Posted: 06 May 2009 09:00 PM PDT
Acts 13:13-25 / Jn 13:16-20
It’s interesting sometimes to watch people projecting their own foul motives onto other people. In doing so, they not only miss the truth, but they also reveal more than they intend to about themselves. And that probably contains the answer to a question that occurs to priests very often: Where do we get so many strange and unhappy ideas about God? The answer is that it probably comes about by our projecting some of our more miserable qualities onto him, most especially our desires for revenge and getting even.
St. Paul knew that about us human beings, and throughout his career he repeatedly reminded his listeners of what their own history made so clear: how consistent God was in loving them, guiding them, forgiving them, and giving them life.
If we are paying attention, our own personal history is telling us the same thing. The perfect counterpoint to our endless ups and down, God is eternally constant, eternally committed to all of us without exception. Take into your heart the comfort and joy that God’s unshakeable commitment is offering. It will give you the strength and courage to finish your journey well.
Thursday, 7 May 2009
Tuesday, 5 May 2009
Today's Inspirational Quote:
"When nothing seems to help, I go and look at a stonecutter hammering away at his rock, perhaps a hundred times without as much as a crack showing in it. Yet at the hundred and firstblow it will split in two, and I know it was not that last blow that did it, but all that had gone before."-- Jacob A. Riis
"Holy Land Trip Seen as "Decidedly Courageous"
Spokesman Lauds Pope's Commitment to Peace
VATICAN CITY, MAY 4, 2009 (Zenit.org).- A Vatican spokesman is calling Benedict XVI's upcoming pilgrimage to the Holy Land "decidedly courageous," as the region is enduring more tension than usual after the January conflict in Gaza.
The Pope is set to leave Friday for a weeklong trip to Jordan, Israel and the Palestinian Territories. Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, director of the Vatican press office, gave a briefing on the trip today, calling it the most complicated of the 12 international journeys undertaken by this Pontiff.
The spokesman echoed the affirmation made by the Holy Father himself on Sunday, saying the pilgrimage will give the Pope the chance to "confirm and encourage the Christians of the Holy Land who daily have to confront many difficulties."
Nevertheless, the political situation of the region is anything but tranquil, Father Lombardi noted, pointing to new governments in Israel and the United States, divisions among the Palestinians that are delaying elections, and tensions provoked by Iran.
"It is a set of situations in flux, and also of tensions, in which the Pope's trip presents itself as an act of hope and trust, so as to be able to make a contribution to peace and reconciliation," he said. "It seems to me that it is a decidedly courageous act and a beautiful testimony of a commitment to be able to bring a message of peace and reconciliation in difficult situations."
The spokesman recalled that many suspected the conflict in Gaza that closed 2008 and opened 2009 would force Benedict XVI to cancel the trip. Nevertheless, he said, the Holy Father wanted his pilgrimage to be a bid for peace.
This desire of the Pope sets the context for the appeal he made Sunday, speaking in English after praying the midday Regina Caeli with crowds gathered in St. Peter's Square: "This Friday I leave for my pilgrimage to the Holy Land, where men and women first heard the voice of the Good Shepherd.
"I ask you all to join me in praying for the afflicted peoples of that region. In a special way I ask that you remember the Palestinian people who have endured great hardship and suffering. May the Lord bless them and all those who live in the Holy Land with the gifts of unity and peace."
VATICAN CITY, MAY 4, 2009 (Zenit.org).- A Vatican spokesman is calling Benedict XVI's upcoming pilgrimage to the Holy Land "decidedly courageous," as the region is enduring more tension than usual after the January conflict in Gaza.
The Pope is set to leave Friday for a weeklong trip to Jordan, Israel and the Palestinian Territories. Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, director of the Vatican press office, gave a briefing on the trip today, calling it the most complicated of the 12 international journeys undertaken by this Pontiff.
The spokesman echoed the affirmation made by the Holy Father himself on Sunday, saying the pilgrimage will give the Pope the chance to "confirm and encourage the Christians of the Holy Land who daily have to confront many difficulties."
Nevertheless, the political situation of the region is anything but tranquil, Father Lombardi noted, pointing to new governments in Israel and the United States, divisions among the Palestinians that are delaying elections, and tensions provoked by Iran.
"It is a set of situations in flux, and also of tensions, in which the Pope's trip presents itself as an act of hope and trust, so as to be able to make a contribution to peace and reconciliation," he said. "It seems to me that it is a decidedly courageous act and a beautiful testimony of a commitment to be able to bring a message of peace and reconciliation in difficult situations."
The spokesman recalled that many suspected the conflict in Gaza that closed 2008 and opened 2009 would force Benedict XVI to cancel the trip. Nevertheless, he said, the Holy Father wanted his pilgrimage to be a bid for peace.
This desire of the Pope sets the context for the appeal he made Sunday, speaking in English after praying the midday Regina Caeli with crowds gathered in St. Peter's Square: "This Friday I leave for my pilgrimage to the Holy Land, where men and women first heard the voice of the Good Shepherd.
"I ask you all to join me in praying for the afflicted peoples of that region. In a special way I ask that you remember the Palestinian people who have endured great hardship and suffering. May the Lord bless them and all those who live in the Holy Land with the gifts of unity and peace."
Let the Lord Help You
Posted: 04 May 2009 09:00 PM PDT
Acts 11:19-26 / Jn 10:22-30
As their persecution by the Jews became more widespread and virulent, vast numbers of Jewish Christians fled their homeland and became refugees in distant lands. But even in that circumstance of total rejection by their own people, it was a mental struggle for them to leap the hurdle of their own lifelong prejudice against non-Jews. But they did it. Slowly at first, they began to talk "even to the Greeks" about the Good News of Jesus. And large numbers were added to the Lord.
It’s interesting to speculate whether that change of heart, that willingness to welcome people they had always rejected, would have happened if those first Christians had not had the experience of being rejected themselves. What great good God can bring out of great pain and sadness, if we are willing to listen to Him and take His guidance!
Old habits die hard, sometimes only in the fire of suffering. When those times of sadness or suffering do make their inevitable appearance, don’t run away and don’t despair. There is growth and good hidden somewhere in every pain and in every tragedy. Let the Lord help you find it.
Acts 11:19-26 / Jn 10:22-30
As their persecution by the Jews became more widespread and virulent, vast numbers of Jewish Christians fled their homeland and became refugees in distant lands. But even in that circumstance of total rejection by their own people, it was a mental struggle for them to leap the hurdle of their own lifelong prejudice against non-Jews. But they did it. Slowly at first, they began to talk "even to the Greeks" about the Good News of Jesus. And large numbers were added to the Lord.
It’s interesting to speculate whether that change of heart, that willingness to welcome people they had always rejected, would have happened if those first Christians had not had the experience of being rejected themselves. What great good God can bring out of great pain and sadness, if we are willing to listen to Him and take His guidance!
Old habits die hard, sometimes only in the fire of suffering. When those times of sadness or suffering do make their inevitable appearance, don’t run away and don’t despair. There is growth and good hidden somewhere in every pain and in every tragedy. Let the Lord help you find it.
Saturday, 2 May 2009
Jesus’ Astonishing Pledge
Posted: 01 May 2009 09:00 PM PDT
Acts 4:8-12 / 1 John 3:1-2 / John 10:11-18
A man in Germany went to confession after many years. “Forgive me, Father,” he said, “during World War II, I hid a refugee in my attic.”
“That’s not a sin,” replied the priest.
“But you see, I charged him rent.”
“Well, that is fairly tacky, but it’s still no sin.”
“Father, I have just one more question,” said the man.
“And what would that be?”
“Do I have to tell him the war’s over?”
+ + +
Truly rotten! But before we cast too many stones, a quick look inward might be in order. No doubt we do all sorts of noble and even heroic deeds. But there’s another side of us, the dark side that’s sometimes truly appalling. And the worst part is that much of the time we don’t even notice the harm we do.
Most people who crush the spirits of others, or break their hearts, or rob them of hope or joy, or who squander their own gifts, don’t notice what they’re doing — not at the time and sometimes not ever! There’s plenty of darkness amongst the best of us, and quite enough “rotten” to go around.
That’s what makes Jesus’ words to us Sunday’s Gospel so astonishing. “I am your shepherd,” he says, even though he sees our dark side and all our failures with crystal clarity. Yet he doesn’t turn away. Instead, he calls us each by name, softly, with no hint of anger or disgust, and he says, “I know you very well, and I want you to come with me. You have wonderful things inside you, and I can help to make them grow.
“Your fears bring out the darkest side of you and trap you in the dark. I want you to let them go. Give them to me. I’ll carry them for you,” he says.
“God our Father sent me to take care of you and to bring you home. I can do that, if you’ll trust me and not hold back. I can show you a new road, where it never gets dark, and where fear, blindness, and despair never come. I can lead you there, if you’ll trust me. Hold my hand tightly, and the darkness will never swallow you up.”
That’s what our brother Jesus is really saying to us in the Gospel. Listen to him. Let him take your hand. And walk with him out of the darkness of fear and blindness and into the light.
Acts 4:8-12 / 1 John 3:1-2 / John 10:11-18
A man in Germany went to confession after many years. “Forgive me, Father,” he said, “during World War II, I hid a refugee in my attic.”
“That’s not a sin,” replied the priest.
“But you see, I charged him rent.”
“Well, that is fairly tacky, but it’s still no sin.”
“Father, I have just one more question,” said the man.
“And what would that be?”
“Do I have to tell him the war’s over?”
+ + +
Truly rotten! But before we cast too many stones, a quick look inward might be in order. No doubt we do all sorts of noble and even heroic deeds. But there’s another side of us, the dark side that’s sometimes truly appalling. And the worst part is that much of the time we don’t even notice the harm we do.
Most people who crush the spirits of others, or break their hearts, or rob them of hope or joy, or who squander their own gifts, don’t notice what they’re doing — not at the time and sometimes not ever! There’s plenty of darkness amongst the best of us, and quite enough “rotten” to go around.
That’s what makes Jesus’ words to us Sunday’s Gospel so astonishing. “I am your shepherd,” he says, even though he sees our dark side and all our failures with crystal clarity. Yet he doesn’t turn away. Instead, he calls us each by name, softly, with no hint of anger or disgust, and he says, “I know you very well, and I want you to come with me. You have wonderful things inside you, and I can help to make them grow.
“Your fears bring out the darkest side of you and trap you in the dark. I want you to let them go. Give them to me. I’ll carry them for you,” he says.
“God our Father sent me to take care of you and to bring you home. I can do that, if you’ll trust me and not hold back. I can show you a new road, where it never gets dark, and where fear, blindness, and despair never come. I can lead you there, if you’ll trust me. Hold my hand tightly, and the darkness will never swallow you up.”
That’s what our brother Jesus is really saying to us in the Gospel. Listen to him. Let him take your hand. And walk with him out of the darkness of fear and blindness and into the light.
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