Fifth Saturday of Easter

During the night Paul had a vision. A Macedonian stood before him and implored him with these words, "Come over to Macedonia and help us." When he had seen the vision, we sought passage to Macedonia at once, concluding that God had called us to proclaim the Good News to them.

There are times in our lives when we are called to change course. We are asked by God to leave behind everything we know and go where He is leading. This can be difficult to do for many reasons, but if we trust in God’s Providence, then we shall be rewarded for it. We might face obstacles and sufferings, but they shall be overcome with persistence, patience, and grace. So next time we think God is calling us to do something for Him, let us respond, “Yes!” Let us seek passage to that place and proclaim the Good News where God wants us to.

Are we open to changing the course of our lives in order to do what is right and good? How can we make our hearts and minds ready to listen to God’s calling? To whom are we called to proclaim the Good News?

O Lord, we are ready to go where you will.

Amen.

Easter

Then they went away quickly from the tomb, fearful yet overjoyed, and ran to announce this to his disciples. And behold, Jesus met them on their way and greeted them. They approached, embraced his feet, and did him homage. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.”

After being told by an angel that Jesus has risen, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary rush off to bear the good news of the resurrection to the other disciples. They were overjoyed with the idea that Jesus was alive, yet fearful, too. Why were they afraid? They were bearing a message that might not be readily accepted by the disciples. After all, who would believe such a miracle after the sufferings of the last three days? They feared the doubt the disciples might express. They feared the are-you-crazy looks they might receive from the others. Similarly, when something happens to us that changes our lives in a fundamental way, it can be both amazing and frightening at the same time. We cross a threshold, we die to our former selves and enter into a new life. Whether it be changing jobs, moving, welcoming a child into the world, deciding on a vocation... all these things bring with them conflicting emotions. However, what Jesus told both Marys holds true for us. As long as what we are doing is out of love of God and His children, then we do not need to be afraid. We should instead, go tell others what has happened and meet Christ where he is calling us to be.

Are we bearing the good news of Christ’s resurrection to the world around us? How can we overcome our fears and focus on the joy of doing God’s Will? Are we willing to meet God where He is calling us?

O Lord, we will follow you to where you are calling us.

Amen.

Friday after Ash Wednesday

This, rather, is the fasting that I wish: releasing those bound unjustly, untying the thongs of the yoke; Setting free the oppressed, breaking every yoke; Sharing your bread with the hungry, sheltering the oppressed and the homeless; Clothing the naked when you see them, and not turning your back on your own. Then your light shall break forth like the dawn, and your wound shall quickly be healed; Your vindication shall go before you, and the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard.

Fasting isn’t about giving up trivial things (chocolate, candy, etc.) or making exterior changes in our lives (exercising more, watching less TV, etc.). Yes, these can be parts of the whole experience, but they need to be grounded in the desire for an interior change that springs from choosing heavenly things over worldly ones. Fasting means acting justly toward others, helping them with their burdens, setting them free from those things that oppress them, breaking the yokes around our neighbor’s necks. It means sharing with, sheltering, and clothing those in need. It is learning to sacrifice yourself for others and never turning your back on them. If we do all these things, then we shall be a light for the whole world showing them the path of love, mercy, and grace that God has prepared for us all. It is not enough to think, say, or do the right thing out of a sense of obligation, we have to do good works because we want to be more like Christ.

What are we fasting from during this Lenten season? How can we interiorize the act of fasting? What can we do to transform ourselves over this time of purification so that we can be more Christ-like year around?

O Lord, give us the grace to fast not only outwardly, but inwardly, too.

Amen.

Twenty-Second Tuesday of Ordinary Time

In the synagogue there was a man with the spirit of an unclean demon, and he cried out in a loud voice, “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us?
I know who you are–the Holy One of God!” Jesus rebuked him and said, “Be quiet! Come out of him!” Then the demon threw the man down in front of them and came out of him without doing him any harm. They were all amazed and said to one another, “What is there about his word? For with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits, and they come out.”

We are often told in today's society that everyone is entitled to their opinion or truth is a matter of perspective, but this is not what Jesus taught us through his words and deeds. He proclaimed the truth with authority and so should we. We shouldn't be afraid of being persecuted, mocked, and misunderstood by those who don't believe in Divine Truth. They might ask us, "What is truth?" and challenge us to prove without a doubt that God exists, that He loves, and that He died for us so that we might join Him in eternal life. However, we should not be intimidated by those who cast doubts upon us or belittle us for our beliefs. As long as we believe in Jesus Christ, and him crucified, then our words and works will speak louder than all our critics. This is what Jesus did and it is what we are called to do. It is not any easy way, but it is the only Way that will lead us to the Truth and Life everlasting.

Do we believe in Jesus' authority? If so, then how has that changed the way we know, love, and serve others? Can we honestly claim that our lives are founded upon the authority of Christ?

O Lord, give our every thought, word, and work the authority that comes with your love, mercy, and grace.

Amen.

Monday in the Octave of Easter

Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went away quickly from the tomb, fearful yet overjoyed, and ran to announce the news to his disciples. And behold, Jesus met them on their way and greeted them. They approached, embraced his feet, and did him homage. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.”

Fearful yet overjoyed is such a strange feeling and yet it isn’t an uncommon feeling in our lives. Whenever we receive new or unsuspected good news we can undergo these feelings of fear and joy. When we hear we have gotten into college, been hired for a new job, fall in love with someone, discover we are about to have a child, or any other life-changing event, we can be faced not only with a sense of joy, but also of questioning, doubts, and even fear. What a blessing all these events can be, but they also challenge us to die to our old and sometimes comfortable lives and risk living a life we don’t have a handle on. This is why Jesus’ first words are “Do not be afraid.” He is letting his disciples know that although their lives are about to drastically change, they have nothing to fear because he will go before them and prepare the way. He does the same for us when we are faced with these changes. We have only to trust that Jesus is going before us and making everything ready.

Have we ever been fearful yet overjoyed? Do we place our trust in God whenever we are faced with the unknown? Are we willing to risk the lives we know and are comfortable with in order to do God’s Will?

O Lord, we are not afraid because we believe you are always preparing the path before us.

Amen.