Daily Retreat 07/01/07

2007 Jul 1 SUN: THIRTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
1 Kgs 19: 16b. 19-21/ Ps 15(16): 1-2. 5. 7-8. 9-10. 11/ Gal 5: 1. 13-18/ Lk 9: 51-62

From today’s readings:  “Elisha left and followed Elijah as his attendant....  You are my inheritance, O Lord....  For freedom Christ set us free....  No one who sets a hand to the plow and looks to what was left behind is fit for the kingdom of God.”

Let Freedom Ring!

Since this Wednesday is the American Independence day, Paul’s words about freedom probably ring the loudest bell this weekend.  They echo the same insight proclaimed by Christ when He pointed out, “Every one who commits sin is a slave to sin....  If the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed”  (John 8:34.36).

But what is the freedom for?  Paul answers, “Do not use this freedom as an opportunity for the flesh; rather, serve one another through love!”  In other words, our God-given freedom is not given just so we can do whatever we want; rather, true freedom is given so that we are able to do what we ought!  Those who use their freedom to make sinful choices, end up throwing away their freedom by submitting again to the yoke of the slavery of sin.

Freedom always implies responsibility.  Those who refuse to live up to their concomitant responsibilities end up with proportionate limits on their freedom (such as those who are placed in prison).  We must always remember this principle as we commit ourselves to responsibly using well the freedom God has graciously granted to us, the freedoms of our country, and our personal freedom as His beloved children.

Daily Retreat 06/30/07

2007 Jun 30 Sat/First Martyrs of the Church of Rome
Gn 18:1-15/Lk 1:46-55/Mt 8:5-17

From today’s readings: “The LORD appeared to Abraham by the Terebinth of Mamre, as Abraham sat in the entrance of his tent, while the day was growing hot....  The Lord has remembered His mercy....  Lord, I am not worthy to have You enter under my roof; only say the word and my servant will be healed..... ”

Abraham’s Hospitality

Hospitality was one of Abraham’s standout virtues, so it’s no wonder that the New Testament invokes his example (cf. Hebrews 13:2): “Do not neglect hospitality, for through it some have unknowingly entertained angels.”

In ancient times and even today, hospitality is highly valued in hostile environments, in climates and locales where one’s survival, especially during travels, often depends on whether or not another person can be prevailed upon to provide water, food,  clothing, and shelter when needed the most.

But Abraham goes beyond the nomad’s code of reciprocal hospitality - the lavish reception he offers the three strangers is more than most of us would provide for even a best friend!  So his example can be a practical inspiration for you and me: in our earthly pilgrimage, since we certainly rely often enough on the generosity of others (particularly God!), it follows that, whenever we have an opportunity to be hospitable to others (whether known or unknown to us), we should follow Abraham’s lead, thereby doing our own part in welcoming angels!

Daily Retreat 06/29/07

2007 Jun 29 Fri:PETER AND PAUL, APS S
Vigil:Acts 3:1-10/Ps 18(19):2-3. 4-5/Gal 1:11-20/Jn 21:15-19.
Day:Acts 12:1-11/Ps 33(34):2-3. 4-5. 6-7. 8-9/2 Tm 4:6-8. 17-18/Mt 16:13-19

From today’s readings: “Peter thus was being kept in prison, but prayer by the Church was fervently being made to God on his behalf....  The angel of the Lord will rescue those who fear Him....  I, Paul, am already being poured out like a libation, and the time of my departure is at hand....  You are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My Church....”

Stumbling to Success

Peter and Paul were certainly the most noteworthy apostles - Peter, that chosen rock providing stability, direction, and leadership for the Church; and Paul, that teacher of the nations in faith and truth.  And yet, in spite of their glorious and indispensable roles in the Church, these two were also the ones with the most glaring failings among all the faithful apostles.

Both Peter and Paul were keenly aware of their sins - not just Peter’s denials of Jesus and Paul’s persecution of Him, but also their day-to-day struggles and their evident character flaws and lapses.  So no wonder both of them rightly recognized where the credit belonged - that it was God Himself who rescued them from peril (as Peter insisted, “Now I know for certain that the Lord sent His angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod”) and strengthened them in their weakness (as Paul maintained, “The Lord stood by me and gave me strength”) and worked marvels through them.

So the examples of Peter and Paul remind us that the decision to welcome Christ as our Savior does not make us impervious to temptation and incapable of sin.  Like those apostolic princes, each  of us must struggle constantly with our own character flaws and lapses.   And yet even the most glaring failing can’t prevent us from turning to God so He can rescue us from peril, strengthen us in weakness, and even work marvels through us to the glory of His Name!

Daily Retreat 06/28/07

2007 Jun 28 Thu:Irenaeus, bp, mt M
Gn 16:1-12. 15-16/Ps 105(106):1b-2. 3-4a. 4b-5/Mt 7:21-29

From today’s readings: “Sarai took her maid, Hagar the Egyptian, and gave her to her husband Abram to be his concubine....  Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good....  Everyone who listens to these words of Mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock....”

Impatience with God

The Lord had promised Abraham that his descendants would be as numerous as the stars, and yet, at eighty-six years of age, he and Sarah still had no children.  Then the two of them started to think that more initiative was required on their part, and so the awkward arrangement was drawn up of having Hagar, Sarah’s maid, step in as Abraham’s concubine.

Even assuming that this plan was hatched with the best of intentions on Abraham’s, Sarah’s, and Hagar’s part, it’s certainly easy to understand why things soon soured between Sarah and Hagar.  As the book of Genesis makes clear, the liaison between Abraham and Hagar was not the least bit necessary for the fulfillment of God’s promise.  But, on the other hand, neither did God allow that complication to derail His promise....

All of us are recipients of God’s promises, although, of course, the promises that God has made for us have been through His Son and His Church, and thus were not like the exclusive promises which God made with Abraham.  And yet, it’s easy for us also to become impatient in waiting for God to fulfill His promises, and like Abraham and Sarah, we can be tempted to take matters into our own hands....

Clearly, God expects each of us to cooperate and do our part in bringing His promises to fruition, and yet He would never have any of us do something wrong in order to “hurry along” His plans.  So, when you or I ever feel impatient with God, it’s essential to look out for sinister temptations because, even starting with the best of intentions, if we fall for such temptations, they will only end up complicating our lives.  It’s much better to re-dedicate ourselves to following God’s plan, as well as His timetable!

Daily Retreat 06/27/07

2007 Jun 27 Wed/Cyril of Alexandria, bp, dr
Gn 15:1-12. 17-18/Ps 104(105):1-2. 3-4. 6-7. 8-9/Mt 7:15-20

From today's readings: "The LORD made a covenant with Abram....  The Lord remembers His covenant for ever....  By their fruits, you will know them."

Cutting a Covenant

Anyone who has read even a small portion of the Bible will note the particular significance attached to the word "covenant," which is much more than a mere promise or a contract.  Basically, a covenant is a solemn pledge to establish a permanent relationship, such as a marriage covenant, by which a man pledges himself for all his life to his wife, and she does likewise.

In English translations, the verb associated with establishing a covenant is usually "make," as in "the LORD made a covenant with Abram."  However, the literal translation of the Hebrew verb is "to cut a covenant," which helps highlight the permanence of the covenant.  Abraham's strange ritual of cutting the animals and separating the halves was, in fact, the customary way to solemnize the "cutting" of a new covenant, because the people making the covenant would promise to be faithful to it, then walk together through the middle of the separated animal halves, with the curse of being split in two themselves if one of them should violate the covenant.

God thus was impressing upon Abraham the permanence of His covenant promise, so "Abram put his faith in the LORD, who credited it to him as an act of righteousness."  Even more so, in the New Covenant, God has pledged Himself to us, and adopted us as His children, so, like Abraham, we need to put our faith in the Lord, and be faithful to our part of the covenant!

Daily Retreat 06/26/07

2007 Jun 26 Tue
Gn 13:2. 5-18/Ps 14(15):2-3a. 3bc-4ab. 5/Mt 7:6. 12-14

From today's readings: "Let there be no strife between you and me, or between your herdsmen and mine, for we are kinsmen....  He who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord....  How narrow the gate and constricted the road that leads to life - and those who find it are few!"

Getting Along

Occasional strife and conflicts are inevitable in family life - how the family resolves the tensions determines whether the family stays together or breaks apart.   In the first reading, because "there were quarrels between the herdsmen of Abram's livestock and those of Lot's," Abraham took the initiative in proposing a plan of "giving each other space," as we would say today.

In making his proposal, Abraham went out of his way to make sure his nephew Lot would be happy with the arrangements.  But even though he forfeited the first choice, Abraham did not come up short - indeed, after reading chapter 14 (which is not covered in the lectionary), it will be clear how Abraham's situation was soon better by a lot than Lot's lot.

Too often, sensible ideas for preserving family peace are simply rejected because one party figures that he's getting less or paying more than other members.  But Abraham's example encourages us to take the initiative in cultivating generosity and family harmony, even when that means settling for a bit less at times.

Daily Retreat 06/25/07

2007 Jun 25 Mon
Gn 12:1-9/Ps 32(33):12-13. 18-19. 20 and 22/Mt 7:1-5

From today's readings: "I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, so that you will be a blessing....  Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be His own....  Remove the wooden beam from your eye first; then you will see clearly to remove the splinter from your brother's eye."

Abraham, Our Father in Faith

What is the book of Genesis all about?  While many people primarily associate it with "creation,"  in fact, only the first two chapters of Genesis (a book with fifty chapters!) directly recount the initial creation of the world.  But the word "Genesis" actually means "family history," because the whole book of Genesis is indeed all about our earliest family members.  

Of course, we're all very familiar with Adam and Eve, and Noah and the Ark, yet many Christians are only vaguely aware of the narratives and importance of the two people featured most in Genesis: Abraham and Joseph, each of whom can claim about twelve chapters of coverage in the first book of the Bible (Abraham: chapters 12-24; Joseph chapters 37-50, except 38 and 49).

The first reading thus begins with Abraham's divine election - on His own initiative, God chooses Abraham (whose name was originally "Abram" - cf. 17:4-5) as the founding patriarch of the Chosen People, with God promising him: "I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you. All the communities of the earth shall find blessing in you."

Over the next two weeks, the first reading will highlight the greatest events in the life of Abraham, our father in faith.  Note, however, that the narrative will be interrupted by special readings for John the Baptist's birthday (June 24) and the solemnity of Peter and Paul (June 29).  So open your Bible and follow along starting in the twelfth chapter for this essential piece of our family history....

Daily Retreat 06/24/07

2007 Jun 24 SUN:NATIVITY OF JOHN THE BAPTIST S
Vigil:Jer 1:4-10/Ps 70(71):1-2. 3-4a. 5-6ab. 15ab .17/1 Pt 1:8-12/Lk 1:5-17.
Day:Is 49:1-6/Ps 138(139):1b-3. 13-14ab. 14c-15/Acts 13:22-26/Lk 1:57-66. 80

From today's readings: "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you....  Since my mother's womb, You have been my strength....  Although you have not seen Jesus Christ you love Him....  He will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother's womb, and he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God...."

He must increase, but I must decrease

Many recognize that there is no historical evidence to establish that December 25th is the actual birthday of Jesus.  This date was actually chosen for theological reasons!  The pagan Romans had a popular feast at the beginning of winter to celebrate the birth of the "invincible sun god," since after the winter solstice, the sunlight gradually increases as darkness decreases and the days start to grow longer again.  In fact, many ancient cultures had some kind of festival at the solstice - there seems to be an innate human need to scorn the darkness, the cold, and dreariness with a celebration of hope in the ascendancy of light, warmth, and cheer.  

Thus, as Christianity grew and many pagan customs were "baptized" and invested with a Christian significance, since Isaiah had prophesied Christ as the great Light seen by those who dwelt in darkness (Isaiah 9:2), the solstice festival in honor of the "invincible sun god" was appropriately rededicated in honor of the birth of the invincible Son of God, who presents Himself as the Light of the World (John 8:12)!

So, we really do not know the actual day of Jesus' birth.  Since Luke mentions that there were shepherds "keeping watch over their flock by night," (Luke 2:8), this perhaps suggests a time in spring, when most sheep are born, thereby justifying the presence of more shepherds watching at night.  But, as I like to point out, the carol sung by Elvis Presley that asks, "Why Can't Everyday Be Like Christmas?"  has, as the surprising answer, that everyday should be like Christmas, because any day might actually be the historical birthday of Jesus!

Today's feast of the birth of John the Baptist is derived from Christmas.  From Luke's gospel, we learn that the Lord's cousin and precursor was six months older than Jesus (Luke 1:26 & 1:36), so John the Baptist's birth is celebrated today, exactly six months before Christmas.  Since the daylight decreases at the birth of John but increases at Christmas, the theme of Christ as the world's  light is neatly again alluded to in the Baptist's humble and joyful confession, "He must increase, but I must decrease!" (John 3:30).

Daily Retreat 06/23/07

2007 Jun 23 Sat/BVM
2 Cor 12:1-10/Ps 33(34):8-9. 10-11. 12-13/Mt 6:24-34

From today's readings: "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness....  Taste and see the goodness of the Lord....  Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be given you besides...."

Christ's Strength Working Through Weakness

Still responding to critics who dismiss his spiritual authority, Paul writes briefly in the third person about his own mystical experience.  But, rather than focusing on the extraordinary grace which singled him out for that revelation, Paul characteristically returns to his own weaknesses, through which the strength of Christ continues to shine.

If Paul had been, for instance, the greatest orator of his time, then his success as a missionary could have been attributed to that, instead of to the working of the Holy Spirit in spreading the infant faith.   So, his weakness actually makes God's strength and grace more apparent.  This is Paul's point when he insists that "I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and constraints, for the sake of Christ; for when I am weak, then I am strong!"

All of us have weaknesses in our own lives, and sometimes these are extremely hard to bear "thorns in the flesh" from which we beg the Lord to deliver us.   Certainly, such prayers are legitimate, but even as we pray, we need to consider Paul's insights about how God works through weaknesses, so we can be receptive if God chooses to answer our prayers as He answered Paul, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness!"

On this 13th anniversary of my ordination to the priesthood, I certainly am filled with an awareness of my own weakness, and God's grace shining even through that.  Thank you for your prayers and support! Join me in thanking God for these joy- and  grace-filled years of my vocation, and join me too in begging the good Lord, in consideration of my weakness and unworthiness, to ever strengthen me in His service....

Daily Retreat 06/22/07

2007 Jun 22 Fri/Paulinus of Nola, bp/John Fisher, bp, mt, and Thomas More, mm, mt
2 Cor 11:18. 21-30/Ps 34:2-3. 4-5. 6-7/Mt 6:19-23

From today's readings: "Since many boast according to the flesh....  From all their distress God rescues the just....  Store up treasures in Heaven, where neither moth nor decay destroys, nor thieves break in and steal...."

Paul's Boast

As mentioned, in the last chapters of 2 Corinthians, Paul responded to certain criticisms raised by opponents who were preaching errors.  By boasting of their own "impressive" credentials, these imposters had also sought to debunk Paul's authority as an apostle by capitalizing on the Corinthians' ignorance of Paul's apostolic track record (since Paul preferred preaching about Christ to talking about himself, the Corinthians were evidently unaware of many of his apostolic activities and sufferings).  

Exasperated by the fact that the Corinthians were being misled so easily by these pseudo apostles, Paul stoops to his opponents' level and starts boasting about his own heroic faithfulness: "But what anyone dares to boast of (I am speaking in foolishness) I also dare.... Are they ministers of Christ? (I am talking like an insane person). I am still more, with far greater labors, far more imprisonments, far worse beatings, and numerous brushes with death!"

It's worth reading all of Chapter Eleven to appreciate how heated Paul's boast became!  But, as Paul insists, his boast is not for his own glory - he just wants the Corinthians to realize that he really knows what he's talking about in preaching the true gospel of Christ!  Even more, Paul intentionally but paradoxically frames his boast in a way that insists that his own heroics arise only from the strength of God working through Paul's human weakness.  That's the type of boast it's always o.k. to make!

Daily Retreat 06/21/07

2007 Jun 21 Thu:Aloysius Gonzaga, r M
2 Cor 11:1-11/Ps 111:1b-2. 3-4. 7-8/Mt 6:7-15

From today's readings: "I am jealous of you with the jealousy of God....  Your works, O Lord, are justice and truth....  Our Father who art in Heaven....  "

The Jealousy of God

Chapter Ten is the beginning of the final section of Paul's Second Letter to the Corinthians.  At this point, he answers some personal criticisms and seeks to clarify the differences between his own apostolic ministry and the approach taken by his opponents, who have evidently dismissed Paul's authority because they fashion themselves as "super apostles."  This term, and other references in these verses are sometimes difficult to fully understand - clearly, we're much less familiar with the debate and the issues than Paul and the Corinthians were.

But, in any case, it is clear that the issues were fundamental - the "super apostles" were in some way preaching a different gospel, so they were evidently leaving out or corrupting some essentials for true faith in Christ.  Rather than contenting himself that the Corinthians were at least sticking with a watered down or convoluted version of the gospel, Paul is horrified that such distortions had led them away from a sincere and pure commitment to Christ.

Explaining his strong feelings on this matter, Paul remarks "I am jealous of you with the jealousy of God."  This divine jealousy is certainly nothing petty or selfish - in the Old Testament, God's jealousy was aroused when people turned to false gods or clearly failed in some other way in showing reverence to the one true God.

Even though it's not often spoken of today, God's jealousy is still as real as ever!    And yet, there's a modern tendency to patronize God and assume that He is completely satisfied as long as people at least  believe in Him and occasionally say a prayer or two.  But everything that God has revealed to us about Himself proves that such a half-hearted commitment on our part is not enough, for God is indeed jealous - He wants us to be completely His!  And since our Father in Heaven created us, redeemed us, and showered us with His blessings, there's no reason for Him to settle for anything less on our part....

Daily Retreat 06/20/07

2007 Jun 20 Wed
2 Cor 9:6-11/Ps 111(112):1bc-2. 3-4. 9/Mt 6:1-6. 16-18

From today's readings: "Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully....  Blessed the man who fears the Lord....  Take care not to perform righteous deeds in order that people may see them; otherwise, you will have no recompense from your heavenly Father...."

Cheerful Almsgiving

Since "God loves a cheerful giver," both the first reading and the gospel continue yesterday's theme of "giving until it feels good."  Incidentally, the gospel text should sound at least vaguely familiar, since these are the same verses read on Ash Wednesday!

Why does true generosity make one feel good?  As Jesus insists, Christian charity needs more motivation than just praise and gratitude - almsgiving becomes more Christian, in fact, to the degree that it deliberately sidesteps praise and gratitude.

This is because, as Paul hints, God Himself gives generously and anonymously, for "the One who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed and increase the harvest of your righteousness."  By giving generously and sharing wholeheartedly with others, we adopt the divine attitude, and since all good things come from God, how can we possibly begrudge making a return of gratitude to Him through generous tithing?

Daily Retreat 06/19/07

2007 Jun 19 Tue/Romuald, ab
2 Cor 8:1-9/Ps 145(146):2. 5-6ab. 6c-7. 8-9a/Mt 5:43-48

From today's readings: "For you know the gracious act of our Lord Jesus Christ, that for your sake He became poor although He was rich, so that by His poverty you might become rich....  Praise the Lord, my soul!...  Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you...."

The Collection

Resentment and cynicism about Church collections foster some of the most common, but nonetheless poorest, excuses for minimal commitment to "organized religion."  First of all, in the Catholic Church, and in most Protestant denominations, contributions are clearly voluntary, following the example laid down by Paul, who indeed begged the Corinthians and other communities to contribute to collections for the poor, but he never imposed a collection as a tax or entrance fee, for as he explained, "I say this not by way of command, but to test the genuineness of your love by your concern for others."

As an inspirational example, Paul cites the conduct of the churches of Macedonia, who, in spite of their own affliction and poverty, "begged us insistently for the favor of taking part in the service to the holy ones" (which refers to a collection taken up for the poor in Jerusalem).  For the generous Macedonians, it thus wasn't a matter of "giving until it hurts" - instead, they begged for the favor of contributing, because for them, it was a matter of "giving until it feels good!"

All of us can recall personal past acts of generosity that left us "feeling good" for responding to the invitation to share of ourselves.  Yet most of us, if we take Paul's words to heart and reflect honestly on our degree of generosity, should come to admit that we could be doing a lot more!  It's quite easy to give a little, but then constantly cite that donation as the excuse for not giving more.  But the Christian attitude goes further, taking to heart Paul's words: "Now as you excel in every respect, in faith, discourse, knowledge, all earnestness, and in the love we have for you, may you excel in this gracious act also!"

Daily Retreat 06/18/07

2007 Jun 18 Mon
2 Cor 6:1-10/Ps 97(98):1. 2b. 3ab. 3cd-4/Mt 5:38-42

From today's readings: "We appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain....  The Lord has made known His salvation....  When someone strikes you on your right cheek, turn the other one to him as well.... "

Receiving Grace in Vain

A generous couple once snagged me after Mass to present me with a complimentary ticket to an upcoming theater presentation.  It was a show I certainly wanted to see, and I also let the couple know how much I appreciated their thinking of me.  But despite my intention to go, since I had some rather busy days before the opening night, I managed to misplace the ticket, and even forget completely about the performance until two days after the event.  Sadly, that was a gift that I received in vain....

Among the many blessings God gives us, quite a number of these are oriented to the future, as, for instance, when the Lord inspires you or me with a particular idea for a timely act of charity, like going to visit an elderly sick neighbor or relative.  But often, even when we have the best of intentions, we get caught up in other concerns, and then the news eventually comes that the sick neighbor has moved or passed away, and we realize that the inspiration for that timely act of charity was a grace of God received in vain....

Addressing this terrible tendency to procrastinate, Paul urges us "not to receive the grace of God in vain!"  Most of us can probably count many moments when we've done just that , so what can be done about it now?  A missed show is a disappointment, but not likely a tragedy.  A missed opportunity to bring cheer and comfort to a needy neighbor is a clear failure in Christian charity, but not likely sufficient cause for damnation.  But if I repeatedly missed every show, I could hardly expect that others would still consider me a worthy recipient for another complimentary ticket.  And if we continually shrug off God's inspirations, our souls will inevitably become progressively less responsive to God's grace in general, to the peril of our salvation!

What, then, is the alternative?  Simple - to decide not to receive the grace of God in vain!  For it is a new grace granted now to us that we can take past failures and learn from our mistakes, and thus stop procrastinating in responding full heartedly to the prompting of grace, because, as St. Paul reminds us, "now is the acceptable time, now is the day of salvation!"

Daily Retreat 06/17/07

2007 Jun 17 SUN:ELEVENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
2 Sm 12:7-10. 13/Ps 31(32):1-2. 5. 7. 11/Gal 2:16. 19-21/Lk 7:36 – 8:3

From today's readings: "Why have you spurned the Lord and done evil in His sight?...  Lord, forgive the wrong I have done....  if justification comes through the law, then Christ died for nothing....  Her many sins have been forgiven because she has shown great love...."

The Best Thing for the Worst Thing

What is the worst thing you have ever done in your life?  Perhaps one particular sin stands out in your mind, or perhaps there's a whole pattern of vice that taken together is certainly the source of your sorest regrets.  In any case, a central tenet of our faith teaches us the best thing to do with that worst thing....

King David was guilty of adultery.  In fact, so that the adultery would remain hidden, he had even engineered the death of Uriah, the true husband of his paramour.  David, who had been so blessed and favored by God... David, who was raised from a lowly shepherd boy to become the kingly shepherd of God's chosen people...  David, who seemingly had everything, wanted one thing more: to sin, and get away with it!

But God in His mercy, didn't let David get away with it.  Left to itself, the festering sin would have destroyed David, his life and his legacy.  Yes, the murderous adultery was the worst thing David ever did, but an even worse thing would have been if David had refused God's messenger of mercy and continued unrepentant in his sin.  Nathan the prophet basically just reminded David, "God already knows you have sinned!"

God already knows you have sinned, God already knows I have sinned!  We can try to hide sins from other people, and, if we're lucky, maybe we're successful at that all our lives.  We can even try to hide our sins from ourselves, and if we're unlucky, perhaps we have some success with that too.  But we can't even try to hide sins from God, for in the sight of the Almighty's piercing omniscience, the flimsy fig leaves of excuses we desperately grab to garb our shame do nothing but further expose our pitiful plight.

But that's a good thing!  Because, even if it actually were murderous adultery or something else of that awful magnitude, no matter what the worst thing is that you or I have ever done, an even worse thing would be for you or me to refuse God's messenger of mercy and continue unrepentant in sin.

Like you and me, Simon the Pharisee had sinned in his life.  And, also like you and me, Simon the Pharisee much preferred to focus on the big notorious sins of others, because such sins seemed so dark that their shadow appeared to neatly hide his own little sins, even from himself.  Whatever it was that was the worst thing Simon the Pharisee had done in his life, he made it even worse with his unrepentant ridiculing of the Divine Messenger of Mercy Whom he himself had invited to his house.

Like you and me, King David in the Old Testament and the weeping woman in the Gospel had sinned in their lives.  And, also like you and me, the weeping woman knew what was the best thing to do with the worst thing in her life.  David, too, learned the best thing to do with the worst thing in his life.  David repented of his sins, and confessed them; the woman repented of her sins, and redressed them, with tears and kisses laying them there at the feet of Jesus.  The Lord's words to David and the woman: Your sins are forgiven!  Not just "hidden," to fester forever, but "forgiven"- wholly remitted, and redressed forever!

What is the worst thing you have done in your life?  Whatever it was, don't make it even worse by refusing God's messenger of mercy and continuing unrepentant in sin - join me, instead, in following the example of David and the weeping woman: repent of sins, and confess them; repent of sins, and redress them, with tears and great love, laying them at the feet of Jesus, because that's it - the best thing for that worst thing!

Daily Retreat 06/16/07

2007 Jun 16 Sat:Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary M
2 Cor 5:14-21/Ps 102(103):1-2. 3-4. 9-10. 11-12/Lk 2:41-51

From today's readings: "Whoever is in Christ is a new creation....  The Lord is kind and merciful....  His mother kept all these things in her heart."

Immaculate Heart Retreat Center

More than once, the Gospel mentions that Mary "kept all these things in her heart."  This is not a common expression in English, although it is clearly akin to "keeping things in mind."  Mary, then, had a continual commitment to prayerfully, lovingly meditating on the mysteries of faith, thereby "keeping these things in her heart."

How appropriate, then, that our retreat center (and host of these virtual retreat reflections!) is under the patronage of the Immaculate Heart of Mary.  Even though she was already "full of grace," Mary made a conscientious commitment to reflect on God's presence in her life, thereby providing room for Him and the place in her Immaculate Heart for His Word to find a most welcome home.

So, how important it is for you and me to follow Mary's example by making our own concerted commitment to prayerfully, lovingly meditating on the mysteries of faith, thereby keeping these things in our heart!  The rush of modern life hinders us from "soaking up" the dew of God's grace, so a retreat is a blessed opportunity to reflect on God's presence in her life, thereby providing room for Him and a place in our own hearts for His Word to find a most welcome home.  For those who live near Spokane, you can check out the retreat center's homepage ( www.ihrc.net ) to see what's coming up, and take advantage of how IHRC is committed to helping you, like Mary, keep the things of God in your heart!

Daily Retreat 06/15/07

2007 Jun 15 Fri:SACRED HEART OF JESUS S
Ez 34:11-16/Ps 22(23):1-3a. 3b-4. 5. 6 (1)/Rom 5:5b-11/Lk 15:3-7

From today's readings: "Thus says the Lord GOD: I Myself will look after and tend My sheep....  The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want....  The love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us....  Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep...."

Haurietis Aquas

Fifty-one years ago, Pope Pius XII wrote an encyclical entitled Haurietis Aquas, on devotion to the Sacred Heart.  The Holy Father traced both the Old and New Testament roots that have such tender words about the human heart, and how these verses inspired saints in the patristic and subsequent ages to reflect on the divine love and life that Jesus came to share with us.

In words that have been reiterated by his successors, Pope Pius summarized how the Sacred Heart devotions foster Eucharistic reverence, as he urged all to
"consider the practice of devotion to the Heart of Jesus as the source and symbol of unity, salvation and peace. Let no one think, however, that by such a practice anything is taken from the other forms of piety with which Christian people, under the guidance of the Church, have honored the divine Redeemer. Quite the opposite. Fervent devotional practice towards the Heart of Jesus will beyond all doubt foster and advance devotion to the Holy Cross in particular, and love for the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar. We can even assert - as the revelations made by Jesus Christ to St. Gertrude and to St. Margaret Mary clearly show - that no one really ever has a proper understanding of Christ crucified to whom the inner mysteries of His Heart have not been made known. Nor will it be easy to understand the strength of the love which moved Christ to give Himself to us as our spiritual food save by fostering in a special way the devotion to the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus, the purpose of which is - to use the words of Our predecessor of happy memory, Leo XIII - 'to call to mind the act of supreme love whereby our Redeemer, pouring forth all the treasures of His Heart in order to remain with us till the end of time, instituted the adorable Sacrament of the Eucharist.' For 'not the least part of the revelation of that Heart is the Eucharist, which He gave to us out of the great charity of His own Heart.' "

The document, a beautiful meditation on this feastday and the history of devotion to the Sacred Heart, can be downloaded in its entirety:
http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/pius_xii/encyclicals/documents/hf_p-xii_enc_15051956_haurietis-aquas_en.html

Daily Retreat 06/14/07

2007 Jun 14 Thu
2 Cor 3:15 – 4:1. 3-6/Ps 84(85):9ab and 10. 11-12. 13-14/Mt 5:20-26

From today's readings: "Since we have this ministry through the mercy shown us, we are not discouraged....  The glory of the Lord will dwell in our land....  Unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter into the Kingdom of Heaven...."

Unveiling the Gospel

Part of the universal appeal of the Gospel is the sincerity and simplicity of the words of Jesus - the Savior certainly "called a spade a spade," and spoke directly, forthrightly, and in a way that everyone could understand.  Yet paradoxically, the words of Jesus were also intensely pregnant with deeper significance, and so the evangelists admit on many occasions that even those closest to Jesus often failed to fully discern the intent of His words.

This tension has only heightened with the passing of centuries.  And so,  we must avoid both the erroneous belief that the Gospel is hopelessly cryptic, but also the opposite extreme that presumes that all of Christ's words (and, by extension, all of scripture) are immediately self-evident and unambiguous.  As St. Paul freely admits,  "our Gospel is veiled," but he explains that the "veil" is not some secret code intended to hide the Gospel from the uninitiated; rather, the "veil" is to be found in the heart, mind, and attitude of the inquirer - "in whose case, [Satan], the god of this age, has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, so that they may not see the light of the Gospel of the glory of Christ."

But we who are believers must also be careful here - who of us can dare say we are completely free of the Devil's deceptions, distortions and distractions even as we turn to God's Word?  In other words, if I see a certain meaning in the words of Scripture, what is there to guarantee that my interpretation is not skewed by my own bias, ignorance, and sinfulness?  Clearly, it's humanly impossible to disengage fully from our personal limitations and susceptibility to error, yet Paul insists "whenever a person turns to the Lord, the veil is removed."  We turn to the Lord by carefully considering His words in their fullest context: the words of Christ in the context of the whole Gospels; the words of the Gospels in the context of the whole New Testament; the words of the New Testament in the context of the whole Bible; the words of the Bible in their historical and present context in the whole Church, to whom God reveals and unveils His Word!

Daily Retreat 06/13/07

2007 Jun 13 Wed:Anthony of Padua, p, r, dr M
2 Cor 3:4-11/Ps 98(99):5. 6. 7. 8. 9/Mt 5:17-19

From today's readings: "For if what was going to fade was glorious, how much more will what endures be glorious....  Holy is the Lord our God....  But whoever obeys and teaches these commandments will be called greatest in the Kingdom of heaven...."

The Old and New Testaments

While we Christians naturally focus more on the New Testament, it is a heresy (known as "Marcionism") to reject the Old Testament as the incompatible antithesis of the New Testament.  The two parts of the Bible are complementary, in fact - as Jesus Himself explained, "Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have come, not to abolish, but to fulfill!"

St. Paul, too, contrasts the glory of the Old and the New Covenants.  Recalling the moment when Moses presented the two stone tablets of the law and his face was radiant with glory  (cf. Exodus 34:29), Paul nonetheless insists that the excellence of the New Covenant far outshines even the formidable resplendence of the Old Covenant!

Having studied the ancient Scriptures all his life, Paul could plainly see that Christ was indeed the fulfillment of the Old Testament.  Unlike Paul, though, too many modern Christians are almost totally ignorant of the Old Testament, so they impoverish their understanding and appreciation of Jesus as the fulfillment of God's promises.

So, clearly, we Christians need to read, and study, and meditate on the Old Testament, as well as the New.  In fact, because the Old Testament is longer, more varied, and less familiar in general, we need to commit ourselves to the necessary extra effort in order to appropriately salute the old glory and insure we never passover the Old Testament.

Daily Retreat 06/12/07

2007 Jun 12 Tue
2 Cor 1:18-22/Ps 118(119):129. 130. 131. 132. 133. 135/Mt 5:13-16

From today's readings: " For however many are the promises of God, their Yes is in Him; therefore, the Amen from us also goes through Him to God for glory....  Lord, let Your face shine on me....  You are the light of the world...."

Amen

That little word "Amen," so often punctuating our prayers, packs quite a punch!  In his Second Letter to the Corinthians, Paul makes a link between the word "Amen" and God's definitive "YES!" in fulfilling His promises through Jesus His Son (cf. 1:20).

The Hebrew roots of "Amen" link the word both to "truth" and the verb "to believe," as well as the concept of "certainty,"  "totality," and "awesome firmness," along also with the heart's absolute assent, "So be it!"  

So there's no ifs, ands, or buts that can twist this word - "Amen" rings with the solemnity, immutability, finality, clarity, and surety of divinity.  No wonder it's never translated - even the seemingly straightforward "yes" and "no" words of all modern languages have been diabolically diluted with compromise, equivocation, and outright lies.

So, be aware of what you pray and say!  At the moment of receiving Holy Communion and in all our prayers, "Amen" expresses to God nothing less than our total response of faith: YES!  I believe!  This is the TRUTH! 100%!  So be it, now and forever!

Daily Retreat 06/11/07

2007 Jun 11 Mon:Barnabas, ap M (Tenth Week in Ordinary Time)
Acts 11:21b-26; 13:1-3/Ps 97(98):1. 2-3ab. 3cd-4. 5-6/Mt 10:7-13

From today's readings: "The news about them reached the ears of the Church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to go to Antioch....  The Lord has revealed to the nations His saving power....  Give as a gift what you have received as a gift...."

Son of Encouragement

Barnabas, whose name means "son of encouragement" or "son of consolation," was one of the first to excitedly approach the fledgling Church and declare himself "all in" (cf. Acts 4:36).   He later put himself on the line to welcome Paul after his conversion (cf. Acts 9:27), and then, along with Paul, was designated by the Holy Spirit for missionary work (cf. 13:1-13).

As a pastor, I can attest to the wonderful difference a new "son of encouragement" can make, how a Christian community can suddenly thrive with renewed spiritual vitality when even just one person "filled with the Holy Spirit and faith" steps forward with a burning commitment to live the faith fully and help and encourage others to do the same!

As Christians, we are all brothers and sisters in Christ, so while our relationship with our Lord is always central, it's not enough to just work on our own personal spiritual development, being selfish with our gifts and neglecting our affect on others - we all need to contribute to the team spirit as well, following the example of St. Barnabas, so that we might even perhaps merit his nickname as a reflection of our own commitment to console and encourage the Christians of this time and place.

Daily Retreat 06/10/07

2007 Jun 10 SUN:THE BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST S
Gn 14:18-20/Ps 109(110):1. 2. 3. 4/1 Cor 11:23-26/Lk 9:11b-17

From today's readings: "In those days, Melchizedek, king of Salem, brought out bread and wine, and being a priest of God Most High, he blessed Abram....  You are a priest for ever, in the line of Melchizedek.....  This is My Body that is for you - do this in remembrance of Me....  Taking the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to Heaven, Jesus said the blessing over them, broke them, and gave them to the disciples to set before the crowd...."

Real Presence

Through the sacraments, those outward signs instituted by Christ to give grace, we can experience the presence of Christ.  Not only our hearts, but even our five senses alert us to the sacramental encounter with our Lord and God, moving us to a humble response of reverence and love.

Above all, this is true of the Eucharist, the sacrament of the Body and Blood of Christ.  Jesus offered Himself to God the Father and gave Himself up as the eternal nourishment for those who come to Him hungering for everlasting life.

As St. Augustine realized, "God in His omnipotence could not give more, in His wisdom He knew not how to give more, in His riches He had not more to give, than the Eucharist!"  That's what we're meant to chew on, today, on this feast of Corpus Christi, and every time we approach the altar for this taste of Heaven, helping us understand why every Communion is as special as the first....

Daily Retreat 06/09/07

2007 Jun 9 Sat/BVM/Ephrem of Syria, d, dr
Tb 12:1. 5-15. 20/Tb 13:2. 6efgh. 7. 8/Mk 12:38-44

From today's readings: "Honor and proclaim God's deeds, and do not be slack in praising Him....  Blessed be God, who lives for ever....  Amen, I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all the other contributors to the treasury...."

Angelic Assistance

In due time, Raphael reveals his identity to Tobit and Tobias, and explains to them a few points of the economy of prayer and almsgiving.  Some, however, would dismiss Raphael's explanation as antiquated, for faith which struggles to weather the hostile atmosphere of modern materialism is too often gradually eroded over time, and so it is that nominal Christians start thinking, talking, and acting just like atheistic humanists.

The whole Bible, however, reveals God as so personal - not in the limiting sense of the word (e.g., "personal" possessions), but in the intimately individually involved sense of the word (e.g., "personal" invitation).  But this is out of place with the modern mindset.  When he finds a lost ring, for instance, the secularly stained Christians of today would hardly offer God thanks for helpful angels or saintly intercessors.  He might, if in a generously pious mood, even thank God for the impersonal intervention that led to such good fortune, but even an atheist can appreciate coincidental good luck.

But the Word of God teaches that our prayers, sacrifices, and good works are personally carried and echoed in solidarity by the heavenly host.  How does that work?  Well, when one speaks into a microphone, the physics of electromagnetic amplification far surpass the limitations of a solitary human voicebox.  Likewise, when we pray and give alms, the blessing of angelic cooperation magnifies our humble efforts, making even the widow's mite, mighty indeed!

Daily Retreat 06/08/07

2007 Jun 8 Fri
Tb 11:5-17/Ps 145(146):1b-2. 6c-7. 8-9a. 9bc-10/Mk 12:35-37

From today's readings: "Blessed be God, and praised be His great Name, and blessed be all His holy angels....  Praise the Lord, my soul!...  How do the scribes claim that the Christ is the son of David?"

Homecoming

Like all parents missing their children, Tobit and Anna rejoice to welcome their absent son back home.  Tobias had actually only been gone from home a number of weeks, but the dangers of travel and uncertainties of communication at that time made Tobit and Anna exceedingly worried about their son's safety (cf. Chapter 10).  But not only does he return safe and sound, and with mission accomplished - beyond all hope and expectation, Tobias also brings the healing remedy for Tobit's blindness, plus the news of his "made in Heaven" marriage to Sarah!

The happiness of any homecoming offers a foretaste of the joy that we hope for in the heavenly homecoming.    But just as Tobit and Anna didn't even imagine what a wonderful welcome there would be when their son Tobias returned, so we too are generally more than a bit short-sighted when it comes to watching out for our final destination.

We need to be particularly meditative about everything the Bible reveals about Heaven.  In His commentary on the scribes' reading of scripture, Jesus explains how scripture reveals, not less, but more than is seen at first glance.  The coming Messiah was prophesied to be a son in the line of King David, but David himself recognized the promised Messiah as "my Lord," viz., more than just a majestic human descendent.  Although only hinted at in the Gospel of Mark, the Incarnation of Christ establishes why He is indeed both "son" and "Lord" of David (genealogical details provided by St. Matthew at the beginning of his Gospel are especially enlightening).  Today, no less than long ago, the Word of God is to be welcomed with great delight!

Daily Retreat 06/07/07

2007 Jun 7 Thu
Tb 6:10-11; 7:1bcde. 9-17; 8:4-9a/Ps 127(128):1-2, 3, 4-5/Mk 12:28-34

From today's readings: "Your marriage to her has been decided in heaven!...  Blessed are those who fear the Lord....  There is no other commandment greater than these...."

The Biblical Wedding Night Prayer

The final verses of the first reading provide a beautiful biblical prayer for wedding couples to pray together that their marriage, like that of Tobias and Sarah, truly be made in Heaven.  Because of omissions in the lectionary, read at least all of chapters 6-8 in order to understand the context of Sarah's fears and the other details mentioned in the reading.

The attitude toward marriage is one of the clearest benchmarks of a person's faith - do we turn to God or to secular views for our understanding of reality?  Divine revelation teaches that the marriage bond is sacred because it is part of God's loving plan of creation - as expressed in the prayer from the book of Tobit (which, of course, is a reflection on Chapter Two of Genesis): "Blessed are you, O God of our fathers, praised be Your name forever and ever. Let the heavens and all Your creation praise You forever! You made Adam, and You gave him his wife Eve to be his help and support; and from these two the human race descended. You said, 'It is not good for the man to be alone; let us make him a partner like himself.' "

Tobias then adds, "Now, Lord, You know that I take this wife of mine not because of lust, but for a noble purpose. Call down Your mercy on me and on her, and allow us to live together to a happy old age."  Our hedonistic world desperately needs Tobias' reminder that marriage (as well as the initial attraction between man and woman) is for a noble purpose - the cooperation in God's loving plan of creation!

Daily Retreat 06/06/07

2007 Jun 6 Wed/Norbert, bp, rf
Tb 3:1-11a. 16-17a/Ps 24(25):2-3. 4-5ab. 6 and 7bc. 8-9/Mk 12:18-27

From today's readings: "At that very time, the prayer of these two suppliants was heard in the glorious presence of Almighty God, so Raphael was sent to heal them both....  To You, O Lord, I lift my soul....  Are you not misled because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God?"

Can't take it anymore!

Because of their misfortunes, both Tobit and Sarah find the people closest to them assuming the worst about them, and so, the substantial burden of their own troubles is made even more unbearable by the stinging words of those around them.  It reaches the point where both Tobit and Sarah start thinking they would be better off dead!  But they both do the right thing, turning to God in their hour of need, and He hears their prayers.  Note that, while not giving them the answer they seek (death as release from their miseries), God gives them a much better answer than Tobit or Sarah had even dared to ask for in prayer!

There are at least two lessons for you and me here.  First, we need to be on guard against the unfortunate tendency to look on "down and out" people as just simply getting what they deserve, for whatever reason.  Even people with a strong faith commitment can slip into this attitude, at least in some ways.  Tragically enough, this often happens with relatives - after helping out a cousin or even a sibling in trouble two or three times, many people (perhaps even you and I?) start sneering at or distancing themselves from the "bad news" relative, even when it turns out that the relative is objectively not the source of the problem.

Also, we ought to carefully consider our own attitude towards problems and travail in our own life.  It's certainly very human to think "I don't deserve this, and I can't take it anymore!"  When faced with the weight of such great burdens, it's particularly important for us to turn to God and pour out our heart in prayer; and while it's o.k. to suggest to God whatever solution might come to our mind, it's essential to allow room for the possibility that God's solution will be a much better answer than we even dare to ask for in prayer!

Daily Retreat 06/05/07

2007 Jun 5 Tue:Boniface, bp, mt M
Tb 2:9-14/Ps 111(112):1-2. 7-8. 9/Mk 12:13-17

From today's readings: "Your true character is finally showing itself!...  The heart of the just one is firm, trusting in the Lord....  Repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God!"

Domestic Strains

Tobit's charity and virtue didn't guarantee an easy life for him - indeed, his hardships and tribulations were considerable, and certainly wore on him and his whole family.  The altercation with his wife Anna seems so typical of many domestic arguments: both Tobit and his wife were already stretched in patience because of their own travails, so each was too ready to take out pent up frustrations on the other.

Tobit's political persecutions and unfortunate blindness robbed him of many of the securities of his former years.  He did, however, still have the integrity of his own character, which he was determined to preserve at any price.  So, when he discovered a goat in his house, he feared that it must have been stolen, knowing that it was a luxury beyond the means of his household.  His wife Anna, worn out by her own work, was in no mood for such undeserved suspicion and ingratitude.  So they both chewed each other out, at the time each so sorely needed the other's spousal support and understanding.  Anna's bonus, which could have been welcomed by both as a timely blessing, became instead the source of dissension.

So often, you and I are heroic and even at times largely successful in putting up with external hardships, but in the process, we end up putting unfortunate strains on our closest relationships.  The Book of Tobit reminds us of this all-too-human tendency, but the biblical wisdom in subsequent chapters also remind us of what can be done with God's help to overcome all hardships with solid faith and undaunted charity.

Daily Retreat 06/04/07

2007 Jun 4 Mon (Ninth Week in Ordinary Time)
Tb 1:3; 2:1a-8/Ps 111(112):1b-2. 3b-4. 5-6/Mk 12:1-12

From today's readings: "I, Tobit, have walked all the days of my life on the paths of truth and righteousness. I performed many charitable works for my kinsmen and my people who had been deported with me to Nineveh, in Assyria....  Blessed the man who fears the Lord....  He had one other to send, a beloved son. He sent him to them last of all, thinking, 'They will respect my son.'"

Biblical Family Ties

The wisdom of Sirach and other books of the Bible (especially Genesis) stress the communal bonds of the whole of mankind, since God is the creator of all.  But while not denying this unity of humanity, many of the Old Testament books focus more narrowly on the importance of family (and tribal) loyalty and harmony.  This is clearly the case, for instance, in the book of Tobit (omitted in Protestant bibles), with its intriguing narration tracing the development of a network of familial relationships while showing how faith is meant to be integrated and God recognized and faithfully embraced in each of those relationships.

The fourteen chapters of the book of Tobit are an easy read, but if you just limit yourself to the lectionary selections, the story will be harder to follow....

Tobit, for whom the book is named, was a pious old man living with his family in Nineveh along with other deported Jews.  His commitment to almsgiving and observance of God's law are particularly exemplary in the "hardship setting" of the exile, when many people felt entitled to dispensations because of threats or ridicule from the ruling Ninevites.  Indeed, Tobit's piety in burying the dead in the past had almost cost him his life (cf. 1:18-20), but unintimidated in his faith, Tobit continues undaunted in his works of mercy and righteousness.  However,  in spite of his unquenchable charity and faithfulness, Tobit is faced with hardships and suffering, and so, like the book of Job, the story of Tobit and his family also becomes a reflection on how people of faith can confront the Problem of Evil by committing to righteousness even when it doesn't lead to immediate rewards.

Daily Retreat 06/03/07

2007 Jun 3 SUN:THE HOLY TRINITY S
Prv 8:22-31/Ps 8:4-5. 6-7. 8-9 (2a)/Rom 5:1-5/Jn 16:12-15

From today's readings: "Thus says the wisdom of God....  O Lord, our God, how wonderful Your name in all the earth!...  the love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us....  when He comes, the Spirit of truth, He will guide you to all truth.... "

Treasure and Truth of the Trinity

Two men, Chris and Jason, were lifelong friends.  Jason was a lukewarm humanist and avowed atheist, whereas Chris was in many senses, a typical Catholic: he went to Church with his family almost every week, prayed at least occasionally, and was certainly a true believer in the triune God, even though he generally felt a certain reticence and awkwardness in expressing and discussing his faith.

In the spirit of friendship, Chris and Jason basically never talked religion - the unspoken fear was that an argument might drive them apart.   In his late forties, however, Jason contracted pancreatic cancer, and it was soon evident that he didn't have much longer to live.  He was heroically stoic about his fate, as atheists often are, but he still sincerely appreciated the nearly daily visits from his friend Chris, who did all he could think of to bring a little cheer and comfort to Jason in his last weeks.

Figuring that there was nothing to lose since his friend wouldn't be with him much longer, Chris finally mustered enough courage to broach the issue of faith and preparation for the life to come.  With genuine love and an unexpected passion and fervor and clarity that he didn't know he had in himself, Chris poured out to Jason everything he could think of about God, who created Heaven and Earth, and all the universe, in love: creating man in His own divine image, making him little less than angels, crowning him with glory and honor, and endowing him with free will and the light of reason.  

How could, Chris asked, all the joys and struggles and triumphs of earthly life be bitterly dismissed as absurd, as professed in the atheists' creed?  Even human friendship establishes the reality of something more than the materialistic world.  And there's so much more, for God so loved the world, that He sent His only Son, Jesus, that whosoever would believe in Him would not perish in sin, but would find in Him forgiveness and salvation for eternal life, and the fullness of peace with God.  For the Father and Son poured love in human hearts, sending the Holy Spirit as the guide to fullness of revealed Truth, establishing the Church as the beloved family of all the sons and daughters of God regenerated in the live-giving waters of baptism.

To his surprise, Chris realized that Jason was listening intently to his words, hanging on to them, and even beginning to be filled with a greater wisp of hope and meaning than he had ever had before in his life.  Gradually, tears were starting to form in Jason's eyes, which were suddenly shining with a new search for understanding, and his mouth was smiling and open in hunger for more as he momentarily shared this full vision of life and sought to find room in his heart for the God who is love.  

Chris briefly thought of calling a priest, but then vaguely remembered that anyone, even he, could validly baptize another in danger of death, and so it surely seemed that the time was right for him to fetch some water to pour on his friend's forehead.  Yes, now was the moment to baptize Jason in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, so that in that sacramental bath, God would wash away all the sins scarring Jason's soul, thus re-creating him as no longer just a noble creature, but as a cherished child of God, and Chris could embrace his departing lifelong friend as not just a friend, but as a beloved brother arriving for all eternity.

But suddenly, Jason's tears stopped, and his mouth tightened once again in stoic resolution.  And he turned to Chris and said sadly, "No.  I don't believe.  I can't believe.  I don't even think you really believe!  For if your God and your faith meant so much to you, and would mean, as you suggest, such an eternal difference to me, why did you never before share this with me, if only for the sake of friendship?  Perhaps it would have made a difference in my life, but it means nothing to me now, as I yield to death...."  And with those words, Jason died.


The too tragic truth is seen, not just in the example provided by Jason and Chris, but even more clearly, closer to home!  We are all true believers in the triune God, but, because of cultural expectations decreed by the dictatorship of relativism, because of our own ignorance, like Chris, you and I too often silently succumb to that same reticence and awkwardness in expressing, discussing, and sharing our faith.  We come across so many like Jason among our acquaintances, friends, and even, more frequently now, in our own family: atheists, some of them, or New Age pagans, or those confused in cults and seduced by sects, but many more, merely lapsed, lukewarm, or languid in the Christian faith of their childhood.  We pray for them, occasionally at least, and might even, when the time seems ripe, drop a little hint, a subtle invitation for them to just open their eyes a little to the creative love of God the Father, the redeeming passion of God the Son, and the sanctifying fervor of God the Holy Spirit.

But you know what?  Occasional prayers and subtle hints are not enough on our part!  The faith that means so much to us, and would make such an eternal difference to our atheistic acquaintances and lapsed, lukewarm, and languid loved ones - that faith, when it's bona fide "good faith", needs to be authentically lived and eagerly shared, expressed untiringly in love and prayer!

I'm not talking about haranguing or harping, hitting someone on the head with the blows of our beliefs - little good ever comes from such approaches. But there is power in prayer, and conversions are so often inspired by the conviction of uncompromising witness!  Since June is fittingly dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, join me then in presenting and praying particularly throughout this entire month wholeheartedly for the gift of Trinitarian faith: the full brilliant bloom of faith for the atheists and agnostics and antagonists; the resuscitated breath of faith for the lapsed, lukewarm, and languid; and the rekindled flame of unquenchable faith for ourselves and Christians everywhere!

For today, no less than long ago, almighty God speaks His living Word in divine love and eternal wisdom, Jesus Himself teaches us to pray unceasingly and to evangelize invincibly with self-sacrificing passion, and the Holy Spirit, given in baptism and ardently confirmed in tongues of fire, now, if only we don't stifle Him, speaks with sanctifying fervor what He hears, and declares to us and through us the truth of the Trinity, and the things that are coming!