Category: Member Posts
Jesus, Our Lord and Optician ~ Br. Jay Van Lieshout, Postulant
Jesus told his disciples a parable:
“Can a blind person guide a blind person? Will not both fall into a pit? No disciple is superior to the teacher; but when fully trained, every disciple will be like his teacher.
Why do you notice the splinter in your brother’s eye, but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own? How can you say to your brother,
‘Brother, let me remove that splinter in your eye,’ when you do not even notice the wooden beam in your own eye? You hypocrite! Remove the wooden beam from your eye first;
then you will see clearly to remove the splinter in your brother’s eye.”
Jesus loved parables; and rightfully so, they are an excellent way of teaching, of conveying concepts and are a continuation of the techniques in the Torah. Today’s gospel shows how well this teaching technique can be used to present ideas in a way that withstands the cloudy nature of time. But there is another side to parables, a side again well used in this gospel: you can critique people without ever pointing a finger or mentioning names and yet it will be clear about who or what the parable is referencing; it is in this manner that Jesus aims strip us of our arrogant ways so that we may begin to walk in his footsteps.
Jesus has found the perfect “teaching moment” for his disciples and one that they and all of us need if we hope to spread the good news. We know that Jesus thought of the practices of the Pharisees and Sadducees, and one can imagine that his disciples would gossip and lambaste the church leaders among themselves as well as to those they encountered. We also know that this type of behavior is contrary to Jesus’ methods of conflict resolution and the path to salvation. Thus, we have the parable of the blind leading the blind. It’s important to note that Jesus prefaces this parable with teachings on loving one’s enemies and the perils of judging and condemning others the result of which will be return judgment and condemnation. But if you love your enemy and forgive them their transgressions, this favor will be returned and “A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
Now the parable begins with Jesus rhetorically asking his disciples “Can the blind lead the blind? Will they not both fall into a pit?” On the surface this seems to be an almost comic image about the visually impaired, but underneath the disciples understood Jesus was referencing the blind of faith, those who know and enforce the law but are blinded to their own transgressions, such as the Pharisees and Sadducees, and the pit isn’t a hole in the ground, but is the eternal grave that such arrogance digs here on Earth. It is very likely that the disciples immediately understood the implications of this parable and, before one of them could utter the standard “but Rabbi” , Jesus turns his attention to his followers and says “No disciple is superior to the teacher; but when fully trained, every disciple will be like his teacher.” This is clearly meant quell their growing self righteousness and remind them they still have a long journey, much to learn and even more to change before they are ready to fill his shoes.
I surmise that there must have been some discussion and perhaps even rumblings among the disciples after Jesus so aptly adjusted their attitudes, though any such parlay has was not recorded by the writer of Luke. Yet the next few stanzas of this gospel are a pointed critique and chastisement of one or more of his student’s seemingly lofty and pretentious behavior. “Why do you notice the splinter in your brother’s eye, but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own? How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me remove that splinter in your eye,’ when you do not even notice the wooden beam in your own eye? You hypocrite! Remove the wooden beam from your eye first; then you will see clearly to remove the splinter in your brother’s eye.” I imagine the wide eyed and astonished look on his disciples faces in response to this stern tongue lashing by their Mentor. But, like all of us now and then, they needed to learn an important message if they ever hoped to emulate their teacher: don’t judge other’s behavior until you are sure that your behavior is above reproach!
We all must consider how our actions are perceived in the eyes of those around us. To them we are no better than the way we act and if our actions do not reflect our words we are no better than a liar and a fraud. Jesus is reminding us that we must focus on KNOWING and CHANGING ourselves on the inside and only then could we be like the teacher and lead by example. Jesus finishes this lesson with a charge to his disciples to actively respond to his words for “someone who listens and does nothing is like the man who built a house on soil, with no foundations; as soon as the river bore down on it, it collapsed; and what a ruin that house became!”
Like the original disciples, we must see our own flaws, hear the words of Jesus and with them build a foundation of love and mercy, of openness, forgiveness and unity and equality. Only then will our eyes be clear enough to guide the blind in faith past the perilous pit and follow in the footsteps of our Lord and Teacher.
The Birth of the Virgin Mary ~ The Very Rev. Lady Elizabeth Sherwood, OPoc
There are many Marian feast days celebrated in the Catholic Church, but the principal ones are the Solemnity of Mary the Mother of God, the Presentation of Our Lord in the Temple, the Annunciation, the Assumption, the Immaculate Conception and the Nativity of our Lady. The Feasts of our Lady are dear to us. Before we are born, our mothers are our entire world; they enfold, nourish, and protect us. When we are born they continue to care for us, by comforting, nursing, and teaching us as we grow. Mothers do not stop being mothers just because we are grown. Our mother will always be our mother. So it is with our Blessed Mother, the Virgin Mary. She will always be Jesus’ Mother, and she will always be our Mother with Jesus our brother. And if, for whatever reason, our own birth mother is not quite all we would like her to be, our Blessed Mother stands ready, with arms open to take us in. As our Mother, she will continue to nourish, protect, comfort, and teach us as we grow. Daily prayers that greet and thank her for her love and care, and intercessory prayers that ask for her aid, ensure her place in our families, our homes, and our hearts. She is the Mother of God, the Queen of the Saints, the humble spouse of the Church, and attentive patron of hundreds. It is not surprising that there are So many feast days dedicated, to Mary.
The feast of the Nativity of Mary celebrated on the 8th of September is closely connected with the Immaculate Conception of Mary. Mary who is prepared by divine providence to be the Mother of Jesus the son of God, is conceived in the womb of her mother Anna, her father being Joachim, without the stain of sin and her birth is considered by the Church as a Solemn event. Our Lady’s birthday has been described as “the hope of the entire world and the dawn of salvation”. That is why the Liturgy of the day says: “Let us celebrate with joy the birth of the Virgin Mary, of who was born the Sun of Justice…. Her birth constitutes the hope and the light of salvation for the whole world…. Her image is light for the whole Christian people”. St. Augustine connects Mary’s birth with Jesus’ saving work. He tells the earth to rejoice and shine forth in the light of her birth. “She is the flower of the field from whom bloomed the precious lily of the valley. Through her birth the nature inherited from our first parents is changed.” The opening prayer at Mass speaks of the birth of Mary’s Son as the dawn of our salvation and asks for an increase of peace.
The origin of this Feast is thought in Syria or Palestine at the beginning of the 6th century. It goes back to the consecration of a church in Jerusalem, which tradition identifies as that of the present basilica of St. Ann. At Rome the Feast began to be kept toward the end of the 7th century, brought there by Eastern monks. Gradually and in varied ways, it spread to the other parts of the West in the centuries that followed. From the 13th century on, the celebration assumed notable importance, becoming a Solemnity with a major Octave and preceded by a Vigil calling for a fast. The Octave was reduced to a simple one during the reform of St. Pius X and was abolished altogether under the reform of Pius XII in 1955. The present Calendar characterizes the Birth of Mary as an important “Feast.”
This Feast provides us with an occasion for praise and thanksgiving in honour of the personal sanctity and vocation of the Blessed Virgin Mary as the mother of the Lord Jesus. There is nothing contained in Scripture about the birth of Mary or her parentage, though Joseph’s lineage is given in the first chapter of the Gospel of Matthew. The names of Mary’s parents, Joachim and Anna, appear in the apocryphal “Gospel of James”, a book dating from the 2nd Century AD, not part of the authentic canon of Scripture. According to this account, Joachim and Anna were also beyond the years of child-bearing, but prayed and fasted that God would grant their desire for a child. God listened to their prayers and granted them the child. According to tradition, the house in which Mary was born in Nazareth is the same one in which the Annunciation took place. As a child she was offered in God’s holy temple and remained there, showing to all a great example of zeal and holiness, withdrawn from frivolous society. When, however, she reached full age and the law required that she should leave the temple, she was entrusted by the priests to Joseph, her bridegroom, as the guardian of her virginity, a steadfast observer of the law from his youth.
In celebrating the nativity of Mary, Christians anticipate the Incarnation and the birth of her Divine Son, and give honour to the mother of Our Lord and Saviour. This Feast provides us with an occasion for praise and thanksgiving in honour of the personal sanctity and vocation of the Blessed Virgin Mary as the mother of Jesus. The Church’s calendar observes the birthdays of only three persons: St. John the Baptist and Mary, Mother of Jesus, and that of Jesus, Son of God. John the Baptist was sanctified even before his birth. Luke tells us that Elizabeth felt the infant John “leap in her womb” when Mary approached her soon after the Annunciation.
The Feast of the Nativity of Mary has two aspects: first, the Heaven’s view that enables us to enter into God’s plan for the salvation of the world; and the second, what happens on earth has the freshness of dawn and of a first morning. As seen from Heaven it is a Trinitarian Feast. On the other hand the Feast of the Nativity of Mary affects our Christian life and family. Her Birth is an event which belongs at the very heart of the History of Salvation. She is the symbol of the hope and expectation of God’s faithful people and at the same time she is the beginning of a new hope, the beginning of the dawn of that newness which her Son would bring for all creation. With Mary’s birth, sorrow and darkness begin to be dispersed. Each of us comes here with our hopes and aspirations, with our problems, concerns and anxieties which trouble our hearts. As we begin our pilgrimage we must allow Mary to change our hearts. We ask Mary for the gift of that freedom which she would show in her willingness to accept the word of the Angel.
Mary’s birth is the fulfillment of the faith of the Church. Faith is the gift that comes from God. One of the favourite stories in the Gospels is the story told in the Gospel of Saint Mark chapter 5, is the visit of Jesus to his home town and his own people do not accept him. They knew him too well and could not expect great things from so familiar a person. Jesus “was amazed at their lack of faith” and that therefore “he could work no miracle there”. But we have the response of Jesus when Mary and his cousins visit him and he says his family is the one which hears the word of God and keeps it. This applies to Mary who always listened to the word and meditated in her heart and is reflected in her nativity. Her total faith fulfills the faith of the Church.
St Paul speaking to the Romans tells us that Jesus descended from David according to the flesh that is he became a human person, and was declared to be Son of God by the Spirit. Mary was created, gave birth to the Son of God in holiness, lived a holy life in the Presence of the Lord God and was taken to Heaven in the fullness of her holiness. Truly, she shall be blessed every generation. That message of faith given to us on the nativity of Mary challenges all of us. There are times when our self sufficient society would willingly banish the sight of suffering. In Lourdes Mary has created a city where the sick and the weak are the privileged partners of our care and concern. That is a sign from Mary also of the type of society we should be building. May we experience the presence and the faith of Mary in our lives in these days.
September 8 is specially remembered for social celebrations. It marks the end of summer and beginning of fall, this day has many thanksgiving celebrations and customs attached to it. In the Old Roman Ritual there is a blessing of the summer harvest and fall planting seeds for this day. The winegrowers in France called this feast “Our Lady of the Grape Harvest”. The best grapes are brought to the local church to be blessed and then some bunches are attached to hands of the statue of Mary. A festive meal which includes the new grapes is part of this day. In the Alps section of Austria this day is “Drive-Down Day” during which the cattle and sheep are led from their summer pastures in the slopes and brought to their winter quarters in the valleys. This was usually a large caravan, with all the finery, decorations, and festivity. In some parts of Austria, milk from this day and all the leftover food are given to the poor in honour of Our Lady’s Nativity.
So with all this in mind, let us as Christians, as a church and as children of Mary through our Lord Jesus Christ rejoice in this Holy celebration of Our Blessed Heavenly Mother, who is and forever will be Mother of all!
Blessed Mother Mary, We celebrate your Wondrous birth, life and your eternal Motherhood Of Our Lord Jesus and of each of us. We praise thee, Thou that art “blessed amongst women.”
Resolving Conflict??? ~ Br. Jay Van Lieshout, Postulant
Commentary on Matthew 18:15-20
In today’s world, just like in the time of Jesus and when the Gospel according to Matthew was written, interpersonal conflict resolution was a key theme. And if we think about it, Jesus’ message is all about understanding, handling and resolving such conflict between people so that we may go to the Father with open arms and a loving heart. The author of Matthew was living in a time of growth in the church and most of the converts were gentiles. The clash of gentile with Hebrew culture and traditions must have fueled many a disagreement and given rise to a lot of hurt feelings. In this gospel, Jesus prescribes a simple 4 step approach to handling when someone steps on your toes in life: 1) one on one, 2) bring mediators to the table, 3) elicit community support, 4) reindoctrination.
We have all unknowingly said or done something that others found offensive and yet nothing was said at the time. Unfortunately these unaddressed events add up, snowball and fester until that one fateful day when the situation explodes and your relationship, and your life and theirs are forever changed; if only you had known, if only they has said something; you would have apologized, changed your behavior, made atonement, done the right thing. How many times have lives so drastically changes because we were not offered, or we did not offer the chance to say “I’m sorry, I was wrong, please forgive me and allow me to change”? Jesus knew the immediate, cleansing and healing nature of the one on one interaction, how “nipping it in the bud” usually resolves a transgression without escalation. He also knew we can be unwilling to admit fault and this requires the involvement of unbiased witnesses in faith to evaluate, clarify and encourage repentance. And, sometimes our hearts are hard, and our minds are so unwilling that it requires the SUPPORT of the whole community in faith to guide us towards accepting our flaws and giving in to reconciliation.
One can imagine the apostles thinking, “and if all this is unsuccessful, then what do we do”? Without prompting, Jesus tells us the answer without the question being asked: “If he also ignores the congregation, regard him as an unbeliever and a tax collector.” Now many have interpreted this line as a justification for tossing someone out of the church and closing the doors on them. I tell you from my heart this is not what Jesus intended! Consider how Jesus treated the gentiles (and Matthew the tax collector); He called them to listen, to follow, and to learn anew. Jesus never closed the door, He never gave up, and so neither should we. Matthew codifies this need to be persistently forgiving by bookending this gospel with two parables: that of the lost sheep and, the unforgiving servant. In the parable of the lost sheep which immediately precedes today’s gospel: a good shepherd leaves his flock of 99 to tirelessly search for the one that is lost and rejoices more in the reclaimed sheep than those 99 who never went astray. Later, when Peter asks Jesus how many times to forgive someone who sins, Jesus says 77 times (i.e. a whole lot) and proceeds to tell the parable of the servant who asks for forgiveness from his master and yes fails to give forgiveness to one in his debt. This parable reinforces how we as servants of God must forgive those who sin against us if we hope to have our sins forgiven.
In the midst’s of these parables and at the end of today’s gospel is the most poignant and beautiful of Jesus’ teachings: “Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.” Jesus is ensuring the apostles, and us, that He and the Father are always there for us, helping us to walk the path of the righteous and as a result of his real presence we too have the power to call back the lost sheep with the powers of prayer, care and diligence. The reward for loving our neighbors as Jesus has loved us is clear, when we ask for and grant forgiveness to others, God grants this petition for them AND heaps on us the rewards His boundless love, grace and forgiveness. Amen.
Saint Pope Gregory I (the Great) ~ Br. Michael Marshall, Postulant
Pope Gregory I, celebrated as Saint Gregory the Great, is a Doctor of the Church, and was born in 540 A.D. He was consecrated as Pope on September 3, 590 to become the 64th Pope. Even though he was a pope he preferred monastic life, after all he was a Benedictine monk. He held important the foundation of monasteries and influenced the shape of the papacy during the early medieval period in the midst of corruption, and was able to consolidate all the land under papacy. He also was responsible for liturgical reform and said to be the originator of the Gregorian Chant.
That being said, in the midst of the church politics and founding new monasteries, he felt it was important to reach out to the poor and the sick, especially those who suffered from the abuse of corruption. His life was truly ministry, and it sets an example for how we should serve in ministry. As we read the Scripture for today, it is very evident that Saint Gregory lived his true calling as a follower of Jesus, whether as a monk or as Pope.
1 Corinthians 3:1-9 Brothers and sisters, I could not talk to you as spiritual people, but as fleshly people, as infants in Christ. I fed you milk, not solid food, because you were unable to take it. Indeed, you are still not able, even now, for you are still of the flesh. While there is jealousy and rivalry among you, are you not of the flesh, and walking according to the manner of man? Whenever someone says, “I belong to Paul,” and another, “I belong to Apollos,” are you not merely men? What is Apollos, after all, and what is Paul? Ministers through whom you became believers, just as the Lord assigned each one. I planted, Apollos watered, but God caused the growth. Therefore, neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who causes the growth. He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive wages in proportion to his labor. For we are God’s co-workers; you are God’s field, God’s building.
Luke 4:38-44 After Jesus left the synagogue, he entered the house of Simon. Simon’s mother-in-law was afflicted with a severe fever, and they interceded with him about her. He stood over her, rebuked the fever, and it left her. She got up immediately and waited on them. At sunset, all who had people sick with various diseases brought them to him. He laid his hands on each of them and cured them. And demons also came out from many, shouting, “You are the Son of God.” But he rebuked them and did not allow them to speak because they knew that he was the Christ. At daybreak, Jesus left and went to a deserted place. The crowds went looking for him, and when they came to him, they tried to prevent him from leaving them. But he said to them, “To the other towns also I must proclaim the good news of the Kingdom of God, because for this purpose I have been sent.” And he was preaching in the synagogues of Judea.
As I reflect upon the Scripture, and the life of Gregory the Great, I recall an experience I had roughly 10 years ago. I had the opportunity to go on a mission trip to Jamaica, and while I was there I spent two days visiting a community served by the Missionaries of the Poor. The religious brothers bathed and fed the poorest of the poor in Jamaica. The founder, Father Ho Lung, believes that the poor must be looked out for because it is what Jesus calls for us to do. The whole time I was visiting, I expressed that I had so much admiration for the brothers because it is not something I could be doing day in and day out. I see a saint in Father Ho Lung because he cared about what mattered, while serving as a pastor of a parish in Papine, Jamaica. He balanced the ministries of administrator, founder, and being hands-on, just as Saint Gregory was as pope. All of his work has been because the focus being on Jesus as the focus.
Like Father Ho Lung, and like Gregory the Great, we must work to further the kingdom of our Lord. God calls us to ministries that might be undesirable to others, even possibly to us at first. Yet when we understand what the purpose of that ministry is, we are able to truly engage with and help those in need and people will possibly see the saint in us.
Love in Action~ by Fr. Bryan Wolf
“Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
“Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.
“Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. ” Romans 12:9-18
Our scripture lesson this Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost is from Paul’s Epistle to the Romans and might simply be entitled, Love in Action. Because in these few short sentences, Paul is reminding us of what it is to be truly followers of Christ. All to often, we believe ourselves to be Christian but in reflection~ are we?
Sadly, I find myself the victim of this litmus test. Recent events surrounding a police shooting in Ferguson, Missouri have me questioning my beliefs. As priestly as I try to keep myself, I cannot repress those thirty years of being a police officer. I look at the situation not with compassion, but with a critical eye. Was the shooting justified? Was the police response excessive? Were the actions of the protestors reserved? Can the looting and the violence be any means to an end?
It is indeed a difficult test. Nevertheless, it is a test we all must undergo. Not just because of this incident in Missouri, but with the escalation of violence throughout the world. We find ourselves, our belief in the fact that we are followers of Christ; challenged by the very concept that developments in the world today do not make being truly Christian, easy. But nothing truly worth while ever is.
Christ tasks us in today’s Gospel to, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. ” [ Matthew 16:24 ] This not only implies worldly tangibles but also our opinions and judgments. We must look at people and their conditions in life with a new perspective. To seek to understand and appreciate that which influences their reactions and beliefs. ” Why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye and pay not attention to the beam in your own? You hypocrite, first remove the beam from your own eye and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. ” [ Mathew 7:3-5 ]
As difficult as we find the situations that present themselves to us, we must pray to resolve them as Christians. In doing so, we provide examples to others as to the compassion and charity of Christ. We can condemn that which is wrong and unjust, as long as we serve up solutions and answers which are fair and just. ” If you love only those who love you, what is your reward? “; Christ ask us. [ Matthew 5:46 ]
For the most part, these are personal opinions that must be overcome. We need to look at the world through the eyes of Christ. So that not only our actions are compassionate and charitable, but that we are truly as well. Easily, not easy but if we put on love and put love into action, surely this can be done.
“Therefore, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility and patience. Forgive one another, as Christ forgave you. For of all virtues, put on love. It is love that binds us together. Let the peace of Christ be in your hearts.” [Colossians 3:12-15]
Spend, Spend, Spend ~ The Very Rev. Lady Sherwood, OPoc
Isaiah 55:1-5 55:1 Ho, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and you that have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. 55:2 Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen carefully to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food. 55:3 Incline your ear, and come to me; listen, so that you may live. I will make with you an everlasting covenant, my steadfast, sure love for David. 55:4 See, I made him a witness to the peoples, a leader and commander for the peoples. 55:5 See, you shall call nations that you do not know, and nations that do not know you shall run to you, because of the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, for he has glorified you.
I was looking around the town the other day and many sights and thoughts came to my attention. I passed an real estate agent’s office so decided to look at the houses and prices to see what was on offer. There were a wide range of properties with varying sizes, rooms and amenities, but yet the one thing in common between them all were the thousands of pounds (even hundreds of thousands) that we as people spend on these items. Further down the road there was a car showroom with red, blue, yellow, and other various coloured types of shiny new cars for sale, again at very expensive prices which we seem happy to pay to attain them. I passed clothes shops galore with all the very latest fashions of all different shapes, sizes and designs, and saw the prices of what many people see as ‘must haves’.
It was then that John passed by me. John is a well known homeless gentleman with only one set of clothing to his name. The thing I notice often when coming across John, is his happy demeanor. Even in his poor circumstances, he is always smiling and always greets everyone with a happy and polite greeting. John, I know, is a Christian, who despite being poor and homeless gets his true happiness from his love, trust and faith in God. He never asks for anything but always wants others to have a blessed day. He doesn’t feel that he “needs” the things others do.
Houses, cars, holidays, clothes and other earthly materialistic items, and money do not bring true happiness, although to some they may get an extremely temporary period of satisfaction. As the Lord quite clearly tells us, we should not live a life of spending money or buying earthly things as these things are fleeting and will surely pass away. The only way to eternal happiness is from the bread and wine, gifts of the body and blood of true life, and by hearing, understanding and living the word of God! Anything which we truly need, the Lord will provide for us when the Lord sees it is time to do so. Some may be happy to spend, spend, spend on earthly things but as for me, I choose the only true happiness and salvation of our Heavenly Father to fill my life. I choose to use my money to show the Lords love to others who are in need instead of for unrighteous materialistic things that hold no hope of true happiness!!
What about you? On what do you spend your money? Do you really need that new outfit? A bigger house? How many people could be fed by what you spend on that new gadget? So what is your choice? On what, or whom, will you spend, Spend, Spend?
That’s Some Expensive Dirt Ya Got Mustard On! ~ Fr. Ken Nelan
1st Reading – 1 Kings 3:5-12
Responsorial – Psalm 119: 57, 72, 76-77, 127-130
2nd Reading – Romans 8: 26-39
Gospel – Matthew 13: 31-333, 44-52
13:31-32 … “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in his field; it is the smallest of all the seeds, but when it has grown it is the greatest of shrubs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.”
13:44 “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which someone found and hid; then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.
Here we go again – all these parables all at once telling me what, to go out and plant a bush in really expensive land? Well, if you really must ask then sure, let’s go with that for a second. What today’s gospel is saying is that we should take something infinitely small and cherish it so much that it becomes the sole focus of our lives. Be thankful for what you’ve got. and when you find something worthwhile, be sure to invest all you are into what you’re doing. Yes, that is the one of the many lessons embedded within the Pearl of Great Price, but there is another focus or tangent I’d like to follow – would you ever recognize the treasure or seed if you saw it? How do you know you’ve invested all you are into what you believe to be valuable? Or – are you like the one who finds treasure in someone else’ field? Do you hide the treasure so that you alone can reap its rewards? See – today’s Gospel isn’t so cut and dry. It may or may not be about the value we find. It could be about the evil we do when we hide something that rightfully belongs to someone else only to claim it for ourselves.
Rather than create a shadow over a great parable, let’s look at this in terms of the treasures already in our lives. I’d like to borrow from a great friend who mentioned the great works coming out of special people in his life. How do we treat those treasures in our life; the ones we are surrounded by day in and day out, those we might take for granted or rely on daily, and those who give of themselves so freely that we assume they will be there at every moment of our own needs – how well do we take care of our treasures? Do we even see them as we move through our busy lives?
Things we see as being small and insignificant sometimes contain within them enough energy and power that they could alter the very fabric of our realities, yet we pass them by leaving them hidden in the soil until we see them too late in our lives to do anything about them. Fear grips us and prevents us from moving forward and grabbing the pearl in a moment’s notice. We forget how to fish or make loaves of bread. We even forget how to plant a seed so that later we can cherish the resulting fruit or flowers.
Living today’s Gospel isn’t as easy as planting a seed, baking bread, or fishing an ocean with nets. Our complacency has kept us from recognizing the good things in our lives so we instead focus on the weeds, the stale bread, and the rotting fish on the shores. BUT — Our Gospel today teaches us to be thankful for the good things we’ve got and to move in the Lord when we recognize +His presence in our lives. It also means helping and empowering those around us to do the same.
We have a chance to be like the one who finds, after years of what seems like endless searching, a great pearl – THE BEST PEARL – who then goes to do all he can so that he can own it. He sells off some of his possessions, possibly even gets a second job for a while hoping no one else will buy that great pearl. His hard work and dedication is rewarded when he is able to own that one great pearl.
The pearls are all around us. They help us move through our lives and give us comfort in times of need. They are often invisible until we need them, but they are there.
Be thankful for what you have and then be a pearl for someone else. Be great and thankful. Yes, I think those two words are the greatest of lessons within our Gospel today – be thankful and then be all you can be for someone else.
St. James the Apostle (the Greater)
James, The Apostle – (Hebrew Yakob; N.T. Greek Iakobos)
Son of Zebedee and Salome, and brother of John the Apostle.
July 25
It was surely no coincidence that James and his brother John were sons of a fisherman and made their living off the Sea of Galilee. To live near and fish on a lake of that magnitude requires strength, knowledge, understanding, and at certain times of the year, bravery. It also takes fortitude, attention to detail, and temperance. Without all those qualities one could end up seriously hurt or worse yet, tangled in nets sinking to the bottom of the lake. James wasn’t alone in his calling – three others with whom he shared communal life were likewise called by Jesus to follow Him. Eventually they were even called upon to proclaim all they saw to the world. (Simon) Peter and Andrew who were coworkers, and his brother John were also called to follow Jesus around the same time as James. Jesus gathered together those He could trust who would witness the miracle of God’s love.
James was only one of three people Jesus invited to pray with Him in the Garden of Gethsemane. It was there James witnessed the transfiguration and was himself transformed in mind and spirit.
Saint James the apostle is sometimes referred to as the Greater to distinguish him from James the son of Joseph (who is sometimes called James the Lesser). Called to serve, he became a trusted friend and was instructed to serve and love those who followed our Lord. But there is more to James than his being a saint or follower of Jesus – he was first and foremost a hard worker, a friend, and a companion.
James was the first of the 12 apostles to be martyred for the newly forming community of believers. He was killed on the order of King Herod Agrippa I of Judea, about 44 A.D. (Acts 12:1-2) “1- It was about this time that King Herod arrested some who belonged to the church, intending to persecute them. 2 – He had James, the brother of John, put to death with the sword”.
Though we do not know much about the life of James the Greater, we know he was a man trusted by our Lord and he died for the early church. His strength and wisdom continue to guide and direct us all.
St. Benedict of Nursia
St Benedict was born around the year 480. He was the son of a Roman noble of Nursia and the twin brother of St. Scholastica. St. Benedict spent his childhood mainly living in Rome with his parents where he attended school until he reached his higher studies. He gave up life with his parents and their wealth, giving his books away and leaving Rome to seek a place where he might manage to attain the Holy purpose he had in mind of only serving God. It is supposed he left his childhood home in about A.D 500 aged about 19-20 years old. Benedict took with him his nurse as a servant and set off to leave the city. Benedict and his nurse settled in Enfide, close to a church which was dedicated to St. Peter, and in some way was associated with a company of virtuous men who shared the same sympathies, feelings, and views of life.
Enfide is in the Simbrucini mountains, about forty miles from Rome and two miles from Subiaco. It was there at Enfide where Benedict worked his first miracle by restoring to perfect condition an earthenware wheat-sifter which his old servant had accidentally broken. This miracle brought Benedict notoriety and this, in turn, drove Benedict to further withdraw from social life. He fled secretly from his old nurse and sought the more retired district of Subiaco.
Now Benedict chose to live the poor life and for the sake of God decided to take up a life of hardship, weariness and labour.On his way from Enfide, Benedict met a monk, Romanus, whose monastery was on the mountain above the cliff overhanging a cave. Here Benedict and Romanus discussed Benedict’s purpose for coming to Subiaco, and it was there that he received the monk’s habit. For a period of three years on the advice of Romanus, Benedict lived the life of a hermit and unknown to men in a cave above a lake. Romanus continued to serve Benedict in any way which he was able and visited the monk regularly. On set days would bring him food.
During these three years of solitude Benedict matured both in mind and in body. He gained much knowledge both of himself and also of his fellow men, and over time became known to and respected by those who knew him., to the extent that when an abbot of a monastery in the neighbourhood died, the community begged Benedict to become the new Abbot of the monastery. Benedict knowing the ways of the monastery life and its discipline, knew that it would be difficult to get all to live in harmony. He eventually Benedict consented, and after a period of time of managed things with their entreaty. Sadly the experiment failed after certain of the monks tried to poison, because they found his rule to be too strict.
He returned to living in his cave. From this time forward the miracles of Benedict seemed to happen frequently and many people, attracted by his sanctity and character, came to Subiaco to be under his guidance. For these Benedict built twelve monasteries in the valley and allocated to each one a superior and twelve monks. Benedict then built a thirteenth monastery in which he lived with a few chosen whom Benedict believed would profit and be better instructed by his presence. Although living in the thirteenth monastery, Benedict remained the Father and Abbot of all the monasteries and with the establishment of these monasteries began schools for children; amongst the first to be brought were Maurus and Placid.
The Reminder of Benedict’s life was spent realizing the ideal of monasticism and this is what became known as the Rule of St. Benedict, which is still followed in many monastery orders even today.
St, Benedict died of a fever on 21 March 543 or 547 in Monte Cassino, not long after the death of his sister St. Scholastica. He died on the day on which God had told him he was going to die, and Benedict was buried with his sister.
Benedict was named in 1964 by Pope Paul VI as the patron protector of Europe, and then in 1980 Benedict was declared co-patron of Europe by Pope John Paul II.
No Explanation Necessary~ by Fr. Bryan Wolf
“Now Thomas, one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, ‘We have seen the Lord.’ But Thomas said to them, ‘Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.’ A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them, and said ‘Peace be with you.’ Then he said to Thomas, ‘Put you finger there. See my hands. Reach out and put your hand into my side. Stop doubting and believe.’ Thomas said to him, ‘My Lord and my God.’ Then Jesus told him, ‘Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen me and yet believe.'” ( John 20:24-29 )
We have all heard the phrase, “a Doubting Thomas.” Rooted in the scripture above, it tends to come from the scientific and critical aspect of our culture. We have science to prove or disprove claims. We require evidence to make things a certainty. After all it is said, “seeing is believing.” ut in this day and age, can a faith in Jesus Christ and his deeds from oh so long ago- be rational? We have our holy scriptures and our teachings, but is this something we can hold up to the ‘litmus test’ of debate against a skeptic? A cynic? Someone who; by disaster, tragedy or death of a loved one, demands further proof from us of a loving and compassionate God? We must admit, there are days when even we ourselves, can become a “Doubting Thomas”.
First, it is important to remember Christianity is built upon faith. “For faith is confidence in what we hope for and an assurance about what we do not see.” ( Hebrews 11:1 ) The First Chapter of the Book of Hebrews goes on to serve up as evidence, all those who have lived by faith… Moses, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Sarah… the list goes on and on. For if we are Christians, we truly do, “…walk by faith, not by sight.” ( 2 Corinthians 5:7 ) Life is full of uncertainty. The key is, to surrender ourselves to our faith.
“For to have faith, we must also have doubt. We must become like Thomas…” – Thomas Merton. Merton (b.1915-d1968) was a mystic and social activist, as well as a Cistercian Trappist monk. He wrote more than seventy books on spirituality, including his autobiography – The Seven Story Mountain, a New York Times best seller. From it, he writes, “Faith means having doubt, not the suppression of doubt. The only way to fully overcome you doubt is to live through it. Someone who says they have no doubt, cannot be a person of faith.” Merton agreed with Saint Paul, “To have faith, is a gift from God.” ( ref. Ephesians 28 ) And even centuries earlier, Saint Augustine agreed, “Doubt is but an element of faith.”
In his book, Threshold of Hope, Saint John Paul II wrote; “We must be allowed to have doubt. To search for God and truth on our own terms. To do this is nothing but a manifestation of the grace of the Holy Spirit at work. Questioning God, reveals your faith in him.”
It seems paradoxical; for clerics, religious, or even firm Christians to admit they have doubt. To question faith, even to dare and question God, seems like an insurmountable offense. It can be frightening. Perhaps a sign of weakness or sinful spirit; vulnerable to temptation and even rebellion. But people, good people of faith, facing critical circumstances, terminal illness or unexpected loss, wrestle with these emotions and ‘doubts’ all the time. And they need not be life-altering; even slight bump in the road can cause many of us to question. Just like Thomas. Mother Teresa often wrote of “dark periods of spiritual desolation; questioning whether God cared, loved or even existed at all.”
So when all is said and done, when all is really questioned and considered, we do end up sometimes being Thomas. It is then however, that we must surrender ourselves to our faith. For it is our faith upon which we build everything else. It is on our faith that we fix upon our most trusted and inspired promise given to us by our Lord, Jesus Christ: life everlasting.
Ahhh, I can sense the skeptics circling. Prove to me, there is a life everlasting. No need. Christ tells me so. I have faith enough to believe. In this, I can answer just like a most famous Dominican and yet another Thomas, Saint Thomas Aquinas. Considered one of the great teachers and early doctors of the Church, Saint Thomas said: “To one who has faith, no explanation is necessary. To one who has no faith, no explanation is possible.”
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