Blind-spots - Tomorrow's reading reflection

Are there any blind-spots in your life that keep you from recognizing God's power and mercy? When two blind men heard that Jesus was passing their way, they followed him and begged for his mercy. The word mercy literally means "sorrowful at heart". But mercy is something more than compassion, or heartfelt sorrow at another's misfortune. Compassion empathizes with the sufferer. But mercy goes further; it removes suffering. A merciful person shares in another's misfortune and suffering as if it were their own. When two blind men approached Jesus, he questioned their earnestness. "Do you believe that I am able to do this?" Jesus put them to the test, not to rebuff them, but to strengthen their faith and trust in God's mercy. He touched their eyes, both to identify with their affliction and to awaken faith in them. Their faith grew as they responded to his word with confident hope. Jesus restored their sight – both physically and spiritually to the reality of God's kingdom. Faith opens the way for us to see the power of God’s kingdom and to experience his healing presence in our lives.

(Adapted from Don Schwager)

Happy Feast of St. Nicholas!

A strong city have we, in our integrity before God - Tomorrow's reading reflection

"A strong city have we; he sets up walls and ramparts to protect us."

"Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them..."

There is only one way in which a person's integrity can be proved, and that is by one's practice.  Fine words can never replace good deeds. Our character is revealed in the choices we make, especially when we are tested. Do you cheat on an exam or on your income taxes, especially when it will cost you?  Do you lie, or cover-up, when disclosing the truth will cause you  injury or embarrassment? A true person is honest and reliable before God, one's neighbor and oneself.  His or her word can be counted on. If you heed God's word and live according to it then you need not fear when storms assail you. God will be your rock and your refuge.

(Adapted from Don Schwager)

Someone had to give up the fish and loaves - Tomorrow's reading reflection

Meditating on the joy of living in the house of the Lord puts my heart in a beautiful state of peace and excited anticipation.   However, sometimes I get homesick for Heaven and ignore the reality in which I live now.  That love which we anticipate enjoying fully in Eternity is the same love which we must share with God’s people on earth.

Someone had to give up his/her dinner in order for Jesus to perform his miracle in today’s Gospel reading.  Sure, Jesus did the heavy lifting when it came to multiplying the seven loaves and a few fish, but someone donated that food.  Similarly, Jesus only performed the miracle, he did not walk around physically feeding the crowd, other hands served in that way.  Jesus “needed” the service of those around him in order to fully bless the crowd that day.

In what ways is God calling each of us to be his hands and feet?  Significant tithing is a new phenomenon for me.   For the first time in my life, I am making a real paycheck and I am recognizing the call to utilize a portion in service to God.  And yet, as a severely indebted medical resident, my financial resources are limited.  But how many people in today’s Gospel actually served Jesus financially? Only a few.  The vast majority served by organizing, spreading the food and cleaning up the leftovers.  Could I donate some of my time?  Might I carry some granola bars and a few inexpensive winter hats to keep in my car to offer to the homeless guy I pass on my way to the hospital each morning?  How about simply going out of my way to offer a word of encouragement to a downtrodden neighbor?  In spite of my newfound ability to donate financially, the Gospel is calling me to a well-rounded service approach.

(Adapted from Sam Pierre)

Promise and fulfillment - Tomorrow's reading reflection

Here we are, on the second weekday of Advent, and therefore on the second weekday of the new Liturgical year, 2013-2014. This third day of Advent builds wonderfully on the visions of the readings for the First Sunday and Monday of Advent, visions of universal peace and restoration, beginning with the restoration of the tribes of Israel, then reaching out to all the nations of the world.

Like most of the readings during this special season of Advent, today’s texts flow together to tell a single story. They speak to the deepest of human desires for rescue, healing, restoration, and the peace that embodies all that is meant by the Hebrew word shalom—the full flourishing of the people of God in covenant union with their Creator and Redeemer.

Isaiah speaks of a future son of David, who will rule with justice, with a special concern for the poor. The images that the prophet uses to illustrate the ultimate shalom of this king’s rule are expressed with an exuberance that can stretch our credulity. The lamb will offer hospitality to the wolf (which sounds like the beginning of an Aesop fable that will end up poorly for the lamb). The carnivorous lion will go vegetarian to dine with the ox. The infant will play without harm near the cobra’s den. These images evoke a peace that is beyond what we can reasonably expect either from nature or from the greatest of human efforts. And that is exactly the point: such peace requires “outside help”—the Spirit of the Lord. That is why Isaiah climaxes his vision, twice, with references to the “fear” and “knowledge of the Lord.” Only with human cooperation with the source of all creation and redemption will full shalom come about. Only when we behave as creatures of a loving God do we experience the beginnings of the fulfillment of the prophet’s visions.

Psalm 72 elaborates Isaiah’s picture of the son of David who will rule over such a peace. Again, the onset of peace is linked with special attention to justice for the poor.

Finally, four verses from the Gospel of Luke proclaim how the fulfillment of the promises of the prophet and the psalmist took a quantum leap in the revelation of God in the person of Jesus Messiah. Those of us who have come to know the love and power of God in the humanity of Jesus have begun to see what the world had been looking for.

Christ deniers will continue to taunt Christians with the question: “If Jesus is the Messiah, where is the peace and justice that is supposed to accompany the messianic age?” In faith and hope, we answer that the promises have only BEGUN to be fulfilled; we have experienced that beginning, and we continue to pray, as Jesus taught us, “Thy kingdom come.”  The point of Advent, and the season’s reading, is to help us face up to the remaining gap between promise and fulfillment and to nurture the hope that the peace we still hunger for lies in the further manifestation of our risen Lord. The spectacular missionary work of St. Francis Xavier, whose feast we celebrate today, was energized by this kind of faith and hope. The promised “outside help” depends on our cooperation with our Creator and our acknowledgment that we can’t do this on our own small strength. Lord Jesus, come!

(Adapted from Dennis Hamm, SJ)

Thanksgiving Meditation - Tomorrow's reading reflection

The Book of Daniel draws on older traditions that reached back into the Babylonian exile and had become part of Israel’s heritage. Like Daniel, Israel itself had been preserved alive from the dangers of the lions’ den of the exile. About four hundred years later, during the persecution of Antiochus Epiphanes (who had inherited a part of the empire of Alexander the Great), Israel again experienced horrendous persecution and the collapse of the holy city. The long years in-between, silent, monotonous years, did not seem to have achieved anything. Even though they were marked by intense interest in the law of Moses and an attempt to obey that law punctiliously, now this lowering cloud and whirlwind of destruction swept through their lives again.

Daniel advises the people that God is preparing a letter to the nations and peoples of every language. This letter will proclaim that Yahweh, the God of Israel’s ancestors, is the living God, enduring forever, whose kingdom shall not be destroyed, and his dominion shall be without end. While the monotonous years provide the opportunity to appreciate and safeguard our prayer and fidelity with God, the tempestuous period of trial becomes a divinely appointed way of casting down those walls and sharing our God and our family with the world.

(Adapted from ACP)

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Today is Thanksgiving Day in the United States.  A holiday built around gratitude.    Families and friends gather together to enjoy good food and time together.  Weeks before the holiday the grocery stores abound with the ingredients for traditional thanksgiving meal including turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie.  While the focus can be on the feast there are other signs of Thanksgiving as well.  Many Facebook users have been posting a reason to feel grateful for each and every day in November.  Jobs and warm homes and loving families are popular items on the gratitude lists.  And it is so nice to see the Thanksgiving holiday expand beyond the actual Thanksgiving day.  This societal embrace of gratitude has me praying about Thanksgiving in a different way.

(Adapted from Mary Lee Brock)

Clogged with empty pleasures, they could not read writing on the wall - Tomorrow's reading reflection

“But the God in whose hand is your life breath and the whole course of your life, you did not glorify.” (Daniel 5:23)

The king and his lords were triumphant.  They had demolished kingdoms and taken their people captive.  Drunk with power, they taunted their victims. Their minds clogged with empty pleasures, they could not read the writing on the wall.

Though he was young, Daniel had clear vision that was not for sale.  With his friends, he endured exile with grace and simplicity; they did not trade the covenant for purple robes and golden collars.  Freed by the presence of God, Daniel could see that corruption and stupidity will not endure. 

Age does not guarantee that wisdom will follow.  More years on earth may mean more clutter in the soul.  We have seen plenty of things rise and fall. We have heard the calls for change before.  Hope is for the young who dare to think big.  We call our cynicism wise: there is nothing new in history.

Yet, seen more closely, this world is a surprising place.  Pope Francis disrupts our complacency with his striking moves towards those at the margins.  In many places, the cry for justice persists despite crushing obstacles in the way. The powerful stumble toward peace talks as a last resort.  Like Daniel, people draw strength from what is more real and true than the fraud that surrounds them.

Young people have less cluttered souls.  They may be hindered by inexperience and at times, displaced zeal, but all-the-same a society that does not listen to the young and draw strength from the exiles in its midst may, too, find its days are numbered.

(Adapted from Jeanne Schuler)

Ends and beginnings - Tomorrow's reading reflection

As we near the end of the church year we meet some of the most symbolic literature in the Bible, dealing with the end of the world, which also ranks among the Bible’s most popular parts among certain circles with a taste for the apocalyptic style. We must be careful in interpreting it, as the language is highly coloured and evocative. Jesus offers a word of caution when he declares, “Take care not to be misled.” The liturgy provides the surest way to apply these passages to our lives, bidding us take responsibility for our actions, examine where we are spiritually, and face God honestly. Yet the end gives way to a new beginning. With the imminence of Advent and four weeks later of our Saviour’s birth, we are given a new chance, a new lease of life. The end and the beginning, responsibly taking stock and then beginning over again by God’s mercy, are equally important.

As we look back, we may see so many efforts, badly inspired, controlled by personal interests and pride. We see a statue, similar to that shown in Nebuchadnezzar’s vision . This statue with its four principal sections represented the four great kingdoms, as the Israelites remembered them: of the Babylonians, Medes, Persians and Greeks. No matter how colossal they were, and seemingly invincible, they collapsed. A stone hewn from the mountains struck the feet of the statue which were partly iron and partly tile and smashed them. This stone stood for Israel. Out of seeming, insignificant people, whose bodies seemed dead and hopeless according to Paul (Rom 4:19), God creates new life, comforts the ruins of Zion, and fills the holy city with “joy and gladness.”

(Adapted from ACP)