Reflection on the Gospel May 16, 2016

Reflection May 16, 2016

Mark is recalling an event that made an impression on him that he wants us to hear about and learn from.

When we hear the gospel today, we may think that the boy suffers from what we now call epilepsy because of the symptoms described, and that may be what it was, however, don't be fooled into explaining these stories as ancient folk tales with modern day solutions.

We, in the first world countries, tend to discount the devil as non existent and explain occurrences such as the one in the gospel we hear about today as a medical condition.  Somewhere along the line we got too smart for our own good and stopped being watchful for the devil and the lies he tells.

Here is the connection;  The birth of the church springs from the Word of God and stays with us in the person of the Holy Spirit.  The Spirit of the living God dwells with us so it is important to be fed with the sacraments that keep us in God's Grace.  We need a solid prayer life that is filled with fasting to see what the Spirit is showing us.

The apostles are baffled because they tried to drive the demon from the boy and could not do it, so Jesus comes and questions the situation to get to the unseen.  Jesus, John, Peter, and James have just come from praying on the mountain top and that is what Jesus is pointing out as the key to success when the apostles ask why they couldn't expel the demon.

What we encounter on a daily basis is not just what we see, it's what we don't see that the Spirit reveals.

There was very strong instruction that I received before going with the exorcist to his calls; Confession, prayer and fasting days prior to going and don't be afraid.

Fear of a good confession, a lazy prayer life, not fasting, and not attending Mass are sure signs your getting too smart.

We Are Never Alone

Today in the Gospel, John, recalls a moment when the disciples "got it" or so they thought.

One of the most effective ways to communicate is to keep the message simple and understandable.  One of the hardest tasks in doing that is to know your audience's ability to understand and interpret the message as it is intended.

Jesus has just finished a three year mission with his followers and today we hear they understand, finally, yet Jesus cautions them in their ability to grasp the depth of the message. 

The message of Jesus was extremely simple, Love God the Father above all things, and Love EVERYONE, as you love yourself, but the hard part was the laying aside of expectations that the followers had regarding Jesus and the mission He was sent to accomplish.

We can get caught up in the rhetoric (word game) that different human opinions and different human experiences can lead us to, unless we remember the big picture.  This "game" is the focal point of our modern life.  Just pay attention to the news, commercials, and other ads as they all, in some way or another, let us know we NEED their product or we NEED "this person" to be better.

There is the problem at the root that we encounter.

Jesus has an answer for us today and He tells us clearly and simply; 

"But I am not alone, because the Father is with me.
I have told you this so that you might have peace in me.
In the world you will have trouble,
but take courage, I have conquered the world.”

Whatever deficiencies we think we have are made perfect in the body of Christ, think about that.

As we gaze upon Jesus on the cross, in the Eucharist, in Sacred Scriptures, and in the people that we meet, remember these words;

"We remember how you loved us to Your death, 
And still we celebrate for You are with us here. 
And we believe that we will see You when you come in Your glory, Lord. 
We remember, we celebrate, we believe." 

A Heart to Heart

                                                           

What a bunch of non-sense to be heard.  The Jews think they might have to eat a finger or toe.

Jesus doesn’t let them on their own very long for this one; He drives the point home;

“Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the Flesh of the Son of Man and drink his Blood, you do not have life within you.

Whoever eats my Flesh and drinks my Blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day.

For my Flesh is true food, and my Blood is true drink.  Whoever eats my Flesh and drinks my Blood remains in me and I in him.

Just as the living Father sent me and I have life because of the Father, so also the one who feeds on me will have life because of me.  This is the bread that came down from heaven. Unlike your ancestors who ate and still died, whoever eats this bread will live forever.”

The word communion in its proper sense means a joining of hearts.  The intimate joining of hearts requires both and all hearts to be open.

Someone might say, “Don't open your heart up to everyone/anyone, you’ll just get hurt or be disappointed”, that person may never experience the fullness of communion in their entire lifetime.

The heart of Jesus is always open for us to be in communion with Him, so be with Him.

Jesus is Not Your Valet

I am the Bread of Life!

There is a real danger in miracles that stand-alone.  God may become a sort of valet to a self centered, self-made person that is able to use God to achieve a goal.  By that I mean if a person is only focused on the achievement or the outcome there is no real sense of Awe in the majesty and Love that God has for us.

In today’s gospel there are hungry people that have come to see Jesus and there is no McDonalds around to get food for the ride home.  Jesus takes a small amount of food and then we hear that there were 12 baskets left over, a universal number, that means there is enough of Him to feed the whole world.

We need to be aware of our prayer life.  We need to be aware of the times when things are going so swimmingly that we might forget how and why we have gotten to the place that we are at in life.

When times are tough we may run to church or plead with Jesus for a miracle, and that’s not a bad thing if we recognize that Jesus is with us in all moments in our life and deserves our praise at all times.

Take the worst moment in your life and see Jesus standing there with you, not as a bellboy, but as a friend and shepherd that will guide you through it and bring you out in a better place.

I am the Bread of Life means just that, He will sustain us on our journey.  I have found that when I am doing the best in my life it usually means the devil is right around the corner testing my love for God.

The most important thing I can tell you is this; in all moments give glory to the One that gave us life and will give us life forever!

Jesus, take my soul, my life and fashion it that there may be enough for the whole world.

Panis Angelicus 

None of Your Business

Reflection for April 2, 2016

Mary Magdalene is the first one that Jesus appears to in all four gospels and in Marks’ account he mentions that Jesus cast out seven demons from her.

Jesus could have appeared to anyone first, but He chose to appear to the one whom he cast out seven demons. 

Mary tells the others and no one believed her.  The eleven don’t believe until He appears to them at dinner and Jesus rebukes them for being hard of heart.

We work in prison ministry and we have met several men that have told us they weren’t guilty of the crime they were in jail for.  Can you imagine that? 

There are reasons that Jesus appears to Mary first, and one reason may be that she is the one that has the least amount of credibility because He knows the others can’t shed their prejudices in regard to Mary’s past. 

Maybe another is that she believes in His Love so deeply and genuinely that He comes to see her first.  Maybe she doubted the most of all the followers and He knew she needed that reassurance.

Whatever the reasons may be, Jesus transformed Mary’s life so drastically that she has an encounter with the Risen Christ and tells others.

It’s none of Mary’s business whether or not the people she told believed her and it isn’t our business whether or not people believe us.  Our responsibility is to spread the Love of God and the message of Christ in our actions.

It is also none of our business what God does with our life, our business is to do it!

"Come and Have Breakfast"

What a warm invitation we hear in today's gospel, "Come and Have Breakfast."

I'm on a retreat and stopped over a few days with my parents.  My parents are aged; mom is 72 and dad is 94.

To this day one of the traditions at my parents house is that mom loves to make breakfast for me and dad, and I don't dare disagree.

That brought me to today's Gospel and an understanding of how intimate a breakfast with loved ones and friends really is.  

Sharing breakfast over a charcoal fire after a long night of fishing, and unsucessful until the encounter they had with Jesus, must have been one of many memories and sharing.

There has been some time that has passed from the days of Jesus' death and resurrection, and this will be the first time that Jesus appears to Peter, who denied knowing Jesus over a charcoal fire.

Peter may have been wondering if Jesus was ever going to visit him after betraying him.  Peter may have been wondering that very night "Is He ever going to come and relieve me of this pain?" 

Jesus did come to Peter and did relieve him of his pain and what a breakfast that must have been. 

Then we have Johns' accounts of the events that are very clear and detailed after so many years that have passed;

                 "Even though there were so many, the net was not torn." 

This is a detail that made a lasting impression on a young man knowing well the fishermens lively-hood depends greatly on the condition of the nets.  Jesus, makes a point to fill the nets with so much food, and yet not too full to break them.

Over breakfast there is much to share and a lot to think about and Jesus takes the advantage and calms the mood.

Having breakfast with my parents, I can't help think that the memories that I experienced, memories of the many past breakfasts she cooked for me, were similiar to the ones the apostles had.  There must have been many fond memories that were shared that morning.  

Jesus knows just how much our nets can hold and He always gives us just enough. 

Peace I Leave You

Peace Be With You

Today's Gospel talks about the disciples recognizing Jesus in the breaking of the bread.  The disciples are still confused and troubled about the recent occurrences, but Jesus says something that is very familiar to them to help ease their minds.

            “Peace Be With You”

Jesus knows their hearts and minds are unsettled and when he asked them, why they are troubled, he goes right to the reason without delay.

“Look at my hands and my feet . . .” Jesus eats a piece of fish in front of them just to be sure they understood this was no trick

When we come before Christ in the Blessed Sacrament,  Jesus recites these same words, and so do we at Mass.

            “Peace I leave you My Peace I give you.”

That’s no ordinary Peace, this Peace is found in the breaking of the bread. The Blessed Sacrament holds within it all the food our soul needs for the journey of life.

Spend time in front of the Blessed Sacrament that you may come to know Peace and all the treasures unlocked by our communion with Jesus.

He never leaves us.  Jesus will never abandon us. We have His word