El Evangelio de Marcos nos presenta la historia de la salvación con mucha rapidez. Estos son los aspectos más destacados de los primeros dieciséis versículos. El Evangelio de Marcos comienza con: “El Principio del evangelio de Jesucristo [el Hijo de Dios]”. El profeta dice cómo Dios enviará un mensajero para preparar el camino. Juan el Bautista apareció en el desierto predicando el bautismo de arrepentimiento para el perdón de los pecados. Jesús vino de Nazaret de Galilea y fue bautizado en el Jordán por Juan. Y vino una voz del cielo: “Tú eres mi Hijo amado; en ti me he complacido.” Luego el Espíritu llevó a Jesús al desierto.
Marcos establece que Jesús es el Hijo de Dios y un corto de doce versículos después, Jesús en el desierto está siendo tentado por Satanás. En otros dos versículos, Jesús comienza su ministerio y en dos versos más, Jesús llama a los primeros discípulos.
La tentación de Jesús en el desierto está a sólo dos versos de largo. Jesús estaba en el desierto entre las bestias salvajes y fue tentado por Satanás durante cuarenta días. Hay una larga historia del desierto como un lugar para romper a los débiles o a vencer a los más fuertes. Los hijos de Israel vagaron por cuarenta años en el desierto antes de que pudieran entrar en la Tierra Santa prometida por Dios. Moisés describió el desierto cuando habló a los hijos de Israel en Deuteronomio: “Dios te guía a través de él gran y terrible desierto, con sus peligrosas serpientes y escorpiones, su tierra reseca y sin agua; Dios sacó agua para vosotros desde la dura roca y los alimentó en el desierto con el maná, un alimento desconocido para sus antepasados, para que pudiera ser atormentados y probados, pero también los hizo prósperos al final. ”
En el Evangelio de hoy el número cuarenta aparece de nuevo: “El Espíritu impulsó a Jesús retirase al desierto, donde permaneció cuarenta días y fue tentado por Satanás.” Jesús tenía que ir a través de su experiencia en el desierto antes de que pudiera comenzar su ministerio. Tuvo que pasar el tiempo en oración con su Padre para prepararlo para su ministerio y para vencer la tentación. Jesús pasó por estos cuarenta días para que supiéramos que él vivió y experimentó las mismas dificultades y tentaciones humanas que nosotros.
Nuestro Catecismo nos dice que la Cuaresma es la estación de penitencia más importante en el año litúrgico de la Iglesia, lo que refleja los cuarenta días que pasó Jesús en el desierto en ayuno y oración.
El diccionario Ortodoxo de la iglesia cristiana define la Cuaresma como el ayuno de cuarenta días antes de Pascua. En los tres primeros siglos del período de ayuno en preparación para la Pascua no era solo de dos o tres días. La primera mención de un período de cuarenta días de la Cuaresma se produce en los Cánones de Nicea en el año trescientos veinte cinco AD. La costumbre puede tener su origen en el ayuno prescrito de candidatos para el bautismo, y el número cuarenta fue sugerido evidentemente por los cuarenta días de ayuno del Señor mismo.
Durante los primeros siglos de la observancia del ayuno era muy estricto. Se permitía sólo una comida al día, cerca de la noche. La carne y el pescado, y en la mayoría de lugares huevos y lácteos, fueron absolutamente prohibido. ¡Qué contraste con la actualidad. Con frecuencia luchamos y sufrimos para ayunar y abstenerse de comer carne el Miércoles de Ceniza y los viernes de Cuaresma. ¿Cómo sería realmente ayunar durante cuarenta días?
El énfasis de la Cuaresma se movió gradualmente del ayuno y la abstinencia al servicio y preparación. En lugar de ayunar en alimentos para la Cuaresma, nos damos a nosotros mismos sirviendo a los demás y pasar más tiempo en oración.
Padre Jay nos ha enseñado acerca de la oración en sus homilías desde el comienzo de este año. Nos habló de cómo orar y nos alentó a orar en silencio para escuchar la dirección de Dios. Esa es la tarea más difícil para nosotros hoy en día: estar quietos y en silencio mientras nos comunicamos con nuestro Padre Celestial.
En las Escrituras, la palabra desierto se utiliza con frecuencia indistintamente. El desierto era un lugar terrible para los pueblos antiguos. El desierto era un lugar donde uno podía perderse por días. Había animales salvajes y ladrones que matarían a cualquier persona que se aventurara en el desierto. Incluso en pequeñas comunidades, la noche era llena de miedos por lo que podía pasar en la oscuridad.
Con el tiempo, el desierto vino a significar una experiencia de gran magnitud. Una experiencia del desierto es uno de los períodos difíciles en nuestra vida. Lo más probable es que no vamos a ir físicamente a un desierto para ayunar y orar por cuarenta días, pero vamos a tener nuestra propia experiencia en el desierto. Es fácil para nosotros perder la esperanza cuando parece que todo el mundo está contra nosotros. Es decir, cuando la mayoría se cuestiona o duda que Dios exista. Pero somos nosotros los que hacemos la pregunta o dudamos. Dios está siempre ahí, esperando, amándonos a pesar de nuestros pecados. Esa es la esperanza que siempre está ahí para nosotros los pecadores. Nunca nos tenemos que desesperar porque Dios está allí.
Las luchas y desastres en nuestras vidas nos parecen abrumadoras a veces, pero Marcos nos da esperanza. No estamos solos, así como Jesús no estaba solo en el desierto; los ángeles le servían durante sus días de preparación para su ministerio. Jesús permaneció firme en su relación con su Padre incluso a través de las tentaciones de Satanás. Esto nos da la fuerza que nosotros también podemos permanecer firmes en nuestra relación con Dios, incluso en momentos de gran desesperación.
Después de su periodo de preparación en el desierto, Jesús comenzó su ministerio. Jesús predicó que el Reino de Dios ya está cerca. Arrepiéntanse y crean en el Evangelio. La buena noticia en los Evangelios es acerca de la venida de ese reino, un mundo que Dios gobierna, un mundo lleno de su amor. Siempre debemos mirar hacia adelante a ese mundo. Esa es la esperanza que tenemos siempre a pesar de las tentaciones y pruebas de este mundo.
El arrepentimiento por su definición implica el perdón. En primer lugar, existe el perdón de nuestros pecados por Dios. En segundo lugar, nos obliga a perdonar lo mismo que Dios nos perdona. Dado que la mayoría de los períodos oscuros de nuestras vidas implican un desacuerdo o sentimientos de dolor por un miembro de la familia o un amigo, el perdón con esa persona es la tarea más difícil. A través de la oración, los ángeles nos ministran cuando viajamos por el desierto de los tiempos más oscuros de la vida.
¿Estoy tomando las medidas necesarias para estar preparados para el Reino de Dios? ¿Estoy dispuesto a buscar a Dios como prioridad sobre las cosas materiales que ofrece el mundo? ¿Estoy dispuesto a arrepentirme, pedirle a Jesús que perdone mis pecados? Y entonces, ¿estoy dispuesto a perdonar a los que me agraviaron?
La Cuaresma es un tiempo de ayuno y el sacrificio, la limosna y el servicio a los demás, que reciben el perdón y perdonar a los demás, la oración y la preparación para una relación más estrecha con Dios. ¡El Reino de Dios ya está cerca! ¡Arrepiéntanse y crean en el Evangelio!
S20150222 Lent 1 B
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20150222 Lent 1 B
The Gospel of Mark presents the story of salvation very rapidly. Here are the highlights of the first sixteen verses. Mark’s Gospel starts with: “The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ [the Son of God].” The prophet tells how God will send a messenger to prepare the way. John the Baptist appeared in the desert proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized in the Jordan by John. A voice came from the heavens, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.” Then the Spirit drove Jesus out into the desert.
Mark establishes that Jesus is the Son of God and a short twelve verses later, Jesus is in the desert being tempted by Satan. In another two verses, Jesus begins his ministry and in two more verses, Jesus calls the first disciples.
Jesus’ temptation in the desert is only two verses long. Jesus was in the desert among wild beasts and was tempted by Satan for forty days. There is a long history of the desert as a place to break the weak or sometimes the strong. The children of Israel wandered for forty years in the desert before they could enter into the Holy Land promised by God. Moses described the desert when he talked to the Children of Israel in Deuteronomy: “God guided you through the vast and terrible wilderness with its saraph, serpents and scorpions, its parched and waterless ground; he brought forth water for you from the flinty rock and fed you in the wilderness with manna, a food unknown to your ancestors, that he might afflict you and test you, but also make you prosperous in the end.”
In today’s Gospel the number forty appears again: “The Spirit drove Jesus out into the desert, and he remained in the desert for forty days, tempted by Satan.” Jesus had to go through his desert experience before he could begin his ministry. He had to spend the time in prayer with his Father to prepare him for his ministry and to overcome temptation. Jesus went through these forty days so we would know that he lived and experienced the same human difficulties and temptations that we do.
Our Catechism tells us that Lent is the primary penitential season in the Church’s liturgical year, reflecting the forty days Jesus spent in the desert in fasting and prayer.
The Oxford dictionary of the Christian Church defines Lent as the fast of 40 days before Easter. In the first three centuries the period of fasting in preparation for Easter did not exceed two or three days. The first mention of a period of 40 days of Lent occurs in the Canons of Nicaea in 325 AD. The custom may have originated in the prescribed fast of candidates for baptism, and the number 40 was evidently suggested by the 40 days’ fast of the Lord Himself.
During the early centuries the observance of the fast was very strict. Only one meal a day near evening was permitted. Meat and fish, and in most places eggs and dairy, were absolutely forbidden. What a contrast with today. We frequently struggle to fast and abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday and the Fridays of Lent. How would we truly fast for forty days?
The emphasis of Lent gradually moved from fasting and abstinence to service and preparation. Rather than giving “UP” something for Lent, we give of ourselves by serving others and spending more time in prayer.
Fr Jay has taught us about prayer in his homilies since the beginning of this year. He told us how to pray and encouraged us to pray and also to be quiet to listen for God’s direction. That is the most difficult task for us to do today: be still and quiet while we communicate with our Heavenly Father.
In scripture, the word wilderness and desert were frequently used interchangeably. The desert was a terrible place for ancient peoples. The desert was a place where one could get lost and wander for days. There were wild beats and robbers who would kill anyone who ventured into the desert. Even in small communities, the night was filled with fear of what might happen in the dark.
Over time, the desert came to mean an experience of grave magnitude. A desert experience is one of the difficult periods in our life. Chances are that we will not physically go out into a desert to fast and pray for forty days but we will have our own desert experience. It is easy for us to lose hope when it seems that the whole world is against us. That is when we are most likely to question God or doubt that he exists. But it is us who question or doubt. God is always there, waiting, loving us in spite of our sin. That is the hope that is always there for us sinners. We never have to despair because God is there.
The struggles and disasters in our lives seem to overwhelm us at times, but Mark gives us hope. We are not alone just as Jesus was not alone in the desert; the angels ministered to him during his days of preparation for his ministry. Jesus remained steadfast in his relationship with his Father even through the temptations from Satan. This gives us strength that we too can remain steadfast in our relationship with God even in moments of great despair.
After his period of preparation in the desert, Jesus began his ministry. Jesus preached that the Kingdom of God is at hand. Repent and believe in the Gospel. The Good News in the Gospels is about the coming of that kingdom, a world that God rules, a world filled with his love. We must always look forward to that world. That is the hope that we always have in spite of the temptations and trials of this world.
Repentance by its definition involves forgiveness. First, there is forgiveness of our sins by God. Second, it requires us to forgive the same as God forgives us. Since most of the dark periods in our lives involve a disagreement or feelings of hurt by a family member or friend, forgiveness with that person is the most difficult task. Through prayer, the angels will minister to us when we travel through the desert of life’s darkest times.
Am I taking the necessary steps to be prepared for the Kingdom of God? Am I willing to seek God as a priority over the material things that the world offers? Am I willing to repent, to ask Jesus to forgive my sins? And then, am I willing to forgive those who hurt and wronged me?
Lent is a time of fasting and sacrifice, alms giving and service to others, receiving forgiveness and forgiving others, prayer and preparation for a closer relationship with God. The Kingdom of God is at hand! Repent and believe in the Gospel!
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S20150125 Ordinario 3 B
Las lecturas que lleva el Evangelio el día de hoy tienen urgencia en ellas, el momento de la destrucción está cerca, Jesús llama a sus discípulos a difundir la Buena Nueva. Jonás leyó un mensaje de destrucción a la gente de Nínive: “Dentro de cuarenta días Nínive será destruida”. Pablo dijo que el tiempo se acaba: “porque este mundo que vemos es pasajero”. El verso para el Aleluya el día de hoy es: “El reino de Dios ha llegado; crean en la Buena Nueva”.
Marcos continúa con este urgente mensaje. Jesús comienza su ministerio proclamando el Evangelio de Dios con un llamado a arrepentirse y creer. “Se ha cumplido el tiempo y el reino de Dios ya está cerca. Arrepiéntanse y crean en el Evangelio”.
Desde el comienzo de su ministerio público en Galilea, Jesús buscó compañeros de trabajo para ayudarlo con su misión. Jesús sabía que no iba a encontrar compañeros de trabajo entre los líderes religiosos, eran demasiado corruptos y arrogantes, no soportarían las dificultades de ser un discípulo de Cristo. Jesús sabía que tenía que buscar a compañeros de trabajo que estaban acostumbrados al trabajo duro, personas que lucharan y cuyo estilo de vida era sencillo como la suya.
Jesús llamó a Simón y a su hermano Andrés: “Sígname y haré de ustedes pescadores de hombres.” Ellos dejaron sus redes y lo siguieron. La misma historia se repitió poco después, cuando Jesús llamó a Santiago y a su hermano Juan.
A menudo nos preguntamos por qué estos hermanos inmediatamente salieron de sus barcos, y dejaron a sus familias y su estilo de vida para seguir a alguien que caminaba por la orilla y los llamó. ¿Cómo pudieron hacer esto? ¿Qué pasó con sus familias? ¿Cómo sus familias iban a sobrevivir sin ellos? Esto el día de hoy simplemente no tiene sentido para nosotros.
Dr. John Pilch ofrece una idea de la cultura mediterránea.
“Es muy probable que Jesús y sus cuatro seguidores que convoco no sean extraños. Si no lo han conocido personalmente, antes de ese tiempo, eran conscientes de las aspiraciones y objetivos de Jesús. Las noticias viajaban rápidamente en el mundo antiguo gracias a los chismes. Técnicamente, un grupo que se reúne para un propósito específico por un tiempo limitado se llama una “coalición”. La coalición que Jesús reúne, técnicamente se llama una “facción” porque se centra en un personaje central que posee y controla la lealtad del grupo. Invariablemente, el líder de una facción tiene una meta y reúne a su alrededor a otros que comparten la meta.
¿Cuáles fueron la meta, las aspiraciones, objetivos, y las esperanzas de los pescadores que se unieron a la facción de Jesús? Estas nunca se detallan. Los hechos, sin embargo, que Jesús era conocido como el hijo de un artesano y que estos primeros cuatro miembros de su grupo fueron pescadores hacen que sea probable que encontraron una causa común en las dificultades opresivas de su vida cotidiana. Este tipo de experiencias serían el fundamento de un proyecto más amplio de Jesús de anunciar el reino de Dios, el patrón auténtico del padre de Israel.
Jonás y Zebedeo tuvieron que contratar a más obreros para sustituir a sus hijos que siguieron a Jesús. Calcularon que esta apuesta a corto plazo podría mejorar su situación si Jesús pudo entregar lo que prometió.
Pero sus apóstoles no entendían que la promesa que Jesús predicaba era del corazón. No entendían que era la esperanza espiritual en vez de alivio físico de la vida de trabajo duro y la ocupación que los romanos querían. Jesús predicó “el reino de Dios ya está cerca. Arrepiéntanse y crean en el Evangelio”.
¡Estamos llamados a ser discípulos; creer en el Evangelio! Creo que el verbo. “Creer” requiere una acción: el arrepentimiento y la Fe, que cambiará la forma en que vivimos. Juan Pablo el segundo subraya la importancia de la conversión: “Por lo tanto, la Iglesia profesa y proclama la conversión. La conversión a Dios consiste siempre en descubrir su misericordia, es decir, en el descubrimiento de que el amor que es paciente y amable, ya que sólo el Creador y Padre pueden ser; el amor al que “Dios Padre y de nuestro Señor Jesucristo” es fiel hasta las últimas consecuencias en la historia de su pacto con el hombre: hasta la cruz, la muerte y resurrección del Hijo. La conversión a Dios es siempre el fruto del “redescubrimiento” de este Padre, que es rico en misericordia. ”
El encuentro de Pablo con Jesús en el camino de Damasco causó su conversión y cambió su vida para siempre. Pablo se convirtió y dejo de perseguir y tener nuevos cristianos asesinados, se dedicó a predicar que el Reino de Dios está cerca. Es por eso que hay urgencia en todos los escritos de Pablo que debemos prepararnos para el tiempo del fin, que está cerca.
En la segunda lectura, Pablo escribe a su manera lo que está pasando en el mundo actual. Afirma que el tiempo se acaba, y pide a los corintios a cambiar su vida, que se concentren en lo que es correcto.
Nosotros, como los discípulos y Pablo, hemos escuchado el mensaje de arrepentimiento de Jesús. No tenemos que depender de la red de chismes porque tenemos los Evangelios, escritos de Pablo y todas las enseñanzas y la tradición de la Iglesias.
Reginald Fuller escribió “El llamado de los discípulos …. sirve para ilustrar lo que significa arrepentirse y creer en el Evangelio. Esto no significa aceptar ciertas verdades eternas, sino que se adjunta a la persona de Jesús, para ir junto con él en su camino – una manera que conduzca a la cruz.” El camino para nosotros probablemente no conducirá una cruz o nuestro martirio, pero en muchas partes del mundo, especialmente en Oriente Medio y otros países musulmanes, si lo harían.
Jesús nos habla hoy: “el reino de Dios ya está cerca. Arrepiéntanse y crean en el Evangelio.” ¿Vamos por completo nosotros mismos adjuntar a la persona de Jesús? ¿O vamos a aceptar las verdades de las edades y con las formalidades de asistir a misa o simplemente vivir una buena vida? Jesús ofreció esperanza a un mundo roto. ¿Vamos a arrepentirnos y luego demostrar que creemos en el Evangelio por la forma en que vivimos? ¿Vamos a caminar con Jesús en la forma en que camina? ¿Caminando con Jesús no puede llevar a la muerte, caminaremos con él, incluso si conduce a la persecución? El reino de Dios ya está cerca. ¿Creemos?
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20150125 Ordinary 3 B
The readings have urgency in them, the time of destruction is near, which leads into the Gospel where Jesus calls his disciples to spread the Good News. Jonah delivered a message of destruction to the people of Nineveh: “Forty days more and Nineveh shall be destroyed”. Paul said that time is running out: “For the world in its present form is passing away.” The verse for the Alleluia today is: “The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent and believe in the Gospel.”
Mark continues with this urgent message. Jesus begins his ministry proclaiming the Gospel of God with a call to repent and believe. “This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.”
From the start of his public ministry in Galilee, the Messiah looked for co-workers to help with his mission. Jesus knew that he would not find co-workers among the religious leaders. They were too corrupt and arrogant to endure the hardships of being a disciple of Christ. Jesus knew that he had to look for co-workers who were used to hard work, people who struggled and whose lifestyle was plain like his.
Jesus called to Simeon and his brother Andrew: “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.” They abandoned their nets and followed him. The same story was repeated a short time later when Jesus called James and his brother John.
We often question why these brothers immediately left their boats, their families and their livelihood to follow someone who walked along the shore and called to them. How could they do this? What happened to their families? How did their families survive without them there to support them? This just doesn’t make sense to us today.
Dr. John Pilch provides some insight into the Mediterranean culture.
“It is highly likely that Jesus and the four followers he summons here are not strangers. If they have not personally met each other before this time, they were aware of each other’s aspirations and objectives. News travelled quickly in the ancient world thanks to gossip networks.
Gathering a following is a common occurrence in the Mediterranean world. Technically, a group that gathers for a specific purpose for a limited time is called a “coalition.” The coalition that Jesus gathers is technically called a “faction” because it focuses on a central person who holds and controls the loyalty of the group. Invariably, the faction leader has a grievance and gathers around him others who share the grievance.
What were the grievance and the aspirations, objectives, and hopes of the fishermen who joined Jesus’ faction? These are never spelled out. The facts, however, that Jesus was known as the son of an artisan and that these first four members of his group were fishermen make it probable that they found common cause in the oppressive difficulties of their daily lives. Such experiences would be the underpinning for Jesus’ broader project of proclaiming the reign of God, the authentic patron or father of Israel.
Jonah and Zebedee had to hire more day laborers to replace their sons who followed Jesus. They calculated that this short-term gamble might improve their lot if Jesus could deliver what he promised.”
But their fathers didn’t understand that the promise Jesus preached was of the heart. They didn’t understand that it was spiritual hope instead of physical relief from the life of hard work and the occupation of the Romans that they wanted. Jesus preached “The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent and believe in the Gospel.”
We are called to be disciples; to believe in the Gospel! Believe is a verb. “Believe” requires action: repentance and then a faith that will change the way we live. John Paul II underlines the importance of conversion: “Therefore, the Church professes and proclaims conversion. Conversion to God always consists in discovering his mercy, that is, in discovering that love which is patient and kind as only the Creator and Father can be; the love to which the ‘God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ’ is faithful to the uttermost consequences in the history of his covenant with man: even to the Cross and to the death and resurrection of the Son. Conversion to God is always the fruit of the ‘rediscovery’ of this Father, who is rich in mercy.
Paul’s encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus caused his conversion and changed his life forever. Paul turned from persecuting and having the new Christians killed to preaching that the Kingdom of God is at hand. That’s why there is urgency in all of Paul’s writings that we must prepare for the end time is near.
In the second reading, Paul writes that the world in its present form is passing away. He states that time is running out and calls for the Corinthians to change their lives and concentrate on what is right.
We, like the disciples and Paul, have heard Jesus’ message of repentance. We do not have to rely on the gossip network because we have the Gospels, Paul’s writings and all of the Church’s teachings and tradition to teach us.
Reginald Fuller wrote “The call of the disciples …. serves to illustrate what it means to repent and believe in the gospel. It does not mean to accept certain timeless truths but to be attached to the person of Jesus, to go along with him in his way — a way that will lead to the cross.” The way for us will probably not lead to a cross or our martyrdom, but in many parts of the world, particularly the Middle East and other Muslim countries, it would.
Jesus speaks to us today: “The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.” Will we completely attach ourselves to the person of Jesus? Or will we accept the truths of the ages and go through the motions of attending mass or just living a good life? Jesus offered hope to a broken world. Will we repent and then show that we believe in the Gospel by the way we live? Will we walk with Jesus in the way that he walks? Walking with Jesus may not lead to death for us but will we walk with him even if it leads to persecution? The Kingdom of God is at hand. Do we believe?
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20150108 Fulfilled in Your Hearing
Jesus was in the synagogue of his hometown Nazareth on the Sabbath as was his custom. “He stood up to read and was handed a scroll of the prophet Isaiah. He unrolled the scroll and found the passage where it was written: The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord.”
This passage taken that Jesus quoted is from Isaiah. It is a proclamation of justice that is the core of the teachings of Christ and the mission of the Catholic Church. It is the concern for all of the marginalized in our society: for the poor, for the homeless, for the widow, the orphan and the stranger, for those in prison, for those caught in domestic violence and abuse, for those mistreated by racism and hatred, for those persecuted for their faith regardless if they are Christian, Jewish or Muslim.
Jesus said “Today this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing.” Is the Spirit of the Lord upon us? Can we say with Christ that this scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing?
If the church’s mission is to live the teachings and ministry of Christ, the church must be a pillar of justice not only for all of those who are part of the church but for everyone in the world. Pope Francis follows this in his daily life; he treats all people with respect for their human dignity. This is an example for the entire world to see and follow. Pope Francis shows people how to live the teachings of Christ and the church.
Each of us must ask this question: Is the Spirit of the Lord upon me? Let us show the world that love still exists by the way we live our lives.
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20150107 Jesus Went Off to Pray
These verses just before today’s Gospel reading provide us with the complete story. “The apostles gathered together with Jesus and reported all they had done and taught. He said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.” People were coming and going in great numbers, and they had no opportunity even to eat. So they went off in the boat by themselves to a deserted place.”
But the people saw them leaving and ran ahead. When they embarked from the boat, Jesus had pity on them and began to teach them. When it was time to eat, Jesus took a few loaves of bread, blessed them and fed five thousand men plus women and children.
“Then he made his disciples get into the boat and precede him to the other side toward Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. And when he had taken leave of them, he went off to the mountain to pray.”
Jesus did this a lot. When the crowds pressed in around him and everyone was demanding his attention, he would slip away to pray. Sometimes Jesus would take three or all of the disciples with him, but even then, he would go off by himself to pray to his Father.
In this case, the disciples were out in the communities working, teaching the Good News. Jesus knew that the disciples were weary and did not even have time to eat so he tried to slip away with them to a deserted place to rest and pray. But the crowds wanted help from this person who performed miracles.
Jesus knew that the disciples were exhausted at this point and made them get into the boat and leave even before the crowds were gone. Only then could Jesus go off to the mountain to pray.
After all of the festivities of Christmas and New Year’s parties with family and friends, it’s time to rest. Serving others is difficult work. It is mentally and emotionally draining. Our bodies require some down time to let the Holy Spirit minister to us, to refresh us and give us a new attitude of joy and patience. Then we can love others as Jesus loves us.
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20141226 St Stephen the First Martyr
I am wearing red today because it is the Feast of St Stephen, the first martyr. It seems appropriate that the feast of the first martyr is comes the first day after the Birth of Our Lord.
When we look at the Gospel, Jesus explains the cost of being a Christian. “Beware of men, for they will hand you over to courts and scourge you in their synagogues, and you will be led before governors and kings for my sake as a witness before them and the pagans.”
“When they hand you over, do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say. …. For it will not be you who speak but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.”
“Brother will hand over brother to death, and the father his child; children will rise up against parents and have them put to death. You will be hated by all because of my name.…”
It is not all doom. Jesus gave an ending with hope: “…. but whoever endures to the end will be saved.”
In many parts of the world today, Christians are martyred for their faith. The area of Syria and Iraq that is controlled by ISIS is the one that is in the news the most because it is so rampant. But other parts of the world, especially Muslim controlled areas, Christians are persecuted for their faith.
We are fortunate in this county that we aren’t martyred for our Catholic faith. It is important that we pray every day for Christians around the world that are being persecuted and martyred. We need to pray the God will strengthen them and keep them in his care. We also need to ask God to provide for them and grant them a special place in his kingdom.
I know we are busy in our daily duties, but let’s remember the Church and these Christians throughout the world in our prayers each day this coming year.
Filed under Homilies
20141228 The Holy Family B
During Advent we waited as we prepared for the coming of the Lord. At Christmas we rejoiced when the Christ Child was born of a Virgin and the world worshiped him. Today, life goes on as the Holy Family travels to Jerusalem to worship in the Synagogue. This is one of the few times the Holy Family is mentioned in the Gospels.
In this brief glimpse, we see that the Holy Family was very devout. Today’s Gospel begins: “They took him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord, just as it is written in the law of the Lord, every male that opens the womb shall be consecrated to the Lord, and to offer the sacrifice of a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons, in accordance with the dictate in the law of the Lord.
The Gospel reading continues: “When they had fulfilled all the prescriptions of the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth.” The New Jerusalem Bible makes it a little easier to understand: “When they had done everything the Law of the Lord required, they went back to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth.”
Mary and Joseph did more than just follow the rules. They believed their faith. During Advent we heard how Mary accepted God’s will even though she did not understand how it could happen. Joseph accepted God’s will even though he had planned to quietly divorce Mary so he would not bring shame to her. Joseph protected Mary on the dangerous roads to Bethlehem. They both marveled at the stories of the shepherds who came to worship.
They took Jesus to the temple to present him to God. They followed their faith just as we follow ours today. While they were in the temple, we hear of two people who saw the Child and were overjoyed: Simeon and Anna. The Holy Spirit revealed to Simeon, a devout Jew, “that he should not see death before he had seen the Christ of the Lord.” Anna gave thanks to God and spoke “about the child to all who were awaiting the redemption of Jerusalem.” Both of them gave thanks to God for the Child so all could hear.
The Holy Family gave us an example: they followed their faith and it brought joy to the world. It’s easy to become slack in our faith this time of year. All the commercialism of Christmas has reduced it to just another holiday except with a lot more demands on our finances, emotions and relationships. When there should be joy, there is often depression and pain for so many. The pain of past disagreements becomes greater at Christmas and New Year’s celebrations. We invite everyone except that one family member or friend whom we had a fight with in the past. There is more than pain for those who are excluded; there is pain for us as well because it brings to mind the hurt all over again. Christ came into the world to give us joy and a way to overcome the negative events and feelings in our lives; a way to overcome the hurt, to forgive and find healing.
We are all part of a family even though we may not want to acknowledge or associate with some of ours. Some families are missing in action because they were never around and we had to fend for ourselves. Other families smother us with too much interference and still others are always bickering and fighting. It is frequently easier to love humanity – the ambiguous mass of people out there that needs us to help them, than to love our own family. It is usually more difficult to love the ones who are close to us, maybe because they are so much like us.
The Gospel doesn’t end with the Holy Family returning to Nazareth. The Gospel concludes with “The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him.” We too must grow spiritually to love and serve God and others. We must follow our faith; we must be that shining example of sharing God’s love with those around us. Then the season will be a joyful time like it was for Simeon and Anna.
The months leading up to Christmas had troubling times for Mary and Joseph. Each had their own doubts and concerns. We too experience doubts and concerns in our lives and even turmoil within our families. Our spiritual growth is dependent on listening to God’s leading. Mary and Joseph each had an encounter with God: Mary by the angel Gabriel and Joseph by an angel in a dream. While we may not have an angel appear to us today, we still feel God leading us in one direction or another. Mary and Joseph both said yes to God’s will. Will we say yes to God too?
It’s difficult to do this time of year. The bills of Christmas giving start arriving and the weather is gray and dreary. Yet God calls us to follow the example of the Holy Family. In spite of the doubts and concerns, in spite of the anxious feelings and struggles of each day, God calls us to reach out to a family member, both our immediate family and the extended family of friends and church, to ask and grant forgiveness. Then the true reason for the season of Christmas will be realized by Christ bringing peace to the world.
Jesus grew and became strong, filled with wisdom and the favor of God because of the family and their faith. We too must practice our faith like the Holy Family.
In the coming months, will we work for peace within our hearts, our families and our troubled world? Will we reach out to a person within our family or group of friends whom we have avoided? Or will we let the hurt continue to fester and boil over? Will we as a Church continue to be an open and welcoming community to the stranger, the widow and the orphan, to work for immigration reform and the dignity of each person? Or will we turn our heads and look the other way because it is easier to avoid confrontation than to speak up for what is right?
The world, our families and even us as individuals, are desperately searching for peace – the peace that Christ came into the world to give to us. Are we willing to make that peace happen in our lives? Will we commit to set aside just five minutes each day to pray for peace and healing – for the world, for our families and friends, for those around us, and ourselves?
Filed under Homilies
S20141123 Ordinario 34 – Cristo del Rey A
Los justos le contestarán entonces: “Señor, ¿cuándo te vimos hambriento, y te dimos de comer, sediento y te dimos de beber? ¿Cuándo te vimos forastero y te hospedamos, o desnudo y te vestimos? ¿Cuándo te vimos enfermo o encarcelado y te fuimos a ver?”
Y el rey les dirá: “Yo les aseguro que, cuando lo hicieron con el más insignificante de mis hermanos, conmigo lo hicieron.”
La primera nevada de la temporada estaba en descenso y ya había varios centímetros en el suelo. Un joven comenzó a palear la nieve en la parte posterior de la entrada de su estacionamiento. Fue agradable para él, sentir el silencio y la nieve cayendo en su trabajo. Un señor mayor camino hasta la entrada de su casa y le preguntó a él joven, que si este Viejo Nick podría dormir en su garaje, porque no quería dormir de nuevo en el suelo frío. Estos viejos huesos ya no pueden tomar el frío.
El joven miró al caballero en frente de él. El viejo Nick con sus profundos ojos azules, que eran suaves. Tenía una barba y el pelo color gris. Nick caminaba con una cojera y la punta de su bota derecha estaba rajada por arrastrarla con la pierna. Llevaba una chaqueta militar antigua; él estaba limpio, y tenía la ropa limpia.
El joven pensó en la solicitud de quedarse a dormir en su garaje. Acaban de mudarse unos meses y había bastante espacio en el garaje. ¿Pero pensó, que tal si es un asesino en serie? ¿Y si nos roba? ¿Y si él se negaba a abandonar después de una noche o dos? ¿Qué pasaría si…? Todos estos pensamientos pasaron a través de la mente del joven.
“No, no lo creo.” dijo el joven. Nick intentó de nuevo. Por favor solo una noche: hace frío y nieva. No quiero dormir de nuevo con frío. El joven firmemente, finalmente dijo: “No, no ahora.” El Viejo Nick dijo: “Gracias y que Dios los bendiga”, y se fue andando.
El joven siguió paleando la nieve. Los versículos del Evangelio de hoy vino a su mente. ¿Y si fue Jesús quien estuvo pidiendo ayuda? Una vez más, el joven pensó: ¿Qué pasa si es un asesino en serie? El garaje estaba separado de la casa, así que no debería ser un problema. ¿Y si nos roba? ¿Existe realmente algo de mucho valor en el garaje? ¿Y si se niega a abandonar después de una noche o dos? Que puede hacer, llamar a la policía si es necesario. ¿Qué pasaría si…?
¿Y si realmente era Jesús? y le he dicho “!No!” Detuvo de palear y salió a la calle a buscar al viejo Nick para decirle que podía pasar la noche. La calle estaba vacía, sólo el suave sonido de nieve que caída podía ser escuchado.
Esa noche en el comienzo del invierno en diciembre de mil novecientos noventa y dos ha quedado conmigo todos estos años.
Recientemente, durante la lectura del evangelio de san Lucas estas palabras sobresalen: “Dar a todos los que piden”. Estas palabras realmente me llegaron. Yo desde luego, no lo hago, incluso hoy en día. ¡Pero Jesús dijo a dar a cualquier persona que pida!
Pensamos que el mundo tiene más violencia hoy que cualquier momento de la historia. Pero, si leemos el Antiguo Testamento y las enseñanzas de Jesús, en realidad no es muy diferente hoy en día. Antes ocasionalmente recogía a alguien que pedía rito en la autopista, hoy en día, no lo haría, debido a problemas de seguridad. Entonces, ¿cómo podemos servir como Jesús nos ha enseñado? ¿Y quiénes son los “menos afortunados”?
Hermanita Joyce Ann Zimmerman, la CPPS escribió “tendemos a identificar como “los menos afortunados” a aquellos que se encuentran alejados de nuestra vida diaria, por ejemplo, las víctimas de la hambruna en un país extranjero. Pero las personas que necesitan ayuda, están realmente muy cerca de nosotros; allí donde hay necesidad humana, allí está Cristo y nosotros estamos llamados a responder.”
En una reciente entrevista, el Obispo Cupich (ahora Arzobispo de Chicago) dice. “El papa está diciendo que hay muchas tentaciones y la gente ya no quiere ayudar. Tenemos una ley que es el ayudar a prójimo, esta nos ayudara a llegar al cielo. Dice que tenemos que hacer algo acerca de nuestro mundo hoy en día, que está sufriendo; las personas están excluidos, olvidadas. Tenemos la responsabilidad de ayudar a los necesitados, y también llamar a otras personas a ayudar a esta tarea.”
La parte más importante de esto es que el Papa Francisco, llama a la gente con el ejemplo. La Revista Forbes dio al Papa Francisco dos premios el pasado mes de abril.
“En los primeros seis meses de su papado, El papa Francisco aborda directamente la primera pregunta crítica que cualquier CEO tiene que preguntar acerca de su empresa: ¿cuáles son los empleos? “Él decisivamente articula el trabajo con los más vulnerables de la sociedad.”
En una autocrítica inusualmente franca Papa cambiado la cultura de la Iglesia de, en sus palabras de uno de los “auto-preservación institucional” de vuelta a su misión fundamental.
La clave del éxito del Papa como un innovador podría ser que él predica con el ejemplo. En lugar de cambiar cualquier credo, dogma o teología que inevitablemente crear tensiones innecesarias y resistencia a las acciones y prácticas, el Papa simplemente encarnan la verdadera misión de la iglesia”.
Incluso el mundo de la empresa reconoce el ejemplo que papa Francisco vive todos los días. Este es el regalo que Dios ha dado a los católicos y el mundo; un ejemplo de amor, paz y sanación en un mundo violento y roto.
Las reflexiones del papa Francisco en una misa reciente en Casa Santa Marta preocupados nuestro servicio a los demás. “Tenemos que resistir las tentaciones que nos alejan de nuestro servicio a los demás. En cambio, como Jesús, debemos servir sin pedir nada a cambio…”
Jesús dijo: “En verdad os digo que cuanto hicisteis a uno de los hermanos míos más pequeños, a mí lo hicisteis.”
¿Cómo nos servimos al “más pequeños” hoy en día? Lideramos con el ejemplo. Nuestra Iglesia de la Santa Cruz tiene una larga historia de servir a los “últimos” a través de nuestro programa del Ministerio de Alcance. Además, ofrecemos el Programa de Almuerzo de Verano en el distrito escolar de Granite Falls, este fue apoyado por nuestra parroquia, ciento noventa y ocho familias recibieron una cena de Acción de Gracias este año a través del este ministerio de ayuda. Visitamos a los encarcelados y los que están enfermos.
¿En nuestra vida cotidiana, vamos a llegar a la gente que conocemos o buscaremos a los que son ignorados o lastimaremos debido a razones culturales, generacionales, sociales o físicas? ¿Vamos a estar allí por el sufrimiento de los tiroteos en Marysville Pilchuck de secundaria o orar por aquellos en la Universidad de la Florida o Ferguson, Missouri? ¿Vamos a mirar hacia otro lado para que no reconozcamos la persona de pie en la esquina con un cartel pidiendo ayuda? ¿O vamos a por lo menos sonreírles para reconocer su dignidad humana y luego orar por ellos para que Dios provea para ellos?
¿Vamos a sonreír y saludar al hombre que llevaba un turbante en la cabeza? ¿Vamos a sonreír y saludar al hombre que llevaba un yamaka? ¿Vamos a pasar algún tiempo con una persona que perdió a un ser querido; simplemente sentarse sin decir una palabra – solo estar allí para consolar? ¿Vamos a servir los menos afortunados como el papa Francisco dijo “sin pedir nada a cambio?”
Filed under Homilies
20141123 Ordinary Christ the King A
Then the righteous will answer him and say, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? When did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? When did we see you ill or in prison, and visit you?’
And the king will say to them in reply, ‘Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of the least brothers of mine, you did for me.’
The first snow of the season was falling and several inches lay on the ground. The young man started to shovel the snow at the back of the driveway working his way forward. It was pleasant to feel the quiet and the snow falling as he worked. An older gentleman walked up the driveway and asked if the young man would let Old Nick sleep in his garage so he didn’t have to lie on the cold ground. These old bones can’t take the cold as well these days.
The young man looked at the gentleman in front of him. Old Nic had piercing deep blue eyes that were gentle. He had a beard and his hair and beard were starting to gray. Old Nic walked with a limp and the toe of his right boot was scuffed from dragging that leg. He wore an old military fatigue jacket; he was clean, and his clothes were clean.
The young man thought about the request to use the garage. They just moved in a few months ago so there was plenty of room in the garage. But what if he was really a serial killer? What if he would steal from us? What if he refused to leave after a night or two? What if…..? All of these thoughts ran through the young man’s mind.
“No, I don’t think so.” The young man said. Nic tried again. Please just one night: it’s cold and it’s snowing. It would be good to be able to sleep out of the cold. The young man’s mind was racing but he finally said “No, not now.” Old Nic said “Thank you and God Bless”, turned and walked away.
The young man continued shoveling the snow. The verses from today’s Gospel came to his mind. What if that was Jesus who was just here asking for help? Again the young man’s mind was racing: what if he was really a serial killer? The garage was detached from the house so that shouldn’t be a problem. What if he would steal from us? Was there really anything of that much value in the garage? What if he refused to leave after a night or two? That could be handled with the police if necessary. What if….?
What if that was Jesus? What if that really was Jesus and I had said “No”? I said no! I stopped shoveling and walked out to the street to look for Old Nic to tell him he could spend the night. The street was empty – only the soft sound of falling snow could be heard.
That night at the start of winter in December 1992 has stuck with me all these years.
Recently, while reading the Gospel of Luke these words popped out: “Give to everyone who asks of you”. That really hit me. I certainly don’t do that even today. But Jesus said to give to everyone who asks!
We think that the world has more violence today than any time in history. But if we read the Old Testament and the teachings of Jesus, it really is not much different today. I used to occasionally pick up a hitchhiker but I would not think of doing that today due to safety concerns. How, then, do we serve the least of these as Jesus taught us? And who are the “least of these”?
Joyce Ann Zimmerman, CPPS wrote “We tend to identify as “least” those who are distant from our daily living, for example, victims of famine in a foreign land. But those in need are actually very near us; wherever there is human need, there is Christ and we are called to respond.”
In a recent interview, Bishop Cupich (now Archbishop of Chicago) said. “The pope is saying some very challenging things for people. He’s not saying, this is the law and you follow it and you get to heaven. He’s saying we have to do something about our world today that’s suffering; people are being excluded, neglected. We have a responsibility, and he’s calling people to task.”
And the most important part of that is that Pope Francis is calling people by example. Forbes magazine gave Pope Francis two awards last April.
“In the first six months of his Papacy, Francis squarely addressed the first critical question any CEO needs to ask about her company: what are the “jobs to get done?” He decisively articulated the job of the Church—serving society’s most vulnerable. In an unusually candid self-critique the Pope shifted the Church’s culture from, in his words one of “institutional self-preservation” back to its core mission.
The key to the Pope’s success as an innovator might just be that he leads by example. Rather than changing any creed, dogma or theology—that would inevitably create unnecessary tension and resistance—the Pope’s actions and practices simply embody the genuine mission of the church.”
Even the business world acknowledges the example that Pope Francis lives every day. This is the gift that God has given Catholics and the world; an example of love, peace and healing in a broken, violent world.
Pope Francis’s reflections at a recent Mass in Casa Santa Marta concerned our service to others. “We must resist temptations that distance us from our service to others. Instead, like Jesus, we must serve without asking for anything in return …..”
Jesus said ‘Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of the least brothers of mine, you did for me.’
How do we serve the “least of these” today? We lead by example. Holy Cross has a long legacy of serving the “least” of these through our Outreach program. In addition, the Summer Lunch program in the Granite Falls school district was supported by our giving and 198 families received a Thanksgiving dinner this year through serving the least of these. We visit those who incarcerated and those who are sick.
In our daily lives, will we reach out to people we know or meet that are ignored or hurting due to cultural, generational, social or physical reasons? Will we be there for the suffering from the shootings at Marysville Pilchuck High School or pray for those at Florida University or Ferguson, Missouri? Will we look the other way so we don’t acknowledge the person standing on the corner with a sign asking for help? Or will we at least smile at them to acknowledge their human dignity and then pray for them that God will provide for them?
Will we smile and greet the man wearing a turban on his head? Will we smile and greet the man wearing a yamaka? Will we spend some time with a person who lost a loved one; just sit without a word – to be there to comfort them? Will we serve the least of these as Pope Francis said “without asking anything in return?”
