Virtual Retreat

Daily scriptural reflections by Fr. Rory Pitstick, SSL from Immaculate Heart Retreat Center in Spokane, WA
Also available via daily email

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Daily Retreat 07/03/09

2009 Jul 3 Fri:Thomas, ap F
Eph 2: 19-22/ Ps 116(117): 1bc. 2/ Jn 20: 24-29

From today’s readings: 
“You are fellow citizens with the holy ones and members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the Apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the capstone....  Go out to all the world and tell the Good News....  Have you come to believe because you have seen Me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed!”

Doubting Thomas

St. Thomas the Apostle is popularly known as “Doubting Thomas” because he refused to believe the testimony of the other ten apostles to whom Jesus had appeared on the evening of Easter Sunday.  Even though the “doubting” appellative generally evokes a negative connotation (the chastisement for lack of faith), we shouldn’t overlook the positive aspects of Thomas’ incredulity.

In fact, his initial disbelief established a firm anchor for our own belief!  You may have heard of those imbecilic biblical interpreters who deny the historicity of Christ’s resurrection, claiming instead that the apostles merely suffered the delusion of “wishing thinking” and therefore had some fantasy or psychotic experience of Jesus as “living again” in their own minds and hearts.  

But the irrationality of such a fabrication is exposed by the very rationality of the doubt raised by Thomas!  The death of Jesus was a crushing blow for all of the apostles - none of them possessed such an unrealistic obstinate optimism that they needed to, or would have even been able to, somehow collectively dream up the resurrection to “prove” that their messianic hopes were not unfounded.  

On the contrary, when Mary Magdalene and the other woman witnesses initially reported the empty tomb and the angelic testimony, the apostles completely dismissed their account and refused to believe.  In fact, in addition to Thomas’ doubt recorded in the gospel of St. John, the natural initial skepticism of all the apostles is also clearly attested to in the other three gospels: Matthew 28:17; Mark 16:11-14; Luke 24:11,37.  Such doubt could only be overcome by the most convincing of proofs!  While the details are given only about what Thomas demanded (and received) in order to believe, in His resurrected glory, Christ evidently provided each apostle with the undoubtable evidence needed to establish the redoubtable faith that gave birth to the indubitable, irrefutable testimony of martyrdom!

Especially throughout this Year for Priests, consider the ways God will use you to strengthen the holiness of priests - please pray for priests and future priestly vocations every day, and do your part in this Year for Priests!

Daily Retreat 07/02/09

2009 Jul 2 Thu:Ordinary Weekday
Gn 22:1b-19/ Ps 114(115):1-2. 3-4. 5-6. 8-9/ Mt 9:1-8

From today’s readings:
“God put Abraham to the test....   I will walk in the presence of the Lord, in the land of the living....  But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins....”

Abraham’s Test

Of the twelve chapters of Genesis which recount the life of Abraham, today’s verses from chapter 22 are the most poignant and most memorable, when God put Abraham to the test, and called upon him to sacrifice his son Isaac, for whom he had waited so many years.

At first glance, the incident gives rise to a legitimate objection to God’s way of doing things: how can He, the God who is all good,  ask Abraham for human sacrifice?  According to other scripture passages, such a custom is abominable to God (e.g., Deut. 12:31, Psalm 105:37-40).  Even with the realization that God, who knows all things, already knew how Isaac’s sacrifice would be averted, it still seems God’s command has inexcusably inflicted Abraham with great mental anguish.

And yet, to be the stalwart father in faith, Abraham needed to prove to himself and to his descendants that God ALWAYS comes first, no matter what.  Moreover, the test and lesson for Abraham is just a variation of the teaching of Jesus (cf. Matt. 10:37ff), “Whoever loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me; and whoever does not take up his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.”  And, far from condoning child sacrifice, the incident conclusively illustrates that God does not want that - indeed, the gripping pathos of this chapter made that message clear enough to even the most primitive peoples.  And finally, God knew that Abraham’s example would help his descendants one day understand the significance of His own Son’s sacrifice....

Especially throughout this Year for Priests, consider the ways God will use you to strengthen the holiness of priests - please pray for priests and future priestly vocations every day, and do your part in this Year for Priests!

Daily Retreat 07/01/09

2009 Jul 1 Wed:Ordinary Weekday/ Bl Junipero Serra, p, r, ms
Gn 21:5. 8-20a/ Ps 33(34):7-8. 10-11. 12-13/ Mt 8:28-34

From today’s readings:  “On the day of the child’s weaning, Abraham held a great feast..... The Lord hears the cry of the poor....  When Jesus came to the territory of the Gadarenes, two demoniacs who were coming from the tombs met Him.”


Pigs or Persons?


When Jesus exorcized the demoniacs in the territory of the Gadarenes, the demons, at their own request, were sent into a herd of pigs, which were then driven to drowning by the mad monsters.  But when the townsmen heard of the miracle, they frowned on it as a catastrophe, for the Gospel mentions that they came out en masse to beg Jesus to leave their district.

Presumably some of the townsfolk had stock in the herd, and so, they were naturally upset at their loss.  However, any herd of pigs, which Jews consider “unclean,” would have been an unwelcome aberration even in the Hebrew hinterlands.  One would have expected the majority of the people to have appreciated Jesus both for curing the demoniacs and for getting rid of the pigs!

But rather than recognizing any good that Jesus had done, the residents resented Jesus, for whatever reasons, and so begged Him to leave their district (and more importantly, to leave them alone!).  The same annoyed attitude can certainly be found in our own times, probably even in our own communities, and possibly even in our own hearts.  For, in order to fully welcome Jesus, one must evict evil entirely - and that always entails a cost!  For some people, the attachment and concern for the unclean things of life outweighs the grace that Jesus brings, so they tragically continue to beg Him to just leave them alone.

Especially throughout this Year for Priests, consider the ways God will use you to strengthen the holiness of priests - please pray for priests and future priestly vocations every day, and do your part in this Year for Priests!

Daily Retreat 06/30/09

2009 Jun 30 Tue:Ordinary Weekday/ First Martyrs of the Church of Rome
Gn 19:15-29/ Ps 25(26):2-3. 9-10. 11-12/ Mt 8:23-27

From today’s readings:“Lot's wife looked back, and she was turned into a pillar of salt....  O Lord, Your mercy is before my eyes....   Lord, save us - we are perishing!”

Rescue!


God is in the rescue business - the whole mission of His Son should be recognized as the greatest rescue operation of all time, when God redeemed humanity and drew all to Himself in order to rescue us from the doom of sin.  We can think of this rescue operation as occurring in two phases: deployment and implementation.  Through the incarnation, passion, death, and resurrection of His Son, God deployed His grace so completely into the human condition, that there was no time or place or person or situation beyond the ready reach of the Redeemer.  

In the implementation phase, the Rescuer calls out instructions to those imperilled and needing to be rescued.   If those who are stranded then follow the Rescuer’s instructions and cooperate with His efforts to save them, they will indeed reach safety.   However, if they were to turn their back on the Rescuer and disdain His redemptive instructions , they would perish needlessly.

All those alive today are living the real drama of God’s efforts to implement His rescue operation in our lives.  Already, all of us have had “close calls,” times when we just barely managed to escape from grave physical or moral dangers.  However, as relieved as we were to have reached temporary havens, so often there follows an almost irresistible urge to look back, and as the example of Lot’s wife proves, that look back can be tragic!  

For instance, after God’s grace leads a person to turn away from sin with contrition and the firm resolution to sin no more, the Devil is often successful in tempting the person to look back once more at the sin, and thus the forbidden fruit again catches the eye and awakens the appetite, and soon the person is too often lost again to the mesmerizing allure of wickedness.

So, the moral is: follow the instructions of the Divine Rescuer, cooperate with His efforts, and don’t even look back at sin!

Especially throughout this Year for Priests, consider the ways God will use you to strengthen the holiness of priests - please pray for priests and future priestly vocations every day, and do your part in this Year for Priests!

Daily Retreat 06/29/09

2009 Jun 29 Mon: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!

Especially throughout this Year for Priests, consider the ways God will use you to strengthen the holiness of priests - please pray for priests and future priestly vocations every day, and do your part in this Year for Priests!

Daily Retreat 06/28/09

2009 Jun 28 SUN:THIRTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
Wis 1:13-15; 2:23-24/ Ps 29(30):2. 4. 5-6. 11. 12. 13 (2a)/ 2 Cor 8:7. 9. 13-15/ Mk 5:21-43

From today’s readings:  “By the envy of the devil, death entered the world, and they who belong to his company experience it....  Sing praise to the LORD, you His faithful ones, and give thanks to His holy name....  May you excel in this gracious act also.... Do not be afraid; just have faith!”

Doing Our Part

In general, our noisy and hectic world can make it hard to think straight sometimes, and thus  peace and quiet are rare and prized commodities in our day. And yet, even so, there are times when stillness can be alarming, as when a pulse is so faint it can hardly be felt.  

The same dangerous extremes can be observed in the spiritual life.  Consider first the detriment of noise and commotion:  In the Gospel reading, as Jesus makes His way to Jairus’ house, He is surrounded by a chaotic crowd.  Now we can presume these were good people, for they evidently wanted to be close to Jesus and follow Him.  But, by and large, they were meshed in a mob mentality, and they were caught up in the emotion of the moment, and probably just looking for a little excitement - that’s why they were pressing on Jesus!  Not because they sought to know Him personally, not because they were listening much to His words of life, not because they were open to His sacrificial love for each of them, not because they had any intention of following Him for more than a few blocks - none of those good reasons were driving the throng to follow Jesus, but simply because there was a crowd, and the rabble wanted to be part of the crowd, and hang out with the crowd, and so that particular day, they happened to crowd around Jesus.

But in the midst of the multitude, there’s one person who manages to tune out the din and think and act clearly and deliberately.  So the woman with the hemorrhage approaches Jesus, not just to be in the “in” crowd, but because she recognizes His saving power, and so she touches Him in faith.  Streams of people are physically brushing against Jesus, but just in the non-personal way that you or I might unintentionally bump into another in a crowded concourse.  Only one elevates the encounter to the level of personal contact.  As St. Augustine said, “Multitudes are they who throng about Him, but few are they who by faith touch Him.”  And yet what a difference it made for that woman, and for all who want to do more than just crowd around Jesus, those who recognize His saving power, and touch Him in faith!

And it’s the same story with the next miracle:  Jesus arrives at the official’s house, and there’s this commotion of weeping and wailing, people too caught up in their own sorrow to even listen to the Lord’s good news, “She’s just asleep!”  So Jesus puts them all out, so that finally His own words can be clearly heard and felt: “Talitha koum!”  In our lives too, Jesus insists that you and I take action, and put out the distractions of our lives, especially on Sunday and in our daily prayers, so that His words of life can be clearly heard and felt....


Yes, we need to do our part too, and that insight returns us to the second danger, for not only do people fail in Christian discipleship when misled by chaotic distractions, but also when paralyzed with morbid inaction.   This is a form of the sin of presumption, and the heresy of quietism, which perhaps is more prevalent in our day than most realize.  “I’ll just let God do it all.  If I don’t get around to daily prayers, if I miss going to Church on Sunday, if I don’t bother to read the Bible or study my faith, if I just ignore my pastors, if I worry more about sports scores than I do about eternal salvation, well, God’s big enough to handle all that stuff without my help.”

But, quoting St. Augustine again, “God who made you without your cooperation, will not save you without your cooperation.”  The Lord is too polite to bodily force us to be with Him, so if we decide to crowd Him out of our lives, He doesn’t compel us to make room for Him.  Are you content with crass “Crowd Christianity,” following Jesus every once in a while for a short distance when you’re in the mood and there’s promise of a little excitement?  But that’s not enough!  You can’t just drift with the crowd that hangs out occasionally with Jesus - you need to make a personal commitment, and hang on religiously to Jesus, like the woman who touched the Lord in fullness of faith!

When we hang on faithfully to Jesus, His power touches us, and transforms us.  And then there’s so much we learn from His words and actions.  Did you ever consider, for instance, that if Jesus could raise Jairus’ daughter from the dead, He certainly could have raised her with a full stomach as well?  And yet, after the miracle, Jesus told her parents to give her something to eat, saying, in effect, “I will do My part, but you still need to do your part!”  That’s what Jesus tells each of us today:  He will do His part, but you and I also need to do our parts!

Especially throughout this Year for Priests, consider the ways God will use you to strengthen the holiness of priests - please pray for priests and future priestly vocations every day, and do your part in this Year for Priests!

Daily Retreat 06/27/09

2009 Jun 27 Sat:Ordinary Weekday/ BVM/ Cyril of Alexandria, bp, dr
Gn 18:1-15/ Lk 1:46-47. 48-49. 50 and 53. 54-55/ 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!

Especially throughout this Year for Priests, consider the ways God will use you to strengthen the holiness of priests - please pray for priests and future priestly vocations every day, and do your part in this Year for Priests!

Daily Retreat 06/26/09

2009 Jun 26 Fri:Ordinary Weekday
Gn 17:1. 9-10. 15-22/ Ps 127(128):1-2. 3. 4-5/ Mt 8:1-4

From today’s readings:
“I am God the Almighty.  Walk in My presence and be blameless....  See how the Lord blesses those who fear Him....  Go, show yourself to the priest.... ”


99  - Still Called, and Going Strong!

The 12+ chapters of Genesis that recount the life of Abraham also relate his unfolding, lifelong vocation from God, which was, in fact, the very meaning of his long life.  And what is true for Abraham, is also logically true for all of God’s children - the meaning of our life is found in the vocation each of us receives from God!

Both in his youth and old age, Abraham struggled to have complete faith in God’s call - understandably so, for his vocation at times seemed incredible, and impossible.  Yet, Abraham came to learn that, no matter what vocation God calls a person to, divine grace and providence will always assist the person in faithfully answering the call....

The same is true for us again - no matter what difficulties you and I may encounter in striving to live out our vocation, God will always give the wherewithal for us to faithfully answer His call and live up to our divine vocation - that’s the lesson to learn from Abraham, our father in faith!

Especially throughout this Year for Priests, consider the ways God will use you to strengthen the holiness of priests - please pray for priests (particularly for those ordained in Spokane today) and pray for future priestly vocations every day, and do your part in this Year for Priests!

Sunday, June 21, 2009

Daily Retreat 06/25/09

2009 Jun 25 Thu:Ordinary Weekday
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!

Especially throughout this Year for Priests, consider the ways God will use you to strengthen the holiness of priests - please pray for priests and future priestly vocations every day, and do your part in this Year for Priests!

Daily Retreat 06/24/09

2009 Jun 24 Wed: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).

Especially throughout this Year for Priests, consider the ways God will use you to strengthen the holiness of priests - please pray for priests and future priestly vocations every day, and do your part in this Year for Priests!

Daily Retreat 06/23/09

2009 Jun 23 Tue:Ordinary Weekday
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.

Especially on this anniversary of my ordination and throughout this Year for Priests, consider the ways God will use you to strengthen the holiness of priests - please pray for priests and future priestly vocations every day, and do your part in this Year for Priests!

Thursday, June 18, 2009

Daily Retreat 06/22/09

2009 Jun 22 Mon:Ordinary Weekday/ Paulinus of Nola, bp/ John Fisher, bp, mt, and Thomas More, mm, mt
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....

Especially throughout this Year for Priests, consider the ways God will use you to strengthen the holiness of priests - please pray for priests and future priestly vocations every day, and do your part in this Year for Priests!

Daily Retreat 06/21/09

2009 Jun 21 SUN:TWELFTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
Jb 38: 1. 8-11/ Ps 106(107): 23-24. 25-26. 28-29. 30-31 (1b)/ 2 Cor 5: 14-17/ Mk 4: 35- 41

From today’s readings:  “The Lord addressed Job out of the storm....  They cried to the LORD in their distress; from their straits He rescued them, He hushed the storm to a gentle breeze, and the billows of the sea were stilled....  whoever is in Christ is a new creation....  Why are you terrified? Do you not yet have faith?”

Weathering Storms With Christ

We’ve all seen storms that were at least slightly scary, and if we found ourselves at that time in a boat, or plane, or car, then the storm may well have become very scary!  Earthquakes, hurricanes, floods, and the like, also remind us, even when observed from afar, that the forces of nature are more than man can ever control!

We’ve all been buffeted by figurative storms in our lives as well, those times we’ve found ourselves drenched in problems, engulfed with worries, and even nearly drowning in fears.  Many such squalls are more than partly our own fault, arising from our own poor decisions.  But then again, there are also times when we, through no fault of our own, just find ourselves in the wrong place, at the wrong time, suddenly faced with the most adverse conditions.

And often, after doing our best to get out of the storms of our lives, whether literal or figurative, we discover that, on our own, we just don’t have what it takes to weather such foul weather.   Our prayers can even reach the desperation of the disciples, “Teacher, don’t You even care that I’m perishing?  I’m drowning!  I’m up to my neck! I’ve tried everything, and still the storms just grow worse!”

The Gospel reminds us that, in the midst of the storm, the disciples had Jesus with them - that would be their salvation!  But the Gospel also reveals that the disciples weren’t initially inclined to turn to Jesus for help; for too long, they ignored the Lord - that would be their consternation!  For if they had called upon Him earlier, He certainly would have answered with full assurance.  

Jesus wasn’t annoyed that His apostles woke Him up, but He was concerned that they had waited to the point of desperation, so much so that, when they turned to Him, they didn’t even have much faith that He would or could do much to save them.  And so their prayer, like the words Job spoke in his misery, had the tone of a reproof: “Don’t You even care that we’re perishing?”

The elements of nature and the adversities of our lives are more than we can control, and often enough, more than we can take without help.  So, rather than pushing ourselves to our breaking points, rather than ignoring the Lord and waiting until the point of consternation and desperation, finally turning to God but with little hope that He can or will do anything about such storms, it’s much better for us to remember now that we have Jesus with us, and that will be our salvation! 

Especially throughout this Year for Priests, consider the ways God will use you to strengthen the holiness of priests - please pray for priests and future priestly vocations every day, and do your part in this Year for Priests!

Daily Retreat 06/20/09

2009 Jun 20 Sat:Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary M
2 Cor 12:1-10/Ps 33(34):8-9. 10-11. 12-13/Lk 2:41-51

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....  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!

Especially throughout this Year for Priests, consider the ways God will use you to strengthen the holiness of priests - please pray for priests and future priestly vocations every day, and do your part in this Year for Priests!

Daily Retreat 06/19/09

2009 Jun 19 Fri:SACRED HEART OF JESUS S
Hos 11:1. 3-4. 8c-9/ Is 12:2-3. 4. 5-6 (3)/ Eph 3:8-12. 14-19/ Jn 19:31-37

From today’s readings:  “My heart is overwhelmed, My pity is stirred....  You will draw water joyfully from the springs of salvation.....  that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith....  a soldier thrust his lance into His side, and immediately blood and water flowed out. ”

Year for Priests

Today, the solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, is the beginning of a special “Year for Priests” decreed by Pope Benedict XVI.  The intention of the year, the Pope explains, is specifically “to deepen the commitment of all priests to interior renewal for the sake of a more forceful and incisive witness to the Gospel in today’s world.”   The Holy Father mentions St. John Vianney, the patron saint of priests, as a particularly inspiring example to follow.

I and other priests have our work cut out for us - I’m certainly aware of how often I fall short of the example of St. John Vianney, let alone the example of Jesus, our great High Priest!  And yet, despite our failings and clear unworthiness, God has chosen us priests for service in His Church to Him and His holy people - it’s God’s plan, and God’s idea, and we can only dedicate ourselves, as much as possible, to doing things God’s way!

Especially throughout this Year for Priests, consider the ways God will use you to strengthen the holiness of priests - please pray for priests and future priestly vocations every day, and do your part in this Year for Priests!

Link to Pope Benedict’s Letter Proclaiming this Year for Priests:
http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/letters/2009/documents/hf_ben-xvi_let_20090616_anno-sacerdotale_en.html

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Daily Retreat 06/18/09

2009 Jun 18 Thu:Ordinary Weekday
2 Cor 11:1-11/Ps 110(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 06/17/09

2009 Jun 17 Wed:Ordinary Weekday
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?

Tuesday, June 09, 2009

Daily Retreat 06/16/09

2009 Jun 16 Tue:Ordinary Weekday
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 06/15/09

2009 Jun 15 Mon:Ordinary Weekday (Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time)
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 06/14/09

2009 Jun 14 SUN:THE BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST S
Ex 24: 3-8/ Ps 115(116): 12-13. 15-16. 17-18 (13)/ Heb 9: 11-15/ Mk 14: 12-16. 22-26

From today’s readings:  “All that the LORD has said, we will heed and do....   I will take the cup of salvation, and call on the name of the Lord....  When Christ came as high priest of the good things that have come to be, passing through the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made by hands, that is, not belonging to this creation, He entered once for all into the sanctuary....  While they were eating, He took bread, said the blessing, broke it, gave it to them, and said, ‘Take It; this is My Body!’ ”

Cautions about Receiving Holy Communion

Both the wicked and the good
eat of this celestial Food:
but with ends how opposite!
With this most substantial Bread,
unto life or death they're fed,
in a difference infinite!

These words of warning are found in St. Thomas Aquinas’ sublime sequence in praise of Corpus Christi, the august Sacrament of the Body of Christ.  For his part, St. Thomas was simply repeating the constant teaching of the Church, which can be traced all the way back to the warning given by St. Paul in his first letter to the Corinthians (11:27-32), that anyone participating in the Eucharistic banquet who eats and drinks unworthily, without discerning the Body, eats and drinks judgment on himself!

In short, there is no such thing as a “Casual Communion,” because whenever a person receives the Body of Christ, there is a profound effect of one sort or another, leading to either salvation or condemnation.  Truly, Christ wants to give Himself wholly to everyone, but logically, everyone should first prepare himself wholly to welcome this Little White Guest.  That’s why going to Mass is an essential part of fulfilling the commandment to keep the Lord’s Day holy; however, it is not the expectation that everyone receive Communion every Sunday - in fact, there are clear cases when that should not happen.

And so, just as there are reasons not to take certain foods and medicines at certain times, there are also reasons not to receive Communion in certain circumstances.  Dieticians and doctors and will detail the directives to follow in eating earthly food and medicine, and so priests and preachers must likewise faithfully present the precautions to observe in partaking of heavenly Medicine and Food, and thus this Feast of Corpus Christi is the right time to review four reasons which would impede one from receiving Holy Communion.


First of all, it’s never a good idea to eat something when you don’t even know what it is that you’re eating!  One of the earliest lessons that babies need to learn is that you can’t just put everything in your mouth, and of course adults, for their part, rightfully insist that public health authorities monitor and certify that food processing and packaging is duly sanitized.

In the first several years of my own life, I did not receive Communion because I simply didn’t know what It was!  I understandably regarded the Host as merely a small piece of bread or candy, and I failed to  recognize It as truly the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Christ.  And so, if the priest presented that to me with the words, “The Body of Christ,” I would not have been ready to honestly reply, “Amen!” for that little word precisely means, “I believe!  Yes, this is so!”  Clearly, given my lack of understanding, it would have been inappropriate and impudent for me at that time in my life to receive Communion.

Likewise, if you don’t yet know what the Eucharist is, if your idea of communion is separated in any degree from the Catholic Church’s teaching, then it would be most appropriate for you to wait to receive Communion until the time comes when your sincere “Amen!” would confess wholeheartedly, in communion with the whole Catholic Church, that the Sacrament is indeed more than just a symbol - it’s what Jesus Himself declared it to be, His Body, His Blood!  For Christ Himself is the divine authority who, through His priests, still duly sanctifies the lowly bread and common wine and so certifies those elements after the consecration as His Body and Blood.


The second reason for refraining from eating at a particular time simply is in recognition that all food is less appetizing after a person has already just recently eaten, particularly if what is already digesting might disagree with something new.  So, for instance, if a person has just finished a full meal topped with a dessert of ice cream and cake, he’s not going to have a good disposition to follow that with a vinegar salad.  As another example, we’re all aware that some medicines must be taken on an empty stomach.

The Church’s practice calls those who intend to receive Holy Communion to prepare their bodies with a modest fast of one hour, refraining from earthly food and drink (although water or necessary medicines may be taken) for that short time in order to be better disposed to receive the Eucharist, which St. Ignatius of Antioch rightly called the “Medicine of Immortality.”  I recall one time in my youth when my family and I went to Mass on some holy day right after our evening dinner.   Since we had just eaten so recently, none of us approached the altar at Communion time, although in our silent prayers, we did express our hunger to receive our Lord into our hearts, and so in that time, we at least had the benefit of that spiritual communion with Jesus.

Likewise, if you’re  neglecting to prepare your own body to receive the Body of Christ, if you’re forgetting to fast for at least an hour before Communion, then the best way to sharpen your appetite for receiving the Bread of Life is to hold back at this time from approaching the altar, and instead, prayerfully express your whole-hearted desire to receive the Eucharistic Lord, at least spiritually at this moment, but then sacramentally, when you have more fully prepared.  This principle also holds for those who have been chewing gum or candy before Mass (or Heaven forbid, even during Mass!) or drinking coffee or soda or taking any snack less than an hour before Communion, because clearly it would be trivializing the Bread of Angels to eat or drink such things right before Holy Communion!


The third reason we occasionally forego a meal has to do with our frame of mind.  When we’re intensely pre-occupied with a particular issue, that can lead to butterflies in the stomach, which would certainly curtail the appetite.   Or there’s times when we’re completely engaged in some exciting activity, and so, we just don’t feel much hunger, even when dinner time approaches.

Whenever I had the chance to travel as a seminarian, I would always include a visit to the local church, generally with enough planning to also attend and have ample time for Mass, and this was certainly the case for every Sunday, at least.    And this was never resented as an imposition on my free time, for the sharing in the life of faith and the awe of praying in great cathedrals which were such monuments to the culture’s faith immeasurably enriched my travel experiences!  But I do confess that there was one Sunday when I was touring England, I believe, and while I did stop at a rather plain church for Mass, I was a few minutes late.  But worse still, throughout almost the whole liturgy, my mind was mostly engaged in reviewing my itinerary for the rest of the day: what I’d be seeing, where I’d be going next, what train connections I needed to make, and where I would spend the night.  Well, there’s a reason that Communion comes towards the end of Mass, since everything before that point thus helps in our preparation of mind, body, and soul.  So when I found myself kneeling down after the Lamb of God, I suddenly realized that I had no idea what the Scripture readings had been about, I hadn’t paid any attention to the homily, I couldn’t recall any degree of putting myself into the penitential rite or the offering, I hadn’t really prayed for others even during the intercessions, I hadn’t entered the sacrificial spirit of the liturgy, I couldn’t remember singing even one of the hymns - in short, I had missed out on nearly the entire experience of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.  I was there in body, I guess, but my mind had been elsewhere.  Because I had been lackadaisical before Mass, and so inattentive during Mass, even though it was unintentional, I had needlessly forfeited so many blessings that God had offered to fortify and ready me for that intimate encounter with His Son in the Eucharist. And so, it was my fault that I simply was not well enough prepared to receive Christ - if I had approached Him at that moment for Communion, the sincerity of my spoken “Amen” would have been compromised and at least partially contradicted by my disregard for Him in the earlier parts of the Mass.  So that Sunday, instead of going to Communion, I just quietly knelt in place, and sincerely begged God to forgive me for my earlier lack of awareness, respect, and reverence, and implored the good Lord to help me in my thoughts, words, and actions henceforth to acknowledge His rightful and central place in every aspect and moment of my life.

If, like me on that sad Sunday, if you’re missing the divine message of the Scripture readings today, if your mind is focused elsewhere throughout the Mass, if you see no reason to personally commit to the penitential prayers, if you’re not ready to offer at least part of your heart at the altar, if you find yourself too distracted to pray for others (and yourself!), if you think the homily is for everyone else, but not for you, if you’re unwilling to enter the sacrificial mystery of the Mass, well, then my guess (and it’s a well-educated guess!) is that you’re simply not going to be at all ready to receive Christ, the King of Kings, in Communion, and so it would be much better instead to humbly beg God to forgive the misplaced priorities of the past, and help you to recognize and warmly welcome all the many blessings He sends to draw you to Himself.

And finally, there are times when we must turn down even the most wholesome food because of some serious sickness which prevents us from digesting as long as the disease continues to ravage our body.  In such a situation, it’s counter-productive to even dare swallowing a morsel - in fact, we discover that everything else in our lives can be put on hold, and needs to be put on hold, while we focus on addressing such a grave illness, turning to God and a doctor for help in getting the awful germs cleaned out of our system.

There was one time in my life, long ago in my days as a student, when I recollect coming to Mass with a grievous weight on my heart.  I had just left behind a horribly heated argument, and I had said some things I wish I had never said, and I had also been quite hurt by the other’s cruel remarks, which would in time come to be regretted tearfully as well.  I struggled to biblically bind those gaping wounds with the wisdom of the Word of God, with the penance, and praise, and prayers of the whole Mass, but it wasn’t enough, for before such grievous injuries could even be bandaged up, they needed to be thoroughly washed clean, and salved with nothing less than divine mercy!  I didn’t receive Communion at that Mass - indeed, I wouldn’t have been able to stomach Him in that way then, for my insides had been too upset, and soured and spoiled by sin.  So after Mass, I went to confession as soon as I could to repent sincerely of my sins, and then apologized, and also shared the mercy and stretched the reconciling embrace to my partner in argument.

Likewise, if you’re in a state of grave sin - even if, and especially if, that’s not weighing much at this moment on your heart or nodding conscience, please, I pray, come to grips with the seriousness of your situation, and set aside everything to address the deadly disease of sin, for until you do, the wholesomeness of the Eucharist can only be counter-productive.  So, for your own sake, do not compromise yourself further with a sacrilegious Communion!  If you’ve inexcusably and deliberately missed Sunday Mass or otherwise failed in basic respect to God and God-given authority, if you’ve willingly inflicted severe harm of any sort on another person, if you’ve had or counseled another to have an abortion, if you’re divorced and married outside the Church, if you’ve fallen into adultery, habitual masturbation or pornography, if you and your spouse have embraced a contraceptive practice and mentality, if you’ve stolen or cheated in a big way, if you’ve been living a lie, if you’re coveting the lives and goods of others while neglecting to thank God and make the most of the blessings He provides for you - if any such serious sins or others are yet infecting your soul, then clearly, you’re not in the right state for intimate Communion with Christ until you’ve repented, and been absolved and reconciled with God in sacramental confession!


Indeed, there are these four and even other substantial reasons to refrain when necessary from receiving Communion, but all of those reasons should be recognized as ultimately temporary and provisional, for they only exist to lead us to the more eternal and substantial reasons for always preparing ourselves as best as possible to  receive Communion, to welcome our loving God with heart, mind, and body, as we unite ourselves completely in Communion with the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!

Daily Retreat 06/13/09

2009 Jun 13 Sat:Anthony of Padua, p, r, dr M
2 Cor 5:14-21/ Ps 102(103):1-2. 3-4. 9-10. 11-12/ Mt 5:33-37

From today’s readings: “Whoever is in Christ is a new creation....  The Lord is kind and merciful....  Let your 'Yes' mean 'Yes,' and your 'No' mean 'No.' ”


Honesty, honestly

“Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor” and a few passages about the seriousness of sacred oaths (e.g., Leviticus 19:12, Numbers 30:2, and Deuteronomy 23:21) were among the strongest injunctions  in the Old Testament for honesty in speech.  True to form, Jesus advocates the perfected fulfillment of those principles, when, quite simply, a person’s “yes” would mean “yes,”and “no” would mean “no,” and there would not be any need of swearing to guarantee credibility.

No one would disagree, for in this matter especially, the teaching of Jesus is so clearly the way things ought to be - and yet how different is the reality of human history, with our own “enlightened” age being no exception!  Tragically, in fact, modern times have witnessed highly publicized equivocation and prevarication even of testimony given under solemn oath.

But instead of the hazy honesty advocated and practiced by too many politicians and media spin doctors, you and I, as followers of Christ, need to strive to live by His standards of truthfulness. In large matters and small matters, it’s always possible and right to witness with the splendor of the Truth, which is Christ Himself!

Daily Retreat 06/12/09

2009 Jun 12 Fri:Ordinary Weekday
2 Cor 4:7-15/ Ps 115(116):10-11. 15-16. 17-18/ Mt 5:27-32

From today’s readings:
“We hold this treasure in earthen vessels....  To You, Lord, I will offer a sacrifice of praise....  If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away.... ”

Apostolic Attitude

Atheists are at a loss to explain how historically, Christianity has withstood the greatest adversities.  Speaking with the conviction of faith which far surpasses naive optimism, St. Paul boasts, “We hold this treasure in earthen vessels, that the surpassing power may be of God and not from us. We are afflicted in every way, but not constrained; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying about in the Body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our body. For we who live are constantly being given up to death for the sake of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal flesh.”

The treasure of faith held be St. Paul is also now held by us, in our own fragile “earthen vessels.”  If we concentrate on ourselves and our very real weaknesses and failings, then we will surely crack under adversities.  But if we turn to the treasure itself in which we behold the power of God, then even the greatest hardships and burdens of life will fail to break us, for “the One who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus....”

Monday, June 08, 2009

Daily Retreat 06/11/09

2009 Jun 11 Thu:Barnabas, ap M
Acts 11:21b-26; 13:1-3/Ps 97(98):1. 2-3ab. 3cd-4. 5-6/Mt 5:20-26

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).

Having served 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 06/10/09

2009 Jun 10 Wed:Ordinary Weekday
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 06/09/09

2009 Jun 9 Tue:Ordinary Weekday/ Ephrem of Syria, d, dr
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!

Friday, June 05, 2009

Daily Retreat 06/08/09

2009 Jun 8 Mon:Ordinary Weekday (Tenth Week in Ordinary Time)
2 Cor 1:1-7/ Ps 33(34):2-3. 4-5. 6-7. 8-9/ Mt 5:1-12

From today’s readings:
“We know that as you share in the sufferings, you also share in the encouragement....  Taste and see the goodness of the Lord....  Blessed are the pure of heart, for they will see God...”


The God of All Encouragement


For the next two weeks, the first reading will primarily be covering Paul’s Second Letter to the Corinthians.  Incidentally, you may have also noted that the daily Gospel selection has also shifted from the last chapters of Mark to Chapter Five of Matthew, the beginning of the Lord’s Sermon on the Mount.

Obviously, for all of us, life involves hardships.  Tragically, when things are going well and during times of prosperity, people in general think of God less and don’t turn to Him as frequently.  In contrast, during hard times and life’s tribulations, men and women are more inclined to recognize their need for God and thus turn to Him in prayer.

A good portion of the entire Bible is dedicated to the comforting message that God is there to provide strength, consolation, and encouragement in our times of need.  The paradoxical Beatitudes trumpet this certainty, and Paul’s Second Letter to the Corinthians begins by spelling out the link between Christ’s suffering and the encouragement that brings.

Paul also insists that we who have been blessed with God’s encouragement and comfort then have the duty to share this with others: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all encouragement, who encourages us in our every affliction, so that we may be able to encourage those who are in any affliction with the encouragement with which we ourselves are encouraged by God!”

So, in whatever affliction or trouble you find yourself, turn to the God of all encouragement, and as you receive His comfort and encouragement, then be sure to pass it on!

Daily Retreat 06/07/09

2009 Jun 7 SUN:THE HOLY TRINITY S
Dt 4: 32-34. 39-40/ Ps 32(33): 4-5. 6. 9. 18-19. 20. 22 (12b)/ Rom 8: 14-17/ Mt 28: 16-20

From today’s readings:  “You must now know, and fix in your heart, that the LORD is God in the heavens above and on earth below, and that there is no other....  Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be His own....  For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you received a Spirit of adoption....  Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.”

Mission Statement

Sometimes one hears of parishes and other organizations that spend a lot of time to carefully craft a mission statement, intended to explain the reason for the organization’s existence.  Now some of these mission statements are rather succinct and well-articulated, but others turn out to be pretty long and wordy. 

But the problem with almost all of these mission statements is that they don’t take into account what “mission” means - it’s a derivative of the Latin word, “mitto” meaning “to send.”  There’s no mission unless there’s a sending!  So, in other words, I can’t just sit down and decide what I want my life mission to be - my mission must come from a Source greater than myself, since I cannot send myself.

Likewise, properly speaking, no parish or organization can send itself, so the mission statement must always come from a source greater than itself.  The Apostles understood this well.  In fact, the word “apostle” is a Greek word, meaning “one who is sent.”  So it’s no wonder that all four of the Gospels more or less end with a Christian mission statement, with our Lord sending His Apostles on their mission with instructions on how to carry that out.

The Gospel of Matthew has, perhaps, the clearest mission statement: “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.”  For all of us Christians, this is our mission statement.  The Apostles and their successors are entrusted with the earthly leadership of this divine mission, but ideally, every single Christian should hear those words of Christ with a deep patriotic stirring of the soul, and a burning desire and commitment to complete the mission faithfully!

Go,” for Christ has sent us, “and make disciples of all nations” - since Christians only account for about a quarter of the world’s population (and that’s including all nominal Christians), it’s clear that the Church’s mission is not yet accomplished.  Baptizing them” - for the waters of baptism are much more than just a symbol, since that sacrament effects a marvelous change in reality, washing away sin and  incorporating one into the Body of Christ.  In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit,” because every sacrament, every authentic act of the Church is done, not in our own name, not for our own glory, but in the Name of the Holy Trinity, the only true God, the Triune God -  one God, in three Divine Persons.  Teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you” - too many Christians forget that that’s part of their mission statement.  Not just the most popular parts of the Bible, not just the most appealing divine commands - no, that’s not enough, because we Christians are commissioned to put into practice all the teachings of Christ and His Church!

Thursday, June 04, 2009

Daily Retreat 06/06/09

2009 Jun 6 Sat:Ordinary Weekday/ BVM/ Norbert, bp, rf
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 06/05/09

2009 Jun 5 Fri:Boniface, bp, mt M
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!

Wednesday, June 03, 2009

Daily Retreat 06/04/09

2009 Jun 4 Thu:Ordinary Weekday
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!