Fr. Ed Broom, OMV Oblates of the Virgin Mary

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Dec 16 2012

Points Of Meditation – Week Of Saturday, 12.15.12 to Friday 12.21.12

 

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 15TH  Mt. 17: 9a, 10-13 “I tell you that Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him but did to him whatever they pleased.  So also will the Son of Man suffer at their hands.”
·
In the Old Testament, Malachi speaks of the coming of Elijah the prophet before “the great and terrible day of the Lord.”   The second coming of Christ and final judgment.
·
When Jesus says that Elijah has already come, he is referring to John the Baptist who prepared the way for the first coming of the
Lord, the same as Elijah will do prior to Jesus’ second and final coming.
·
“A servant is not greater than his master.  If they persecuted me, they will persecute you
also.” (Jn 15:20)  Like Jesus and St. John the Baptist, true followers of Christ will also
“suffer at their hands.”  This is an Ignatian meditation on The Two Standards!  We are in spiritual warfare.  Are we under the Standard of Jesus Christ?  Or under the Standard of Satan?   We should recall before we answer that Jesus Christ and His Church are one!   
·
The persecution has already begun – with’ the HHS Mandate.  This is what the US Conference of Catholic Bishops have to say about the Mandate:
“On January 20, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) reaffirmed a rule
that virtually all private health care plans must cover sterilization,
abortifacients, and contraception.  The
exemption provided for ‘religious employers’ was so narrow that it failed to
cover the vast majority of faith-based organizations – including Catholic
hospitals, universities, and charities – that help millions every year.  Ironically,
not even Jesus and his disciples would have qualified for the exemption,
because it excludes those who mainly serve people of another faith.
”  In addition, “There is no exemption for
objecting insurers, secular employers, for-profit religious employers, or
individuals.” 
·
Contraception, far from preventing abortions, leads to
abortion… 1) When contraception fails abortion eliminates the unwanted pregnancy
by killing the child; 2) The pill and other contraceptive drugs and devices are
abortifacients – they allow conception, but prevent implantation in the womb
destroying the life of a human being in the earliest stages of development – a
mini-abortion.   
·
Contraception, abortion and sterilization are woven of
the same cloth – a belief that a child is a burden not a blessing.  Nowhere in Scripture is a child referred to
as anything but a blessing!  And the
Church of Jesus Christ affirms that pro-life mentality.
·
This contraceptive mentality kills not only the child,
but sacrificial loving between husband and wife – married love becomes selfish
love.  It also promotes promiscuity.  It makes lust appear glamorous and the
virtues of chastity and purity old fashioned. 
·
Natural Family Planning (NFP) allows a husband and
wife to delay pregnancy for a serious reason using the natural rhythms of the
woman’s body – infertile periods designed by God.  It involves sacrificial loving between
spouses and an ongoing decision as to whether God is calling them to have
another child at this time.  NFP is so
successful that couples having trouble getting pregnant use it to enhance their
chances of having a child!
·
It is negligence for a married couple of child-bearing
age not to learn and use NFP.  And it is
sinful not to throw out their contraceptive mentality with their contraceptive
devices!
·
This country was founded by people seeking religious
freedom.  Today religious freedom is
being challenged as never before over the Church’s teaching on the evils of
sterilization, abortifacients, and contraception. 
·
Each of needs to examine our conscience – do we think
with the mind of the Church on
these issues?  No matter what any politician says, we cannot
disagree with the Church’s teachings and think that we are still Catholic.
·
We need to beg for the gift of faith to believe in ALL that God has revealed through Christ and His Church, on the authority of Him revealing it, He who can neither deceive nor be deceived!
·
Jesus Christ will come again in His second and final coming.  He will separate the sheep from
the goats, putting the sheep on His right for eternal life and the goats on His
left for eternal punishment.  “For
whatever you did to the least of these you did to me.”  Who is least than the tiniest baby in the
womb?   Which side will we be on? 
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 16TH Lk. 3: 10-18   Third Sunday of Advent – Gaudete Sunday
“Now the people were filled with expectation…”
 
  • John preached the good news to the people and their hearts were filled with
    expectation.  Our hearts too lift in
    expectation of Jesus coming to us this Christmas in a deeper, more
    intimate way.
  • The spirit of Advent largely consists in living
    close to Our Lady during this time when she is carrying Jesus in her womb.
  • By living this coming of Christ beside Our Lady each day we may be certain of
    attaining the one thing in the whole of our existence that is really
    important – finding Christ in our life and being with Him for all
    eternity.
  • Mary gives us hope…  Mary calms our fears…  Mary shares her peace and her joy with
    us…  Mary lights the path to her Son…
  • In a few days we will see Jesus in the crib – a
    proof of God’s mercy and love for us poor sinners.
  • “On this Christmas night everything inside me
    stops.  I am face to face with Him;
    there is nothing but this Child in the whole of this huge white
    expanse.  He does not say anything,
    but He is here… He is God loving me.” (J. LeCercq)   If
    God becomes man and loves me, how am I going to refuse to seek Him?!
  • Neither external difficulties nor our own
    sinfulness can do anything to quell the Joy of
Christmas which is approaching.  From the stable at Bethlehem to each
elevation of the most Holy Eucharist, Jesus Christ Himself is our hope! 
  • He takes our eyes off earthly things which “moth
    and rust consume, and which thieves can break in and steal” and turns our
    hearts and our minds to heavenly things for which we were created – above
    all, the supreme happiness of the eternal possession of God!
  • “He has made his salvation known” and the means
    of that salvation are readily available to us in the teachings of His
    Church, in prayer, in the Sacraments, in penance and good works.  Even the good things of this earth are a
    means insofar as God orders them for our salvation. 
  • Let us struggle every day against discouragement
    which saps our strength, and urge ourselves to do the good God wills us to
    do.  Let us give ourselves wholly to
    hope and trust in God that leads us to abandon ourselves totally to Him in
    all that He desires for us.
  • Pope Benedict XVI has these words of
    encouragement for us:  “True joy is
    not merely a passing state of mind or something that can be achieved with
    the person’s own effort.  Rather, it
    is a gift, born from the encounter with the living Person of Jesus and
    making room within ourselves for welcoming the Holy Spirit who guides our
    lives.  It is the invitation of the
    Apostle Paul who says: ‘May the God of peace himself sanctify you wholly;
    and may your spirit and soul and body be kept sound and blameless at the
    coming of our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Thes 5:23).’”
  • “Saint Augustine understood this very well.  In his quest for truth, peace, and joy,
    after seeking them in vain in many things he concluded with his famous
    words: ‘and our heart is restless until it rests in God (cf.
    Confessions).’”
  • “In this season of Advent let us reinforce our
    conviction that the Lord has come among us and ceaselessly renews His
    comforting, loving, and joyful presence. 
    We should trust in Him.  As
    Saint Augustine says further, in the light of his own experience, the Lord
    is closer to us than we are to ourselves: ‘interior intimo meo et superior summo meo’ – higher than my
    highest and more inward than my innermost self (Confessions,).’”
  • “Let us entrust our journey to the Immaculate
    Virgin whose spirit is exulted in God our Savior.  May she guide our hearts in joyful
    expectation of the coming of Jesus, an expectation full of prayer and good
    works.”
MONDAY,
DECEMBER 17TH Mt. 1: 1-17   “The
Book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham….”
  • The promises God made to Abraham for the
    salvation of mankind… Nathan’s prophecy to King David of an everlasting
    kingdom… These are fulfilled in Jesus Christ.
  • The genealogy presented here by St. Matthew shows
    Jesus’ human ancestry.  While Jewish
    genealogies followed the male line, Mary also belonged to the house of
    David.  The genealogy indicates that
    salvation history has reached its climax with the birth of the Son of God
    through the working of the Holy Spirit – Jesus Christ, true God and true
    man, the long expected Messiah.
  • Who could imagine that out of this centuries-long
    conglomeration of saints and sinners “Jesus who is called the Christ”
    would be born?!  The Holy Spirit
    shows us that God’s ways are different than ours.  God saves us, sanctifies us, and chooses
    us to do good despite our sins and infidelities!
  • Let us reflect on these words of
    the Prophet Isaiah and take encouragement from them:  “‘For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
    neither are your ways my ways,’ declares the Lord.  ‘As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher
    than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.’
  • ‘As the rain and the snow come
    down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making
    it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for
    the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth:
    It will not return to me empty, but
    will accomplish what I desire and achieve the
    purpose for which I sent it.’”
  • And what is the purpose for which God sent His
    Word – Jesus Christ into the world? 
    He came to give us life and life more abundantly, now and for  all eternity!  ‘You will go out in joy
    and be led forth in peace; the
    mountains and hills will burst into song before
    you and all the trees of the field will clap their
    hands. This will be for the Lord’s
    renown, for an everlasting sign, that will endure forever.’” (Is 55: 8-13)
  • This is the Good News of the coming of Christ.  Elizabeth said to Mary, “Blessed is she
    who believed the word the Lord spoke to her would be fulfilled.”  And blessed are we her children who also
    believe!  We believe, Lord, but
    increase our faith!  May we believe
    only in you and not in ourselves!
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 18TH Mt. 1: 18-25 Saint
Joseph, Our Model…
   
“Mary
was betrothed to Joseph…”
   Joseph was obedient to the civil and religious
laws of his time.  He did things in the
right way – he was well ordered. 
Betrothal before marriage… He paid attention to the details.  Do we sometimes let the details slide saying,
“Well that’s not really important, I’ll do it my way.”  That was not the way of St. Joseph.
“before
they lived together…”
  First the
marriage then the goods of marriage…  God’s
law is important…  Do we always practice
chastity (purity) in our state of life?  Do
we help others live a chaste life?  Do we
encourage young people to guard their purity? 
Do we vocally support the Church’s teaching on priestly celibacy?  Or do we undercut this holy practice by our
words and our attitudes?
“A righteous man…”   Joseph was a man dedicated to God – a man of
prayer and holiness.  His holiness and
devotion to God shone through his actions. 
Do people know we are growing in holiness by our words and our actions?
“unwilling to expose her to shame…”   Joseph
protected Mary even though perhaps he was wounded by her unexplained
pregnancy.  His actions towards her were
full of charity, forgiveness, mercy.  His
concern was for her, not for himself.   There was no bitterness… no anger… no desire
for revenge in his heart.  His only thought
was to shield her from public ridicule.  Is
this how we act when we are offended, wounded or betrayed?
“such was his intention…”   He did not act in a quick, thoughtless manner.
 He discerned. He prayed.  He asked for God’s help.   He didn’t make a decision in desolation!  He waited until he had clarity… in the
consolation of God’s presence.
“for it is through the Holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her…”  The angel gives Joseph a view of the
awesome miracle that God has wrought!  This
is the action of the Holy Spirit… this baby will be the Messiah and He will
save people from their sins!  Joseph must
have had the quality of deep prayer… here is a revelation beyond belief and he
accepts it instantly, without question! 
Only someone accustomed to hearing God’s word in prayer and acting on it
could act as he did in this situation!  He
is our model in mental prayer…
“he did as the angel commanded him”   Joseph obeys.  His will is set.  He never wavers in the trials to come.  He has heard the word of God and he follows it with his whole heart, mind, being and strength!  To be selected as the spouse of the sinless
and beloved daughter of God takes some special qualities…  Obedience… holiness… purity… charity…mercy…
contemplative life… discernment… docility… and faithfulness.
Let us beg
Saint Joseph to take us under his patronage, so that he may be our model as we
strive to grow in holiness and welcome Jesus into our hearts this Christmas.
   
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 19TH Lk.
1: 5-25 St. John the Baptist’s Qualities…
  • Here is the message Zechariah receives from the
    angel:   
Do not be afraid, your prayer has been heard.  
Your wife will bear you a son…
You will have joy and gladness…
Your son will be great in the sight of the Lord…
He will drink neither wine nor strong drink – that
is to say, he will lead a holy life…
He will be filled with the Holy Spirit…
He will turn many of the children of Israel to the
Lord their God…
He will go
before Him (Jesus) to turn the hearts of fathers towards their children – that
is to say, he will lead people to the Messiah who will be a beacon of mercy for
them…
  He will turn the disobedient to the understanding of righteousness…He will prepare a people fit for the Lord.
  • What a set of promises!!!  Zechariah is in the temple…  He’s offering incense before the altar
    of God…  He is “righteous in the
    eyes of God”…  He is at his priestly
    work…  He is prayerful.  In this context he has an apparition, and
    the angel of the apparition gives him these promises!
·
There are two possibilities…  It is either the evil spirit speaking to him
or the good spirit…  If it was the evil
spirit he would banish it and not engage in this conversation. So Zachariah
must think this is an angel of the Lord. 
And this messenger from God is
making a lot of grand promises! 
·
What should he answer? 
How about: “Sounds great to me!  Bring
it on!”  Instead he argues with the
Angel… and pays the price!
·
How could he do that!   It is so clear who is speaking here…  Wake up Mr. Z and smell the coffee!
·
We would never be that obtuse… would we??????
·
Really?  God has
not only made even grander promises to us, He has already delivered miracles to
us, not just the promise of future ones!
·
He has revealed Himself intimately in Holy Scripture –
He has shown us His merciful
Heart… we have seen the suffering He
endured for us… He comes to us in the Eucharist!
·
He has given us His Church… the Sacraments… His
Mother… the Saints… He has made His salvation known in a million ways!
·
Yet sometimes we are no different than Zachariah…
·
God’s path is clear… direct… revealed!  And yet we choose our own path… we sin… we
fail to respond to the abundant graces He pours out on us.  We choose our way instead of His way!
·
Proverbs 3:6 says: “In all your ways acknowledge Him
and He will make straight your paths.”  
We say we want a straight path… but we choose the crooked path, like
Zechariah.
·
Today, as we prepare for the Birth of Christ less than
a week away… let us reflect on both God’s generous promises to us for our
future… but also the gifts He has given to us already.  How well do we use His gifts each day?
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 20TH Lk. 1: 26-38 Mary’s
holy hour… 
   
  • Mary is alone… Silent… Meditating on Scripture…
    Contemplating God’s presence… 
    Praising Him…  Loving Him…
  • Because she is absorbed in prayer, Mary is able
    to see the Archangel Gabriel, hear his words, hear God’s message for her…  Like Mary, silence and reflection lead
    us to God’s word and His message for us…
  • “Hail full
    of grace, the Lord is with you…”
     
    Mary’s response?  Silence…
    She is troubled by the greeting, but ponders these words in silence…  She recognizes the power and grandeur of
    Gabriel, but her mind and heart have to wrestle with the message…  What is God saying to me?  What does this mean?  She ponders…
  • In our holy hours we receive inspirations of the
    Holy Spirit… Do we hear them? 
Ignore them?  Maybe even reject them?  Or do we ponder them in silence, allowing
God to answer our confused or troubled
hearts…
  • “Do not be
    afraid, Mary….”
      God knows our
    fears and doubts…
  • “You have
    found favor with God
    …”  What a
    consolation to be assured we have found favor
with God!   The inspirations given by the Holy Spirit
are a sign of God’s favor for us!  We
receive this assurance in our prayer and
our silence…
  • “How can
    this be…”
       Mary has a colloquy with the angel…  Sometimes we enter into conversation
    with God…  Can I really do what
    you’re asking me to do, Lord?
  • “Behold I
    am the handmaid of the Lord, may it be done to me according to your word.”
      These words of Mary’s fiat – her Yes to the Lord’s request – must fill her with light, joy and
    confidence!   She has always known
    that the Lord had some great plan for her… now she knows what it is!  God has great plans for each one of
    us…  In our holy hour He reveals
    these plans to us and waits for our answer…
  • Mary has prayed… meditated on Holy Scripture… contemplated
    God’s presence in her life… heard the word of God and said Yes… 
    The whole reason for her existence has been made clear to her…  She must have burst out with a song of
    praise for the God who loves her and whom she loves!  When we hear what God is asking of us and
    respond with our whole heart… we can know Mary’s joy and sing God’s
    praises with her!
  • All this happens to Mary, and to us, in the silence of deep prayer… Spending time
    praising,
adoring, and loving the Lord with our
whole being… in the silence of mental prayer…
FRIDAY,
DECEMBER 21ST Lk. 1: 39-45     “Mary set out…in haste.” 
  
  • Mary sets out in
    haste
    .  Our Lady puts all she
    has at God’s disposal…
  • Her personal plans, no doubt she has many, are
    discarded so she can go where God wants her to go.
  • She has no excuses…no reservations…no hesitation.  She doesn’t say, “I’ll go, Lord, but let
    me finish the plans for my wedding and big reception first.”  She doesn’t say, “Let me get married and
    have my honeymoon in Jerusalem, then I’ll go!” 
  • She drops everything and is gone for three
    months!
  • She hears the Word of God in prayer…  She receives Him into her heart… and her
    heart explodes in magnanimity – great generosity with great courage!
  • Mary teaches us that magnanimity is a virtue of
    great souls…  Souls who express
    their love for God and find their reward in the act of giving.  
  • A generous person knows how to be loving,
    understanding and give material help without demanding or expecting love,
    understanding or help in return!  He
    gives and forgets he has given…. He gives and does not count the cost…
  • Selfishness impoverishes our heart… narrows and
    limits our thinking and our loving. 
    It is a slow acting poison that acts quietly but with deadly
    effect… 
  • Giving enlarges our heart… stretches our soul… so
    we can receive more, and then give more! 
    Let us ask Mary to teach us to be generous!  First with God, and then with others.
  • When we hesitate… when we refuse… it is often
    because we do not trust God to provide.
Mary trusts that the word the Lord
speaks to her is true and will be fulfilled!
  • When we give ourselves over to our own plans and
    desires, we’re not trusting in God’s plans and desires for us…  We die a little at a time in our
    selfishness…  Generosity causes growth…
      Selfishness causes death…
  • Let us imitate Mary…  Be generous!  Be swift! 
    No hesitation! All out!  No
    reservations or quibbles!
  • Today and every day let us pray this pray of our
    father, St. Ignatius:
Lord, teach me to be generous.
Teach me to serve you as you deserve;
to give and not to count the cost,
to fight and not to heed the wounds,
to toil and not to seek for rest,
to labor and not to ask for reward,
save that of knowing that I do your will.
  • Then with God’s grace we will become like Mary,
    our Mother!
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Written by Fr. Ed Broom, OMV · Categorized: Blog

Dec 11 2012

SACRAMENTS IN OUR SPIRITUAL LIFE…

 

 

Below we offer a short, concise introduction to the Sacraments in the Catholic Church. The Catholic Church is a  SACRAMENTAL  church, meaning that our sanctification comes always through Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, but specifically through His
Mystical Body the Church and through the 7 channels of grace we call  SACRAMENTS!
1.   THE CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH (CCC) is divided into the 4 parts; one of these is on the Sacraments.
2.   The Sacraments were instituted by Jesus Christ Himself.
3.   They are 7 in number; none will be added nor subtracted!
4.   Sacramentals, on the other hand, were instituted by the church and there are many; still, there can be added new
sacramentals.
5.   DEFINITION:  “A Sacrament is an external sign instituted by Christ to communicate grace.”  — Classical definition!
6.   Protestant churches—the mainline—would have two: Baptism and Holy Matrimony.

 

7.   The Sacraments can be divided into three separate categories: a) The Sacraments of Initiation which are Baptism,
Holy Communion, and Confirmation. Upon receiving these three one should be a
mature adult in the faith; b) Sacraments of Healing which are  the Sacraments of Penance  and the Anointing of the Sick; c) Finally, the last category of Sacraments as divided  in traditional terms, are the Sacraments of service  and they are Holy Orders and Holy
Matrimony.   There we have it!
8.   The Sacraments are “Powerhouses” of grace.   As electricity— watts and volts—have power to enlighten and transmit energy on a natural plane, so are the sacraments on a supernatural plane able to transmit and communicate powerful spiritual energy that we call “grace”.
9.   Sacramentals and prayers and novenas and litanies and pilgrimages and even exorcisms have great value; however, the
graces communicated through the sacramental system are infinitely more
powerful, like the difference between children playing Little-League baseball
and the Major Leagues.   Therefore, we should take advantage of the spiritual “Powerhouses” that are at our disposal. 
10.FREE OF CHARGE!  God’s gift through the sacraments is absolutely free for our picking and taking, like a treasure-chest filled with
diamonds and rubies and gold in which the owner gave you permission to dig in and take as much as your heart desired!  
How foolish not to take as much as we desire!    
11.FAITH!   The primary condition is faith.   Jesus would perform many miracles but upon one very important condition: FAITH. 
Faith indeed can move mountains!  Faith can raise the dead! Faith can transform lives! 
12.DISPOSITIVE GRACE.   Another key point in understanding the Sacraments is that of “Dispositive grace”.   This theological principle states that we receive graces— few or many—in direct proportion to the disposition of our soul.   The better the soul is disposed the more abundant the graces.  An example would be the reception of Holy Communion. In one scenario a teenager is forced to come
to Mass on Sunday fighting with his siblings in the car on the way to Mass, arrives late, is on his cell-phone texting during Mass, during Mass he is thinking about what he will eat after Mass; finally, receives Holy Communion without any thought and leaves Mass even before it is over.  On the other hand a prayerful and pious Mother comes to Mass 30 minutes early praying fervently before Mass for her family, her own conversion, for the souls in Purgatory and loading the altar with many intentions. (The movie: the Great Miracle). Every part of the Mass is’ important to her and she is participating fully, actively and consciously. (Vat. II, Sacrosanctum Concilium). As she approaches Holy Communion she humbly begs the Blessed Virgin Mary to intercede for her so that she might make the most
fervent Holy Communion in her life.  With faith, reverence, humility, and love she receives Holy Communion: the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus the Lord of Lords and King of Kings.  After Mass she stays to prolong her thanksgiving, thanking and loving the Lord abundantly and praying the Rosary, imploring the Blessed Virgin Mary to help her to offer due thanksgiving to the
Lord.   These two scenarios are all too common in the reception of the greatest of all Sacraments, the Most Holy Eucharist.   The teen receives the Eucharist but with little or no benefit at all. The pious woman receives Holy Communion and an explosion of grace and sanctification occurs in her heart and soul.  Where do you fall in these scenarios? Probably in between the two extremes! Another even more marked contrast would be Judas Iscariot receiving Holy Communion at the Last Supper, rushing out into the night to betray Jesus; then imagine the Blessed Virgin Mary receiving the Body and Blood of Jesus from the hands of the Apostle St John!   One received unto his own condemnation the other for her sanctification and that of the whole world!

13. PREPARATION.  In sum it is of vital importance that the Sacraments be properly prepared for and that they be received with the best of dispositions. St. Paul, in his letter to the Corinthians, warned them not to eat and drink the Body and Blood of the Lord for their own condemnation, but to examine their consciences before they approached the table of the Lord.  Catechists, parents, teachers, and priests must make a concerted effort to attain a proper understanding and preparation for the sacraments.   The well-known writer and teacher, Scott Hahn, in one of his talks, compares the Sacraments to fire.  Fire can be used for good purposes or can do irreparable damage; fire can warm a freezing hiker or fire can burn down an entire forest. Likewise the Sacraments—especially that of the Eucharist— can sanctify us immensely or be a cause for our perdition and condemnation! Let us use this fire properly!

14.  APPRECIATION AT ALL TIMES!   We should constantly be aware of the danger, with respect to the Sacraments, of taking them for granted. Especially this is the case if one has easy access to multiple opportunities for daily Masses and easy access and availability for the Sacrament of Confession. In the sacristies of the nuns of Blessed Mother of Teresa of Calcutta there is a plaque on the wall that serves as a reminder to the priest—but this should be for all of us—that reads as such: “Priest, man of God, say this Mass as if it were your first Mass; your last Mass and your only Mass!” In other words, we must be constantly on the watch to not lose our first love, as we are reminded in the Book of Revelation!  

15.MARY AND THE SACRAMENTS!  In the three famous Marian approved  Apparitions, Guadalupe, Lourdes
and Fatima,  Mary asked that a  church   be built. Why? Because in the churches the  SACRAMENTS are celebrated and offered to
the people of God, especially Confession and the Eucharist. Mary never distances us from Jesus but always brings us to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, truly present in every Holy Mass.
 
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Written by Fr. Ed Broom, OMV · Categorized: Blog

Dec 11 2012

FAITHFUL FRIENDS—“TRIED AND TRUE!”

 

Imagine yourself a paralytic! Your legs immobile, dependent almost totally on the mercy and compassion of others, desiring ardently to walk, jump, leap and run, but just a mere dream. Confined to a bed, or couch or wheel-chair experiencing a certain sense of futility and
helplessness!
In a certain real sense this scenario presents itself in the 5th Chapter of the Gospel of St. Luke, verses 17-26.  However, what we would like to focus on in this Gospel scenario is not so much the inability, helplessness and incapacity of the paralytic but in the noble and loving hearts of the   FRIENDS   of this paralytic. Call to mind also the theological truth: God allows evil to bring greater good out of the evil.
Therefore, let us list the numerous virtues of these anonymous Friends of the Paralytic, admire these virtues but accept
the challenge to implement these virtues into our own daily lives.  The Word of God should always challenge us to
go beyond who we are, where we are, always aiming higher!

 

1.   LOVE AND COMPASSION.   These friends obviously had compassion towards their friend the paralytic.  Keenly aware of his suffering and inability to move, their hearts were moved. “Compassion” is the ability and willingness to suffer with and for the ones you love. Question and challenge: do you have a compassionate heart? Has your heart grown cold, callous and insensitive in time?

2.   ACTIVE CHARITY!  The compassion of the stretcher-bearers was not limited to pious thoughts, clichés or simply pious platitudes but their compassion moved them to action to help  remedy the plight of their suffering friend. Question:  Is your love simply words and
lip-service or is it translated into concrete actions?  Remember the words of Jesus at the end of the Sermon on the Mount:  “Not all those who say Lord, Lord will enter the Kingdom of God, but those who do the will of my heavenly Father.”

3.   FAITH AND BELIEF.  Indeed charity—supernatural love for God and neighbor- is the greatest of all virtues for we will be judged on love. However, in order of action faith comes before charity. Clearly we cannot love what we do not know! Therefore, these friends of the paralytic must have either seen Jesus, heard Him preach, witnessed one or more of His miracles or simply heard of Jesus. But in any case, they placed firm faith in the power of Jesus to heal their friend.   They had the faith that can move the mountains.  Question
and challenge!  In this year of faith, have you made a concerted effort to grow in your own faith and taken the necessary means to accomplish this goal and objective? If so, keep climbing! If not, why not start today!

4.   STRENUOUS EFFORT AND SACRIFICE.   The athletes have a saying:  “No pain no gain!”  A classical “Rock n’ Roll” group of the 60’s was named: “Blood, Sweat and tears”. Without exerting energy and effort, our own blood, sweat and tears, then little will be accomplished. These friends, the stretcher-bearers, had to carry the dead-weight of their friend. No van, car, bus, helicopter or subway service! Those were tough days! Maybe they had to travel a mile or two. The Gospel does not specify the distance. However, very possible it may have been that these friends ended up with blisters on their hands and maybe popped and bloody blisters on their palms of their hands. Remember the hands of the crucified Savior and Redeemer, Jesus the Lord!  Question and challenge: Are you willing to walk the extra mile, to undergo the pain, to offer your own blood sweat and tears to glorify God and to save souls and to work out your own sanctification and salvation?  Our God is a loving God but He will always challenge us to give more each day!  Why not accept the challenge?  

5.   TENACITY, PERSISTENCE AND PERSEVERANCE.  When confronted with a huge obstacle— namely, the house where Jesus was teaching was packed to the gills— there was no way to maneuver their paralyzed friend through the multitude.  Easily defeated they could have decided to give up the pursuit of Jesus, thrown in the towel and disheartened and discouraged returned their paralyzed friend home just as he was. Not on your life for these courageous troopers! Come hell or high water, they were determined to attain their goal and objective: to meet Jesus and attain the cure and healing of their friend. These men had the attitude of St. Teresa of
Avila: a determined determination to never give up!!!!   Question and challenge: When confronted with obstacles in your path, detours in your way, contradictions and thorns along the route, do you easily give up and simply throw in the towel? Why not make a
serious examination of conscience on this point! Remember the words of Saint James: “Consider it all joy, my brothers, when you encounter various trials. For you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. And let perseverance be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” (James 1:2-4)   

6.   CREATIVITY!   Not only were the faithful friends not daunted and sidetracked to attain their object— the total healing of their friend
the paralytic—but they utilized one of the most original, creative indeed humorous tactics to meet Jesus. They decided to climb on top of the roof of the house, move the tiles and lower him down to Jesus. Wow!!!  Question and challenge! Blessed Pope John Paul II,   ushering us into the new millennium, challenged all of us to become missionaries, apostles and to take efforts to evangelize in this “Springtime of grace”.  Furthermore, the saintly pope challenged us to be open to “Apostolic creativity”.  This means, that we must be open to the breath of the Holy Spirit who breaths where He wills and be ready to utilize new, creative and modern means to preach the word of God to the entire human race. (Mt 28). Are you willing to drop your nets into the sea, to go fishing in new waters and pursue the lost sheep in a new and original way that the Holy Spirit may inspire you? Follow the saints and be courageous!

7.   CRUSH HUMAN RESPECT!   The faithful friends could have easily been criticized for their “unorthodox” strategy and tactics. Nonetheless, they could care less!  Their love, compassion, determination, sincerity and good will would not be thwarted but implemented, despite the possible objection of the populace! Question and challenge!  Are you a “People-pleaser” or a “God-pleaser”? Are your actions motivated by human respect and a hidden desire to receive accolades and applause by people or are the actions motivated by the Ignation A.M.D.G. — All for the Greater honor and glory of God!  Check and examine your hidden designs and
intentions; where do they lie?   

8.   VICTORY!  After all the time, effort, struggles,
setbacks, apparent contradictions, the friends of the paralytic, the stretcher
bearers, attained their final objective to encounter Jesus. Rejoicing over the
faith and love of these men and the faith and suffering of the paralytic, Jesus
—-always overflowing in goodness—bestows on the man a double blessing! First,
Jesus heals him of his spiritual paralysis—another name for sin. Then, Jesus proceeds
to heal his body, thereby restoring to the limbs of the paralytic healing,
strength and mobility! Question and challenge! Are you aware of the reality of
your own paralysis? Maybe you can walk, hop, skip and run; however, you (as
well as the world at large) all suffer from moral paralysis which means that we
are sinners!  Why not approach Jesus the
Healer this very day through a good confession so that Jesus can heal and
strengthen your limbs so that you can leap with joy in His presence!
9.   JOY AND REJOICING! The friends lived out the Pauline expression:
“Rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep!”   The paralytic’s joy had no bounds; likewise
the joy of the friends exploded! Question and challenge? Has jealousy or envy ever
consumed you over the success of your brother, sister, relative, friend or
neighbor? If so, repent! Live out: “Rejoice with those who rejoice and weep
with those who weep!”   
10. PRACTICAL CLOSING APPLICATION.   Indeed the paralytic is
you and me because we indeed as sinners are interiorly paralyzed. Good News!
Jesus was in the healing business 2000 years ago but is alive and active even
today. Why not allow Jesus, the wounded healer, to heal you so that you being
healed can indeed be a wounded healer in a wounded and broken world! Lastly,
place all of your relatives and friends—who indeed are spiritual paralytics—on
the altar (the “stretcher”) so that as the priest elevates the Host and Chalice
these blind and deaf paralytics will be healed by the loving and powerful
presence of Jesus the Wounded Healer! Our Lady, health of the Sick and cause of
our joy, pray for us!

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Written by Fr. Ed Broom, OMV · Categorized: Blog

Dec 04 2012

GO SET ALL ON FIRE! THE GREAT ST. FRANCIS XAVIER

 

The last words that St. Ignatius said
to Francis Xavier before he was send as the greatest missionary after St Paul
were, GO SET ALL ON FIRE!!!!!!!!!!!! 
He embarked for India, then to Japan and died on the shore overlooking
China.  His missionary work was completed
in only 11 years and he died of exhaustion at 46 years of age.
Like Francis Xavier all followers of
Christ are called to be prophets, evangelizers, and missionaries. Both Blessed
Pope John Paul II and the present Pope Benedict XVI insist on followers of
Christ encountering Christ as Friend and Lord and then sharing Jesus with
others. It is a contradiction in terms to keep the priceless treasure of Friendship
with Jesus to oneself. St. Andrew teaches us this lesson. After being called by
Jesus, Andrew filled with joy hurries to tell the Good News (“Gospel”) to his
brother Peter.
How did St Francis Xavier in such a short time convert, baptize, teach in the Catholic faith thousands? What was
his secret to success?

 

1.   SPIRITUAL EXERCISES.   His conversion came about by having been
directed and completing the Spiritual Exercises directed by St. Ignatius
himself. Ignatius challenged Xavier with the Biblical quotation:  “What
would it profit a man to gain the whole world if he lose his soul in the
process?”
   The Spiritual Exercises
done well enlighten, convert, and transform those who do them into fiery
apostles.

 

2.   OBEDIENCE.   The Holy Father asked Ignatius to send some
of his followers from the Company of Jesus to India and the Far East and
Francis Xavier obeyed. Obedience to God, the Pope, and the Church is always a
true sign of holiness by which God blesses with abundant graces.  “Lord, not my will but yours be done!”  (Prayer of Jesus to the Father in the Garden
of Olives).

 

3.   LOVE FOR POVERTY. Upon arriving in
India, Xavier’s heart overflowed with love for the poor of the country. His
love knew no bounds. 
Identification!   Instead of
seeking out comfortable lodgings and ease, Xavier decided to live with the
poor, sleep like the poor, eat and drink with the poor, and become poor
himself.  Jesus’s first Beatitude
exemplifies this attitude of heart: “Blessed
are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
(Mt. 5: 3).

 

4.   LOVE FOR THE CHILDREN.   Jesus taught love for children.  “Let
the children come to me for such is the kingdom of heaven.”
 Francis Xavier loved the children and they
loved him. He taught them their catechism, as well as their prayers. Such was
the love the children had for him that barely did he have time to say his
prayers or even eat!
                      
5.   APOSTOLIC CREATIVITY.  Xavier was a genius, as teacher and
missionary. As a tool for memorization of the catechism, Xavier made use of the
song. In simple verse and rhyme Xavier taught the children the basics of
catechism. Domino effect!  Then the
children would return home and sing the catechism thereby teaching their own
parents. Pope John Paul II exhorts followers of Christ to be opened to the Holy
Spirit and new apostolic creativity and initiatives.  Jesus said to Nicodemus that the spirit blows
where He wills. Like Xavier let us be open to the wind-direction of the Holy
Spirit and follow!
                    
6.   BAPTISM!  It all starts with the sacrament of Baptism.
After instructions, Francis Xavier would baptize in the hundreds leading to the
thousands! At the end of his day at times he could no longer hold up his arm
any longer due to the huge numbers of Baptisms he would do.

 

7.   ORDER THE DISORDER/ORGANIZATION.   This great saint after finishing his time in
one place, would leave well-formed catechists to carry on with the mission of
forming the people in the community. HELPERS & LAY LEADERS!  Now more than ever zealous priests need
zealous lay-leaders to help to carry on the task of evangelization.   “The harvest is rich but the laborers are
few.”        
              
8.   INCULTURATION. While travelling to
Japan, Xavier had to learn the social mores and customs of another country. In
this case dressed in rags caused the Japanese Emperor revulsion. As St. Paul
says, “I become all things to all men so as to win as many to Christ as
possible.” Xavier donned the most elegant clothes fashionable and gave gifts to
the Emperor, thereby winning the Emperor’s friendship and opening up the door
to the preaching of the Gospel message in Japan.

9.   PRAYER AND PENANCE.  It is impossible to find a saint who did not
take the “Two-P’s” seriously—  PRAYER & PENANCE!   At the end of his exhausting day, Xavier spent
hours in front of the Most Blessed Sacrament, praising the Lord, thanking the
Lord and imploring for the sanctification and salvation of the people God
placed in his path. The consolation that God sent  Francis Xavier during his prayer was so intense
(very much like that of his contemporary St. Philip Neri) that he begged the
Lord “basta”— “enough” of the consolation lest he die of its intensity! May
Xavier attain for us the fire of intensity in our prayers! Penance?  He slept very little so as to accompany the
Lord and offer himself as victim for the salvation of souls.

10. APOSTOLIC ZEAL.  The favorite prayer of Xavier was “GIVE ME
SOULS!”
  Another saint who had a similar motto was Saint John Bosco whose motto was posted on the wall of his
office: “Give me souls and take all the rest away.” St. John of the Cross
asserts: “Authentic charity is manifested by apostolic zeal.” Indeed if we truly
love God then we should love what God loves— the salvation of immortal
souls.   In the Office of Readings for
the Feast of  St. Francis Xavier, in a
letter written to St. Ignatius, there is a passionate appeal for more workers
to gather in the harvest, specifically reproaching the proud and learned at the
Universities of Europe (especially Paris). 
The words of Xavier explode with apostolic zeal and intense suffering
for the salvation of immortal souls.  
Let us meditate attentively the words of St. Francis Xavier.
                                                                
“Many, many people hereabouts are not becoming Christians for one reason:
there is nobody to make them Christians. Again and again I have thought of
going round the universities of Europe, especially Paris, and everywhere crying
out like a madman. Riveting the attention of those with more learning than
charity: What a tragedy:  how many souls
are being shut out of heaven and falling into hell, thanks to you! I wish they
would work as hard at this as they do at their books, and so settle their account
with God for their learning and the talents entrusted to them.”
  (Office of Readings, Dec. 3,
Feast of St. Francis Xavier)

May the last words of St. Ignatius of Loyola to St. Francis Xavier ignite our hearts to become missionaries in our
modern world in this year of grace, the year of faith— GO SET ALL ON
FIRE!!!
   
                              

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Written by Fr. Ed Broom, OMV · Categorized: Blog

Dec 04 2012

ADVENT: TIME TO WAKE UP AND RESPOND!

Happy New Year! This greeting can be made two times a year: Jan 1st, the start of the civil New Year, as well as the 1st Sunday of Advent—when the Church commences its Liturgical New Year.  New Year, new start, new beginnings, bright future!
Advent is a time of preparation for the coming of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. “Advent” from the Latin “Advenir” can be translated into “coming”; we await the coming of the Messiah.
Normally the success of any enterprise or undertaking is in proportion to the prior preparation.  For a successful surprise Birthday party,
there need be a well-planned prior preparation.   That being the norm, should we not make a
more serious and concerted effort to prepare for the Birthday of Jesus every
year.  There was never a Person who came
into the world leaving such dramatic changes in just 33 years as did
Jesus.    What then are practical and
realistic ways that we and our family can take for the coming of Jesus the
Lord?  Off we go!                       
1.   TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE!   Let us live spiritually and intensely this
Advent as if it were the last Advent in our life; indeed it could be because we
know neither the day nor the hour that the Lord could call us He said that he
would come  like a thief in the night, at
the hour we least expect his coming!  The
alarm clock has sounded: Let us wake up to the Lord’s call!   We have one life to live; why not live it to
the max! As St. Peter Canisius said when advised to slow down and rest, his
response was: “In heaven we will have all eternity to rest; now is time to
work.” Remember the motto of St. Benedict: “Ora y labora”. (Pray and work)
                        
2.   SILENCE.    Elijah encountered the Lord on the mountain
in silence. Neither the earthquake nor the thunderstorm contained the voice of
the Lord, but the gentle breeze.   In the
Diary of Mercy in my soul, St. Faustina wanted to live fully Advent and made
the proposal to cultivate silence and recollection.  The Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI upon his
visit to USA and the seminarians in New York exhorted them to silence so as to
hear the gentle voice of God. Today we are being bombarded by so many alien
voices that distract and even deafen us from hearing the voice of the Holy
Spirit.

3.  PRAYER.  A necessary corollary that follows from silence is prayer.   In Advent we should establish a time, a
place, and form the habit of prayer. Both Advent and Lent being “strong”
Seasons of grace should be times to both prolong and intensify our prayer life.
          
4.   GIVE UP AND FAST FROM SIN.  To conquer sin, bad habits that we have been
dragging with us like a chain for years and inveterate vices  we cannot except through the grace of God and
a strong effort of the will on our part. To fall a slave to sin is easy; just
let yourself go and be led and dictated by your passions. Jesus calls sin  slavery.  
Prayer is the indispensable remedy to overcome any sin in any time any
place and any circumstance. Let us meditate on the words from the Catechism of
the Catholic Church on the power and liberating force of prayer.

“Prayer is a vital necessity. Proof from the contrary is no less
convincing: if we do not allow the Spirit to lead us, we fall back into the
slavery of sin. How can the Holy Spirit be our life if our heart is far from
him?  

Nothing is equal to prayer, for what is impossible it makes possible,
what is difficult is easy…. For it is impossible, utterly impossible for the
man who prays eagerly and invokes God ceaselessly to sin.
Those who pray are certainly saved; those who do not pray are certainly
damned.” 
(CCC #2744)

 

5.   SACRIFICES/ ACTS OF PENANCE.   Jesus said that some devils are expelled
only by prayer and fasting. Jesus gave eloquent testimony to this by praying
and fasting 40 days in the desert.  In
1917 Our Lady of Fatima told the three children, Jacinta Francisco and Lucia,
the importance of prayer and offering sacrifices for the conversion of poor
sinners. Why not make a small sacrifice at the table for love of God and for
the conversion of sinners?  Give up
cookies, drink water rather than soda, avoid putting condiments on your meal,
or even try to eat a little bit less— all of these sacrifices offered to God
with great love can be instrumental in saving souls.  St. Thomas Aquinas reminds us that the
salvation of one soul is worth more than the whole created universe!

 

6.   HOLY MASS AND HOLY COMMUNION IN
ADVENT.  By far the greatest act we can
carry out is to assist at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and to receive
reverentially and devoutly Holy Communion. Why not propose this Advent to come
to Mass and Holy Communion and bring as many family members as possible to
Jesus, Emmanuel—God with us!  Actually,
mystically and sacramentally every day can be “Christmas” because Christmas is
Jesus being born and Holy Communion Jesus is born in the depths of the pious
soul!   “O come let us adore Him, Jesus
the Lord!”             
7.   CLEAN THE BARN OF YOUR OWN SOUL.  Jesus was born in a cold, dirty, smelly,
musty, hard stable which was a refuge of animals. Our soul can be compared to
this stable. How pleasing to Jesus it would be to born in the clean stable of
your heart.   Why not clean the cobwebs,
mud and dirt and foul smell from your interior stable of Bethlehem— your
heart and soul—by preparing assiduously for and making the best confession of
your life.  The words of Isaiah the prophet can truly motivate us: “Though your sins be red as scarlet I will make
them as white as the snow.” St. Jerome willingly offered the Child Jesus many
gifts for His Birthday— books, prayers and penances, which were all pleasing
to Jesus. However Jesus responded to the saint and said you are lacking one
thing that I would like: give me your sins! The name Jesus means “Savior”; He
came to save us from our sins.
                                
8.   RECONCILIATION AND PEACE. One of the
many titles for Jesus is “The Prince of peace”. 
St Francis of Assisi composed the immortal prayer, “Lord make me a
channel of your peace.”  One of the 8
Beatitudes of Jesus is “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called
the children of God.” (Mt. 5:8). If there is somebody that you have not
forgiven and you are harboring resentment and bitterness and unwilling to
forgive, now is the time to practice the virtue of humility and seek
reconciliation and peace with that person. Jesus warns us that if we are
offering the gift at the altar and we remember that somebody has something
against us then we should leave the gift and be reconciled and then return to
offer the gift.  “Lord, make me a channel
of your peace.”                    
9.   HELP THE POOR.  In some concrete fashion we should feel the compulsion
to help the poor of the world, our community, or parish, or family. Call to
mind the words of Jesus: “I was hungry, thirsty, a stranger, naked, sick and in
prison…..Whatsoever you do to the least of my brothers, that you do unto me.”
(Mt 25). Ways to help the poor are countless. Beg the Holy Spirit to enlighten
your mind to see Jesus in the poor and act on the inspiration.  Why not be a Good Samaritan on the Highway of
life?
                             
10.  A DEEPLY MARIAN ADVENT.  No doubt Jesus is the reason for the season! However,
Jesus chose Mary to be the means by which He would enter into the world to
carry out our salvation by His Paschal Mystery—Passion, death and
Resurrection. Advent is a truly Marian season. Marian Liturgical Solemnities
and Feasts are not lacking. On Dec 8th the Universal Church
celebrates the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception. “O Mary conceived
without sin pray for us who have recourse to thee.” The Immaculate Conception
is the patroness of the United States. Furthermore, 4 days later, the church
celebrates Our Lady of Guadalupe. Our Lady appeared to Juan Diego 4 times in
1531 in Mexico and assured him as well as the whole world of her motherly love
and concern for all. Why not renew our love, devotion and affection for Mary
who is the Mother of God, the Mother of the Church and our Mother.  Undoubtedly a practice very dear to the heart
of the Blessed Virgin Mary is the recitation of the most Holy Rosary. In Advent
the Joyful mysteries take pride of place. Why not before dinner unite the
family together around the family sanctuary and pray the Rosary.  “The family that prays together stays
together.”
In conclusion may this coming Christmas, the birth of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, be the most peaceful,
joyful and holy of Christmases by living out with zeal, fervor and devotion
this Advent as if it were the last of our lives!  O come O come Emmanuel.

 

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Written by Fr. Ed Broom, OMV · Categorized: Blog

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