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

7-14-19 The Good Samaritan

July 14, 2019  -  The Good Samaritan
  

Image © LUMO Project

Reading I:
Deuteronomy
30:10-14

Psalm:  69

Reading II:
Colossians 1:15-20

Gospel: 
Luke 10: 25-37


“Good Samaritan” has become a common expression to refer to a person who goes out of his or her way to help a stranger in need. Many are not aware of the fact that the expression comes from the “Parable of the Good Samaritan” preached by Jesus Himself.

When a lawyer asks Jesus what he must do to inherit eternal life, Jesus reminds him of the law and asks him how he reads it. The lawyer responds that he must Love God and one’s neighbor as himself.  Jesus tells him he is correct. However, the lawyer challenges Jesus: “Who is my neighbor?” Jesus knows that the prevailing belief is that only Jews are neighbors. He wants to expand their understanding, so He tells the “Parable of the Good Samaritan.”

Jesus describes a situation in which a man is attacked by robbers, stripped and beaten half to death.  Both a priest and a lawyer saw him, but walked on, offering no help. However, a Samaritan has compassion, stops, cares for his wounds, takes him to an inn, continues to care for him, even pays the innkeeper to care for him. Then, he offers to repay the innkeeper if he spends more than he was given.

Jesus had two strong messages which He gives to his listeners. First, what He expects of His disciples is inclusiveness in their bringing the good news to others. The Samaritans were not respected by the Jews not just because they were from a different province, but because they were of mixed blood. They practiced a different religion, accepting only the Torah, the first five books of the Bible. On the other hand, the Jews also accepted other books of the Bible. The Samaritans had their temple in on Mount Gerizim, while the Jews had their temple in Jerusalem. The Samaritans were considered to be a low breed. You can imagine how they felt when Jesus presents to them a Samaritan as a model of brotherly love!

The second message Jesus gave was to call for generosity among his followers. He expects them to sacrifice their own comfort and goods to bring love and care to others. He asks them and us to reach out to those suffering from loneliness, prejudice, injustice, poverty, illness, etc. The Samaritan was traveling somewhere when he stopped to help, put himself out, interrupted his trip, paid for the care of the injured man and showed the type of kindness that Jesus wants of His followers. That is the same challenge Jesus gives to us.

 Reflection Question:  Can you give an example of  someone you know or heard about who acted as a “Good Samaritan?”

Spanish Translation of Reflection Above...

El Buen Samaritano

“Buen Samaritano” se ha convertido en una expresión común para referirse a una persona que hace todo lo posible por ayudar a un extraño necesitado. Muchos no son conscientes del hecho de que la expresión proviene de la “Parábola del Buen Samaritano” predicada por el mismo Jesús.

Cuando un abogado le pregunta a Jesús qué debe hacer para heredar la vida eterna, Jesús le recuerda la ley y le pregunta cómo la lee. El abogado responde que debe amar a Dios y al prójimo como a sí mismo. Jesús le dice que tiene razón. Sin embargo, el abogado desafía a Jesús: “¿Quién es mi prójimo?” Jesús sabe que la creencia predominante es que solo los judíos son vecinos. Él quiere expandir su comprensión, por lo que dice la  “Parábola del Buen Samaritano”.

Jesús describe una situación en la que un hombre es atacado por ladrones, desnudado y golpeado hasta la mitad. Tanto un sacerdote como un abogado lo vieron, pero siguieron caminando, sin ofrecer ayuda. Sin embargo, un samaritano tiene compasión, se detiene, cuida sus heridas, lo lleva a una posada, lo sigue cuidando, incluso le paga al posadero para que lo cuide. Luego, se ofrece a pagarle al posadero si gasta más de lo que le dieron.

Jesús tenía dos mensajes fuertes que él da a sus oyentes. Primero, lo que Él espera de sus discípulos es la inclusión en el hecho de llevar las buenas nuevas a los demás. Los samaritanos no eran respetados por los judíos no solo porque eran de una provincia diferente, sino porque eran de sangre mixta. Practicaban una religión diferente, aceptando solo la Torá, los primeros cinco libros de la Biblia. Por otro lado, los judíos también aceptaron otros libros de la Biblia. Los samaritanos tenían su templo en el Monte Gerizim, mientras que los judíos tenían su templo en Jerusalén. Los samaritanos eran considerados de una raza baja. ¡Puedes imaginarte cómo se sintieron cuando Jesús les presenta a un samaritano como modelo de amor fraternal!

El segundo mensaje que dio Jesús fue para pedir generosidad entre sus seguidores. Él espera que sacrifiquen su propia comodidad y bienes para traer amor y cuidado a los demás. Él nos pide que nos pongamos en contacto con aquellos que sufren de soledad, prejuicio, injusticia, pobreza, enfermedad, etc. Hombre y mostró el tipo de bondad que Jesús quiere de sus seguidores. Ese es el mismo desafío que Jesús nos da.

 Pregunta de Reflexión:  ¿Puede dar un ejemplo de alguien que conoce o escuchó acerca de quién actuó como un “buen samaritano”?

Comments:

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

Moses told the people that they should “heed the voice of the Lord, your God, and keep his commandments. The scholar told Jesus that the law was to “love the Lord, your God with all your heart …and your neighbor as yourself.” Actions speak louder than words. By living the love of God we can draw more people to experience God’s love than by just talking about it.

Pat Chiaffa, ASBS

Jesus commands, “Love your neighbor as yourself.”  We ask, “Who is my neighbor?” hoping for an affable response.

The door to her home, and her heart, was always open. As a child, I spent weekends at her house. My cousins, their friends, and usually an unrelated adult or two, hung out there as well. The environment was lively, as well as colorful.  Guests and visitors were of varied ages, races, beliefs, and interests. My memory is of a big old house with a huge “parlor” which, at Christmas time, held the biggest tree imaginable. The magical thing was that Santa always left a gift for whoever happened to be there during that season. I recall times when entire families “visited,” and stayed indefinitely. It wasn’t until I was much older that I learned they had no other place to live. Then there was Charlie. Charlie was a middle-aged single man without any family. He was a truck driver, on the road a lot, but in between road trips, he needed a place to stay. He became a boarder at the house and found a family that welcomed him as a member. He lived there for a very long season of life until his health deteriorated to the point he needed skilled care and transitioned to a facility.  Aunt Doris was a professional singer and the band practiced in the parlor; music, singing and laughter filled the room. As we grew up, married, and had our own children, we just kept coming back. Whenever any of our kids, or extended family members got sick, Aunt Doris was the one we reached out to for prayer. To this day, I believe she had a direct line to Jesus. She consoled individuals through divorces and she continued to welcome the ex-spouses who returned to her “sanctuary” for her wise counsel and unconditional love. 

 My aunt had very little money but we never realized she was poor because she created an atmosphere of abundance. Spaghetti dinners seemed like a feast in Italy as she created an ambiance to resemble fine dining. Hot dogs were the centerpiece of a fun-filled indoor picnic. She nourished many hungry stomachs, broken hearts and wounded souls from the hearth of her loving heart and the depths of her love of God and His hurting children. Aunt Doris cared; she was present to those in need. She was willing to enter into the lives of others, to listen attentively, and to share their pain. When she learned that the father of a family down the street lost his job right after Thanksgiving, she got to work making “shoe boxes” filled with age-appropriate goodies for each of the eight children so they would have something to open on Christmas morning.

The church was full on the day of her funeral Mass, a testimony to her total gift of self. A community of unrelated people, united, as we exchanged stories of how Doris C. contributed to healing our common brokenness. As the priest who celebrated Mass commented, she truly understood the connection between loving God and serving neighbor. 

She lived a good Samaritan life demonstrating that compassion has no boundaries. She was the good neighbor who crossed the road to minister to the hurting, disenfranchised, and less fortunate. To Aunt Doris, the person who ends up dying in the ditch is the one who distances himself/ herself from others by judging them as being less than worthy of his/her time and attention. 

Being a good neighbor begets good neighbors. Jesus’ wisdom holds the vision of the peaceful kingdom right in our own backyard! Let us pray for an attitude of abundance so that we are able to share of ourselves with others with ease and grace.

May 19, 2019 A New Commandment

5th Sunday of Easter C

Reading I: 
Acts 14:21-27

Psalm:  145

Reading II: 
Revelation 21:1-5a

Gospel: 
John 13:31-33a,
34-35

When Jesus tells us in the Gospel that he is giving us a “New Commandment” to love God, our neighbors and ourselves, we wonder what he means. After all, our Jewish ancestors in the faith already learned the importance of loving God in the Book of Deuteronomy when they read that they should “love Yahweh their God with all their heart, with all their soul, with all their strength.” (Deut 6:4-5).

From the Book of Leviticus, they learned that they are to love their neighbors as themselves (Lev 19:18). As a result, we observe that many of our Jewish brothers and sisters work in the helping professions like the many areas of the medical field and in the legal fields, etc.

Then, what is Jesus adding to make this a New Commandment?  He wants
us to love as he has loved us (John 13:34). At the Last Supper, Jesus shows by example what he means by kneeling before the disciples and washing their feet.

Since most went barefoot or wore open sandals, their feet were usually dirty and smelly, this was a welcomed service. Therefore, Jesus wants us to serve the needs of one another, even the most menial tasks.

Jesus also teaches the disciples: “A man can have no greater love than to lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13).  Jesus later willingly gives up his life for all of us. Many of His followers also give up their lives because they refuse to deny that they are Christians or they attempt to spread the “Good News.”

Jesus’ love is completely inclusive because he sees each of us as precious. He loves even his enemies and forgives those who persecute him. His love extends to people of all races, nationalities, religions, sexual preferences, etc. That is what he expects of his followers also.

Jesus shows us an example of bringing justice when he came to the rescue of the woman being stoned for adultery. Where was the man who partnered with her? Who in the crowd was without sin? Jesus stands up for the woman so that those who are about to stone her, walk away. He just asks her to sin no more.

The whole aspect of justice is an important part of Jesus’ way of loving. The goods of this world are meant to be shared so that all have what they need. This was practiced well by the early Christian Communities. This is a great need today when we see some living in luxury while others are homeless and starving.
If we are to love as Jesus loved, our love of neighbor needs to include working toward justice for all.

Finally, to love like Jesus involves sacrifice. It may mean giving up our lives for another. However, it may mean simply putting aside one’s plans to meet the need of another. It may mean to accept the inconveniences that are required to help another. It may mean going the extra mile when one is already exhausted.

The New Commandment really means the Total Gift of Self.

Lamb of God, have mercy on us

Lamb of God, have mercy on us.

Lamb of God, grant us peace!

  Reflection Question:   Ask the Lord, “What aspect of the New Commandment that He would like you to focus on at this time?”

Spanish Translation of Reflection Above...

La Resurrección de Lázaro

Cuando Jesús nos dice en el Evangelio que nos está dando un “Nuevo Mandamiento” para amar a Dios, a nuestros vecinos y a nosotros mismos, nos preguntamos qué quiere decir. Después de todo, nuestros antepasados judíos en la fe ya aprendieron la importancia de amar a Dios en el Libro de Deuteronomio cuando leen eso deberían “ama a Jehová su Dios con todo su corazón, con toda su alma, con toda su fuerza.” (Deut 6:4­5).

Del Libro de Levítico, aprendieron que deben amar a sus vecinos como a sí mismos (Lev 19:18). Como resultado, observamos que muchos de nuestros hermanos y hermanas judíos trabajan en profesiones de ayuda, como las muchas áreas del campo médico y en los campos legales, etc.

Entonces, ¿qué está agregando Jesús para hacer de este un Nuevo Mandamiento?  Quiere que amemos como nos ha amado (Juan 13:34). En la última cena, Jesús muestra con el ejemplo lo que quiere decir al arrodillarse ante los discípulos y lavarse los pies.

Como la mayoría andaba descalzo o usaba sandalias abiertas, sus pies usualmente estaban sucios y olían mal, este era un servicio bien recibido. Por lo tanto, Jesús quiere que sirvamos las necesidades de los demás, incluso las tareas más serviles.

Jesús también enseña a los discípulos: “Un hombre no puede tener más amor que dar su vida por sus amigos”. (Juan 15:13). Jesús más tarde renuncia voluntariamente a su vida por todos nosotros. Muchos de sus seguidores también renuncian a sus vidas porque se niegan a negar que son cristianos o intentan difundir la “Buena Nueva”.

El amor de Jesús es completamente inclusivo porque nos ve a cada uno de nosotros como algo precioso. Él ama incluso a sus enemigos y perdona a los que lo persiguen. Su amor se extiende a personas de todas las razas, nacionalidades, religiones, preferencias sexuales, etc. Eso es lo que él espera de sus seguidores también.

Jesús nos muestra un ejemplo de cómo llevar la justicia cuando rescató a la mujer que estaba siendo apedreada por adulterio. ¿Dónde estaba el hombre que se asoció con ella? ¿Quién en la multitud estaba sin pecado? Jesús defiende a la mujer para que aquellos que están a punto de apedrearla, se vayan. Él solo le pide a ella que no vuelva a pecar.

Todo el aspecto de la justicia es una parte importante de la manera de amar de Jesús. Los bienes de este mundo deben compartirse para que todos tengan lo que necesitan. Esto fue practicado bien por las primeras comunidades cristianas. Esta es una gran necesidad hoy en día, cuando vemos que algunos viven en el lujo mientras otros no tienen hogar y se mueren de hambre. Si debemos amar como Jesús amó, nuestro amor al prójimo debe incluir trabajar por la justicia para todos.

Finalmente, amar como Jesús implica sacrificio. Puede significar renunciar a nuestras vidas por otra. Sin embargo, puede significar simplemente dejar de lado los planes de uno para satisfacer la necesidad de otro. Puede significar aceptar los inconvenientes que se requieren para ayudar a otro. Puede significar hacer un esfuerzo adicional cuando uno ya está agotado.

El Nuevo Mandamiento realmente significa el Don Total del Ser.

Cordero de Dios, ten piedad de nosotros.
Cordero de Dios, ten piedad de nosotros.
Cordero de Dios, danos la paz!

  Pregunta de Reflexión:    Pregúntele al Señor: “¿En qué aspecto del Nuevo Mandamiento en el que Él desea que se concentre en este momento?”

Comments:

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

When the Drexel family visited the Alps in 1886, Kate observed that man’s life was like the passing of a cloud over the unchanging mountains. “I felt as if standing at the Day of Judgement.  How have you passed you life?”  Reading St. Francis Xavier, Kate noted the importance of knowing yourself. “Self-knowledge is the nurse of confidence in God.” Confidence in God should reassure us that we can speak with Him honestly, as to a loving Father.  We can talk with the Lord, telling Him our moments of weakness.  Recognizing these moments is a way to identify the areas in which we do not completely follow the New Commandment.  These would be the aspects of the New Commandment on which the Lord would like us to focus.

Pat Chiaffa, ASBS

The frontpage story of our local newspaper told of tension erupting between white residents and members of the Chinese community at a Civic Association meeting held in my neighborhood. Startled, I continued to read that Chinese residents feel they are treated with discrimination and disrespect. I was trembling. How can this be? That is not representative of the dynamics I witness in the neighborhood. The Chinese people who attend my church are welcomed and respected by the established white parishioners. I brooded over the newspaper article and continued to ask myself questions about the members of our growing Chinese population, which has tripled over the last several years. 

The issue to be discussed at the public meeting was whether a newly built restaurant/bar should be permitted to build a deck on the roof. The concerns should have been neutral and universal: parking, noise, congestion and disorderly behavior of the patrons. The paper reported that it was a “contentious gathering from the outset, and a police officer was stationed at the entrance to the gym throughout the proceedings.” In my opinion, if we set the stage for discord, it will certainly play out as such. Perhaps local clergy members and community outreach representatives could have greeted attendees at the door. A more peaceful presence might have established a more hospitable energy where issues could be considered for the common good. Nothing was resolved at that meeting, but deeper hostility was certainly planted.

The invitation to focus on one aspect of the New Commandment is very opportune for me. I intend to pray for, and work towards, promoting inclusivity amongst the various cultures that comprise my community, with special emphasis on the Chinese members. Your comment that “Jesus’ love is completely inclusive because he sees each of us as precious,” will be my canticle, with the addition of, “and that is why we are to love one another.” 

It grieves me that our neighborhood Asian newcomers feel unwelcomed and disrespected. Ours is a community of multiple faiths and cultures, yet I consider us to be tolerant. However, I see that we need to move beyond mere tolerance to acceptance and valuing diversity. It seems we have lost the awareness that we are all one in God’s eyes; created by Love for love. 

Since reading that article, I see my neighborhood through a more attentive lens. I see beauty, abundance and freedom for which we should be so grateful. If we, as a community, don’t transform these toxic thoughts of fear and separation, we stand to lose these gifts to acts of violence. Yet, there is boundless potential to be born of our multi-cultural neighborhood. Hopefully, we will grow to acknowledge our commonalities and celebrate our unique and glorious talents, gifts, garb, music, food, and so much more.

Please join me in praying for healing for my local community and all communities going through the growing pains of unprecedented demographic changes. There will always be tensions to overcome However, the more we reawaken to our spiritual connection and acknowledge the dignity of each person, the more we will reap the highest good for ourselves and our brothers and sisters.

To end on a more uplifting note, I received a ‘thought for the day’ from Life Coach, Susan Gregg who draws a parallel between pineapples and a happy life. She cites that the pineapple is a “very odd fruit - very spiny on the outside, but if they are ripe they are very sweet and juicy on the inside. Not at all what you'd expect looking at one.

Kind of like life. If we react to what we think we see, we miss out on all the good stuff on the inside. When we explore just a little bit deeper we can begin to see all the love and the similarities just below the surface.”

By embracing inclusion we can savor sweetness we might otherwise miss out on experiencing!

Feast of the Epiphany - Jan. 7, 2018

The Feast of the Epiphany  Year B


Reading I:  Isaiah 60:1-6

Psalm:  72

Reading II:  Ephesians 3:2-3a, 5-6

Matthew:  2:1-12


In the Mass readings for today’s Feast, we see three major themes: light, gifts, and inclusiveness. The ideas are introduced to us way back by the prophet Isaiah as he encourages the Jews: “Rise up Jerusalem! Your light  has come, the glory of the Lord shines upon you.” Then, he says: “The wealth of the nations shall be brought to you.” Finally, he predicts that “Nations shall walk by your light.”
(Isaiah 60)

An unusual star beckons magi (astronomers from the East) to search for the Infant who would be the King of the Jews. Starting with the lighting of the candles on the Advent wreath, we pray that we might carry the light of Christ in our hearts to brighten the lives of all those living in darkness. Even our secular world revels in light as we see lighted Christmas trees and buildings providing a cheerful atmosphere in our world.

The idea of gifts brought to the Christ Child expands from material wealth to the gift of faith in the magi and in our hearts as we trust that this little seemingly helpless Infant is the promised Savior of our world. Gifts also speak of love.  Even in our commercialized environment, we see much giving, not only to family and friends, but also to those who are needy in our world. The giving can be in the form of expression of gratitude to those who make our lives better, to reaching out to the lonely and neglected in our world. We all have something to give — in memory of the Lord who gave his all.

Finally, our awesome God who first revealed himself to the Jews, extends his graces to those of all Nations...inclusiveness. He is to be the King of Kings. We are all his children, each unique and loved by Him. We give Him our faith and He gives us hope and love. We give him our hearts and he gives us Himself. He is God with us...“Emmanuel.”

St. Patrick, a missionary to  Ireland, revels in this gift in his famous prayer, sometimes called “The Breastplate of St. Patrick.”

Christ be beside me, Christ be before me,

Christ be behind me, King of my heart;

Christ be within me, Christ be below me,

Christ be above me, never to part.

Christ on my right hand, Christ on my left hand,

Christ all around me, shield in the strife;

Christ in my sleeping, Christ in my sitting,

Christ in my rising, light of my life.

Have a blessed Little Christmas Season!

 Reflection Question:   How can I shine light into the darkness of someone’s life during the Christmas season?

Spanish Translation of Reflection Above...

Feast of the Epiphany

En las lecturas de la Misa de la Fiesta de hoy, vemos tres temas principales: luz, regalos e inclusión. Las ideas nos son presentadas hace mucho tiempo por el profeta Isaías mientras él anima a los judíos: “¡Levántate, Jerusalén! Tu luz ha venido, la gloria del Señor brilla sobre ti.” Entonces, él dice: “Las riquezas de las naciones te serán presentadas”. Finalmente, él predice que “las naciones caminarán a tu luz”. (Isaías 60). 

Una estrella inusual llama a los magos (astrónomos del este) a buscar al Infante que sería el Rey de los Judíos. Comenzando con la iluminación de las velas en la corona de Adviento, oramos para que podamos llevar la luz de Cristo en nuestros corazones para iluminar las vidas de todos aquellos que viven en la oscuridad. Incluso nuestro mundo secular disfruta de la luz al ver árboles de Navidad iluminados y edificios que proporcionan una atmósfera alegre en nuestro mundo.

La idea de obsequios traídos al Niño Jesús se expande de la riqueza material al obsequio de la fe en los magos y en nuestros corazones mientras confiamos en que este pequeño Infante aparentemente indefenso es el Salvador prometido de nuestro mundo. Los regalos también hablan de amor. Incluso en nuestro entorno comercializado, vemos mucho dando, no solo a familiares y amigos, sino también a aquellos que están necesitados en nuestro mundo. El obsequio puede ser en forma de expresión de gratitud a aquellos que mejoran nuestras vidas, para llegar a los solitarios y descuidados en nuestro mundo. Todos tenemos algo que dar, en memoria del Señor que dio todo.

Finalmente, nuestro Dios asombroso que primero se reveló a los judíos, extiende sus gracias a aquellos de todas las Naciones ... inclusividad. Él debe ser el Rey de Reyes. Todos somos sus hijos, cada uno único y amado por él. Le damos nuestra fe y Él nos da esperanza y amor. Le damos nuestros corazones y él nos da a sí mismo. Él es Dios con nosotros ... “Emmanuel”.

San Patricio, un misionero en Irlanda, se deleita con este regalo en su famosa oración, a veces llamada “The Breastplate of St. Patrick”.

Cristo esté a mi lado, Cristo esté delante de mí,

Cristo esté detrás de mí, Rey de mi corazón;

Cristo esté dentro de mí, Cristo esté debajo de mí,

Cristo esté por encima de mí, nunca se separe.

Cristo en mi mano derecha, Cristo en mi mano izquierda,

Cristo a mi alrededor, escudo en la lucha;

Cristo en mi sueño, Cristo sentado,

Cristo en mi levantamiento, luz de mi vida.

¡Ten una bendita temporada de Navidad!

 Pregunta de reflexión:   ¿Cómo puedo iluminar la oscuridad de la vida de alguien durante la temporada de Navidad?