How well do you respond to the grace of God in your life? - Daily Reflections July 30,2013

WEEDS AMONG THE WHEAT

 

It is not easy to weed a vegetable garden — that is, to pull out only the weeds and leave the vegetables to grow. Sometimes, it is necessary to sacrifice a few of the plants in order to get rid of all the weeds and make it easy for the remaining plants to grow without competition from the weeds. Sometimes, a whole crop might be sacrificed because there are simply too many weeds. But certainly, this is never the case with God.

       God never sacrifices anyone in order to make life easier for others. He may allow a person’s sinful situation to continue and, thus, make life more difficult for many in order to give the former the opportunity to repent,  however slim that chance may be. This is the nature of His mercy and love — He does not want even one person to be lost; hence, today’s parable. Jesus tells us that God will sort the weeds from the wheat at Judgment Day.

       The thing to remember here is that there is another parable that tells us that it is better to be thrown into the sea with a millstone tied to our necks, rather than lead a little one into sin. When these two parables are combined,  it becomes quite obvious that if we abuse God’s mercy and do not deal with our sin at the appropriate time, we will be more harshly dealt with on Judgment Day. God’s mercy is not a reason for us to be flippant with sin and its consequences; they are always very serious matters.

       God’s mercy and forgiveness should encourage us to reform our lives to the point that we no longer need to rely so much on His forgiveness because we have made progress in ridding our lives of sin. This is the goal of discipleship; this is the call to holiness that is placed upon each of us. Fr. Steve Tynan, MGL

 

REFLECTION QUESTIONS: How well do you respond to the grace of God in your life? Are you growing in holiness, or is sin getting the better of you?

 

Holy Spirit, help me to grow more and more as a disciple of Jesus. May my life become more and more like Jesus’ life so that I will become a better witness of His love for all.

What do your moral choices indicate about the way you live your life and the values with which you do so? - Daily Reflections July 27,2013

JUDGMENT DAY IS REAL

Many today think the concept of hell is outdated. How could an all-loving and all-powerful God relegate somebody to hell? It seems impossible that that would be the case. They are probably right in this regard; however, we have a God who wants us to choose how we live our lives. So, it is not God choosing to put someone in hell for a particular reason, but an individual exercising his choice to separate himself from God. If the population of hell is greater than zero, it is not because God put anyone there; it is because that person or those people chose to go there.

       We may not like the above reasoning, but I believe it is necessary to make any sense of the gift of free will. What sort of freedom is it that will draw an arbitrary line in the sand, so to speak, and allow this level of rebellion but not that one? Once a child has learned how to light a match, it is necessary to teach him to choose what to burn and when to burn things. There is no match that refuses to light because a kill mechanism has been encoded in it to protect it from lighting up something that should not be lit. Jesus exercises due discretion with the weeds growing among the wheat as a symbol of God giving us every possible opportunity to repent of our sins before death. However, at death, our choice becomes final and we are either welcomed into eternal life with Him or delivered to the doorstep of hell.

       Judgment Day is a reality that we should consider with care as it marks the point of no return as far as our free will is concerned. Let us pray for the grace to choose well so that we need never fear the thought of the day of our death. Fr. Steve Tynan, MGL

REFLECTION QUESTION: What do your moral choices indicate about the way you live your life and the values with which you do so?

Father, You are infinitely merciful but You have also given me the gift of free will. Help me to use it well and to choose You over every one and everything in my life.

How do you express your gratitude to God for the gifts He has given you? - Daily Reflections - July 26,2013

MUCH WILL BE EXPECTED

 

It is a little scary to think that much would be expected of us if we have received much from the Lord. However, the world has the same expectation, and so it seems that we cannot escape such a responsibility. As salvation is a gift given to us by God, it is important to realize that with a gift always comes gratitude. I remember when I celebrated my birthdays as a child, my mother would remind me to write thank you cards to all those who had given me gifts, particularly my grandparents. Others I could thank personally, but I had to write to them as they lived in another state and I rarely saw them personally on my birthday.

       Gratitude helps us keep the correct perspective in our relationship with God. Without gratitude, our relationship with Him can turn into an unhealthy presumption of His goodness. Gratitude helps us recognize that God’s gifts to us require a response from us. This tells us that we are unworthy of the gifts but also conditions us to thankfulness, for God has chosen to be so generous with us. Gratitude is essential as it keeps us mindful that we are the unworthy recipient and God is the generous instigator in every situation.

       Holiness does not necessarily have to be expressed in long hours in prayer. It can simply be an act of gratitude for the generosity of God. It can be an act of service to others, recognizing that if God has chosen to serve us, then we, too, should make choices to serve others in whatever way we can. Service is being grateful for what we have been given and being willing to share it with those who have less than we do. It is good to foster a spirit of generosity in this sense, as it expresses our gratitude to God and helps us grow in holiness. Fr. Steve Tynan, MGL

 

REFLECTION QUESTIONS: How do you express your gratitude to God for the gifts He has given you? Do you need to grow in gratitude? In service of others?

 

Holy Spirit, help me see the importance of serving others and sharing the gifts I have been given as a sign of my gratitude to God.

In what way do you allow the graces of God in your life to bear fruit for His Kingdom?- Daily Reflections July 24,2013

BEARING FRUIT FOR THE KINGDOM OF GOD

 

We should never forget the price that Christ has paid for our salvation. Not in the sense of feeling guilty over His suffering, though that would be an accurate feeling, but in terms of inspiration resulting in gratitude to God for His goodness. It is this gratitude, if lived well and fully, that will be responsible for the fruits our lives bear. We must always keep in mind that no matter how much effort we may give to a project, without the grace of God, there will be little or no fruit. This is the nature of salvation and building the Kingdom of God. It is God’s work, not ours, and is thus dependent upon Him more than us. Nevertheless, God has chosen to include us in His plans and it is this privilege accompanied with its concomitant responsibility that makes us co-workers with Christ in the work of salvation.

       The image of a farmer sowing seed can be misleading, as we know the fruitfulness of the crop is dependent upon a number of things outside the farmer’s control, such as the weather, and those within his control. When it comes to salvation, everything is out of our control and in the hands of God. It is up to us to work with God as His “arms and legs,” so to speak, and, thus, make our contribution. We are there to share in the work as God sees fit — it is up to Him to delegate tasks to us — not for us to demand that we do this or that.

       Salvation will always remain something of a mystery to us and, thus, the role of faith is made clear — trusting in the mystery that results from the promises of God and their fulfillment in our lives. That faith is also a gift from Him and a fruit of the Spirit further complicates any attempt to scientifically define all the processes involved. Let us be willing to trust that God will be good to His Word and that our primary responsibility is gratitude and the resultant desire to do what we can to further progress the proclamation of the Gospel to the ends of the earth. Fr. Steve Tynan, MGL

 

REFLECTION QUESTIONS: In what way do you allow the graces of God in your life to bear fruit for His Kingdom? Do you need to open your life to this reality more than you are doing now?

 

Holy Spirit, help me to grow in gratitude for all that God has done for me so that my life will become a bigger and better channel of Your grace to the world.

Have you made a firm choice about your faith? - Daily Reflections July 23,2013

WHO IS MY MOTHER?

 

When I came to the Philippines in 1996 to minister as a priest in Metro Manila, I spent the first three months with a very generous family in Makati. The mother of the woman who welcomed me to stay with them very quickly seemed to adopt me as a “late-born” son and I, too, soon adopted the practice of calling her Nanay (Tagalog word for mother). There followed a number of other people who seemed to want to adopt me as their son in the years that followed.

       In today’s Gospel, we hear Jesus ask the question, “Who is my mother?” He does not in any way intend to disrespect His birth mother, Mary, but wants to stress that our faith is above and beyond genetic realities. At the same time, He also seems to affirm that we can all take part in these specifically familial roles in our spiritual relationships with others. This is important to the Jews as they often equated Jewishness with familial relationships particularly through the mother, she being the one who raises her child.

       Jesus intends to stop this understanding of the nature of faith and position faith solely within the choice of the individual.  Ultimately, it is irrelevant to whom you were born; what matters is whether or not you decide to enter into a relationship with God.

       This is the case in the Christian faith. Given that most Christians are baptized as infants, it is still up to the individual to affirm that commitment at a later time in his life when he can make the choice for himself. If not, the commitment of parents and godparents, while remaining valid for the childhood of the person, will fall by the wayside as the individual chooses his own path later in life.

       Whether or not you are a Christian does not depend on birth circumstances; it depends on your choice. Fr. Steve Tynan, MGL

 

REFLECTION QUESTIONS: Have you made a firm choice about your faith? How do you stand now with that choice? Is it time to revisit your choice and commit yourself anew?

 

Holy Spirit, guide my heart and mind as I make life-shaping choices. Help me to choose according to Your will so that I will be truly fulfilled in all that I do.

Responding To God's Grace - Daily Reflections July 22,2013

RESPONDING TO GOD’S GRACE

 

The figure of Mary Magdalene in the Gospel is somewhat mysterious. She is sometimes identified with the woman caught in adultery (John 8:1-11) from whom Jesus casts out seven demons and also as the first person to witness the resurrection (John 20: 1-2, 11-18). It is impossible to identify her exactly, barring some new evidence or texts coming to light that would help in this task.

       As we honor her commitment to the Lord today, we can do so under many different senses. Let us focus on her willingness to let go of an old way of life and embrace a new one. This combines the witness of the two texts above in demonstrating that she moves from a life of sin (as an adulteress, which she does not deny) to a life of witness (God chose her to be the first witness of the resurrection). This is an enormous change, similar to that of Paul of Tarsus in its magnitude.

       The reason I want to focus on this is because it can be a source of hope and consolation for us — that nothing is impossible with God. It does not matter where we have been and what we have done; what matters is whether or not we are willing to repent and change our lives for the better. This is the essence of conversion. If it is possible for Mary Magdalene (and for Paul for that matter), then it is also possible for us.

       Despair, which is a great enemy of the Gospel and conversion, makes us lose sight of the power of God to transform our lives. In the story of Mary Magdalene, we see the power of God very clearly and, thus, have a clear antidote to despair. If God has done this marvelous work in her life, then He has the power to do it in ours as well. This is the Good News of our salvation. Let us proclaim it to everyone. Fr. Steve Tynan, MGL

 

REFLECTION QUESTIONS: Are you prone to despair in your life? Do you ever fall into the “stinking thinking” that your sins are just too many and too big for God to deal with?

 

Jesus, transform my life. Help me to believe and trust that, no matter what sins I have committed or may commit in the future, Your love is big enough to forgive me.

 

There is Something Greater Than The Temple Here - Daily Reflections July 19,2013

THERE IS SOMETHING GREATER

THAN THE TEMPLE HERE

 

Jesus’ proclamation of the Gospel caused a shift of focus from external realities to internal ones. What do I mean by this? Before Jesus, there was a focus on the Law and, in particular, on the sacrifices made in the Temple for the remission of sins. With Jesus’ Gospel proclamation, the focus shifts to the individual person. He tells us that the sacrificial offering of animals in the Temple is totally useless as far as the forgiveness of sins is concerned, and that the essence of forgiveness rests in the heart’s response to His Word.

       This calls for a major shift in consciousness for the Jews, one that they obviously have great difficulty doing, judging from the Scriptural evidence, especially those whose entire lives and livelihood are centered around Temple sacrifices. Perhaps this makes it a little easier to understand some of the opposition that Jesus faced as He preached the Gospel. The focus on the heart of the person is important for us to recognize, as it can be very easy for us to slip back into all sorts of legalistic rather than heart-focused realities.

       As we continue to follow Jesus, let us keep in mind the need to focus on our heart’s response to God’s love and mercy. Let us not allow the devil to mislead us towards the external practices and understanding of our faith that make it impossible to grow in our relationship with God. There is nothing that the devil enjoys more than seeing us floundering in a sea of laws and legalities when we should be bathing in the light of God’s mercy and love.

       Let us not impose our understanding of the faith on others and allow them to freely make their journey to God in the way that best suits them. Of course, we have to address sin if that is necessary, but when it is not a matter of sin, who are we to decide what way another person should be walking? Fr. Steve Tynan, MGL

 

REFLECTION QUESTIONS: Do you tend to impose your way and beliefs on others? Are you free enough to admit that there are many ways to follow Jesus’ calling?

 

Holy Spirit, help me realize that You tailor fit Your graces for each individual and that my way to God does not necessarily work for anyone else.

The Consolation of the Lord - Daily Reflections July 18,2013

THE CONSOLATION OF THE LORD

 

One of the great things about God is that He is always ready to give us His consolation and love. In today’s Gospel, He is asking all of us, who might be struggling under the weight of a problem or two, to entrust ourselves to His mercy and love, and allow Him to help us carry the load. It is a pretty good offer when you think about it. However, the offer is more on the spiritual dimension of our struggles.

       The promise of someone willing to listen to us articulate our problems is often the first, and perhaps the most important step, towards attaining a solution to them. It is very important that we realize that God’s offer of help is never an empty offer. No matter what our problem may be, it is always going to be advantageous to us to avail ourselves of His help. Literally speaking, this text contains legal imagery combined with an agricultural concept of yoke. Jesus is saying that the yoke of the Gospel is far easier than the yoke of the Law. And this is not just because He is there to shoulder most of the weight. The reality is that when it comes to sin, Jesus shoulders 100 percent of the weight — through His death on the cross. The Law is good but it cannot deal with sin and its effects; it can help us avoid sin if we follow it, but once we have fallen, all it does is reinforce the knowledge that we have indeed sinned. This is not necessarily very helpful. Jesus, on the other hand, is telling us that He can take the yoke of the knowledge of our sinfulness and transform it with His forgiveness. In this way, the yoke becomes light and easy, and we are freed from the guilt of sin and many of its effects. It is an offer that we would be mad to refuse, so let us pray for the grace to humble ourselves and allow the grace of God to “lighten our load.” Fr. Steve Tynan, MGL

 

REFLECTION QUESTION: Do you always insist on solving your own problems and would rather fail than admit you need help?

 

Jesus, help me grow in humility so that I can better avail of Your forgiveness and grow as Your disciple.

 

The Strength of Faith - Daily Reflections July 17,2013

THE STRENGTH OF FAITH

 

Faith is not necessarily dependent on a person’s intellect or his capacity to understand. Faith has to do with the person’s willingness to surrender to a set of beliefs that will then become the foundation of his way of life. Faith is something that scientists cannot really measure, as it can take as many different forms and shapes as there are people in this world.

       In the Gospel, Jesus makes it clear that faith is also a gift and not something that a person can generate. There are no formulae that can derive it from some starting point of knowledge. It is a gift from God. Seeing that it is at the heart of our relationship with Him, it seems quite consistent that it is not something we can measure or create.

       Gratitude is our best response to the gift of faith. The more grateful we are, the stronger our faith becomes. It is truly a case of the one who has much getting more and more! It seems that faith is better if it is kept simple rather than complicated with all sorts of clever attempts at understanding or measuring it.

       Perhaps this helps to explain why Jesus thanks His Father for endowing the understanding and strength of faith to the simple — because they are more likely to simply accept it with gratitude and put it to good use. Let us pray that we will keep our own faith simple and easy to follow. Let us pray that we will avoid the temptation to control God’s gifts to us and simply be grateful for them and put them to good use.

       This certainly seems to be what Jesus would prefer, judging from today’s Gospel, and many of the other things we learn of His attitude to faith during His life and ministry. Fr. Steve Tynan, MGL

 

REFLECTION QUESTION: Do you try to manipulate God into giving you what you want rather than simply being grateful for all that He chooses to give you?

 

Holy Spirit, help me to develop a grateful heart that will stay with me all the days of my life.

 

The Woes of Those Who Defy God - Daily Reflections July 16,2013

THE WOES OF THOSE WHO DEFY GOD

 

Jesus is not interested in pandering to the feelings of anyone. His concern is with the truth, and if the truth is uncomfortable for some, then so be it. Of course, He is not callous in the way He delivers the truth, but at the same time, He does not try to coat a stern or challenging message with so much sugar that the bitterness in it is lost. This attitude of Jesus is helpful for our own lives.

       There is an old proverb that says, he who spares the rod spoils the child. This is not meant to encourage corporal punishment but to recognize that there are times in our lives when we need to be chastised for the wrong we have done. I remember the times when I was punished at school, nearly every one of them fully deserved, and they helped form the way I perceived right and wrong. I am not saying that being beaten with a ruler or cane is a good way to inculcate that sense of order, but I do think that a certain level of punishment appropriate to a misdeed is justified from time to time.

       God allows us to feel the effects of sin in our lives, such that many innocent people, as well as the perpetrators of the sins, experience suffering and hardship. Where is justice in that for the innocent? When I suffered through no fault of my own as a child, it was still a learning experience as it formed my sense of justice and the desire to avoid doing anything that was going to be detrimental to others.

       Jesus reminds us in the Gospel that justice will prevail in the end. Even though we know that it will be heavily tempered with God’s mercy, it is imperative that we realize that God’s goodness to us cannot be taken for granted forever. Time will come when we have to respond to it, and if we do not, we will discover eternity outside the presence of our all-loving God. Fr. Steve Tynan, MGL

 

REFLECTION QUESTIONS: Do you take God’s mercy and love for granted? Do you respond to His forgiveness by seriously attempting to rid your life of any sin?

 

Jesus, You are the only way to the Father. Thank You for Your mercy and love. Help me to live as Your disciple and so become a witness of Your transforming love to the world.

Love The Crucified Jesus - Daily Reflections July 15,2013

LOVE THE CRUCIFIED JESUS

 

The Church celebrates the life of St. Bonaventure, a son of the Order of Franciscan Minor. He wrote extensively on the life of his beloved founder, Francis of Assisi. Bonaventure believed in the dignity of the human person, who possesses a rational mind to study and live the truths of the faith. Remarkably intelligent yet simple, he offers the Church a legacy of instruction and meditation on the spiritual life.

       Legend has it that when Francis was recalling the events of Bonaventure’s childhood, he cried out, “O buona ventura,” meaning “good luck” in Italian. He was baptized John, but it was changed due to his miraculous recovery through the intercession of St. Francis. Francis was moved by the tears of Bonaventure’s mother who pleaded for the health of her son. At a young age, his mother made a vow to dedicate to God her beloved son.

       Bonaventure was touched by the crucifix which became his constant refrain: “I study and read at the foot of the crucifix.” His wealth of knowledge, loving pastoral care to the sick, and joyful simplicity all came from the Crucified Love in Jesus. As we meditate on the Gospel, we see it fulfilled in the life of Bonaventure. He was truly a missionary of the heart of God. Bonaventure had a profound devotion to the Sacred Heart that left him with a strong sense of ardent love, compassion and merciful attendance to those with great illnesses. He brought the power of words to his people. Biographers note that his words were inflamed with fire of the love of God, affectionately known as the Seraphic Doctor.

       The following excerpt is taken from the lengthy prayer of Bonaventure. Read it slowly for your own meditation: “Be Thou alone ever my hope, my entire confidence, my riches, my delight, my pleasure, my joy, my rest and tranquility, my peace, my sweetness, my food, my refreshment, my refuge, my help, my wisdom, my portion, my possession, my treasure; in Whom may my mind and my heart be ever fixed and firm and rooted immovably. Amen.” Fr. Brian Steele, MGL

 

REFLECTION QUESTION: What does the crucifix mean to you?

 

Jesus, help me to love You more and more, as I gaze on You at the cross.

Love of God and Neighbor - Daily Reflections July 14,2013

LOVE OF GOD AND NEIGHBOR

 

How can we love God if we do not love our neighbor? Our love for God is shown in our love of neighbor. These are the commandments which we live by: love of God and love of neighbor. The question posed to the lawyer is good for us to meditate on as well: Who is our neighbor? I am sure his head must have spun as Jesus spoke to him about this parable. It is a known fact that Jews and Samaritans were at loggerheads with one another, as much hostility and racism existed between the two.

       You would think the priest and Levite in the parable would have at least done something for the poor man who was left for dead on the roadside. The priest and Levite were supposedly the epitome of God’s benevolent love and compassion, and yet they just passed by the poor man on the way. They didn’t want to get their hands dirty. They must have thought he was dead. Any contact would have made them ritually unclean. But they could, at least, have shown a little compassion to make sure he was alright. Notice how the Samaritan went out of his way — binding up the wounds, pouring oil and wine, settling him on the horse, bringing him to a place of rest until he should return. And return he did! What amazing love and compassion.

       It would be good to be reminded of the “works of mercy,” both spiritual and corporal. Perhaps we can use them as points for our examen of conscience in our meditations today. The spiritual works of mercy are: convert the sinner, instruct the ignorant, counsel the doubtful, comfort the sorrowful, bear wrongs patiently, forgive injuries, and pray for the living and the dead. The corporal are: feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, clothe the naked, shelter the homeless, visit the sick, visit the imprisoned, and bury the dead. Fr. Brian Steele, MGL

 

REFLECTION QUESTION: Of the spiritual and corporal works of mercy enumerated above, what have you been fulfilling diligently? And which have you been neglecting?

 

Father, make me a Good Samaritan. Amen.

Daily Reflections - July 12,2013

THE GIFT OF LOVED ONES

 

The book of Genesis is a beautiful book depicting to us the origins of salvation history. The First Reading today is the delightful story of Joseph reuniting with his father. The story is quite moving. You might remember that Joseph was sold as a slave to Egypt, conveniently planned by his brothers. But because of his faithfulness to Pharaoh and his ability to interpret dreams, he was given a high position in Pharaoh’s court. The brothers have come to Egypt seeking food and provisions during the drought and are about to know that the governor of Egypt is, in fact, their brother Joseph. Joseph tells his brothers to bring his father and family to Egypt.

       We see in this story the origin of how the Israelites landed in Egypt. Remember it would be Moses, many centuries later, seeking to free the people from their bondage of slavery in Egypt. The moving story of the reading is the meeting of father and son. For a long time, Jacob thought Joseph was dead. He lived in grief for most of his life after the sudden disappearance of Joseph, his favored son. We see a great emotional encounter. At the end of the story, we see almost a prefiguring of Simeon in the temple at the sight of Jesus — Joseph has seen his father and now Jacob can rest in peace.

       People come and go in our lives, and we move on. But it is a beautiful thing to meet again with loved ones or members of family who live away from us. We go on with life without them, so to see them again is a miracle and can be quite emotional. Has this been your experience? A good thing to do is to keep in contact with our loved ones. Fr. Brian Steele, MGL

 

REFLECTION QUESTION: When was the last time you got in touch with your loved ones who live away from you?

 

Lord, thank You for the gift of my loved ones, especially those whom I have not seen for a long time. Keep them safe in Your presence. Amen.

Daily Reflections - July 11,2013

GOD BLESS US

 

In one of my travels around Italy, I happened to pass by the small village of Nursia, the birthplace of St. Benedict. Benedict was the founder of western monasticism. He lived and died around the 5th or 6th century. Legends abound under his patronage. Also, Benedict is seen as a wise, loving and good shepherd. He established many monasteries in his lifetime and has left the Church a wonderful legacy in the Rule, addressing various ways of life and spirituality.

       He was certainly an Apostle of the Lord in his own time. What Matthew recorded in his Gospel account is also seen in the life of St. Benedict. He cured the sick, cleansed the lepers, raised the dead, and cast out the evil in his midst. In every town and village he entered, he was a man of peace. While many were after his life — his own monks tried to poison him — he was a man of blessing and truly enjoyed the manifold blessings of God in his life. Benedict knew what it was like to receive without charge, and so he gave without charge. His motto, “Prefer nothing to the love of Christ,” is lived out in the modern monastery and those who associate with his order.

       Benedict was not an itinerant preacher but one who desired to live in solitude, away from the bustle of city life. His spirituality is one of deep communion with the Lord and has been the basis of many communities seeking to live a life in the Lord Jesus Christ.

       Today, we invoke his intercession for our lives. Let us turn to him and ask for the grace to live out a full and deep communion with Christ. Let us receive and give freely all that God has given us. Fr. Brian Steele, MGL

 

REFLECTION QUESTION: How does your life bless the people around you?

 

Lord, You look upon Benedict as a man of blessing. Bless us that we may be a blessing to others, too. Amen.

Daily Reflections - July 9,2013

LABORERS IN THE HARVEST

 

I feel sorry for the sheep. They seem to be the dumbest animals that ever existed! Driving out in the countryside, you’ll see them just sitting by the roadside, not moving at all. They are like goats. Unless someone guides them, they don’t know what to do. It takes one to lead for the others to follow. Sheep are easily harassed and stressed; they need to be taken great care of. A bit like us, really.

       Jesus in the Gospel today feels sorry for the people. His heart goes out to them. The people remind Him of sheep — harassed and dejected. They are truly without guidance. Many come to Him seeking wisdom and grace, healing and strength. Matthew tells us how Jesus spends His day — teaching, preaching and curing all kinds of sickness and diseases. He calls on the disciples to pray that others will take up His call and do what He did, for the harvest is rich but the laborers are few. No truer word has ever been spoken.

       Jesus takes upon Himself the title of the Good Shepherd. He knows and loves His flock. His compassionate heart reaches out to the lost and forsaken, abandoned and lonely. There is great joy in the heart of the Lord when a person gives himself to the Lord to be a worker in His vineyard. We must pray for vocations to the priesthood and the religious life.

       Jesus comes to heal and set free the people of God. For a long time, Satan had his grip on many, but Jesus loosens that grip by the power of His Word and deed. The same Jesus who went through towns and villages is that same One who walks our streets, teaches us through His Church, and proclaims the Gospel through His ministers. Fr. Brian Steele, MGL

 

REFLECTION QUESTION: If you’re still single, how open are you to entering the religious life or living as a celibate for the Lord? Pray for  vocations to the religious life and priesthood.

 

Here I am, Lord, send me. Amen.

Daily Reflections - July 8,2013

FAITH IN THE LORD

 

People who have strong faith in the Lord amaze me no end. One of my Protestant friends has such a Charismatic faith that she truly believes in the promises of the Lord. I love to listen to her faith stories. Faith is a gift from the Lord, which is not to be taken for granted. The people we meet in the Gospel account today have incredible faith.

       The first is an official, a prominent figure in society. Luke calls him Jairus. He comes bowing his head in deep respect, calling on Jesus for help. His daughter has just died but he still believes that Jesus has the power to lay His hand on her so that she might be saved. Faith.

       The second is a woman who believes that, by simply touching the garment of Jesus, she will be healed. Nothing spoken — just faith put into action. Again amazing faith.

       One speaks words of faith while the other makes a gesture of faith. Both are listened to and attended by Jesus, and the miracles happen. Jairus’ daughter is alive and well; the woman with the hemorrhage is healed of her infirmity. Jesus is encouraged by our faith, especially when it seems to go against all odds.

       Do you know people in your life who have this exceptional faith? Just being around them is awe-inspiring. They simply trust that the Lord will act. Their prayer is that of the psalmist: “In you, O God, I place my trust.” Our faith will be tested and challenged at times, like the official and the woman with the hemorrhage. Let us call upon the Lord today for the gift of faith — Charismatic faith. Fr. Brian Steele, MGL

 

REFLECTION QUESTION: Compared to the faith of the official and the woman with hemorrhage, how is your faith?

 

Lord, I place my trust in You. Amen.

Daily Reflections - July 7,2013

MISSIONARIES OF GOD’S LOVE   During my novitiate, we had mission work on holidays. A week or two would be spent in a parish in order to develop skills and missionary experience. Often, we would hike to our destination, or seek a ride from passing travelers. If we were unlucky, we would walk for miles. It was tough, challenging and real missionary work. Traveling to our destination could be a missionary experience, too, especially if we got into a car whose driver had no knowledge of faith, which would then be our springboard to witness and evangelize. Those were the days!        The disciples are called to missionary endeavors. Itinerant preachers were the name of the game. They had a set regime to follow, with words and deeds to match. After a period of time, they returned with joy, sharing their experiences with Jesus. I remember feeling the same way. Upon return, it was a great delight to share with the community the works of God. It was a real testament to the faithful provision of God, for He never failed to provide.        We are all called to be missionaries of God’s love. That is why I admire the Opus Dei, the Focolare Movement, the Disciples of Jesus Community, and other Charismatic communities who seek to bring God to the workplace. It is a tough world out there and it takes courageous souls to conquer it. I am sure, in many of the disciple’s missionary experiences, they were challenged in their faith, love and hope. They would have experienced rejection, with persecution on the side. But the report we find in the Gospel is one of wonder and awe. They paved the way straight for the Lord, who was to follow. Someone once said, “Be ye fishers of men. You catch them —He’ll clean them.” The Lord really does trust us to do His work. Yes, we can be mindful of our weaknesses and shortcomings, but the rewards are “out of this world.” Fr. Brian Steele, MGL   REFLECTION QUESTIONS: What are your mission areas — home, school or work? How can you bring peace and healing to those around you?   Lord, I thank You for calling me to be a missionary. Help me fulfill my mission of bringing Your love to all. Amen.

Daily Reflections - July 5,2013

LEAVE YOUR BOOTH

 

Have you ever experienced times when you see someone you would rather not and then avoid them at all costs? These are the people who get on your nerves, the “too hard to handle” type of characters. They are the ones who always seem to be around when you least expect it and when you least like it. It happens to me, occasionally, in the mall.

       The tax collectors were like this. They were the type of people to be avoided at all costs. They did not only want your money; they were seen as corrupt, traitors and, most of all, sinners, according to the religious. Meet Matthew, a tax collector, in the Gospel account today. The text reminds me of a statue of Matthew which I have come across in one of my parish assignments. The image is very tall, seven feet, and striking to the eye. Matthew’s coins are trampled underfoot while holding the book of the Gospel. He is a tax collector turned evangelist, and he has amazing stories on the life of Jesus. He himself experienced the call of the Lord and became one of His loyal followers.

       Matthew is quick to leave his booth and follow Jesus. Having been touched by Jesus’ loving kindness, he shows his depth of gratitude by putting on a feast. The Pharisees notice Jesus attending the feast with a whole crowd of sinners, including tax collectors, and begin to question his accountability. Jesus is quick in His response: “I have come to call the sick, not the healthy.” Since the Pharisees believe they are virtuous, they think they are in no need of His mercy, when in fact they are most in need of it. Jesus is quite comfortable to fellowship with the outcasts, unlike ourselves! Perhaps Jesus is trying to convince us that we must reach out — extremely challenging! We need to reach out to those least liked in our community. Let us begin to show mercy and acceptance to them. Jesus  Himself has shown us the way. Let us return to Him and follow Him, leaving our booths of comfort. Fr. Brian Steele, MGL

 

REFLECTION QUESTION: Is Jesus challenging you to reach out to the lonely, the rejected or those less fortunate?

 

Lord, help me to leave my comfort zone so as to follow You. Amen.

Daily Reflections - July 4,2013

TRUE FRIENDS

 

How would you like to have friends like the men in today’s Gospel? They will do anything to bring their sick friend to Jesus. Even the crowds do not dissuade them. Rather, they climb the roof in order to lower the paralytic down in front of Jesus. And the paralytic was at the mercy of his friends and of Jesus.

       I like to imagine the scene. Jesus is in the room preaching, the crowds overflowing. During the course of His teaching, one could imagine the commotion above. The roof is torn apart in order to make way for a sick person, through the efforts of his friends. See the friends’ faith in Jesus and the love for their friend. Jesus’ response is worthy of note. Jesus sees their faith — the faith of the friends, not the faith of the paralytic. The paralytic cannot do or say anything. Jesus is delighted with the care and concern the people show for their friend. Jesus speaks straight to the depth of man: “Your sins are forgiven.” Since sickness in that culture was a sign of sinfulness, and God alone could forgive sins, we have the reaction of the scribes.  Not only is the man made well in spirit; in his body, too, he receives fullness of health and recovery, seemingly due to the intercession of his friends. We need friends like them, and we need to be that kind of a friend to one another — friends who care for one another in times of need, no matter what the cost. They were seemingly unconcerned about ripping the roof apart; they would deal with that later! Their primary concern was to get the friends to Jesus.

       Are we this passionate? Are we willing to bring our friend to Jesus? The man not only left his mat and went home. He was able to embrace his new life, reunited with family. He was freed from his paralysis, both physically and spiritually. Fr. Brian Steele, MGL

 

REFLECTION QUESTIONS: Do you bring your friends to Jesus? How do you do this?

 

Lord, You call me friend and I am called to be a friend to others. Help me to show care and concern to my neighbor, the one most in need. Amen.