God loves a cheerful giver

August 10, 2019 6:00 am

“Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each must do as already determined, without sadness or compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” (2 COR 9: 6-7) 

We remember from Program 1 how important the third element, our gift of self, is. First, we should be free to give; if we are not free, we cannot be a gift of self—only a free person can do that. Second, the gift of self is creative; when a person is free, they are creative—creativity comes from freedom, ownership, respect and engagement. Finally, when we are free and creative, there is only one other thing that makes it perfect-being “a cheerful giver”—our joy is like a seal, making our gift so grave.

“Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness but will have the light of life, says the Lord.” (Gospel Acclamation)

He will repay each according to his conduct

August 9, 2019 6:00 am

“For the Son of Man will come with his angels in his Father’s glory, and then he will repay each according to his conduct.” (MT 16: 27)

How important is “our conduct.” Our Lord’s “repay” is for our conduct, our actions and they present the quality of our relationships. The reason for our action lies in our relationship. We have our good “conduct” since we love and we respect and we want all the best for them. We will not go to Heaven based on what we did (we can’t go there by ourselves), but we will present our “conduct” as a proof that we loved; only love can take us there.

“Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness; for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.” (Gospel Acclamation) 

O woman, great is your faith!

August 7, 2019 8:14 am

“‘O woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish.’ And her daughter was healed from that hour.” (MT 15: 28) 

Extremely difficult dialogue: being rejected and compared with dogs didn’t help. But she wasn’t asking for herself, she fought for her daughter. And her strength and wisdom came from love; love which knows how to forget about oneself. Like our gift of self, which need to be free to be creative and joyful.

“A great prophet has arisen in our midst and God has visited his people.” (Gospel Acclamation) 

Peter and his companions

August 6, 2019 8:12 am

“Peter and his companions had been overcome by sleep, but becoming fully awake,  they saw his glory and the two men standing with him.” (LK 9: 32) 

Peter was invited to all of the important moments of Our Lord’s life. That doesn’t mean that he was the best one or the one who deserved the most-he had his moments of weakness. “Peter and his companions had been overcome by sleep.” He was there with “his companions” because they were invited and chosen not because of their past but because of their future-their mission in the world. Whatever happens in our lives is for a reason, and mostly it’s because of our missions: be the best spouses, best parents, and best friends. 

“This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased; listen to him.” (Gospel Acclamation) 

family after family

August 5, 2019 8:10 am

“When Moses heard the people, family after family, crying at the entrance of their tents, so that the LORD became very angry, he was grieved.” (NM 11: 10)

How important is the example; we can start something good or something bad. Just one couple can initiate a strategy that will inspire others to create a new environment (like our Programs) or starting something which makes “the Lord very angry”, like in today’s reading-“family after family, crying at the entrance of their tents.” We always have an option.

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

put on the new self

August 4, 2019 6:00 am

“Stop lying to one another, since you have taken off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed, for knowledge, in the image of its creator.” (COL 3: 9-10) 

“Put on the new self with its practices” to “take off the old self with its practices” is always a process. Our steps and strategies from our Programs are helping to “put on the new self.” Any new practice takes time and needs consistency and persistency. That’s why our daily and weekly rituals are so important. “Put on the new self” is a daily action, until one day, “the new self” will become your “normal self.” Never give up. Start again today. “Stop lying to one another” that we are busy, tired or we did a lot recently and we need a break. All these lies come from “the old self.”

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Gospel Acclamation) 

Do not deal unfairly

August 3, 2019 6:00 am

“Do not deal unfairly, then; but stand in fear of your God. I, the LORD, am your God.” (LEV 25: 17)

This is about gentleness and respect. When we respect other people, we “do not deal unfairly.” We recognize our dignity of God’s creation in our differences and in our uniqueness. Be respectful and you will be respected. Deal unfairly and you will be…?

“Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.” (Gospel Acclamation) 

The fifteenth day of this seven month

August 3, 2019 3:30 am

“The fifteenth day of this seventh month is the LORD’s feast of Booths, which shall continue for seven days. On the first day there shall be a sacred assembly, and you shall do no sort of work. For seven days you shall offer an oblation to the LORD, and on the eighth day you shall again hold a sacred assembly and offer an oblation to the LORD. On that solemn closing you shall do no sort of work.” (LEV 23: 34-36)

Every day and any time during the day is the only time we have for our lives. We have our memories from the past, and we hope that we will have some memories in the future; but the only moment we live is now. The time we have is to love, to grow, to create, to work, to rest and to pray. We also have time for many activities and roles. Sometimes, because there are so many things to do, we become busy being busy. The solution is to remember every day, every week, every month and year, that time is temporary and love is eternal. Practicing our time together, our rituals, we use time for what it was created: to lead us to eternal love in Heaven.

“The word of the Lord remains forever; This is the word that has been proclaimed to you.” (Gospel Acclamation)

fish of every  kind

August 1, 2019 6:00 am

“The Kingdom of heaven is like a net thrown into the sea, which collects fish of every kind. When it is full they haul it ashore and sit down to put what is good into buckets. What is bad they throw away.” (MT 13: 47-48)

The same thing happens in our lives: we “collect fish of every kind” from media, social media, our books, and out interlocutors. It is good to reflect on them at the end of the day and “to put what is good into buckets.” It could be our journal, where we save five things that we are grateful for. “What is bad, you throw away”, keep in your memory “what is good.”

“Open our hearts, O Lord, to listen to the words of your Son.” (Gospel Acclamation)