Are you willing to accept that retreat can be the better form of valor from time to time? - Daily Reflections October 31, 2015

MENTAL GYMNASTICS OF PAUL

 

We all come across difficult issues and problems in our lives, some of which have no solution per se. We just have to learn to live with certain imperfections, whether our own or those of another person. The same is true in our faith.

       Paul tries in many different ways to reconcile in his mind the failure of most of the Jews to accept and recognize the Messiah for which God had been preparing them for about 2,000 years, but he simply could not do it. There is no easy answer to this dilemma. The answer resides at least partially in the mystery of the nature of free will.

       Paul clearly loves the Jewish people even though he will spend most of his ministry preaching to the Gentiles. He wants the Jews to be saved but he is not going to bang his head against a brick wall forever. If the Jews do not want to accept the Gospel, then he will take it to the Gentiles and try to shame them into faith in Jesus Christ. A good idea if it works, but it does not.

       I think Paul would have eventually reconciled himself to the place of free will in the economy of salvation, and while I am sure he continued to hope and pray for the conversion of the Jews, he was quite happy to direct his attention to the Gentiles for their salvation. We see that he always gives the Jews a chance to respond by going first to the synagogue in the town he preaches. But if there is no response there, he quickly shifts his focus to the market place and the many Gentiles therein.

       May we always have the good sense to know when we cannot find the answer to a particular problem and allow the Spirit to lead us where we need to go next. Fr. Steve Tynan, MGL

 

REFLECTION QUESTION: Are you willing to accept that retreat can be the better form of valor from time to time?

 

Holy Spirit, lead me in Your ways of truth and love. Help me to persevere and to know when it is time to shift my focus from the undoable tasks that often crop up in life.

 

Reflect on your encounters with Jesus. How do you cultivate a vibrant relationship with Him? - Daily Reflections October 30,2015

THE GREATEST ANGUISH OF ALL

 

In these next three chapters, Paul is anguished by be the greatest unsolvable problem of all time. Why did most of the Jews, and in particular the leaders of the faith, reject Jesus as the Messiah? This issue both puzzles Paul and causes him great worry as he cannot bear to see anyone from the faith of his childhood lost. Yet this is a reality that confronts believers of all generations and all faiths. Why do some people choose to reject what is to you the most self-evident of all truths? Perhaps it is a bit ingenuous of Paul to wonder about this question too much because he was not the most straightforward of conversion cases.

     For me, the key to a vibrant Christian faith is one’s personal experience of God. If an encounter with Jesus at the affective level of our being is lacking, then it is not surprising that a vibrant faith in God is also lacking. How can one ensure a strong and affective experience of God in the life of another person? You simply cannot enforce this upon another person. The very nature of our faith demands that the individual chooses it willingly. Paul’s anguish will not be lessened by this understanding; however, we are challenged to look for the most effective ways of making our Gospel proclamation as affective as possible.

       We need to avoid emotionalism, as this is the kind of response to God that is here today and will be gone tomorrow. Our emotions need to be awakened in our encounter with Jesus, but only insofar as they serve to deepen our encounter with Jesus and not control it. It is our minds and hearts that ultimately have to be won over to the truth of the Gospel. It is in choosing Jesus in a reasoned and  reflective manner that we will be saved. Fr. Steve Tynan, MGL

 

REFLECTION QUESTIONS: Reflect on your encounters with Jesus. How do you cultivate a vibrant relationship with Him?

 

Holy Spirit, help me to engage my emotions in my faith so as to deepen my relationship with God and make it more real to me and to those who experience it with me.

What is your attitude to life in the world and to a life lived for the sake of the Kingdom of God? - Daily Reflections October 29,2015

THE POWER OF FAITH

 

Paul knows how to string a few words together such that they create their own momentum. Chapter 8 of his Letter to the Romans is a fine example of this. At the end of the chapter, we have this wonderful litany of the power of faith when we surrender to it. The more I read this text, the more I get caught up in the excitement and experience of Paul as he lives his Christian conversion. And this shines through in his writings and gives it added effectiveness.

       St. Paul clearly knows what it means to have his life changed by an encounter with Jesus. The great thing about this is that he will make sure that everyone knows about it. It is Paul’s commitment to being faithful to share the Gospel that impels Peter and the other disciples to go into mission with the Gentiles. Without this impetus, Christianity may have remained a small enclave within the Jewish religion. In reality it has become the largest religion — by number — in the world.

       Paul really does not care what happens to him as he knows for sure that any time spent here is nothing compared to the time that will be spent with God (or without Him) in eternity. It is this perspective that we need to gain as it will motivate us to live out the fullness of the gift of grace from God. He will not be content until he has said yes to the transforming power of God’s grace.

       Let us never stop reaching out to God until we are sure that we have received the fullness of grace that He offers to His people. Fr. Steve Tynan, MGL

 

REFLECTION QUESTIONS: What is your attitude to life in the world and to a life lived for the sake of the Kingdom of God? What do you struggle most in following God’s will?

 

Holy Spirit, awaken in me the truth of the Gospel. Awaken in my heart, through my life experiences, the truth of Your love for me.

When did you last ask God about His thoughts on your planned action? Do you constantly communicate with Him through prayer? - Daily Reflections October 28,2015

THE FIRST WI-FI COMMUNICATION   Sometimes the Church is considered to be very slow to adapt to modern developments and ways of communication. In the case of Wi-Fi, it is the world that has taken thousands of years to catch up with the Church. The Church and the Jewish people before Her have been praying to God with success for thousands of years, yet it is only in the last decade or so that Wi-Fi has really taken off in the world. One of the problems with the world’s adoption of Wi-Fi technology is that it seems to have distracted us from our need for prayer in our lives.        Jesus demonstrates that even the Son of God needs to put time aside for prayer. We often see Him prioritizing prayer for Himself and encouraging His disciples to do the same. We need to give a similar priority to prayer. Generally speaking, the less time we seem to have for prayer, the more important it is for us to pray. The busier we are, the more we should pray so as to ensure that we are placing everything that we do under the guidance and grace of the Holy Spirit.        Jesus knows this is the day when He will call to Himself His Apostles — the men who will become His closest collaborators in the ministry of the Gospel, the men who will continue the work when He has returned to His Father in heaven. This is a serious event in His ministerial life and so He wants it guided by prayer. He wants to make extra sure that His choices are aligned with the Father’s will.        How often do we act without even considering that God may have an opinion or a word of guidance regarding our planned action? Don’t you think it might be a good idea to hear what He has to say?        The best thing about God’s Wi-Fi is that we know it does not have to be powered by signal from a service provider and it is totally free. Why don’t we take advantage of the guidance of the Holy Spirit whenever we can? Fr. Steve Tynan, MGL   REFLECTION QUESTION: When did you last ask God about His thoughts on your planned action? Do you constantly communicate with Him through prayer?   Jesus, help me to take advantage of Your wisdom made available to me through prayer. Help me to listen to the guiding voice of the Holy Spirit in my life.

How do you see suffering in your life? Do you have the eyes to see the way that God is using your suffering to advance the work of His Kingdom? - Daily Reflections October 27,2015

THE PARADOX OF THE RESURRECTION   Living a Christian life involves embracing a paradox — we are redeemed. But we live in the midst of “unredemption.” We have been saved by Jesus’ life, death and resurrection but we are yet to experience it definitively. There is always the possibility that we might renounce our faith, but I hope this does not happen. We live in a world full of suffering and pain, yet preach a Gospel of joy and hope. This mixture of experiences is the reality of the Christian life. It is not wrong; it is simply that the fullness of the power of the resurrection has not yet penetrated to the depths of our lives.        We live in the in-between times — Jesus having accomplished the work of salvation but has not yet returned to bring to an end the suffering of the world. This is an environment ripe for the Gospel — the neediness of the world being the perfect setting for a message of hope and love. This is why our witness as disciples of Jesus is of so much importance. It is through the witness of our love for one another and our commitment to follow the will of God that we bring the message of hope — one that the world needs to see, hear and understand.        The trials that go with this are a part of the inbreaking of the Good News into the life of the world and offering the opportunity of  transformation. It is this opportunity to which we must witness to, and to which we must be faithful to, if the Gospel is going to be proclaimed without compromise to men and women. As disciples of Jesus, our communities of faith have both the privilege and responsibility of making the Good News of Christ known to all.        Discipleship is a constant task and joy. It will involve suffering for the sake of the Gospel and so we should not be surprised when we are misunderstood and persecuted. Suffering is a sure sign that the work of redemption is happening, so it can be seen as a good thing in that respect. Fr. Steve Tynan, MGL   REFLECTION QUESTION: How do you see suffering in your life? Do you have the eyes to see the way that God is using your suffering to advance the work of His Kingdom?   Holy Spirit, open my eyes and heart to see and understand how You work in my life so that I will embrace more God’s call for me.

Do you seek the comforts of the flesh in your life? Or are you aware of the trickery of the flesh and develop strategies to combat it? - Daily Reflections October 26,2015

LIFE OF THE FLESH OR THE SPIRIT?   How many times has your alarm clock gone off and you simply rolled over and went back to sleep even though you knew that you need to get up and do a number of important things that day?        This is precisely the dynamic that is always at work in our faith lives.  Many times, we are faced with the choice of approaching a situation through the grace of faith or in the “non-grace” of the flesh. The attraction of the flesh is usually strong and insistent; that of grace is often drowned out by the attractions of the world and the flesh. We have to learn how to recognize and avail of the moments of grace in our lives in order to put to death the ways of the flesh that can never lead us to true and lasting fulfillment.        Paul has experienced this in his own life. He was once a persecutor of Christians when he lived under the power of the flesh and under his own wisdom and power. Once he met Jesus, he knew everything had to change. The Christian life is the constant choice to die to the ways and attractions of the flesh and the world and to embrace the truth that is encapsulated in the life and values of the Kingdom of God.        We can never let down our guard against the flesh (that is, roll over and dream of the extra couple of minutes of lying in bed that too often turns into a much longer time) because when we allow it to have control over us, we will be led along paths of destruction and frustration rather than beauty and fulfillment.        It is not an easy road to follow but it is a necessary one if we want our faith and relationship with God to grow. Let us always choose the way of the Spirit of God and never the path of the flesh. Fr. Steve Tynan, MGL   REFLECTION QUESTIONS: Do you seek the comforts of the flesh in your life? Or are you aware of the trickery of the flesh and develop strategies to combat it?   Father, You desire the best for me. Help me to learn how to live under the grace of the Spirit and to deny the flesh any hold in my life.

What was the last risk you took in your relationship with Jesus? Are you willing to take risks in order to grow in faith? - Daily Reflections October 25, 2015

LIFE IS FULL OF RISKS

 

Life is an adventure. Even more so if we live with faith and trust in God. We never know where the next step of faith is going to lead us when we follow Jesus. When Bartimaeus cries out to Jesus, asking Him to heal his blindness, he takes a great risk. What if Jesus refuses to do so? What if his faith is insufficient to entrust himself to the healing power of God? We could ask risky questions in every decision we make. When a man asks a woman to marry him, he takes the risk of rejection. When we go for a job interview, we likewise risk not being chosen for the job.

       Life is full of risks. If we run away from things because we are scared of the possible outcomes, then we will never live our lives fully.

       Jesus wants to assure us that He will never abandon us and He will always provide the necessary grace when we follow Him. In today’s Gospel, Bartimaeus has enough faith and trust that Jesus would heal him. The people are afraid for him, but not Bartimaeus himself. He only shouts all the more when it seems that Jesus has not heard him. This gives us a sense of the urgency in Bartimaeus’ request. Perhaps he sees Jesus as the last chance for him to have a full and productive life.

       What we see in Jesus is enormous compassion that changes the hearts of the people around Bartimaeus. You can sense the crowd’s anticipation of the healing. This miracle, like all other miracles, is designed for the purpose of building up our faith. Two thousand years after it happened, the story can still increase our faith as we meditate upon it. This is the nature of the Gospel — it allows us to reflect on the truth of God’s love for His people.

       As we reflect on the Gospel today, let us allow it to draw us into a deeper faith — one that imitates Bartimaeus’s faith — a faith that can heal the unhealable, a faith that can save a sinner from his or her sins. Fr. Steve Tynan, MGL

 

REFLECTION QUESTIONS: What was the last risk you took in your relationship with Jesus? Are you willing to take risks in order to grow in faith?

 

Holy Spirit, never allow me to despair and give up no matter how difficult a struggle may be. May I always give you the opportunity to work miracles in and through my life.

Do you sometimes experience defeat in battles against sin? - Daily Reflections October 23,2015

THE ANGUISH OF TRYING TO SUCCEED

 

I am sure that we have all experienced the anguish of knowing what to do in a particular situation but not knowing how to do it. This powerlessness to do what we should do is very frustrating, probably even more so when it comes to our struggle with sin. The question I would like to examine is whether or not this is a truly Christian experience or not.

       The Gospel reveals that Jesus has won the battle over sin and given us His victory through the sacrament of baptism. Thus, if we truly appropriate and live the reality of our baptism, we should experience His victory over sin. The experience of defeat in the battle against sin and its various powers is not a truly Christian experience per se; it is an experience of the degree to which our lives remain unredeemed and outside the domain of God’s grace. What this tells us is that there is still a long way to go in our acceptance

and appropriation of the gift of salvation.

       The dialogue of the seventh chapter of Paul’s Letter to the Romans is the cry of a person undergoing conversion — taking to heart the truth of the Gospel and allowing the it to reform his attitudes and dispositions. The truth is that we are always being  redeemed. Yes, Jesus has accomplished the gift of redemption when He died and rose from the dead; however, learning how to fully appropriate this enormous gift is a lifelong adventure for us. We cannot rest in following Jesus and doing His will. When we let our guard down against sin, it will take advantage of us. The only way to overcome the power of sin and our attachment to it is by surrendering fully to the work of the grace of the Gospel — something that we will have to do for the rest of our lives. Fr. Steve Tynan, MGL

 

REFLECTION QUESTIONS: Do you sometimes experience defeat in battles against sin?

 

How can you surrender your life more fully to the grace and power of God? Holy Spirit, help me to desire to surrender all to You in my faith walk such that I will be able to defeat sin and its powers more and more each day.

Do you experience the fullness of the power of the Gospel at work in your life? If not, why not? - Daily Reflections October 22,2015

NO DOUBTS

 

I love reading the letters of St. Paul because you know precisely where he stands on every issue. He does not beat around the bush or try to please anyone by compromising his stand. No, he says it how he sees it, and it is very refreshing to hear the Gospel spoken of in such a way. I think the Church today could do with a lot more simple and straightforward preaching of the truth, rather than to try and accommodate society’s every little whim and quirk.

       The greatest disservice we can do to someone when proclaiming the Gospel is to fail to communicate its truth in the simple manner that Scriptures present it to us. The Gospel is simple in its truth and application to our lives. God has created us as wonderful and beautiful beings; we have chosen to sin and damage the beauty of His creation. God has chosen to repair the damage by sending His Son, Jesus, to die for us on the cross. God the Father has raised Jesus from the dead, demonstrating that sin and death no longer have the power to enslave us. We are invited to share in this victory over sin through faith in Christ. We have been empowered by the Holy Spirit, another gift from both the Father and the Son, to live as disciples of Jesus. This is not a complicated reality to understand in its fundamental state.

       Living the Gospel is always going to be a challenge as it will rest on our willingness to surrender all to Jesus. He is the source of our power in living Christian lives. It is through faith that He offers us that we become His disciples and are able to fully witness to the Gospel with our lives. The daily battle of faith is precisely that — a battle to stay faithful to God’s call as a disciple and to keep our hearts and minds fixed on the person of Jesus, not the distractions and attractions of the world in which we live. Fr. Steve Tynan, MGL

 

REFLECTION QUESTIONS: Do you understand the Gospel in its essence? Do you experience the fullness of the power of the Gospel at work in your life? If not, why not?

 

Jesus, You have saved me from sin and death and I will forever be grateful to You for this. Please help me to live in the power of the Gospel in my daily life.

Do you have a defeatist attitude towards sin and temptation? Or are you always victorious when sin comes knocking at your door? - Daily Reflections October 21, 2015

THE CHOICE IS YOURS TO MAKE

 

One day I was repairing some wooden frames that my dad used in catching oysters. I was banging away with a hammer when my uncle asked me a weird question, “Hey, Steve, have you only bought half the handle of your hammer? Is the rest on lay-buy or something?” I told him that dad had bought the hammer a few years ago, and asked him what he meant by his question. He then told me that I was not maximizing the hammer’s use because I was holding it half-way along the handle. I was limiting the full length of the swing of the handle and its power. He demonstrated that he could easily bang a nail through the wood with a tap and two solid thumps. It had been taking me five or six thumps to get a nail in. I suddenly understood what he was saying after a few sore thumbs. I was able to swing the hammer properly and I halved the time it took me to repair the frames.

       The problem with most Christians is that we do not understand the power that is available to us through the cross and resurrection of Jesus. We receive this grace at our baptism (usually as infants) but no one ever seems to get around to catechizing us properly as to the true meaning of entering into the death and resurrection of Christ through this sacrament.

       We have been given the power to banish sin from our lives. Yes, temptation will always knock at our door, but sin has no more power over us than we allow it to have, because Christ has defeated sin (and death) on His cross. We need to take hold of this victory every day and use it to ensure that we grow in holiness and not in sin.

       The choice is ours — if we do not understand it fully, then it is time for us to demand that the priests of the Church explain it to us properly. Fr. Steve Tynan, MGL

 

REFLECTION QUESTIONS: Do you have a defeatist attitude towards sin and temptation? Or are you always victorious when sin comes knocking at your door?

 

Holy Spirit, help me to understand the full effect of the sacrament of baptism in my life so that I can live under its grace, free from the powers of sin, every day of my life.

Do you tend to get depressed by the power that sin seems to have over your life? - Daily Reflections October 20,2015

OVERCOMING SIN

 

The text from today’s First Reading is what some theologians believe as the basis of St. Augustine’s development of the doctrine of Original Sin. Was this the intention of St. Augustine when he commented on Romans 5? I think not. Was it the intention of St. Paul when he wrote the letter? I am even more convinced that it was not. Does this mean that the doctrine of Original Sin is incorrect? Most scholars would agree that we need to be careful to correctly situate whatever sense of “Original Sin” that may be present in Romans 5. The emphasis is not really on Original Sin but that the grace of God that combats sin in the world is much more powerful than sin. The focus is not the power of sin, but the far greater power of the grace of God working for our redemption.

       The focus of Paul is the victory that Christ has won for us over sin, such that whatever power sin may have to destroy our lives, the power of Christ available to us through faith is much stronger. Paul wants us to focus on that power to overcome sin. Romans 5 is a proclamation of victory and therefore should be a source of joy for us; it is not in any way a resignation to the power or hold that sin has on mankind. It is the opposite.

       God sent His Son to liberate us from sin. This is Paul’s experience when he encountered Jesus on the road to Damascus. Paul has been freed from any hold that sin had over his life, whether it be through a misunderstanding of God’s Word or even a deliberate choice to go against God. This is what Paul wants us to celebrate — the fact that sin has no innate power over us anymore. This is truly a reason to celebrate and to celebrate with great joy. Fr. Steve Tynan, MGL

 

REFLECTION QUESTIONS: Do you tend to get depressed by the power that sin seems to have over your life?

 

Lord, help me to live in the truth of the gift of salvation You have won for me. Grant me the grace to embrace the power of the cross (victory over sin) and the gift of the resurrection.

Is Jesus truly the Lord of your life? Do you surrender your dreams to Him and ask Him to purify them and give back only those that really matter? - Daily Reflections October 19, 2015

RIGHTEOUSNESS IS RECKONED TO US

 

The fourth chapter of the Letter to the Romans draws to a close. Paul finishes his argument on faith being the harbinger of salvation by including us in what has been promised to Abraham. This outlines Paul’s understanding of faith and how it relates to our lives. It is a very clever argument that paves the way for the Gospel to be proclaimed to the Gentiles as well as the Jews. Paul makes it abundantly clear that the means by which we acquire salvation is by receiving it as a gift from God through faith.

       The strength of faith can be demonstrated by looking at the lives of countless men and women who faced adversity and overcame them by trusting in God. Paul tells us that this is evident in Abraham’s eventual acceptance that Sarah, his wife, would bear him a son even though she was beyond childbearing age. Again and again, in the history of God’s work with His people, we discover miraculous births and various interventions from Him. All we have to do is make ourselves available to the work of God’s grace through faith and it is God who will evangelize the multitude.

       The saints are great examples of inspiration. They stand as beacons on top of the hill, encouraging us to move forward and allow God to use us for His purposes. In this we will discover a life of fulfillment and grace. If we only look to the promises of the world and what it offers, we will not find the fulfillment that only God can bring.

       We all have to make a choice: Who will we install as Lord of our lives — is it God or the things of the world? Let us allow God to reckon us as righteous by placing our faith and trust in Him. Fr. Steve Tynan, MGL

 

REFLECTION QUESTIONS: Is Jesus truly the Lord of your life? Do you surrender your dreams to Him and ask Him to purify them and give back only those that really matter?

 

Father in heaven, You have sent Jesus to redeem us and show us the path of eternal life. Help me to entrust my life to Your care, knowing that You have my best interests at heart.

What is the focus of your life dreams? Do they have an element of service of others or are they totally focused on you? - Daily Reflections October 18, 2015

Feast of St. Luke, Evangelist

 

TWO VERY DIFFERENT KINGDOMS

 

The way the Church is run is very different from a secular company. Yes, there are many things that are similar but in the leadership area, it is very different. Companies look for the go-getter type of person who is highly motivated and aspires to lead — someone who has the drive and gifts to succeed and who will be good for the company. The Church has a different set of criteria, first and foremost of which is service — service that is built upon the the desire to love and care for others. The Church’s focus must be pastoral with an eye for competency in administrative functions. The bottom line for the Church is the pastoral care of souls. It is a discounting factor if a person actively seeks or promotes himself for higher office.

       Jesus makes this quite clear to James and John, two of His disciples seeking higher seats at the table of the banquet of the Lord in heaven. This is not a request that Jesus wants to hear. He wants us to request the gifts of the Spirit that will help us in our pastoral care of the flock. Wealth and fame were given to Solomon because he demonstrated that his first concern was the care of the people of Israel as evidenced in his request for wisdom. Solomon starts off with the right attitude and God rewards him.

       What are we focused on? It is OK to be successful in all that we do, but we must turn our focus beyond ourselves. Jesus never sought to promote Himself, only the Gospel. He always placed the needs of others before His own. Let Jesus inspire you on how to lead. We will find many examples of good leadership in the world, but they will be far easier to find with the grace of God. Fr. Steve Tynan, MGL

 

REFLECTION QUESTIONS: What is the focus of your life dreams? Do they have an element of service of others or are they totally focused on you?

 

Jesus, help me keep my eyes fixed on Your example so that I may always remember that love and service of others should be my first focus.

 

How do you understand the dynamic of faith at work in your life? How can you become more expressive in living your faith in God? - Daily Reflections October 17,2015

Memorial of St. Ignatius of Antioch,

Bishop and Martyr

GOD’S PROMISES TO ABRAHAM

 

God makes three promises to Abraham in Genesis 12:1-3. He promises that Abraham will have many descendants, he will be given land, and that through him many nations will be blessed. Upon what do these promises rest? Paul insists that they rest upon the grace of God at work in Abraham’s life — that is, they will be fulfilled through the faith of Abraham and his descendants and not through their works.

       This is an extremely crucial point because if we can earn God’s grace and blessings, then the work of salvation, for which Jesus was sent by the Father to accomplish it, is not necessary. This is anathema to Paul and to all who understand the nature of the Gospel. It is only God who can save; we simply need to have faith in Him and allow our faith to be expressed in and through our lives.

       Paul knows what it means to try and earn his way to heaven through good deeds. He has tried that for all his life until he met Jesus on the road to Damascus. It is his encounter with Jesus that radically transforms his view and causes him to take an entirely new direction with his faith — a direction that will cause him to leave Judaism and embrace the fledgling faith of Christianity as one of its most influential preachers and teachers.

     As we live our faith, let us remember that there is nothing to be ashamed of in relying on the grace of God for our salvation. In fact, it is a great protection as we now know that we do not have to earn it, but just to be faithful to it once we choose to accept it. Faith is born of love — first, God’s great love for us and then our love for Him in return. The good works we are called to witness in our lives are merely the fruit of both faith and love lived in hope of our salvation. This provides the basis for our works of charity. This is not a circular argument — it is the economy of salvation, which is so designed that the power rests in God and not in us, for both our own good and our own protection. Fr. Steve Tynan, MGL

 

REFLECTION QUESTIONS: How do you understand the dynamic of faith at work in your life? How can you become more expressive in living your faith in God?

 

Jesus, thank You for the gift of salvation You have given me. I pray that I will always surrender my life to Your grace and live according to the economy of Your love at work in my life.

 

Are you just in the way you treat those around you — your employers, employees, family and friends? - Daily Reflections October 16,2015

TRUE RIGHTEOUSNESS COMES FROM FAITH

 

Paul’s experience of salvation through faith in Christ comes out very strongly in his writings. He personally knows the power of faith in Christ to literally help him make a 180-degree turn. Here, Paul tries to go back to the origins of the Scriptural understanding of faith beginning with Abraham. If he can earn God’s blessing through his works, then faith is useless. If we are capable of saving ourselves, why would we bother to have faith in God? We are saved by faith and our works come as a result of our faith, not as the cause of our salvation.

       The world teaches a very different message. At best, it tells us that the only reliable person is ourselves. At worst, the world encourages us to use others — what we can get out of them — and to pay the minimal legal price for what we get.

       A truly righteous person will always do what is right, not just for himself but also for all those who are involved in the enterprise. Multinational companies have a lot to think about, as the wages they pay for the production of their products often bear no relationship to the profit they make. This is a question of justice and righteousness, and not just a matter of what is legally permissible. Should the consumer boycott multinational companies that do not pay just wages? That is a difficult question. Technically you have paid for the cost of the product you have bought; how the company passes on the profit is not up to you — it is the company’s responsibility. However, if you believe that, given enough pressure, companies may change their practices such that they are more equitable, then maybe a boycott is morally desirable until the desired objective happens. Fr. Steve Tynan, MGL

 

REFLECTION QUESTION: Are you just in the way you treat those around you — your employers, employees, family and friends?

 

Holy Spirit, teach me to do what is the moral thing to do in a situation and not just what I think I can get away with.

Do you trust God even in times of terrible problems and crises? - Daily Reflections October 15,2015

Memorial of St. Teresa of Avila, Virgin, Religious and

Doctor of the Church

THREE LESSONS FROM ST. TERESA OF AVILA

 

Teresa of Avila lived in an exciting time. Less than 20 years before she was born, Columbus discovered America. Two years after she was born, Luther started the Protestant Reformation. Out of all of this change came Teresa pointing the way from outer turmoil to inner peace.

       In spite of living the life of a mystic, she stood with both feet on solid ground. She said, “Even when in the kitchen, our Lord is among the pots and pans.” In other words, wherever you are, the Lord is present, and wherever you are, you can pray.

       When St. Paul wrote, “Pray always,” he did not mean that we have to be on our knees the whole day. We can communicate with God day and night, wherever we are.

     Another famous saying of St. Teresa is, “I know by frequent experience that there is nothing which puts the devils to flight like holy water.”

       At home we had a small holy water container at the doors to all rooms. Being surrounded by evil and living in a corrupt and sinful society, we could make more use of holy water as protection against evil influences.

       A third quite famous word of St. Teresa is this: “Let nothing disturb you. Let nothing make you afraid. All things are passing. God alone never changes. Patience gains all things. If you have God you will want for nothing. God alone suffices.”

       Could there be a better advice for us worriers? St. Teresa expresses her total surrender to God’s providence. This attitude gives inner peace and calms all fears and anxieties.

      Don’t think St. Teresa could easily write such beautiful words because she was in the safety of her convent. No, she traveled a lot while founding several convents and got in trouble with the Holy Inquisition. In 1576, a series of persecutions began on the part of the older observant Carmelite Order against Teresa and her reforms. But her rock-like trust in God made her sail safely through these storms. Fr. Rudy Horst, SVD

 

REFLECTION QUESTION: Do you trust God even in times of terrible problems and crises?

 

Lord, thank You for giving St. Teresa to the Church. Let me learn from her attitude of total trust in You and to find You close wherever I am.

Do you easily judge others and overlook your own faults? - Daily Reflections October 14,2015

WHO AM I TO JUDGE?   Since today’s Gospel passage is the continuation of yesterday’s reading, we will have a look at the First Reading, continuation of yesterday’s. Yesterday, Paul had condemned the Gentiles as idolaters. Jewish readers would have agreed with everything Paul wrote. They thought, being Abraham’s descendants, they would be saved. Rabbis taught, “All Israelites will have part in the world to come… Abraham sits beside the gates of hell and does not permit any wicked Israelite to go through.” They judged themselves as saved and condemned all non-Israelites.        This is also reflected in what Justin Martyr said in the Jew Trypho, “They who are the seed of Abraham according to the flesh shall, in any case, even if they be sinners and unbelieving and disobedient towards God, share in the eternal Kingdom.”        Jewish readers would have nodded their heads when they read the first chapter of Paul’s Letter to the Romans. But the continuation we read today must have upset the Jewish readers because Paul contradicts their belief that they would be saved in spite of doing something evil. Jews as well as Gentiles, he writes, will be judged by God who is impartial. “There is no favoritism with God,” today’s reading ends.        In spite of this clear word, the Church taught for a long time that there is no salvation for non-Christians. Catholics became too confident of salvation, and that can be said even for many today. Immorality, corruption and crimes are rampant in the only Christian country in Asia. Why? “God is good! God is all-merciful! God will forgive!” is what too many think to justify their immoral actions. It is correct: God is good, merciful and forgiving. But if we take this as a security blanket and think that salvation is ours whatever we do, then we will be shocked when we stand before our divine Judge who does not know any favoritism. Fr. Rudy Horst, SVD   REFLECTION QUESTION: Do you easily judge others and overlook your own faults?   Lord, the words of St. Paul hit me. May I not abuse Your mercy and love, and strive for an honest and holy life.

Are you aware that love of neighbor is more important than strict obedience of the law? - Daily Reflections October 13,2015

THE LETTER AND THE SPIRIT OF GOD’S LAW

 

In today’s Gospel, we feel the tense relationship between Jesus and the religious authority of His time. But in spite of the tension, there was a certain familiarity between Jesus and the Pharisees. Invited to eat at their house, Jesus accepts the invitation but He sat at the table without washing His hands. The Pharisee was surprised that Jesus did not observe this religious rule.

       The Pharisees were actually good people, but they had forgotten that the spirit of the Law was more important than the letter of the Law, something Jesus wanted to make clear.

       St. Paul, a former Pharisee, wrote to the Corinthians: “The letter kills; the spirit gives life.”

   In spite of their legalistic attitude, we should not condemn the Pharisees. They were serious people. They dedicated eight hours every day to study and to meditate on the Law of God, another eight hours to work in order to support their family, and the other eight hours to rest. This serious witness of their life gave them a great respect.

       Perhaps because of this, in spite of the fact of being totally different, both Jesus and the Pharisees understood one another.

       The passage makes us aware that, in order to be faithful to what God asks of us, it is not sufficient to observe the letter of the law. It is in how we practice love that the fullness of the law is attained. “It is love alone that gives worth to all things,” St. Teresa of Avila wrote.

       At times we may be tempted to fall into the “Pharisaic” trap. If we justify ourselves by obedience to the law and neglect the greatest commandment — the commandment of love — we will not be pleasing to God. Without realizing it, we might sit at the table of Jesus on the side of the Pharisees. Fr. Rudy Horst, SVD

 

REFLECTION QUESTION: Are you aware that love of neighbor is more important than strict obedience of the law?

 

Lord, at times it is easier to obey a law than to reach out in love to a neighbor in need. May Your example inspire me for the rest of my life and help me to become more loving.

Do you engage in gossip and enjoy listening to negative talks about others? - Daily Reflections October 9,2015

ABOUT THE DEVIL AND NASTY TALKS

 

In my entire life, I experienced exorcism only once. It was a scary experience, even though it was only a mild case of possession. But when I sprinkled holy water on the person and she screamed as if she had been burned, I got really scared. The prayers of those around me and the intense prayers in front of the opened Tabernacle made the evil spirit flee.

       Jesus was a powerful exorcist. That some people attributed His power to the devil was really malicious — and illogical, as Jesus points out: “How could one drive out the devil with the help of the devil?”

       This Gospel passage gives us at least two points to reflect on.

       One is that the devil exists, something even some Catholics deny. Evil is all around us. Of course, the devil does not appear as an ugly figure with horns, as artists have portrayed him. The evil one approaches us in the guise of nice, attractive persons, in attractive advertisements and entertainments. That’s why we have to be very careful. Before, a prayer to St. Michael was recited after every Mass to protect us against the devil. It would be good to ask privately every day this powerful archangel for his protection every day.

       A second point for reflection is the nasty claim that Jesus drove out demons by the power of the prince of demons.

       It is common to make false claims to put a person down. When Pope Francis was elected in 2013, the world rejoiced and he was praised not only by Christians but even by non-Christians. After nine months, he became Time Magazine’s “Person of the Year.” But those who did not like his simple, humble pastoral approach also began to spread malicious news about him. One claimed the Pope is a Marxist, another that he is a Mason.

       We are also often tempted to tell negative things about others, things that sometimes are not even true. Wouldn’t it be good to make a strong resolution not to listen to negative talks and not talk negative things about others? Fr. Rudy Horst, SVD

 

REFLECTION QUESTION: Do you engage in gossip and enjoy listening to negative talks about others?

 

Lord, You experienced how Your good deeds were misinterpreted. I know from experience how painful this is. Help me to let the truth prevail always.