Daily Retreat 10/02/07

2007 Oct 2 Tue: The Guardian Angels M
Zec 8: 20-23/ Ps 86(87): 1b-3. 4-5. 6-7/ Mt 18: 1-5. 10

From today’s readings:  “Many peoples and strong nations shall come to seek the LORD of hosts in Jerusalem and to implore the favor of the LORD....  God is with us....  See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that their angels in Heaven always look upon the face of my heavenly Father....”

Getting the bigger picture

In spite of violence in the Middle East,  Jerusalem has been a central place of  pilgrimage for centuries.  We must remember that this was not yet the case  when the first reading's prophecy was  uttered - remember, Zechariah was  prophesying to  the inhabitants of a ruined city.  The idea that one day  Jerusalem would be a "hot destination" (at  least for religious reasons) must have seemed an almost impossible dream at the time.

The whole Bible can be read as the gradual  unfolding of God's Revelation, which reached  its fullness in the Incarnation of Jesus and  His mission of the effects of His saving death  in Jerusalem reaching to the ends of the earth  and the end of time.

Like Zechariah, you and I are faced with some  signs of spiritual desolation and a need to  rebuild the moral foundations of our  civilization. Rather than being discouraged  by how much needs to be done, we need to be  encouraged by this revelation and prophecy of how much God has said WILL get done -  because God is with us!

Daily Retreat 10/01/07

2007 Oct 1 Mon: Thérèse of Lisieux, v, r, dr M
Zec 8: 1-8/ Ps 101(102): 16-18. 19-21. 29 and 22-23/ Lk 9: 46-50

From today’s readings:  “I am intensely jealous for Zion....  The Lord will build up Zion again, and appear in all His glory....  Whoever receives this child in My name receives Me, and whoever receives Me receives the One who sent Me....”

God’s Jealousy

We tend to see jealousy as something sinful by definition, and yet that assumption is disproved by the scripture passages that affirm that God, who is All Good and even incapable of sin, is jealous Himself.  Jealousy can indeed be sinful, but it also can be neutral or even virtuous.  My dictionary defines “jealous” as meaning “fearful of loss of position or affection; positively watchful and vigilant.”  

God certainly takes pains to prevent loss of our recognition of His position (as our God!) and loss of our affection.  So, God’s jealousy is understandably ignited whenever we pretend that something or someone is more important to us than God, or whenever we inordinately love something or someone in the created order, instead of reserving our highest love for our Creator.

God is likewise “positively watchful and vigilant” in His solicitude for us.  The whole of salvation history is the eloquent proof that God is certainly looking out for us, and doing everything He can, to the point of sending His beloved Son to die for us....

The opposite of jealousy is indifference, and God certainly can not in any way be accused of that!  But, do you and I always burn with a jealous love for God, or are we too often content with virtual indifference?  In this, as in all things, we need to imitate God and His jealous love!

Daily Retreat 09/30/07

2007 Sep 30 SUN: TWENTY-SIXTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
Am 6: 1a. 4-7/ Ps 145(146): 7. 8-9. 9-10 (1b)/ 1 Tm 6: 11-16/ Lk 16: 19-31

From today’s readings:  “Woe to the complacent....  Praise the Lord, my soul!... Pursue righteousness, devotion, faith, love, patience, and gentleness....  There was a rich man who dressed in purple garments and fine linen and dined sumptuously each day, and lying at his door was a poor man named Lazarus....”

“If they will not listen to Moses and the prophets....”

The parable of Lazarus and “Dives” (the Latin word for “rich man,” and therefore sometimes used as a name for that man in the story) is simple enough to understand.  Those of us in rich nations might not readily identify ourselves with Dives, because we are aware of so many richer than ourselves; and yet, by almost any measurement, we have a higher standard of living than he did!  And so, the warning of where his selfishness led is certainly intended for us to heed - woe to any who would ignore it as blithely as Dives dismissed Lazarus, woe to the complacent!

But the parable is not just about God’s love for the poor contrasted with the peril of selfish wealth.  The final verses raise the ante by reminding how God always gives fair warning.  Believers and doubters alike constantly turn to God with requests (or demands!) for more proof.  Abraham’s reply to Dives (“If they will not listen to Moses and the prophets....”) is also a reply to all other such pleas: God has done more than enough to instruct His children in the past - those who ignore Moses and the rest of salvation history, certainly forever find it easy enough to overlook God’s present actions in the world.

But the added irony, of course, is that Jesus Himself did rise from the dead, and return to entrust His Church with the proclamation of the fullness of the Gospel.  Even though nothing greater could be imagined, for those with closed minds and hearts entombed in selfish desires, “neither will they be persuaded if someone should rise from the dead!”  So instead, let’s be persuaded, not just by listening to Moses and the prophets, but most of all, by heeding the lessons and warnings of the One who rose from the dead!

Daily Retreat 09/29/07

2007 Sep 29 Sat: Michael, Gabriel, Raphael, archangels F
Dn 7: 9-10. 13-14 or Rv 12: 7-12a/ Ps 138: 1-2ab. 2cde-3. 4-5/ Jn 1: 47-51

From today’s readings:  “War broke out in Heaven; Michael and his angels battled against the dragon....  In the sight of the angels I will sing Your praises, Lord....  Amen, amen, I say to you, you will see Heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”

All in the Name

Today we salute the three archangels mentioned by name in scripture: Michael (his name is found in the books of Daniel, Jude, and Apocalypse), Gabriel (Daniel and Luke), and Raphael (Tobit).

Michael’s name means “Who is like God?”  This is the battle cry raised against the rebellious Lucifer and his minions, who, in sinful pride, thought themselves as great as God, and for that, were expelled from Heaven by Michael and all the host of good angels.

Gabriel’s name means, “the Lord is valiant” or even “the Lord is a great warrior” - in both cases, this archangel’s name reminds all of the omnipotence of God.

Raphael’s name means, “the Lord heals” - a name of great comfort, and reminder of the Lord’s ability and desire to heal our iniquities and infirmities.

Daily Retreat 09/28/07

2007 Sep 28 Fri/ Wenceslaus, mt/ Lawrence Ruiz, mm, mt, & co., mts
Hg 2: 1-9/ Ps 43: 1. 2. 3. 4/ Lk 9: 18-22

From today’s readings:  “ I will fill this house with glory, says the LORD of hosts....  Hope in God; I will praise Him, my savior and my God....  But who do you say that I am?”

God’s Perspective

After the Babylonian captivity, the weary deportees returned to the ruins of Jerusalem, and with the encouragement of the prophet Haggai and others, they rebuilt the Lord’s temple.  The First Temple, you will recall, had been built by Solomon, and it was a truly splendid edifice - several chapters of the First Book of Kings are devoted to detailing the glories of that House of the Lord.

So the Second Temple, built in the chaotic aftermath of the Babylonian exile, had understandably only a shadow of the splendor and glory of the First Temple.  But the Lord’s words through the prophet Haggai pre-empted any discouragement.  Haggai’s messianic prophecies in chapter 2, although not literally fulfilled in that building, were fulfilled when Herod the Great rebuilt the Temple on a much grander scale just a few years before the birth of Christ and His Presentation in the Temple (when God indeed  filled the house with the glory of His presence!).

Sometimes our best labors for God seem to bear rather meager fruit.  But that is only from our limited perspective.  God knows how things will turn out in the long run, from His eternal perspective.  As long as we are doing what God wants us to do, we can rest assured that our labors contribute to God’s glory!

Daily Retreat 09/27/07

2007 Sep 27 Thu: Vincent de Paul, p, rf M
Hg 1: 1-8/ Ps 149: 1b-2. 3-4. 5-6a and 9b/ Lk 9: 7-9

From today’s readings:  “Now thus says the LORD of hosts: Consider your ways!...  The Lord takes delight in His people....   Who then is this about whom I hear such things?”

Who was Haggai?

In the year 520BC, the prophet Haggai appeared on the scene in Judah (he was mentioned by name in Tuesday’s reading)- he too, like Ezra, strove to focus the Jewish people’s attention on the re-building of the Temple.  Haggai had a blunt way of helping people realize the folly of putting anything else ahead of commitment to God:
 You have sown much, but have brought in little;
 you have eaten, but have not been satisfied;
 You have drunk, but have not been exhilarated;
 have clothed yourselves, but not been warmed;
 And whoever earned wages
 earned them for a bag with holes in it!

People have long sought a direct correlation between piety and material wealth (this idea is even seen in many Old Testament readings).  Faith would be such an easy thing if every time we chose God, we received a positive monetary reinforcement, and every time we turned away from God, we felt it in our pocketbooks.

But God does not bribe us to believe in Him!  On the other hand though, Haggai points out one of the foundational paradoxes of faith: those who relentlessly pursue wealth will never be satisfied, whereas those who relentlessly pursue God will find Him, and all they need!

Daily Retreat 09/26/07

2007 Sep 26 Wed/ Cosmas and Damian, mts
Ezr 9: 5-9/ Tb 13: 2. 3-4a. 4befghn. 7-8/ Lk 9: 1-6

From today’s readings:  “He has given us new life to raise again the house of our God and restore its ruins....  Blessed be God, who lives for ever....  Jesus summoned the Twelve and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, and He sent them to proclaim the Kingdom of God and to heal the sick....”

A Second Chance

One of the most wonderful experiences in life is to be granted a “second chance” after making an awful mistake.  All too often, there is no “second chance” - the damage has been done, and cannot be undone.  But at times, there is indeed a marvelous opportunity to make amends, to choose anew the way we should have chosen in the first place.

After the Babylonian exile, the people of God were given such a “second chance.”  It was their sins and turning away from God that brought on the calamity of their conquest by the Babylonians.  Now they had the opportunity to choose anew, and put God first in their lives.  

Ezra’s lament and wretchedness is due to a report he just received that so many people were now ruining their second chance by ignoring God’s guidance again and mixing themselves with the pagan peoples around them (read the first verses of chapter 9, which are not part of the lectionary reading).

Today God has given us new life and a  “second chance.”   How wonderful to truly learn from sins and failings of yesterday, and to choose anew this day to put God first!

Daily Retreat 09/25/07

2007 Sep 25 Tue
Ezr 6: 7-8. 12b. 14-20/ Ps 121(122): 1-2. 3-4ab. 4cd-5/ Lk 8: 19-21

From today’s readings:  “The elders of the Jews continued to make progress in the building, supported by the message of the prophets, Haggai and Zechariah....  Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord....  My mother and My brothers are those who hear the word of God and act on it....”

The House of God

One of the primary goals of Ezra was keeping the people on task in re-building the Temple in Jerusalem, the House of God.  For some people, it just wasn’t a priority.  For others, there was a desire to re-build, but interference from hostile people around them and petty government officials kept causing holdups, until King Darius finally steps in and orders an end to the delays.

Without a doubt, the Church is more than a building - it is the family of the people of God!  Yet the churches we build as places to come together and worship God should be more than just functional “gathering spaces.”  Churches must be truly sacred edifices, proclaiming the presence of God both to those worshiping inside and to those passing by outside.  The beauty of a church is meant to inspire transcendental thoughts of God’s own beauty, and to witness to the people’s priority in putting God first.

Since the first readings (and often psalms) of the next few days will continue to dwell on this aspect of the re-building of the House of God, perhaps sometime in the next week you can figure out a way to contribute to the building up and beautifying of your own local parish church, so that it too stands out as the House of God.

Daily Retreat 09/24/07

2007 Sep 24 Mon
Ezr 1: 1-6/ Ps 125(126): 1b-2ab. 2cd-3. 4-5. 6/ Lk 8: 16-18

From today’s readings:  “Therefore, whoever among you belongs to any part of His people, let him go up, and may his God be with him....  The Lord has done marvels for us....  There is nothing hidden that will not become visible, and nothing secret that will not be known and come to light.”

Homecoming

The Babylonian captivity and exile of the Jewish people lasted from 587 to 537 BC  - fifty long, hard years.  The book of Ezra begins with decree from Cyrus (so wonderful that it seemed like a dream come true!) that the exiles were free to return to Jerusalem (although they were still subject to Persian rule).

How wonderful it is to come home after a long, hard absence!  And yet, this Jewish homecoming, so long anticipated, was not easy - they returned to demolished cities and wasted fields.  The task of rebuilding was staggering and must have seemed impossible, even with the generous help from Cyrus.  The books of Ezra and Nehemiah chronicle some crucial aspects of that return and rebuilding.

Two suggestions for reflection: read a history reference about the Babylonian exile to understand more about how crucial and formative was that event in Salvation History; or, consider the allegorical implications of how arduous is the task, even after leaving sin behind completely, of re-building a moral character after capitulation to destructive bad habits - staggeringly difficult, yes, but impossible, NO! (thanks to the grace of God!).

Daily Retreat 09/23/07

2007 Sep 23 SUN: TWENTY-FIFTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
Am 8: 4-7/ Ps 112(113): 1-2. 4-6. 7-8/ 1 Tm 2: 1-8/ Lk 16: 1-13

From today’s readings:  “Hear this, you who trample upon the needy and destroy the poor of the land....  Praise the Lord who lifts up the poor....  I ask that supplications, prayers, petitions, and thanksgivings be offered for all men....  You cannot serve both God and mammon....”

Small Matters Matter Greatly

Most of us can distinguish between right and wrong very clearly when it comes to big issues, such as the heinous crimes that appear in the newspaper every day.  Thanks to the guiding grace of God, we literally wouldn’t be caught dead doing such deeds!

But it’s a different story when it comes to smaller issues.  There, the temptation is to lull our consciences with poor excuses such as, “I would never rob a bank, so it’s no big deal that I occasionally shortchange my customers;” or, “I tell the truth when it matters, so what if I lie about my age a bit now and then?”

In the endless hammering of these small matters, you and I are slowly forging our characters, for better or for worse.  The more we practice self-deception, the better we get at it.  Soon, the small matters start looming larger: “It won’t hurt if I miss Church this week - I went the last two weeks.”  “This isn’t adultery - I’m just enjoying some time with another person.”  “It’s just a blob of tissue - I would never kill an actual person!”

The person who is trustworthy in very small matters is also trustworthy in great ones; and the person who is dishonest in very small matters is also dishonest in great ones!

Daily Retreat 09/22/07

2007 Sep 22 Sat/ BVM
1 Tm 6: 13-16/ Ps 99(100): 1b-2. 3. 4. 5/ Lk 8: 4-15

From today’s readings:  “Keep the commandment without stain or reproach....  Come with joy into the presence of the Lord....  A sower went out to sow his seed....”

Summing it up

Today’s first reading basically is the conclusion of Paul’s first letter to Timothy (actually, the five final verses are omitted from the lectionary, but you can also read them, a final exhortation to the rich to be generous, and to Timothy himself).  Perhaps you have found this letter easier to follow because it is a personal exhortation (rather than addressed to a whole community, as are most of Paul’s letters).

The solemn tone of the closing helps us to remember and consider the majesty of God.  By sending His Son among us, God became Emmanuel (the name literally means “God is with us”).  However, that doesn’t mean He ceased to be the life-giving God, all-powerful, all-knowing, “King of kings and Lord of lords.”   There is an occasional danger for us to start to think of Jesus as just another one of our friends who constantly places demands on our precious time.  When you and I remember who God is, then it’s easier to give His commandments the priority they deserve in our lives.

Daily Retreat 09/21/07

2007 Sep 21 Fri: Matthew, ap, ev F
Eph 4: 1-7. 11-13/ Ps 18(19): 2-3. 4-5/ Mt 9: 9-13

From today’s readings:  “Grace was given to each of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift....  The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament proclaims His handiwork....  As Jesus passed by, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the customs post, and He said to him, ‘Follow Me.’”

Matthew’s the man!

While we certainly can chew on divine biblical wisdom one proverb at a time, in general, it’s best to have a plan and commitment to read through whole books of the Bible.  St. Matthew’s gospel is an ideal starting point, since it is the first book of the New Testament, and most people find his the most organized of the gospels.

Matthew’s text (with 28 chapters) is actually slightly shorter than Luke’s gospel (24 chapters).  Even so, it will take several hours to read through in its entirety, especially since there’s little point in just speed-reading!  Instead, set aside the time for a truly reflective reading.  Perhaps you can make the time to do that today, but if that’s not feasible, read the book over the course of a week (just 4 chapters a day!) or even over the course of a month, covering one chapter a day.

In order to get through the book, you will have to be like St. Matthew - set aside your excuses of busyness and all the rest of your business in order to respond to Jesus’ invitation to closer friendship with Him!  St. Matthew never regretted making Jesus his priority, and neither will we!

Daily Retreat 09/20/07

2007 Sep 20 Thu: Andrew Kim Taegon, p, mt, Paul Chong Hasang, ca, mt, & co., mts M
1 Tm 4: 12-16/ Ps 110(111): 7-8. 9. 10/ Lk 7: 36-50

From today’s readings:  “Set an example for those who believe, in speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity. ...  How great are the works of the Lord!...   So I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven....”

An example in speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity

Paul had great expectations of Timothy to be an exemplary Christian in all regards, and while admitting that some of his advice applies more specifically to those today, who like Timothy, hold weighty pastoral responsibilities, still, it’s plain that most of Paul’s words are meant to be an inspiration to all Christians (that’s why this letter is in the Bible, and not just tucked away in some “Bishop’s Handbook”).

Each one of us, for example, can simply ask, “Is my commitment to following Christ making an obvious difference in my speech AND conduct AND love AND faith AND purity?”

Daily Retreat 09/19/07

2007 Sep 19 Wed/ Januarius, bp, mt
1 Tm 3: 14-16/ Ps 110(111): 1-2. 3-4. 5-6/ Lk 7: 31-35

From today’s readings:  “You should know how to behave in the household of God, which is the Church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of truth....  How great are the works of the Lord!...  Wisdom is vindicated by all her children....”

The Church of the Living God, the Pillar and Foundation of Truth!

Faith is by nature deeply personal, but it must also be interpersonal.  When someone comes to believe in God, that person soon realizes that other people also believe in God, yet there are differences (some big, some small) in what is believed!  So the person must decide: Is my faith the only right faith?  OR Are all beliefs about God right, even when contradictory?  OR Does this or that group of people have it right?

The first option (my faith is right, everyone else is wrong) is hopelessly subjective and idiotically arrogant.  God helps anyone with a rational mind and an ounce of humility to get past this option quickly.

The second option (faith is purely personal, so you can believe one thing about God, I can believe the opposite, and yet we’re both right) is appealing on the surface because being open-minded is generally esteemed as a virtue in our culture.  Yet obstinate open-mindedness can petrify into an eerie inability to commit to any truth – to paraphrase G.K. Chesterton:  “We must never forget that the reason for opening the mind is the same as for opening the mouth: so that ultimately, it can clamp down on something solid (rather than stay open indefinitely)!”  If one person believes that God cares about our personal morality (and that will affect our salvation) and another person believes that God has already arbitrarily decided who goes to Heaven, they can’t both be right.  Certainly God has made fundamental truths about Himself (and His expectations of us!) crystal clear, or there would be no reason to believe in Him!  So the second option is a dead end.

So, inevitably, in a search of faith, one must consider what groups of people believe.  For all who follow Jesus Christ, Paul’s praise of the Church as “the pillar and foundation of Truth” should give us cause to think: if the Church solemnly teaches a certain doctrine, but I believe something else, which one has the Truth?

Daily Retreat 09/18/07

2007 Sep 18 Tue
1 Tm 3: 1-13/ Ps 100(101): 1b-2ab. 2cd-3ab. 5. 6/ Lk 7: 11-17

From today’s readings:  “If a man does not know how to manage his own household, how can he take care of the Church of God?...  I will walk with blameless heart....  God has visited His people!”

Pastoral Principals & Principles

Paul’s letters to Timothy and Titus are together called the “pastoral epistles” because they specifically give advice and outline criteria for pastors of souls.  The reading today can well be combined with yesterday’s call from Paul for intercessory prayer - how crucial for each of us to ask God to endow the pastors of His Church with these qualifications!

We’ve all known (and still know) truly upright pastors - the problem comes when we encounter (or hear about) men who are charged with the duty of shepherding souls but fall sinfully short of this mold.  Although all are called to holiness and the highest standards of morality, there’s no question that when a deacon or priest or bishop falls into serious sin, the scandal is greater.

And while we can’t expect perfection from anyone, neither can we ever condone sin (in ourselves, or in others).  The psalm reminds of the need to persevere in the way of integrity and walk with blameless heart.  How can anyone do this all the time?  It’s not easy to be a faithful Christian - in fact, humanly speaking, it’s downright impossible!  But since God has visited His people, those who put their faith, not in themselves, but in Christ Jesus –  those who follow Jesus in big ways and small ways, turning to Him for strength (and forgiveness, when necessary) –  those who lead others to Jesus as well – such are they who will welcomed by the Lord in His home!

Daily Retreat 09/17/07

2007 Sep 17 Mon/ Robert Bellarmine, bp, r, dr
1 Tm 2: 1-8/ Ps 27(28): 2. 7. 8-9/ Lk 7: 1-10

From today’s readings:  “First of all, I ask that supplications, prayers, petitions, and thanksgivings be offered for everyone....  Blessed be the Lord, for He has heard my prayer.....  Lord, do not trouble Yourself, for I am not worthy to have You enter under my roof.... ”

Range of Prayer for Everyone

After a bit of  warning and gratitude expressed in the first chapter, Paul settles down in the second chapter to the main focus of his first letter to Timothy, viz., the cooperation of all members in living together in Christian order.  Not surprisingly, prayer is of primary importance, with Paul insisting, “First of all, I ask that supplications, prayers, petitions, and thanksgivings be offered for everyone, for kings and for all in authority, that we may lead a quiet and tranquil life in all devotion and dignity.”

All of us, of course, pray regularly for others, but perhaps our prayer covers only a small segment of the range Paul outlines, with his four “categories” of supplications, prayers, petitions, and thanksgivings.  To be sure, these four overlap a bit in context, but they are still helpful distinctions.  “Supplications” denote the most urgent cries for the greatest necessities, the welfare of soul and body.  “Prayers” are thus less specific, lifting others up to God with the confidence that He knows best anyway about what is good for them.  “Petitions,” in contrast, are very specific, appealing on behalf of others for a particular blessing.  “Thanksgivings,” though often neglected, are also crucial prayers to be offered not just for ourselves, but for others as well.

To further explore the shades of meaning, you might consider looking up this verse (1 Tim 2:1) in various translations to note the different possible connotations.  But don’t settle for just the theoretical distinctions - turn to God and mention by name the people for whom you are offering supplications, prayers, petitions, and thanksgivings.  Needless to say, I’m very grateful when you remember me in your prayers!

Daily Retreat 09/16/07

2007 Sep 16 SUN: TWENTY-FOURTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
Ex 32: 7-11. 13-14/ Ps 59(51): 3-4. 12-13. 17. 19/ 1 Tm 1: 12-17/ Lk 15: 1-32

From today’s readings:  “Go down at once to your people, whom you brought out of the land of Egypt, for they have become depraved....  Have mercy on me, O God, in Your goodness; in the greatness of Your compassion wipe out my offense....   Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners....  Father, I have sinned against Heaven and against you....”

Great Rejoicing in Heaven!

When was the last time you were the cause of great rejoicing in Heaven?  Now, by definition, there is always joy in Heaven, the state of eternal bliss where the angels and saints behold the glory of the Triune God.  So, what can you or I possibly do that would be the cause of more joy in heaven?

"I tell you, there will be more joy in Heaven over one repentant sinner than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need to repent."  (Luke 15:7). 

Jesus directed His answer to the self-righteous scribes and Pharisees, but the parable was also intended to speak to your heart and my heart.


Why would any shepherd spend so much effort chasing after one lost sheep?  Doesn't he have better things to do?  In answer, St. Paul explains that chasing lost sheep was Christ's chief concern.  In his letter to Timothy, St. Paul declared very solemnly:  "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners!" WHY DID JESUS COME?  To save sinners!  And since Jesus founded His Church precisely to carry on His saving mission, that means the Church is also in the world in order to save sinners!  So to those of us who are sinners, the Church proclaims this Good News:  the Good Shepherd is searching for you and me.  Our Good Shepherd wants to lead us in jubilation to His own home!

You and I have heard the Good Shepherd calling our names - how do we now answer Him, where do you and I go to meet Him?  Dear friends, the answer is no secret!  The most privileged place of receiving God's mercy, the place where the Good Shepherd looks every day to find lost sheep, the place which echos continuously with the mirth of angels rejoicing in heaven - that place is the confessional!

Confessing one's sins out loud is never easy.  Owning up to faults, to mistakes, to failures - accepting personal responsibility for them - it's never easy!  Admitting that, even if I'm basically a good person, I'm still not perfect, I need help to do better - that's not easy!  No, it's never easy, and that's why when you and I turn to the Lord in the Sacrament of Penance, we are performing not just an act of humility, but also an act of bravery, and act of maturity, a sign of our love, as we gratefully acknowledge our continuous dependence on the love and mercy of our Savior.

Anyone who might think he doesn't need this sacrament already has a grave sin to confess. In fact, down through the ages, all the saints have constantly witnessed to the need of regularly confessing one's sins.  You might be interested to know that the Pope goes to confession more than once a week!  Also, let me mention what I learned when I was privileged to serve as chaplain at a house of the Missionaries of Charity, the order founded by Mother Theresa. Those sisters, who spend their lives serving the poorest of the poor, were some of the holiest people I was ever blessed to meet in this life, and every single one of them was committed to frequent sincere confessions.  Last and certainly least, I too go to confession regularly, and I'm sorely aware of how much I need it!

According to the precepts of the Church, every single one of us has the responsibility of confessing our sins at least once a year.  This is the indispensable minimum, just like every human being requires an indispensable minimum of water every three days!  But for a healthier spiritual life, more regular confession is needed - a good rule of thumb is to strive to receive this sacrament once a month.

My friends, how long will it be until YOU are the cause of great rejoicing in Heaven?

Daily Retreat 09/15/07

2007 Sep 15 Sat: Our Lady of Sorrows M
1 Tm 1: 15-17/ Ps 112(113): 1b-2. 3-4. 5a and 6-7/ Optional Sequence Stabat Mater/ Jn 19: 25-27 or Lk 2: 33-35

From today’s readings:  “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners...  Blessed be the name of the Lord for ever.....  Standing by the cross of Jesus were His mother, and His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.”

Sharing the Cross

Yesterday’s feast of the Triumph of the Cross was a reminder of God’s presence and the victorious banner of His love even in the midst of sorrow, pain, and suffering.  As Christ teaches, each one of His followers has a share in the Cross - even Mary, His beloved mother, was not spared her share of the Cross.

How true it is that, often, our heaviest crosses are born when we share in the sufferings of those closest to us.  For true love,  such sharing in suffering (“com-passion”) is not an option - it’s essential!  Thus Mary’s wordless presence at the foot of the Cross reminds you and me of the importance of compassionately supporting with our own presence, in whatever way possible, those faced with sorrow and suffering.

While it’s not always possible to physically stand in the shadow of others’ crosses, our prayers and visits, timely help, favors, letters, phone calls, emails or whatever means of communication available can convey our loving commitment to, like Mary, share fully in the Cross for the sake of Christ.

Daily Retreat 09/14/07

2007 Sep 14 Fri: EXALTATION OF THE HOLY CROSS F
Nm 21: 4b-9/ Ps 77(78): 1bc-2. 34-35. 36-37. 38/ Phil 2: 6-11/ Jn 3: 13-17

From today’s readings:  “Moses accordingly made a bronze serpent and mounted it on a pole, and whenever anyone who had been bitten by a serpent looked at the bronze serpent, he lived....  Do not forget the works of the Lord!...  Christ Jesus, though He was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God something to be grasped....  Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in Him may have eternal life.”

The Triumph of the Cross

The Cross of Christ is such a paradox - the most barbarian instrument of torture and suffering, now converted into the Savior’s sign of hope, comfort, and ultimate victory.  God, who in His omnipotence could have saved us in any number of ways, chose, in His wisdom, to unfurl His banner of victorious love in the most least likely locale.  What does it all mean?

In the darkest hour, engulfed in deepest despair, amidst coldest cruelty and vilest villainy, surrounded even by heartless hearts, in such situations from which one would concede God Himself had been completely banished - there, even there, and especially there, the Cross of Christ alone can stand again triumphant, but only when those now charged with carrying a cross dare to raise it anew as the banner of God’s victorious love!


Sequence for the Feast of the Triumph of the Cross

The Cross, the icon of Christianity,
Redeemer’s exulted banner of victory!
Yet in the beginning, this Wood was loser’s logo, expression of perdition -
even Paul muses on the Old Law’s malediction:
“Cursed is he who hangs on a tree!” (Gal 3:13, Deut 21:23).  
In transforming the sign of defeat into the sign of victory,
Christ vanquishes all sin and sorrow, defeat and drudgery,
and molds all such dross into His own victorious Cross!

How can this be?  
How can what harms become what heals?  
How can what shames become what thrills?  
Once long ago, in the day of Moses, such paradox was prefigured:
the venomous serpent, very biblical embodiment of evil, was transfigured -
death-dealing token of torture, set in bronze cast, raised upon a mast -
all who gazed were amazed
as God raised the death-bitten to new life!

Then His turn came, and He obeyed - Stripping immortality,
Christ emptied Himself, for you, and for me.  
Begotten as Master, yet born as a slave,
Word made flesh, laid manifest in a cave!  
Then His hour came, and He obeyed -
Putting on mortality,
Christ humbled Himself, for you, and for me.  
And ours was the loss, He embraced on that Cross!

Because of this, God exulted Him greatly
and bestowed on Him that Name most stately
so at the name of Jesus, every knee bends,
those above, those below, to earth’s farthest ends,
and all tongues confess Jesus Christ the Lord,
the glorious Father’s everlasting Word!
Yes, God so loved the world He gave His only Son,
not to condemn the world, but to be the One
to save the world and rid us all
of pains of death from Adam’s fall.

All who gazed were amazed
as God raised the death-smitten to new life!
Now never can Christ’s Cross denote defeat
sin is vanquished, death is beat,
all sin, all sorrow, all pain, all loss
has been surmounted by that exulted Cross!

Daily Retreat 09/13/07

2007 Sep 13 Thu: John Chrysostom, bp, dr M
Col 3: 12-17/ Ps 150: 1b-2. 3-4. 5-6/ Lk 6: 27-38

From today’s readings:  “And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him....  Let everything that breathes praise the Lord!...  To you who hear I say, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you....”

Christian Attitude and Gratitude

Faith is intended to enlighten our perspective about everyone and everything, so Paul’s warm words to the Colossians urges them (and us!) to “put on heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another, if one has a grievance against another; as the Lord has forgiven you, so must you also do!”  

Admittedly, there are times when putting into practice such attitudes demands heroic resolution, for living the virtue of Christian love is not easy, especially when it comes to deliberately extending that love to enemies.  And yet, that is precisely what the Christian creed calls for!

For it is simply gratitude owed to God which is the basis for such saintly responses, for, as Christ and St. Paul remind us, when we remember what God has done for us - His love, mercy, compassion, and many blessings - then we cannot refuse to share likewise with others, filling our thoughts, words, and actions with Christian attitude and gratitude.

Daily Retreat 09/12/07

2007 Sep 12 Wed/ Holy Name of Mary
Col 3: 1-11/ Ps 144(145): 2-3. 10-11. 12-13ab/ Lk 6: 20-26

From today’s readings:  “Put to death, then, the parts of you that are earthly: immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and the greed that is idolatry...anger, fury, malice, slander, and obscene language out of your mouths....  The Lord is compassionate toward all His works....  Blessed are you who are poor, for the Kingdom of God is yours.....  ”

Seek what is above!

The first verses of the first reading are my favorite lines of this entire epistle, and the most familiar (they are proclaimed as the second reading on Easter Sunday):
    If you were raised with Christ, seek what is above,
    where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.
    Think of what is above, not of what is on earth!

One of the most important things about our faith is the higher viewpoint it gives us.  Christ wants us to look at life from His vantage of eternity, not temporality.  So St. Paul exhorts us to raise our sights to Heaven and all that is heavenly... (cf. Phil. 4:8-9).

This is not to say, however, that we become ungrounded in reality – only that we become aware of greater reality.  This higher viewpoint, however, is impossible for those who are blinded by sin.  Paul thus lists a number of vices which we must “put away” and even “put to death.”  As we read Paul’s list of sinful attitudes and deeds, the temptation is to see ourselves in a good light (after all, we’re not guilty of all or most of those evils!), but Paul insists that we make an honest and complete examination of conscience, and ask the Lord to help us purge ourselves thoroughly of ALL immorality.

Daily Retreat 09/11/07

2007 Sep 11 Tue
Col 2: 6-15/ Ps 144(145): 1b-2. 8-9. 10-11/ Lk 6: 12-19

From today’s readings:  “As you received Christ Jesus the Lord, walk in Him, rooted in Him and built upon Him and established in the faith as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving....  The Lord is compassionate toward all His works....  Jesus departed to the mountain to pray, and He spent the night in prayer to God....”

Living in Christ

On the practical level, sometimes nominal Christians reduce their faith to a mere philosophical system, as if by merely subscribing to a body of lofty ideas and ideals, one can be a good Christian.  But this is simply not true.  Although, just by studying and advocating Marxist thought, a person can indeed be a solid Marxist, even while taking issue with certain aspects of Karl Marx’s personal life, it is impossible to be a faithful Christian apart from a personal, loving relationship with Jesus Christ in person.

But there’s also more to Christianity than mere friendship and discipleship, for it is God’s will that His children not only follow His beloved Son Jesus, but that they also unite themselves with Him.  St. Paul especially stresses that baptism is more than a mere initiation ritual of discipleship, for by the sacrament, we are incorporated into the Body of Christ, and so our destinies are cemented to His:  “You were buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised with Him through faith in the power of God....”

And so, life in Christ is not just the old life spiced up with Christian philosophy, it’s not just the old life directed more or less in the general direction left by the footsteps of Christ - rather, life in Christ is a whole new life, a veritable share in the divine life of Christ Jesus!  So, “as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, walk in Him, rooted in Him and built upon Him and established in the faith as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. See to it that no one captivate you with an empty, seductive philosophy according to the tradition of men, according to the elemental powers of the world and not according to Christ!”

Daily Retreat 09/10/07

2007 Sep 10 Mon
Col 1: 24 – 2: 3/ Ps 61(62): 6-7. 9/ Lk 6: 6-11

From today’s readings:  “I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake....  In God is my safety and my glory....  I ask you, is it lawful to do good on the Sabbath rather than to do evil, to save life rather than to destroy it?”

Labor & Suffering

The mother who lovingly endures the great pains of labor to give birth, the rescue worker who risks his own life to save others, the missionary who embraces the most primitive living conditions to lead others to Christ, the doctor who painstakingly brings a critical patient through the most delicate surgery - all such examples prove that the fruits of labor can make even the most toilsome work well worthwhile.

But one of the most amazing claims of the Christian faith is that all human labor and suffering, whenever united to Christ’s labor and suffering, is valuable and salutary for that very reason, even when more concrete fruits are not apparent anywhere.  Embracing the truth of this mystery, St. Paul had the audacity to write, “I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ on behalf of His Body, which is the Church....”

Quite simply, the full Gospel cannot be preached without addressing  the reality of human labor and suffering.  St. Paul and Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta (the anniversary of whose death was observed last week - see  http://www.ewtn.com/motherteresa/life.htm) both knew this well, and that’s why their lives were inspirational echos of the answer that Christ Himself lived in confronting sin and suffering.  

The loving and saving passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ is thus THE answer to human pain and suffering, but that can never be reduced to a superficial or glib answer - a trite sign that reads “Jesus is the answer!” neither comforts nor converts anyone, but a humble life of love and solidarity that proclaims and reveals Jesus in big ways and small ways is the most beautiful thing on earth, and even thus eternally, something beautiful for God!

Daily Retreat 09/09/07

2007 Sep 9 SUN: TWENTY-THIRD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
Wis 9: 13-18b/ Ps 89(90): 3-4. 5-6. 12-13. 14-17 (1)/ Phlm 9-10. 12-17/ Lk 14: 25- 33

From today’s readings:  “ When things are in Heaven, who can search them out?...  In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge....  I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that the good you do might not be forced but voluntary....  Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.”

God’s Perspective on Life

Who can deny that life is horribly complicated?    How wonderful it would be if everything were just simply "the way it ought to be."  Too many people underrate faith as just another major complicating factor of life, when actually, faith is the only way one can get a hold of life and put everything in proper perspective.

Because ultimately, the only proper perspective is God's perspective, and the whole of revelation is   God's invitation (and recommendation!) for us to see things His way!  The first reading, from the book of  Wisdom, reflects on how difficult it is even to make sense of earthly realities (let alone divine realities!)  and yet God makes His own Wisdom accessible in His revelation, and as the psalm extols, how blessed are they who gain wisdom of heart by recognizing God as the rock of reference for all reality!

So it is that every word spoken by Jesus challenges us to transcend our limited perspectives on life in   favor of seeing things the way God sees them.  Certainly He whose death on the Cross showed us the meaning of "God is Love" did not command us to literally hate the closest members of our family -  that much is clear, although the wording of the Gospel is deliberately shocking so as to awake us to the  radical realignment of priorities necessary if we are truly to embrace God's perspective, which entails demoting everyone, and everything, and our very   selves, in order to truly establish God as the center of our lives.  We must take up our cross then; or,  perhaps we could better say, we must suffer to be taken up in His Cross, because it is only the vantage point of the Cross which gives us God's perspective.

Daily Retreat 09/08/07

2007 Sep 8 Sat: Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary F
Mi 5: 1-4a or Rom 8: 28-30/ Ps 12(13): 6ab. 6c/ Mt 1: 1-16. 18-23

From today’s readings:  “We know that all things work for good for those who love God, who are called according to His purpose....  With delight I rejoice in the Lord....  She will bear a Son and you are to name Him Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins....”

The Real Face of Mary

It's easy for Mary and the other saints to fade  into abstract images in our lives - people we read  about in history books, but hardly connected at all to our modern lives. The Church reminds us, however,  that all members of the mystical Body of Christ are  alive and united in Christ -and those in Heaven with  God are more alive and united than we on earth are!  So, those who denigrate the blessed Mother of Christ to  the role of a superfluous appendix in the Body of Christ,  are at the same time myopically missing the whole vision  of the full stature of the mystical Body of Christ.

Today's feast of the Birth of Mary presents us with  a motive to concretize our image of Mary, imagining  the day of her birth and the mirth of her own parents,  an event which actually occurred, even if omitted from  every history book and excluded from any surviving archeological evidence. Was Mary actually born on  September 8th? In all honesty, the calendar odds are  against it, just as the odds are against December 25th  as the actual, factual birthday of Christ. But the  accident that those dates weren't specifically recorded  in history does not preclude us from celebrating such  joyful days in the history of salvation, for those days  did occur, and a variety of traditional and devotional  factors have established September 8th as the day for the whole world to say, "Happy Birthday Mary!"

Daily Retreat 09/07/07

2007 Sep 7 Fri
Col 1: 15-20/ Ps 99(100): 1b-2. 3. 4. 5/ Lk 5: 33-39

From today’s readings:  “Christ Jesus is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation....  Come with joy into the presence of the Lord....  The days will come, and when the Bridegroom is taken away from them....”

The Big Picture of Who Jesus is

We think of Jesus as Savior, Brother, Friend, Teacher, etc.  Certainly, He is all these for us, but Paul reminds us that Jesus must also be considered in His universality (i.e., beyond His relationship with us).  And so the first reading is a beautiful hymn extolling Jesus as the center of the universe!

Such a reflection on the majesty and grandeur of our Lord can usually help us realize we’ve definitely been undervaluing and shortchanging Him in our lives.  The sun is the center of our solar system, and it’s natural that we should take it for granted, yet never to the point of thinking we can live without it!  Likewise, the Son is the center of the universe - we take Him for granted, knowing that none of our actions have earned His presence in our lives, but perhaps we can in little ways and big ways recognize, honor, and love Him truly as the center of our lives!

Daily Retreat 09/06/07

2007 Sep 6 Thu
Col 1: 9-14/ Ps 97(98): 2-3ab. 3cd-4. 5-6/ Lk 5: 1-11

From today’s readings:  “From the day we heard about you, we do not cease praying for you and asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of God’s will....  The Lord has made known His salvation....  Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch....”

Ongoing prayer

Sometimes, we think of praying on an “ad hoc” basis - asking God for some particular help, or turning to Him for some other momentary reason.  But God is more than an “on call” serviceman, and so our prayer with Him should be ongoing....

Paul, writing to the Colossians, confirmed that his prayer was continuous, for “...we do not cease praying for you....”  And, far from praying for a “quick fix” for the Colossians, Paul’s prayer was for their whole lives to fit God’s plan, that they may be filled completely (through all spiritual wisdom and understanding!) with the knowledge of God’s will, so that they would live in a manner worthy of the Lord, thereby bearing the fruits of good works and growing in the knowledge of God.

Of course, there’s nothing wrong with turning to God with a special intensity of prayer in time of great need, as we all can and should do, for instance, in response to the recent hurricane and other catastrophes.  But our prayer for ourselves and for others needs to reflect our ongoing relationship with God, whose love and care for us is continuous!

Daily Retreat 09/05/07

2007 Sep 5 Wed
Col 1: 1-8/ Ps 51(52): 10. 11/ Lk 4: 38-44

From today’s readings:  “We always give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you....  I trust in the mercy of God for ever....  At sunset, all who had people sick with various diseases brought them to Him....”

Faith, Hope, and Charity

Since we begin today reading Paul’s letter to the Colossians, the first bit of business is to encourage you to read the whole letter!  The next week and a half will take us through most of the letter, so it’s so helpful to have the big picture as we go along.

Beginning with the virtues of faith, hope, and love (v. 1:4-5), this greeting is theologically rich and one of the warmest of all Paul’s introductions, and that’s particularly interesting since Paul was not the founder of the Church there (probably founded by Epaphras mentioned in v. 1:7), and also, Paul was in prison when he wrote it (cf. 4:18).  

In the opening verses, notice how grateful Paul is, and not for any personal favors from the Colossians, as for the abundant fruits of their faith!  So today (and everyday!) you and I can remember to give thanks to God for those who, even if not known personally to us, nevertheless inspire us with their faith, hope, and charity.  The letter will develop this insight of the transcendent unity we enjoy because of our faith - don’t overlook it!

Daily Retreat 09/04/07

2007 Sep 4 Tue
1 Thes 5: 1-6. 9-11/ Ps 26(27): 1. 4. 13-14/ Lk 4: 31-37

From today’s readings:  “But you are not in darkness, for that day to overtake you like a thief....  I believe that I shall see the good things of the Lord in the land of the living....  Jesus taught them on the Sabbath, and they were astonished at His teaching because He spoke with authority....”

Afraid of the Dark

Pretty much all children go through a phase of being afraid of the dark, and even adults can find their hearts racing madly when some unknown noise is heard at night.  Of course, it’s not the darkness itself that frightens, it’s what might be lurking unseen and unknown in the darkness (like a thief at night) that frightens children (and adults).

Much of the future is also unseen and unknown, particularly our own death and the end of the world.  So, it’s understandable that such matters appear terrifying to us - at least until viewed with the light of faith.  God has indeed illuminated our lives with His revelation - St. Paul reminds us that God did not destine us for wrath, but to gain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ!  

Mind you, the future still will be terrifying for those who spend their lives trying to avoid God or keep Him at bay!  But for those who want nothing more than “to live together with Him,” no matter how long we have to stay alert and sober, His coming will certainly be worth the wait!

Daily Retreat 09/03/07

2007 Sep 3 Mon: Gregory the Great, pp, r, dr M
1 Thes 4: 13-18/ Ps 95(96): 1 and 3. 4-5. 11-12. 13/ Lk 4: 16-30

From today’s readings:  “For the Lord Himself, with a word of command, with the voice of an archangel and with the trumpet of God, will come down from Heaven, and the dead in Christ will rise first....  The Lord comes to judge the earth....  Today this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing....”

A Peak at the End

An essential aspect of Christian belief is preparation for the Parousia, the Second Coming of Christ.  Our Lord Himself warned us that we must “be prepared” (cf. Gospel from last Thursday), but He refused to give details about time and place.  Nowadays, it’s common for us to operate under the assumption that the Parousia is too far off for us to be overly concerned about it, but such a lackadaisical attitude is never fitting for faithful followers of Christ, as the liturgies of Christ the King and Advent warn us!

Another error to avoid, though, is such an urgent preoccupation with the Parousia that it grows into a psychosis that wreaks havoc in our day-to-day life.  This is what was starting to happen with some of the Thessalonians - they worried that those who had already died would miss the Parousia, and some of them even concluded that the imminent coming of the Lord was a reason to lay aside any gainful employment.  Paul corrects these misconceptions, telling them to keep working (this blunt reminder appears several times throughout both letters to the Thessalonians), and don’t worry about those who have died being short-changed in any way!  Good advice then, good advice now - let us console one another with these words!

Daily Retreat 09/02/07

2007 Sep 2 SUN: TWENTY-SECOND SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
Sir 3: 17-18. 20. 28-29/ Ps 67(68): 4-5. 6-7. 10-11/ Heb 12: 18-19. 22-24a/ Lk 14: 1. 7- 14

From today’s readings:  “My child, conduct your affairs with humility, and you will be loved more than a giver of gifts....  God, in Your goodness, You have made a home for the poor....  you have approached Mount Zion and the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem.... Rather, when you hold a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind; blessed indeed will you be because of their inability to repay you.”

Humility

We’ve all met people who acted with intolerable haughtiness, as if they were the greatest thing in the world.  Conversely, we’ve all come across a few admired souls who present themselves with genuine humility.  Clearly, the former are a great burden to put up with, whereas the latter are always a joy to have around.  Personally, the only times I’ve been upset by the presence of a humble man are when such a man’s humility contrasts so sharply with my own lack of that virtue, that I find myself reddening with shame (at which point the Good Lord always helps me see the grace of that foil, although sometimes I’m too vain to act on it).

Certainly, humility is a central characteristic of Jesus, who emptied Himself of divine prerogatives in order to reveal God’s merciful plan of salvation.  And so humility, true humility, reminds us of the kenosis of the Incarnation.

The question then, since humility is so God-like, and appreciated when we see it in others, is why we are almost afraid to intentionally cultivate this virtue, or even talk and teach much about it.  To be sure, it’s very elusive nature makes it practically paradoxical to pursue directly even with the most fervent and focused will, for one can never pledge, “I’m going to be humble, no matter what it takes!”

On the other hand, scripture maintains that it is possible to condition ourselves for this virtue, provided that we have not only the single-minded driven dream of an Olympic athlete racing with all his might toward the finish line, but also the pure absence of self-consciousness, like a child who races to the embracing arms of his loving Father for the fulfillment of the greatest longing of his heart.