May 3, 2020 The Fourth Week of Easter

May- Month to Remember Mothers

Reading I: Acts 2:14a,36-41

Psalm 23
Reading II: 1 Peter 2:20b-25
Gospel: John 10:1-10

In today's Gospel and in Psalm 23, Jesus refers to himself as the “Good Shepherd.” This beloved Psalm brings comfort to people both during the ups and downs of life and when facing their death. I can remember when I was in the fifth grade, I had a devout public school teacher who at the beginning of the day would have us salute the flag and then recite together Psalm 23. What a wonderful start for our day!

Throughout my life the image of the Good Shepherd has had a special place in my heart. During my pilgrimage to the Holy Land, I had the blessing of participating at Mass in a small church dedicated to the Good Shepherd located in a field where sheep grazed. The Franciscan priest leading the pilgrimage preached a beautiful sermon on the Good Shepherd.

Later, while ministering on the Navajo Reservation in Arizona, I had the opportunity to observe shepherdess's tending their sheep on the grounds of the Desert House of Prayer. What a delight that was! 

Also, while on the Reservation, I was the contact for the Associates of the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament. One of the Associates happened to be a shepherdess herself. I recall her concern for the sheep, especially as she became older and less able. She searched diligently among her younger relatives to find just the right caring person to put in charge of the sheep when she would no longer be able to care for them.

In the May 2020 issue of Living with Christ, there is an excellent article by Pope Francis entitled: "Attending to God's Word."  Pope Francis provides a practical method for praying the Scriptures:
After calling upon the Holy Spirit for assistance, aware that you are in the presence of God, ask the Lord:
        1. What does this text say to me ?
        2. What is it about my life that you want to change by this text?
        3. What troubles me about this text? Or perhaps: What do I find Pleasant 
            in this text? What is it that moves me? What attracts me? Why?

When we make an effort to listen to the Lord, temptations usually arise. One of them is simply to feel troubled or burdened, and to turn away. Another common temptation is to think about what the text means for other people, and so avoid applying it to our own life. It can also happen that we look for excuses to water down the clear meaning of the text. Or we can wonder if God is demanding too much of us, asking for a decision which we are not yet prepared to make.

This leads many people to stop taking pleasure in encounter with God's word; but this would mean forgetting that no one is more patient than God our Father, that no one is more understanding and willing to wait. God always invites us to take a step forward, but does not demand a full response if we are not yet ready. God simply asks that we sincerely look at our life and present ourselves honestly before God, and that we be willing to continue to grow, asking from God what we ourselves cannot as yet achieve.

This reflection is adapted from Pope Francis' The Joy of the Gospel.

You might like to apply Pope Francs' method of praying the Scriptures to Psalm 23 or another passage.

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Jesus has given us many precious gifts, including sharing his Father when he taught us the "Our Father Prayer," his sending us the Holy Spirit to dwell in us, and placing us under the protection of his own mother Mary.

Through the centuries, our Blessed Mother has appeared at difficult times to be a comfort to those who are suffering. During an especially painful time in 1531, our Blessed Mother appeared to Juan Diego, an Aztec convert to Christianity, on Tepeyac Hill now in a suburb of Mexico City. She asked that a shrine in her honor be built there.

However, when Juan Diego brought her message to the bishop, he doubted the reality of the apparition. Therefore, he demanded a sign before he would build a church there. When Mother Mary appeared again, Juan Diego was all upset because he could not convince the Bishop of the reality of his vision. Gently, she spoke these endearing words: "Hear me and understand well, my little son, that nothing should frighten or grieve you. Let not your heart be disturbed .... Am I not here who is your Mother? Are you not under my protection?" [Juan Diego was a grown man, the diminutive 'my little son' was an expression of affection].

Our Lady then instructed Juan Diego to pick some roses on the top of the Hill and bring them as a sign to the bishop. [It was December when that type of rose would not normally bloom.]  Juan Diego carried them to the Bishop in his tilma, [poncho].  When he opened the tilma, the roses fell to the ground. Printed on the tilma was a picture of Our Lady as she had appeared to Juan Diego. 

The bishop fell to his knees and ordered the construction of the Shrine which is visited daily even now and contains the tilma with the imprint of the picture of Our Blessed Mother.  

Our Lady of Guadalupe is credited with the ending of a deadly epidemic of hemorrhagic fever which ravaged Mexico City from 1736-37. Pope John Paul II canonized Juan Diego and declared Our Lady of Guadalupe the patroness of the Americas. 

Might she not help us in the deadly pandemic which we are experiencing now? Let us pray to her who is our Mother too.

                       

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Blessings on Mother's Day and Thank You, Mothers, Grandmothers, adoptive mothers, And all who serve others in a motherly way! 

May those who have passed on enjoy the peace and joy of their heavenly rewards!

Comments

Pat Chiaffa, ASBS
As I entered the kitchen, I heard what sounded like the juggling of the storm door lock on my back door. Terror struck me immediately as I realized I had not shut and locked the back door for the night. Cautiously descending the steps leading down to the basement in the darkness, I caught sight of the would-be invader. The intensity of my scream startled him just enough for him to lose his grip on the handle. In that split second I was able to put the security latch on the storm door and shut and lock the inside door. Trembling as I dialed 911 on my cell phone, I ran to the front door to make sure it too was locked. My heart raced and I felt as though I couldn’t breathe. It was at that point that I awakened from my nightmare in a panicked state. My heart was pounding. I did not think that I’d regain my breath nor slow down my heart rate. “Lord help me,” I prayed. Then I remembered Psalm 23 and started meditating on its calming words, “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.” I visualized the verdant pastures and the restful waters. Falling into the arms of the Shepherd, my breathing and heart rate slowly normalized. My mantra for the following day was, “only goodness and kindness follow me all the days of my life.” Your blog, and Psalm 23, were the last words I read before I went to bed. Both turned out to be a life line.

My unsettling dream, I believe, was symbolic of a recurring trust issue. Ego versus soul, or as you put it in your blog, I encountered head-on the temptation that arises when we endeavor to listen to the wisdom of Spirit. I am extremely guilty of making excuses to water down the clear meaning of Scripture texts. I have done it far too long and too often. Like a sheep wandering from the fold in search of greener pastures, my first instinct when I realized I was in dangerous territory was to call out to the One who eagerly awaits my return. I can’t ignore the blaring message that I am being called to surrender to the Shepherd. I overcame the thief; the conflict was life-threatening. Jesus, who is the gate, assures that the robber will not pass through. I know Jesus’ promise is trust worthy for He willingly died for His flock so they can settle in eternal pastures. Lord, free me from the unfounded fears and inaction that currently prevent me from entering through your gate.

As we enter the month of May, I ask the Blessed Mother to intercede for me to overcome my resistance to total surrender to her Son that I may become a faithful, dedicated disciple in imitation of her life and contribution to the Christian community. Mary’s powerful intercession before God is widely recognized and deeply sought. Prelates from the United States and Canada will be reconsecrating their countries to the Blessed Virgin Mary on May 1 under the title of Mary, Mother of the Church. Prayers to Mary are fervently offered daily by the faithful for an end to the corona virus pandemic and for the well-being of all those impacted by the virus. May these prayers strengthen our faith in God’s plan, support us throughout these days of physical distancing and teach us the unique lessons we are meant to realize through this global crisis.

Lastly, as we prepare to celebrate Mother’s Day, let us express our gratitude to / for all those special people in our life who nurtured us and contributed to our physical, emotional and spiritual growth.


Stephanie Morris, ASBS, Ph.D Historian, Certified Archivist, Emerita The readings focus on shepherds leading their flocks. We refer to priests as “shepherds” of their “flocks” – the parishioners. Our Lord is our “Good Shepherd;” we are His “flock.” Shepherds were the first to reverence the Infant Jesus and His Mother on that first Christmas. Shepherds were not the “elite” in Jesus’ time. They worked every day, even on the Sabbath, to protect their flocks. St. Katharine quotes St. Matthew’s Gospel where he describes people as being “like sheep without a shepherd” (9:36). The Lord said that laborers were scarce. Young St. Katharine wrote an essay, “Wanted Gardeners,” in which she described a desolate garden. The flowers “ran wild and uncared for …. Where are the laborers?” She could have asked, where are the shepherds? How can we be shepherds? Few of us are called to a religious vocation in which we can act as Shepherds of God’s People but there are other ways. Like the shepherds at Jesus’ birth, we can reverence
Jesus and His Mother by prayer. We can pray for more vocations to the priesthood. We can honor Mary, His Mother, in a special way this May. We are beset with the dangers of a pandemic; we can pray to the Good Shepherd to protect us from these dangers if possible. We can rely on His strength and patience in suffering to help us through the darkest days.

July 28, 2019 ~ All Children of One Father - God

July 28, 2019

Reading I: 
Genesis 18:20-32

Psalm:  138

Reading II: 
Colossians 2:12-14

Gospel: 
Luke 11:1-13


In today’s Gospel of Luke, we hear the disciples asking Jesus how to pray.  He responds, “When you pray, say:
         
             Father, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come.
             Give us each day our daily bread and forgive us our sins
             for we ourselves forgive everyone in debt to us, and do not
             subject us to the final test.”

(We are usually more familiar with the translation of Matthew, but the basic meaning is the same.) 

Jesus also tells them: “Ask and you will receive; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened o you. For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.”

Since God is our loving Father, He does respond to us but not always in the way we want. We often wonder why He does not give us what we ask. Maybe this will help:
   
Imagine that you are in your kitchen and a two-year-old boy asks you for a shiny knife on the table. You probably would not give the child the knife because he might hurt himself or someone else. However, he is angry with you and screaming. What would you do?  
You might offer him something that would not hurt him or you might give him a healthy snack or distract him some other way. You would respond to him in the way that is best even though he does not understand at the time. When he is older he will understand.

The sister of a friend of mine had three children and was stricken with multiple sclerosis. Her father and sister decided to take her to Lourdes in France where Our Blessed Mother appeared to Bernadette Soubirous and left healing waters where many people are cured. Of course, we all prayed for a miracle. However, in spite of all the effort and expense to take her to Lourdes, she was never cured.  Maybe the Lord was giving her a spiritual gift, like a deeper trust. We do not know why the cure was withheld from her. However, today, they are all with the Lord and can now understand.

We become so accustomed to saying the “Our Father” that it can become routine. This is such a rich prayer that taking the time to reflect on each word is of great value, e.g. “Our Father,” the Father of all Native peoples, Caucasian people, African people, Chinese people, Hispanic people, Semitic people, straight people, gay, lesbian and bisexual people, handicapped people, Protestant people, Muslim people, Catholic people, atheists, agnostics, etc.

Try slowing down to experience the depth of the prayer’s meaning.

  Reflection Question:   What word or phrase in the “Our Father” is striking you most at this time?  Explain.

Spanish Translation of Reflection Above...

Todos Los Hijos de un Padre - Dios

En el Evangelio de Lucas de hoy, escuchamos a los discípulos preguntando a Jesús cómo orar. El responde, “Cuando ores, di:

           

             Padre, santificado sea tu nombre. Venga tu reino.
             Danos cada día nuestro pan de cada día y perdona nuestros pecados.
             porque nosotros mismos perdonamos a todos en deuda con nosotros,
             y no lo hacemos someternos a la prueba final.”

(Usualmente estamos más familiarizados con la traducción de Mateo, pero el significado básico es el mismo.) 

Jesús también les dice: “Pregunta y recibirás; Busca y encontraras; Llama y se te abrirá la puerta. Por cada uno que pide, recibe; y el que busca, encuentra; y al que toca, se abrirá la puerta”.

Como Dios es nuestro Padre amoroso, Él nos responde, pero no siempre de la manera que queremos. A menudo nos preguntamos por qué Él no nos da lo que pedimos. Tal vez esto ayude:

      

Imagina que estás en tu cocina y un niño de dos años te pide un cuchillo brillante en la mesa. Probablemente no le darías el cuchillo al niño porque podría lastimarse a sí mismo oa otra persona. Sin embargo, él está enojado contigo y gritando. ¿Qué harías?
Puede ofrecerle algo que no le haga daño o puede darle una merienda saludable o distraerlo de otra manera. Le responderías de la manera que sea mejor, aunque él no lo comprenda en ese momento. Cuando sea mayor lo entenderá.

La hermana de una amiga mía tuvo tres hijos y sufrió esclerosis múltiple. Su padre y su hermana decidieron llevarla a Lourdes en Francia, donde Nuestra Santísima Madre se apareció a Bernadette Soubirous y dejó aguas curativas donde muchas personas se curan. Por supuesto, todos oramos por un milagro. Sin embargo, a pesar de todo el esfuerzo y los gastos para llevarla a Lourdes, nunca se curó. Tal vez el Señor le estaba dando un don espiritual, como una confianza más profunda. No sabemos por qué se le negó la cura. Sin embargo, hoy, todos están con el Señor y ahora pueden entender.

Nos acostumbramos tanto a decir “Nuestro Padre” que puede convertirse en una rutina. Esta es una oración tan rica que tomarse el tiempo para reflexionar sobre cada palabra es de gran valor, por ejemplo. “Padre Nuestro”, el padre de todos los pueblos indígenas, caucásicos, africanos, chinos, hispanos, semitas, heterosexuales, gays, lesbianas y bisexuales, discapacitados, protestantes, musulmanes, católicos, ateos. , agnósticos, etc.

Intenta reducir la velocidad para experimentar la profundidad del significado de la oración.

  Pregunta de Reflexión:   ¿Qué palabra o frase en el "Padre Nuestro" te está golpeando más en este momento? Explique.

Comments:

Stephanie Morris, Ph. D, Historian, Certified Archivist, emerita

“Give us this day our daily bread.”  Jesus did not ask for the week’s menu, only for what was needed for “this day.” Following up on the mindfulness of Martha and Mary, we can be mindful of “one day at a time,” and not worry about things to come (or not to come). Focusing on the present, we can ease the stress we often place on ourselves when we fret about the unknown future. With less stress, we have more energy to be the person God wants us to be.

Pat Chiaffa, ASBS

“Give us this day our daily bread.” This petition profoundly humbles, stirs, and challenges me. I am aware that I am expressing my dependency on God for my daily existence, and I am most grateful for the abundant blessings that are mine to enjoy. At the same time, I feel discontent when I say these words, often prayed in the comfort of my kitchen, where many recipes and a well-stocked pantry surround me as I look forward to preparing meals for the days ahead. I stumble over the word “our” because most of the people included in that pronoun are impoverished and hungry and would give anything for daily bread. 

“Give us this day our daily bread.” Is my prayer for another’s daily bread adequate? Bread is meant to be shared, but how can I get bread into the mouths of my starving brothers and sisters living in places where there is no bread? I am overwhelmed by the daily requests for funds that I receive in the mail.  Do my charitable contributions aimed at feeding starving children in Yemen, Syria, South Sudan even make a difference?  I am angry that such injustice exists. Jesus fed the crowds through the incredible miracle of the multiplication of the loaves and fishes.  Today, we have enough food to feed everyone. Hunger is caused by poverty and inequality, not scarcity.  The gripping reality is that many of the root causes of poverty and injustice are man-made.  How can we influence misguided leaders and governments to accept the responsibility to end poverty and hunger by investing in programs that will support sustainable livelihoods and improved social protection? In asking these questions, I confess my own participation in this human condition as I recall times I ignored a hungry person begging for food or failed to sign a petition, calling for actions that could contribute to a better standard of living for a poor community.

“Give us this day our daily bread.” How do we define bread?  For what do we hunger? I observe many hungers around me. Within my family, I see hungers for health, direction, human connection, and healing. On the streets of the city, people are dying, hungry for freedom from addictions, neglect, fear, hopelessness, loneliness, poverty, discrimination and hatred. Stories of suffering immigrants tell of multitudes that are hungry for validation, liberty, and the chance for a better life.

“Give us this day our daily bread.” I realize that this musing has taken the tone of venting. There is so much work to be done in the Lord’s harvest that I often forget that Jesus is in the midst of it all.  As I follow my inner wisdom and pause, I find the comfort I seek; my prayers do matter.  Pope Francis states that Jesus teaches us to ask the Father for daily bread. “Christian prayer starts from reality, from the heart and from the flesh of people that live in need, or who share the condition of those that don’t have what is necessary to live. The bread that a Christian asks for in prayer if not “my” but ‘our” bread. It’s how Jesus wants it. He teaches us to ask it, not only for ourselves but for the entire brotherhood of the world. This prayer contains an attitude of empathy and solidarity…I’ll pray to God until their prayer is heard. This is how Jesus educated His community, His Church to bring to God the needs of all: ‘We are all your children, O Father, have mercy on us!’”
“Give us this day our daily bread,” and so it is. Amen

August 12, 2018 -Eucharist as Communion

The Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time - Year B

Reading I:  1 Kings 19:4-8

Psalm:  34

Reading II: Ephesians 4:30-5:2  

Gospel:  John 6:41-51

We have been reflecting on the Eucharist recently, but our emphasis today is on the Eucharist as “Holy Communion” because of the social aspect of the Sacrament. Many kernels of wheat are blended together to form bread. Many grapes are crushed to produce wine. Many people form the human communities in our world.

In the second reading today, St. Paul stresses the importance unity within the Christian Community: “Any bitterness or bad temper or anger or shouting or abuse must be far removed from you-as must every kind of malice. Be generous to one another, sympathetic, forgiving each other as readily as God forgave you in Christ.” (Ephesians 4:31-2)

Each time we pray the “Our Father,” we say: “Forgive us our trespasses (sins) as we forgive those who trespass against us.” When the Lord taught this prayer to His disciples, He warned them that their obtaining forgiveness for their own sins depended on their willingness to forgive others.

When we have hurt others, we are instructed: “...if you are about to offer your gift to God at the altar and there you remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar, go at once and make peace with your brother, and then come back and offer your gift to God.” (Matt 5:23)

Sometimes, letting go of anger or bitterness can be difficult. If the wound is very deep, it takes time and special graces from the Lord to forgive. However, the Lord expects us to be making the effort. We must be willing to forgive, even though our emotions may continue to trouble us for a while.

When we forgive, it does not mean that we are saying that what happened was all right. It doesn’t mean that we submit to injustice or let people walk all over us. It doesn’t even require that the offender/s apologize. The one offended must strive for peace within even if the offender does not want to be reconciled.

I can recall struggling with forgiveness at one time. When I spoke to the priest in confession about this, he responded, “Have you ever thought about the fact that you have hurt others at times and may not even have been aware of it.?” I had not even thought of that possibility. This realization helped me to let go of my own hurt feelings.

Just before we receive Holy Communion at Mass, we are invited to give a sign of peace to one another. While we are wishing peace to the people participating with us at Mass, it is also a symbolic gesture of reconciliation with those who have hurt us. Let us make a conscious effort to be aware of our own human failings and extend forgiveness to one another.

Let us thank the Lord for the understanding and the generous forgiveness he gives to us. Let us praise our merciful and compassionate Savior! How awesome is our God!!! 

  Reflection Question:   Is there anyone you need to forgive? Ask the Lord to help you to forgive.

Spanish Translation of Reflection Above...

Eucaristía Como Comunión

Hemos estado reflexionando sobre la Eucaristía recientemente, pero nuestro énfasis hoy es sobre la Eucaristía como “Sagrada Comunión” debido al aspecto social del Sacramento. Muchos granos de trigo se mezclan para formar pan. Muchas uvas se trituran para producir vino. Muchas personas forman las comunidades humanas en nuestro mundo.

En la segunda lectura de hoy, San Pablo enfatiza la importancia de la unidad dentro de la comunidad cristiana: “Cualquier amargura, mal genio, enojo, gritos o abuso deben estar muy lejos de ti, al igual que todo tipo de malicia. Sean generosos el uno con el otro, comprensivos, perdonándose unos a otros tan fácilmente como Dios los perdonó en Cristo”. (Efesios 4: 31-2)

Cada vez que rezamos el “Padre Nuestro”, decimos: “Perdónanos nuestras ofensas (pecados) así como nosotros perdonamos a los que nos ofenden.” Cuando el Señor enseñó esta oración a Sus discípulos, les advirtió que obtuvieran el perdón por su los pecados propios dependían de su disposición a perdonar a los demás.

Cuando hemos herido a otros, se nos instruye: “... si estás por ofrecer tu ofrenda a Dios en el altar y allí recuerdas que tu hermano tiene algo en tu contra, deja tu ofrenda allí frente al altar, ve de una vez y haga las paces con su hermano, y luego regrese y ofrezca su regalo a Dios”. (Mateo 5:23)

A veces, dejar ir la ira o la amargura puede ser difícil. Si la herida es muy profunda, el Señor necesita tiempo y gracias especiales para perdonar. Sin embargo, el Señor espera que hagamos el esfuerzo. Debemos estar dispuestos a perdonar, aunque nuestras emociones puedan seguir molestándonos por un tiempo.

Cuando perdonamos, no significa que estamos diciendo que lo que pasó estuvo bien. No significa que nos sometamos a la injusticia o dejamos que la gente camine sobre nosotros. Ni siquiera requiere que el ofensor se disculpe. El ofendido debe luchar por la paz incluso si el ofensor no quiere reconciliarse.

Puedo recordar luchando con el perdón al mismo tiempo. Cuando hablé con el sacerdote en confesión al respecto, él respondió: “¿Alguna vez has pensado en el hecho de que has herido a otros a veces y tal vez ni siquiera te hayas dado cuenta”? Ni siquiera había pensado en esa posibilidad. Esta comprensión me ayudó a dejar ir mis propios sentimientos heridos.

Justo antes de que recibamos la Sagrada Comunión en la misa, estamos invitados a dar un signo de paz entre nosotros. Si bien deseamos paz a las personas que participan con nosotros en la misa, también es un gesto simbólico de reconciliación con quienes nos han herido. Hagamos un esfuerzo consciente para ser conscientes de nuestros propios defectos humanos y extender el perdón unos a otros.

Demos gracias al Señor por la comprensión y el perdón generoso que nos da. ¡Alabemos a nuestro misericordioso y compasivo Salvador! ¡Qué maravilloso es nuestro Dios!

  Pregunta de reflexión:   ¿Hay alguien a quien debes perdonar? Pídale al Señor que te ayude a perdonar.

Parables of the Kingdom of Heaven - July 23, 2017

The Sixteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time - Year A

Reading I:  Wisdom 12:13,16-19

Psalm:  86

Reading II:  Romans 8:26-27

Gospel:   Matthew 13:24-43

Jesus uses parables, stories to teach a lesson, because they are of familiar things and situations. Also, they are easy to remember. In today’s Gospel, He tells the parables of the Kingdom of God. He talks about a farmer who sows good seed in his field. However, during the night, an enemy sows weeds in with the wheat seeds. Surprisingly, the farmer allows the weeds to grow along with the wheat. When asked if the weeds should be dug up and thrown away, he says “No, if you pull up the weeds, you might uproot the wheat along with them. Let them grow together until  the harvest...” 

The farmer represents the merciful God, El Rachum, pronounced
El Ra’oom (There is no English equivalent of “ch” - a guttural sound is made at the back of the throat.) He wants to give us sufficient time to change our ways. He is patient with us. He gives us grace (help) if we will accept it. Thus, He enables us to be saved for the Kingdom of Heaven. 

Then, Jesus tells another parable about a mustard seed which is extremely small. However, when it grows it becomes a very large bush, so that the birds dwell in its branches. Thus, He predicts that the Good News of God’s love and salvation, though initially presented to the Jewish people, will in time be spread to peoples of every race and nation. Many will have the opportunity to enter the Kingdom of Heaven.

I used to feel overwhelmed while praying the “Our Father,” I would say “Thy Kingdom Come.” I would question how I could bring about the Kingdom of God. Then, I began to realize that I could make the Kingdom come in my own heart, by letting the Spirit of Love reign there.  

Finally, in another parable, Jesus talks about a woman who mixes yeast in with wheat flour, and how it leavens all the dough. I now realize that, as Christians we are all called to be leaven, extending the truth and love of God to all peoples wherever we are. 

This has been reinforced by my current experience of living in a retirement community, after many years on the Missions. I see that we can still be leaven — bringing love to all in our new situation — among peoples of many faiths.

Spanish Translation of Reflection Above...

Parábola del Sembrador

Jesús usa parábolas, historias para enseñar una lección, porque son cosas y situaciones familiares. Además, son fáciles de recordar. En el Evangelio de hoy, Él dice las parábolas del Reino de Dios. Habla de un granjero que siembra buena semilla en su campo. Sin embargo, durante la noche, un enemigo siembra las malas hierbas con las semillas de trigo. Sorprendentemente, el agricultor permite que las malas hierbas crezcan junto con el trigo. Cuando se le pregunta si las malas hierbas deben ser desenterradas y arrojadas, dice: “No, si usted levanta las malas hierbas, puede arrancar el trigo junto con ellas. Que crezcan juntos hasta la cosecha ...”

El granjero representa al Dios misericordioso, El Rachum, pronunciado El Ra'oom (No hay equivalente en inglés de "ch" - se hace un sonido gutural en la parte posterior de la garganta.) Él quiere darnos tiempo suficiente para cambiar nuestros caminos. Él es paciente con nosotros. Él nos da gracia (ayuda) si la aceptamos. Así, Él nos capacita para ser salvos para el Reino de los Cielos.

Entonces, Jesús cuenta otra parábola acerca de una semilla de mostaza que es extremadamente pequeña. Sin embargo, cuando crece se convierte en un arbusto muy grande, por lo que los pájaros habitan en sus ramas. Así, predice que la Buena Nueva del amor y la salvación de Dios, aunque inicialmente presentada al pueblo judío, se extenderá con el tiempo a los pueblos de cada raza y nación. Muchos tendrán la oportunidad de entrar en el Reino de los Cielos.

Solía ​​sentirme abrumado mientras rezaba el “Padre Nuestro”,
yo diría “Venga Tu Reino”. Me preguntaba cómo podría hacer
el Reino de Dios. Entonces comencé a darse cuenta de que podía hacer que el Reino viniera en mi corazón, dejando que el Espíritu del Amor reinara allí.

Finalmente, en otra parábola, Jesús habla de una mujer que mezcla la levadura con harina de trigo, y cómo leuda toda la masa. Ahora me doy cuenta de que, como cristianos, todos somos llamados a ser levadura, extendiendo la verdad y el amor de Dios a todos los pueblos dondequiera que estemos.

Esto ha sido reforzado por mi experiencia actual de vivir en una comunidad de jubilados, después de muchos años en las Misiones. Veo que todavía podemos ser levadura - trayendo amor a todos en nuestra nueva situación - entre los pueblos de muchas creencias.

Divine Mercy Sunday - April 23, 2017

Divine Mercy Sunday:

To pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, you can view
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Second Sunday of Easter

Reading I:  Acts 2:42-47

Psalm:  118

Reading II: 1 PT 1:3-9

Gospel:  JN 20:19-31


As I think back upon my understanding of the word
“mercy”, in the recesses of my mind, I hear “more kind than justice would require.” It may come from an old Catechism lesson, but it expresses it well for me. Having recently reflected on the Passion of Jesus, we see the Lord in his infinite love and kindness offering Himself in atonement for our sins. Jesus, the sinless Lamb of God, sacrificed Himself for us.

In the chaplet that Jesus gave to St. Faustina, we pray for God’s mercy on us and on the whole world. Our world is certainly in need of that mercy at this time.

What the Lord asks of us in the “Our Father” is to pass on the mercy He has extended to us to our brothers and sisters in need of mercy. That is not always easy, but it is required.

I recall a story told to us when I was in the eighth grade. There was a family who said the rosary together each night. One night they noted that one of the boys said the other prayers, but was silent during the “Our Father.” When questioned, he said he was angry with his brother and didn’t want to forgive him. He was afraid to say “forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.” He still wanted God’s mercy for himself, however, he was unwilling to forgive his brother. The boy had to learn that, THAT was not an option.

A few nights ago, I heard a talk given by the late Bishop Fulton Sheen. In it, he described a situation in which he was asked to visit a man who was dying of cancer.  This man had much anger and had sent away many who had attempted to help him make peace with God before he died. In his inimitable way, Bishop Sheen described his experience. His first visit was for 3 seconds. Then the dying man told him, “Get out!” The Bishop returned again to sit in silence for 5 seconds, followed by the angry demand to “get out!” Bishop Sheen returned for 38 more attempts to reach the man. Even in his 40th visit, when the dying man was at the door of death, he screamed at the Bishop to “get out!” However, before he left, Bishop Sheen had told the man that all he had to do was to tell God he was sorry for his sins and ask for mercy.

Shortly after that visit,  the man died. Bishop Sheen was told that the man kept telling God he was sorry for his sins and asked for mercy.  “Mercy” — more kind than justice would require.

In today’s Gospel, we see again Jesus’ mercy in dealing with Thomas who refused to believe that He had appeared to the other apostles unless he had proof. Jesus bends over backward to help Thomas come to faith. He appears again and invites Thomas...“Put your finger here and see my hands, and bring your hand and put it into my side, and do not be unbelieving, but believe.” Finally, Thomas makes the profession of faith, “My Lord and my God.”

Let us not tire of extending mercy to our brothers and sisters. With the help of the Lord, we can develop the virtue of forbearance and mercy, aware that we too need mercy from the Lord, and one another.

To Pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, copy this link into your browser:
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Spanish Translation of Reflection Above...

Domingo de la Divina Misericordia

Cuando pienso en mi comprensión de la palabra “Misericordia”, en los recovecos de mi mente, oigo “más amable de lo que la justicia requeriría”. Puede venir de una antigua lección de Catecismo, pero lo expresa bien para mí. Habiendo reflexionado recientemente sobre la Pasión de Jesús, vemos al Señor en su infinito amor y bondad ofreciéndose a sí mismo en expiación por nuestros pecados. Jesús, el cordero sin pecado de Dios, se sacrificó por nosotros.

En la corona que Jesús le dio a Santa Faustina, oramos por la misericordia de Dios sobre nosotros y sobre el mundo entero. Nuestro mundo necesita ciertamente esa misericordia en este momento.

Lo que el Señor pide de nosotros en el “Padre Nuestro” es transmitir la misericordia que nos ha extendido a nuestros hermanos y hermanas que necesitan misericordia. Eso no siempre es fácil, pero es necesario.

Recuerdo una historia que nos contaron cuando yo estaba en el octavo grado. Había una familia que decía el rosario juntos cada noche. Una noche ellos notaron que uno de los muchachos dijo las otras oraciones, pero estuvo en silencio durante el “Padre Nuestro”. Cuando se le preguntó, dijo que estaba enojado con su hermano y no quería perdonarlo. Tenía miedo de decir “perdona nuestras ofensas como nosotros perdonamos a los que nos ofenden”. Él todavía quería la misericordia de Dios para sí mismo, sin embargo, no estaba dispuesto a perdonar a su hermano. El niño tuvo que aprender que, QUE no era una opción.

Hace unas noches escuché una charla dada por el difunto obispo Fulton Sheen. En él, describió una situación en la que se le pidió que visitara a un hombre que estaba muriendo de cáncer. Este hombre tenía mucha ira y había enviado a muchos que habían intentado ayudarlo a hacer la paz con Dios antes de morir. En su manera inimitable, el obispo Sheen describió su experiencia. Su primera visita fue de 3 segundos. Entonces el moribundo le dijo: “¡Fuera!— El obispo volvió a sentarse en silencio durante 5 segundos, seguido por la exigencia enojada de “salir!”. El obispo Sheen regresó por más 38 intentos de llegar al hombre. Incluso en su visita 40, cuando el moribundo estaba a la puerta de la muerte, gritó al obispo para “salir”. Sin embargo, antes de irse, el obispo Sheen le había dicho al hombre que todo lo que tenía que hacer era decirle a Dios Se arrepentía de sus pecados y pide misericordia.

Poco después de esa visita, el hombre murió. Se le dijo al obispo Sheen que el hombre seguía diciéndole a Dios que estaba arrepentido por sus pecados y pidió misericordia. “Misericordia” — más amable de lo que la justicia requeriría.

En el Evangelio de hoy, vemos nuevamente la misericordia de Jesús al tratar con Tomás quien se negó a creer que había aparecido a los otros apóstoles a menos que tuviera pruebas. Jesús se inclina hacia atrás para ayudar a Tomás a llegar a la fe. Él aparece de nuevo y invita a Tomás ... “Pon tu dedo aquí y ve mis manos, y trae tu mano y ponla en mi costado, y no seas incrédulo, sino creed.” Finalmente, Tomás hace la profesión de fe, “Mi Señor y mi Dios”.

No nos cansemos de extender misericordia a nuestros hermanos y hermanas. Con la ayuda del Señor, podemos desarrollar la virtud de paciencia y misericordia, conscientes de que también nosotros necesitamos la misericordia del Señor, y unos a otros.

Para Orar la Coronilla de la Divina Misericordia, copie este enlace en su navegador:
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