Reading I: EZ. 33: 7-9Psalm: 95
Reading II: Rom 13:8-10
Gospel: Mat. 18: 15-20
I am old enough to remember when many families, or parts of families, would respond to Fr. Peyton’s slogan: “The family that prays together stays together.” It was a simpler time when one salary would be sufficient to make ends meet for a family. There was the leisure to gather together for an evening meal and also to pray.
The gathering not only connected them with the Lord, but also to one another. I recall being told a story by my eighth-grade teacher about a family who prayed the rosary together each night after supper. One night the seven-year-old boy was responding to each “Hail Mary,” but was silent when the “Our Father” was said.
Since the mother realized that the boy knew the prayer, she asked him privately afterward why he was not saying the “Our Father.” He confided in her that he was mad at his brother and didn’t want to forgive him. However, he still wanted God to forgive him if he did something wrong. With this revelation, the mother was able to remedy the situation. If the boy had not confided in his mother, resentment between the brothers could well have spoiled their relationship for life.
The late Fr. Mark Link, S.J., in his book, Vision 2000, relates the
following story: When George Anderson was a chaplain of New York’s Riker Island Prison, he prayed over the story of the Good Samaritan with a group of prisoners. It was very cold in the room and one prisoner was wrapped in two blankets. Noticing that one of the other prisoners was shivering, the man with two blankets, removed one and covered the shivering man with it. Praying together not only inspired generosity in the prisoner, but it also made him aware of the need of his fellow prisoner.
In our St. Katharine Drexel Faith-sharing Circle, which meets every Sunday morning, we have become aware of the burdens and joys of one another and our loved ones. Praying together on a regular basis has enabled us to support and celebrate with one another as circumstances warrant.
Reflection: Is there a way you can join with family, friends, or parishioners in order to benefit from experiencing the blessings of being gathered together in His name?
Spanish Translation of Reflection Above...
Reunidos en Mi Nombre
Tengo edad suficiente para recordar cuándo muchas familias, o partes de familias, responderían al P. El lema de Peyton: “La familia que reza juntos permanece unida”. Era un tiempo más simple cuando un salario sería suficiente para llegar a fin de mes para una familia. Había tiempo libre para reunirse para cenar y también para orar.
La reunión no sólo les conectó con el Señor, sino también entre sí. Recuerdo que me contó una historia de mi maestra de octavo grado sobre una familia que rezaba el rosario juntos cada noche después de la cena. Una noche, el niño de siete años estaba respondiendo a cada “Ave María”, pero se quedó en silencio cuando se dijo el “Padre Nuestro”.
Desde que la madre se dio cuenta de que el niño conocía la oración, le preguntó en privado por qué no estaba diciendo el “Padre Nuestro”. Confió en ella que estaba enojado con su hermano y no quería perdonarlo. Sin embargo, todavía quería que Dios le perdonara si hacía algo malo. Con esta revelación, la madre fue capaz de remediar la situación. Si el niño no se había confiado en su madre, el resentimiento entre los hermanos bien podría haber estropeado su relación de por vida.
El difunto P. Marco Link, S.J., en su libro Vision 2000, relata la
Siguiente historia: Cuando Jorge Anderson era capellán de la prisión de Nueva York Riker Island, oró por la historia del buen samaritano con un grupo de prisioneros. Hacía mucho frío en la habitación y un prisionero estaba envuelto en dos mantas. Notando que uno de los otros prisioneros temblaba, el hombre con dos mantas, se quitó uno y cubrió al hombre tembloroso con él. Orar juntos no sólo inspiró generosidad en el prisionero, sino que también lo hizo consciente de la necesidad de su compañero prisionero.
En nuestro Círculo de Fe-compartir de St. Katharine Drexel, que se reúne todos los domingos por la mañana, nos hemos dado cuenta de las cargas y las alegrías de unos a otros y nuestros seres queridos. Orar juntos en forma regular nos ha permitido apoyar y celebrar unos con otros, según las circunstancias lo justifiquen.
Reflexión: ¿Hay alguna manera de unirte con la familia, los amigos o los feligreses para poder beneficiarse de experimentar las bendiciones de estar reunidos en Su nombre?
Relationships in my family have been strained ever since I can remember. My parents divorced when I was eight years old and that event resulted in intense stress and disconnect amongst family members. Remarriages and the resulting blended families added to the bickering. There was always someone angry at somebody – refusing to talk to them. Their “victim” stories were retold to everyone in an attempt to win others over to their side. The mentality of “us against them” continues to this day. Have you ever had a family member accuse you of betrayal because you spoke to a person with whom they were at odds? I have witnessed family members refuse to forgive one another, carrying their bitterness to the grave. They preferred to be right than to be happy. Love may be the fulfillment of the law but it is not always easy to achieve in the framework of family. When we enlarge the stage to include community, nation, and global neighbors we have quite a mission to accomplish. Father John Kavanaugh writes, “Community life, whether in a family, intentional groupings, religious congregations, or the church itself, is the great testing ground of faith. St. Teresa of Avila thought that relationships in community were often a greater indication of one’s relationship to God than the heights of mystical prayer.”
ReplyDeleteIn our human experience, most of us tend to love conditionally; we organize our conditions into nice little compartments and then we build walls around those love compartments. The human ego takes something precious and beautiful -love - and seemingly twists it into manipulation. There also exists within us the Divine Essence which holds the qualities of our Creator. The human ego mind can get caught up in anger, sadness, and fear. But the Divine part of our mind expresses the qualities of love, joy and peace. The ego mind separates and builds walls in order to feel safe and in control. The Divine Mind joins and has faith in eternal and unconditional love. Marshall Rosenberg, founder of the Center for Nonviolent Communication sees Ego as very closely tied to the way our culture has trained us to think and trained us to communicate. Rosenberg set out to connect with people in a loving way. When he did connect with others in that way he experienced an energy that he calls “Beloved Divine Energy.” His communication method is to stay connected with the Divine Energy within himself and to connect with it in others. I think Jesus is very pleased with the work of Marshall Rosenberg. The Energy of nonviolent communication is probably similar to the Energy of the Beatitudes that Jesus sought to impart to the crowds. Connection, not correction, is key.
Fr. Kavanaugh concluded his essay with the statement, “Our human relationships mirror our relationship with God.” We need to recognize the Spirit of God within us so we can recognize Spirit in others. We need to remember that we were created to be Light and Love so that we can see those traits in another. A spiritual facilitator referred to this practice as “Christ vision.” The practice is to intentionally choose to look beyond the grievances, beyond the stories, beyond the personalities and to recognize the Spirit in in others and see the Light and Love that they are. This may seem lofty; however, once we are able to do this we understand the Oneness that we are. Forgiveness becomes a natural way of living and judgement ceases to be part of our experience. We express God’s love in the world and our awareness of God’s Unconditional Love takes root in our heart.
Having experienced the pain that exclusion and separation creates in the human spirit, today’s gospel message of initiating resolution is a reminder that I need to forgive and seek reconciliation because God has forgiven me. My deepest desire is that my time spent on earth will be marked by a trail of acceptance, forgiveness, patience, compassion, and love.
Pat C., ASBS