A division occurred

March 12, 2016 6:00 am

 

„Others said, ‚This is the Christ.’ But others said, ‚The Christ will not come from Galilee, will he? Does not Scripture say that the Christ will be of David’s family and come from Bethlehem, the village where David lived?’ So a division occurred in the crowd because of him.” (JN 7: 41-43)

We prefer to be in good relationships with others rather than being divided. Conflicts, divisions and misunderstandings are generally difficult to accept, and we don’t like them. Different opinions („but others said”) about Jesus came from ignorance or bad will and eyes closed to truth (“Have you also been deceived?”). „A generous heart” always helps and opens our eyes to the truth.

„Blessed are they who have kept the word with a generous heart and yield a harvest through perseverance.” 

let us put him to the test that we may have proof of his gentleness and try his patience

March 11, 2016 6:00 am

 

„‚With revilement and torture let us put him to the test that we may have proof of his gentleness and try his patience. Let us condemn him to a shameful death; for according to his own words, God will take care of him.’ These were their thoughts, but they erred; for their wickedness blinded them, and they knew not the hidden counsels of God; neither did they count on a recompense of holiness nor discern the innocent souls’ reward.” (WIS 2: 19-22)

Even the first step from our Love and Life Programs has to be tested. We can dream about how great we are in our gentleness, but real lives will inform us about the true results. Hopefully, it will be without „revilement and torture,” but for sure, different life circumstances will bring a lot of occasions to practice these virtues. With gentleness and patience everything is easier.

„One does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.” (Gospel Acclamation) 

The Lord relented in the punishment 

March 10, 2016 6:00 am

„Let your blazing wrath die down; relent in punishing your people. Remember your servants Abraham, Isaac and Israel, and how you swore to them by your own self, saying, ‘I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky; and all this land that I promised, I will give your descendants as their perpetual heritage.’ So the LORD relented in the punishment he had threatened to inflict on his people.” (EX 32: 13-14)

The power of intercessory prayer. Moses begged the Lord: „relent in punishing your people” and reminded Him why. And God answered Moses’ prayer. „So the Lord relented in the punishment he had threatened to inflict on his people.” We also can use the same intercessory prayer for our spouses, children, friends and the whole Church. God always answers prayer.

„God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son, so that everyone who believes in him might have eternal life.” (Gospel Acclamation) 

I will never forget you

March 9, 2016 6:00 am

“Can a mother forget her infant, be without tenderness for the child of her womb? Even should she forget, I will never forget you.” (IS 49: 15)

“I will never forget you,” is an amazing message, especially when contrasted with something which looks almost impossible, like “a mother who [would] forget her infant.” These words always bring a huge relief. We are tenderly loved; we are remembered, and we will never be forgotten. And we have proof: God’s word. God is good! Life is good!

“I am the resurrection and the life, says the Lord; whoever believes in me will never die.” (Gospel Acclamation)

watered by the flow from the sanctuary 

March 8, 2016 6:00 am

„Along both banks of the river, fruit trees of every kind shall grow; their leaves shall not fade, nor their fruit fail. Every month they shall bear fresh fruit, for they shall be watered by the flow from the sanctuary. Their fruit shall serve for food, and their leaves for medicine.” (EZ 47: 12)

How much more we received: „from His side flowed blood and water.” Much, much more than „the flow from the sanctuary.” Our Lord’s Blood and Body is our true medicine because by his stripes we are healed. Ezekiel spoke only about a shadow of the true mystery—the Church and the Sacraments, signs of the love of Our Lord

„A clean heart create for me, O God; give me back the joy of your salvation.” (Gospel Acclamation) 

to create new heavens and a new earth

March 7, 2016 6:00 am

„I am about to create new heavens and a new earth; The things of the past shall not be remembered or come to mind. Instead, there shall always be rejoicing and happiness in what I create.” (IS 65: 17-18) 

For Our Lord our future is so important, so He is „about to create new heavens and a new earth,” where we will be located. For Him, who is our Redeemer, „the things of the past shall not be remembered or come to mind.” Not only heaven and earth will be new, also we will be renewed, ready to spend eternity with Him.

„Seek good and not evil so that you may live, and the LORD will be with you.” (Gospel Acclamation)

 

He ran to his son

March 6, 2016 6:00 am

„While he was still a long way off, his father caught sight of him, and was filled with compassion. He ran to his son, embraced him and kissed him.” (LK 15: 20) 

God’s love for sinners extends beyond all our imagination. „While he was still a long way off, his father caught sight of him”—because his son was expected, and longed for. „He ran to his son, embraced him and kissed him”—because he can’t wait to tell him how much he is loved, the father shortens the distance between them. Our Lord came to show us God’s love and how much He is „filled with compassion.”

„I will get up and go to my Father and shall say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.” (Gospel Acclamation) 

Two people went up to the temple area to pray

March 5, 2016 7:21 am

“Two people went up to the temple area to pray; one was a Pharisee and the other was a tax collector. The Pharisee took up his position and spoke this prayer to himself, ‘O God, I thank you that I am not like the rest of humanity—greedy, dishonest, adulterous—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week, and I pay tithes on my whole income.’ But the tax collector stood off at a distance and would not even raise his eyes to heaven but beat his breast and prayed, ‘O God, be merciful to me a sinner.’” (LK 18: 10-13))

Those people “went up to pray.” One prayer was self-centered; the other was centered on God. One made an examination of conscience of “the rest of humanity” and “this tax collector.” The other did the same about himself—“be merciful to me a sinner.” We have a choice. We can be a gift of self or…

„If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.” (Gospel Acclamation)

I will love them freely

March 4, 2016 6:00 am

„I will heal their defection, says the LORD, I will love them freely; for my wrath is turned away from them. I will be like the dew for Israel: he shall blossom like the lily; He shall strike root like the Lebanon cedar, and put forth his shoots.” (HOS 14: 5-7)

There is no other way for love—without freedom there is no love. With freedom naturally comes creativity and joy. We are looking for new ways to express our love; we are responsible for our relationships, and it is our concern to “turn away” any bad emotions. “I will be like the dew for you.”

„Repent, says the Lord; the Kingdom of heaven is at hand.” 

Some of them and others

March 3, 2016 6:00 am

“Jesus was driving out a demon that was mute, and when the demon had gone out, the mute man spoke and the crowds were amazed. Some of them said, ‘By the power of Beelzebul, the prince of demons, he drives out demons.’ Others, to test him, asked him for a sign from heaven.” (LK 11: 14-16)

There are always “some of them” and “others” to contest, refuse, minimize or reject God’s work. Sometimes “some of them” and “others” are inside us, when we use our mistaken patterns of interpretation in our inner dialog to discredit or show in bad light our interlocutor. Our Lord’s universal “sign from heaven” is: “I am gracious and merciful” which in our world could be shown as a respect and gentleness. It always works.

“Even now, says the LORD, return to me with your whole heart, for I am gracious and merciful.”