Did for me

February 23, 2015 7:56 am

“Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.” (Mt 25, 40)

Unbelievable union—“one of these least brothers” and Jesus are connected: whatever you did for any other person you did for Jesus. This is always fundamental for any kind of relationship but how unique for married couples, where all these situations are experienced on a daily basis: hungry and thirsty for love and acceptance, alienated with our different habits and behaviors, absolutely transparent (naked) with our motivations, and weak and trapped with weaknesses. A spouse could be an answer for all these needs.

“Behold, now is a very acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” (Gospel Acclamation)

The Spirit drove Jesus out into the desert

February 22, 2015 8:00 am

“The Spirit drove Jesus out into the desert, and he remained in the desert for forty days, tempted by Satan. He was among wild beasts, and the angels ministered to him.” (Mk 1: 12-13)

It was the beginning of Our Lord’s mission—before He started “proclaiming the gospel of God.” As we see, the desert is not empty: “He was among wild beasts and the angels” and tempted by Satan. The desert is more about relationship than about space, and we experience a physical lack so that we can have a closer relationship in the future.

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

Leaving everything behind

February 21, 2015 8:00 am

“Jesus saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at the customs post. He said to him, ‘Follow me.’ And leaving everything behind, he got up and followed him.” (Lk 5: 27-28)

A tax collector, a fisherman and a shepherd–ordinary people were invited to “follow Him.” His invitation is not because He needs perfect tools to execute His orders but because He wants to be with us in union and in relationship. And the more we are damaged or alone, the more He is interested in being with us: “Those who are healthy do not need a physician, but the sick do. I have not come to call the righteous to repentance but sinners.”

“I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked man, says the Lord, but rather in his conversion, that he may live.” (Gospel Acclamation)

Fasting that I wish…

February 20, 2015 8:00 am

“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.” (Is 58: 6-7)

Fasting is not for losing weight, but for losing ourselves. It is a very special time to open our hearts, our wallets and our imagination for people in need: the hungry, oppressed and homeless. Every day we can share something with somebody.

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

Whoever loses his life for my sake will save it

February 19, 2015 12:00 am

“If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. What profit is there for one to gain the whole world yet lose or forfeit himself?” (Lk 9: 23-25)

Giver or demander? To protect our lives or the lives of our friends? Our goal is “to come after” Him, so we “must deny ourselves, take up our crosses daily and follow Him.” When we think of our friends and our families and when we are concerned about what we can do for them, not about what they should do for us, we have better lives. And this will save our lives.

“Repent, says the Lord; the Kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (Gospel Acclamation)

Happy Birthday, Dear Carol!

February 18, 2015 10:56 am

Today we’re celebrating the birthday of Carol Dillon – the member of our international Blog Team, formed by the people of goodwill who help us in the Family Support mission. Carol lives in Omaha, Nebraska, where she is involved in many activities, including pro-life campaigns, supporting missionaries and preparing children to Sacraments. She is a teacher of academic writing, who has assisted Fr. Jay and  our Foundation with her excellent language skills – both as an outstanding teacher and a conscientious proofreader.

What we appreciate so much is Carol’s love for people, surpassing the love for syntax, spelling and punctuation – which matter much for every linguist 🙂 She’s been with us in her prayers every day.

Happy Birthday, Dear Carol! Let every day bring you the freshness of new challenges, blessings and grace!

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Thank you for being with us

The Harbour Blog Team

Ash Wednesday

February 18, 2015 8:00 am

“Rend your hearts, not your garments, and return to the LORD, your God. For gracious and merciful is he, slow to anger, rich in kindness, and relenting in punishment.” (Jl 2: 13)

“Return to the LORD, your God” not to our own vision of God. Because we are created in His image and His likeness, we are not only responsible to remember this but also responsible to keep this image and likeness vivid and alive. “Return to the LORD” is a program for our whole lives, but especially for Lent, when we are invited to imitate Him in His graciousness, mercy, farsightedness, kindness and forgiveness. Is it a program for me?

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

You and all your household

February 17, 2015 8:00 am

“Then the LORD said to Noah: ‘Go into the ark, you and all your household,
for you alone in this age have I found to be truly just.’” (Gn 7: 1)

We can repeat what Genesis said also in our age—there are not many like Noah “to be truly just.” Fortunately, the Bible is not publishing the results of a “competition” about which age is the worst but telling us that God is always protecting His believers. God knows the importance of the family and the importance of the father in the family. It was not only Noah who “found favor with the LORD,” but also his family: “Go into the ark, you and all your household.” When we have fathers who believe and respect God the Father, we also will have strong families.

“Whoever loves me will keep my word, says the Lord; and my Father will love him and we will come to him.” (Gospel Acclamation)

You can be his master

February 16, 2015 8:59 am

“So the LORD said to Cain: ‘Why are you so resentful and crestfallen. If you do well, you can hold up your head; but if not, sin is a demon lurking at the door: his urge is toward you, yet you can be his master.’” (Gn 4: 5-7)

From the beginning of our creation, we were invited to be masters: “Let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, the tame animals, all the wild animals, and all the creatures that crawl on the earth.” As we see, not only do we have mastery over the creatures but also, after our fall, we have mastery over sin. Sometimes we feel like we are under heavy attack, the “demon is lurking at the door, his urge is toward us,” but God’s promise and grace always support us—“yet you can be his master.” It is good to remember that we alone are weak, but with Jesus we are so strong.

“I am the way and the truth and the life, says the Lord; no one comes to the Father except through me.” (Gospel Acclamation)

If you wish… I do will it.

February 15, 2015 8:00 am

“A leper came to Jesus and kneeling down begged him and said, ‘If you wish, you can make me clean.’ Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand, touched him, and said to him, ‘I do will it. Be made clean.’ The leprosy left him immediately, and he was made clean.” (Mk 1: 40-42)

Yesterday we read how Our Lord’s heart was “moved with pity for the crowd.” Today we can see Him in action with a leper, who came to Jesus and begged him: “If you wish, you can make me clean.” We can imagine how he was afraid of being rejected and full of doubts—will He do it for me? Who am I? Our Lord’s answer is so detailed: “moved with pity, he stretched out his hand, touched him, and said to him, ‘I do will it. Be made clean.’” God’s love is always the same: He is always moved with pity; His hands are always stretched out; He always wants to touch us, and He always says: “I do will it. Be made clean.” There is no problem with Jesus’ love, only with us, with our love and trust: Do we come to Jesus? Do we kneel down? Do we beg him?—“If you wish”…

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