theJourney(beginning)

20030228

 

The Catholic Calendar for Friday, February 28, 2003
The Seventh Week in Ordinary Time

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Sirach 6:5-17
Psalm 119:12,16,18,27,34-35
Mark 10:1-12

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

Today's Responsorial Psalm has a verse that I particularly like. It says, "Open my eyes that I may consider the wonders of your law." The phrase interests me because it reminds me that transgressions against God's Law is the source of all human suffering.

Sometimes, without even knowing it, we act in opposition to God's law of love. Desensitized by pain and suffering, we hardly blink at, much less avoid, anything that could hurt or harm our neighbor, much less our enemy.

Unfortunately it's like so many opportunities for doing good have gone over the dam, like water that cannot be retrieved. At times we could almost be despondent, but despair is a tool of the devil. What then, are we to do?

Let us begin by reading Holy Scripture, being faithful to daily prayer and making space for God that He may instruct us and teach us His ways. On our own we are bound to make mistakes, garnering the wrong message from even God's Holy Word; but with the help of the promised ever-present Holy Spirit, we will have a guide - a truthful, non-deceptive guide that will lead us to make right judgments, correct decisions, live-giving and life-sustaining choices. Most of all, let us not forget Christ has already won the victory over sin and death. For our part, may we be blessed to participate in it.

O Lord,
Give me discernment
that I may observe your law
and keep it with all my heart.
Amen

- Donna Raye Nelson, ocds (drn3rd@hotmail.com)

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©1986-2003 The Way, The Truth, The Life

joachim 4:36 AM

20030227

 

The Catholic Calendar for Thursday, February 27, 2003
The Sixth Week in Ordinary Time

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Sirach 5:1-8
Psalm 1:1-4,6
Mark 9:41-50

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

The readings today are filled with sober, straight-out common sense. Ben Sira and Jesus are on the same wave-length! The readings serve as warnings to the careless to be aware of the dangers of delaying any need for repentance for sin and conversion to the Lord. Similar to the warning strips on highways that nudge us back on the road, or that warn us of a complete stop ahead, both Sirach and the Gospel message provide a reality check for those distracted by the attractions of the world, the flesh, and Satan.

A good question for us to ponder today would be a "what if....": What if I had said something to a son or daughter, a spouse or a friend, that might have kept them from some irreversible spiritual tragedy? What if I had heeded the voice of Jesus warning me from danger, or gently urging me to prayer and a closer walk with Him? Even better, the "what ifs" that plan for present and future alerts are even more profitable. What if I start today to listen in humble silence to the Lord's voice for just ten minutes a day? What would my life be like if I were to do this? What graces is God prepared to pour out on me if I should follow this inspiration?

Thank you, Lord,
for these words of Scripture today.
Please let them penetrate my spirit
and strengthen my heart for acting on them.

- Msgr. Paul Whitmore (smartins@twcny.rr.com)

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©1986-2003 The Way, The Truth, The Life

joachim 5:38 AM

20030226

 

The Catholic Calendar for Wednesday, February 26, 2003
The Seventh Week in Ordinary Time

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Sirach 4:11-19
Psalm 119:165,168,171-172,174-175
Mark 9:38-40

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

"For whoever is not against us is for us."

Sometimes I wonder if Jesus might not have been a little naive. After all, we know of instances when people "have done good things in our name" but have spoken ill of us. But Jesus is not naive, He knows what He is talking about.

There are two ways to do something in someone's name. You can act on your own and say that so-and-so asked you to do something. The other way to do so is to do it by the power invested in you by the name. For example, police operate in the name of the state. What Jesus tells us in this passage is that no one who invokes His name can remain unmoved by the experience. If they heal in the name of the Lord Jesus, that experience will change them, will cause them to move closer to Christ.

Jesus tells us something else very important in this passage. He tells us that we do not always know who is and who is not Christian. Sometimes it is obvious--but there may be those with practices unfamiliar to us, who pray differently than we do, who are nonetheless intimate with the Lord.

- JuandelaCruz, T.O.Carm (sriddle415@yahoo.com)

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©1986-2003 The Way, The Truth, The Life

joachim 4:30 AM

20030225

 

The Catholic Calendar for Tuesday, February 25, 2003
The Seventh Week in Ordinary Time

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Sirach 2:1-11
Psalm 37:3-4,18-19,27-28,39-40
Mark 9:30-37

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

"...whoever receives me, receives the one who sent me." (Mark 9:37)

The world lauds and envies people who have money, property, power, beauty, talents and accomplishments. God, however, is not impressed by such individuals who are simply using their God-given gifts; for He has also provided them with the time, energy and opportunities to develop and use these gifts. The question God would ask is, "Are you using these gifts in a manner that gives honor and glory to Me and man, My creation, or are you using them to satisfy your greed and egocentrism?"

Jesus' disciples at first held this same worldly view of their identity, and like the Pharisees, Priests and Temple authorities, vied for the uppermost position in their group. They had not yet understood Christ's message, that they were to emulate their teacher and assume, like Jesus, to become servants to all. They failed to be child-like in their simplicity, good children of the Father who desire above all else to please Him, to listen to and learn from Him and to obey His Word out of love.

Modern man finds this message repugnant because amid all our great achievements in the sciences, and arts, all our many pleasures and possessions, we have forgotten (or perhaps never learned) Who the Source is of all these gifts and that they were given to bless all of humanity, not just the most clever and aggressive. In consequence, they are being used to satisfy individual greed and self-will. Freedom has come to mean doing one's own "thing" regardless of the consequences.

A poet once aptly observed that humans are blindly impressed by the "bigness of their littleness." We deny our child's status before God, persons created by Him, not being held in subjection to Him who is all-powerful, but to live in the love and truth that His law expresses and that together we might build a world based upon justice and peace.

Loving Father,
open our hearts to receive Your Son,
that we may grow in wisdom and love,
become like Him in word and deed. Amen.

- Marie Bocko, ocds (mlbocko@borg.com)

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©1986-2003 The Way, The Truth, The Life

joachim 4:30 AM

20030224

 

The Catholic Calendar for Monday, February 24, 2003
The Seventh Week in Ordinary Time

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Sirach 1:1-10
Psalm 93:1-2,5
Mark 9:14-29

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

How much we delight in today's beautiful words from Sirach as he praises the wisdom that comes from God! How much we trust in the Lord who governs the world, having made it for all mankind to enjoy and to praise Him, the Creator of all the universe. We who have been saved by Baptism, who are eligible for eternal life, must use this knowledge and understanding of God to live out our lives in constant holiness, in prayer and in serving our neighbor.

In today's Gospel we learn that the disciples failed to cast out a devil from a boy. Jesus tests the boy's father for faith and then dispatched the demon saying, "This kind you can drive out only by prayer." Indeed, if we will be people of constant prayer, of faith, living what we believe, devils will depart and avoid entering our lives. Let us boldly proclaim the name of Jesus, that holy name by which we are saved through Baptism and all the healing sacraments of the Church. Let us come to learn that we're called to be humble people of action, trusting always in the Lord in all things.

- Joachim, ocds

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©1986-2003 The Way, The Truth, The Life

joachim 4:56 AM

20030223

 

The Catholic Calendar for Sunday, February 23, 2003
The Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Isaiah 43:18-19,21-22,24-25
Psalm 41:2-5,13-14
2 Corinthians 1:18-22
Mark 2:1-12

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

Which is easier to say: 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Stand up, pick up your mat, and walk again'? (see Mark 2:9) No doubt leaders of the local synagogue were pressed in close to Jesus testing His every word, searching for certain heresy, when the paralyzed man was presented. I can imagine everyone's great astonishment when Jesus forgave the man his sins, and then <gasp> ordered him to stand up, pick up his mat and leave.

Living as we do in a world thoroughly awash in hedonism and sin, is it any wonder that faith seems to be waning? Is it any wonder that the struggle between good and evil has intensified and escalated, bringing us to the brink of world-wide war -- again? We know that Jesus is "the way, the truth and the life" through which salvation is offered to everyone. As we have learned from today's story, we must have complete faith in almighty God who can do what seems impossible: even to forgive us our sins.

What shall our response be? Shall we not seek to be healed? Shall we not reflect on the depth and extent of our faith? Shall we not renew our faith in the Great Healer of our souls? Shall we not express that faith and healing in all our dealings with everyone we meet today -- and every new day of our lives?

C'mon, c'mon, don't wait!

- Joachim, ocds

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©1986-2003 The Way, The Truth, The Life

joachim 4:39 AM

20030222

 

The Catholic Calendar for Saturday, February 22, 2003
The Sixth Week in Ordinary Time
The Chair of St. Peter

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
1 Peter 5:1-4
Psalm 23:1-6
Matthew 16:13-19

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

Pastoral responsibility of the Church

"...you are "Rock" and on this rock I will build my church, and the jaws of death shall not prevail against it. (Matthew 16:18)

At the time Peter was appointed by Jesus to head the Church, there were many people who did not believe that Jesus was the Messiah. Peter was charged with shepherding the early Church. What a job!

Our local church in America is very broken right now. The abusive sins of priests, hierarchy and others have been too-long shrouded in secrecy and misguided intentions, even if well-meaning. Children and parents have suffered terribly. The priesthood is filled with suspicion and shame. Church leadership has been scarred by an abuse of power coupled with arrogant unaccountability. Yet, we still love our Church and all that she is. More than ever, we pray for the presence of Jesus to become evident through her and in turn to help heal those broken by abuse, those whose faith has been shattered and those who will lead us in the future.

Our "Rock", Pope John Paul II, is living proof that the Church has not changed and that these sins can be overpowered. How vital it is that we pray for our Holy Father and intercede on his behalf. Let us pray for him and for all the bishops, priests and religious of the church as well as countless others who serve God in any capacity. Most especially, let us pray that God's promise to be with us all days until the end, will direct our focus to our Savior, who is the same yesterday, today and forever.

O Lord,
help all of us appointed to serve you.
Clothe us in humility
as we follow your call.
Amen!

- Deacon Bill Powers (uujpow@aol.com)

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©1986-2003 The Way, The Truth, The Life

joachim 4:15 AM

20030221

 

The Catholic Calendar for Friday, February 21, 2003
The Sixth Week in Ordinary Time
St. Peter Damian, bishop, doctor of the Church

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Genesis 11:1-9
Psalm 33:10-15
Mark 8:34--9:1

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

In today's readings from both the Old and New Testament, we have a clear indication of what becomes of men who seek their own glory and fame. Perhaps at face value, building a tower or trying to save one's life doesn't seem so bad, but when we consider the motivation behind such activities we begin to see the source of error.

In our own age, personal accomplishment is so esteemed, that too often we also fail to recognize the insidiousness of pride and the eroding effect it has on charity and concern for others.

It is without question our responsibility to use the gifts God has given us to do wondrous things, but not for our own self-aggrandizement and at the expense of our brethren, but for the glory of God and the good of all mankind.

With this perspective always in mind, we tend not to hoard our gifts or distribute them selectively, but see all men as our brothers, all worthy of our time and treasure - indeed the face of the suffering Christ in them all.

Let us then be determined to be less self-absorbed, less preoccupied about our own interests and practice works of genuine charity. May we seek to be constant in our resolve; and with God's grace may all we do be not just for our own salvation, but that of the world.

- Donna Raye Nelson, ocds (drn3rd@hotmail.com)

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©1986-2003 The Way, The Truth, The Life

joachim 4:15 AM

20030220

 

The Catholic Calendar for Thursday, February 20, 2003
The Sixth Week in Ordinary Time

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Genesis 9:1-13
Psalm 102:16-23,29
Mark 8:27-33

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

Anyone with the least grain of poetic sensitivity is fascinated at the site of a rainbow in the sky. Its colors stand out against gray storm clouds. No wonder God used this phenomenon as a sign of promise and hope, as the sign of His Covenant. Along with that Covenant, went a stern warning to Noah and his family that they must never eat life itself, that is, the blood of animals. And, more, they were never to take human life, for all life is sacred.

While we do make real efforts to feed the hungry and alleviate the pain of so many in the world, so many do not "get" the message that the bottom line is respect for all life. We do take human life, we do destroy the life-blood of so many unborn babies. And human cloning is still a subject for debate with many people. Do we not realize that this is "playing God"?

We need that rainbow of hope, of promise. We need to take much greater care that our transgressions do not force God to remove that rainbow, and to withdraw His Covenant.

May we pray each day for a full restoration of the culture of Life. It is our calling!

- Msgr. Paul Whitmore (smartins@twcny.rr.com)

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©1986-2003 The Way, The Truth, The Life

joachim 3:58 AM

20030219

 

The Catholic Calendar for Wednesday, February 19, 2003
The Sixth Week in Ordinary Time

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Genesis 8:6-13,20-22
Psalm 116:12-15,18-19
Mark 8:22-26

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

"Do you see anything?"

Jesus, the great physician of the soul and the healer of the sick uses this man to tell us something about spiritual healing. When Jesus touches us, we are healed. But sometimes, for reasons we may not be able to say, we resist the touch. When Jesus asks us deep within, "Do you see anything?" Our answer is parallel to the blind man's. The blind man says, "I see people looking like trees and walking." We sometimes say, "I see now that if I pray in just the right way, I'll get what I want."

Jesus wants us to see the supernatural world exactly as it is--not a system of rewards and punishments, not a magic all-rich Father, ready to shower us with material things at a moment's notice. It is the world in which our actions have their real meaning. It is the world in which we discover who we really are. Our only identity is in Christ Jesus, and as long as we are trying to "manipulate the system," we are half-blind to the reality of God's kingdom.

Next time Jesus touches you and heals you, do what you can to cooperate. Sometimes we can't help what we think and feel, but sometimes we can simply say, "Thank you," and like Peter's mother, get up and wait on the Lord and his servants. In this way, we will discover the reality of the kingdom, and will move from being half-blind to seeing truly.

- JuandelaCruz, T.O.Carm (sriddle415@yahoo.com)

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©1986-2003 The Way, The Truth, The Life

joachim 5:14 AM

20030218

 

The Catholic Calendar for Tuesday, February 18, 2003
The Sixth Week in Ordinary Time

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Genesis 6:5-8; 7:1-5,10
Psalm 29:1-4,9-10
Mark 8:14-21

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

"Do you still not understand?" (Mark 8:21)

God's ultimate plan for us reverses an old saying; instead of our going "from feast to famine" He leads us "from famine to feast." We know there is much physical hunger in this world and many programs to alleviate it. However, though millions are poured into such programs, conditions can't improve until a more basic human hunger is first satisfied -- our hunger for God. For it is a lack of Him in our lives that drives us to fill our inner void with money, possessions and experiences.

Examining conditions in areas where hunger is rampant, we see that it is not drought nor insects destroying crops that causes starvation. It is the corruption and greed of governments and officials who enrich themselves at their people's expense. Little of the money and food given them by richer nations reaches the hungry but is added to their leaders' personal coffers.

Today's readings depict a God who sees human wickedness and decides to destroy all earth's inhabitants except for Noah, a righteous man, his family and pairs of all His creatures. History attests that despite a new beginning, sin once more prevailed. Our Gospel presents God's definitive remedy, Jesus Christ who warns His disciples (and us) to "beware the leaven of the Pharisees and Herod.

In using the word "leaven" Christ refers, on one level, to the yeast that multiplies and spreads throughout dough. But His actual meaning is that His disciples guard against the lies and corrupt values of their church and government leaders. At first His men don't understand and thought He meant they'd forgotten to bring bread. He then reminds them of the thousands He fed in the wilderness to emphasize that He, Himself, is the bread of life sent by the Father to nourish, enlighten and preserve their souls. In brief, all must feed on the "Word of God," for only in Him can humanity's needs be fully satisfied.

Loving Father,
through Jesus who made Your perfect love for us known,
You changed mankind's history.
Open all hearts
to receive the salvation You offer us in Him.
Amen.

- Marie Bocko, ocds (mlbocko@borg.com)

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©1986-2003 The Way, The Truth, The Life

joachim 4:24 AM

20030217

 

The Catholic Calendar for Monday, February 17, 2003
The Sixth Week in Ordinary Time
The Seven Founders of the Order of Servites

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Genesis 4:1-15,25
Psalm 50:1,8,16-17,20-21
Mark 8:11-13

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

Do we search for heavenly signs, as a means of assurance that we are on the right path in life? Today's gospel passages, brief and to the point, ought to make us realize how pointless such a search is. Jesus' signs speaks volumes. His departure from the midst of the Pharisees does in fact serve as a sober sign of his recognition that even His divine words do nothing for one unwilling to listen to Him in faith. Christ asks us to dedicate each day to him in faith.

A life which is not dedicated to God ends up being a selfish life, a life that excludes both God and one's brothers and sisters. The sort of life, in which one is the center and measure of life, is rooted in the Original Sin of Adam and Eve, whose children we all are. The kinship between Cain and Abel is the sort of relationship towards which sin constantly urges us. It begins with jealously and ends with death: Abel's physical death and Cain's spiritual death.

This same death will be ours unless we are willing to conquer the power of sin in our lives. Sin is conquered first through humility, and perfectly through charity. This perfect love that is God's, we offer in worship. We offer this same love to our brothers and sisters, for God asks us to be each others keepers, that we may as one family keep ourselves rooted in this love.

- Fr. Thomas Hoisington

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©1986-2003 The Way, The Truth, The Life

joachim 4:29 AM

20030216

 

The Catholic Calendar for Sunday, February 16, 2003
The Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Leviticus 13:1-2,44-46
Psalm 32:1-2,5,11
1 Corinthians 10:31--11-1
Mark 1:40-45

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

As we approach the time of Lent, we learn about the Church's insistence that we examine our souls very deeply. On the surface of things, we hear in the readings about the ugliness of leprosy and Jewish law regulating lepers. My first reaction to Leviticus was, "Well, what's that got to do with me, or anyone I know?"

See how easily we are thrown out of touch with reality by our own "beautiful" selves?!

Of course the scriptural example given us is analogous of our very own sinful souls. We can appreciate the fact that God, having made us in His own image and likeness, might be quite disgusted with our now-ugly souls. St. Paul offers us the plain and uncomplicated answer: "Whatever you do, you should do all for the glory of God." (see: 1 Corinthians 10:31)

If we can do that and avail ourselves of the cleansing, life-giving Sacrament of Reconciliation, we shall become like the leper of today's Gospel: cured. Let us then take these first steps toward a change of heart, a positive movement away from our selfishness and sin. Having made such a move and having taken up the Cross of Jesus, we can indeed sing with the psalmist:

Fight, O Lord,
against those who fight against me;
war against those who war against me.
Take up the shield and buckler,
and rise up in my defense.
Say to my soul,
"I am your salvation." (Psalm 35)

- Joachim (1994)

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©1986-2003 The Way, The Truth, The Life

joachim 4:38 AM