Fourth Station of the Cross

Jesus meets His Mother 

   We look upon Jesus as our Lord and Savior, but Mary also saw Him as her son.  The child who had nursed at her breast.  The little boy who had run to her for comfort when He had fallen and skinned His knees.  The Blessed Mother was there when Joseph died; she and Jesus shared the grief of the loss of a husband and father.  She knew the truth of the words Simeon had spoken to her, “This child is destined for the rise and fall of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be opposed, so that the secret thoughts of many will be revealed, and you yourself a sword will pierce.” (Luke 2: 34 – 35).

   Imagine the pain that must have passed between mother and Son at this meeting.  She, seeing the pain and agony His was suffering and Jesus seeing the pain and suffering of the Blessed Mother as He made His way to His death.  How her heart must have been breaking for Him.  The pain He knew His mother suffered was, I suspect, a far greater burden to Him than His own physical pain.

   Can any parent look at their child when they are injured and not do everything possible to comfort them?  Can any of us imagine the horror and pain of seeing our own son or daughter horribly beaten, bloody, and near death?  How could we tolerate not being able to hold them and do everything in our power to comfort them in such circumstances.  Yet all Mary could do was follow Him through Jerusalem.  Truly, a sword pierced our Blessed Mother at this meeting.

   Consider that our sins contributed not only to Jesus’ pain and death, but also to the terrible heartache the Blessed Virgin endured.  Sin is never restricted to just the one who is sinned against.  Many others suffer because of our failings.  Let us pray for mercy and forgiveness for the pain we have caused others by our sinfulness.

 

 Third Station of the Cross

Jesus falls the first time 

   The scourging, the crown of thorns forced onto His head, the beatings and mistreatment all took their toll on our Lord.  The lack of food, water and rest added to His weakened condition.  Then the cross of His execution was placed on His shoulders and He began the journey to Calvary through the streets of Jerusalem.  Surely the weight would bear Him down, causing Him to fall, not once, but at least three times during His passion.

   When I contemplate this event in Jesus’ passion I can’t help but believe that it was my sins as much or more than the mistreatment which bore so heavily upon my Lord that He fell to the ground under that weight.  I’m certain that the sins I have committed and those I will commit in the future are part of the burden he bore for me.  My soul aches with the pain I have caused our Lord.

   Why would the Son of God suffer so greatly and willingly give up His life for those who reject Him, refusing His love and mercy?  I am certain He didn’t come to save us out of need or necessity.  What could we possibly have that God needed?  The only thing He has ever asked of us is our love and our acceptance of His love for us.

   God made us to know Him, to love Him, and to serve Him in this world, and to be happy with Him forever in Heaven.  This question and answer from the Baltimore Catechism tells us everything we need to know about God’s plan for us.  It seems quite simple, but its very simplicity is sometimes what confounds us.

   Contemplate our Lord, wounded, bleeding, near death, face down in the street under the weight of the cross.  Ask, how can I, today, lighten His load by living my life for Him, by dying to self that He might live in me?

 

Second Station of the Cross

Jesus is given His cross 

   “Then they took Him away, and, carrying the cross by himself, he went out to what is called the Place of the Skull (in Hebrew Golgotha).”  (John 19: 16 - 17)

   Consider the agony our Lord had already suffered.  He had not slept at all the night before.  He had been arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane and taken to the High Priest and the Sanhedrin.  At dawn He was taken to the home of Pilate.  When Pilate learned that Jesus was Galilean he sent Him to Herod who mocked and tormented Him then sent Him back to Pilate.

   Upon His return to Pilate he was scourged.  The Romans had perfected the method of scourging to cause the victim as much pain and suffering as possible.  Loss of blood was extensive, and many did not survive the scourging.  By the time it was through, Jesus would have hardly been recognizable, a mass of cuts, tears, and gouges in His flesh from head to toe.

   He was again brought before Pilate and condemned to death.  Scourged, beaten, and tormented beyond normal human endurance He was now forced to carry the cross upon which He would die.

   Sit quietly for a few minutes and consider the price Jesus was willing to pay for our sins.  Did our sins make the scourging more painful, the thorns sharper, the cross heavier?  I believe that they did.  I believe that every sin we have committed and will commit weighed upon Him as He quietly and painfully began to carry His cross, the price for our sins.

   In deep sorrow for inflicting such pain on our Lord, let us reach out to God and plead for His mercy.  He will not refuse even though we are just as responsible for the death of His Son as those who crucified Him.  This is the purpose of Lent, to acknowledge all that Christ suffered for us and to seek His mercy and forgiveness.

  

 

First Station of the Cross

Jesus is condemned to death 

   The King of Kings stood before a Roman official who had no understanding of who Jesus was.  The High Priest and the Sanhedrin had brought Jesus to him with their false claims and charges against Him.  Despite their accusations, Pilate was not convinced that Jesus had committed any crime which would deserve death.  He, therefore, had Jesus scourged, hoping that the punishment would satisfy the people’s thirst for blood.  Still they demanded His crucifixion.  Pilate, fearful of riots and unrest, chose to condemn Christ even while believing Him innocent; he ordered Jesus to be crucified.

As we contemplate this beginning of Jesus’ journey to Calvary we must look inside ourselves and see where we fit in to this event.

   Politicians still swallow their integrity and honesty to secure their place in power.  If the decision is tough they, like Pilate, want to wash their hands of it rather than take a stand for what is right.  Many claim to be Catholic and yet continue to support abortion on demand.  I see Pontius Pilate in these politicians.  Go along to get along is their faith and religion.

   Few of our religious leaders address the sinfulness of those sitting in the pews before them  When was the last time you heard your Priest or Pastor state unequivocally that abortion is murder; that sex, of any kind, outside of a sacramental marriage is adultery and/or fornication. In too many cases those who are supposed to be our shepherds echo the High Priest Caiaphas.  They want to maintain the status quo rather than rocking the boat.  The offering plate has become their God.

   While we are at it we can’t leave ourselves out of the picture.  Do we, like the Jews of Jesus’ time praise Him when it’s convenient and deny Him when it isn’t?  We sit in those pews on Sunday and sing praise to Jesus and then spend the rest of our week ignoring Him.  We too tend to have a go along to get along mentality.  Especially when standing up for Jesus has a price that we think is too high.

   Finally, as we walk with Him on this journey let us never forget that He died for our sins.  It is our sins that nailed Him to that cross; it is our sins that continue to offend Him and crucify Him over and over.

 

 Via Dolorosa 

   Via Dolorosa is Latin for “sorrowful way” or “way of suffering”  It refers to the path Christ walked through Jerusalem to His crucifixion on Calvary.  Especially during Lent it is good to contemplate this journey our Lord took to offer Himself as the spotless lamb for the redemption of our sins.

   As Isaiah prophesied hundreds of years before the birth of Christ, “Like a lamb led to the slaughter and like a sheep that keeps silent before its shearers, he did not open his mouth.” (Isaiah 53:7).  Through all His suffering He never protested, never resisted.  Instead, He willingly and loving walked the Via Dolorosa to offer you and me salvation.

   In the Catholic Church there is a devotion to this final journey of Christ referred to as the “Way of the Cross.”  It consists of fourteen significant “stations” or events along the way.  As we walk with Jesus to Calvary, we relive those events, recognizing, honoring, and giving thanks for the suffering He willingly endured for our salvation.

   For the next fourteen days I will walk that journey in this blog.  I invite you to accompany me and walk with our Lord to His crucifixion and death on the cross at Calvary.  Contemplate His suffering, agonize with Him, and offer Him your thanks for the opportunity of salvation purchased by His life, death, and resurrection.

 

 The Cross We Bear 

   “Everyone in the world has a cross, but the cross is not the same for any two of us.” (Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen) 

   There is no resurrection without the cross.  If we refuse to accept and willingly carry the crosses we are called to bear in this life we are unworthy of the sacrifice Jesus made for us on the cross He bore.

   Some bear heavy crosses, some have a lighter burden to bear.  Perhaps the cross we are to carry is in harmony with our ability and the state of our spiritual strength and determination.  Should the Lord insist those who are of weaker or less ardent faith carry an excessive burden, the result could easily be a turning away, a refusal to even try.

   Someone who can’t do simple math certainly can’t jump into the middle of calculus and have any hope of success.  Just as a baby cannot eat steak, one who is new to faith cannot carry a heavy load.  One who is new to faith, still taking baby steps toward God, must be treated differently than one who is experienced. 

   As we progress in our faith life and our love of God and desire to serve Him the crosses may become more difficult due to our increased strength in faith; we are better able to carry a more onerous cross because we have more trust in the love and help of God in our efforts.  However, we can never doubt that we will have crosses to bear, and we must bear them bravely and willingly. 

   Jesus said, “Anyone who wishes to follow me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.” (Matt 16: 24).   There is no path to heaven which does not include the cross.

 

Redemption 

   “'Do I derive any pleasure from the death of the wicked?,’ asks the Lord God.  ‘Would I not rather rejoice to see them turn away from their wickedness and live?’” (Ezekiel 18: 23 

   The Lord, our God, desires repentance and sorrow for our sins.  He does not desire our eternal death, but eternal life.  Lent is a perfect time to consider all the implications of such a love as this.  No matter the past, no matter the sins we have committed, God desires that we turn to Him and repent and, therefore, gain eternal life.

   “Rend your hearts and not your garments, and turn back to the Lord, your God.” (Joel 2: 13).  Why do we concern ourselves with minor sacrifices such as chocolate, or other such things during Lent when it is the sins of our heart that we should be sacrificing?  That piece of candy won’t condemn you to hell, but the unrepentant hatred of your brother will.  We need to look inward, rather than outward when deciding what is best to sacrifice during this time of sorrow and repentance.

   “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be like snow.  Though  they are as red as crimson, they shall become as white as wool.” (Isaiah 1: 18).  Lent is a time to look to the Father, seeking the forgiveness offered through the life, death, and resurrection of the Son, Jesus Christ.  A time to cleanse our souls through confession and repentance for our sins.  In this way, we prepare ourselves to celebrate the glorious gifts of Easter.

  

 Timeless Truth 

   “Before the mountains were brought forth, or the earth and the world came into existence, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.” (Ps 90: 2) 

   It’s been over two thousand years since Christ was born and walked the earth.  In all those years nothing He taught, nothing He said has changed.  All was truth from before time began and will be true throughout eternity.

   Many try very hard to redefine the words and teachings of Jesus to more easily live in an evil society determined to reject and ignore His wisdom and His word.  How easily we slip into complacency rather than face confrontation for our faith, to “go along to get along.”

   We sometimes forget that nothing that God has said will ever change.  Our world is full of change, much of which is for the worse.  But to stand apart and refute the weakening of faith can be difficult.  Some will hate us, some will condemn us, some will persecute us for our faith.  Yet that is what we are called to do.

   For a few years of getting along in a sinful world we risk eternity without God.  To avoid conflict we bury our faith behind a smile and keep our mouth shut.  We see the evil and ignore it like the three monkeys who see no evil, speak no evil, and see no evil.  But that is the path to hell.  We were told very clearly, “…anyone who does not take up his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.  Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” (Matt 10: 38 – 39).

   Finding our life in this world means turning from the truth; to embrace the lies and evil of Satan.  To know the hatred of this world is to know the hatred it had and still has for our Lord, Jesus Christ.  We must choose either the acceptance of the world or the acceptance of Christ.  We cannot have both.

 Sacrifice 

   Though he was in the form of God, he did not regard equality with God as something to be grasped.  Rather, he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in the likeness of man, he humbled himself, and became obedient to death, even death on a cross.” (Phil 2: 6 – 8) 

   When I think of the Son of God desiring to love me so much that He would give up His place in heaven to be born of the virgin Mary, to become a man in all ways but sin, to sacrifice His very life for me I am in awe.

   How can I ever begin to repay such love, such mercy, such a sacrifice?  The truth is I can’t.  There is nothing I have or can do to make me worthy of such love.  All I can offer is myself, my heart, my soul, my love, my obedience.  In these ways I can strive to show my Lord how much I love Him and how thankful I am for all His many blessings.

   Lent is a time to consider sacrifice in our life.  A time to reflect on the sacrifices Jesus made for us and to ponder our own life and what sacrifices we make for Him.  Do we make any?  Are the ones we make a true denial of something of meaning or just something we do to comply with the calling of Lent?  We need to look deep within us and discern how seriously and how devotedly we fulfill our Lenten “obligation.”

   Spend some time gazing upon our Lord on the crucifix.  Walk the way of the cross with Jesus, contemplating on the pain and agony He willingly suffered for our salvation.  Sit quietly and consider all He endured, never complaining, never withdrawing, willingly and lovingly giving His all that we might have a path to God’s heavenly kingdom.

 

 God's Plans for Us 

“'For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’” (Jeremiah 29: 11 – 13) 

   The more I reflect on God and the world today the more I understand that He cannot be understood.  I don’t know why some people suffer and others do not.  I can’t grasp why some of the most evil people succeed in life while others who are full of piety and faith do not.

   The answer is also not understandable; God’s plans do not conform to earthly standards.  He does not see the world as I do, one day, one minute at a time.  For God it is all one mosaic, a creation of His own design.  It’s not up to me to determine why things are the way they are but to believe that God is in charge.

   I look at the passion and crucifixion of our Lord, Jesus Christ.  Why was it necessary?  Could He not have been accepted by the Israelites and recognized as the awaited Messiah?  Of course, but that was not the plan of salvation.  It was necessary that our sins be expiated.  Because of our sinfulness we are unable to atone, so Jesus paid the price for us.  Out of the greatest evil ever committed came salvation.

   I’ve given up trying to understand all that is happening in the world, instead placing it in God’s hands.  To do otherwise is of no use and only brings frustration and disappointment.  I must, as God has said, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” (Ps 46: 10).

 

The Temptation of Christ

   “The spirit immediately drove him into the desert.  He remained there forty days, during which time he was tempted by Satan.” (Mark 1: 12 – 13) 

   Today’s gospel tells of Jesus’ temptation in the desert.  I’ve often wondered to what purpose He was tempted.  Did Satan really believe He could tempt the Son of God to rebel against God?  God against God?

   While I do not believe that there was ever a chance that He would cede to temptation there was a purpose to allowing it.  I believe He chose to experience the temptations that mankind knows every day of their life to provide an example of how to resist them.

   First, He was tempted by hunger, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to be transformed into loaves of bread.” (Matt 4: 3).  Especially during Lent, a time of fasting, we sometimes are tempted by the food we are fasting from, not from hunger but from desire.  We want what we can’t have.  We must, like Jesus, recognize that we do not “live by bread alone, but by every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.” (Matt 4: 4).

   Satan then tempted our Lord to test the word of God.  “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down.  For it is written ‘He will command his angels concerning you, and with their hands they will raise you up lest  you dash your foot against a stone.'" (Matt 4: 6).  But we are not to challenge God, to dare Him to prove His love for us.  We must not put God to the test.  We must rather have complete trust and confidence in Him and His word.

   Finally, Jesus was tempted with fame and power.  “Finally, the devil took him to an exceedingly high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in their splendor.  Then he said to him, ‘All these I will give you if you kneel down and worship me.” (Matt 4: 8 – 9).  Today, we are tempted by the many false gods of this world, fame, fortune, money, and many others.  But we too must turn from these evil desires, remembering that we are to worship the Lord our God, and serve only Him.

   Jesus’ life was an example of how we are to live our life if we are to be the children of God.  His temptation in the dessert is one of those examples.  During this Lent, let’s study the life of our Lord and strive to live as He lived, totally in the with will of the Father.

  

Two Roads

 

   “Do not be deceived, there are only two roads, one that leads to life and is narrow; the other that leads to death and is wide.  There is no middle way.” (St. Louis De Montfort) 

   As we continue our journey through Lent, preparing to celebrate the joys and blessings of Easter I think it’s important that we always keep in mind that the road that Jesus put before us is the only road that leads to heaven.

   Great theologians and philosophers have written volumes about the Christian way of life.  They are of great value in so many ways in our efforts to come closer to God; to know Him better.  That desire is very important to our relationship with God.  We need to know God as well as possible so that we can know how to love Him more and better.

   But there is a simplicity that we must also keep in mind.  All the words and guidance in the world will never change the fact that there are only two roads to follow: one leading to life and the other to death.  There is no halfway path, no middle road.  We will either spend eternity in the presence of God or in the total absence of God and all that is good.

  

 A Lenten Wish 

   “O Lord, make this Lenten season different from the other ones; let me find you again. Amen.”  (Henri Nouwen) 

   Throughout the year it can be easy to become lukewarm in our faith, to take God and all His many blessings for granted.  Lent is a time to raise ourselves out of this stupor and again find God within us.

   Lent is not just as a time of sacrifice, but as an opportunity to fan the flames of faith, to revitalize myself in the love and thanksgiving God is due from me for all the many times He has blessed me and led me on the right path.

   It is a time for remorse for the many times I have failed Him by my sins and to give added thanks for His mercy and forgiveness.  Through sacrifice, confession, and true sorrow for having offended Him, He restores my soul.

   This Lent I will strive to focus on increasing my love and devotion to God rather than just some small sacrifice of little meaning.  I will endeavor to sacrifice those things in my life that are not of God and increase those which bring me closer to Him.

   Lent is a time of renewal, a time of thanksgiving for the greatest gift of all; the redemption of our sins and the door to heaven being reopened by the life, death, and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.  May we always keep these things in mind as we journey through these forty days.

 The Positive and the Negative 

   “This is what love is: not that we have loved God, but that he loved us and sent his son as expiation for our sins.” (1 John 4: 10) 

   I think people get too hung up on the negative during Lent.  They look at what they will give up or take away rather than what they can add.  By focusing on taking away we sometimes fail to give the Lord the praise and glory we should.

   What does it matter if we give up coffee if we never pray?  How does fasting from meat on Friday serve any purpose if it’s just a habit?  There must have some suffering, some higher purpose if it is to be a sacrifice.

   Sacrifice some time to go to adoration or to daily Mass, or at least to add some prayer time to  your daily schedule.  We waste so much time on useless activities that are of no value and then complain that we don’t have time to try to come nearer to God.

   Lent is also about love, not just sacrifice.  Lent is a time to turn to God and give thanks for the love He gives us each and every day.  It is a time to look upon Christ on the cross and thank Him for the greatest act of love every given.  Lent without love is of little value regardless of the petty sacrifices we so often undertake.

   This Lent don’t just sacrifice something of minor inconvenience.  Instead spend these days praying for a closer relationship with God, a greater love and thanksgiving of Christ.  Rather than allowing lent to become a perfunctory time of giving up some little something, let it be a path to giving all to Christ in preparation for the gifts of His suffering, death, and resurrection.

 Ash Wednesday 

   “you are dust and to dust you shall return.” (Gen 3: 19) 

   Ash Wednesday begins the forty days of lent.  A period of fasting and sorrow for our sins and shortcomings.  A time to seek atonement and renew our relationship with God.  Confession of our sins is expected during this period and an effort to amend our lives to live more in line with that of a people of God.  Even though we each are aware that we will continue to sin, we use this time to try to do better at avoiding sin.

   The ashes we receive are to remind us that we too are from dust, and we shall return to dust.  The words spoken are the same as those spoken by God to Adam and Eve, “Remember you are dust and to dust you shall return.”

   I’m always saddened by the number of those who come to receive their ashes yet are rarely, if ever, in Mass on a regular basis.  I’m saddened, yet hopeful that maybe this is the year, and this is the Ash Wednesday that will touch their heart and bring them home to God.

   As I approach the altar to receive the ashes I become more aware of my mortality; this life will end at a time I do not know.  The prayers, the sacrifices, the atonement we make during this solemn time are meant to help us recognize and prepare ourselves for that certain departure from this world.  There is no greater preparation that we can undertake than to prepare our soul for eternity.

   Let’s make the most of our Lenten observance and try our best to better our relationship with our Lord and Savior.  For we are dust and to dust we shall return.

 

 For Those Who Love Him 

   “We know that God makes all things work together for good for those who love him and are called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8: 28) 

   What does it mean to love God?  How do we live that love in our day to day life?  These are the questions we need to consider, the questions that must guide our actions, our thoughts, and our desires.

   I struggled for many years with the concept of loving God above all else.  It seemed to limit the love I was to show toward family and friends.  I was so mistaken!  When I love Him as I should my love is returned in such plenitude that I can truly love others as they should be loved.  Though I can never love as God loves I can share the incredible love He has for me with those of this world that I love.

   When I offer all my love to God I have confidence that all will be well.  There will be days of struggle and trial, but with His love those difficulties can be overcome.  His will for me each moment of each day is a part of His plan for me, and all will serve the good He desires for me if I will accept all He sends with love and gratitude.  I am confident that, in the end, all will be as God desires; it will be good beyond compare.

   By loving God first and foremost I can begin to know the joys of heaven even in this world, for He is within me, and He is heaven.

 In God’s Time 

   “For to you a thousand years are like a yesterday that has passed or one of the watches of the night.” (Psalm 90: 4) 

   Everyone is in a hurry, or else they are trying to put things off.  Time rules our lives in so many ways and yet time is a purely human construct; with God there is no time, all is now.

   My wife and I get some really odd looks and even a few snickers when people hear that it was barely three months from “Hello” to “I Do.”  They are amazed that we would make such a commitment in so short a time.  We just answer, “It was a God thing.  It was right and we knew it from the moment our eyes met.”

   The most incredible part of it was our friends and our pastor saw the love God had blessed us with even before we recognized it.  It came as no surprise at all to them when we said our vows so quickly.

   My point in sharing this personal experience is to remind others that God’s plans are not subject to time as we know it.  He does things when He wills and as He wills for those who believe and trust in Him.  Those who don’t believe will never understand but those who do are often blessed to see God’s hand in all things.

   Many people want to put God in a box made by human understanding,  That can only bring confusion and frustration.  If God is in your life, turn Him loose, let Him do with you what He wills, when He wills and how He wills.  That’s what trust in God really means and our obsession with time is what often stands in the way.

 

 Reverential Silence 

   “a time to be silent, and a time to speak.” (Eccl 3: 7) 

   As a Benedictine Oblate, I cherish the silence, the solitude of spending time with my Lord.  Sadly, silence is difficult to find these days.  And even worse, silence is getting harder and harder to find even in the Sanctuary of the Church.

   The Sanctuary is intended to be a place of reference before the Lord.  It is not a place to greet friends and discuss the week’s events; the place for these conversations is before or after entering the Sanctuary, which is intended for silent prayer to prepare oneself for the celebration of the Mass.  To do otherwise is to misuse time better spent in communion with God and is quite likely disrupting the prayers of those who are using the time as it is intended.

   The same principle applies to the times after the consecration and reception of Holy Communion.  It is at that point that we are closest to our Lord, He is physically within us under the guise of unleavened bread that has undergone the miracle of transubstantiation and is now the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of our risen Savior.  It is a time for contemplation of the great miracle and to give thanks to Jesus for giving Himself to such unworthy sinners.

   I would even go as far as to suggest that during the consecration, the distribution of the Eucharist and until the final prayers there should be total silence, not even music.  If one insists on music it should be quiet and subdued.  The intention should be to edify and promote a reverent, prayer atmosphere, never loud or disruptive to the prayers of those in communion with the Lord.

   I may be in the minority in my desires for such silence at Mass, but I don’t think so.  It is in silence that we are best able to commune with our Lord and to hear as He speaks to our hearts and souls.  If we wish to be in communication with God, if we wish to hear Him, we must remember that silence is the language of God.

 Spiritual Deafness 

   During His ministry Jesus cured many from deafness.  In some way I see these miracles as an indication of the spiritual deafness of so many people today.  They cannot, or will not, hear the word God, the good news of Jesus Christ.  Their deafness will lead them to perdition.

   How do we overcome spiritual deafness?  To me it requires times of silence and solitude.  Time to sit quietly with my Lord, perhaps saying nothing, just contemplating His incredible love.  So many times I become aware of His will for me by just spending time alone with Him.  I can’t explain it, but in the silence is God’s word.

   We also need to listen, and I mean really listen, at Mass.  Don’t just repeat the prayers, pray them reverently and sincerely.  The Lord’s prayer is a beautiful means of coming to understand and to love God more but so many simply parrot the words, never considering the meaning.  God does not speak to a closed mind.  We must open ourselves to Him if we wish to hear His voice.

   The adoration chapel is an incredible means of communing with our Lord.  He is present there before us in the Eucharist.  The quiet of the chapel, the reverence of those who are there to sit and be with the Lord creates a spiritual environment beyond compare.  I challenge anyone who does not spend time in adoration before our Lord in the Eucharist to do so.  I am certain that you will find a closeness to our Lord you have never experienced before.

   On the mountain top Elijah found God not in the wind, the earthquake, or the fire.  He found Him in the tiny whisper. (see 1 Kings 19: 11 – 12).  It is in the silence, in the quiet that our spiritual deafness will be healed, and we will hear the voice of God.

 Glimpses of Heaven 

   “Eye has not seen, ear has not heard, nor has the human heart imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.” (1 Cor 2: 9) 

   This is one of my favorite verses in scripture.  It always sets my mind and my soul to considering what might be awaiting me if I finish the race in the grace of God.

   All kinds of possibilities come to mind, but I know they are nothing compared to what heaven will truly offer.  Still, just to sit and contemplate heaven causes me to grow in love of the God who loves me so much.

   Then I realize that God gives us glimpses of what awaits even in this world.  Consider the smile of a newborn as they hear the voice of their mother, grasping her finger as tightly as possible.  The trust and love of small children for their parents.  I can easily understand why Jesus said that the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.

   A sunrise or sunset at sea on a clear day puts the majesty of God’s creation on display in such vivid color and texture.  A storm as sea speaks to the power of God, creator of all there is and all there ever will be.  The multitude of stars visible on a cloudless night testifies to the enormity of God's creation.

   In an incredible way the love of a man and a woman in a truly sacramental marriage reflects an image of heaven here on earth.  When love is shared unsparingly and unselfishly between spouses and with God, we come close to knowing the love we will experience in the next life.

   I’m not sure why people always seem to look up when they speak of heaven.  Heaven is not a place, it’s neither up or down, east, or west.  Heaven is within everyone who is in love with God and live their life to please Him in all they do.

 

 God Is 

   “A man can no more diminish God’s glory by refusing to worship Him than a lunatic can put out the sun by scribbling the word ‘darkness’ on the walls of his cell.”  C. S. Lewis 

   Christians must take heart even in a world that denies God, hating and persecuting those who worship Him.  God is like a lion; you can say it doesn’t exist but it’s roar will put lie to your claim.  God’s roar will be heard in the hearts of all whether they choose to admit it or not.

   You can’t still the sea, you can’t calm the winds, but the creator of both certainly did when He walked on this earth as a man (Mark 4: 39).  The power of God cannot be denied; it can be rejected; it can be ignored, but it can never be denied.

   We hear our government and the governments of the world making plans as if they are in charge, but their power exists only because God permits it to exist.  Whether they recognize it or not they will, in the end, serve the plan of God.  Pilate, a pagan Roman ruler, sentenced Christ to death, but he also spread the good news.  On the cross above His head, Pilate had written for all the world to see, “This is Jesus, the King of the Jews.” (Matt 27: 37).  Written in Latin, Creek, and Hebrew, the three major languages of that time and place.

   God can and does use whomever He chooses to serve His will, even when they are unaware and deny His very existence.  Atheists who have converted are some of the best evangelists for they have come to understand that God is within each of us and failure to acknowledge that fact doesn’t lessen it in the least.

   Jesus told His apostles, “And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the world.” (Matt 28: 20).  God is with us always and no amount of denial can change that fact.

 Anger 

   “For human anger does not bring about the righteousness of God.” (James 1: 19) 

   We are an angry people, it takes very little to bring us to a boiling rage.  In my opinion, it is our pride that feeds our anger.  We are unwilling to even consider that someone else may know better than we do and have the audacity to tell us so.  Yet anger produces nothing but evil.

   Consider the times that we have betrayed our Lord throughout our life; the number of times humanity has rejected the way of the Lord.  We have turned to human gods of selfishness, lust, pride, and money.  We look to ourselves to determine right and wrong when only God can define what is good and what is evil.

   If anyone has any right to be angry, it is God.  Man and woman, created by Him out of love has rejected Him throughout history and continues to do so today.  Yet He allows us to continue to slap Him in the face with our obstinance and self-aggrandizement.  Why?  Because He loves us and wants us to finally realize that fact and turn to Him in love.  He wants none of us to be lost, but to spend eternity with Him in the paradise He has prepared for us.

   We have no right to anger unless it is righteous anger over sin.  But even that anger can never be directed at the sinner, only the sin.  We are all the children of God and there is no room for anger in God’s family.

   

 Labor For the Lord 

   “Therefore my beloved brothers, be firm, be steadfast, always fully devoted to the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.”  (1 Cor 15: 58) 

   All that we do should be offered to the Lord.  Whether relaxing or working, in joy and in sorrow, all should be done giving praise and glory to the Father.  In this way all we do becomes a labor for the Lord, a never-ending prayer to God.

   We can do nothing without the Lord.  The sooner we realize this and incorporate it into our our daily life, the closer we will come to the God who loves us in so many ways.  Many times we give glory to God for the benefits He gives but fail to give Him glory even for the difficulties He sometimes allows in our lives.  But with God both the good times as well as the trials of life are a gift intended to bring us always nearer to Him; to help us know that we are nothing without Him and therefore, owe Him thanks and praise in all situations.

   When I read the letters of St. Paul, I see the example of how I am to live my life.  Granted, I can never live as Paul did, but when I try to emulate his devotion to God and to all God’s children it helps me understand that I am also His child and, as such, must love all my brothers and sisters.

   I am not worthy of God’s love and yet He loves me with an eternal love.  How can I, then, pick and choose which of God’s children are worthy of my love?  Jesus said, “I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.” (Luke 5: 32).  Therefore I must welcome the sinner with love, offering my prayers and even my sufferings for the conversion of all, that all may know the glory of the Lord.

   We are meant to labor in this life as a result of the fall of mankind in the Garden of Eden.  By offering our labor to God for our good and the good of all, we make our labor a prayer and therefore, pleasing to God.

 Faith 

   Faith is a gift from God.  We cannot obtain it on our own for He is the source.  Only through prayer can we obtain the faith we desire so deeply in our souls.

   Try as we may, we can’t know the kind of faith that will carry us through the hard times, the faith needed to accept whatever comes our way.  It takes trust and confidence in the goodness of God and the certainty that all He sends us is to benefit us in some way, even when we can’t understand it.

   Having faith is easy when things are going as we would like.  Giving thanks to God for the many blessings He gives us is a natural response, just as thanking someone who gives us a present for our birthday or Christmas.  However, our faith is tested when sorrow or pain enters our life.  To thank God even in those times requires a deep faith that goes far beyond a recognition of the good things we receive to include even the difficult and those that may even seem impossible to endure.

   God sometimes allows us to suffer though even His suffering is designed to do one of two things.  It may be a test of our faith, challenging us to have total trust in God, confident that He only wants what is best for us.  I believe that sometimes the suffering we are called to endure is meant to strengthen us. If our faith is as it should be we too will be able to respond Job did,  “The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.” (Job 1: 21) even when times seem the darkest.

Evil 

   “Evil exists because His love is not accepted; His love is misunderstood, rejected, and resisted." (Robert Cardinal Sarah) 

   I sit before the crucifix and look upon my Lord nailed to the cross, His lifeblood draining from His many wounds, His breath coming in painful gasps as he awaits the suffocation of the cross.  I recognize that the evil I have done in my life are the nails that fasten Him to that cross.  My sins were the lashes He received, my failures the cross He carried to Calvary.  How can I not feel shame and overwhelming sorrow for the pain my Lord suffered for me?  How can I not open my heart to such a loving Savior?

   There are far too many who never consider the sacrifice Jesus Christ made for them.  They ignore the agony He endured to offer them salvation and the forgiveness of sins and continue to drive the nails through His hands and feet.  They fuss and complain about how things are in the world, never stopping to consider that the evil in their own lives is in part the reason the world is such a wicked place.

   When we turn from God, we turn to Satan.  I know that sounds overly simplistic, but it is true; we can choose the good that God desires or we will serve the evil that Satan desires.  It’s no one else’s fault, no one else is to blame, only ourselves.

   “The Lord, your God, is a consuming fire and a jealous God.” (Duet 4: 24).   He will not share our heart with evil thoughts and desires; it must be given completely to His love.

  

 The Church of the Nice 

   “As it is, since you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spit you out of my mouth.” (Rev 3: 16) 

   The Douay-Rheims translation of that verse uses “vomit” rather than “spit.”  I prefer that version, it better expresses Christ’s dissatisfaction with those who are lukewarm rather than on fire for the Lord.  And there are far too many who are lukewarm in this world today.

   When was the last time your pastor spoke against sin?  Is abortion  condemned from the pulpit?  Are the evils of promiscuity and wicked lifestyles denounced?  Do they warn of eternal hell for those who live such sinful lives?   Or do they preach a sermon of acceptance and love with no mention of repentance for sins?  We are to love and accept all, including sinners, but that love must be directed to lead them to repentance.  Simply welcoming sinners without admonishing them for their sins is tantamount to approval of the wickedness they may be guilty of.

   Jesus ate and associated with sinners, but His intent was to lead them to repentance, not pat them on the back and ignore the abomination of their actions.  He spoke of the joy in heaven for even one who repented of their sins, saying, “In the same way, I tell you, there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need of repentance.” (Luke 15: 7)

   St. Peter advised those leaders of the church, “Be shepherds of the flock of God that has been entrusted to your care.  Watch over it, not as a duty, but willingly in accord with the will of God, nor for sordid gain, but because you are eager to do so.” (1 Peter 5: 2).  Those shepherds who refuse to properly lead and, when necessary, admonish their flock will have to answer before the Lord for their failure.

 Forgiven 

   “However if the wicked renounce all of the sins they have committed and keep all my statutes and do what is right and just, they shall surely live; they shall not die.  None of the crimes that they have committed shall be remembered against them; they shall live because of the righteous deeds they have done.”  (Ex 18: 21 – 22) 

   Why is it that we have such a difficult time forgiving ourselves of our sins when God has forgiven them?  Do we somehow think we know better that God; that His forgiveness is not enough?  If so, we need to rethink our relationship with the Lord.

   Jesus did not come to pay the price for our sins and redeem us only to have us question whether His sacrifice for us was enough.  Without a word of protest, He took all of the sins of the world upon Himself and gave His life so that we might have the forgiveness needed to become God’s children.  How dare we imply that His sacrifice was not enough!?

   It is Satan who puts those questions in our mind.  It is the evil one who would convince us that our sins are so heinous that even God cannot or will not forgive.  If He is successful we are, in my opinion, guilty of blasphemy.  We are denying the power of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

   When past sins arise to plague us there are two things we must do.  First we must reject Satan and his evil thoughts.  Second, we must thank God for His forgiveness of our sins, for as scripture tells us, “As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.” (Psalm 103: 12).