God in a Box

Holy Trinity Sunday 2015

Gospel of Mathew 28:16-20

Then Jesus approached and said to them,“All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations,baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit,teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.  And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.”

"Holy, holy, holy!  Lord God Almighty!  All thy works shall praise thy name, in earth, and sky and sea; Holy, holy, holy!  Merciful and mighty, God in three persons, blessed Trinity..." The words of this beautiful hymn invite me to pause and reflect on the Holy Trinity, one of the greatest mysteries of the Christian Faith.  How can we explain the concept of one God in three persons - Father, Son and Holy Spirit?  

I like the analogy of the Holy Trinity as an equilateral triangle with all angles at the same degree to one another.  The three end points are the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit. The "one" triangle can only be formed when all three angles meet with one another.

This morning after mass I just so happen to drive through "Jack in the Box" for a breakfast platter and coffee.  I thought to myself, "How many times have we thrown God in box, deciding to stow him away like an old toy in a toy box never to be picked up again?  We forget about the amazement the beloved toy used to give us when we were younger.  Now as jaded and disillusioned adults we ignore God, and we don't have time to teach our children about God, much less the concept of The Holy Trinity."

I've been slowly growing my library with some outstanding books, essays, and compiliations written by Dominicans.  I look for good juicy quotes as well as ideas for future blog posts.  I recently came across a brilliant compilation of meditations by Fr. Bede Jarrett, O.P. , an early 20th century English Dominican priest.  In a meditation he wrote titled "God governs every event at every moment" he describes the Blessed Trinity as follows:  

"The Blessed Trinity is, then, the name we give to that mystery of the divine Persons, who are three yet one, Father and Son and Holy Spirit, constituting in Themselves one single God. Of these, the Father represents power, for I begin my Creed by professing belief in "God, the Father Almighty, Creator of Heaven and earth."  To God in the person of the Father, therefore I attribute omnipotence.

Of the Son, I learn that He is the Word...of the Father, that He is the figure of the Father's substance, the brightness of the Father's glory.  By all of this I see that the Son is represented as the reflected image of the Father, the idea that the Father has of Himself, the knowledge of Himself in the mind of the Father, the exact reproduction of Himself begotten of His own intelligence.  To the Son, therefore, I attribute Wisdom..

Hence, also, God's knowledge of Himself must be followed by a second and final act, His love.  That love, then, which proceeds from the Father and the Son (for in love, there are always two) is the Holy Spirit.....

By my belief in the Holy a Trinity, then, I acknowledge, in the one single God, Power, Wisdom, and a Love, and I repeat that these three are one.  Therefore are these three inseparable. "

Wow, this is deep and thought provoking.  What are your impressions?  Are you still mystified by the Holy Trinity?  I think most of us are.  Fortunately, we have Holy Scriptures, writings of the Saints, and the Catechism to help us understand.

The Holy Trinity governs and meets our needs no matter what.  We may not understand the mystery, but we know through faith and trust that these three-persons-in-one, with power, wisdom and love, never abandons us.  

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning and ever shall be world without end.  Amen!

-J.

Waters of Wisdom

Saturday of the Eighth Week in Ordinary Time

New water feature at Dallas Arboretum's Lay Garden

(Click Here for Readings)

I thank the LORD and I praise him; I bless the name of the LORD. When I was young and innocent, I sought wisdom openly in my prayer I prayed for her before the temple, and I will seek her until the end, and she flourished as a grape soon ripe…. My hand opened her gate and I came to know her secrets. I directed my soul to her, and in cleanness I attained to her.

Tuesday night I couldn't sleep very well as thunder boomed and lightning flashed through my bedroom windows. I tossed and turned thinking:  Please Lord, no more rain!  Can you let us dry out for a few weeks?  Save the showers until July and August. We're floating away around here!   I never remain sleepless for long, especially during an extended holiday weekend.  Obviously, my mind was worried about the week lying ahead; so much to do....

When I need to clear my head, my favorite place to visit is the Dallas Arboretum.  It's my mini oasis away from work woes, problem people, and blinding boredom.  While laying in bed, I pictured myself walking the gardens with my rosary in hand, citing the Joyful Mysteries.  I observed rabbits scurrying along the grass and bees pollinating the Saint Pope John Paul II hybrid tea roses.  I felt droplets of morning dew on my skin.  I smelled the crisp clean air while listening to the birds sing.   Just imagining the botanical wonderland brought me comfort. From my lips I continued to whisper "Hail Mary, Full of Grace..." as I finally drifted off to sleep.

Our Lord created such an artistic array of flowers, trees, animals, and insects. The kaleidoscope of nature is awe-inspiring because it allows us to appreciate life in all of its forms. Undeniably, our beautiful earth would not be so spectacular if it wasn't for God's wisdom.  He designed from the very beginning of creation water to sustain life, not only our physical bodies but also our spiritual ones.  The waters of baptism transformed us into Christians just as the Holy Spirit's gift of wisdom helps us carry out our baptismal promises.

The horticultural term "water-wise" refers to a plant's ability to stay alive with limited water.  An entire section  of the Dallas Arboretum is devoted to water-wise flora. One of the secrets to plant survival under drought conditions involves  genetic and cellular composition along with native landscape adaptability.

Plants can be classified as "water-wise" just as followers of Jesus can be considered "Christ-wise".  That is, we use the Holy Spirit's gift of wisdom in our day to day interactions.  Wisdom is something that develops over time. It's achieved through prayer, scripture, the sacraments, observation and sometimes trial and error.  We all remember some of our foolish teenage years.  We thought we were wise "Know-It-Alls" when on the contrary we knew very little.  One thing great about getting older is getting wiser!  The old saying is very true. 

When I think of a water-wise plant, I think of its amazing ability to conserve water in ways to enhance its growth. When drought hits, it doesn't droop but remains alive. The "Christ-wise" believer uses wisdom to grow in holiness. He or she is more resilient in adversity, enthusiastic about spreading the good news, and more devoted to the faith.

Let us all become more "Christ-wise" in our relationships with friends, family, coworkers, acquaintances, and our parish family.  Learn to walk the way of Christ through the garden springs of life!

“By three methods we may learn wisdom: First, by reflection, which is noblest; Second, by imitation, which is easiest; and third by experience, which is the bitterest.”  - Confucius

-J.

Dirty Laundry

Monday of the Eighth Week in Ordinary Time

Book of Sirach 17:20-24

To the penitent God provides a way back, he encourages those who are losing hope and has chosen the lot of truth.  Return to him and give up sin, pray to the Lord and make your offenses few.  Turn again to the Most High and away from sin, hate intensely what he loathes, and know that justice and judgments of God, stand firm in the way set before you, in prayer to the Most Holy God.

Today is the U.S. Memorial Day holiday.  I have a tendency over long weekends to binge watch television shows.  I'll turn on  my Roku and then watch a fave Amazon or Netflix show while enjoying a bottle of vino.  This weekend's selection just so happen to be Season 4 and 5 of "Hotel Impossible."  I enjoy the show because I never know what the hotelier personalities will be like or how sleazy the properties.  In one Episode, the owners were so broke that they used a rusty old car washing machine for laundering bed linens.  In another show, the lady acted more as a laundry lady than the manager of the hotel.  Watching this show got me thinking about laundry mats, dirty clothes, and sin......

Do you have a few dirty clothes in your hamper?  Have they been around since Lent or were they washed at the Easter Vigil?  Did you wait until Pentecost to give your spiritual clothing a bleach followed by a Bounty soft air dry and crisp starch ironing?  Hopefully that pile of dirty laundry "Sin" has been cleansed and forgiven.   We all harbor a lot of filth and disgust.  We alł do things that are bad in God's eyes.  Yet, the seasons of Lent and Easter are special times of the year for us to realize our faults, repent, make alms, and try our best to be better Christians!

Ordinary Time is a perfect chance to put into action everything we said we'd do better.  We have the Holy Spirit  with us!  He provide us with a spiritual  washer and dryer.  It's up to us to throw a load of our dirty laundry in the wash  or a set of towels in the dryer.  With the spirit as a guide, we can monitor the wash and dry cycles.  Select the correct heat and timing cycle.  Make sure the whites aren't mixed in with the colors!  Then our once dirty laundry turns out fresh and sparkling clean.

Sometimes we will wear the same dirty clothes over and over again.  We begin to no longer smell the foul odor or notice the sweat and food stains.  We feel comfortable in our old habits, addictions, and indifference.  We stew in the stench of our apathy and defiance.  Just like a hotelier who refused to demolish his mold and asbestos infested cabins,  we can refuse to acknowledge how much sin is taking over our lives.

The Holy Spirit gives us the opportunity to cleanse our minds, hearts, and souls through the Sacraments.  He gives us the chance to live good lives through the guidance of priests and religious, bishops and cardinals and even the Pope.  No need to wear the same dirty clothes each day.  Why hang on to the old clothes when the new are within reach?  Why waste away in frustration, guilt, anger, and disgust when God is there to lend a helping hand?

As I type this meditation, another thunderstorm is plummeting my neighborhood with rain.  The Dallas area has gotten so much rain lately that all of our rivers and lakes are overflowing.  Everything is green and lush amongst the non-stop rain.  I feel like all the washing machines in heaven are overflowing with water from the spin cycle!  I feel like the dryers are shorting out causing lightning in the skies.!......Ok, I can see my analogy is going a little overboard.  Hey, at least I have my clean laundry in my basket.  I just need to hang up the clothes as the thunder roars and the rain beats hard on my roof.....

-J.

The Holy Spirit: A Treasure Chest for the Soul

Pentecost Sunday 2015

Acts of the Apostles 2:1-11

When the time for Pentecost was fulfilled, they were all in one place together.  And suddenly there came from the sky a noise like a strong driving wind, and it filled the entire house in which they were.  Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire, which parted and came to rest on each one of them.  And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues, as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim.

Today we celebrate Pentecost:  the arrival of the Holy Spirit and the beginning of the Church.  What does the Holy Spirit mean to us as Christians?  

The Holy Spirit unites us as we come together as a community of believers.  We no longer have to wander alone in the wilderness of life, afraid of the dark.  The Holy Spirit illuminates fiery light upon our souls giving us the gifts of wisdom and understanding.  Although Christ is no longer with us in the flesh, he's with us in the Spirit.  The Spirit guides and fortifies us.  Do we listen to the Spirit's gentle prodding?  Do we recognize the influences of the Holy Spirit in our neighbors?  Do we use the Holy Spirit as a divine guide?

I remember years ago my mom and I were driving home from downtown Dallas after a trip to the Farmers' Market.  All of sudden an older Bronco in the highway lane in front of us hit the median and began rolling in our direction!  My mom slammed on the brakes as the car continued to roll before stopping within only a couple of feet from us. All four lanes of traffic stopped as my mom rushed out of the car to see minister aide. The Bronco laid on its side with the glass windshield broken in a million pieces.  The driver was still alive and breathing as blood covered his head, arms and hands.  We were absolutely amazed the man survived, and we were spared from a very serious collision.  If it wasn't for the Holy Spirit and our guardian angels, I'm convinced we may not be alive today.   

Nobody should doubt one instant the power of the Holy Spirit.  It protects and heals.  It gives us courage and insight.  It helps navigate our life's path even when we walk across flooded gutters, hot gravel, icy patches, or potholes. That narrow path to holiness isn't always smooth.  However, the Holy Spirit can guide us through the rough spots.

In the Office Readings, I found a beautiful quote from Saint Mary Magdalene de Pazzi, a Carmelite nun from Florence, Italy who live back in the 16th century:

"Come, Holy Spirit.  Let the precious pearl of the Father and the Word's delight come.  Spirit of truth, you are the reward of the saints, the comforter is souls, light in the darkness, riches to the poor, treasure of lovers, food for the hungry, comfort to those who are wandering; to sum up, you are the one in whom all treasures all contained."

I imagine The Holy Spirit as a treasure chest for our souls.  It provides us with  diamonds of love, sapphires of of joy, pearls of peace, garnets of patience, gold of kindness, emeralds of generosity, silver of faithfulness, rubies of gentleness, and onyx of self control.  Do we us our treasures wisely for the benefit of the faith or do we bury our treasures?  Do we trade them on the black market using them for greedy purposes or do we trade them with others in holy ways?  Do we decide to carry around empty treasures chests filled with rocks or do we share our priceless treasures with others?

I'll leave you to contemplate further....

Happy Pentecost!

-J.

A World in Virtual Chains

Saturday of the Seventh Week of Easter

By JENNIFER BURGIN

(Click Here for Readings)

When they had gathered he said to them, “My brothers, although I had done nothing against our people or our ancestral customs, I was handed over to the Romans as a prisoner from Jerusalem. After trying my case the Romans wanted to release me, because they found nothing against me deserving the death penalty....This is the reason, then, I have requested to see you and to speak with you, for it is on account of the hope of Israel that I wear these chains.” 

On Netflix, I discovered a bizarre British mini series, similar to Twilight Zone, called Black Mirror. I was shocked off my sofa as I watched one disturbing episode after the next.  Definitely for mature audiences,  the second episode takes place in a futuristic  "prison" where men and women ride exercise bikes as retribution for crimes committed.  While cycling away, they watch 24/7 video images or play games with avatars. Digital currency accrues as the prisoners engage in virtual activities.  The ultimate prize is affording a singing competition entry ticket; the best singer is "released" from prison but with alternative arrangements in exchange.  True freedom is only a figment of the imagination! The episode left me thinking:  Are we slaves to Technology? Are we literally chained to the Internet, electronic devices, video games, and social media?   

Sadly, I think Technology is transforming into a pseudo-God.  How many Americans worship the idols of Apple and Google?!  People are addicted to their cell phones, Facebook and Twitter.  Whole communities are formed around the virtual instead of reality.  No wonder the Church sees a decline in Mass attendance.  Some people are more "enlightened" by the virtual world's non-stop stimulation, entertainment, and self-promotion.   They can buy, earn, see and believe anything without conforming to a set of moral standards. They don't have to listen to boring homilies while sitting around yawning people reciting the same mass responses each Sunday.  In the virtual world, they can meet like minded people who may share a mutual disgust for God and then troll around cyberspace spreading cyber venom.  Or, they can become lazy and indifferent toward religious practice.

Always keep in mind that not all technology is bad.  The Internet is a wonderful resource for the New Evangelization.  Pope Francis has had tremendous success with his Twitter feed. The Vatican News Agency can quickly spread accurate information about the Church. Catholic conversions and reversions do still happen!  We just have to be careful to use Technology wisely and diligently.  It's easy for us to get sucked into the wows and whims of our electronic gadgets, but then forget about the poor, the hungry, the abused, the imprisoned, and the elderly.  We can lose one-on-one connections, both emotionally, mentally and physically.  Yes, we can read online about those suffering in the world, and make a donation with the swipe of a finger, but nothing is more humane and loving than to minister in person. Technology can keep us socially isolated if we allow it.  We should discover innovative  ways to use technology to build up the Church.

As Christians we are called to physical communion as well as Holy Communion. Here we can shake hands, hug one another, or shed a tear or two without using Skype.  We can share a laugh and a smile without using emoticons.  We can pray together, worship together, and interact together without the need for Wi-Fi.  We can keep that human bond alive without allowing artificial intelligence to destroy it.

I wonder what Saint Paul would think about Technology.  Imagine a live broadcast from the Roman prison via satellite with a recording posted on Jew-Tube! Imagine all of the people re-tweeting quotes from Saint Paul's speech Wow, what a different world it would have been.  Yet, I'm satisfied with the real biblical story.

“All of a sudden, we’ve lost a lot of control,’ he said. ‘We can’t turn off our internet; we can’t turn off our smartphones; we can’t turn off our computers. You used to ask a smart person a question. Now, who do you ask? It starts with g-o, and it’s not God…”  ― Steve Wozniak

“That’s sad. How plastic and artificial life has become. It gets harder and harder to find something…real.” Nin interlocked his fingers, and stretched out his arms. “Real love, real friends, real body parts…” ― Jess C. Scott, "The Other Side of Life"

This meditation was written by Jennifer Burgin, a Lay Dominican.  Please visit her blog:  Jennifer's Spectrum of Spirituality

"The Nones" of God Above

The Ascension of the Lord 

Letter to the Ephesians 1:17-22

May the eyes of your hearts be enlightened,
   that you may know what is the hope that belongs to his call,what are the riches of glory
   in his inheritance among the holy ones,
   and what is the surpassing greatness of his power for us who believe, in accord with the exercise of his great might, which he worked in Christ, raising him from the dead and seating him at his right hand in the heavens, far above every principality, authority, power, and dominion, and every name that is named
   not only in this age but also in the one to come.

Today the Church celebrates The Ascension of the Lord.  We are only one more week away from the Feast of Pentecost and the end of the Easter Season.  Has it been a fruitful experience for you?  Have you grown in your faith?  What lessons can you take away from the last 40 days?  

Sadly, I think people are more in touch with Christ during the Lenten Season than the Easter Season.  Once Easter Sunday arrives, people go on with their daily lives forgetting about the period afterwards when the Church is born and the Holy Spirit arrives.  

While meditating on today's reading from Ephesians, I thought about the recent religious survey of 35,000 people about their religious preference.  Sadly, there's been an 8% decline in those who consider themselves Christian with a rise in self-proclaimed atheists from 16% to 23% since the last survey in 2007.  Atheists now outnumber Catholics in the U.S. with Evangelistic Protestants in the first place slot.  I'm curious about the statistical accuracy of this survey.  Did it reach a wide range of ages?  I can see Millenials labeling themselves as atheists but how about the senior citizens who dominate the pews?  35 K doesn't seem like a very large sampling group considering the population of the United States stands at 318.9 million.

I think the Catholic Church more than ever before needs to amp up the evangelization efforts.  However, this is a difficult task as long as the liberal news media and social media extends its tentacles of anti-God bias; as long as society continues to be self-focused and self-consumed; as long as people enjoy material possessions over spiritual ones; and as long as morality takes a back seat to the "anything goes" mentality.

When Christ ascended into heaven and resided at the right hand of the Father, he knew  that his message would be a tough sell for many in the world.  He knew the apostles and his followers would suffer persecution.  He knew being a Christian would be difficult.  Yet, he gave us the spiritual tools -mainly the power of the Holy Spirit- to guide us along through the wins and losses.  

I've heard a buzz word on catholic radio which terms atheist and other non-religious sect as "The Nones."   The Nones definitely don't believe in The God Above.  They can care less about religion.  They prefer to live their lives however way they choose without guilt and remorse.  Some Nones live on a diet of hate and anger while other Nones live on a life of sexual decadence.  Other Nones may actually be good people who try to live good lives, yet they are still driven by their own passions. The Nones are pretty much fed up with Christians trying to convert them, disgusted by the obvious hypocrisy in so many of the God fearing.

I often wonder if The Nones find God and religion boring.  Life with all of its shills and thrills, excess and decadence is much more appealing: Have a gay marriage ceremony and then adopt a baby or two.  Have multiple abortions.  Contracept so as to never have children.  Get divorced multiple times or choose to forgo marriage.  Demand rights as a transsexual and go through a sex change as young as eight years old.  Become a porn star.  Yikes!  I just can't believe how far down the hole society has gone just in the last twenty five years.  What will the next twenty five years look like?  

For us Catholics who still attend Sunday mass and follow the teaching of the Magisterium, it's important for us not to be discouraged by the trends were seeing in regards to Christianity.  We are literally in a spiritual war against the news Media, social media and technology which so often twists and warps the image of God.  Let us continue to pray for those who have left the Church.  Let us invoke the actions of the Holy Spirit to reverse the anti-religious trend in society today.

-J.

All You Have to Do is Ask

Saturday of the Sixth Week of Easter


(Click Here for Readings)

Jesus said to his disciples:“Amen, amen, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in my name he will give you. Until now you have not asked anything in my name; ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete. “I have told you this in figures of speech. The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures but I will tell you clearly about the Father."

Have you ever asked for a favor and the person never followed through?  On the flip side:  Has someone ever requested a favor from you and you blew it off like no big deal?

At the end of my sophomore year of college, we were in the process of vacating our dorm rooms.  I needed help removing a heavy carpet rug from underneath my bed, so I pre-arranged for my boyfriend to come by one evening. When he failed to show up, I called him.  I remember his rudeness and irritability as he yelled: "Jennifer, you're just going to have to find someone else to move that carpet!  I'm too tired and don't have the time!"  I slammed down the phone in anger and disgust. Since he refuses to help, I'm no longer his girlfriend! He can go where the sun don't shine!  

How was I going to move the bed and the ugly pink carpet?  (I cursed my roommate for leaving me stuck with her trash.)  In desperation, I called one of my girlfriends.  She agreed to come over very late that evening, and she removed the rug with all of her brawn and sweat.  I was grateful for her assistance but evidently the "favor" was too burdensome.  She never spoke to me again!  I wrote her letters that summer and even enclosed a small gift of thanks.  No response. To this day, I wonder if she'd remain a friend if I asked someone else to move the carpet? 

Ask and you will receive.....   In Adoration this week, I pondered these words further.   The Lord doesn't grant our wishes like a Genie in a bottle. Sometimes we ask and the Lord tells us, "Nope! That's not for you! You are not ready for this yet."  Maybe what we ask for is bad for our bodies. Maybe what we beg for is dangerous to our souls. Maybe what we cry out for will lead us away from grace. Our Lord desires our joy to be complete in Him and through Him. He wants to see our smiling faces in heaven someday! In the meantime, we should let go of our egos, hangups, pride, and selfishness.

The Holy Spirit whispers in our ears three simple words: patience, trust, hope.  Be patient, trust in God's will and remain hopeful!

Unanswered questions We ask God many questions. Why do good people die too soon? Why so much poverty and starvation in the world? Why so much hate, corruption, and persecution in our global society?  We wait to receive an answer; however, we hear silence. We don't understand God's plan, and we definitely don't know how Christ will judge us at the end of time. Despite the unanswered questions, we keep moving forward.  Hopefully we are enjoying life to the fullest, praising God for our blessings even if we are unclear of how the past, present and future will work out.

All you have to do is ask...  Sounds simple enough, right?  We don't have to worry about Our Lord playing a game of fickleness like people we know.  He remains constant, pouring out his unconditional love!   We ask for forgiveness, he gives us mercy.  When we ask for favor, he gives us grace.  Remember there is a clear distinction between asking for material goods versus asking for spiritual goods.  If it helps us grow in our faith, the Lord will provide.

"Let the water flow beneath the bridge; let men be men, that is to say, weak, vain, inconstant, unjust, false, and presumptuous; let the world be the world still; you cannot prevent it. Let every one follow his own inclination and habits; you cannot recast them, and the best course is, to let them be as they are and bear with them. Do not think it strange when you witness unreasonableness and injustice; rest in peace in the bosom of God; He sees it all more clearly than you do, and yet permits it." 

-Francois Fenelon

-J.

A Friend of Jesus

Sixth Sunday of Easter

Gospel of John 15:9-17

“I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and your joy might be complete. This is my commandment: love one another as I love you.

No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. I no longer call you slaves, because a slave does not know what his master is doing. I have called you friends, because I have told you everything I have heard from my Father.

Saturday afternoon I attended our monthly Lay Dominican meeting.  Each get-together begins with an opening prayer and then circle preaching:  30 minutes of shared reflections on the Sunday gospel reading.  I was intrigued when our Dominican friar in attendance asked for homily advice. This Sunday he would celebrate Mass at a federal penitentiary. He asked the laity, "What would you say if you preached to a group of men who will be released from prison in less than two years?"  I sat there, listening to others answer the question.  My mind drew a blank!

As I drove home from the meeting, all I could think about were prisoners the friar would preach to the next day. The idea of prison ministry scares me. Personally, I could never do it.  However, the incarcerated need Christ more than anybody else!  Only very special people can minister to the hardest of hearts, breaking through the anger, the pain, and guilt often associated with crimes committed long ago.

 Were the prisoners sorry for what they did?  Did they wish they had chosen a different path in life?  Did they believe that Jesus Christ still loves them despite their crimes?  Did they think of Jesus as a friend?

A kid would never stand up in front of the class and say, "I want to be a criminal and go to prison when I grow up!" Prison is the last thing on anyone's mind and definitely not the preferred place to spend the rest of one's life.  Yet, when people choose to steal, rape, murder, sell drugs, or embezzle the only recourse is to be put behind bars.

Prison life is not for the faint of heart. It's dangerous, ruthless, and corrupt.  The principle " an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth" is mainstream.  I've often heard that the incarcerated "take care of their own" when it comes to justice.  Pedophiles and baby killers are some of the ones targeted most often.

I once knew a man who spent five years in prison for manslaughter.  He killed someone in a drunk driving accident.  Later, he was re-employed at my old company.  His old boss pitied him and wanted to give him a fresh start.  The man was very remorseful for what he had done.  He sobered up, turning back to God as well as his family after years of alcohol abuse.  To this day he still shows up to work every day and is a dedicated employee.  Just this past year he was granted a driver's license after nearly 10 years of suspension.

Not all prisoners are as lucky as the guy I knew.  Some come out of jail just to return a short time later.  These prisoners have a difficult time adjusting to a society that's not too forgiving.  I don't know of many companies who will hire an ex-con.  Being in prison, even if it was for a minor crime, is like being branded a scarlet letter "A" on your chest.  In this case, it's a scarlet letter P.

My heart wrenches when I hear of men and women in prison for 10-20 years under false accusation.  They are suddenly released, cleared of all chargers, but where do they go?  Where do they turn to?  How can they re-adapt to the regular world?  Faith in God can help.  Becoming part of a welcoming Christian community can help.  Remembering that Jesus loves and forgives provides comfort.  However, fellow Christians should accept these people back with open arms.  We cannot and should not neglect the prisoner.  Pure and simple.  To lay down's one life for one's friends is to help all of those in need, especially the poor, the abused, and the incarcerated.  To be a friend of Jesus is to be a friend to others, especially those we may find lowly.

Love one another as I have loved you.  These words from Jesus are tough to swallow when we think of the incarcerated in prisons throughout the United States.  If Jesus can forgive their crimes, why can't we forgive?  If Jesus is willing to be a friend to them despite whatever they did wrong, why can't we offer friendship, too?  It's controversial to want to protect a man's life from capital punishment.  It's taboo to visit a prison and preach the good news of Christ.  Many people rather allow those locked up to rot away, slaves to the prison system, instead of given a chance at rehabilitation and conversion.

Jesus was a friend to everybody and still is a friend today.  All he asks is that we follow his commandments.  Love one another.  Help one another.  Be joyful to one another.  Spread the good news to each other.  Minister to those in need - the window, the orphan, and the prisoner.

“I was in prison and you came to visit me … I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.”  - Matthew 25:36, 40

-J.

Travelin' Along With St. Paul

Saturday of the Fifth Week of Easter

(Click Here for Readings)

Paul reached also Derbe and Lystra where there was a disciple named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer, but his father was a Greek. The brothers in Lystra and Iconium spoke highly of him, and Paul wanted him to come along with him. .....As they traveled from city to city, they handed on to the people for observance the decisions reached by the Apostles and presbyters in Jerusalem. Day after day the churches grew stronger in faith and increased in number.

As I typed this meditation on the iPad Blogger app, I inadvertently hit a combo of keys and the words disappeared off the screen. Oh no!  Autosave kill!  Two days worth of work "poof" in a few seconds. (I guess the Holy Spirit didn't like my first draft.)   Needless to say, technology isn't always a writer's best friend. Too bad I don't own a papyrus scroll and a reed pen like Saint Paul may have used.  Note to Jennifer's cerebrum: Remember manual writing utensils! It'll prevent future re-write headaches.

From Saul to Paul  Saint Paul is my favorite of all the Apostles.  His quirky personality, dedication to Gentile ministry, and prolific letter writing established a lasting biblical legacy.  He may not be an original disciple appointed by Jesus, but his zeal for the Word convinced the Apostles to accept him as one of their own.

I think of Saul, before his conversion, participating in an episode of Extreme Makeover: Come Home to Christ Edition.  While bullying around Judea, Saul prided himself on being "the" enforcer of Judaic Law.  He threatened, persecuted, and terrorized.  He brought men and women to tears with his enmity.  He hated with a passion.  Then the amazing happened:  Saul encountered The Risen Christ!  It knocked him off his "high horse" causing a lack of sight.  However, the "light" of Christ cured his spiritual blindness. Saul the Persecutor transformed into Paul the Evangelizer. 

What if Paul asked you to join him on his preaching mission?  Would you accept the challenge like Timothy, or would you run away like the naked man in the Garden of Gethsemane on the night of Jesus' arrest?

Travelin' Along What was travel like for Saint Paul? I imagine weeks and months in the desert's scorching heat, riding camels covered in flies or battling sea sickness and shipwrecks. Food, shelter and a place to sleep transient from town to town. Paul never knew who or what he'd encounter: a pagan with strange rituals, a clingy woman, an angry Greek, a possessed child or a Roman guard plotting murder.  Some days were happy with miracles and baptisms followed by days of stone throwing and cries of blasphemy. Language barriers proved to be a constant challenge, too.   What about money?  Surely, wealthy followers deposited gold and silver coins into the tithing basket.

One thing Saint Paul counted on was the guidance of the Holy Spirit.  This Spirit helped determine the right communities to reach out to and the ones to avoid. Furthermore, the Holy Spirit offered protection, easing travel burdens.  Prayer and communion provided the courage necessary to remain on the proper Gospel track.

Our Own Observance  Saint Paul worked with different cultures, traditions, languages, and temperaments throughout his travels. Some people opened themselves up to the message of Christ while others resisted the Truth.  Many communities tried to observe Christ's teachings but failed over and over again.  Fortunately, they didn't give up!  Christian churches continued to flourish despite growing pains.

The Holy Spirit continues to guides us, but are we entirely open to its fruits?  The Spirit breathes inside you and me. Do we feel it? It penetrates every crevice of nature. Do we see it? It shocks and mystifies. Do we accept it?  The Advocate gently whispers in our ears, prompting us to follow the teachings of the Church and to be positive examples to others.  Yes, our secular culture portrays Jesus as a fictional cartoon character or a man murdered centuries ago whose teachings are irrelevant in our sophisticated, modern world.  Don't believe the lies!

What if Christ never existed?  What if he never died on the cross for our salvation?  How much worse off would the world be today?  I think the world would be in utter chaos, possibly as bad as The Hunger Games.  

In my daily rosary, I pray for peace.  I pray for people to return to the Catholic Church who may have left years ago.  I pray for religious freedom and protection of Christians against persecution.  I pray for a softening of hearts wounded by cruelty and injustice.  Days when I'm tempted to whine and complain how bad life is, I focus on my blessings.  God is good; in fact God is great!  I'm sure Saint Paul at times struggled with his faith.  He may have pitied himself when his preaching met up against hecklers, or the long travel left him fatigued.  Yet, he persevered and continued on.  He's a fine example of the saying:  Put on the mind of Christ!  

We all travel through life with upside downs, inside outs, and major turnarounds. We may feel like Catholicism is slowly being destroyed.  Rest assured:  The Holy Spirit is watching and protecting!  Just like the Spirit helped Saint Paul and the Apostles, it helps Christians today survive adversity.  God will prevail!

"Father, you protect and strengthen those who hope in you; you heard the cry of your Son and kept him in your tent in the day of evil.  Grant that your servants who seek your face in times of trouble may see your goodness in the land of the living."  -Liturgy of the Hours, Psalter Week I, Wednesday Evening Prayer

-J.

The True Vine

Fifth Sunday of Easter

Gospel of John 15:1-8

Jesus said to his disciples: “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine grower. He takes away every branch in me that does not bear fruit, and every one that does he prunes so that it bears more fruit. You are already pruned because of the word that I spoke to you. Remain in me, as I remain in you. Just as a branch cannot bear fruit on its own unless it remains on the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in me.

This Sunday's gospel reading reminds me of a wonderful trip I took to Italy in September 2004.  At the time, my boyfriend worked in the wine biz, so we toured Southern Tuscany with industry-only access to the best wineries in the region.  We stayed at a 17th century chateau in Siena overlooking the gorgeous countryside.  I remember walking along the cobblestone streets of Siena's famous town square eating real Italian pistachio gelato.   We discovered a secluded restaurant nestled inside of a cave where we later ate a fantastic dinner accompanied by carafes of red wine.  After relaxing in Siena, we took a chartered bus tour throughout the Tuscan countryside visiting one winery after another. Wild lavender and rosemary grew along the roadsides, stunning the olfactory senses with aromatic delight.  We just so happen to visit Italy about a week or two before grape harvest, so the vines were loaded with grapes. Most of the wineries and vineyards were hundreds of years old. At one point we visited an old fortress built around the time period Saint Dominic lived (ca 1100's). The highlight of the trip was when we dined at the personal home of a vintner who owned one of the oldest wineries in the region of Montepulciano.  Nothing better than homemade Italian cuisine!!  I loved the prosciutto, but where did the green olives go?? Locals told us olives couldn't be harvested for another month!

I love the image of the grapevine.  Jesus is the true vine and God the Father is the vine grower. We are the branches which grow from the vine's trunk, either producing good fruit or bad.  If we remain properly trellised, we allow God's light to shine through us.  We are given just the right amount of nutrients to grow in our faith.  We can choose to grow toward the sunlight, ripening up to become big juicy and mouth watering grapes, or we can choose to hide ourselves under the shade of the leafy canopy, turning moldy and rotten.  We may decide to "prune" ourselves away from Jesus' vine thinking we can "grow" without his help.  What a mistake!  Allow Jesus to "prune" in ways that brings us closer to him!  Pruning encourages growth and maturity when done properly.

The next time you drink the communion wine at mass, think of the image of the grapevines in the vineyard.   Remain on the vine! Stay close to the Lord!  Allow him to prune you into a better person, a better friend, a better servant and an even better Christian!

-J.

Sin: What a Waste!

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My place of employment just so happens to be about a quarter mile from the city landfill.  I drive by the huge mountain of trash every morning with the smelly aroma permeating the air, especially after a heavy rain.  Seagulls and black birds circle about looking for tasty snacks.  They must love rotting fast food, plastic bottles, trash bags, and the like.  YUCK!

Yesterday, I went to confession for my monthly spiritual cleansing.  The image of  the city landfill came to mind as I examined what I have failed to do as a good Christian.  Sin's garbage and stink can pile up fairly quickly.  Fortunately, my conscience reminded me:  It's time to take the trash out, Jennifer! Don't let all of this filthy sin stagnate like backed-up sewage! Shoo-wee!

After confession, I imagine all of my sins hauled off to heaven's dump! God's garbage trucks pick up the foul-smelling load and dumps it off at an incinerator.  As sin burns up, the rotting stench converts into the pleasant aroma of love and forgiveness!  The ashes remaining are composted material ready to fertilize the soul.

We can quickly allow ours mortal and venial sins to pile up higher and higher to the point our soul is overflowing with rot and decay.  We want to shovel ourselves  out of the mess but think:

"I really don't need to go to confession.  I don't need to the sacraments.  Church is not for me!  I'll just stew in my sins.  I love my porn addiction!  I love getting high!  I love abusing the bottle!  I love being mean, nasty and hateful to others!  I love doing whatever the !@#$ pleases ME!"

Do people enjoy hoarding their sins?  Do they enjoy doing whatever they please even if it causes them pain?  I sometimes wonder.  For me, I think sin is definitely a waste of the good in life!  When we gravitate toward sin, all we do is hurt ourselves.  When we rest on our own laurels instead of relying on God's will, we remain in an infinite garbage pit, drowning in our own misery.  Sin forms layers and gets buried so deep that we forget they even exist.   Sin becomes a taboo three-letter word in our free-thinking do-what-you want society.

As Christians, it's important for us to be aware of our sinful nature.  We can't ignore our faults and failings if we are to better serve our community.  One thing I do before bed every evening is recite the "Act of Contrition" from memory.  This way I let God know that I have sinned against him in ways that I may or may not be fully aware; however, I ask for his pardon and forgiveness.

"Go to your confessor; open your heart to him; display to him all the recesses of your soul; take the advice that he will give you with the utmost humility and simplicity. For God, Who has an infinite love for obedience, frequently renders profitable the counsels we take from others, but especially from those who are the guides of our souls."  

--St. Francis de Sales

-J.

The Eyes of Jealousy

Memorial of Saint Athanasius, Bishop and Doctor of the Church

(Click Here for Readings)

On the following sabbath almost the whole city

gathered to hear the word of the Lord. When the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and with violent abuse contradicted what Paul said. Both Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly and said, “It was necessary that the word of God be spoken to you first, but since you reject it and condemn yourselves as unworthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles."

My senior year of high school I was invited to interview for a Civic League scholarship.  I earned a high GPA and volunteered in the community; however, could I impress the scholarship committee with my personality? I lacked self-confidence. The thought of answering interview questions made me sick to my stomach. My teachers gave me encouragement: "Just be yourself, Jennifer! You'll do great!" 

The day of the interview two popular girls stood in the hallway as I exited the candidate room.  I overheard them gossiping:  "Uh!  I hope they don't give a scholarship to Jennifer.  She doesn't need the money!  Her mother works for that big law firm downtown!"  I later told my mom what I heard.  She responded, shaking her head in disbelief, "Jennifer, they are only jealous of you! How funny they think I'm a highly paid lawyer.  I'm only a legal secretary. They have no idea how much we can use scholarship funds for Texas A&M's tuition.  Don't let them upset you! "  

The Civic League not only awarded me a scholarship the year of graduation but all four years of college.  To this day, I don't even remember the names or faces of those jealous girls; however, I will always remember the Civic League's generosity.  

The Eyes of Jealousy   Jealousy is a hideous vice which strikes us all.  We are not immune to its negative hold on our psyches.  Mr. Jealousy is a clever invader, using our pride, vanity, and sensuality to flood our eyes with internal seething. We question "why" someone is given something when we are left empty-handed.  Why can't we be a GQ George or a Cosmopolitan Cindy ? Why, why, why?

Examples of jealousy can be found throughout the bible. We read about God being a jealous god.  He wanted people to worship him instead of golden idols.  Then we read the story of Cain and Abel - one brother spilling the blood of the other out of jealousy.  Poor Joseph was sold into slavery because his brothers resented him for being the father's favorite son.   Even Abraham's wife Sarah was jealous of her slave Hagar and sent her away to the desert.  We can't forget Judas Iscariot and his betrayal of Jesus where jealousy played a big role in Christ's death.

Today's first reading describes the Jews filled with jealousy seeing the whole town gathered together to hear the Word of the Lord. They felt uncomfortable by the preaching, and they definitely didn't want such teaching going on in their neighborhood. Certainly, the Jews wished the Apostles would disappear - Poof!  Gone! 

What fueled the Jewish jealousy and the violent abuse against Paul and Barnabas? Insecurity and fear.  Perhaps they feared the extinction of Jewish traditions, or maybe they felt threatened by the growing Christian population.  Even though the Apostles tried to convert them, the Jews rejected the Truth of Christ.  Sadly, nothing would change their stubborn and defiant attitude, so the Apostles ministered to the Gentiles instead.  The eyes of jealousy converted to eyes of delight, changing from green to a bright blue, as the Gentiles accepted the message of Jesus Christ with interest and excitement.  

The Eyes of a Saint   Today, the Church celebrates the feast day of Saint Athanasius, Bishop and Doctor of the Church.  During the 4th century, he fought staunchly against Arianism. I found a powerful quote which relates to modern-day, especially in light of the Christian persecution throughout the world:  

  "You are the ones who are happy; you who remain within the Church by your Faith, who hold firmly to the foundations of the Faith which has come down to you from Apostolic Tradition. And if an execrable jealousy has tried to shake it on a number of occasions, it has not succeeded. They are the ones who have broken away from it in the present crisis. No one, ever, will prevail against your Faith, beloved Brothers. And we believe that God will give us our churches back some day."

-From the "Letter of Saint Athanasius To His Flock"

Saint Anthanasius, Pray for Us!

Wisdom from Dominican Saints

The last week of April is very special for Dominicans all over the world as we celebrate the feast days of  St. Louis de Montfort (April 28th), St. Catherine of Siena (April 29th) and St. Pope Pius V (April 30th). I always love to publish inspiring quotes on this blog, so here are a few to meditate on during the month of May (dedicated to Our Blessed Mother)! 

   

"You are the salt of the earth! You are the light of the world! See to it that the people are edified by your example, by the purity of your lives, by the moderation of your conduct, and the brilliance of your holiness! God does not ask of you mere ordinary virtue. He demands downright perfection!"

-Saint Pope Pius V to the cardinals

  

"Everything was made by me, and without me nothing can exist.  Therefore, if it is beauty you want, I am beauty.  If you want goodness, I am goodness for I am supremely good.  I am wisdom.  I am kind; I am compassionate; I am the just and merciful God.  I am generous, not miserly.  I give to those who ask of me, open to those who knock the truth, and answer those who call out to me.  I am not ungrateful but  grateful and mindful  to reward  those who  will toil with me, for the  glory and praise of my name.  I am joyful, and I keep the soul who clothes herself  in my will in supreme joy.  I am that supreme providence who never betrays my servants' hope in me in soul or body. "

- From Saint Catherine of Siena's "The Dialogue" (God's answer about Divine Providence)

“Have you strayed from the path leading to heaven? Then call on Mary, for her name means "Star of the Sea, the North Star which guides the ships of our souls during the voyage of this life," and she will guide you to the harbor of eternal salvation.” 

― Saint Louis-Marie Grignion de Montfort, The Secret Of The Rosary