His Word Today: Incurable

Good morning everyone,

A long time ago, I heard it said that a cold will last for seven days if it is treated - and a week if it is not.  Why then does it happen that people get colds that seem to go on forever?  Are there that many viruses flying through the air?  When we have one of those colds, it can seem that there is no cure.  Admittedly, that might have something to do with a compromised immunity system, but even more serious are situations where no matter what we seem to do, our faith is always weak, even to the point of suffering.

Jeremiah says that this wound is incurable (cf Jer 30:12) but there is still hope because God recognizes the fact that human beings are frail: that no matter how good our intentions might be, there is a part of us that only He can heal.

Perhaps it is a grace for us to recognize and to admit to the fact that we are incurable.  There is nothing that we can do or say that will earn us favour with God, and often it is only when we recognize our own weakness that we are able to grasp God's true strength.  It is only when we recognize our own woundedness that we can come to understand the fact that our God is the master physician.  It is only when we admit to ourselves - and to God - that we are lost and need help that we begin to comprehend the depth of his words: You shall be my people and I will be your God (Jer 30:22) ... always!

Have a great day.

His Word Today: Transfiguration

Good morning everyone,

Today, we celebrate the Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord.  Saint Mark recounts the details of that wonderful day when Jesus took Peter, James and his brother John, and led them up a high mountain apart by themselves (Mk 9:2).  I've been up that mountain and I can attest to the fact that it's not an easy climb.  In fact, these days, tourists are transported aboard a series of mini buses to the top of that mountain and when you get there, you truly feel as though you are apart from everything else that is going on in the world.

On that mountaintop, those three disciples were witnesses to something truly extraordinary: Jesus was transfigured before them and his clothes became dazzling white ... then Elijah appeared to them along with Moses and they conversed with Jesus (Mk 9:3-4).  Miraculous things happened there: three human beings were able to gaze on eternal beings; the connection and continuity between the teachings of Elijah, Moses and Jesus were emphasized; and the disciples got a sneak peak at the glory of heaven.  Later, as they were coming down the mountain, Jesus told them not to tell anyone about what they had seen there until the Son of Man had risen from the dead (cf Mk 9:10).

The details of the conversations that these three disciples must have had with their other companions are not recorded in the bible, but we can imagine how it all played out, perhaps in the Upper Room on the day of the Resurrection.  With the doors closed, they may have finally been able to tell the others about what they had heard and seen at the top of that mountain: how they had been filled with exceeding joy, how they had wanted to put up three tents (cf Mk 9:5) so that they could stay there for awhile, how they never wanted that moment to end.

Perhaps we too have experienced such mountaintop moments: as we have held a new-born baby, in the arms of a loved one or as we have witnessed the moment of physical death.  When we get glimpses of heaven, we never want them to end ... but they do come to an end because the task of one who has seen heaven in this way is to share the good news that we have learned so that others may come to believe.

Have a great day.

Food for body and soul

A number of years ago, I was invited to work with a group of Christian faith leaders to organize an outdoor faith gathering.  One of the first planning meetings took place early in the morning – a breakfast meeting.  We began by talking about the importance of such gatherings: people from various Christian faith traditions don’t always gather to pray together, so this was a significant moment indeed.  At one point, after we had discussed the significance of this gathering, someone said that we should pray, asking God to provide everything that we needed for this endeavour to be successful, and so we did ... then someone else observed: We should make a list of the people we need to contact, any reservations of space that need to be done, advertising that has to be done, etc.  In other words, we can’t always rely on God to provide for our needs if we’re not willing to do our part too.

We see evidence of this in today’s first reading.  The Israelites have been freed from slavery in Egypt and led into the Promised Land, but even there, they are not happy.  The problem was that they had not yet realized the need to ask God for what they wanted.  Instead they just murmured among themselves and misdirected their anger toward Moses and Aaron: If only we had died ... in the land of Egypt ... but you have brought us out into the wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger (Ex 16:3).

The same was true of the crowds who followed Jesus.  They knew that they wanted bread, but they did not truly understand the significance of the bread that Jesus gave.  Instead, they kept looking for more signs (cf Jn 6:30).

Have we ever found ourselves in such situations: asking God for help, but unaware of the fact that we too need to contribute our talents in order to find solutions to the situations that challenge us, or somehow expecting that God will provide us with some kind of magical response to our prayer?

Like the Israelites in the desert, like the crowds who went to Capernaum looking for Jesus (Jn 6:24), we too need to do our part.  First, whenever we encounter a challenge, it might help to look at it not in a negative light but rather to try seeing it as an opportunity.  If we are able to train ourselves not to see life as a series of negative experiences but rather as possibilities for positive outcomes, we will also be able to set out in search of Jesus, and we will also be able to recognize the signs that he provides: the true bread from heaven that our Father provides for us (cf Jn 6:32), his constant presence, his support and his love that strengthens our resolve to be his disciples day after day.

It was because Saint Paul had encountered the Lord, and because his heart and soul had been nourished by the presence of the Lord that he was able to advise the early Christians living in Ephesus: put away your former way of life ... and be renewed in the spirit of your minds ... clothe yourselves with Christ (Eph 4:22-24).  Let this be our prayer this week.  Amen.

His Word Today: Saint John Vianney

The incorrupt body of Saint John Mary Vianney
above the main altar in the Basilica at Ars, France

Good morning everyone,

Today, the Church celebrates the Memorial of Saint Jean-Marie-Baptiste Vianney, TOSF (Third Order Franciscan) who is known in English as Saint John Vianney.  He is also referred to as the Curé d'Ars (in reference to the parish in Eastern France where he served as pastor for most of his life).  Born on 8 May 1786 in the town of Dardilly (not far from Lyon), John was the fourth of six children born to Mathieu and Marie (Belize) Vianney who were devout Catholics and who often gave assistance to the poor.

By 1890, the anticlerical attitude which was part of the French Revolution (1789-1799) forced many loyal priests to hide from the regime in order to continue ministering to the faithful.  Despite the danger, the Vianney family often travelled to distant farms in order to attend Masses celebrated by priests on the run.  John realized that these priests were risking their lives every day and began to look on them as heroes.

Religious peace was reestablished in 1802 but it wasn't until John was 20 years old that his father allowed him to leave home in order to pursue an education (which included arithmetic, history, geography and Latin).  He struggled with the studies but persevered because of his ardent desire to be a priest.  In the end, despite having had his studies interrupted due to an army draft (which he managed to avoid), he continued formation and was ordained a priest on 12 August 1815.

In 1818, he was appointed as pastor of the little church in the town of Ars where he lived for the remainder of his life.  The aftermath of the French Revolution had resulted in religious ignorance and indifference among the people, so he had to work all the harder to instruct them and to show them by his own example the importance of a relationship with God, with Jesus, with Mary and with the Saints.

His reputation spread throughout France and beyond.  As early as 1827, people travelled extensively in order to consult with him.  By 1855, the number of pilgrims reached 20,000 per year, and he spent between 16-18 hours a day (in summer months) in the confessional.  In winter months, due to the cold, he reduced this length to 11 or 12 hours a day.

Saint John Vianney died on 4 August 1859 at the age of 73.  There were 300 priests and more than 6,000 people present at his funeral.  On 3 October 1874, Pope Pius IX proclaimed him Venerable and began his cause for Canonization.  On 8 January 1905, Pope Pius X declared him Blessed and proposed him as a model for all parish priests.  In 1925, it was Pope Pius XI who canonized him and who - in 1929 - made him patron saint of parish priests.

Let us ask him to pray for our priests, that the Lord will inspire them to be fervent servants and that He will continue to prepare the hearts of many young men to hear his call ... come, follow me (cf Mt 4:19).

Have a great day.

His Word Today: Listen

Good morning everyone,

Today, the scriptures place us with the prophet Jeremiah in the court of the house of the Lord where he speaks to the people.  The words he speaks were meant for them to hear, but it is also good for us to hear them as well.  The Lord instructed Jeremiah: whatever I command you, tell them, and omit nothing (Jer 26:2).

Every day, the Lord longs to speak with us, to instruct our hearts and our souls and to demonstrate his tender love for us, but He can only do that if we are willing to listen - as Saint Benedict once said, with the inner ear of the heart.  In our prayer, we need to learn to listen with the inner ear of our hearts so that we can hear the Lord's voice.

If we have already established this discipline, we know how fruitful it can be; if not, let us set a resolve to begin listening for the Lord's voice today.  He will always speak the words we need to hear: words of encouragement when our hearts are desolate, words of challenge when we go astray, and most of all, words of love to gladden our hearts.

Have a great day.

His Word Today: Saint Eusebius

Good morning everyone,

Today, we celebrate the liturgical Memorial of Saint Eusebius, who was born in Sardinia (Italy) in the third century (283 AD).  This was a very difficult time to be a Christian because the Roman Emperors were persecuting Christians, putting them to death.  However, the blood of martyrdom has always (and continues to) watered the faith of Christianity and made it more fervent.

Eusebius' father suffered a martyr's death in Sardinia and then his mother took him to Rome where he was eventually ordained a priest and later was appointed as Bishop of Vercelli (in the Piedmont region of northern Italy) where he lived with the other clergy, devoting his best energies to forming them in piety and zeal.  In this way, he reminded them by word and example that we are all like clay in the hands of the potter (Jer 18:6), constantly being formed into the people we are meant to be.

Today, let us ask this holy man to pray with and for us so that we too may allow the Spirit of God to form us into the faithful disciples God intends us to be.

Have a great day.

His Word Today: Saint Alphonsus Liguori

Good morning everyone,

Today we celebrate the liturgical Memorial of Saint Alphonsus Liguori, the founder of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer (known as the Redemptorists).  Born in 1696 in Marianella, not far from Naples (Italy).  Nearsighted and suffering from asthma, he could not pursue the military career he first wanted, so his father had him educated and prepared for the legal profession.  He eventually earned doctorates in both civil and canon law.

At the age of 18, Alphonsus joined the Confraternity of Our Lady of Mercy; with others who were part of this brotherhood, he helped to care for the sick at the hospital for incurables while enjoying a successful legal career.  He did however recognize that the legal profession was too full of difficulties and dangers at at the age of 27, he made a firm resolution to leave the legal profession.

In 1723, he wanted to offer himself as a novice to the Oratory of Saint Philip Neri where he could prepare for priesthood, but his father was opposed to this plan.  Eventually, after a few months had passed, he and his father reached a compromise: Alphonsus could prepare for priesthood but lived at home.  He was ordained a priest on 21 December 1726.  His first years of priesthood were spent among the homeless and marginalized youth of Naples.  He founded the Evening Chapels, centres of prayer and piety, preaching, community, social activities and education which were managed by the young people themselves.

On 9 November 1732, he founded the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer with the charism of preaching popular missions in the city and throughout the countryside, teaching and preaching in slums and other poor places.  In this way he helped the poor to discover the Lord's words and to devour them so that they became the joy and happiness of their hearts (Jer 15:16).

Alphonsus went on to become a renowned Bishop, serving as the pastoral leader of the Church of Sant'Agata dei Goti from 1762 until his retirement in 1775.  He lived for two more years in the Redemptorist community in Pagani (Italy) where he died in 1787.

Beatified on 15 September 1816, and canonized on 26 May 1839, he continues to intercede for all of us, and to instruct us still.

Have a great day.