“Jesus looked at him and said, ‘You are Simon son of John; you are to be called Cephas’ — which means Rock.” (J 1:42).

When I pray looking at Him hidden in the Blessed Sacrament, I like to think that He is also looking at me. What does He see in me? My sins, my limitations and shortcomings – or…?

Maybe He does for all of us what He did for Saint Peter: “you are to be called”…He has a new name for me, the name which will cover all the levels of my service.

Oh, how good it is to remain under the gaze of the Lord for a some time. Let Him look at you as often as possible. Maybe sometimes He will say something, but even if it is only His loving gaze at you, it is more than you can imagine. No one can look at you with such a great love.

“No one who remains in him sins” (1 John 3:6) 

Continuation.

St. Teresa of Avila suggested, for the beginners in prayer generally, and in meditation especially, that at the very first moment of meditation they should think about the best  companion for prayer – and invite Jesus. He is the best companion for your prayer and for your life.

If you try to remember several times a day that He lives in your heart as if you were a live tabernacle, you will see how your life is changing.

To remain in Him means to give Him a permanent place in your heart. And this is your meeting point.

For St. Teresa, accompanying Jesus was always very important. She shared  the way she learnt to be in His constant company, to remain in Him, both with her sisters and in her writings

“To remain in Him” is a process. Neither long nor short. Just a process. Any level could be improved. And the beauty of His company is that “no one who remains in him sins”.

“Remain in Him” (1 John 2:27)

A simple instruction: remain in Him. It is about intimacy with God. And it is about our private internal dialogue. Whom have you invited to be a part of your daily internal conversation? Who is your first adviser to ask for comments for daily situations? Because if you don’t let Him into your own monolgue, and if you don’t let Him remain your chief interlocutor, your internal dialogue will remain the same and nothing will ever change. You know too well all these daily comments: he/she doesn’t understand me, I’m so lonely, everybody is using me, no one appreciates my work, etc.

But if you train your internal dialogue to take place in close proximity with Our Lord, you will receive the best comments possible. With Him your heart will grow, your eyes will be open to see good things in you, your life and all around, and your ears will hear the Good News – even if it’s hidden in the conflicting emotions. He will appear in the comments you offer to the others.

“In times past, God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets: in these last days, he has spoken to us through his Son” (Alleluia verse)

“As for Mary, she treasured all these things and pondered them in her heart.” (Lk 2:19)

We are starting the New Year. At its beginning we entrust all this coming year to the care of the Mother of God. We believe that She will take care of us, as She took care of Her Son. If God trusted Her this much, how could we not follow in His footsteps?

Today, we would like to place, in a very special way, each day of the time ahead of us in the Heart of Our Lady, Mother of God.

If we do it, we will get every day back not from “life”, circumstances, cruel and  heartless people, bad moods, complicated situations, but from … Her. And She, as a the best Mother in the world, will look after us.

Please remember that in every moment of your life, God is always waiting for you first – and not difficulties or troubles. God is always there in your life, BEFORE any situation you have to face. “…you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir, by God’s own act.” (Gal 4:7).

“But to those who did accept him, he gave power to become children of God” (J  1:12). 

In our life we receive so many identities: A daughter or son, sister or brother, student, worker, wife or husband, friend, mother or father, patient or doctor, nurse, physician.  Some of them are based on our education and profession, some of them – on our relations, some – on our age and place in society.

Our true identity is based on our faith – “but to those who did accept him he gave power to become children of God”. And all our other identities should be rooted in this true one. This is the only way to be a good wife/husband, employe and boss, parent or child. Today we are finishing the year and will start soon a New one. The best way to think about the New Year is not to think about the time wasted, but rather about the opportunities that the New Year brings: for the realization of my true identity.

As children of God we can do more than our limited human capabilities let us.

“But to those who did accept him, he gave power to become children of God” (J  1:12).

“…they returned to … their own town…” (Lk 2:39)

My own town, my home. These words are very special for people who travel a lot. Or are on a one-year trip abroad. Here, in Mexico, I have slept in twelve places. And it is not the end.

I like the idea that the Holy Family called one place in the world – “their own town”.

It sounds very similar to our families from Wrocław, Poland, always proud of their City – “in our city…”

And I think that the Holy Family is very close to anybody who is alone. Because they know how important it is to have one’s own place, own town. They spent some time as refugees, they were emigrants, so they understand perfectly anybody who is alone, not in his or her “own town”, who is coming back to a rented room or apartment, where no one is waiting for them.

From the moment when the Holy Family found “their own town”, no one is alone, no one is without a family, no one is forgotten. Because … “the Son of man came to save that which was lost.” (Mt 18:11). And the best idea with the “lost” is to bring them back to the family, remind them – you belong, you are a part of us. This is that kind of message, which should be repeated all over again to our kids:  I love you, you are our beloved daughter/son, I am so proud of you, etc…

When we have more people with “their own town”, there will be less broken hearts, wounded by people who used us as a hotel for one night.

If you will feel homeless at your place, where nobody takes care of you, immediately visit the Holy Family home, feel the atmosphere where you are loved and always welcomed, and go back to your home knowing how to share your love with the others. Simply “return to your own town”.

With a special prayer for all of you who are in need.

Fr. Jay

“And be thankful” (Col 3:16)

The life of the Holy Family, very private life, hidden life. Thirty years in silence. We know only about the beginning, escape to Egypt, episode in the Temple when Jesus was twelve years old and … nothing more.

We can say that Jesus wasted thirty years of His life doing nothing. Meaning: nothing important for God, like for example saving this world. But no.

This part of His life is so important for us. He chose to spend all those years in the family, with Mary, His mother, and St. Joseph – and only three years outside. The mission was the same: God “gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life” (J 3:16). In the family and outside the family.

That is why St. Paul wrote in such detail: “Wives, be subordinate to your husbands, as is proper in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives, and avoid any bitterness toward them. Children, obey your parents in everything, for this is pleasing to the Lord. Fathers, do not provoke your children, so they may not become discouraged” (Col 3:18-19.21).

This is still the same mission, Good News: “so that everyone … may have eternal life” (J 3:16).

And today is a very special day to “be thankful”. For the Holy Family, for the beauty of family life, which is a very special and personal way to sanctification: “put on, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another, if one has a grievance against another; as the Lord has forgiven you, so must you also do. And over all these put on love, that is, the bond of perfection” (Col 3:12-14).

O God, who were pleased to give us the shining example of the Holy Family, graciously grant that we may imitate them in practicing the virtue of family life and in the bonds of charity, and so, in the joy of your house, delight one day in eternal rewards. (Collect)

Keeping all of You in my prayer

Fr. Jay

Civilization of death. Still the same. Only rights, no responsibilities. And me and myself. “When Herod realized that he had been deceived by the magi, he became furious. He ordered the massacre of all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity two years old and under” (Mt 2:16). 2 years old and under. True enemies. A real danger. Indeed.

In civilization of death a child still is a danger, “something” which could change MY plans, MY career, MY life and MY world.

This civilization is all around. Like the devil. TRYING. Sometimes with a quiet suggestion – you have the right to…

Civilization of life starts with responsibilities: What can I do for YOU? In this civilization we do not HAVE children. We ARE parents. And our responsibility is to protect them, love them, educate them, pray with them, encourage them and… Parents know how creative is their vocation to be parents.

With my prayers for you, who serve the civilization of life in so many places and in a so many ways.

God bless

Fr. Jay

“Then the other disciple also went in, the one who had arrived at the tomb first, and he saw and believed” (J 20:8).

The youngest, the most beloved, and so humble and respectful. He “had arrived at the tomb first”, but it was Peter who went into the tomb first. Love for Christ is love for the Church. Even if John was the most beloved, Peter was chosen to be the First Pope. Where true love is, there is also order.

It reminds me of an old, but not good, saying about the roles in the family: the husband is the head and the wife is the … neck, which turns the head in whichever direction she wants. This is not the theology of marriage and family. The true answer is: the husband is the head, but his wife is the heart. It is not an opposition – both are complementary. The head without a heart is not a good idea, but also the other way round. And this is my Church. All roles, all charismas, everybody needed. In the service to one, holy, Catholic and apostolic Church.

PS. Personally I like this fragment also for another reason. This is a very important proof that running is a part of being an apostle. “They both ran, but the other disciple ran faster than Peter and arrived… first” (J 20:4).

So, keep running. We need fast apostles. And remember, first doesn’t mean more important. Running is not only about the place you win at the end; more important is always love.

P.S. 2. Keep me in your prayer: 8th of February. My fifth marathon. 🙂

“You will be given at that moment what you are to say. For it will not be you who speak but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you” (Mt 10:19-20)

Yesterday we celebrated a great joy, today we celebrate the First Martyr – St. Stephen. Lack of logic in the Liturgy, or… we need to open our eyes wider.

When Our Lord came to us, there is nothing like “illogical death” anymore. He is the light which helps us understand even as illogical things as a sudden death of his believer. He enables us to see things from the right perspective: “I see the heaven opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God“ (Acts 7:56). Death is not the end, it is a natural way to eternal life.

And, what’s so important, we are not alone anymore: “You will be given at that moment what you are to say. For it will not be you who speak but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you” (Mt 10:19-20)

With Jesus – there is always the Father and the Holy Spirit. When we invited Child Jesus to our hearts again , He did not came alone. He is always united with the Father and the Spirit. 

The Church again and again reminds us about new Evangelization. So often we are so afraid what we should do or say. And this is the answer: if you ask Him for help, He will come and will help you: “you will be given at that moment what you are to say”.