From the Archives: Five Words

04 Saturday Jan 2025

Posted by Jerry Robinson in Evangelization

Tags

Charity, Discipleship, Evangelization, Jesus, Jn 1:35-42, John the Baptist, Lamb of God

In my morning meditation on today’s Gospel, John 1:35-42, I was thinking about how John the Baptist made pointing others to Jesus look so easy. All he said was, “Behold, the Lamb of God”, and two of his own disciples immediately began following Jesus. I thought, “What might I say to others that might lead them closer to our Lord?” And then, in a deja vu moment, I remembered I’d asked that question a couple years ago and posted a reflection entitled Five Words. After re-reading it, I thought it was worthy of posting again as a reminder that it is our mission as Christians to be like St. John and point the way to Jesus.

______________________________

St. John showing Christ to St. Andrew, Ottavio Vannini, c. 17th Century

Happy New Year everyone! I pray this finds you in good health and full of hope for a safe and prosperous new year.

Do you make New Year’s resolutions? Or are you like me and know that you will break them at the first opportunity? Generally, I tend not to make them but prefer, instead, to make daily resolutions gleaned from what I hear God’s will for me is that day based on my morning prayer and meditation. However, one thing that’s been on my mind these last few days is understanding what I can do this year to help lead more people closer to Christ.

In yesterday’s Gospel passage, John 1: 35-42, I read, “John was standing with two of his disciples, and as he watched Jesus walk by, he said, ‘Behold, the Lamb of God.’ The two heard what he said and followed Jesus.” (Jn 1:35-37, NAB) John the Baptist’s testimony about Jesus brought Jesus his first two disciples. And all it took were five words: “Behold, the Lamb of God.”

Any good Jew would have understood “the Lamb of God” as indicating the Messiah, the One Who, according to Isaiah the Prophet (Is 53: 7, 10) would accomplish the Lord’s will and lead Israel out of slavery. These were the words they had longed to hear for generations. He was their hope, their salvation, the answer to their unhappiness. He was their rescuer.

Meditating on this passage, I wished it was that easy to convert people today, to help them recognize Christ as the answer to their problems, the One Who can bring peace in a stressed out world. All it took was for John the Baptist to say five words! Five words that hit home with people who were looking for peace, freedom, and a better life. I thought, millions of people today are searching for exactly those things and many of them are right here in my own community. I wondered, “What five words could I use to attract them to our Lord?”

As I pondered this question, I realized I would have to first work on getting my little ol’ self out of my introverted comfort zone. My first five words ought to be directed to Jesus Himself, “Lord, give me courage. Amen!”

I know that evangelizing can be more effective if a friendly relationship is first built with someone rather than shouting through a bullhorn from a street corner. What five words could be used to initiate a new friendship? A few that came to mind were:

“Hello, my name is __________.”
“Good morning, what’s your name?”
“Hello, are you new here?”
“Let’s get together for coffee!”

We all have friends we know very well, and we routinely meet people for the first time, who, if we are observant, we can tell are hurting in some way, either physically, emotionally or spiritually, and they need lifting up. What five words can be used to bring the love of Christ to them, to let them know we care?

“Can I pray for you?”
“How can I help you?”
“A penny for your thoughts.”
“You look lonely. Wanna talk?”
“What struggles are you having?”

And, then there are those who we see routinely at mass, who attend simply because they are supposed to or it’s what they’ve always done, yet are lukewarm in their faith. Many of these folks have let worldliness obscure their vision of Christ as the ultimate good. Their lives are out of balance and they know something is missing but they’re not quite sure what to do about it. What five words can we say to them to help them realize their situation, start them on the road back, and rekindle or strengthen their relationship with Jesus?

“How’s your prayer life, friend?”
“What graces have you had?”
“Where’s Jesus in your life?”
“Come, let’s go to confession!”
“Join me in Bible study?”

Five words for courage. Five words to make a new friend. Five words to show you love and care for someone. Five words to help someone who can’t see the forest for the trees. That might be all it takes. Of course, six, ten, or two dozen words might work even better. It’s really not that difficult if our hearts accept the mission given to us by Jesus to be disciple-makers.

“Dear Jesus, I love You because I know You love me. I want to share it with others who need to know Your love as well. Help me, Lord, to recognize the opportunities before me to evangelize, to summon up the courage to reach out, and to trust the Holy Spirit to give me the right words at the right time. Amen.”

(From the Archives: Five Words was first published on the blog Reflections of a Lay Catholic)

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Rehabilitating the Labor Force

07 Saturday Dec 2024

Posted by Jerry Robinson in Bible Reflections, Christian Life, Evangelization

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Charity, Christian living, Cleanse the lepers, Cure the sick, Drive out demons, Evangelization, Faith, God, Jesus, Master of the harvest, Mt 10:1-8, Mt 9:35-38, Prayer, Raise the dead

In today’s Gospel, Mt 9:35 – 10:1, 5-8, Jesus shows his compassion for the many people who’ve come to him to hear his teaching and to be cured. As I imagine myself in that scene, I sense Jesus is overwhelmed because He knows there are so many more people who need to be cured, who need to be preached to, but He simply can’t get to them all. He needs help and he tells His disciples, “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest.” Then, rather than just wish for help, He commissions His twelve disciples, giving them authority to drive out unclean spirits and cure every disease and illness.

Whether you like it or not, Jesus is talking to us – to you and me. He’s asking us to not only be productive laborers but to increase the labor force. For most of us, that’s a scary thought, and a task that’s all too easy for us to turn from and walk away. We feel either incompetent or it’s inconvenient for us and low on our to-do list. But, it’s a condition of employment, so to speak. In a way, the compensation we receive will depend on how well we accept and perform that job requirement.

But Jesus is a fair and just employer. He doesn’t expect everyone to aspire to be upper level management. He just wants us to do the best job we can in the jobs we have – our particular vocations. We don’t have to be priests, religious, or parish Directors of Evangelization. He doesn’t expect us to quit our jobs as parents, siblings, friends and neighbors to be something we’re not. He just asks us to help Him in the roles we’ve chosen and the environment in which we work.

Often we get so wrapped up in our jobs that we forget that the mission of the company is to provide a service or product that is needed by others. It’s that way with our Christian faith, in which our mission is to serve others so that they will discover the saving grace of Jesus. Jesus trains us through Scripture and the Sacraments, through which He gives us the knowledge and tools to do our jobs well.

Where do we start? Well, Jesus asked his disciples to begin by asking “the master to send out laborers.” He’s telling us to pray, to pray to God for insight for whom we can reach out to join our labor force. This may be a new hire to our faith, or someone already on the payroll who’s not quite pulling their weight. If we pray, and if we pay attention, the Holy Spirit will put someone on our hearts.

But prayer is just the starting point. We have to use the knowledge and skills we’ve been taught through our faith formation, from what we’ve learned at our weekly meetings (Mass), and how we’ve seen other top producers (the Saints), do their jobs. By applying what we’ve learned, and with the support we will be given, we can add to our ranks and grow our business.

Many people, though, need some form of rehabilitation before they can become productive co-workers. Jesus has conferred on us degrees in Occupational Therapy. Like He gave His twelve disciples, He’s given us the authority and ability through the gift of charity and friendship to cure the sick– those who are spiritually ill, who are suffering from infectious diseases caught in the secular environment; and to raise the dead – those who were once alive but have succumbed to one of these fatal infectious diseases.

And, like the disciples, we can cleanse the lepers – by offering love and respecting the human dignity of those who aren’t exactly like us; who are rejected or who are outcasts from society because of decisions they’ve made or unfortunate circumstances that have occurred in their lives. And, we can drive out demons – by being good friends who, with compassion, help those who are controlled by vices such as pride, anger, envy, lust, gluttony, sloth, and greed, – all of the things the enemy uses to keep people from God; and help them through anxiety about worries and regrets over which they have no control.

Our Lord needs more good and able people to expand His kingdom. He’s depending on us to look within our own spheres of influence, to ask Him for guidance, and to employ all that he’s taught us to rehabilitate co-workers and new hires alike, so that the harvest will yield more fruit per acre.

“Lord Jesus, thank You for teaching me, for setting the example of how to grow Your kingdom. I feel pretty incompetent at times, but I know You are here with me and I only have to call upon You when I need help. Help me to never forget that I can’t do this alone, that You are always by my side. Amen.”

(Rehabilitating the Labor Force, was first published on the blog Reflections of a Lay Catholic)

Love God and Love Your Neighbor

03 Sunday Nov 2024

Posted by Jerry Robinson in Bible Reflections, Hope, Love

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

Catholic reflection, Charity, Eucharist, Eucharistic Adoration, Faith, Hope, Jesus, Love, Love of Neighbor, Mark 12:28-34, Sacrifice, The Greatest Commandment

Today’s Gospel was from Mark 12:28-34 in which we hear Jesus’ response to the scribe’s question about which is the first of all the commandments. Jesus replied, “the first is this: Hear; O Israel! The Lord our God is Lord alone! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. The second is this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these.”

Hearing this at Mass this morning, I thought about the examples I see every day from young mothers and fathers, and grandparents, who lovingly, selflessly and tirelessly give of themselves for the sake of their children and grandchildren. I thought of social workers and those in the medical field who live the second commandment in their care for the physically and mentally ill. And then I thought of all those who fail to live this commandment because of their selfish desires for what makes them feel good, or what fits their schedule, over the needs of others. I think it’s a rare saint that can live this virtue one hundred percent of the time. Even the best of us are a mixed bag of charity and selfishness.

As I meditated on how I might love God and neighbor better today, I recalled one morning a couple weeks ago. After morning Mass, our priest exposed the Blessed Sacrament for that week’s day of Eucharistic Adoration. I lingered in my pew for a bit but then decided to go up to the Adoration chapel to kneel before the tabernacle and Jesus in the monstrance. As I approached the tabernacle, I found a young woman already there kneeling. I knelt behind her and as I did I noticed the printing on the back of the sweatshirt she was wearing. It said, “Dear person behind me, the world is a better place with you in it. Love, the person in front of you.”

“Dear person behind me, the world is a better place with you in it. Love, the person in front of you.”

I knew this young woman, or rather I know her parents better than I know her, and I knew that if her apple didn’t fall too far from the family tree, she meant the words that were on the back of her hoodie. I also knew her love for our Lord was strong. Did it make me feel loved? Yes, to a certain extent, but mostly it gave me hope. Hope from the affirmation that there is actually goodness in the world; hope that more people will respect the dignity of all humankind whether they are behind, in front, or on either side of them; and hope that I might grow in that respect, also.

Then, as I knelt there gazing at Jesus in the Eucharist, that in this particular instance, it was the Person in front of the person in front of me Who is the perfection of selfless love. He is our model. And it is by loving Him, and letting Him love us, that we can truly love our neighbors as we love ourselves.

“Heavenly Father, thank You for Your endless love! Thank You, Jesus, for Your sacrifice of love on the cross to save my soul. Help me Lord, give me the grace to love You and my neighbors as You love the Father and all the sinners for whom you were crucified. Amen.”

(Love God and Love Your Neighbor, was first published on the blog Reflections of a Lay Catholic)

You’re the Best!

23 Monday Sep 2024

Posted by Jerry Robinson in Bible Reflections

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

Charity, Christ Renews His Parish, CRHP, Cursillo, Friendship, Humility, Jesus, Love, Mark 9:30-37, Matthew 7:5, Pride, Welcome, Who is the Greatest?

In yesterday’s Gospel, Mark 9:30-37, we find Jesus journeying through Galilee with His disciples on their way to Capernaum. Along the way the disciples are arguing about which of them is the greatest in the Kingdom. As I reflected on this passage, I could imagine how that conversation went. John tells Peter, “Hey, bro, you’re the best!”, and Peter replies, “No way, you are!”. Then James looks at them both and says, “Hey, Philip is the greatest!”, and Philip replies, “Uh uh, Andrew is!

What? You don’t think this is the way it went? You think their egos were claiming that they personally were the greatest in the Kingdom? Yeah, you’re probably right. Most likely, they each thought their faith was stronger, their actions were more charitable, they worked harder than the other. Not much has changed in two thousand years, has it?

Our pride does this to us. We have the need for accomplishment, to feel relevant, to feel worthy, to feel validated by our friends and family, our co-workers. And when we don’t get what we think we deserve, our egos self inflate as a defense mechanism. We may not tell another that we’re better than they are, but we certainly feel that way much of the time. We easily see their faults but neglect to see our own. Jesus pointed this out when He told us to remove the beam from our own eye and then we will be able to remove the splinter from the eye of our brother (Matthew 7:5).

But what if it wasn’t that way? What if we ditched our pride and put on a cloak of humility and actually recognized the positive attributes of others and praised them for their goodness? I’m not talking about false patronizing praise, the kind that makes you want to throw up. I’m talking about sincere, honest, heart-felt recognition for the dignity of the other, the kind of charity that values another over one’s self. It’s not just possible, it actually happens.

This is the kind of loving relationship you find when a group of Christians spend time together growing in friendship, getting to know each other on a deep level. Sure, they know each other’s faults but it’s because the person owning the fault has the self-knowledge and humility to share their weaknesses with their friends. And those friends, rather than rub it in, help the other overcome and improve. In a relationship like this, each knows their validation comes from the Lord, that they are a beloved son or daughter of God. And because of this, they can love as Jesus loved, placing another ahead of themselves without any anxiety about their worth.

Friendship like this can be found in small Bible study groups; with friends who frequently share hospitality; and, especially, those who pray together. It’s the kind of respect and love you find between members on a retreat team such as Christ Renews His Parish, Welcome, or Cursillo. It’s the kind of love that brought me to an encounter with Jesus and has helped sustain me for the last twelve years. It’s life-giving friendship that makes life worth living for everyone involved. Your parish probably offers opportunities to become involved in ways in which you can experience love like this. Get you some!

“Heavenly Father, thank You for the life to which You have brought me. Thank You for the men and women You’ve placed in my life who have invested in me and accompanied me on my journey to You. I pray for the grace to help others do the same. Amen.”

(You’re the Best!, was first published on the blog Reflections of a Lay Catholic)

Evangelization Happens at the Pace of Relationship

11 Wednesday Sep 2024

Posted by Jerry Robinson in Evangelization

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

Catholic, church, Culture change, Evangelization, Friendship, Jesus, Love, Love of Neighbor, Mercy, Relationships

In just over a week autumn will be here and summer will officially be over. With school starting, most parishes have wrapped up their festival season, had their parish picnics, and are beginning to prepare for the season of Advent.

Our parish family had its picnic in August. (Perhaps I need to explain what I mean by “parish family”. We have a priest shortage forcing our Archdiocese to combine parishes into parish families. Our “family” consists of two established churches whose boundaries abut each other.) To help transition from two parishes into one canonical parish with two campuses, we had one picnic for both churches.

I made it a point to wander around and meet people I didn’t know and to get reacquainted with folks I hadn’t seen in a while. I saw one couple whom I had not seen in four or five years sitting alone. They regularly attend the church that I don’t usually attend. They were eating their meal so I sat down with my plate of food and we reconnected. I asked them how long they had been parishioners and they replied they’d been there about nine years. I said, “You must know a lot of folks here, then.” They looked at each other and replied, “No, not really.” I responded, “That’s too bad, do you feel welcome here?” They again exchanged glances and replied, “No, not really.”

Sadly, this is not an uncommon sentiment by many parishioners. I’ve met too many people who feel the same. They’ve attended church for years but have made no real friends. People from the church I regularly attend have confided the same to me. My family has experienced this with our many relocations. And these days, because my wife and I travel often, we attend Mass at more than a dozen different churches each year and it’s rare that anyone takes the time to welcome our unfamiliar faces.

It’s easy for us to say that those who feel unwelcome are partly responsible due to their own introvertedness. But that doesn’t excuse the rest of us. We’re not all introverted, but even those who are can learn to be extroverted when called to be such.

By virtue of our faith we are all called to reach out to others and build up the body of Christ, the Church. In other words, we are called to evangelize. And evangelization happens at the pace of relationship. Relationships are begotten when we intentionally meet and get to know each other. Relationships build trust, and being trusted is essential when we are trying to proclaim the Gospel and bring others to, or closer to, Jesus.

Evangelization is often considered to be something we only do outside the church doors, to the un-churched. We need to change our thinking. We have to evangelize within our church family as well. At any moment, parishioners like those I met at the picnic may decide that if they don’t meet anyone this Sunday, they’re gone! Tragically, Catholics are leaving the faith in droves, partly because they do not feel welcome. It’s a problem our Catholic culture has to overcome if we want to survive. We have to get beyond the idea that our only responsibility is to attend mass each week and go to confession once a year. Our Creed says we are “One”. We need to start acting like we are all One family and loving the other as they deserve and need to be loved.

We are called to be merciful like Jesus was merciful. That includes practicing the Spiritual Work of Mercy of comforting the sorrowful. We can’t keep looking past people like they are invisible, rather we have to understand that many are struggling, and that not everything is copacetic in their lives. People going through a tough time need a listening ear. A friendly smile and welcoming conversation can turn a difficult day into one of joy and hope. The making of a new friend can end a life of loneliness. And personally, the next new person you intentionally meet might just be your next best friend, the someone you need but just don’t know it yet.

Make it a point to meet someone new this Sunday or at your next parish activity. Be intentional. Attend a different mass, sit in a different pew, look for that spot in a pew next to someone you don’t know. Then, after Mass, turn to them with an outreached hand and introduce yourself. When they respond, take the conversation from there, listening to learn more about them. It’s not that hard and you’ll be glad you gave it a try.

“Come Holy Spirit, rekindle in me and all those who have been Confirmed the virtue of fortitude to get out of our comfort zones and seek out those who need us. Help us to look beyond ourselves and commit to bringing the love of Christ to others. I thank You, Lord, for all those you have placed in my life who have reached out with a friendly hand and a comforting smile and made me feel a welcome member of our Catholic family. Amen.”

(Evangelization Happens at the Pace of Relationship, was first published on the blog Reflections of a Lay Catholic)

Be Like St. Mary Magdalene

23 Tuesday Jul 2024

Posted by Jerry Robinson in Evangelization

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Accompaniment, Apostle to the Apostles, Discipleship, John 20: 1-2, John 20: 11-18, Mary of Magdala, Missionary Discipleship, St. Mary Magdalene

Be like St. Mary Magdalene. I don’t mean go and get possessed by seven demons. No, be like her after she met Jesus.

Today is the feast day for St. Mary Magdalene. Yes, her feast day, not just a memorial. Pope Francis recognized her important role as a witness to Christ’s resurrection and, in 2016, raised her celebration from a memorial to a feast day on the same level as the Apostles.

Today’s Gospel, John 20: 1-2, 11-18, recounts the event of the morning after Jesus was crucified and buried. Out of love for Jesus and a burning desire to be with Him, Mary of Magdala went to Jesus’ tomb at the break of dawn, only to discover that the stone had been rolled away and Jesus was no longer there. She ran to tell the news to Peter and John, who raced back to the tomb to see for themselves. Acknowledging that Jesus was gone, but not understanding why, they left and returned home.

Mary, however, stayed at the tomb and wept for her beloved Jesus. She entered the tomb and was approached by Jesus whom she mistakenly thought was the gardener. Jesus told her to stop holding on to Him, and sent her to tell His brothers that He had not yet ascended to the Father. She obeyed and returned to the disciples announcing that she had, “‘Seen the risen Lord,’ and what He told her.”

By returning to her friends, the disciples, Mary became the Apostle to the Apostles, and was the first to evangelize and proclaim Christ’s resurrection, thus earning her place in that select group.

What do I mean by saying “Be like St. Mary Magdalen”? Well, first, we need to develop a loving relationship with Jesus like she did. We need to allow Jesus to save us from our sins. Then, like Mary, we need to spend time with Jesus, building and strengthening that relationship through prayer, listening to Him, and living our lives as He would have us live them. And, finally, we need to heed Jesus’ words to her and tell others about His resurrection. Jesus is sending us on mission. We are all called to be apostles, called to evangelize.

But, you might argue, Mary was sent to the Apostles who already believed in Jesus, men who already had a relationship with Him. That’s right, and we are sent to do the same. We often think of evangelizing as proclaiming the gospel to those who don’t believe. It certainly is, but we can also evangelize those who come to mass every week or most of the time; those who might occasionally attend a study class because they are wanting to learn more; and those who secretly have their doubts about some aspect of our faith. We are called to help others grow in their relationship with Jesus. Like Mary, we can do that by showing our love and devotion to Jesus in prayer, in the Eucharist, and not keeping our faith private. We can reach out to friends and acquaintances, delighting in them and valuing their dignity by inviting them into conversation and offering friendship and hospitality.

Evangelizing in this way will move those who believe but who minimally live their faith, and those who are seeking and growing in their faith, towards being fully missionary disciples. If we are to live out the central mission of our Catholic faith, we are required to make disciples of all nations. We can only do that by building an army of missionary disciples who are willing to evangelize both externally and internally.

You can be like St. Mary Magdalene.

“Heavenly Father, thank You for the St. Marys of Magdala that You put into my life. I would not be the disciple that I am today if missionary disciples who had an intense love for You and a desire to proclaim Your Kingdom had not accompanied me on my faith journey. Lord, I pray for the grace to pay this forward and help others draw closer to You and Your Son, Jesus. Amen.”

(Be Like St. Mary Magdalene, was first published on the blog Reflections of a Lay Catholic)

Road Trip Reflections: “Come Away with Me”

22 Monday Jul 2024

Posted by Jerry Robinson in Prayer, Road Trips

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Come Away with Me, Desert time, Evangelization, Mark 6:30-34, Mark 6:31, Reflection, Rest, Retreat, Road Trips, Silent Retreat

I just returned home after an eight-hour drive today from Missouri where I visited my mother. I drove down to see her on Friday. This was my first visit since my father passed away in March. We had a nice reunion and some good conversation.

Before I left Friday I had a few friends tell me, as they often do, that I am crazy for all the driving I do. I suppose for most folks, it looks that way. While even a two-hour drive may be loathsome and cause tired tushes for some, I don’t think twice about taking an eight to twelve hour road trip or even going across country. I’m fortunate that my wife enjoys a good road trip, also, but every now and then it’s a welcome respite to spend hours behind the wheel alone. I think the introvert in me appreciates that time for recharging.

Last Monday I met with a group of men and we discussed this morning’s Gospel, Mk 6:30-34 relating to the apostles return from their mission of preaching in the nearby villages. As we went around the table sharing what the Word was saying to each of us, my reflection focused on verse 31, “Jesus said to them, ‘Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.’” Jesus knew they needed some downtime without distractions, and He knows we need it, too. He calls us each day to spend time alone with Him, at least 20 minutes in prayer, in solitude and silence, meditating on His Word, and listening to His will for us that day.

As I began my drive on Friday, that conversation bubbled up and it struck me that this is exactly why I love a solitary road trip – to “Come away” by myself with Him! I’m in the desert for hours at a time, in a silent retreat, no music or podcasts, with just me driving and Jesus in the passenger seat navigating me through life. It truly is a relaxing few hours where I tell Him what’s on my mind and then listen to His response.

He brings to mind past sins about which I’m not too proud; reveals to me my predominant faults; and helps me see ways to grow in virtue. We converse about my relationships, with whom I need to be more charitable, and how I should love others the way they deserve to be loved. And, we brainstorm ways in which I can evangelize, proclaiming the Kingdom, so that I might bring others to know Him and receive His love.

But even in this peaceful time, the Enemy still puts a few potholes in my path. About half way into my eight hour drive on Friday, I received a phone call from the repair shop with their estimate of over two thousand dollars to repair my lawn mower. I told them I needed some time to consider if it was worth it. I got a little anxious for a few minutes, but then I thought, “I’m not going to let them steal my peace! This business can wait until Monday”, and then got back into my silent retreat.

Then today, I stopped at a rest area and checked a couple text messages I’d received from siblings, flabbergasted over today’s news regarding the political presidential race. Exiting out of them, I thought, “I’m not getting pulled into this and let it steal my peace, either! It can wait until November when I can vote and do the only thing there is for me to do other than pray.” And, I got back on the highway with my co-pilot.

I made it home after dark, unloaded my truck, put things away, took the trash cans to the street, and still had enough energy to jot down these thoughts. I feel rested and ready to get back to work tomorrow creating ways to build an evangelizing culture in our parish.

“Lord Jesus, I so enjoyed our time together this weekend! Thank You for traveling with me, keeping me safe, and drawing me closer to You. Thank you for inviting me to “Come away with You”, and for the grace to say, “Yes!”. Thank you for the time with my mother, and for our conversations reminiscing about Dad. Amen.”

(Road Trip Reflections: “Come Away with Me”, was first published on the blog Reflections of a Lay Catholic)

“Do You Love Me More than These?”

17 Friday May 2024

Posted by Jerry Robinson in Bible Reflections

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

Balance, Bible, Catholic, christian, Faith, Jesus, Jn 21:15-19, Love, Meditation, Mental Prayer, Order, Prayer, Rule of Life

In today’s Gospel, John 21:15-19, Jesus has just appeared to the disciples for the third time and has helped them catch a boat load of fish. He and Peter are sitting around a campfire on the shore of the Sea of Tiberias having a conversation. Jesus asks Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” Over the years I’ve read this passage dozens of times and today my attention was not drawn to Jesus asking Peter to feed and tend his lambs and sheep. Today, I am pondering what Jesus means by “these”.

I imagine them sitting there together, and as Jesus asks the question, He is gesturing with His hands. At what are they pointing? Jesus could be pointing at the other disciples and asking if Peter loves Him more than the other disciples love Him. Or, He could be pointing at the other disciples and asking if he loves them more than he loves Him. Or, possibly, he’s pointing at the fish on the grill, the nets, or the boat and asking if Peter, the fisherman, loves those things more than Him.

I know that the Bible is God’s Word, and in it, especially the gospels, He is talking to us. He could be asking Peter for any of those reasons, but what is He asking us today in those questions? In the first possibility, it strikes me that one would have to be extremely judgmental and full of pride to think he/she loves Jesus more than other people love Him, especially one’s own friends. It’s a no-win question, “yes” and “no” are both wrong answers. Somehow I don’t think Jesus would put us in that predicament.

Answering the second option is also tricky. Jesus tells us to love our neighbors as He has loved us. Thus, to say we love one more than the other is, again, a Catch-22 situation, one that Jesus wouldn’t impose on us.

The third option, however, is certainly a possibility! Peter’s worldly life revolved around his boat, nets and the fish he caught. My life, and probably yours, too, is consumed with worldly things that too frequently eat up my time and draw my attention away from my Lord. For the most part, they are good things: work, family, relationships, food, rest, exercise, creating, admiring beauty, etc. They are all good things, either created by God or created from the gifts given to us by God. But, we get too attached to them in a disordered way. We become workaholics and fail to give attention not only to God but to our loved ones; or we neglect our work which then fails to provide the necessities for our families. Physically, we eat too much or too much of the wrong things, we exercise too much or too little. We spend too much time looking at our screens for entertainment rather than admiring what is truly beautiful or creating beautiful things.

Can you imagine yourself in that scene, Jesus asking you that question? Can you see His hands and arms spreading wide at all the stuff that draws your attention away from Him? It’s all good stuff in its own way, but you know you’re way too attached to it. And you know deep inside that it’s wrong, that it causes havoc in your life, that it’s the source of the imbalance and chaos that drives your anxiety and unhappiness. There’s a hole in your life that these things are not filling. It’s a God-sized hole that only God can fill.

How do you correct your course? The answer is creating a personal Rule of Life, that is, identifying the most important things in life and putting them first, ahead of less important things, then determining how much time ought to be spent on each of those things. I have a friend who considers a well ordered and productive life to be like following a recipe to bake a cake – you need the right ingredients (the things), the right amount or proportion of each ingredient, and incorporate them in the right order. Of course, time for Jesus in the form of prayer, especially mental prayer meditating on His Word, needs to be one of those ingredients. How much? Try just 30 minutes a day, preferably first thing in the morning, sitting with Him in silence and solitude, reflecting on His Word, loving Him and letting Him love you. That 30 minutes will change your life.

“Dear Jesus, we both know there are many things that draw me away from You, things that cannot bring the joy that You bring to life. Thank You for helping me create a Rule of Life by which I generally keep all of “these” things in order, and first things first. Yet, I know I often slip-slide. Through my devoted prayer time with You, You give me the grace to correct my bearings when I drift off course. Amen.”

(“Do You Love Me More than These?” was first published on the blog Reflections of a Lay Catholic)

Are You In or Out?

16 Thursday May 2024

Posted by Jerry Robinson in Evangelization, Faith

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

Bible, Catholic, christianity, Discipleship, Evangelization, Faith, Fear, Jesus, Jn 16:33, Jn 17:11-19, Trust

It’s Wednesday, May 15th, but I know this won’t get posted until tomorrow. I’m writing this right after my morning meditation on today’s Gospel, John 17:11-19. After Jesus informed his disciples that he is going away (Jn 16) and they will have to take over from Him, He warns them of the trouble they will encounter from the world, but to have courage because He has conquered the world. Now (Jn 17), He prays to God before them to consecrate them to the truth, sends them forth into the world to continue His mission, and prays, “for those who will believe in me through their word”.

As I put myself in that scene as one of the disciples, I feel anxious. I am alarmed and sad that my Messiah, the One I love, is leaving me, and I am fearful because I now have a tremendous responsibility to carry on His mission even though I am hopelessly inadequate. At the same time, I think about all the good He has brought to the world – the miracles, the lessons about right living, the healing, the interior peace – lessons that simply cannot be set aside and forgotten. I have a decision to make: do I just remember Jesus as a friend, teacher, and miracle worker, or do I continue His work, sharing this beautiful life, and help others come to know Him?

I realize that it’s really a no-brainer. Up until now, I’ve just been tagging along on His robe-tail, letting Him do all the work. Now He’s asking me, and trusting in me, to step up and take command. He’s even asked God directly to help me…and I have no reason to believe His prayer won’t be answered no matter how afraid I am. I have never felt more loved than when I’ve been with Him. He has asked me to love others as He has loved me. How can I do otherwise?

My decision: I’m in. I know it won’t be easy but I trust that He will be with me. I’ll make mistakes. I’ll fall occasionally. He told me the world will work against me. I’ll accept that, but I’ll find ways to deal with it and evangelize nevertheless.

What’s your decision? Are you in or out?

“Lord Jesus, thank You for inviting me to a deep relationship with You, and Your trust in me to lead others to You. Thank You for the gifts You give when I receive You in Communion, the gifts of love for others, and of courage and strength to overcome my fear of evangelizing as I bring that love to them. Amen.

(Are You In or Out? was first published on the blog Reflections of a Lay Catholic)

Biscuits and Gravy

11 Thursday Apr 2024

Posted by Jerry Robinson in Evangelization, Faith, Friendship

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

Biscuits and Gravy, Catholic, Evangelization, Faith, Friendship, Missionary Discipleship, The Rescue Project

My southern-raised grandmother had a saying when she received something good over and above what she expected: “Well, isn’t that just gravy on the biscuit!”. This Lent our parish offered a faith-filled “biscuit” and got a heaping ladle of “gravy” thrown in.

Approximately ninety parishioners and parishioners-to-be gathered to experience The Rescue Project, a faith-building/evangelization program. Participants sat at the same table of eight, and, over eight weeks, filled their bellies with good food and their minds and souls with delicious “biscuits” – an expected deeper understanding of our Catholic faith.

The “gravy” came in the form of evangelizing through developing friendships. Many at the tables were strangers to each other, so table leaders had to be intentional about creating an inviting atmosphere for everyone to comfortably share their personal insights and what they received from the presentations. This intentionality had to stem from a genuine interest in the other person and a desire to get to know their story. With each successive week, participants became more comfortable and trusting, laughed and cried together, and became close friends. Since the program ended, table members have arranged to meet for meals, for prayer, and have stayed in touch supporting each other in their daily walk with Christ.

Everyone who attended The Rescue Project came to be inspired in their faith, and they left with much more – new friends with whom they could share their love for Jesus. But, those ninety folks are not unique in the world. There are millions just like them eager for friendship and the chance to tell their story if only someone is interested enough to listen. They are in our parishes, our neighborhoods, and our workplaces. They are the people sitting next to you in the church pew, or the new parishioner who’s just moved to town and doesn’t know anyone. They could be someone who is lost and despairing, who is blindly looking for salvation. God put you in their path on purpose.

To be missionary disciples, we need to intentionally seek opportunities to be friends who can bring others to Christ. We need to be welcoming and hospitable, and help others find joy in the world by delighting in them and helping them feel relevant, that they are beloved sons and daughters of God. God made us for each other. He shows His love for us through other people. Your next best friend may just be the person you’re about to meet. Delight in them. Be the “gravy” on their “biscuit”.

“Heavenly Father, thank You for the gift of faith, for the gift of friendship, and the opportunity to bring the two together. Thank You for Fr. John Riccardo and his ACTS XXIX team for developing The Rescue Project. Thank you for putting it on the hearts of so many in our parish to participate and bring the love of Christ to others. Amen.”

(Biscuits and Gravy was first published on the blog Reflections of a Lay Catholic)