Treasure in Earthen Vessels

Feast of Saint James, Apostle

2 Corinthians 4:7-15

Brothers and sisters: We hold this treasure in earthen vessels, that the surpassing power may be of God and not from us. We are afflicted in every way, but not constrained;  perplexed, but not driven to despair;  persecuted, but not abandoned;  struck down, but not destroyed;  always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our body.

Last week, I read an interesting article on the discovery of a shipwreck off the coast of North Carolina.  Estimated to be from The American Revolution, marine scientists found perfectly preserved cooking bricks, chains, wine bottles, and wood timbers buried deep in the cold waters.  These "treasures"  from an "earthen vessel" will provide insight into maritime voyages from centuries ago.  Who knows what other treasures will be found. 

We read in the bible about Saint Paul shipwrecked.  Scripture doesn't go into much detail. Perhaps he attempted to sail from point A to point B.  Wicked winds threw his navigation off course.  Gigantic waves possibly made him sea sick.  A torrential storm crashed his ship onto land, tearing it up into pieces.  Obstacles from every compass direction afflicted Paul....

Another disciple of Christ gives up:  No more discipleship! No more spreading the good news!  I'm done with this Jesus mission! Travel is impossible!  However, Paul carried the crucified Christ inside every recess of his soul.  His intimate relationship with Our Lord kept his head above water while suffering discomfort, agony, and torment.

We go through life hunting for buried treasure through material possessions and intimate pleasures.  We desire to become god-like, obsessed with our own desires.  When  affliction and confusion strike us, we do all we can to scrape off the crusty barnacles and prevent the sun from burning our skin further, yet nothing seems to help.  This is when the Holy Spirit rescues!  Real treasure lies in God alone.

Marine Biologist Sylvia Earle wrote, "Like a shipwreck or a jetty, almost anything that forms a structure in the ocean, whether it is natural or artificial over time, collects life."  So, when life turns into one massive shipwreck, sinking our earthly vessels nautical miles deep into the sea, rest-assured God has everything under control and divinely protected.

Receive the Holy Eucharist regularly.  Adore the Blessed Sacrament frequently.  Pray for the strength to survive life's shipwrecks trusting that God will provide.  Keep the crucified Christ bound tightly to the heart!

‎Life is a shipwreck, but we must not forget to sing in the lifeboats.” - Voltaire

Saint James, Pray for Us!

-J.

Annoyance & Transformative Love

Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Today is one of those annoying mornings where I wish I could hit the Undo and Refresh buttons...

 My alarm clock didn't go off!  I needed to be at mass by 7:10am.  I rushed to get dressed, put puppy in her kennel, and headed out to the Church.  I arrived just in time; however, the mass celebrant was no where to be found.  Finally, he walked in right at 7:30am, wearing no microphone the first ten minutes of the service.

I thought the rest of the mass would go without a hitch.  Wrong!   One of the Eucharistic ministers got confused with her assigned spot.  She insisted it was at my location and wouldn't move.  Uh!  So I gave up the "spot" and had to  walk all away around the altar to the other side of the sanctuary.  I don't like to look like an idiot when other people mess up, but this is definitely my pride speaking. Keep calm and carry on...

After church, I decide to drive over to iHop for breakfast.  At a light that just turned green, I barely lifted my foot off the brake when I heard a loud "Hooonnnkk." The guy wanted me to move like NOW as he threw up his arms.  Let's just say I threw a nice arm out the window in return.  No, I didn't use the middle finger or curse even though I sure felt like it.  I absolutely can't stand people who honk just to be impatient jerks. 

We all experience annoyance each and every day.  Annoying people are sometimes the biggest burdens that we struggle with.  In today's gospel reading, Jesus wishes to take his disciples up to a deserted location for a mini vacation.  They have worked hard and need time together for rest and rejuvenation.  However, the crowds just wouldn't leave Jesus alone.  They followed him by foot as Jesus and the disciples floated on the sea.  They were bound and determine to meet our Lord on the other side.

The gospel says Jesus was moved with pity by the sight of the crowds. This pity was the result of his deep and profound love for all mankind. He could have felt annoyed, irritated, or angry because they changed his original plans. These were not normal people, but a whole flock of sheep needing spiritual guidance.  Rest and relaxation will have to wait until another day.  The sheepfold needed a shepherd right at that moment in time.

The love Christ has for us is a transformative love.  It's a type of love that breaks down barriers. It's a love that reaches each one of us in often subtle ways.  We are called to return love to our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ.  We may think that those who annoy us don't deserve love.  On the contrary, they deserve even greater love!  I find those who particularly push my buttons are in desperate need of attention, or they just don't know any better.  Maybe they deal with physical or mental disabilities that make them the way they are. This is when the Christian  compassion and charity become of great importance.

Be another Christ!

-J.

Keeping Vigil

Saturday of the Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time

At the end of four hundred and thirty years, all the hosts of the Lord left the land of Egypt on this very date.  This was a night of Vigil for the Lord , as he led them out of the land of Egypt; so on this same night all the children of Israel must keep a vigil for the Lord throughout their generations.

 I've read this passage from the Book of Exodus numerous times, yet the word "vigil" never jumped off the page until now.  So many thoughts come to mind....

Traditionally, Catholics celebrate Saturday evening Vigil masses. We attend candlelight vigils in honor of the deceased, or we pray as a candle-holding community for social causes.

Parents know all too well the late night "vigil" as they wait for a teen who drags in way past curfew. A son or daughter sneaks in the backdoor. Uh oh!  The living room lamp is on and an angry father sits on the couch with his arms crossed.  Oops, I forgot all about the curfew, Dad! 

A little boy reminds his mom to turn on the nightlight right before bedtime. In an imaginative vigil, he waits for his favorite Super Hero to arrive and destroy the evil Boogie Man hiding in the closet!

Remember the Bic lighter everybody used to carry to a rock concert?  Now replaced by the mobile phone's glowing screen, hundreds of fans wave their phones in the air whistling and yelling.  Encore!  We want to hear an encore! Come back out and sing to us some more!

We cannot forget the lighthouse which seafarers rely on for navigation.  The swirling light is seen for miles away in dense fog, successfully alerting ships before they crash onto land.  

Keeping vigil shines a light source in the darkness; keeping vigil consists of waiting, preparing, and protecting.  We anticipate something good arriving or fear something bad occurring.  Other times, lamentations swell our hearts as we mourn the tragic loss of a group of loved ones.

The most familiar vigil scene in the bible is when the maidens keep their oil lamps lit anxiously awaiting the arrival of the bridegroom.  Unfortunately, a few maidens did not carry along enough oil.  They were ill-prepared so naturally their lamps burned out.  Their vigil abruptly ended.  They are left out of the celebration in the presence of the bridegroom....We know the bridegroom represents Jesus Christ himself.  

All children of Israel must keep vigil for the Lord throughout their generations.  Are we doing this in modern day?  Are we preparing our hearts, minds and souls for the second coming of the Lord?  Are we doing all we can to brighten our lives so that others see the shining light of Christ in us?  Are we protecting and helping others who struggle with darkness?

Light a candle.  Say a prayer.  Patiently wait.  Prepare for eternal rewards.  Keep Christ close to your heart!  

"I believe in God - not in a Catholic God; there is no Catholic God. There is God, and I believe in Jesus Christ, his incarnation. Jesus is my teacher and my pastor, but God, the Father, Abba, is the light and the Creator. This is my Being." - Pope Francis

-J.
 

Just A Sudsin' and Servin'

Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Book of Mark 6:7-13

Jesus summoned the Twelve and began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over unclean spirits. He instructed them to take nothing for the journey but a walking stick— no food, no sack, no money in their belts. They were, however, to wear sandals but not a second tunic.

A couple of months ago my dishwasher went out.  I thought to myself, "No problem.  I will hand wash the dishes like my grandmother used to back in the olden days!"  The first few weeks of hand washing didn't bother me too much.  Great exercise for my carpels and phalanges!  I only cook for one, so not too much mess.  Boy, was I wrong! I make messes like a kid baking cookies.

 As the weeks dredged on I found hand washing a boring, tedious chore.  I started allowing dirty dishes to sit overnight, and then found the dried-on food even tougher to remove. I felt like throwing a bottle of Dawn and some sponges at Mr. Clean telling him to shove the hand washing where the sun don't shine! Uh, I just don't have the patience or the time to mess with sudsin' and dryin'.  To make the situation worse, I bought an eco- friendly "organic" lavender and tea tree dish washing soap that smells great but works like my dead dishwasher.

Palmolive take me away.....

 All the time I spend scrubbing silverware and plates could be devoted to much more productive and interesting endeavors.  I've been definitely spoiled by kitchen conveniences! 

Right now I think of washing dishes by hand as a self-inflicted penance for all of times I've sinned.  Every dish I scrub while wearing my over-sized rubber gloves, I say to Our Lord: "Here is a cleaned dish for the gossip I spewed out the other day.  Here is a knife and a fork for cussing at the pokey driver on the road.  Here is a squeaky clean skillet pan for the time I thought so snarly about someone I could literally whack him over the head with a cast iron skillet!"  Uh oh!  Scrub a dub, dub...Work those rubber gloves a little harder, Jennifer!

In the gospel reading for today, Jesus set his twelve disciples "loose" on their own for the first time.  He advises them to bring nothing along except for walking stick and a pair of sandals. Parallel this with washing dishes with only a sponge and a pair of rubber gloves.  Not a whole lot to work with.  

The Apostles will quickly discover an important part of following Christ involves living simply with an attitude of worldly poverty.  They will rely on the charity of others to provide for their needs.  Food, water, clothing, and shelter will be uncertain.  Some people will be kind while others brutal.  Some will listen to the good news and convert whereas others will lash out and condemn. 

Serving others in a ministerial capacity is a tough job and involves risks as well as rewards.  I think of times when the Apostles went without a meal or a place to sleep because someone found their message blasphemous.  However, they kept journeying along from town to town, spreading the good news despite all the obstacles!

-J.

P.S Off with the rubber gloves and "on" with shiny new dishwasher over Labor Day weekend.....

Secrets Revealed

Memorial of Saint Benedict, Abbot

(Click Here for Readings)

Nothing is concealed that will not be revealed, nor secret that will not be known. What I say to you in the darkness, speak in the light; what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops.And do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul;  rather, be afraid of the one who can destroy both soul and body in Gehenna.


Do you harbor a deep dark secret nobody knows about?  Is this secret eating away at you like a bleeding ulcer leaving you irritable, nervous, and restless?  What would it feel like to let go of the secret, receiving the Lord's healing mercy and forgiveness?

Secrets Revealed   Recently, I watched a TED Talk by Frank Warren who in 2005 began a community mail art project called Post Secret.  As part of the project, people send "anonymous" postcards sharing their most intimate secrets.  No censorship is placed on the content although people are asked to tell the truth.   Every Sunday, Frank posts 10 new secrets on his website.  I've monitored the site for the past couple of months and find the posts very interesting.  Some secrets display humor while others jaw-dropping seriousness.  Secrets can be downright repulsive at times, leaving me scratching my head wondering the sanity of the person holding the secret.  What I find most intriguing is the raw honesty behind the postcards. Some of the "revelations" are quite thought-provoking. They prove how human beings are all "wounded" in one way or another. We have strange hang-ups and "hiccups"that people may even relate to.  Yet,  God still loves his children regardless of the "secrets" revealed under the anonymity of snail mail or the Internet.

Every now and then a postcard appears with a religious flair. Here are a few examples which make me think "Hmmm..."

"I've been an atheist for years but sometimes I miss church.  Tell your God I said "Hi."

"I wish God missed me...Like I miss him."

"I am proud to say I am well on my way to becoming the adult I prayed for as a kid."

"Working in a funeral home has made me appreciate my own life."

I read the posts from writers who wrestle with God. I often wonder what happened in their lives which made them turn away from religion in general. Did they suffer abuse or neglect?  Did they grow up in a family who didn't believe in God?  Do they hold a lot of guilt and anger?  I find "secrets" relating to atheism to be particularly insightful.  Sadly, I have more questions than answers.

Jesus' Secrets to Ministry    Jesus reveals to his disciples what I like to think of as useful "secrets" to effective ministry.  The Apostles are being taught what it means to be a teacher and a disciple.  Jesus tells them not to be afraid. People will doubt and ridicule.  People won't always be willing to listen to the good news.  People will harbor secrets in the recesses of their hearts.  Even Christ will tell the Apostles advice "undercover" that will ultimately need to be shared with others in compassionate ways.

God knows all of our "secrets" even when we do not openly share them.  I find secrets often relate closely to sin.  We naturally want to stick our hands in the sand and run away when we've done something wrong.  The best way for secrets to be revealed is through the Sacrament of Confession.  Through the privacy of a priest, we can let go of our sin and receive forgiveness.  We don't necessarily have to resort to sending an anonymous postcard in the mail to confess a secret bothering our conscience.

If a long time has lapsed, perhaps it's time to make an appointment with Christ in the confessional.

Saint Benedict, Pray for Us!

"Isn't it astonishing that all these secrets have been preserved for so many years just so we could discover them!"  -Orville Wright

-J.

Hunger in Our World Today

Wednesday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time

Gn 41:55-57; 42:5-7a, 17-24

When hunger came to be felt throughout the land of Egypt and the people cried to Pharaoh for bread,  Pharaoh directed all the Egyptians to go to Joseph and do whatever he told them. When the famine had spread throughout the land, Joseph opened all the cities that had grain and rationed it to the Egyptians, since the famine had gripped the land of Egypt.
In fact, all the world came to Joseph to obtain rations of grain, for famine had gripped the whole world.

Back in May, my coworkers and I volunteered at the North Texas Food Bank as part of our annual Corporate Community Action Day.  We sorted canned food goods and put together after-school lunch bags for needy children.  As a group, we separated 1 ton of food to be distributed to poor families  throughout the Metroplex.  I felt proud of my service, yet I went home wondering what else I can do for the hungry.

I think about how many groceries I waste every week, and I consider the amount of fast food I consume in a month.  Sadly, I rarely think about people all over the world who go hungry each and every day.  I toss out a leftover pizza or some cooked veggies because I'm "too full."  Yet, those scraps could feed a homeless man on a street.  Shame on me for wasting food!

In preparation for my blog posts, I always search Google images for inspiration.  It's horrifying the photos that come up under search words like starvation, hunger, or famine.  Pictures of people so starved that they look like skeletons; people subsisting on rice and dirty water; flies lingering around emaciated bodies! 

Here in the United States most of us are on the large size. We worry way too much about  fad diet plans in an effort to slim down when in other parts of the world people beg for food!  I do not understand why we have such a surplus and others have a deficient when it comes to nutritious food.  Does it have to do with economics, government greed, droughts, famines, or poor agricultural practices??!

One of my coworkers is a devout Muslim who is observing the required 30 day Ramadan fast.  She is not allowed to have food or water from sunrise to sunset.  Since Ramadan happens to fall during Summer this year, the length for the daily fast is much longer.  I worry about her since she is now 4 months pregnant!  She has the option to pay a small "tithe" for each day she breaks the fast or postpone the 30 day observance until later in the year.  However, she is determined to go through with the traditional fast to honor God. She feels like He will give her the strength and energy to endure the uncomfortable work days.  One good thing is she can eat as much as she wants after the sun goes down. 

Personally, I plan to fast more often, volunteer my time at a food pantry, and be more moderate in my food consumption.

In today's first reading, Joseph devised the brilliant plan to ration food to the Egyptians as well as other communities as a result of the global famine. How can we learn to ration food in ways that moderate our consumption, leading to less waste?  How can we use our time and treasure to help the hungry in our communities?

I will let my blog readers ponder further...

"Eternal God, for whom a thousand years are like the passing day, help us to remember that life is like a flower which blossoms in the morning, but withers in the evening. Give your people manna to satisfy their hunger, and living water to quench their thirst for all eternity." 

-Divine Office, Wednesday Evening Prayer Intercessions (Week II)

-J.

Our Demons Within

Tuesday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time

Gospel of Matthew 9:32-38

A demoniac who could not speak was brought to Jesus, and when the demon was driven out the mute man spoke.  The crowds were amazed and said, "Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel."  But the Pharisees said, "He drives out demons by the prince of demons."

All of us battle "demons" in one form or another.  I'm not speaking of demons in terms of a demoniac possessions like we read about in the bible.  I'm referring to our private demons consisting of fears, insecurities, bad habits, addictions, and ongoing pain and despair.  On the outside we smile at friends and family saying: Everything is fine!  Everything is okay!  I have everything under control!  However, on the inside we harbor wounded hearts, pierced souls, and confused minds!  Perhaps we are emotionally overwhelmed with the guilt associated with an abortion.  Maybe we feel trapped by the bottle, secretly trying to hide our alcohol dependency from others.  Perhaps we suffer from the shame of mental illness which causes us to engage in obsessive/compulsive behaviors.  Maybe the one demon we battle with the most is complete rejection of God.   

I know if it wasn't for my faith in Jesus Christ I would not be as resilient of a woman as I am today. Trust me, I've gone through a lot over the past 40+ years, and I've learned some very tough lessons.  I find it interesting how our insecurities, fears, and bad habits can reek unnecessary havoc.  If we only learned  to let go and let God handle everything, we'd be able to shoo away the "demons" for good.   Just like Jesus drove out the demoniac out of the mute man, Jesus drives out our own demons when we turn to him in prayer and petition.  

When weak, Christ makes us strong.  When wounded, Christ heals.  When we feel like the weight of the world is crashing down all around us, Christ relieves the burden. Finally, when we fear what the future holds, Christ eases our anxieties.  All we have to do is relinquish control and let God take over!

-J.

Dream Big

Monday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time

Genesis 28:10-22a

Jacob departed from Beer-sheba and proceeded toward Haran. When he came upon a certain shrine, as the sun had already set, he stopped there for the night. Taking one of the stones at the shrine, he put it under his head and lay down to sleep at that spot. Then he had a dream: a stairway rested on the ground, with its top reaching to the heavens; and God’s messengers were going up and down on the ladder.

Do you ever experience weird dreams?  Have you ever awakened from a nightmare thinking everything was REAL?  What if you dreamed of a towering staircase with angels walking up and down from heaven?  How would you react?

We read examples of prophetic dreams throughout the bible.  Joseph discovered the truth of Mary's pregnancy and warned to fleed to Egypt through dreams.  Daniel was considered skilled at dream interpretation.  Then we read about Jacob's ladder.  Each time a major figure in the bible dreams, a special message is given through an angel or God himself.  Something BIG results: a lesson learned, a secret revealed, or an epiphany which causes celebration.

Most of us are familiar with the saying "Dream Big!" As children, especially in America, we are taught about the American Dream and how we can all achieve whatever we put our minds to.  We are encouraged to get a college education, a high paying job, a large house, a fancy car, and then tons of techno gadgets for entertainment. Yeah, maybe fit in a spouse and a couple of kids just as an added benefit so we appear less self-absorbed and more "family focused."  (Yes, the sarcasm is on purpose.)

 I find it sad that the "Leave It to Beaver" generation is long gone, replaced by the "Leave ME to do what I please" generation.  Dream Big is all about satisfying one's individual desires and passions.  Pride ceases reason and sensibility; vanity causes vitriol as we see ourselves more worthy than others; sensuality is all about self seeking pleasures often at the expense of another's dignity and self-worth.

Jacob was so blown away by God's message that he built any entire shrine around the stone he used as a pillow.  His dream caused him to Think Big; that is, make a special sanctuary where future generations can give honor to God. He wanted his descendants to always remember the Lord's promises.

Our Catholic heritage is full of shrines and memorials dedicated to miraculous events.  I think about Lourdes and Fatima which celebrate Our Blessed Mother.  Then, I think of major and minor basillicas and small chapels where the remains of saints are buried.  There's something nostalgic, surreal, and somewhat dreamlike about these famous sites.  If we are lucky enough to make a pilgrimage, we may even think we are in the middle of a dream when we are truly present, with the camera phone and Facebook app in hand to prove it!

Next time you Dream Big, make Christ part of the plan!  Remember He provides more freedom and eternal rewards than earthly possessions!  It just takes a dash of Faith, a sprinkle of Hope, and pinch of Trust!

-J.

Strength Through Weakness

Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

2 Corinthians 12:7-10

Therefore, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and constraints, for the sake of Christ; for when I am weak, then I am strong.

Sunday 11 a.m.  This morning I'm writing my post live from the Dallas Arboretum.  I find the beauty of nature aids meditation.  I'm sitting here on a bench in the Fern Dell which is my favorite of all the gardens.  A  breeze passes over my arms and shoulders, gentle and refreshing enough to cut through the humidity.  Once I finish typing this post, I will start one of my hour long walks.  Garden therapy is the best medicine....

My heart is heavy right now as I think about a friend of the family who recently tried to commit suicide.  She is still alive, but as a result of an overdose of pills is now in a state of liver failure.  This widow is a mother of two grown children and several grandchildren. The recent passing of her husband of 30 years left her in such horrific grief that suicide seemed like the best option. The pain just too much to bear.

Most people say those who attempt suicide are selfish.  Yes, there is some truth in this.  However, the suicidal person sees  things differently.  They are desperately crying out for help and need compassion instead of judgment.

Suicide is usually a result of no longer being able to cope with weakness.  These sad souls feel like death is the only way to relieve sickness, financial woes, addictions, or grief.  They do not understand that through weakness lies strength.  This strength comes from God himself.  He never wants  his children in despair.  He desperately wants them to turn to Him in time of need, especially when life appears worthless.  One thing so awesome about the Church is that there are people available to help those experiencing debiliating obstacles. Furthermore, the Sacraments, especially the Holy Eucharist,  provides  the strength to persevere when everything appears empty and lost.

I look at the beautiful ferns and cypress trees and think about how many people walk through this garden in awe of its splendor.  Many visit the Arboretum with their own brand of weaknesses and struggles.  Like Saint Paul, they want them to go away.  However, these weaknesses remain attached, well rooted in the soul's soil ready to be composted and revitalized into splendid growth.

Remember strength lies within our weaknesses.  We grow and mature into much better Christians when we acknowledge our imperfections and hand over full control to God. Open our hearts to the Lord's healing touch!  Remember, we are not alone in our weaknesses, pains, and failures.  God is along with us on our earthly journey, and he hopes to meet us in heaven some day.  

-J.

Let Freedom Ring

Saturday of the Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time

(Click Here for Readings) 

“Ah, the fragrance of my son is like the fragrance of a field
that the LORD has blessed! May God give to you of the dew of the heavens And of the fertility of the earth abundance of grain and wine. Let peoples serve you, and nations pay you homage;
Be master of your brothers, and may your mother’s sons bow down to you. Cursed be those who curse you,
and blessed be those who bless you.”

On this 4th of July holiday, Americans will fire up the grills and drink adult beverages while enjoying outdoor activities.  Families will watch dazzling fireworks and sing-along to familiar patriotic tunes. Smiles and laughter will be exchanged between friends.  Hopefully, Catholics will attend Daily Mass on this special day, thanking Our Lord for the birth of our nation and the beautiful gift of freedom.

I'm proud to be an American even if our nation is going through some unsettling changes. I'm sure our Founding Fathers never imagined the redefinition of marriage, abortion on demand, and equal rights for blacks and women.  When I think of the history surrounding Independence Day, the Liberty Bell comes to mind.  On the front of the bell is the famous crack along with the inscription: "Proclaim Liberty Throughout All the Land Unto All the Inhabitants thereof."  Interestingly, these words are taken from the Book of Leviticus 25:10.  The famous Liberty Bell has been a symbol for many groups seeking freedom and equality, including the Abolitionists, the Women's Suffrage Movement, and the Civil Rights Movement.  Even those who advocate for Gay Rights have been inspired by the symbol of the Liberty Bell.  

I think of that crack on the Liberty Bell as a reminder of the tremendous sacrifice and hardship Americans have gone through to obtain certain freedoms.  Yet, I can't help but ask myself:  We can symbolically ring the Liberty Bell in triumph for a new "right" given to a particular class of people.  But, are we truly free?  

In today's first reading from the Book of Genesis, Jacob with his mother's encouragement steals Esau's birthright in a game of identity theft.  Jacob received his father's blessing instead of poor Esau, becoming the patriarch of the family. What if Esau was granted his birthright?  How would it have changed the course of salvation history and the freedom given to us through Christ's death and resurrection?

I believe we are not truly free until we have faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.  We are not truly free until we recognize God's work in our daily lives.  If it wasn't for a Higher Power, America would not be the incredible nation that it is today.  We must keep in mind that our nation was founded on religious liberty.  Such liberty should be cherished and not allowed to erode away as other "freedoms" become more popular and mainstream.

I've been studying the writings of the French Archbishop Francois Fenelon since the beginning of Lent.  I love his thoughts regarding "Legalism and Freedom":  

"It seems to me that real freedom consists in obeying God in all things.  It consists in following the light that points out our duty, and in following the grace that guides us.  We should take as our rule of life the intention to please God in all things.  We should make it our rule not only always to do what is acceptable to him, but if possible do what is most acceptable to him."

Fr. Bede Jarrett, O.P., an English Dominican priest, parallels Fenelon's words in his own definition of freedom in relation to law and liberty:

"Freedom means simply that I must be able to do my duty, and freedom is always outraged whenever I am prevented from doing whatever I ought to do.  The purpose, then, of the law is to safeguard liberty, and liberty consists in fulfilling the law.  Liberty has nothing at all to do with privledge; privledge indeed almost always means that other people's liberty is being interfered with.  An exemption from a law at least tends to become ordinary a disregard for law."

As we enjoy Independence Day with friends and family, let us spend a few moments to say a prayer of thanksgiving for our beautiful country.  Let freedom ring!

"To live without faith, without a heritage to defend, without battling constantly for truth, is not to live but to 'get along'; we must never just 'get along'."  - Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati (Feast Day July 4th)

-J.

Baked Together As One

Friday of the Thirteenth a Week in Ordinary Time

Ephesians 2:19-22

Through him the whole structure is held together and grows into a temple sacred in the Lord; in him you also are being built together into a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.

Yeah!  Another holiday weekend has arrived which means more binge reality-TV watching!  I know I should do something worthwhile like exercise, read, study, or pray fifteen decades of a rosary in one setting. But, I can't help but sit and relax in front of the "stupid tube" for a little while until boredom hits...

For this weekend's Independence Day marathon, I'm enjoying Food Network's Cutthroat Kitchen.  It's a highly entertaining show with very clever sabotages which throw chefs off course.  By far my favorite episode is the chef who had to make a strawberry shortcake using a kid-size kitchen set.  It reminded me when I played with my own Easy Bake oven set as a child.  I laughed seeing a grown man cook using miniature sized cooking utensils. I was surprised when he won the competition.  It just showed his amazing cooking skills trumped any challenges thrown in his direction.  

Once again, Saint Paul's writing shines through like slice of chocolate cake. His beautiful words remind us that we are all built together as one through our mutual faith in Christ Jesus. After watching Cutthroat Kitchen, I think of each member of the Catholic Church as part of a cake. Some of us are the eggs.  Some are the sugar.  Some are the baking soda or flour.  Some are the strawberries and whipped cream.  Our Lord takes each of our components and "bakes" them together to create a delicious cake.  However, it's not just any ordinary cake. It's a community cake sprinkled with love, grace, mercy and forgiveness.  It's mouthwatering and delicious, ready to serve anyone in need.  It could never have achieved such culinary perfection without the effort of every believer.  What makes Catholic Christianity so powerful is how we all become "one" through the sacraments, especially the Holy Eucharist.  If we only possessed eggs without the flour and water, we could never bake a cake much less share it with others.

This afternoon my sweet tooth influenced me to buy a carton of Braum's peppermint ice cream with waffle cones.  I ate three helpings.  Yikes!  Sugar rush indeed but boy did it taste yummy.  I'll blame Cutthroat Kitchen for the food craving. ;)

Happy 4th of July!

-J.