worship Jesus as Christ (the anointed one) were united in our beliefs and in our gathering around the table of the Eucharist.  This week also reminds us of the frailty and humanity of our Church because the unity that we enjoyed for the first millennium of our existence was disrupted because of conflicts that could not be resolved.  Ever since that time, we have been working toward re-establishing the unity that once existed.

In our search for unity, it is helpful to remember that whether we pray according to the Roman Catholic or other Christian traditions , whether we gather with other Christians who follow the Western liturgy or the Eastern one, we share a common past for we are all striving to live according to the example and teaching of Jesus of Nazareth, the man who walked along the Sea of Galilee and saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the sea (Mk 1:16).  This same Jesus also saw James ... and his brother John ... mending their nets (Mk 1:19).  In both cases, Jesus invited them to follow him, and they left their old lives behind and followed him (cf Mk 1:18, 20).

When Jesus saw these four men on the beach that day, he invited them to change their ways, to risk letting go of a lifestyle that they knew and to set out on a new adventure.  Jesus challenged them to go into uncharted territory.  I think that those four fishermen were very brave because not everyone would be able to give up the security of an established way of life and to set out in search of something new, yet they were willing.  And what about us? Are we courageous enough to set out with Jesus on a new adventure?  Are we willing to embrace a new beginning in a few weeks’ time when all Catholics in Elliot Lake will begin to gather under one roof?

Long before the disciples set out on this adventure, there were others who had been invited to do the same.  Today’s first reading recounts the story of Jonah who heard the word of the Lord saying: Get up, go to Nineveh ... and proclaim to it the message that I will tell you (Jonah 3:2).  Throughout the history of God’s relationship with his beloved people, he has constantly invited us to get up from the places and activities that we know best, to allow ourselves to be shaken out of our complacency so that we can be awakened to new encounters.  We never know where or when our God will need us to proclaim the message that he reveals to us, and we never know the effect that our words may have on the hearts and souls of those who hear them.

Saint Paul’s words addressed to the young Christian community at Corinth reveal a belief on his part that appointed time when Jesus would return had grown short (1 Cor 7:29).  Two millennia have gone by since Paul wrote those words, but we still do not know for sure when Jesus will return, so should we not strive to live as though that time were sooner rather than later?  Now is the time for us to do what we can to recognize the hurts that have resulted in separations: not only among our fellow Christians but also among our own families and friends.  Now is the time for us to pray for the grace of healing and to resist the temptation to wait for others to make the first move.  If we took the initiative to begin the process of reconciliation, perhaps there would be less turmoil among our friends and families, perhaps there might even be a chance for promoting unity among Christians who still long to see the day when we will gather around the same Eucharistic table to pray and to break bread again.

His Word Today: Darkness and light

Good morning everyone,

Today, we continue our reading of the first Book of Samuel, specifically the story of King David.  In this extract, we see the humanity of the King in its most raw state.  David has just returned from a victorious battle when a man appears ... with his clothes torn and dirt on his head (2 Sam 1:2).  It is obvious that this man must have been in a hurry to reach King David (because he had not even taken time to wash and to dress appropriately).  He went to David, fell on the ground in homage and David (who is understandably surprised) says to him: Where do you come from? (2 Sam 1:3).  The man goes on to explain that he has escaped from the Jewish camp and has come to tell David the bad news that many of the soldiers had fled and that many of them had died ... including David's friend Jonathan and his father Saul (cf 2 Sam 1:4).  David and all those who are with him are deeply grieved by the news.  In fact, they tear their garments as a sign of their grief (cf 2 Sam 1:11).

Anyone who has experienced the death of a loved one knows the darkness that invades the soul at the moment of such separation.  In fact, the closer we have been in this life, the more difficult it seems to hear such earth-shattering news.  There is a level at which those of us who are still living may indeed wish that we could join them in death because we cannot imagine life here on earth without them, but there is more to the story (and for this, we must look to the gospel).

Once again, Saint Mark tells us that Jesus came with his disciples into the house (cf Mk 3:20) and again the crowd gathered.  Ordinary onlookers could not understand why such crowds would gather where-ever Jesus was, but there are always people who are experiencing grief, there are always people who are doubting or questioning within themselves and Jesus is the only one who can bring the light that helps to dispel such darkness.  King David did not have the benefit of this light, but we do.  Let us never forget that we can always come to Jesus, we can always place our uncertainties before him and he will always take the time to help us find our way.

Have a great day.

His Word Today: Those who are sent

Good morning everyone,

Today's gospel account places us with Jesus on top of the mountain where he summoned those who he had chosen ... and they came to him (Mk 3:13).  This is an essential truth that each one of Jesus disciples needs to realize: he is the one who calls us and invites us to come to him.  He gives us full freedom to respond to this invitation (or to delay our acceptance of it) but if we accept his invitation, he will always fill us beyond our capacity with the joy of knowing that he walks the journey of life with us.

From those who came to him, Jesus appointed Twelve whom he also named Apostles (Mk 3:14), a word which means those who are sent.  Jesus gives each of us gifts and talents which are particularly ours, but he never gives us anything solely for our own enjoyment.  He always asks us to use the gifts we have received in order to go out toward others, ready to preach the good news and to do whatever he asks us to do.

Saint Mark goes on to name the twelve who were chosen and sent.  I am always struck by the fact that each one of those twelve was very different from the others.  Each one of them had his own history, his own story to tell, and each one of them was seen and loved by Jesus.  The same is true for all of us.  Each one of us has been seen and loved by Jesus.  He knows us even better than we know ourselves.  Despite our shortcomings, he continues to call us because he also sees what we are capable of, and he can see far beyond our own scopes to understand that what we have to offer will do its part to pave the way for his work to continue.  Sometimes we are unaware of the impact that our words and actions can have on those who observe and listen to us.  Only God can see that effect.  He uses our humble efforts to touch the hearts of others and to continue the work of calling others to himself so that he can send them out: Apostles in their own right, sent out into the world to serve.

Have a great day.

His Word Today: Jealousy vs friendship

Good morning everyone.

Today's first reading (cf 1 Sam 18:6-9; 19:1-7) continues the story of David after his battle with Goliath (cf 1 Sam 17:48-49).  Returning triumphant, he was greeted with celebration and song (cf 1 Sam 18:6-7) but something interesting was revealed in the heart of Saul.  David and Saul had been friends, but Saul was jealous of the attention that David was receiving (cf 1 Sam 18:8-9).  Jealousy is a dangerous emotion because it makes human beings act irrationally, and when we act irrationally, we often live to regret what we have said or done.

In the case of Saul, his emotions were tempered by the reasoning of his son Jonathan who revealed Saul's plan to his friend David: My father Saul is trying to kill you.  Therefore, please be on your guard tomorrow morning; get out of sight and remain in hiding (1 Sam 19:2).  Jonathan then spoke with his father, doing his best to alter Saul's opinion of David (cf 1 Sam 19:4-5) and the result was that Saul had a change of heart.

The good news that we see revealed in the witness of the young Jonathan who dares to stand up to his father's wrath for the sake of his friend David can and should inspire us to be ready to identify injustices that may take place in our own lives.  The world around us often tries to convince us that we should distance ourselves from getting involved in other people's affairs, but if we follow the advice of those around us, we can sometimes end up with jealousy reigning in our hearts - and that proves too often to be destructive.  If, on the other hand, we follow the example that we see in the life of Jonathan, we will go further, daring to stand up for injustices, to do what we can to broker peace and to live in friendship and support for all our brothers and sisters in Christ.

Have a great day.

His Word Today: Saint Anthony of the Desert

Painting of Saint Anthony by Piero di Cosimo
(1480 AD)

Good morning everyone,

Today, the Church celebrates the Liturgical Memorial of Saint Anthony (sometimes spelled Antony) of the Desert.  Born in Coma (Lower Egypt) in AD 251, Anthony's parents were wealthy landowners, but they both died when he was 18 years old, leaving him to care for his unmarried sister.  Not long after that, he decided to follow the advice of Jesus: If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor; you will have treasure in heaven (Mt 19:21).  He gave away some of his family's lands to neighbours, sold the remaining property and donated the proceeds to the poor.  He then placed his sister in the care of some Christian virgins and set out in search of an ascetic life.

There were monks at the time, most of them living on the outskirts of cities, so for the first fifteen years or so following the death of his parents, Anthony lived as a disciple of one of these, but he broke new ground when he decided to actually move out of town and into the desert.  Saint Athanasius speaks of the trials Anthony endured, yet despite these trials, he managed to emerge from relative isolation after more than 20 years.  After that time, many thought that he would have been physically wasted away, but apparently this was not the case.  He survived and was found healthy, serene and enlightened, much to the surprise of those who thought that he would not have been able to endure the rigours of such a lonely existence.

Saint Anthony's quest to find God in the solitary life of a monk - an effort which won him the moniker of the Father of all monks, was not unlike Jesus' insistence on spending time in prayer.  The discipline of prayer was always the focus of Jesus' life and it has continued to be the focus of the life of faith that is experienced by all of his disciples.  Jesus' life of prayer made it possible for him to possess a level of God-given wisdom and grace that still draws people to listen to his words.  Today's gospel (Mk 3:1-6) points out for us the fact that Jesus was not afraid to allow others to see his faith in action.  We too must constantly pray for guidance and for the strength of our faith so that we can continue growing in our ability to stand up for our faith and to help others to encounter the beating heart of Jesus.  From that heart, we learn the gift of divine mercy and compassion.

Today, let us ask Saint Anthony to pray with and for us so that we will experience a renewed willingness to be his disciples in the world.  Let us also ask Jesus to give us the grace to be able to draw ever closer to his loving heart so that we can learn every day how to be more and more joyful witnesses of his merciful love.

Have a great day.

His Word Today: Let him lead

Good morning everyone,

The first reading for today's liturgy, taken from the first book of Samuel, recounts the story of the anointing of David, the great King.  This is a wonderful story that contrasts the way that human logic is so often overcome by God's divine logic.

Samuel had recently been grieved by the death of his beloved friend Saul and yet the Lord encouraged him: Fill your horn with oil and be on your way (1 Sam 16:1).  How often are we tempted to stand still: to admire something wonderful that we have experienced, or stopped in our tracks because of grief.  Sometimes we seem to forget how to listen to the voice of God, and yet he constantly encourages us to be on our way for there is always something more that God needs to do, and he needs us to be his instruments.

In the case of Samuel, God sent him to Jesse of Bethlehem.  Perhaps Samuel did not know why he was being sent to Jesse, but God had a plan.  How often it happens that God sends us to places, puts us in circumstances where he needs us to be present.  We don't always understand why, and yet when we look through the lens of faith, we begin to understand that we are in the places where He needs us at the times when He needs us to be there, not to do our own bidding but to do His work.  If Samuel had not responded to God's invitation, he would never have set out to visit Jesse, and if he had not visited Jesse, he would not have come face to face with all of Jesse's sons, including David: the one who the Lord had chosen (cf 1 Sam 16:4-13).

Today, let us ask the Lord to guide our steps.  Let us dare to allow Him to put us in the places and circumstances where he needs us to be.  When we do, He can use us to do his work and in the end, we are constantly surprised at the good things that are accomplished.

Have a great day.

His Word Today: Self-esteem

Good morning everyone,

Today I would like to focus on the extract from the first Book of Samuel that is proposed in the readings for the Mass.  We heard the story of the call of Samuel in the readings at Mass yesterday.  At that point, Samuel was hearing the voice of God for the very first time so it is understandable that he had difficulty identifying God's voice until the elder Eli pointed this out.

Today's scripture passage (1 Sam 15:16-23) takes place quite some time after yesterday's.  Samuel has continued to grow in wisdom (cf 1 Sam 3:19) to the point that he is now offering his wisdom to Saul.  In fact, what he says is quite daring, considering that Saul is the ruler of Israel. The young Samuel says to Saul: Though little in your own esteem, are you not leader of the tribes of Israel? (1 Sam 15:17).  Samuel was graced with the wisdom of God, and many important people listened to him because they trusted in his wisdom.  He could even challenge the leaders of his time.

Even today, there is need from time to time to challenge those who are called into positions of leadership.  Even though they may hold positions of authority, such people still need a voice of reason to help them stay grounded.  They also need a voice that will encourage them because no matter how important others may think we are, if we are little in our own esteem, we will be fighting a battle within ourselves.

Look around you today and ask for the grace to recognize the people in your life who encourage you to grow in your own self-esteem.  Be equally aware of those who challenge you not to allow self esteem to become arrogance, for arrogance can be just as destructive.

Have a great day.

Teach others to look and listen

My first memories of being part of a parish community date back to a time when I was a very young boy.  In fact, I cannot remember a time when my family and I would not get up on Sunday morning and head off to the church for Mass.  Most of the time, after Mass was done, we would visit with my grandparents and the other members of our extended family.  In fact, it was through the example of my parents and the other members of my family that I first learned about God, Jesus, Mary, and about the saints.  In time, as I grew, my faith also matured, but it was they who first taught me to recognize the voice of God, and it was through their example of faith that I learned how to respond to God’s invitation.

The story of Samuel that we have heard in the first reading today always reminds me of the precious gift that my parents and the other members of my family introduced to me.  Like me, Samuel was a young boy when he first heard the voice of God calling.  He had never heard this voice before so he mistook it for the voice of the elder man Eli.  He ran to him, thinking that Eli was in need of something, but twice Eli confirmed that he was not the one who had called (cf 1 Sam 3:3-6).  Like Samuel, I am convinced that there are many young boys, young girls who hear the voice of God calling to them even today, but if they do not know how to recognize it, if they have no one to help them to identify it, God’s voice will soon become lost in a sea of other voices that call out and demand attention.

Today’s gospel account also presents an example of those who needed to learn how to identify the voice of the Lord.  John the Baptist was standing with two of his disciples (Jn 1:35-36), and as they watched, Jesus walked by.  In this case, John (the teacher) was the one who identified Jesus: the Lamb of God.  The two disciples heard what he had said.  Perhaps they were intrigued to know more, so they left John and followed Jesus.  Each one of us who has heard the voice of God calling, each one of us who has already learned how to follow in his footsteps has a duty to point Jesus out to our children, to our grandchildren, to the students entrusted to our care, and to encourage them to be brave enough to set out in search of him, to follow him, to see for themselves where he is staying (cf Jn 1:39), what it’s like to follow in his footsteps.

Today’s scripture passages challenge us to become more like John the Baptist: to teach our children how to look for God (cf Jn 1:36) in their lives, to help others who are searching for God to learn how they too can recognize him.  We are also being challenged to become more like the elder man Eli, able to recognize the voice of God when it is calling and to teach others how to identify it (cf 1 Sam 3:3-10).

If more of us can learn how to look for Jesus, how to listen for his voice, and if we in turn can teach others how to do the same, we will be more and more aware of the fact that each of us is meant to spend our lives glorifying God, that we are all members of Christ’s body ... united in spirit with him (1 Cor 6:15, 17), and maybe in time, more of us will be willing to answer God’s call: Speak Lord, for your servant is listening (1 Sam 3:9).

His Word Today: Follow me

Michelangelo da Caravaggio
The Calling of Saint Matthew

Good morning everyone,

Today, the gospel recounts the encounter between Jesus and Levi (the one who we know as Matthew).  Saint Mark's account of this meeting would have us believe that it happened by chance: As Jesus passed by, he saw Levi ... sitting at the customs post, and said to him, 'Follow me' (Mk 2:14).

When Mark says that Jesus passed by, this was no accident.  We would be better to understand this encounter as part of Jesus' plan.  Jesus knew Levi's heart perhaps even better than he himself knew it.  Jesus knew all of Matthew's potential, he knew all of his dreams, he knew the many ways in which he had tried to hide from the truth.  Despite all the walls that Matthew may have built up through the years, there was still a heart beating within him, a place where he was once loved and accepted for who he was.  Jesus saw all of this ... and Jesus loved him.

Jesus sees all of us in the same way.  He sees beyond all the disguises that we may try to put on in order to shield ourselves from other people's judgements.  Jesus sees our hearts and always loves what he sees.  Jesus sees our potential and believes that we can be the best, most loving persons possible.  Jesus sees all of this and wants to help us see and believe these things about ourselves.  This is why he said to Levi: Follow me (Mk 2:14).  Jesus also invites us to follow him, to make ourselves vulnerable in his presence, to allow him to help us reach our potential, even to exceed it.

Are we willing to surrender control and to allow Jesus to teach us, to form us, to make us more and more every day into his beloved disciples ... to teach us how to recognize within ourselves the same tender merciful heart that beats within Him?

Have a great day.

His word Today: Persistence

Good morning everyone,

Today's gospel passage places us with Jesus amidst a crowd of people who had gathered.  Some of them had heard that he was back in town and had probably come to visit, others may have heard about his deep concern for those who are sick, so perhaps they had come hoping that he would grant them a cure as well.  I think that some of the crowd was probably also made up of people who were just curious.  Have you ever seen a crowd of people gathering somewhere, and stopped or slowed down as you pass by, hoping to catch a glimpse of the action?

In the midst of the crowd, we find a group of friends who perhaps had witnessed Jesus' miracles.  They came bringing a paralytic (Mk 2:3).  It must have been quite a struggle for them to get close to the place where Jesus was.  They would have had to make their way through the crowd, and I'm willing to bet that at least some in the crowd wouldn't have been too willing to allow them to pass by.  Nevertheless, they made their way toward the house.  Perhaps they recognized that it would have been impossible for them to get close to the door, but they were determined to get their friend to Jesus.  They were resourceful!  They climbed up on the roof and tore a hole so that they could lower their friend into the house where he could get close to Jesus (cf Mk 2:4-5).

Like those friends, we too come to the Lord in prayer.  We bring our own friends, family members and relations to the Lord in prayer, but sometimes it seems difficult for us to believe that God is truly listening to us, almost as though we have to fight through the obstacles that keep us at a distance from him.  It takes some creativity and a bit of patience for us to realize that the bonds of trust between us and Jesus are indeed intact, even if it might seem that our prayers are not answered right away.

Those friends had to be creative in order to get close to Jesus, to present their prayers to him, and so must we.  If we ourselves have doubts about whether Jesus will hear our prayers, let us ask him to strengthen our ability to persist.  With the gift of persistence in our prayer, we can be creative in our approaches when we come to Him, and we can find it within ourselves never to give up until we succeed in speaking with Him about our deepest desires.

Have a great day.

His Word Today: A striking encounter

Good morning everyone,

Today's gospel passage (Mk 1:40-45) is a story of great courage and of the welcoming and loving heart of our God.  A leper came to Jesus and knelt before him (Mk 1:40).  This would have been an act of great courage on the part of the leper.  Notice that Mark does not give us the name of the leper.  Lepers were considered to be unclean, less than worthy of attention.  For this person to place himself before Jesus was to place himself under the watchful eyes of all those who were gathered around Jesus ... and they would have been watching with very judgemental presumptions.

Regardless of what others thought, the leper came to Jesus and made a declaration of faith: If you wish, you can make me clean.  What about us?  Have we known times when we have had questions we would have loved to ask ... either of God or of someone else, but questions which we are too afraid to ask?  Have we ever been so concerned about what others might think that we choose silence rather than to speak our own truth?

Jesus was moved with pity (Mk 1:41) for the condition of the leper and responded immediately by stretching out his hand, touching the leper and saying to him: 'I do will it, be made clean'.

If only we could muster the courage to come to the Lord, to kneel before him and to ask for what we truly desire, he would always welcome us with the same warmth and open heart.  He will always respond to us in the same way as he spoke with the leper that day: I do will it ... Jesus wants us to come to him.  He wants us to enjoy a trusting and loving relationship with him.  He wants us to ask our questions and he is always willing to give us that which will be good for us, that which will lead us to places and situations where he can use us to touch the hearts of those who are in need.

Have a great day.

His Word Today: Walk and talk

Good morning everyone,

Today's gospel passage (Mk 1:29-39) shows us that Jesus didn't just talk the talk; he also walked the walk.  He had taught the people in the synagogue with authority.  His words caught their attention, but even more than his words, his actions made them stop and pay attention.

Even when he left the synagogue after having addressed the crowd, he continued to teach, but this time through his actions: he went to visit the home of Simon and Andrew and healed Simon's mother-in-law who was there, suffering (cf Mk 1:30-31).  Later that day, they brought to him all who were ill or possessed by demons and he cured many who were sick (Mk 1:32, 34).  Jesus shows us the importance not only of remaining focused on him, but allowing him to teach us - by his own words and example - how to put our faith into action.

How do we learn to follow in his footsteps?  The answer is to do as he did: Rising very early before dawn, he left and went off to a deserted place, where he prayed (Mk 1:35).  We too must find time every day for prayer.  It doesn't have to be a long time but it is important that we take time to be present to Jesus and to allow him to be present to us.  When we do, we will be more and more aware of the ways in which he wants to use us as his instruments so that through us, He can bring healing and restore peace.

Another sign that the work we do is not ours but His is the fact that Jesus never sought rewards or recognition from human beings in response to the miracles he performed.  We too should not seek after rewards or recognition in response to the acts of kindness that we offer to others.  Instead, we should always be willing to do as he did: to go to nearby villages - even to the peripheries of civilization - so that Christ's gospel can be preached there too (cf Mk 1:38).

Have a great day.

His Word Today: Always something new

Good morning everyone,

The gospel passage for today's liturgy tells us that Jesus came to Capernaum along with his disciples, and on the sabbath he entered the synagogue and taught (Mk 1:21).  Someone new had arrived.  I can just imagine that everyone who was gathered that day for prayers was eager to hear what he had to say.

Have you ever noticed that when someone new comes to visit there is excitement in the air and we want to listen to what that person has to say?  If the person is interesting, all the better.  In the case of Jesus, the people were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority ... (Mk 1:22).  How fortunate those people were ... and how fortunate we are too.  The words of scripture are alive and because they are living words, they always have something new, something fresh to say.  That means that every time we read the words of scripture, we need to listen carefully and closely so that Jesus - who is speaking through them - can speak something fresh, something new to us.

The people were astonished at his teaching, and so can we, every time we hear his words!  Today, let us pray for the grace to listen afresh to the words that Jesus speaks, through the scriptures and in our prayer.  Let us dare to allow ourselves to be surprised by what we hear, and always ready to say yes to whatever he should ask of us.

Have a great day.

His Word Today: the Baptism of the Lord

Good morning everyone,

Today, the Church in Canada and the United States are observing the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord.  The gospel passage proposed for today's liturgy places us with John on the shores of the river Jordan.  Try to picture the scene: John is standing in the river and one by one, people are coming to him, asking to be baptized, as a sign of repentance for their sins, a new beginning.  John knew that there was one mightier than he who was coming  ... that he was not worthy even to stoop and loosen the thongs of his sandals (Mk 1:7).

The story gets even more intriguing: It happened in those days that Jesus came ... and was baptized in the Jordan by John (Mk 1:9).  What a humbling thought: Jesus - who was without sin - stood in line and waited his turn so that he could be baptized by John as a sign of repentance for sin ... and as he came out of the water, he saw the heavens being torn open, the Spirit - like a dove - descending upon him, and heard a voice from heaven say 'You are my son, my beloved' (Mk 7:10-11).

In his Angelus address yesterday, the Holy Father reminded us that this Feast of the Baptism of the Lord is an invitation for all of us to remember our own Baptism.  Perhaps we are fortunate enough to remember that day, but if we were children at the time, perhaps we can only remember the date when it happened.  it is important for us to keep this memory alive for it was on that day that we were first blessed by God, the day when we became part of the family of faith.  This was the day when the Father gave us the gift of the Holy Spirit and it is the Holy Spirit that spurs us on every day, helping us to live our faith in the world.  May the Holy Spirit continue to help us always to share the gift of our faith with those we meet.

Have a great day.

A time for gifts

In various parts of the world, different days are designated during the months of December and January for the giving of gifts.  December 6: the Feast day of Saint Nicholas, December 25: Christmas day and January 6: the Feast of the Epiphany of the Lord are the most well-known among them.  Each has developed this tradition for a variety of historical reasons.  Today, I want to focus on the third one: the Epiphany.

Tradition teaches us that the Magi were most probably members of the Persian priestly caste of Zoroastraianism from the lands of Persia located East of Judea and Syria.  Known especially for their aptitude with astrology, they came in search of the child who was born king of the Jews ... for they had observed his star at its rising and had come to pay him homage (Mt 2:2).  In fact, Saint Matthew says that they followed that star and it led them to the place where the child was (Mt 2:9).  When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy (Mt 2:10) and entered the place where they found the infant Jesus, knelt before him and presented him with treasures that they had brought with them from the Orient.  Saint Matthew tells us that these treasures were gold, frankincense and myrrh (cf Mt 2:11).

Like the visit of the shepherds, this visit too can teach us a few things about the person of Jesus and how we can do him homage.  First, when they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy (Mt 2:10).  Joy is one of the gifts that we receive when we too visit the manger and gaze upon the face of the infant Jesus.  This is a divine gift that fills our hearts with elation.

Second, the Magi entered the place and knelt before the newborn king.  The act of kneeling has long been recognized as an act of recognition of kingship.  This is the reason why even today when we come into the presence of the Lord in the Blessed Sacrament, we kneel or genuflect.

Third, they presented him with treasures.  The prophet Isaiah says: they will bring gold and frankincense and shall proclaim the praise of the Lord (Is 60:6).  Gold was a gift traditionally presented to kings; frankincense, which is high-quality incense derived from tree resin, has traditionally been burned as a symbol of the Divine name of God (cf Malachi 1:11); and Saint Matthew adds a third gift – myrrh (Mt 2:11). Oil extracted from myrrh was among the spices used to prepare Jesus crucified body for burial (cf Jn 19:39).

The gifts offered that day were of exceeding value, gifts fit for a king, gifts worthy of God himself, gifts that foretold his self-giving sacrifice.  The Magi brought these highly significant gifts and laid them at the feet of the child and his parents.  Even though they may not have understood their significance at the time, Mary and Joseph pondered these truths as well.  What they perceived that day as mystery has been made known to us as well (cf Eph 2:3), and for this reason we too have learned the joyous news of Christ’s birth.  We celebrate it by bringing our own gifts and talents to the newborn child, laying them at his feet and allowing him to use them each day so that his will and not ours is accomplished.

Learn to ponder

Another new year is upon us and once again, this new beginning brings with it an opportunity for us to start afresh.  As we look backward over the past year, can we identify occasions or circumstances for which we are thankful?  If we dare to look ahead, what hopes and dreams appear on the horizon?

New Year’s Day is celebrated in the Church as the Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God.  Our divine mother can help us to set out on the right foot as we begin the next leg of our journey in faith.

In the stable, where she had just given birth, Mary received some curious visitors.  These were not the kings and established rulers of the day; instead these were shepherds, people who were often seen from afar but people with whom few others would dare to associate.  What did she think when she heard them knocking?  She probably didn’t have the strength to turn them away.  And as they recounted their experience of meeting the angelic choirs, perhaps on the outside she smiled politely, but on the inside, Saint Luke tells us that all those who heard the shepherds speak were amazed at what they said (Lk 2:18).

Perhaps we have known what it’s like to be amazed by news that is shared by someone else, but how often do we actually choose to treasure these words and ponder them in our hearts (Lk 2:19)?  This is the wisdom that Mary shares with us today.

Life does not just happen around us.  If we look through the lens of faith, we will soon see that God is all around us, using the events of every day life to reach out to us and to speak to us about his plan for us.  In fact, we have gathered here today because when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son (Gal 4:4) into the world so that we might all realize the fact that we are sons and daughters of God (cf Gal 4:6).  This truth too is worth pondering in the depths of our hearts.

If we were to learn how to ponder the significance of life’s events in our hearts like Mary did, perhaps we too might see life in a different way.  In fact, we might even look to God at the beginning of this new year and ask him to bless us and keep us, to make his face to shine upon us and be gracious to us in the coming months, to look lovingly upon us and to grant us the gift of his peace (cf Num 6:24-27).