How does advertising affect you? Do you tend to slip into the trap of focusing on worldly things rather than storing up for yourself treasures in heaven? - Daily Reflections August 31,2014

GET OUR PRIORITIES STRAIGHT

 

It is scary to think that one can be totally successful by the standards of the world and yet fail to enter the Kingdom of God. The only way to prevent this from happening is to ensure that in every decision we make, we remember that we live in the world but we are not of the world. This is most evident in how we pay attention to advertising. Is there an advertisement that tells us to delay our earthly pleasures for the sake of better ones in the Kingdom of God? In fact, we are more likely see exactly the opposite: Get it while you can for it may not be here tomorrow!

       This “get it while you can” attitude is totally antithetical to the values of the Kingdom of God, which are always forward-looking and have eternal life as the motivation to guide us in the here and now. Jesus reminds us that it is useless to gain the whole world (now) and lose eternal life (future). We need to find the right balance between pursuing the things of the world and looking forward to receiving the promises of eternal life.

       It is not easy to find this balance as the world can be very insistent on its agenda. Advertising companies spend a lot of time and millions of dollars to try and obscure this goal and keep you from lifting your eyes from the

ways of the world to those of heaven. This is why we need to be men and women of prayer and Scriptures. It is Scriptures that will form our hearts and minds in line with God’s standards and help us keep the advertising world’s agenda at arm’s length and in its proper place. Fr. Steve Tynan, MGL

 

REFLECTION QUESTIONS: How does advertising affect you? Do you tend to slip into the trap of focusing on worldly things rather than storing up for yourself treasures in heaven?

 

Holy Spirit, help me to embrace the life I am called to as a disciple of Jesus. Help me to keep my eyes fixed on the things that really matter as I go about my life in this world.

Are you using all the gifts that God has given you? - Daily Reflections August 30,2014

LIVING UP TO YOUR POTENTIAL

 

I remember receiving one report card in high school, after which my dad sat me down. It was clear he was not happy with my grades. There were a number of teachers who said that I was not as well-behaved as I should have been. So I thought I was going to get a lecture on respect and “being a good boy.” But I was wrong! He was not happy about my bad behavior but he was even more unhappy about what one of the teachers had written — that I was not living up to my potential with regard to the quality of work I was submitting. It was this that gained my father’s ire.

       Jesus addresses a similar thing in today’s parable. God has blessed us with talents and gifts and we should put them to good use. Admittedly, we cannot use all our gifts at the same time, so we have to be sensible when we assess ourselves in this regard. However, this is not an excuse to sit back and be lazy about using our gifts. They were given to us for a particular purpose; it is our responsibility to discover that purpose and put it into action.

       The dynamic of blessings building upon blessings is biblical. The more God sees us using our gifts well, the more He will add to them. If we do not use them well, then there is little probability that we will be blessed with more; in fact, it is more than likely that what we have will be taken away and given to someone who will put them to good use. To him who has much (and is using them well), more will be given, and to him who has little (and is not using them at all), even what he has will be taken away. Fr. Steve Tynan, MGL

 

REFLECTION QUESTION: Are you using all the gifts that God has given you?

 

Holy Spirit, help me to use all the gifts and blessings that God has given me. Teach me to be grateful for them through the full and proper use of every gift He has given me.

Do you have John’s courage to stand up for the truth always? - Daily Reflections August 29,2014

THE INTEGRITY TO SPEAK UP

 

In many ways John the Baptist could be seen as a moral activist. He knows how powerful Herod is and yet he dares to tell him that his marriage to his brother’s ex-wife is immoral. The weird thing about this is that Herod does not seem worried about what John has to say. It is Herodias, his wife, who has a problem with John, so she conspires with her daughter to have John killed at the first available opportunity. Unwittingly, it is Herod who provides that opportunity, out of his fear of what people might think of him if he does not live up to his promise.

       Herod actually likes to listen to the preaching of John. Perhaps he was on his way to conversion — because it gives him something to think about and probably challenges him to be a better person. He probably felt that John, who spent many years in the desert as a hermit and now preaches a message of repentance and baptism, would have been an interesting person to meet.

         What can we learn from John the Baptist today?

       John had a fearless love for truth and he was not afraid to speak it even to the most powerful people. This disregard for his own reputation is exactly the opposite of Herod’s fear of the people. Perhaps this is what really attracted Herod to John. Whatever it may be, it should also attract us to John as he is an inspiring figure if we allow his story to resonate in our lives. John is a figure who stands before us to dare us to speak the truth in love, no matter what the consequences may be.

       Are we ready to hear that challenge or will we shrink from our responsibility to the Gospel? Fr. Steve Tynan, MGL

 

REFLECTION QUESTION: Do you have John’s courage to stand up for the truth always?

 

Holy Spirit, take away my fear of losing face in front of others. Help me to firmly believe that what matters is that I can stand before God with a clear conscience, knowing that I have done all that He asked me to do.

What in St. Augustine’s life do you find admirable? - Daily Reflections August 28,2014

A TRULY GREAT SAINT AND THEOLOGIAN

 

Today we celebrate the feast day of St. Augustine, a truly great saint and theologian. As a young man, he was not known for his faith but for virtually the opposite. Whatever Augustine did, he did with gusto. And so, when he sinned, he did so greatly. He gave in to many of the sexual pleasures of his time and kept a mistress for many years. He even had at least one son that we know of. But when the time for his conversion came, he eventually surrendered himself and his enormous intellect to the grace of God. For me, he is probably the greatest of all the Church theologians as he is the first to really comment on all the various branches of theology in a systematic manner. He is the most quoted of all the saints in both the Prayer of the Church and the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

       St. Augustine was baptized when he was 32 years old after arriving in Milan and being enraptured by the preaching of St. Anselm, the bishop of Milan at that time. A few years later, Augustine was ordained a priest. By virtue of public acclamation, he was ordained a bishop after a few years. And so began his long and distinguished service to the Church, fighting heresy and error. Some people today blame the over-zealous conscience of Augustine for the Church’s sometimes perceived negative view of human nature — its proneness to sin. However, I believe they do him an injustice.

       Augustine was a realist and, thus, not worried with speaking out the truth. He does so in a very frank manner in his autobiography — probably the first ever written — and anyone who wants to understand the spirituality of this man must begin with this epic work. It can be difficult reading at times but well worth the effort. I recommend that you read his Confessions and see that he is truly a man for whom the love of God comes above all other things. Fr. Steve Tynan, MGL

 

REFLECTION QUESTION: What in St. Augustine’s life do you find admirable?

 

Holy Spirit, help me to be inspired by St. Augustine’s love for God and his fellow men and women. Lead me in the path of conversion so that my life may inspire others to follow the Lord.

If you were to choose a color for your interior life, what would it be? - Daily Reflections August 27,2014

I DON’T WANT TO BE A WHITEWASHED TOMB

 

I do not want to be called a “whitewashed tomb.” “What is that?” I hear you ask. It means a hypocrite. Think of the contrast of the inside of a tomb (rotting and decaying flesh and bones) and the exterior look of a pure white and fresh coat of paint. You have the image now?

       The white exterior corresponds to how a life of virtue looks. The inside of the tomb, on the other hand, appears exactly the opposite. It is within our own power, and our own power alone, to determine which we are to be — the exterior or the interior of the tomb.

       This truth is at the heart of a virtuous life. The individual alone makes decisions on the degree to which he pursues a life of virtue. Yes, the grace of God makes it possible to do so, but without the person’s decision (albeit aided by grace), God’s grace cannot bring about holiness in his life. This argument was perfectly outlined in the scholastic doctrine of “grace building upon nature” — that is, if there is nothing for the grace of God to work with, no decision on the part of the individual, then no amount of grace will be able to achieve anything.

       The life of virtue has a human and individual element to it. This is why it is important to familiarize ourselves with the many different examples of how men and women open up their lives to the grace of God. This is also why I consider the most important formative phase of my life was when I was about eight years old. My dad would reflect with me daily about the life of the saint for the day. Ultimately, I think I owe my vocation to this practice, which I have continued to this day. Fr. Steve Tynan, MGL

 

REFLECTION QUESTION: If you were to choose a color for your interior life, what would it be?

 

Jesus, send Your Holy Spirit to guide me in choosing the right literature to read so that I will be inspired to live a holy and virtuous life.

The word of God is living and effective, able to discern reflections and thoughts of the heart - Daily Bible Readings August 26,2014

1^ST READING

 

The virtuous life is about pursuing the life of glory that God offers us. It is a great goal to keep as we endure the trials and difficulties of a life of discipleship. There is indeed something worthwhile that we are aiming to attain — the glory and fulfillment of eternal life with God in heaven. Let us be glory-seekers, but only the glory of the Lord and not of ourselves.

 

2 Thessalonians 2:1-3, 14-17

1 We ask you, brothers and sisters, with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our assembling with him, 2 not to be shaken out of your minds suddenly, or to be alarmed either by a “spirit,” or by an oral statement, or by a letter allegedly from us to the effect that the day of the Lord is at hand. 3 Let no one deceive you in any way. 14 To this end he has also called you through our Gospel to possess the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 15 Therefore, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to the traditions that you were taught, either by an oral statement or by a letter of ours. 16 May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting encouragement and good hope through his grace, 17 encourage your hearts and strengthen them in every good deed and word.

 

P S A L M

 

Psalm 96:10, 11-12, 13

R: The Lord comes to judge the earth.

10 Say among the nations: the Lord is king. He has made the world firm, not to be moved; he governs the peoples with equity. (R) 11 Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice; let the sea and what fills it resound; 12 let the plains be joyful and all that is in them! Then shall all the trees of the forest exult. (R) 13 Before the Lord, for he comes; for he comes to rule the earth. He shall rule the world with justice and the peoples with his constancy. (R)

 

GOSPEL

 

 

It is not what other people think that should govern what we do — it is doing what is right that should command our attention and commitment. The Pharisees are labeled hypocrites by God because they know what is right but insist on doing what makes them look good in the eyes of others rather than in the eyes of God. When we consider that eternal life is a reality beyond earthly death, there is no longer an immediacy to the praise of others.

 

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

The word of God is living and effective, able to discern reflections and thoughts of the heart.

 

Matthew 23:23-26

23 Jesus said: “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You pay tithes of mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier things of the law: judgment and mercy and fidelity. But these you should have done, without neglecting the others. 24 Blind guides, who strain out the gnat and swallow the camel! 25 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You cleanse the outside of cup and dish, but inside they are full of plunder and self-indulgence. 26 Blind Pharisee, cleanse first the inside of the cup, so that the outside also may be clean.”

think:  It is not what other people think that should govern what we do — it is doing what is right that should command our attention and commitment.

 

 

T O D A Y’S BLESSING LIST

Thank You Lord for: __________________

 

____________________________________

 

God’s special verse/thought for me today_

_____________________________________

 

READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Psalm 6-10

Who among the saints inspire you to live a virtuous life? Pray to him or her to intercede for you - Daily Reflections August 26,2014

FOCUS ON THE VIRTUOUS LIFE

 

Following on from yesterday’s reflection, it is good to spend a few moments pondering on the virtuous life as it seems not too many people manage to live this way. Yes, we all have our moments of virtue, but what makes a saint stand out is how he is able to sustain his virtuous moments for long periods at a high level. It is easy to get it right once in a while, and even less frequently manage to string a few of these moments together for a longer period of time. However, a truly virtuous life is much more than this.

       When we study the lives of the saints, and we should spend some time doing so in order to be inspired by them, we are opening our hearts to the graces that made it possible for them to respond to God’s call. I wonder how much you know of the lives of saints that you are familiar with. Their lives are a gift to the Church and it would be our loss if we are familiar with only a few. Why limit ourselves unnecessarily when there is so much inspiration available to men and women who want to increase their faith? I am sure most of us have spent some time reading the books of John Maxwell or Stephen Covey. I hope that we will be more familiar with the lives of saints than these modern-day inspirers. The saints get one thing right that modern-day “self-help” gurus fail to do: that the key to success is surrender to the grace of God first and foremost. No amount of clever tricks and strategies will bring better success than opening our lives to the grace of the Holy Spirit.

       In our secular world today, we tend to think we can do it on our own. When it comes to living a virtuous life, it is only by the grace of God that we will grow in holiness and gain entry to eternal life. It is irrelevant how successful we are by earthly standards. Fr. Steve Tynan, MGL

 

REFLECTION QUESTION: Who among the saints inspire you to live a virtuous life? Pray to him or her to intercede for you.

 

Holy Spirit, I want to surrender more of my life to You. Help me to open my heart and mind to Your grace so that I may draw strength from You when life gets too difficult.

How true are you to your commitments? Do you practice what you preach? - Daily Reflections August 25,2014

AVOID THESE WOES

 

Jesus holds nothing back in criticizing those whom He sees as hypocritical in their words and deeds. Let us do everything in our power to avoid becoming the subjects of these “woes.” The path to this end is really simple, namely making sure our actions support what we say. But it is not easy to remain consistent in this regard. It is far easier to say something than to do it. It is often a struggle to do what we know we should be doing and, thus, avoid being accused of hypocrisy.

       It has to do with the desire for integrity in our lives. We all know and admit that this is desirable. However, it is often not the case even among those who are in the higher echelons of power, in whom we would normally expect integrity. Experience and history have taught us that we should never assume that this is the case. For our part, we should always be careful in making commitments, lest we promise more than we can deliver. It is natural to want to give our best and do what we think will be best in a given situation. However, actually doing that is another matter.

       As they say, “The road to hell is paved with good intentions.” This means that it is not enough to intend to do what is right and good, but we actually have to do it. This is the daily challenge for a disciple of Jesus. We want to give our best witness to the truths and blessings of the Gospel. And integrity of life is necessary for that. One of the things you notice when you read the lives of the saints is that it is virtually impossible to criticize their witness. They have internalized the values of the Gospel to such an extent that they almost naturally live them out. This is what a life of virtue means. Let us follow that path and be the best disciples of Jesus that we possibly can. Fr. Steve Tynan, MGL

 

REFLECTION QUESTIONS: How true are you to your commitments? Do you practice what you preach?

 

Holy Spirit, help me to internalize the values and truths of the Gospel to the extent that I begin to live them naturally in my life. Help me to persevere in living a virtuous life each day.

Jesus stands before us every day and asks us how we want to relate with Him. What is your answer to that question? - Daily Reflections August 24,2014

WHO DO YOU SAY THAT JESUS IS?

 

This is a classic question about faith that will say a lot about our relationship with Jesus. Anyone who desires to be a disciple of Jesus must answer this question and then make sure that his life reflects his response. There are many aspects to any relationship, and the same is true for our relationship with Jesus. Depending on the individual, the focus could be one of many things and that focus will reflect the style and character of his relationship with God.

       In the same way, our life experiences shape not only our image of God but our character as well. It is important to recognize this as it helps us develop the necessary compassion in our relationships with others. If someone grows up without a father-figure, perhaps due to death, then it will be difficult for him to understand someone who talks about the Father’s love for His children. We need to be compassionate and wise enough to recognize this kind of difficulty that we will surely meet in our ministry.

       Many of the events that influence our formative years are out of our control. They happen to us and are not caused by us in any way, shape or form. This may not sound just, but it is a fact of life. And it should enlighten us and make us aware of how our actions may unwittingly affect the lives of others. Let us be a little more discerning of the moral decisions we make. Fr. Steve Tynan, MGL

 

REFLECTION QUESTION: Jesus stands before us every day and asks us how we want to relate with Him. What is your answer to that question?

 

Holy Spirit, help me to open my heart and mind to the will of God for my life. Help me to understand how He wants to relate to me that I may make a better response to Him.

Is there anyone in your life that you need to forgive? Do it now - Daily Reflections August 22,2014

THE GREATEST LAW OF ALL

 

The law that encompasses all others is the command of love. We are called to love God and each other without exception. We are often particular in our love of others, choosing to love most people and refusing to love a few. This is not acceptable to the Christian way of life. The law of love that Jesus commands is that we should love everyone, including our enemies. This is what sets Christianity apart from other religions. The universality of the command to love means that we have a very sophisticated understanding of the idea of forgiveness, something that is deficient and even absent from other religions and ways of life.

       As we celebrate the Queenship of Mary today, in honor of her love for us as our Mother, the Mother of the Church, our Queen, let us resolve to love others with a greater commitment than before. Let us stretch ourselves in love so that we will be obedient to love even our enemies, as hard as that is in reality. I am sure that Mary will be most pleased if we make any effort to fulfill this law.

       Jesus is right when He answers that the commandments rest on the dual command of love: love of God and love of neighbor. It is good to reflect on how this is, as it can inspire us to give greater effort along these lines. If we understand that love is at the heart of everything we do, we will realize that the expressions of love, from the smallest to the greatest, are what will ultimately matter to us as individuals and as part of the human family. There is nothing more important or powerful in propagating peace than choosing to love our enemies. If we seek revenge, then the conflict is perpetuated indefinitely; if one party chooses the way of forgiveness, the resolution of the issue is close at hand.

       Let us be the first to seek love as the primary focus of our relationships. Fr. Steve Tynan, MGL

 

REFLECTION QUESTION: Is there anyone in your life that you need to forgive? Do it now.

 

Holy Spirit, without Your help I will not be able to love and forgive those who have wronged me. Help me to overcome any desire for revenge and to choose love and forgiveness every time.

WHAT’S YOUR STUMBLING BLOCK? - Daily Reflections August 19,2014

WHAT’S YOUR STUMBLING BLOCK?

 

Our weaknesses are the points where Satan will attack us. This is why we should be honest with ourselves so that we can be alert when our weaknesses are in play. This is also where being a member of a faith community can be a great advantage because we can share our weaknesses with others and they will help us be vigilant against the works of Satan in our lives. However, if we do not admit our weaknesses, then Satan is laughing as he will be able to attack us there. He can easily win us over to his side if we do not protect ourselves from him as we should.

       Jesus tells us that the first will be last and the last will be first. If we admit our weaknesses, we will more readily triumph in the long run. Those who insist on their own greatness, relying too much on their strength, will discover that eventually they will succumb to the wiles of Satan and the road back will be a long and winding one. The honest and humble person, while perhaps without a spectacular array of gifts in play, will be a better bet to make it through the trials and tribulations of his faith journey.

       Another aspect of strength and wealth is that they do not make us entrust our lives easily into the hands of God. People like this are self-sufficient. Self-sufficiency is the archenemy of holiness. The work of holiness, from the point of view of the individual, is the process of surrendering everything to the work of the Holy Spirit. It is not we who make ourselves holy; we have to rely on God to do that. It is critical that we realize this. Until we surrender everything into God’s hands, we are crippled in our ability to achieve holiness. Fr. Steve Tynan, MGL

 

REFLECTION QUESTION: What are your weaknesses?

 

Jesus, help me to be honest with myself in identifying and accepting my weaknesses. May I more readily surrender them to You that You might be my strength in these areas of my life.

Which of your attachments can you easily let go? Do it now - Daily Reflections August 18,2014

HE WENT AWAY SORROWFUL

 

The story of the rich young man in the Gospel offers many angles for reflection. Jesus’ reply to the question of what the young man must do to attain eternal life is masterful. Jesus challenges the young man to let go of his control over his life, surrender it to God, and let Him direct his life. Selling all his earthly goods will allow him to do that. Oftentimes, our attachment to the things of this world holds us back from greatness or holiness. None of the saints were attached to the pleasures of life. They were content to allow God to control their lives and let Him be their Master.

       The situation of the rich young man is probably true for most of us. If we are honest with ourselves, we enjoy many things in this world and we all try to maximize them in our lives. Is there anything wrong with such an attitude? Not in essence. However, for a disciple of Jesus, there is more to life than the pleasures of this world. Fixing our gaze on the rewards and promises of eternal life ought to govern our decisions here.

       It takes a person of great faith to let go of the pleasures of the world the way Jesus demands if holiness is our goal. Of course, there is a lesser discipleship that makes us conform to a minimalist understanding of the call of faith by avoiding sin and involving ourselves in the ministry and mission of the Church. A disciple truly gives his faith the primary focus in his life. He wants his entire life given to the service of the Kingdom of God. This is what the lives of the saints are all about. They are not interested in giving the minimum. Only the maximum will do.

       Let us pray that we will capture the enthusiasm of the saints as we follow Jesus and give our lives to the service of His Kingdom. Fr. Steve Tynan, MGL

 

REFLECTION QUESTION: Which of your attachments can you easily let go? Do it now.

 

Jesus, help me to let go of my attachments to the world and the pleasures of this life, not because they are wrong or bad, but because I want my life to speak unequivocally of the values of Your Kingdom.

Is there anyone in your life whose faith inspires you? Does your faith inspire others as well? - Daily Reflections August 17,2014

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO HAVE FAITH?

 

I don’t think that there are any easy answers to the above question. In fact, perhaps there is no single answer that will prove satisfactory to all. Because faith is the expression of our personal relationship with God, then it is going to vary for different people — a unique definition for each of us. However, there are some aspects of faith that are considered similar to all, such as trust, surrender, listening to the Word of God, obeying it, and so on. So faith is something unique to each of us, yet similar and, thus, comparable with others’ because of its common elements.

       The Canaanite woman in today’s Gospel expresses a marvelous faith because she is not a Jew and yet she believes so deeply in the power of Jesus to heal her daughter. The deep faith of a Gentile is admirable from the point of view of the believer. Jesus is amazed by it, too! If there is any great expression of faith in the Scriptures after that of Abraham who left his country in response to God’s call, of David who went up against Goliath with little more than a sling shot as his only weapon, it is this Gentile’s faith in the power of Jesus to heal.

       Let us take time out this week, preferably today while the story is stillfresh in our minds from the celebration of the Mass, to reflect upon herdeep faith and see if it can inspire us to believe more deeply and trust Jesus more fully. This is the ultimate goal of all faith — to deepen our relationship with God and, thus, enter more fully into the gift of salvation that He has promised us. This woman’s faith is enough to save the life of her daughter; there is little more powerful at work in the world than that!

       Let us make a decision to put aside our doubts and focus on the testimonies of men and women of faith that we have known or read, and so pray for a deeper faith of our own. Fr. Steve Tynan, MGL

 

REFLECTION QUESTION: Is there anyone in your life whose faith inspires you? Does your faith inspire others as well?

 

Jesus, lead me deeper into my relationship with You as I reflect on the deep faith of others. Help me to remain faithful to all Your gifts every day of my life.

How do you welcome and treat young people? Are they a nuisance to you or do you lead them to the right path? - Daily Reflections August 16,2014

NEVER TOO YOUNG TO FOLLOW THE LORD

 

Jesus will never reject us if we approach Him, no matter how young we are. Jesus is always ready to embrace the impulsiveness of youth and to work with it to help it grow into mature faith. Jesus will never take the chance to lose someone because of inattention on His part. Therefore, we don’t need to worry that He will not give us due attention when we approach Him.

       It is a joy to see young people surrendering their lives to the will and service of God. One of the best aspects of priestly ministry is working with young people as they discover their faith and open their hearts to Jesus. It is a very rocky road that they walk as the world around them does not want to lose them to a life of holiness. The pull for them to surrender themselves to the gods of materialism, consumerism and pleasure is too strong. The tentacles of the world are often very hard to resist and break.

       The trouble comes when the youth do not feel welcomed by the Church and, thus, they go elsewhere to “find themselves,” often with disastrous results, as the world is quick to offer alternatives such as partying, alcohol, drugs, sex and so on. The Church, and that means all of us, must learn to be attentive to the needs of the various groups in our midst. I, for one, do not want to have to explain why I rejected someone who wanted to participate in the life of the Church for some spurious reason.

       Jesus embraced all who came to Him, and so should we. We need to pray for the grace to be open to all and then act upon it. In this way, the Church will embrace all those who wish to follow Jesus as His disciples.Fr. Steve Tynan, MGL

 

REFLECTION QUESTION: How do you welcome and treat young people? Are they a nuisance to you or do you lead them to the right path?

 

Jesus, You are always open to those who wish to be Your disciples. Help me to be accepting of all who come to me for discipleship and help me to lead them closer to You.

Have you made a firm commitment to God to follow Him with all your heart, mind and soul? - Daily Reflections August 15,2014

THE FEAST OF THE ASSUMPTION OF MARY

 

We celebrate today the Assumption of Mary into heaven. She does not receive anything more than we all hope to receive — she just gets it as soon as she dies — while we have to be purified in purgatory as we await the Second Coming of Jesus for the fullness of our redemption. This privilege given to Mary is because she is conceived without sin in order to prepare a holy womb for the birth of the Son of God. Any privilege or blessing that Mary receives is focused not upon her but on her Son, Jesus. It is also as a result of His holiness and a fruit of His passion, death and resurrection.

       As we reflect upon this gift bestowed on Mary, let us look at her response to the angel’s request that she become the Mother of our Lord. She surrenders everything to the will of God and opens her heart to whatever may be His plan for her life. It was not easy for her, as we see her about to give birth and being rejected in all the places she and Joseph went to. How much harder it must have been to stand by and watch her Son die on the cross, yet this is the calling she embraced with full faith.

       We also must surrender to God’s will if we want to achieve the same great faith that Mary had. This challenge will occupy us for the rest of our lives as we grow as disciples of Jesus and do our best to proclaim God’s Kingdom at every opportunity we get.

       Let us all pray that we will be faithful to this calling just as Mary was faithful to hers. Then we, too, will eventually receive the gift of the assumption of our bodies as we are made one with God, Mary and all the saints in heaven. Fr. Steve Tynan, MGL

 

REFLECTION QUESTION: Have you made a firm commitment to God to follow Him with all your heart, mind and soul?

 

Jesus, help me to keep my mind and heart open to Your will in my life. I want to do what You want me to do so that my salvation will be assured.

What rules your relationships — mercy or justice? - Daily Reflections August 14,2014

QUID PRO QUO

 

The title of this reflection is a Latin phrase that means we should expect to be treated by others the same way we treat them. It is hypocritical to expect two different standards at work in the world — one for me and one for everyone else. We are all equal in God’s eyes and that is how we will be judged on the Last Day. It is essential that we accept and treat all people fully recognizing their human dignity. It is when we lose sight of the absolute nature of human dignity that sin enters into our relationships and begins to destroy the fabric of human society as a result.

       The parable today demonstrates how justice alone is not enough to maintain a truly civil relationship. If we demand justice alone, what place are we giving to the grace of mercy in our lives? How can we expect God’s mercy to be poured upon us if we are unwilling to offer the same to others? Mercy has the capacity to repair broken relationships. Love is also essential. The lack of mercy angers Jesus in today’s parable. The servant, after being shown great mercy (his enormous debt was written off) is unwilling to forgive the small amount a fellow servant owes him.

       As we seek the Lord’s forgiveness for our sins, it is a very good practice to examine how generous we are in giving mercy to others. If we are not good at this, how can we expect God to be merciful to us? The logic of this argument is irrefutable, its practice so much more difficult.

       As we seek to imitate the mercy of Jesus, let us pray for the grace to choose love over revenge, love over hatred, love over resentment, love over mere justice. When we are on the right side of these equations, we will know that we can both ask for and receive the mercy of God in our lives. Fr. Steve Tynan, MGL

 

REFLECTION QUESTION: What rules your relationships — mercy or justice?

 

Jesus, help me to avoid all forms of hypocrisy in my walk as Your disciple. Help me to embrace the call to love and to forgive the sins of those who sin against me.

Do you find it hard to forgive? Ask God for the grace to do so - Daily Reflections August 13,2014

THE PROCESS OF FORGIVENESS

 

Forgiveness is hard work and requires perseverance to be effective. There is a process outlined in today’s Gospel that provides a few rudimentary principles that we can apply. It is not a comprehensive description that will fit all occasions. Each of us will have to discern how to best forgive those who sin against us and ask forgiveness from those we have sinned against, according to the nature and circumstance of the act. This is not giving license to relativism. It is merely respecting the fact that no two situations are perfectly alike. Every person approaches things in a slightly different way and we need to respect that.

       Having said that, the basics are fundamental: Forgiveness is a goal whose path may be long and winding or relatively short, depending on the situation and the people involved. It is crucial that we always remember that there are at least two sides to any story and we need to be careful in making assumptions. In fact, assumptions are best avoided altogether. Dialogue and mutual understanding are the keys to conflict resolution.

       Jesus shows the way with the example of His life. For Him, there is no sin too big that cannot be forgiven. When you consider that even the smallest sin is of infinite insult to His goodness, this is saying something indeed. There are many horrific sins committed against innocent people but even these pale in comparison to how God experiences our sinfulness. Let us then, having received God’s mercy in our own lives, seek to give that same mercy to those who sin against us. Let us try to look beyond our own hurts and see the hurts and struggles of others, so that we may understand their actions better, no matter how hard it may be for us. Fr. Steve Tynan, MGL

 

REFLECTION QUESTION: Do you find it hard to forgive? Ask God for the grace to do so.

 

Jesus, You are the only way to the Father and that way includes the ministry of forgiveness. Help me to forgive others in the same way You have forgiven my sins.

Have you sought God’s forgiveness lately? Is there anyone who needs your forgiveness, too? Why not forgive him now? - Daily Reflections August 12,2014

THE LOVING HEART OF GOD

 

We cannot doubt the loving nature of the heart of God. The Scriptures are full of invitations for us to repent of our sins and return to God and He will welcome us back like a long-lost child. God is a God of forgiveness; He is not interested in holding our sins against us. He is interested in whether or not we want to be free of them. Let us reflect on what this might mean for us.

       One of the natural human responses to sin is resentment and unforgiveness towards the sinner. This is not the way that God’s heart works. Neither should it be the way we respond to those who sin against us, no matter how badly the person may have wronged us.

           Our challenge is to meditate on such parables as the Lost Sheep and the Prodigal Son and ask God to transform our hearts so we can respond to those who sin against us as He does. This is not an easy task. We are all sinners and, thus, we should be able to understand how important it is to forgive. But that still does not make it any easier to do. Let us not give up, though, in the pursuit of the higher goal.

       It is the heart of the Father that we have to develop in order to respond well to those who sin against us, regardless of whether they ask for forgiveness or not. Think of the parents of a child who does something wrong. Just because the child has sinned does not mean that they reject the child. On the contrary, they want to draw the child back to them and forgive him, at the same time teaching the child that his action was wrong and should not be repeated. The desire of a parent is to be united in peace with the child, not separation. This, too, is the way it should be with us when people sin against us.

       Our challenge is to embrace the call of forgiveness. Just as God has forgiven us, so should we forgive those who sin against us. Does this sound familiar to you? We say it every time we pray “The Lord’s Prayer.” Let us put these words into action in our lives. Fr. Steve Tynan, MGL

 

REFLECTION QUESTIONS: Have you sought God’s forgiveness lately? Is there anyone who needs your forgiveness, too? Why not forgive him now?

 

Jesus, teach me not only to love the way You do, but also to forgive those who sin against me the same way You have forgiven my sins.

In any given situation, which would you choose: God’s laws or man-made laws? - Daily Reflections August 10,2014

FAITH IN MAN-MADE LAWS

 

Following on from yesterday’s reflection, I would like to ask what the nature of the so-called “right to bear arms” amendment in the Constitution really means. It was passed over 200 years ago when there was no such thing as an ammunition clip capable of holding tens of rounds of ammunition. It was passed at a time when guns are shot once and then you had to virtually stop and reload them before firing again. I would like to see someone make the argument that that is all that the amendment applies to, and thus, all the modern military arsenals would be out of reach to ordinary citizens. Modern weapons are designed as assault weapons and not for defense purposes. I am sure that the intention of the “right to bear arms” amendment had defense in mind, not aggression. If it is the latter, then the amendment is about as immoral as one possibly could be.

       In the Gospel today, Jesus reaches out to catch Peter from sinking into the water as his faith wavered. My faith in the humanity of the U.S. Constitution’s amendment relating to the right to bear arms has totally disappeared. Not even Jesus could resurrect it. My faith in the lawmakers to act responsibly is not far behind and can be redeemed only if they act quickly (by the time you are reading this, all assault weapons should be outlawed) and decisively. Without such action, no politician in the U.S. can claim to hold the moral ground. If such a measure is defeated on the floor of the Houses, then at least the people would know who among the politicians need to be thrown out at the next election. There are no more excuses available to anyone on this matter.

       Jesus never compromises the truth in His ministry. He is not afraid to challenge the status quo. He is not concerned with popularity or what others may think of Him. He only knows what He must do to be faithful to His Father’s will and to the truth. Let us all pray that we will be as committed to a life of holiness and grace as Jesus was. Fr. Steve Tynan, MGL

 

REFLECTION QUESTION: In any given situation, which would you choose: God’s laws or man-made laws?

 

Jesus, You never contemplated acting against the truth or dignity of a human person. Help me to be always faithful in protecting and promoting the same in my life.