What can you do to spread the ideas of Don Bosco among your relatives and friends? - Daily Reflections January 31,2014

A BRIEF LOOK AT ST. JOHN BOSCO

 

Today, the Church honors St. John Bosco, the founder of the Salesians whose good work we also appreciate very much in our country. His childhood was far from pleasant. John’s father died when he was only two years old. It was not easy for his mother to bring him up alone and give him an education that would guarantee a successful future. But she was a pious woman and gave him a good Christian education. Her beatification process has already started. What mothers can do even in times of poverty!

       John was ordained a priest at the age of 31. Having experienced an extremely difficult youth, he focused on the education of young men. As a skilled educator, Don Bosco formulated a system of education which could also be very helpful for our younger generation today. His motto was “Reason, Religion, Kindness.” He summarized his program for the youth with a brief sentence: “The young should know that they are loved.” Don Bosco once told his boys: “Remember, whatever I am, I am all for you, day and night, morning and evening, at every moment.” He advised educators to love the young as they would love their own sons. It goes without saying that this also applies to parents as educators.

       Twenty years after his ordination, about 800 students benefited from John Bosco’s educational system. One of his students even became a saint, St. Dominic Savio. To be sure that his work would continue after his death, John Bosco founded the Society of St. Francis de Sales. He sent out missionaries, especially to Latin America. When he realized the importance of printing materials, he founded a printing press and published pamphlets, magazines and books to spread the Good News.

       If more parents would follow the example of St. John Bosco and realize their great mission to prepare their children for the future and for heaven, we wouldn’t have to worry about the future of our nation and of the Church. Fr. Rudy Horst, SVD

 

REFLECTION QUESTION: What can you do to spread the ideas of Don Bosco among your relatives and friends?

 

Lord, I pray for our educators, especially for all parents. May they realize their great responsibility and privilege to form their children for a better future. May they do it with love and kindness.

Who in your family, neighborhood or workplace would need more light? - Daily Reflections January 30,2014

AM I LIGHT OF THE WORLD?

 

I remember the story of an American boy whose parents had taken him on a trip to Europe where they visited several Gothic cathedrals. The boy was impressed by the soaring architecture and the beauty of the stained glass windows. Back in school one day, his religion teacher asked, “What is a saint?” The boy remembered those huge beautiful windows in the cathedrals he had visited and answered, “A saint is a person through whom the light shines through.” Wow! With this the boy had unknowingly uttered one of the greatest truths about Christian life.

       In His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus pointed out what Christian life is like and its responsibilities to God and man. Among many things, He told His followers, “You are the light of the world… Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” As adopted children of God, we are sent into the world to bring light into the darkness, to be a light to others, to make God visible through our good works.

       Of course, we have no light of our own. Jesus proclaims in John’s Gospel, “I am the light of the world.” We are like the moon that reflects Christ’s light. We have received the light of Christ not only for ourselves but to share it with others. We are urged by Christ to give away what He has given us.

       We who have received the light of Christ and are called “light of the world” are tasked to share this light with a lost and dying world, with those who are lost and searching for meaning in life.

       St. Lucia’s Day on December 13 is celebrated in Sweden by girls who would dress in a white dress and wear a crown of candles on their head. They go from house to house and so bring light into the homes. Let us all be St. Lucias and allow Christ’s light to shine through us. Fr. Rudy Horst, SVD

 

REFLECTION QUESTION: Who in your family, neighborhood or workplace would need more light?

 

Lord, You are my light and my life. Help me not to hide Your light but enlighten the lives of many who are living in spiritual darkness.

Which of the obstacles in the parable do you discover in your life? - Daily Reflections January 29,2014

WHERE IS THE GOOD HARVEST?

 

More than 2,000 years have passed since God became man in Jesus Christ. After Jesus told His disciples to proclaim the Good News to all nations, nothing could stop them from spreading the teachings of their Master. They were quite successful; Christianity spread relatively fast throughout the ancient world. But today, barely one third of the world’s population knows Christ and follows His teachings. In addition, Christianity is shrinking in many Western countries that were once fervently Christian. Among those who are baptized and call themselves Christians, a large percentage lives as if they have not received baptism at all. In Christian countries, criminality, graft and corruption flourish. And so we ask: What went wrong?

       The answer is simple: Nothing went wrong. Jesus foresaw this already when He told the parable about the sower and the seed. The farmer sows according to the custom of the country; the seed is good, but much of the seed is wasted. We could expect that the farmer is disappointed because of poor harvest. But to our surprise, the harvest is plenty in spite of so much seed that was lost.

       Jesus answers our question on what went wrong with God’s Word. The apparent poor harvest after more than 2,000 years should not discourage us. The seed, the Word of God, is good and nothing can hinder a great harvest in the end. We don’t know how long the world will last, but God knows. When He assures us of an overwhelming harvest, we should not feel anxious but try more than ever to contribute to that great harvest.

       We hear the Word of God at least every Sunday during Mass. We read the Bible and so also “hear” God’s Word. But how long does it remain in our memory? “Satan has come and carried away the Word.” There are so many temptations which “choke the Word.” Realizing these dangers to the seed of the Word of God, we can become more careful and try more than ever to listen well, accept and do what God tells us. Fr. Rudy Horst, SVD

 

REFLECTION QUESTIONS: Which of the obstacles in the parable do you discover in your life? How can you remove them so that God’s Word could bring more fruit in your life?

 

Lord, send the Holy Spirit to give me the strength to resist all the daily obstacles to a good harvest in my life.

Are you proud? Do you thank the Lord when you experience success? Do you offer your daily work to God? - Daily Reflections January 28,2014

A HUMBLE “GIANT”

 

Today, the Church honors another giant, the Dominican St. Thomas Aquinas. He studied in Cologne under one of the greatest medieval thinkers, St. Albert the Great.

       Back in his home country, Italy, he wrote the Catena Aurea to help the clergy understand the Word of God better. This work was followed by the Summa Contra Gentiles to provide doctrinal material for missionaries sent to the Muslims. He composed the texts for the new feast of Corpus Christi (during Benedictions we still sing his “Tantum Ergo”). At that time there was no electricity, no typewriter or computer yet, so we can only wonder how he was able to write such volumes. He died at the age of 49!

       His life was totally dedicated to the ministry of the Word. It is said that whenever he finished writing something, he went to the crucifix and humbly asked the Lord, “Did I write it right?” Once, a voice came from the crucifix asking him, “What reward do you want for all your labor?” He simply answered, “None but Yourself, Lord.”

       What does this saint teach us who probably have never read his difficult philosophical and theological books? It is his humility born out of a deep spirituality. He was the greatest thinker and writer not only of his time but also in ours, but he felt small before the crucifix, before what Christ has done for humankind. He acknowledged that all his wisdom and writing is nothing but a small expression of gratitude for Christ’s work of salvation. Shortly before his death, he received the Eucharist for the last time and said,  “I receive you, Price of my soul’s redemption: all my studies, my vigils, and my labors have been for love of You.”

       If we offer all our efforts out of love and in gratitude to God, this would change our daily work! Our successes are due to talents we received from God, which we should develop for His greater glory. We have no reason to be proud. All we are, all we have, all we do — it is grace.         Fr. Rudy Horst, SVD

 

REFLECTION QUESTIONS: Are you proud? Do you thank the Lord when you experience success? Do you offer your daily work to God?

 

Lord, thank You for St. Thomas. How often am I so proud of my successes and forget that, without You, I would not be able to do anything great. Make me more humble, Lord.

Are you humble enough to admit your sins and approach God again and again to ask for forgiveness? - Daily Reflections January 27,2014

GOOD AND BAD NEWS

 

When I discuss eschatology in my class, the teaching of the Church about the so-called Last Things (judgment, heaven, purgatory, hell), I ask my students who they think are in hell. Usually, they would say Judas Iscariot, Hitler, murderers, liars, adulterers, and so on. But when I continue asking whether they think that King David, an adulterer and murderer, or the woman caught in adultery, or St. Peter, a liar, are in hell, they stare at me as if I were an alien coming from another planet.

       We easily condemn people to hell because we focus only on the sins or crimes they have committed. But Jesus tells us today that “every sin will be forgiven and all the blasphemies men utter.” He has proven this throughout His ministry by forgiving even the worst of sins. That’s good news! So, is hell empty? Of course, hell exists and it’s not empty. An empty hell would contradict the teachings of Jesus and the Church.

       Jesus says, “Whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven.” Blaspheming against the Holy Spirit includes persistent unbelief, mocking the power of God revealed in Jesus, and stubbornly refusing salvation.

       “God wants all to be saved,” St. Paul wrote. In the Gospels, we see that Jesus always reached out to save those who were on the brink of getting lost because of sin. God does not want anybody to be separated from Him forever. This is beautifully expressed by Jesuit Fr. Luis Bermejo: “Hell is not imposed by God but made by man. Ultimately, hell is the mystery of man’s self-determination and free responsibility... Man’s freedom is a sacred shrine where not even God dares to enter, and it is there, in the solitude of that shrine, that man makes his final act of rebellion against God....”

       God is always ready to forgive and save us, as long as we turn to Him and seek His forgiveness. The stubborn refusal of God’s love and forgiveness leads to self-inflicted eternal separation from God. May this never happen to us! Fr. Rudy Horst, SVD

 

REFLECTION QUESTION: Are you humble enough to admit your sins and approach God again and again to ask for forgiveness?

 

Lord, many times I have asked Your forgiveness, but I fall again and become ashamed to approach You again. May I never doubt Your endless compassion and always turn to You.

To whom or to what are you overly attached? - Daily Reflections January 26,2014

LETTING GO

 

One day, a compassionate king brought home to the palace a beggar whose right leg was amputated. He told the beggar, “I will give you everything you could possibly desire.” The king brought the beggar to the treasury and told him, “Take everything you can carry with your two hands.” Immediately, the beggar filled his hands with gold coins piled everywhere. Then the king told the beggar, “I still have something more to give, but to get it, you have let go of some of your gold coins.”

       The beggar saw that the king was hiding something behind his back. He thought that it must be so small to exchange it for some of his precious gold coins. So he shook his head. The king looked at him and sighed, “I wanted to give you this key to my treasury instead of just a handful of coins. But you would not let go of what you already had.”

       In today’s Gospel, we heard how Jesus called two pairs of brothers to become His first disciples. When He called Simon and Andrew, and then James and John, to become “fishers of men” instead of fishers of fish, “immediately they abandoned their nets” and followed Jesus.

       Those who decided to become disciples of Jesus had to let go of something first. They must have felt uneasy upon leaving behind everything, but they sensed that in giving up something, they would gain more.

       When we let go of things we consider precious and entrust them to God, we always end up as winners. But more often than not, we have difficulty in letting go of our resentments, unforgiveness, negative thoughts, self-pity, false guilt feelings. And the consequences are not compatible with our being followers of Christ. For example, the love of God, which has been poured into our hearts at baptism, remains cold and paralyzed. In order to have deep inner joy, we need to have the thoughts of God and the heart of God. And that means letting go of all that is not godly in our hearts and letting God take its place. Fr. Rudy Horst, SVD

 

REFLECTION QUESTION: To whom or to what are you overly attached?

 

Lord, You made me aware that I have difficulties in letting go — of persons, possessions, and, yes, of negative attitudes. Help me to get rid of these attachments so that I will be free to follow You.

Read the reflection once more and answer the questions you find there - Daily Reflections January 25, 2014

ONGOING CONVERSION

 

When we hear the word “conversion,” we usually think of a great sinner who abandons a sinful life and becomes a good person. Paul was actually not a bad person. When he persecuted the Church, he did it out of zeal for God and his religion. He just did not understand yet who Christ was, and that Christ had not come to destroy the traditional faith but that He brought more profound insights into who God is. What we commemorate today, therefore, is more the enlightenment of Paul, a call to a new understanding of God.

       We are all called to an ongoing conversion. This also does not mean that we have to be first bad persons who need to turn away from evil and become good Christians. Even the saints, who certainly were already good Christians, were aware of a necessary ongoing conversion. The Greek word for conversion is metanoia, which indicates a “turning.” Two kinds of turning are required: a turning away from the present way of life, and a turning to a new way of life, to a new understanding of who God is and what Christ wants us to do.

       Turning away from the present way of life entails a challenge. “Turning away from” and “turning to” is an adventure, as it was in the life of St. Paul. Never in his wildest dreams would he have thought that one day he would travel more than 4,000 kilometers by land and sea to preach. But this adventure kept him alive, strong and excited until the end of his life.

       Not only in daily life, but also in our religious life, can we easily fall into a dull routine. Just think of your prayers. Has your way of prayer changed since your childhood? Have you adapted to the liturgy where you are invited to participate, to sing, and pray together? When you hear the Gospel, do you listen or turn to other thoughts because you “know it already”?

       Oh yes, we can be “good Christians” but still need conversion: a turning away from routine and a turning to a new, exciting future guided by God’s Spirit, who is always full of surprises. Fr. Rudy Horst, SVD

 

REFLECTION QUESTION: Read the reflection once more and answer the questions you find there.

 

Lord, let Your Holy Spirit excite me so that I may leave my old ways behind, get out of my routine, and have the courage to be open to wherever Your Spirit wants to guide me.

Do you get easily discouraged because of your repeated failures? Are you gentle and understanding when you meet erring fellowmen? - Daily Reflections January 24,2014

THE MEASURE OF LOVE

 

St. Francis de Sales said, “The measure of love is to love without measure.” Today’s saint was bishop of Geneva and spiritual director of St. Jeanne de Chantal and many others. When Protestantism spread throughout Europe, most Catholic leaders reacted defensively. Francis de Sales was different. He perceived the Reformation as a call to conversion and to a more intense effort to achieve holiness. His preaching became known because of his love, moderation and balance. He did not, like many other spiritual guides, impose the usual harsh disciplines or force the faithful to make a drastic choice between good and evil. For him, the intensity of one’s charity is more important than self-mortification. This reflects the ministry of Jesus, who reached out and called all to “love God and love neighbor.”

       The only complaint against Francis came from rigorist critics who charged that he made it appear all too easy to become a saint. While most spiritual books were for clerics and nuns, he addressed his Introduction to the Devout Life and his Treatise on the Love of God also to lay people. Francis taught that one could become a saint wherever one lives in the world. He wrote, “Devotion is to be practiced differently by the noble, the worker, the servant, the prince, the widow, the young girl, the wife.”

       For him, genuine devotion is simply true love of God. He wrote, “In holy Church, all is by love, in love, for love and of love.” These simple words make us check whether in our lives all is by, in, for and of love. Love is the key to other persons’ hearts and to the heart of God. Of course, it needs time and effort to achieve genuine and profound love of God. We get easily discouraged when we commit the same mistake again.

       Let us end with his very practical advice for our prayer life: “A single ‘Our Father,’ said with feeling, has greater value than many repetitions, said quickly and hurriedly.” Fr. Rudy Horst, SVD

 

REFLECTION QUESTIONS: Do you get easily discouraged because of your repeated failures? Are you gentle and understanding when you meet erring fellowmen?

 

Lord, today I thank You for giving the Church a man like St. Francis de Sales. Make me more understanding, gentle and compassionate with my fellowmen.

Do you appreciate only priests who spice up their preaching with gimmicks and jokes? Are you attentive when a serious and difficult message is presented? - Daily Reflections January 23,2014

POPULARITY FOR THE WRONG REASON   Crowds followed Jesus wherever He went. Their excitement to touch Him and to be healed was high. They came not only from Galilee but from all over the country. Jesus had become a “superstar.” But why did He retreat from these crowds?        Mark tells us that these people came because “they had heard what He had done.” They wanted to see and experience something sensational. They were hungry for miracles. But they were not interested in what He preached. They did not recognize who He was because of His powerful teaching. And Jesus did not like to be followed for the miracles He worked.        There must be something far greater than being part of a great popular movement or the excitement of being in a great crowd in the presence of Jesus. Yes, He was immensely popular but for the wrong reason. He was accepted as a miracle worker but not as the Son of God.        Desire for sensation is still around today, not only in the media but also in the Church. Churchgoers adore priests who spice up their homilies with jokes and funny stories. The message (if there is a message at all) for many is not important. They want to be entertained instead of listening to the message the Lord wants to give them. How this must hurt the Lord!        But there were some who recognized Him and proclaimed correctly who He was: “You are the Son of God.” The problem was, these were evil spirits. No wonder that Jesus ordered them to shut up. The Son of God, of course, did not want to be made known by evil spirits. His people will have to follow Him after listening to Him and figuring out who He was. Isn’t it ironic that His own people did not recognize who He was, while evil spirits clearly knew Him and proclaimed His identity?        Jesus has difficulties, even today, to reach the hearts of many of His followers, not to mention those who attend the Mass but don’t listen to the readings and the homily. Fr. Rudy Horst, SVD   REFLECTION QUESTIONS: Do you appreciate only priests who spice up their preaching with gimmicks and jokes? Are you attentive when a serious and difficult message is presented?   Lord, make me more attentive to Your Word so that it will guide me through the difficult times in my life.

Are you afraid of facing evil around you or in yourself? Where should you start to be stronger against evil tendencies? - Daily Reflections January 22,2014

FACING EVIL   Again, Jesus works on the Sabbath. The Pharisees wondered why Jesus, as a teacher speaking in the synagogue, did not tell the sick man to observe the Law and wait until the holy day was over. Was Jesus just annoying the Pharisees because they always criticized whatever He said or did? Surely not. Sickness was understood as caused by evil forces. In other words, the man with a withered hand, according to contemporary belief, had been touched and was maimed by evil forces.        Now, Jesus had come into this world to fight and overcome evil, as Mark portrays His whole ministry as an ongoing warfare against Satan and demons. Evil stands on the opposite side of God. Being in the synagogue, a house of prayer, evil had no place. He had to act, and act He did. After all, what He intended to do on this day of the Lord was something good that God must approve of wholeheartedly. And so He put the Pharisees in a dilemma by asking them whether it is allowed to do good or to do evil on the Sabbath. The answer was obvious, but they refused to agree with Jesus. Two religious positions clashed here: the ritual and legalistic approach to God, and the compassionate approach of service. For Jesus, the most important thing was the merciful and loving response to a person in need of help.        Evil surrounds us; we detect evil even in our very hearts. We rarely confront the devil directly in dramatic situations like in an exorcism. But we encounter all kinds of effects of evil around us. Unfortunately, evil can also look good and often does look good. Let us not be fooled when evil seemingly looks good; it is a power out to destroy. We feel at times like young David in the First Reading, facing the evil enemy Goliath. David did not run away; he faced the enemy with confidence because he came against him “in the name of the Lord of Hosts.” As long as we see evil for what it is and face it “in the name of God,” we can and will be victorious and so continue the ministry of the Lord in our time. Fr. Rudy Horst, SVD   REFLECTION QUESTIONS: Are you afraid of facing evil around you or in yourself? Where should you start to be stronger against evil tendencies?   Lord, the example of Jesus, who confronts the effects of evil without hesitation, encourages me to be more courageous in fighting against evil. Give me the strength to overcome my fears.

Do you pray or go to Church because it is a rule? Has it become a routine? How can you make your Sunday truly the “Day of the Lord”? - Daily Reflections January 21,2014

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DO OUR SUNDAYS PLEASE GOD?

 

How do you spend your Sunday? Like the Sabbath of the Jews, our Sunday is supposed to be a day of rest, a day spent in the presence of God, a day of thanksgiving and joy. We are invited to celebrate with all Christians all over the world the foundation of our faith: the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. We do this by participating in the Holy Eucharist, where Christ is not only present but where He even comes into our very being to accompany us through another week of work and worry.

       A confrere, who works as a missionary in Africa, told me that the Sunday Mass there lasts for at least three hours. If it is shorter, the people complain. The homily has to last for at least half an hour, otherwise the people would think the priest is not prepared. They express their faith by singing and dancing. Every Mass is a joyful celebration, as our Mass is supposed to be.

       But here in the Philippines, if the homily exceeds 10 minutes, people complain. If the Mass lasts more than an hour, people complain. They want to get it over with as soon as possible. Many Catholics don’t go to Mass on Sunday anymore or, if at all, come late. Still others do their own private prayers and rush out of the church as soon as the priest has blessed the community.

       Jesus makes us aware in today’s Gospel that religion does not consist of rules, regulations and obligations. No doubt, Sunday observance is important because, as we said, we celebrate on that day the foundation of our faith. But it should never be regarded as an obligation. Jesus makes us aware that religious observances can become ends in themselves and cease to be means of communicating with God.

       Jesus invites us to look into our religious practices, especially how we spend our Sundays and what Sunday Mass means for us. May we learn from our African brethren and express our faith more joyfully and thank the Lord for all He has done, and continues to do, for us. May our Sundays be always free for Him who is always there for us! Fr. Rudy Horst, SVD

 

REFLECTION QUESTIONS: Do you pray or go to Church because it is a rule? Has it become a routine? How can you make your Sunday truly the “Day of the Lord”?

 

Lord, the routine of everyday life has also affected my religious practices, especially my Sundays. Give me the grace to be wholeheartedly with You as with a friend.

Are you in control of your appetite or are you its slave? How can you begin a healthy “fasting” for the sake of the Kingdom and for your spiritual growth? - Daily Reflections January 20,2014

FASTING?

 

Fasting was quite important among Catholics until several decades ago. As kids, we did not like the time of Lent very much and other days throughout the year when adults had to fast and we kids had to abstain from sweets. Then there was the Eucharistic fast from midnight until the moment of receiving Holy Communion. I remember one day when I had to serve at the 6.30 a.m. Mass. At home, I had found a candy, took it in my mouth and then remembered the Mass. I quickly took it out of my mouth. When I asked the priest later whether I still could receive Holy Communion, he said no. It was a bit too strict, but now that only the one-hour Eucharistic fast remains, many Catholics still do not observe it at all. In many offices, Masses are celebrated during the noon break  and often, the priest has to wait until 12:15, or even later, because employees eat their lunch first, then come to Mass and receive Communion.

       In today’s Gospel, Jesus doesn’t seem to be very keen when it comes to fasting. But this is no excuse. He defends His disciples who are with Him. But He points out that after He’s gone, they would fast. Jesus knows that “the flesh is weak” and that it needs some exercise to curb its desires.

       Feasting makes us lazy; fasting makes us strong. Feasting fills the stomach; fasting fills the soul. Feasting weakens our will and self-control; fasting strengthens our will and helps us to be in control when temptations come our way. Feasting can lead to self-indulgence; fasting gives inner strength and spiritual growth. But fasting falls in the category of sacrifice, a word many of us have erased from our vocabulary and practice.

       Today, the Church honors Sts. Fabian and Sebastian, two martyrs of the Early Church. Fabian was the first layman to be elected pope. Sebastian was a Roman soldier. Both saints were ready to lose their lives than their faith. We probably will not be killed for Christ, but what about dying a bit for Him and for the sake of our spiritual growth by reducing feasting and embracing more the sacrifice of fasting? Fr. Rudy Horst, SVD

 

REFLECTION QUESTIONS: Are you in control of your appetite or are you its slave? How can you begin a healthy “fasting” for the sake of the Kingdom and for your spiritual growth?

 

Lord, You pricked my conscience. I realize that my spiritual growth is slowed down by self-indulgence. Thank You for reminding me of the importance of fasting and sacrifice.

The Infant Jesus in royal robes asks today: Are you still developing your faith? What are you doing to strengthen your faith? - Daily Reflections January 19,2014

A CHALLENGE TO GROW UP IN OUR FAITH

 

Seldom do I have the chance to visit the beautiful city of Cebu, but whenever I go there, my first visit is to the Basilica of the Sto. Niño, where I pay my respect to the revered image of the Child Jesus.

       It is quite different from the Baby Jesus we have venerated at Christmas. There the Baby Jesus was covered only in skimpy swaddling clothes. In Cebu, the Sto. Niño stands before us in the full regalia of a king. He wears a crown and royal purple cloak. He holds the scepter as a symbol of power and the globe as a symbol of the universe. Before us stands the King of kings, the King of the universe.

       Looking at the Baby Jesus in the belen (nativity scene), we can easily think: What a small, weak, cute but harmless baby Jesus is. This impression is corrected by the image of the Sto. Niño. The Baby Jesus did not remain a baby but grew up and became a powerful, often demanding, preacher. This helpless baby of Bethlehem later uttered uncomfortable things like, “Love your enemies” or “He who wants to follow Me must take up his cross.”

       And so the image of the Infant Jesus in royal robes reminds us to look beyond its appearance and discover the adult Jesus, our Lord and Savior. When the late Pope John Paul II visited Cebu, he also paid a visit to the image of the Sto. Niño. In a homily, he reminded the faithful of what we just said: Jesus did not remain a child; He grew up. And then he continued, “In the same way, we must grow up in our faith.” To face the trials and demands of life, we need a strong and mature faith.

       To grow spiritually, we need regular nourishment through the sacraments. Especially in the Holy Mass, we receive even double nourishment. First, the Word of God that nourishes and guides us in our daily life. Then we receive the Eucharist, where Jesus becomes our nourishment.

       The feast and the image of the Sto. Niño then encourage us to grow spiritually, to trust God like a child and so mature in a faith that enables us to face whatever difficulties may lie ahead. Fr. Rudy Horst, SVD

 

REFLECTION QUESTIONS: The Infant Jesus in royal robes asks today: Are you still developing your faith? What are you doing to strengthen your faith?

 

Jesus, help me to deepen my faith, to mature spiritually and so become a more effective follower of Yours.

Do you allow yourself to be annoyed by Jesus’ words and so change your attitude towards others? - Daily Reflections January 18,2014

JESUS UPSETS

 

When we read the Gospels, we cannot help but admit that Jesus was a person who annoyed a lot of people. He annoyed the experts of the Law by forgiving the sins of the paralyzed man, when He touched a leper, or violated the Sabbath rule. Today’s Gospel story is even worse. First, He shocked the bystanders by inviting Levi to follow Him and become His disciple. In Palestine, people hated tax collectors because they levied taxes for the oppressors and, at the same time, enriched themselves.

       Not contented doing this, He accepted an invitation from Levi to dine in his house, together with other tax collectors and questionable characters. With this, He annoyed the Pharisees. No pious Jew would enter the house of a tax collector or have a meal with one as it would make him unclean.

       Jesus didn’t care what others think. Those who were considered sinners by the pious people were very important to Him. He reached out to outsiders and assured them of God’s love. He said, “It is not the healthy who need the doctor, but the sick do.” And then He proclaims: “I did not come to call the virtuous, but sinners.”

       This was shocking for His contemporaries but Good News for us. With all our weaknesses, shortcomings, failures and sins, we have no reason to be discouraged. The Lord is always there for us, especially when our fellowmen reject us because we did something wrong. We can always approach Him.

       But there is an annoying challenge we have to face. Jesus is merciful, understanding and forgiving. What about us? We identify ourselves with Levi and the sinners to whom Jesus shows His love. Yet, aren’t we sometimes among those who reject sinners, judge them and even condemn them? We are tempted to erect barriers between us and those who are different from us. That is the annoying reality Jesus makes us face today. He did not only annoy people of His time; He continues to annoy us with nagging questions. But He means well; He only wants to heal us. Fr. Rudy Horst, SVD

 

REFLECTION QUESTION: Do you allow yourself to be annoyed by Jesus’ words and so change your attitude towards others?

 

Lord, this was a shocking realization. Yes, I easily judge and condemn others. Transform me from being a harsh, hypocritical judge into a compassionate healer.

 

What is your attitude when the Gospel is read in Church? Do you feel hit by God’s Word or do you just hear but not listen? - Daily Reflections January 17,2014

TAKING CHRIST’S WORDS LITERALLY

 

The St. Anthony that the Church honors today is not so well known. I invite you to have a look at his life. He lived between 251 and 356, and was 105 years old when he died, in spite of a very ascetic life in the Egyptian desert.

       Anthony was the son of wealthy parents and so lived his early years in luxury. When he was 18 years old, his parents died and he was left to take care of the estate and of his sister. One Sunday, when he attended Mass, the Gospel was about the rich young man, to whom Jesus said, “Go and sell all you possess and give to the poor.” Young Anthony was struck by these words. He felt as if the Lord had spoken to him personally. He left the church and did literally what Jesus had said. He sold all his inheritance and donated the proceeds to the poor. He kept just a bit for himself and for his sister. On another Sunday, when he heard Jesus saying in the Gospel, “Do not be anxious about tomorrow,” he regretted his concession to prudence. He brought his sister to a convent, gave up all he still had, and dedicated himself completely to God by living a life of prayerful austerity in the desert.

       There are at least two points that St. Anthony makes us aware of. One is to listen well to the Gospel as if it were proclaimed just for you. After all, our four Gospels are not just reports of what Jesus did and said more than 2,000 years ago; Jesus is addressing us who read or listen to His words. The Bible is God’s living Word for us! This attitude towards the Gospel would change and improve our spiritual life, even our whole lifestyle.

       A second point is the demonic attacks. Anthony’s spiritual life appears to be a matter of psychological warfare. The enemy is not the world but the temptation to worldliness, to pleasure, complacency and pride. These demons attack us also today to divert our attention from God and from a life lived according to the Gospel. It would be good to recognize these modern demons and reject them with the same decisiveness that helped Anthony win his victory. Fr. Rudy Horst, SVD

 

REFLECTION QUESTIONS: What is your attitude when the Gospel is read in Church? Do you feel hit by God’s Word or do you just hear but not listen?

 

Lord, I simply ask You for the wisdom to listen to Your Word as addressed to me, and the strength to do what You tell me and fight all temptations to worldliness.

Do you use medals, amulets and scapulars in a superstitious way? - Daily Reflections January 16,2014

TRUE RELIGION AND SUPERSTITION

 

The First Reading today brings us right in the middle of an age-old conflict that continues until today, the conflict between the Israelites (now Israelis) and the Philistines (now Palestinians). The Israelites, we read, had been defeated in a battle and thought they would surely win a great victory if they would bring the Ark of the Covenant into the next battle. After all, the Ark was considered to be the throne of God, and by bringing Him into the battle, victory was certain. Or so they thought.

       What happened? Not only were they defeated again, but the Ark was even carried away by the Philistines! What went wrong? One, they thought that since God had supported them always, He would do so again. They did not ask what went wrong in their relationship with God. Second, they thought that the Ark, fashioned by Moses, would guarantee them victory.

       What they missed was to ask themselves why God had turned away from them. If they had, they would have found out that they were the ones who had turned away from God and transformed their religion into empty ritualism. If God granted us favors in the past, we should never think He would do so automatically in the future.

       And then there is the problem of superstition, which is contrary to true religion. What is superstition? It is, among others, the belief that if I use the right amulets and correct rituals, God will do what I want Him to do.

       There is nothing wrong with wearing medals and crosses or having a rosary in the car. But if I think that that alone will keep me safe from accidents, I am wrong. Our Lady has promised that whoever wears the  brown scapular will be saved. But if I wear it and go on sinning, thinking I am safe, I might be in for a bad surprise at the end of my life. Scapulars, medals, rosaries and other religious articles are but reminders of God’s nearness and desire to save me but they do not guarantee my salvation if I continue to live a godless life. Fr. Rudy Horst, SVD

 

REFLECTION QUESTION: Do you use medals, amulets and scapulars in a superstitious way?

 

Lord, thank You for making me see that external articles serve only as reminders of You, and that I have to, first and foremost, live according to Your will.

 

Are you aware that, as a Christian, you are supposed to be a missionary? How can you fulfill this task more effectively? - Daily Reflections January 15,2014

SAINT OR FOOL?

 

St. Arnold Janssen is the founder of the Society of Divine Word (SVD), the congregation I belong to, and whose feast day the Church celebrates today. Nobody who knew Fr. Janssen would have thought he would become the founder of three worldwide missionary congregations: the SVD, the Holy Spirit Sisters, and the Pink Sisters.

       He was a dry teacher of mathematics and did not impress those who met him. When he told a bishop about his plan to open a seminary for missionaries, the bishop told his secretary, “He is either a saint or a fool.”

       But he was a man of prayer and, like the four brothers in yesterday’s Gospel, he heard the call of God while teaching science. He realized that the Word of God, not science, would transform the world into a better place. Against all odds he started his work. In his native Germany, he was not allowed to establish a mission house because of the political situation. So, he crossed the border into Holland, where he acquired an abandoned pub and transformed it into his first mission house. The first few followers were not always happy with his strict style and some soon left him.

       Rome was also not happy because of the strange name he chose for his community: Society of the Divine Word. But he was convinced that it was God’s will to name his missionary society after the Divine Word. After all, their main task was to spread the Word of God throughout the world.

       To become a missionary, one does not have to leave home and go to faraway countries. The Pink Sisters stay behind the walls of their convents, but they are very effective missionaries by praying for the Church, day and night, before the Blessed Sacrament. May this feast of St. Arnold Janssen inspire you to join the missionary work of the Church through your prayer and support of missionaries. One of the last statements of Jesus was, “Go into the whole world and spread the Good News.” He wanted His Church to be a missionary Church — and you are a part of it! Fr. Rudy Horst, SVD

 

REFLECTION QUESTIONS: Are you aware that, as a Christian, you are supposed to be a missionary? How can you fulfill this task more effectively?

 

Lord, You chose an unassuming mathematics teacher to become the founder of three missionary congregations. May his example inspire us to become missionaries for the Church.

Are you aware enough of Christ’s powerful presence in your life, especially when you suffer or face problems? - Daily Reflections January 14,2014

MEETING ST. MARK

 

Yesterday, we began to read from the Gospel according to St. Mark. Let us take a brief look at his Gospel in order to understand better the messages the Church will give us in the days to come.

       Mark was probably the cousin of the Apostle Barnabas. He was not an eyewitness of Jesus’ ministry or His death and resurrection, but he wrote down what he heard from spectators like St. Peter. He wrote his Gospel for a community in Rome, where Emperor Nero ordered the persecution of many Christians, among them Sts. Peter and Paul. We can imagine Christians asking among themselves: Did we make the right decision to become Christians? What did we get out of it? Only suffering! Was Jesus really the Messiah and Son of God?

       Mark sat down, collected stories he had heard about Jesus, and put them together to answer their questions. As a title, he wrote: “The beginning of the Good News of Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God.” He stressed that Jesus indeed is the awaited Savior and the Son of God as well. And that’s “Good News.” But he also selected from the teachings of Jesus, especially His words about the cross. He told his community that Jesus was honest with His followers. He did not promise them heaven on earth but that whoever decides to follow Him must “take up his cross.” Mark emphasized that they were following not a fake Messiah but the powerful Son of God.

       In today’s Gospel, Mark presents the exorcism scene in the synagogue. It convinced those who were present that Jesus was different from other teachers, that He had an authority even over evil spirits. But the best thing about Jesus is that He never uses His power to hurt people.

       Mark presents Jesus as the Son of God who came into this world not to dominate but to make God’s love visible. We, too, need to be reminded that Christ dwells among us and that He is more powerful than the evil forces around us. Fr. Rudy Horst, SVD

 

REFLECTION QUESTION: Are you aware enough of Christ’s powerful presence in your life, especially when you suffer or face problems?

 

Lord, help me to show Your love as You showed Your Father’s love. Help me to follow Your example and use my strength to help others.