To Tell or Not to Tell

 Usually, Jesus told people not to tell others of their miracle healing.  There are many examples, one of which is Mark 1: 43-44.

But in Luke 8: 26-39, Jesus told the healed man to tell--spread the news of what happened to you.

What's the difference?

When Jesus was among His own people, He wasn't ready to be acknowledge as the Messiah.  But in Luke 8: 26-39, He was among Gentiles.  He wanted them to know their Messiah, so He wanted the Word to be spread.

However, when you read what happened to the demons, the people were frightened.  Indeed, they were so overcome with fear, that they asked Jesus to leave.

This time, the people weren't ready for the Messiah, instead of the Messiah not being ready.

Intentions

 Have you ever heard, "Today's Mass is being offered for the intentions of ...."?

What does that mean?

This is an ancient custom.  It's a way of directing everyone's prayers toward some good for which we earnestly desire to pray.  The Mass can be offered for someone who needs help, for peace between nations, or for any other good intention that is pleasing to God and upholds his glory.

If you look at the bulletin of the parish, you will see the Mass intentions. When you attend a Mass offered for a particular intention, you should do your best to offer your own prayers for that intention.  That way the whole congregation, united in one prayerful body by Holy Communion, will be offering the same prayer intentions together.

Corban

This morning, I was reading Matthew 15: 1-10, and came across the term, Corban vow.  The footnote states: "Anyone who made a Corban vow was required to dedicate money to God's temple."  Sounds like tithing.  What's wrong with it?

It seems that the people were using it as a point of honor to see who could give the most.  Some people were giving more than their budget would allow.  In fact, they were neglecting their parents.  Jesus reminded them of the commandment to honor their parents. 

Easter Witches

 Why not?  We have Easter bunnies, and whatever bunnies have to do with the Resurrection, is beyond me.  In Sweden, after Good Friday, when Jesus died and the witches are celebrating, the children on Saturday, dress in their grandmother's clothes and go house to house, like we American children do on Halloween.

The witches are celebrating because Jesus is dead.

It's a short celebration.

Sunday brings Jesus' Resurrection.  

Galilean Fish Broil

BIBLICALLY BROILED FISH

This Lenten recipe comes from “A Continual Feast.”  Note the beautiful story of Jesus appearing to the apostles on the shore of Lake Tiberias and preparing fish for his apostles after his resurrection (John 21:5). Preparing and eating food together is one of the most basic and immediate ways of communicating our love, as Christ reminds us here.  While we do not have any recipes from the time of Christ, we do know what foods were available and used by the Jews of Palestine during his lifetime. This recipe uses that background for inspiration.

Ingredients

• 2 lbs. of any fresh or defrosted fish; smaller fish or filets or steaks can be left whole while larger fish should be split

• 4 cloves garlic, chopped or minced
  
  

• Salt (to taste)

• Olive oil

• Red wine vinegar or lemon juice (see note below)

• Lettuce

• Greek or other strongly flavored olives

• Optional: chopped fresh mint leaves

Directions: Clean, rinse, and salt the fish. Rub with garlic, and brush with oil. Preheat the broiler. Place the fish in an oiled pan (you can add parchment or foil before oiling for easy cleanup). For smaller fish, broil fish about 3 inches from the flame (the higher rack) or about 5 inches (the lower rack) for larger fish. Split fish should be broiled skin side down. While cooking, base generously with olive oil and a little vinegar or lemon juice.

When ready, remove the fish from the oven and serve on a bed of lettuce, surrounded by olives. Naan or pita bread would be a natural companion to the dish.

The article and picture are from Aleteia freeskyline | Shutterstock | Altered by Aleteia

Taking Correction

 Disingenuous may not be the exact word that I want, but it will give you the idea.  My granddaughter was told, by a teacher, today, that she didn't take correction well.

How can one possibly respond?

If you disagree, you are proving the accusation.  You aren't taking the correction very well.

On the other hand, if you don't say anything, aren't you disproving the accusation?

The Pez Supper

 My granddaughter was playing with empty pez. I noticed the figure of Jesus.    

 

What in the world was she doing?    

  She was playing that the pez were Jesus' apostles.  

What's the catechism doing there?

That was just handy--she needed a table.

Oh!

She reasoned that if artist can interpret Jesus' last supper, than so can she. 

How It Began

 Think about this.  The early Christians didn't think they were starting a new religion.  They were practicing Jews.  So, we'd be Jews too, if the early Christians weren't thrown out of the temples.

The early Christians were adding the name of Jesus and using Messianic terms.  All four Gospels relate the Passover, to us Christians--the Last Supper.  The Last Supper was the first Mass. 

Think of the couple on the road to Emmaus and Jesus joining them.  They don't know who He is.  As they walk, Jesus explains the Last Supper: Luke 24: 27-31.  Isn't this what we do at Mass?  Walk in, say a pray, sit and listen to the Scriptures, prepare a meal, eat it, clean up. pray, say our goodbyes. 

Think of the Emmaus couple recognizing Jesus at their meal.  That's our realization of Jesus' True Presence, in the Eucharist--the bread and wine.  

From early Christianity, that's how Christians recognized each other-sharing the meal.

More is Less

 The Story of More by Hope Jahren is the result of the author's research about climate change, population growth, and energy use.  I found it interesting that Jahren, after her research, moved out of the USA.  She now lives in Norway.

Our energy use is excessive and detrimental to our health.  We use the most, out of anyone else in the world.  We are endangering our planet.  

Her facts may be arguable, but we are where we are.  There is no arguing that we're destroying the earth.  We are guilty. We are the ones to fix the problem.  Maybe we can't but we can slow down the inevitable destruction.  If we use less and share our excess, maybe Mother Nature will smile on us.

Do What You Can.

 Oscar Romero was a martyred priest from South America.  No way could he have prayed this prayer.  He was dead.  It must have been written about him.

God put you here, at this time, in this place.  Do what you can to make things better.

A Prayer of Oscar Romero

It helps, now and then, to step back and take a long view.
The Kingdom is not only beyond our efforts,
it is even beyond our vision.
We accomplish in our lifetime only a tiny fraction
of the magnificent enterprise that is God’s work.
Nothing we do is complete,
which is a way of saying that the Kingdom always lies beyond us.
No statement says all that could be said.
No prayer fully expresses our faith.
No confession brings perfection.
No pastoral visit brings wholeness.
No program accomplishes the Church’s mission.
No set of goals and objectives includes everything.
This is what we are about.
We plant the seeds that one day will grow.
We water seeds already planted,
knowing that they hold future promise.
We lay foundations that will need further development.
We provide yeast that produces effects far beyond our capabilities.
We cannot do everything,
and there is a sense of liberation in realizing that.
This enables us to do something,
and to do it very well.
It may be incomplete, but it is a beginning, a step along the way,
an opportunity for the Lord’s grace to enter and do the rest.
We may never see the end results,
but that is the difference between the master builder and the worker.
We are workers, not master builders;
ministers, not messiahs.
We are prophets of a future that is not our own.

Amen.

Thoroughbred

 Geraldine Brooks' book Horse is about a real race horse.  There are four main characters: Lexington, Jarrett, Jess, and Theo.

Lexington was a horse and his trainer, Jarrett.  They grew up together and went through life, war, and blindness, together.  Jess is researching the skeleton of a horse, which turns out to be Lexington.  Theo is a PhD researcher, who comes across a painting of Lexington.  

I found it interesting that Jess found out the reason why Lexington went blind.  Even in the painting, his eyes are opaque.  The horse must have had an abscess in his tooth, and it traveled to his optic nerve.  

An important thread in the story is racism.  Jarrett is a slave and his life reflects that.  Jess is white and wonders where her relationship with Theo, who is Black, will lead.  It would spoil the story to tell you what happens to Jess and Theo, so you'll have to read it, yourself.  Sorry.

You won't regret reading Horse.

March

 Chilly days, winter days still,
 birdsong - a harbinger of good will.

Pussy willows are stretching to the sun.
Yet the cold March air touches everyone.

Snow drops, crocuses, and clover, bring delight.
Wet winter footprints are a muddy, dirty white.

Wild, chilled bursts of sharp breezes,
whip around necks, persistently teases.

The sun, warming, melting the cold.
Bird song breaking winter's hold.

Ite Missa Est

 Ite Missa Est is Latin for the Mass is ended.  The word dismissal comes from this phrase.

What are other names for the Mass:

The Liturgy

Divine Liturgy

The Eucharist

Holy Sacrifice

Novus Ordo or New Order

Tridentine Mass or Old Order

All are the same miracle of being in communion with Christ.

Black Masking Indians

 The church, St. Augustine, is the oldest Black Catholic parish in the United States, located in Treme, Louisianna. 

Tremé is the oldest African-American neighborhood in the United States, and the site of many major events that have shaped the course of Black America in the past two centuries. Filled with incredible history in terms of culture, music, and more, Tremé is arguably the most significant neighborhood in the whole city. The country’s oldest African-American Catholic church is located here as well.

Treme's history tells the story of the integration of the Indigenous people accepting the escaping slaves into some of their tribes.  Since New Orleans has Mardi Gras and it's fun times reminded the Treme's mixed inhabitants of their celebrations, and since the early times wouldn't allow integration, Treme had its own Mardi Gras.

Wearing masks was part of some of the African cultures, anyway, and painting faces and wearing feathers were also part of the American Indigenous people, Mardi Gras celebrations were the perfect time to join in.  Treme was the location of the first Black Masking Indian Mardi Gras.  The Black Masking Indians are also called the Mardi Gras Indians. 

Praying from the Heart

 The book I chose for my Lenten reading was Inner Life A Fellow Traveler's Guide to Prayer, by David Torkington.  I finished it this Sunday, the fifth Sunday of Lent.  David, and note that from reading this remanence, I feel that I know David Torkington, so well that he's David, not Mr. Torkington.  Not only that, I love him!  If he were in my circle of friends, we'd be talking on the phone constantly and texting, like crazy.

I can relate to his story, so easily.  David tells of his spiritual journey.  Most of it doesn't work because it's not suppose to.  That's the point.  If it were easy, we'd all be cloistered religious.  David tells of his lifelong journey to learn to pray so that it's heart-felt.  

We begin "tongue prayer."  I mean recitation of prayers.  We move on to intellectual prayers.  We understand them as we pray.  But it's when you shut your mouth and mind, that your heart takes over.  That's praying.

Praying from the Heart

 Si cor non orat, in vanum lingua laborat = If the heart does not pray, the tongue labors in vain.

This true in everything.

When someone proclaims that they love you, it's a lie, unless the words come from the heart.

Viva La Difference!

 This poster doesn't mention that the biggest is a basilica.  If the pope were to visit, he'd go to a basilica, because it holds the most people.

I go to a shrine, quite often.  The reason is because in nice weather, they conduct their services, outside.  Nature is God's basilica.

People Can Change

 Of course, people can change.  Thanks be to God.  I am not the stupid, shy, silly, twenty-something year old, I once was.  Nor, is Damon West, the stupid, arrogant, self-important, jock, he once was.  I'm talking about the book, The Change Agent, by Damon West.

Damon was spoiled.  Success in athletics gave him confidence and a big ego.  He became involved in drugs.  It was cool and fun.  Until it wasn't.

He got sucked in and became a crook.  The usual story that I hear in my prison ministry.  No one thinks that addiction will happen to them.  

No one is immune.

Fortunately, like my "cloistered brothers," Jesus had Damon's back.  Damon knew he had veered off the religious road and worked to get back on it.  He kept on it and continues keeping himself on the straight path.  

I love how his parents never gave up on him.  That's important.  When he was released from prison, his parents picked him up and brought him home.  They had even kept up his driver's license, while he was incarcerated.  That alone, exemplifies hope.  

If you enjoy stories about people who change their lives, The Change Agent, is for you.

Perseverance

 

 It's very strange that when I search for this book, the title wants to change to The Three Conversions in the Spiritual Life, or the Three Conversions of the Spiritual Live.  

Why can't it be both?

The book I read, by Father Reginald Garrigou-Lagrange, OP is The Three Conversions and the Three Ways of the Spiritual Life.  

It is two books summarized.  Much of it is over my head, but I did learn the three ways to obtain a good spiritual life: purgative, illuminative, and unitive.  They meld into each other gradually.  Basically, it's fake it 'till you make it.  Your meditation will stall, grow in spurts, veer off, and might fall off.  The trick is to keep on trying.  Eventually, you will get it.  Garrigou-Lagrange gives examples which will help.

The Turmoil in the Current

 I just finished Louise Penny's A Better Man. Once again, Penny shows Inspector Gamache to be human, a good human. The setting is Three Pines, with the usual characters.  This time, the weather is a factor.  At first, I thought it was a character because of the focus put on it.  A body does wash up in it.  Gamache and Beauvoir almost drown in it, and the murderer succumbs to it.  Thus, it is a vital part of the story.

The psychological gymnastics that the characters portray run the gamut.  The bad guy is still a bad guy, but not a murderer.  The loving father had a demon, inside him.  Agent Cloutier loved from afar.  Beauvoir leaves the job, the country, and starts a new life.  

That's a lot to chew on.  Penny doesn't disappoint.

 

Jesus Doesn't Fight

 Jason Porterfield's takeaway of Holy Week, in Fight Like Jesus, is very interesting.  His view challenged me.  I'm not a pacifist.  I think that's too naive.  Although I'm glad we have people like that, but it just seems too gullible.  

Porterfield made me think.  I can see what he's saying, but I don't agree 100%.

This book is to be read during Holy Week, starting with Palm Sunday.  The people are celebrating the arrival of their Messiah.  They're shouting "Hosanna."  The Greek translation tends to imply that "hosannah" is for a savior, a rescurer.  This is what Jesus is, but not a conquering, violent, insurrection.  That's what the people were excited about.

Holy Monday, Jesus goes to the temple and throws the money changers out.  Porterfield claims that this was not a violent act.  No people were hurt.  He couldn't have used whips because there weren't any around.  He must have used wicker and something within his grasp.  The temple needed to be cleared of the people cheating and He did it.

Holy Tuesday, Jesus goes back to the temple and has verbal confrontational encounters with the temple authorities, which convinces them to get rid of Jesus.  He has the crowd following Him, who think He's going to attack the Roman soldiers, like he cleared the temple.

Holy Wednesday, He gets annointed by the woman.  Judas is disgusted by the waste of money and makes a deal with the temple authorities.

Holy Thursday is the Last Supper.  Judas leaves early to make arrangements.  Jesus is arrested without resisting.

Good Friday is the crucifixion.  Porterfield explains why the crowd chose to release Barabbas.  Remember that everybody was expecting Jesus to overthrow the Romans.  Well, He didn't. But Barabbas tried and it resulted in his being arrested for insurrection.  Also, Barabbas' name is Bar-Abba, IOW, Son of Abba (God).  

Now, you are expecting Jesus to overthrow the Romans.  Who would you choose to be released, the one arrested for insurrection, or the one preaching love your enemies?  

Who would you choose: Jesus Bar Abba, or Jesus Bar Joseph of Nazareth.  Barabbas' first name was Jesus (common name)?

On Holy Saturday, Jesus worked.  He went down to release the dead.

Sunday, Jesus proves He's the messiah.  He raises Himself from the dead.

Who can do that?  Only the messiah can do that, Jesus the Christ.

No Sin

 David Torkington tells the story of when he was a little boy, he went to confession.  He had dutifully examined his conscience and discerned that he didn't break any of the ten commandments.

The confessor asked David a few questions but he could see that his little penitent was adamant that he didn't sin.

So, the confessor said, "Say three Hail Mary's in thanksgiving for being immaculately conceived!!!"

Why Barabbas was Chosen

 On Sunday, Jesus was honored in a parade, with the people waving palms and shouting Hosannah.  Do you know what Hosannah means? 

ὡσαννά, hōsanná) is from Hebrew הושיעה־נא, הושיעה נא hôšîʿâ-nā and related to Aramaic ܐܘܿܫܲܥܢܵܐ (ʾōshaʿnā) meaning 'save, rescue, savior'.

 In other words, they were greeting, praising, and thanking God for this savior.  But their idea of savior, wasn't what we think now.  They thought Jesus was coming to throw out the oppressive Roman soldiers.  We think Jesus came to save us from our sins.

So Sunday the people are jubilant at seeing Jesus, and then they want Him crucified, on Friday.

Why?  Because He didn't overthrow the Romans.

The people were given the choice of releasing Barabbas or Jesus.  What was Barabbas in prison for?  Insurrection--attempted overthrow of the Roman government.  

Before that sinks in, remember how names are in Israel, at the time.  "Bar" means "Son of."  So Barabbas = Son of Abba.  And Abba is another name for God.  

Barabbas is the last name.  His first name was quite common in those times--Jesus.

Who do you want released?  Jesus Bar Abba     or      Jesus of Nazareth?

Who do you want released?  Barabbas who preached overthrowing the Romans, or Jesus who preached "love your enemies?"

The Inheritance

The Kingdom of the Blind by Louise Penny begins with three unlikely people being made executors of a will.  Not only did the three liquadators not know they were going to be chosen they didn't  think they knew the deceased.  The will was strange too.  The Kingdom of the Blind is really like living and working with out knowing anything.

The deceased called herself the Baroness.  She left millions to her three children.  The problem she didn't have a title, nor any money.  She worked as a cleaning lady.  

One of the Baroness' children is killed.  It couldn't have happened for his inheritance.  To come find out, the two sons, who were investment brokers were doing things they shouldn't have been doing.

To complicate matters, the Baroness was in a nursing home before she died.  Guess who she met and fell in love with--a Baron.  

I'm not going to tell you more.  Louise Penny ties everything together, as only she can.  You will enjoy this mystery.

 

Elisha's Bald Head

 Have you ever wished something bad would happen to someone who embarrassed you?  That's normal.  Even holy men, like prophets did.  Elisha cursed the young punks who made fun of his bald head.  2 Kings 2:23   

Jesus taught us differently: Luke 9: 55-56.

The Cobrador

 Louise Penny amazes me.  In her mystery novel, Glass Houses, she has the story begin with a person in a grim reaper costume, standing in the village's Common. The cobrador is a figure that will stare at the guilty.   He just stands and stands, for days.  He doesn't speak, even when spoken to--or even threatened.  Finally, he shows up dead, in the basement of the church.

Who the cobrador is, is a real surprise, so I won't spoil it.  Who killed him will gradually enfold as the story continues.  It's also interesting how Louise Penny has Inspector Gamache's problems keep getting more and more intricate.  The politics are so intertwined in a web of deceit, I don't know how Gamache can stand it.  But it doesn't seem to faze him.  Thank goodness his personal life is self nourishing.  It sustains him.  

I'd like to know how the people who live in Three Pines can afford to eat at the Bistro, every single day.  That's where the reader can see who and what are committing crimes.  It's where the behind the crimes are figured out.

Burning the Boats

 When you have no choice, you often hear the expression, you have to go on, you burned your boats.  The expression comes from the Spanish conquistador Hernando Cortes.  He wanted his men to see that they couldn't retreat.  So he burned his boats. Failure was not an option.  They had to win.

My advice is the opposite.  Always have plan "B".  When I have a plan, I always plan for the worst that could happen.  I know that probably won't happen, but if it does, there's always plan "B."

I'd like to know why Cortes' men didn't kill him.  How were they suppose to get home?  If they won all their battles, how could they get home to tell everyone?  If they captured all the gold the Aztecs had, what would they do with it--there were no ships to transport it back to Spain?

Burning the boats was stupid.

Fools

 There is a saying about living in the present moment:

Old fools live in the past.
New fools live in the future.

My "cloistered brothers," know this.  They have horrific pasts.  It would be devastating to live in their pasts.  What good would it do?  They can't fix it?  Learn from it, adjust, and move forward.

The future is a worry.  Dreaming about a future is OK if you know it's just a dream; you can't live in dreams.  That would be foolish.

What's left.  The present is what's left.  Conscious awareness is vital. We must observe the present situation we find ourselves in.  Appreciate it.  Use it.  See its beauty; its good; its truth.  Is it enjoyable?  Then rest in it.  If not--adjust.  Does breathing reduce the pain?  Does singing help?  Talk to God.

Overriding distractions and adjusting to resting in peace takes practice.  Think of  eating a cookie. Don't gobble it up.  Hold it in your hand and gaze upon it.  Does it look good.  What kind is it?  Smell it.  Take a small bite.  Chew it slowly and swallow.  What do you think?  Take another small bite.  Was that bite tastier than the first bite?  Are you enjoying this cookie?

It's not a real cookie but you are focused on the cookie.  The same is being in the present moment.  Focus on your body in your surroundings.  Feel it bit by bit.  Eventually, you are enjoying the moment just like you enjoyed that imaginary cookie. Rest in the present moment.

Odysseus' Retirement Home

 There are many stories about Homer's Odysseus.  Call them folk-tales or legends, and consider that they're oral stories handed down through centuries.  

The one I think sounds plausible is Odysseus' retirement story.  He was sick and tired of being away from home.  So he took an oar and walked in the forest.

He kept walking.

Eventually, he walked so far that people asked him what was that thing, he was carrying.  They had never seen an oar before.  

There!  That's where Odysseus retired with Penelope.

No is Redirection

 There we were at our monthly recording at the TV/RaWFPR.FM,dio station.  I read my autobiographical story about bargaining with God.  Usually, after one of us reads, there is some banter.

One of the participants mused, "I wonder if it's true that God answers all prayers."

Of course, I responded. 

She looked surprised.

I then explained that sometimes He says, "No."

She thought about that and then dismissed my answer.