Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time (C)

Who do the crowds say that I am? Who is Jesus to me? Jesus is the Word made Flesh. Jesus is the Bread of Life. Jesus is the Victim offered for our sins on the cross. Jesus is the sacrifice offered at holy Mass for the sins of the world and for mine. Jesus is the Word - to be spoken. Jesus is the Truth - to be told.  Jesus is the Way - to be walked. Jesus is the Light - to be lit.  Jesus is the Life - to be lived. Jesus is the Love - to be loved,” wrote Mother Teresa of Calcutta some years ago. Looking back on her pages we find the echo of her life. To many she was a little woman with tireless energy. She was a woman of joy, of tender compassion and of love. Yet, where did Mother Teresa find the energy and the strength to serve the poorest of the poor?  What is it that makes us look to her today? The answer is simple and clear: Jesus in the Eucharist[1]. 

Without the Eucharist we are nothing, but with the Eucharist –the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus- we have everything. This was the secret of Mother Teresa, the secret which is present in all of our Catholic Churches. For she wrote, “Where will you get the joy of loving? -in the Eucharist, in the Holy Communion. Jesus has made Himself the Bread of Life to give us life. Night and day, He is there. If you really want to grow in love, come back to the Eucharist, come back to that adoration.” She continued: “In our congregation, we used to have adoration once a week for one hour, and then in 1973, we decided to have adoration one hour every day. We have much work to do. Our homes for the sick and dying destitute are full everywhere. And from the time we started having adoration every day, our love for Jesus became more intimate, our love for each other more understanding, our love for the poor more compassionate, and we have double the number of vocations. God has blessed us with many wonderful vocations.”

When people asked Mother how many convents she had, she answered “We have 584 tabernacles.” Without the Presence of Jesus, the work of the Sisters would be impossible. This is why she wrote: “We shall spend two hours a day at sunrise and sunset in adoration of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament exposed. Our hours of adoration will be special hours of reparation for sins, and intercession for the needs of the whole world, exposing the sin-sick and suffering humanity to the healing, sustaining, and transforming rays of Jesus, radiating from the Eucharist.” It is through the Presence of Jesus in the Most Blessed Sacrament that the life of Mother Teresa was transformed, to remind us of God. It is through the Presence of Jesus in the Most Blessed Sacrament that her life continues to radiate His hope to the world.

The coming of Jesus at Bethlehem brought joy to the world and to every human heart. The same Jesus comes again and again in our hearts during Holy Communion. He wants to give the same joy and peace. It was the great longing of Mother Teresa for all souls to come to know her Eucharistic Love. Her words impel us: “See Him in the tabernacle; fix your eyes on Him who is the light; bring your hearts close to His Divine Heart; ask Him to grant you the grace of knowing Him, the love of loving Him, the courage to serve Him. Seek Him fervently.”

We all know, when we look at the cross, how Jesus loved us. When we look at the Eucharist we know how much He loves us now.” And to those who longed to imitate her life she told, “In every Holy Communion, Jesus the word becomes Flesh in our life, a special, delicate, beautiful gift of God; it’s a privilege...” ...“You must protect it with tender care because He is giving Himself, the Word, to you to be made Flesh, to each one of you, and to those who will come after ■

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[1] Sunday 23rd June, 2013, 12th Sunday in Ordinary Time. Readings: Zechariah 12:10‑11; 13:1. My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God Ps 62(63):2-6, 8-9. Galatians 3:26-29. Luke 9:18-24.

Por el dolor creyente que brota del pecado;

por haberte querido de todo corazón;

por haberte, Dios mío, tantas veces negado,

tantas veces pedido, de rodillas, perdón.

Por haberte perdido, por haberte encontrado.

Porque es como un desierto nevado mi oración;

porque es como la hiedra sobre un árbol cortado

el recuerdo que brota cargado de ilusión.

Porque es como la hiedra, déjame que te abrace,

primero amargamente, lleno de flor después,

y que a mi viejo tronco poco a poco me enlace,

y que mi vieja sombra se derrame a tus pies. Amén

■ De la Liturgia de las Horas 

XI Domingo del Tiempo Ordinario (C)

Son muchos los que en nuestros días han abandonado toda comunicación con Dios, muchos los que ya no se hacen preguntas sobre sí mismos y la vida eterna y sólo viven (¿vivimos?) distraídos únicamente por la vida pequeña y fragmentaria de cada día. Y cuando se los escucha atentamente, se descubre con frecuencia que la religión que abandonan y rechazan es algo que ha sido vivido como una carga y no como liberación. Quizá ahí está el quid de todo. Dios está todavía en el fondo de muchas conciencias como un ser amenazador y exigente que hace más incómoda la vida y más pesada la existencia, el “Dios cuentachiles”, que decía don Teofilito. Un Dios vigilante, que impone obligaciones duras y difíciles y amenaza con castigos oscuros e inexplicables. Se diría que son bastantes los que, sin atreverse a confesarlo abiertamente, desearían que Dios no existiera, así se podría vivir con más libertad y más gozo, disfrutando de la vida con más espontaneidad, libres por fin de amenazas y coacciones eternas. Dios no ha sido ni es para muchos buena noticia, o liberación o sanación; ni la religión ha sido gracia, alivio, fuerza y alegría para vivir.

Y sin embargo, si hay algo esencial en el cristianismo es la fe en un Dios que quiere únicamente el bien, la felicidad del hombre. Un Dios que es «Anti-mal»[1], que dice un no radical a todo lo que provoca el dolor y la desintegración del ser humano.

Cualquier lectura del evangelio que lleve a los hombres a la angustia, la desesperanza, el agobio y la neurosis, es falsa. Sí, querido lector, si ya te revolviste inquieto en la silla, lo repito: Cualquier lectura del evangelio que lleve a los hombres a la angustia, la desesperanza, el agobio y la neurosis, es falsa. Lo mismo la predicación de nosotros, sacerdotes: si lleva a las almas a sentirse angustiadas o agobiadas, es falsa y es traicionera.

Todo lo que impida ver a Dios como gracia, liberación, perdón, alegría y fuerza para crecer como seres humanos, es, de alguna manera, falso. Todo lo que debilita, entristece y esclaviza al hombre no viene de Dios.

En Jesús, Dios y Señor de la historia y de la humanidad, se nos ha revelado que Dios no es destructor de la vida y la felicidad, sino Amor a la vida y Amor al hombre. Él está siempre del lado del hombre frente al mal que oprime, desintegra y deshumaniza. Por esto, está siempre del lado del perdón.

Y por eso también el creyente que ha entendido a Jesús, no desespera ante su propia fragilidad y pequeñez. Y tampoco niega su culpa para echársela cómodamente a los otros. Sabe asumir su propia responsabilidad y confesar su pecado y su mal, porque se sabe perdonado.

La Iglesia, que ha cometido errores enormes y se ha manchado las manos con sangre inocente en muchos momentos de la historia, ha pedido públicamente perdón y ha hecho públicamente penitencia. Lo mismo muchas instituciones que forman parte de la Iglesia. Otras muchas, no; siguen (¿seguimos?) viviendo en una enorme arrogancia y una soberbia grande grande...

El mensaje de éste domingo es sencillo: es un regalo poder escuchar en el fondo más íntimo de la propia conciencia las mismas palabras que Jesús dirigió a aquella mujer: tú fe te ha salvado. Vete en paz[2]. La experiencia del perdón –que no es otra cosa que la abundancia del la misericordia de Dios- es lo único ¡lo único! capaz de mantener la esperanza en el mundo ■

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[1] La idea es de E. Schillebeeckx, quizá el teólogo neo-modernista de mayor influjo en la segunda mitad del siglo XX.

[2] Cfr. Lc 7,36-50.

NeW-oLD-iDeas

Yo he sentido en lo más íntimo de mi alma tres etapas del amor divino: Primero, amar, amar con locura, con delirio, con pasión, con humildad sí, pero con vehemencia y fuerza de cielo dada por Él. Después, he sentido la necesidad y el vivo deseo de Jesús, de no sólo tender a su amor como el imán al acero, no sólo de ampliar el alma para abarcarlo (a ser esto posible), sino el amor de dejarse amar, de abandonarse a su amor, de entregársele sin reservas ni condiciones ni exclusivismos, sino total, absoluta y plenamente, para que haga y deshaga con toda libertad en lo que le pertenece […]. He encontrado otro amor en el amor mismo, amor humilde, audaz, amor de pudor subidísimo, de confianza, ilimitada, amor infantil a la vez muy alto: encierra al mismo tiempo sencillez y audacia; cierra los ojos para ver lo que uno es, y revistiéndose de lo divino, atrae al Amado, con la tranquilidad y naturalidad que nace de esa clase de nuevo amor: de libertad amorosa. Y ¿cuál es ese amor? Nada menos que llamar a Jesús con pasión divina, y de lo muy hondo del alma, decirle: Jesús, quiéreme […] ¿verdad que me vas a querer mucho, mucho, con todo el amor de un Dios hombre, con el amor mismo con que amas a tu Padre, con el Espíritu Santo? (Carta 57, 222-224; 11 de noviembre de 1931) ■ Concepción Cabrera de Armida, Eco de mis amores. Selección de textos. Publicaciones CIDEC, México,2010 (Colección Cruz Viva 7). Misioneros del Espíritu Santo y Religiosas de la Cruz del Sagrado Corazón de Jesús.

VISUAL THEOLOGY

Mary Magdalene is traditionally depicted with a vessel of ointment, in reference to the Anointing of Jesus. One debate is that some hold that the anointing is actually two separate events; one occurring at the beginning of Jesus' ministry in which he offered forgiveness to a repentant woman, and the other in which he is anointed in preparation for his burial. Luke's gospel speaks of Jesus' feet being anointed by a woman who had been sinful all her life, and who was crying; and when her tears started landing on the feet of Jesus, she wiped his feet with her hair. Also unique to Luke's version is the inclusion of the Parable of the Two Debtors in the middle of the event. Some hold that this story could not have occurred only a few days before to the crucifixion, due to the numerous events that followed in Luke's gospel. John 12:1-8[3] names her Mary, and the text assumes her to be Mary, a sister to Lazarus, as it also identifies her sister Martha. Although the iconography of the woman's act has traditionally been associated with Mary Magdalene, there is no biblical text identifying her as such. According to the Gospel of Mark 14:3 the perfume in his account was the purest of Spikenard ■

Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time (C)

The readings today are meant for all of us. They are telling us that God’s love is far more powerful than our sins. Our focus needs to be on God, not on our past sins, not on ourselves[1].

Consider that first reading from the Second Book of Samuel[2]. David had sinned horribly. He thought he had covered it up well. But in the reading we learn that David’s sin was no longer secret. Nathan told him that God knew what he did to Uriah, committing adultery with his faithful soldier’s wife and then sending word for Uriah to be deserted by his comrades during a skirmish so he could be killed. David thought he had outsmarted everyone. But God saw. And God knew. David was the leader of the Chosen People.  He was hand picked by God and promised a progeny that would last forever. His sins were so much worse than anyone else’s sins due to his position and the blessings God gave him. And yet, in today’s reading when David seeks forgiveness, God immediately forgives him.

Consider that woman who washed Jesus’ feet. She was a known sinner. She was probably a prostitute. Perhaps she was just a loose woman who had no respect for herself and easily gave herself to others. She certainly was not a woman of virtue. But she was repentant. And she was forgiven.

Their sins and our sins are not what matters. God’s forgiveness is what matters. God’s love is what matters. When we feel overwhelmed by our past sins, sins that we have confessed and received absolution for, we are acting as though God did not forgive us. That is wrong. We have been forgiven. Are we doubting God’s power, or His compassion and His mercy? Do we think that we could possibly have done something that was so evil that even God could not forgive it? Wouldn’t that be incredible arrogance on our part?

If we live in our past, we will be ignoring our present and eliminating the possibility of having a future. If we are so concerned about our past sins that we continue to focus on them, then we will miss what is happening around us. We will miss the opportunities to bring the mercy and compassion of God that we have received to others. God forgives us out of love, but His love is not just meant for forgiven sinners. He forgives us because He loves others. He knows that there are others we can lead to Him by providing them with Christian compassion and mercy. We can’t do that if we are all wrapped up in our own self-pity. We can’t do that if we refuse to recognize that we have received God’s love. That is why I said that if we are bogged down in our past we will miss our present, what is happening around us right now. A lot of people do this. I’ve done this.  We say, “I’m not good enough to speak about God to others.” He has made us good enough by the power of His blood! He has made us good enough by forgiving us; all so we can proclaim is compassion and love to others.

Have our lives come to an end?  Do we have no future? I certainly hope we all have a future, particularly an eternal future. But how can we prepare for our own participation in the Kingdom of God in heaven if we refuse to be active members of this Kingdom right now? We need to recognize the infinite power of God’s forgiveness, the fact that we live under His mercy, and allow this mercy to flow through us to others.

Sometimes being stubborn is a good thing. But sometimes it is not. It is never a good thing to be stubborn when it comes to our relationship with God. We need to let Him into our lives by acknowledging and accepting His forgiveness. St. Paul told the Galatians and us in today’s second reading, I live by faith in the Son of God who has loved me and given himself up for me[3]. St. Paul, quite a sinner in his past life, went on to convert people all over the Western part of the Roman Empire. He did this because he was forgiven.  And so are we ■

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[1] Sunday 16th June, 2013, 11th Sunday in Ordinary Time. Readings: 2 Samuel 12:7‑10, 13. Lord, forgive the wrong I have done. Ps 31(32):1-2, 5, 7, 11. Galatians 2:16, 19-21. Luke 7:36 – 8:3.

[2] Cfr 2 Samuel 12:7‑10, 13.

[3] Cfr Gal 2:20. 

Hoy, señor Jesús

vengo ante Ti para alabarte

hoy, señor Jesús

con tu poder puedes cambiarme.

Sáname señor

hoy quiero vivir

dame tu amor sin ti no puedo ser feliz

sáname señor, 

líbrame del mal, 

toca el corazón para alcanzar la santidad ■

X Domingo del Tiempo Ordinario (C)

San Lucas describe hoy magistralmente el encuentro entre la muerte y de la vida. Dos comitivas se aproximan por el mismo camino de Nain. Una de ellas está integrada por una mujer viuda que acompaña a su hijo muerto. Quizá el evangelista no pudo encontrar un cúmulo mayor de desgracias en una sola mujer, viuda y con su hijo muerto. Con ella van sus amigos que, imaginamos, no pueden hacer otra cosa que llorar e intentar consolarla. Por lo demás, deben rendirse ante la evidencia asombrosa de esa realidad a la que el hombre no se acostumbra nunca: la muerte.

La otra comitiva es Jesús y sus discípulos.

Ambos grupos se encuentran y tiene lugar el hecho sorprendente: Jesús se aproxima al muchacho y lo devuelve, lleno de vida, a su madre. Con absoluta sencillez la muerte ha sido vencida, el llanto se ha convertido en alegría y el corazón de aquella mujer -¡madre!- vuelve a la alegría. El evangelista explica la actuación de Jesús poniendo de relieve el origen de la misma: a Jesús le dio lástima aquella mujer que había perdido su mejor tesoro. El corazón de Cristo no soportó el dolor de aquella madre, comprendió aquel dolor, lo compartió y, como podía, lo remedió de la manera más total.

La escena de Lucas se repite todos los días en nuestro mundo.

Hay grandes comitivas llenas de muertos, de muertos vivientes, de muertos que andan y se mueven pero que no tienen vida:

-La gran comitiva de los desempleados, cuyos ojos reflejan la desesperanza y la angustia de no formar parte de la sociedad a la que pertenecen y de la que han sido separados "por la difícil coyuntura económica".

-Es la gran comitiva de los drogadictos, jóvenes ausentes, incapacitados, metidos de lleno en un callejón sin fondo "por la ganancia ilimitada de algunos"; o de los alcohólicos, o de quienes viven enganchados a la pornografía o el juego o el dinero.

-Es la comitiva de los enfermos a los que nadie visita, a los que se arrincona porque ya no son útiles en este mundo en el que todo se pesa y se mide.

-Es la gran comitiva de los minusválidos, y de los subnormales... ¡tan pesados!

-Es la gran comitiva de quienes viven el drama del divorcio y que aún en nuestra Iglesia católica a veces sufren el desprecio y la lejanía.

-Es la gran comitiva de la muerte. Las vemos todos los días y quizá no nos damos cuenta de cuan cierto es que muchos de los hombres que pasan a nuestro lado son auténticos cadáveres vivientes.

Caminando hacia esa comitiva puede y debe ir otra comitiva de hombres llenos de vida. Es la de los hombres que acompañamos a Cristo, los que estamos comprometidos seriamente con el gran problema de responder a la muerte con la vida. Por eso la pregunta: ¿Qué respuesta damos los cristianos a todos cuantos caminan en la comitiva de la muerte? ¿Qué respuesta damos a los desempleados, a los drogadictos, a las mujeres utilizadas y manipuladas, a los jóvenes que empiezan su camino ya cansados, al enfermo, al minusválido? ¿Qué hace la comitiva de los cristianos cuando se cruza (y se cruza constantemente) con la comitiva de la muerte?. ¿Esquivarla?, ¿ignorarla?, ¿juzgarla y condenarla?, ¿despreciarla? ¿Acercarse a ella, sentir el dolor de todos cuantos la integran, compartirlo y remediarlo?

Si hacemos lo segundo, es que hemos empezado a entender a Cristo. Hay un criterio claro para saber en qué comitiva estamos, es muy sencillo: si por encima de todo reina el Yo, repartiremos muerte, aunque comulguemos todos los domingos o ¡ay! Todos los días, porque "el otro" no nos importará o nos importará sólo en cuanto pueda servir a nuestros planes. Si por encima de todo (y con todos los fallos quizá inevitables) amamos a Dios y al "otro" por Él, repartiremos vida, porque el "otro" será, ni más ni menos, nuestro hermano, y tanto más cuanto más necesitado se nos muestre ■

nEw-oLD-iDEaS

Nada pierdes de “tu” pasado si has sabido guardarlo en el Corazón de Cristo... No podemos sospechar la proyección infinita de nuestra vida hecha Una en el Corazón del Señor. Todo lo que ayer soñábamos, todo lo que ha latido con la moción de su Gracia, nuestros caminos, nuestra peregrinación –a veces increíble- acaba transfigurándose y realizándose (como no lo imaginamos) en Dios. Dejemos brillar el Misterio acogiendo el regalo divino... El silencio y la admiración abren lo que parecía olvidado o sin sentido ■ Un ermitaño urbano 

VISUAL THEOLOGY

Church of St. Magnus (Kloster Schussenried) in the town of Bad Schussenried in Upper Swabia in Germany ■ The devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus is predominantly used in the Catholic Church and among some high-church Anglicans and Lutherans. The devotion especially emphasizes the unmitigated love, compassion, and long-suffering of the heart of Christ towards humanity. The origin of this devotion in its modern form is derived from a French nun, Marguerite Marie Alacoque, who said she learned the devotion from Jesus during a mystical experience. Predecessors to the modern devotion arose unmistakably in the Middle Ages in various facets of Catholic mysticism ■

Tenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (C)

All the gospels emphasize the greatness of the Lord. The Gospel of Mark presents people pushing against Jesus, crowding Him, trying just to touch him. The Gospel of John presents Jesus as the Eternal Word existing for all time but becoming flesh in our time. The Gospel of Luke emphasizes Jesus’ greatness in a different way. In Luke, Jesus manifests His greatness in His compassion. We have an example of this in today’s Gospel reading. Jesus comes upon a widow following her son's funeral litter. He feels deeply for her. Her sorrow becomes His sorrow. He gives the son back to the mother. Like Elijah in the first reading, He conquers death. Like Elijah, He shows His greatness in His compassion[1].

The Gospel of Luke is the Gospel of the Compassionate Lord. The message is clear: the Lord cares for each of us as individuals. He is not too big for us, or too great for us. In fact, He shows His greatness in the concern He has for each of us.

And He calls us to follow. To be as He is. In the Gospel of Matthew, we come upon the order: Be perfect as my heavenly father is perfect[2]. In the Gospel of Luke the same directive is rephrased to: Be compassionate as my heavenly father is compassionate[3].

It is impossible for us to be too caring, too giving, or too concerned about others. It's just difficult. We have busy schedules.  We can't handle additional emotional grief. We find excuses why we can't spend time with a family with a sick child, or with the elderly lady down the block. Many times people have said to me, "My child came down with cancer, and all my friends became strangers." We were surrounded with help at first, but as the weeks became months and he became sicker and sicker, many people seemed to disappear. Perhaps that's because it hurts to expose ourselves to another's grief. But this hurt can bring support, this hurt can bring healing. Sure, we are busy.  Jesus was busy too. But He didn't look for excuses to stop everything and reach out to the hurting. His heart went out to those in need. He was compassionate. His heart goes out to us too. He cares about every one of us. And He calls us to be like him, to be compassionate. You remember what He said after He washed His disciples feet before the Last Supper: What you have seen me do, you must do. We have to allow the compassion of the Lord to flow through us to others. This takes courage.  This takes love, His Love. So, today let's think how we are going to take a bit of time to bring comfort to those who suffer? Is visiting a hospital for my family and me? Can I accompany any of the ministers of the Eucharist to visit a patient? What I can I do for others? That is the fundamental question: what do I do for others? Man or woman who does not live with a great attitude of service, for sure will not find meaning in almost anything ■

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[1] Sunday 9th June, 2013, 10th Sunday in Ordinary Time. Readings: 1 Kings 17:17-24. I will praise you, Lord, for you have rescued me. Ps 29(30):2, 4-6, 11-13. Galatians 1:11-19. Luke 7:11-17. [St Ephrem].

[2] Matthew 5:48.

[3] Luke 6:36.