Have Faith and Possess Life

27 Friday Jan 2023

Posted by Jerry Robinson in Bible Reflections, Faith, Trust

Tags

Faith, Heb 10:34, Heb 10:39, Mark 4:30, Mark 4:32, Matthew 11:25, Prayer, Psalm 37: 39, Psalm 37:40, Romans 8:23

(A reflection on today’s scripture passages: Heb 10:32-39; Ps 37:3-6, 23-24, 39-40; Mt 11:25; and Mk 4:26-34.)

In today’s first reading from Hebrews, we are reminded to not become discouraged and lose hope when we are afflicted by various sufferings. Rather, we should joyfully accept them knowing that God’s love for us, in the present and eternally, is a better and lasting possession¹ if we keep confident and endure to do the will of God.

Scripture is God speaking to each of us. Meditating on His words today reminded me of how badly I stink at suffering, of how it is so much easier to complain about physical ailments, complicated relationships, and, in general, simply not getting my way, rather than finding joy in spite of those situations. Then, in the Holy Spirit’s fashion, He didn’t let me dwell on that very long. He spoke to me with some examples to follow by placing on my mind and heart the sufferings of three close friends: Harry, Larry and Andy.

Harry has lung cancer. He endured a series of chemo and radiation treatments and the doctors thought they had it corralled. But, it came back and he’s now going through a second round. Harry’s faith is enduring. He continues to attend daily mass on mornings when he’s able and his compromised immune system is less vulnerable to catching something from the rest of us. He is always cheerful and, as much as we long to give each other a hug, there is a ton of love in each fist bump.

Larry has skin cancer. He’s been told he has a couple years of life left…here on this earth. But, Larry has a trust in God like nobody I’ve ever seen. He knows from the bottom of his heart that he is in good hands no matter the physical prognosis, and finds strength in the hope of everlasting life with the One Who loves him more than anyone else in the universe. I know this from the smile on his face and the joy in his eyes I see every time we meet.

Andy was recently diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. With treatment he might make it through the summer. I had breakfast with him and his wife a couple weeks ago. He was as upbeat and jovial as he’s always been. You’d never know he had a struggle in the world. Andy is a hard worker, and his state in life is to provide for his family. I know he will continue to do his best in that role until it is physically impossible for him to do so.

Harry, Larry, and Andy. Three men who are not among those who draw back and perish, but among those who have faith and will possess life.² Three men who, through their love of God and faith in Jesus, are examples to the rest of us. They are humble and childlike³ before God They know that all things work for good for those who love and trust in God.⁴ They are like mustard seeds, which have put forth large branches, so that the birds of the sky (the rest of us) can dwell in its shade.⁵ They bring the Kingdom of God⁶ to the rest of us so that we can find comfort and strength. They model the idea that their salvation is from the Lord; He is their refuge in time of distress. And the Lord helps them and delivers them; he delivers them from the wicked and saves them, because they take refuge in Him.⁷

Harry, Larry, and Andy. I pray for them, and every person who is struggling with a terrible disease, each and every day. Will you join me?

“Good and gracious God, thank You for placing good and holy men like Harry, Larry, and Andy in my life. Reassure them, please, that their struggle is not in vain, that through their faith in Your mercy and grace, there will be goodness result from their trials. Help me, Jesus, develop the trust in you that they have. For them and for all the faithful, let the Church pray. Amen.”

(Have Faith and Possess Life was first published on the blog Reflections of a Lay Catholic)

Hebrews 10:34, NAB
Hebrews 10:39, NAB
Matthew 11:25, NAB
Romans 8:23, NAB
Mark 4:32, NAB
Mark 4:30, NAB
Psalm 37:39b, 40, NAB

©2013-2023 Reflections of a Lay Catholic. Reposting and sharing of material in its full and original content is permitted, provided that full and clear credit is given to the author(s) and Reflections of a Lay Catholic.

The Sabbath Was Made For Man

18 Wednesday Jan 2023

Posted by Jerry Robinson in Bible Reflections, Commandments

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Tags

Mark 2:23-28, Mark 3:1-6, Renewal, Rest, Sabbath

In yesterday’s Gospel passage, Mark 2:23-28, the Pharisees blow a gasket over Jesus and his disciples shucking and eating grain on the Sabbath. Jesus infuriated them even more when He alluded to himself as the Son of Man being lord over the Sabbath and that, “the Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.”

Jesus heals the man with the withered hand.

Then, in today’s Gospel, Mark 3:1-6, the Pharisees totally lose it when he defies their authority by restoring a man’s withered hand to normal on the Sabbath, and in the temple nonetheless! The shame of it all! Jesus thumbed His nose at their law by showing that if He could do good for someone, why wait until tomorrow when he could do it today. To the Pharisees, this was the last straw and they went about planning to put Him to death.

In meditating on these passages, I thought about how the Pharisees, for generations, had added new laws (far in excess of the Ten Commandments) that acted to the detriment of the people and severely restricted their freedom of life. Jesus, in His response, clearly made known that no man-made law could supersede or void the respect for the dignity God has for His creation – man. Man’s need for sustenance and physical health supersedes the law of not working on the Sabbath. Jesus made these allowances, but He never opened the door for totally disregarding the Sabbath.

The religious precepts of that time seem crazy to us now. To us who love our freedom and ability to do whatever we want, whenever we want, those laws seem to be at the extreme end of the rigidity spectrum. But, then I thought about the norms of society today, at what is and isn’t acceptable, and I see where we have slid to the opposite end of that scale.

First, there don’t appear to be any rules about conduct on the Sabbath. Much of society today does not look to God as One to be worshiped, and, even for those who do, many see no reason to respect the Third Commandment of remembering to “keep Holy the Sabbath Day.” There are simply more important things to do whether they are necessary or not.

Even within our Church we take exceptions. Most Catholic schools, for example, pull out the stops to allow sports competition to be conducted on Sundays. Many faithful see this as an “excused absence note” to not attend mass. The wrong message is being sent.

But, surely, there ought to be a middle ground. What is it that God wants from us in honoring the Sabbath?

Let’s begin with what He did on the Sabbath. He rested after a hard week of work. He took a break. And he delighted in His creation, all that he had accomplished. He set the example for us to follow. But, what does this mean to us?

The Sabbath is meant to be a day of rest for us, a day to lighten our load. Jesus said to us, “Come to me all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28). The things that burden us are more than our work, they include our anxieties, the weight of our sins and inordinate attachments that act to keep us distant from Him. It’s a day on which we can look back over the week and evaluate our work; consider whether or not we gave it our best shot; and identify our vices and decide how we can replace them with virtues that will lead us to holiness.

The Sabbath gives us a chance to appreciate all that is good in our lives: the good that we do, the good that is in our families, and in our neighbors. It’s a chance for us to rest knowing that God loves us for who we are, not for what we do. Even when we know we have fallen short, we can rest in knowing that He still loves us.

Sabbath rest does not mean we should laze around and do nothing. We should use it to respect the dignity of other people. It gives us the opportunity to think about, care about, and rest in the love of our family, friends and neighbors. Jesus didn’t think twice about curing someone on the Sabbath. We shouldn’t think twice about doing what it takes to improve relationships with others, bring them happiness, and love them the way they deserve and need to be loved. They, too, need to know they are loved not for what they do but for who they are.

Spiritually, it’s the day above all other days in which we live out the first Commandment – to worship the Lord our God – by going to mass. There, we can rest and find solace in recognizing all that God has done for us, primarily in the saving Grace of His death and resurrection. Because of this, we ought to remember that life is good, and the next life will be very good!

And, finally, we need to rest and delight in the goodness and beauty of God’s creation: nature; the giftedness, uniqueness, and beauty of others; and edifying art, music and literature created by those whom He gifted.

We humans need all these things. We need to be renewed every seven days. In His infinite wisdom, God knew that we would need a day to regain our strength so that we could do our best in the next seven days.

He made the Sabbath for us and not the other way around.

“Almighty God, thank You for creating me. Thank You for creating everyone for me to love and through whom You channel Your love to me. Thank You for the ability to work, to provide for my family, and to help others in need. And thank You for Your omniscience knowing that I would need a day to rest and rejuvenate so that I can keep on working in Your Kingdom. Amen.”

(The Sabbath Was Made For Man was first published on the blog Reflections of a Lay Catholic)

Air, Trees, and the Breath of Life

14 Wednesday Dec 2022

Posted by Jerry Robinson in Bible Reflections

≈ 7 Comments

Tags

Air, Breath of Life, Genesis 2:7, Hail Mary, Rosary, The Sound of Our Breathing, Trees, YAHWEY

This contribution is from my good friend, Bob Magness. Bob is a devoted Catholic, husband and proud father of two daughters. He is a chemist. And, he is a “deep-thinker-about-stuff”. This is the fourth posting from Bob [Random Musings on a Spring Morning (4/22); Proverbs 27:17 – Iron Sharpens Iron (10/22); Reconciliation and a Rock (10/22)]

Air, Trees, and the Breath of Life – By Bob Magness

“Then the Lord God formed the man out of the dust of the ground and blew into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.” – Gn 2:7

I’ve been thinking a lot about air lately. I realize that sounds less than exciting and isn’t exactly the attention grabber most authors strive for. I get things – words, concepts, phrases – stuck in my mind. And without any conscience effort, this ‘thing’ gets spun around like a puzzle piece. It’s as if something is telling me that this ‘thing’ is important and that I need to make some sense of it. I’m almost embarrassed to say how long this particular ‘thing’, air, has been turning, but it’s been months. That’s right, months of idle thoughts about air… oxygen, carbon dioxide, breathing, and life.

The Krebs Cycle is the process by which animals produce energy – at least aerobically. It’s the understood process of cellular respiration where oxygen is combined with carbohydrates to produce energy. The by-products of this cycle are carbon dioxide and water. (Interestingly these are the same by-products we see when burning carbon-based fuels for energy: wood, gas, oil, etc.) In a separate but equally important process carbon dioxide and water are combined and, through the miracle of the chemical processes of photosynthesis, the plant produces carbohydrates – sugars – as its own source of energy. There you have it: animals use oxygen and create carbon dioxide, and plants use carbon dioxide and return oxygen. The biological yin and yang of cellular energy. I had recalled most of that from high school biology. And with some level of spirituality, we see the beauty in God’s system. However, something was missing, there was more to this puzzle piece and my thoughts returned to air.

I have written a couple things about gardening; I have a similar passion for trees. I love trees, what they stand for, what they stand against, and their simple potential for being. That’s probably a bit dramatic. I’ll say this, though, I have favorite trees. Not in the sense of a particular variety, but more in their presence or domination of the surrounding landscape. I like to point these trees out to anyone that might be the least bit interested. I like finding beauty in the otherwise unnoticed and mundane aspects of life. There’s a gigantic bald cypress tree in a nearby neighborhood. To be clear, it has no earthly right to be in that neighborhood. It is magnificent. It towers above the other trees. There’s another tree that is only visible in fall and winter. I drive by it daily. It stands proud above the undergrowth honeysuckle. Its branches come off the main trunk at right angles, massive branches. My daughter said once that it reminded her of the whomping willow from the Harry Potter books. I told her that it was not a willow tree and tried to dismiss her. I wasn’t going to be outdone and trivialized by a twelve-year-old, but she was right. Worse than that, she knew that I knew she was right. I’m digressing…

We happened to be on vacation in Oak Island, NC during an early spring break – this was a couple years ago. The island is full of, you guessed it, oak trees – lots of willow oaks and some smaller live oaks. One evening we were walking to one of the shops and I happened to see a large willow oak that was lit by the streetlights and was set against the dark night sky. Without the summer leaves, and silhouetted against the black sky, the tree looked like a set of lungs, upside down of course. The main trunk of the tree was the trachea. The tree bifurcated to the two lobes of the lungs, and each of the subsequent branches appeared like bronchi, right on down to bronchioles, and continued its fractal pattern down to the alveoli-like leaf buds. It was a remarkable sight. A beautiful tree acting as a lung – returning to us oxygen and feeding the earth with tree made sugars.

I recently came across the book Breath by James Nestor. An interesting read about the physiological effects that can be achieved by better controlling your breathing and benefits of simply breathing through your nose. It’s worth the time to read. Nestor touches on the benefits of emphasizing the exhale phase, extending the exhale. One of the benefits with extending exhalation is the reduction of pressure on the heart. As the air pressure in your lungs decrease, the heart has a bit more room to operate and the result is a drop in blood pressure, even if only momentary. He continues with sections on meditation and prayer saying they are essentially exercises in controlling your breathing. I thought about this while praying a Rosary:

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee

(Inhale)

Blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus

(Inhale)

Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death

(Inhale)

That’s a good amount of exhaling while speaking with only three short inhalations. And when repeated, let’s say 53 times, the effect can be felt, not only spiritually but also physiologically.

Again, I had chalked all of this up to fanciful spirituality and the wonderment of God’s handiwork. But, then, I came across some literature by Rabbi Lawrence Kusher in a discussion about Moses at the burning bush. Moses asks, “When people ask who You are, what shall I tell them?” This is where we get, “Yahweh”, but Kusher points out that in Hebrew the vowels were not there. And that the answer given by God are the four Hebrew letters YOD, HAY, VAV, and HAY- mispronounced as Yahweh, when in truth the four letters cannot be said. The word given to Moses, Kusher claims, “is the sound of breathing”. He continues, “The holiest Name in the world, the Name of the Creator, is the sound of your own breathing.”

I stopped. My air puzzle piece was snapped into place.

The breath of life. Divinity breathed into man. All mankind. Yet another reason to love your neighbor as yourself.

(Air, Trees, and the Breath of Life was first published on the blog Reflections of a Lay Catholic)

©2013-2022 Reflections of a Lay Catholic. Reposting and sharing of material in its full and original content is permitted, provided that full and clear credit is given to the author(s) and Reflections of a Lay Catholic.

How Will You Let this Easter Change Your Life?

05 Monday Apr 2021

Posted by Jerry Robinson in Bible Reflections, Easter

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

Acts 2:22-33, Confirmation, Easter, Fortitude, Pentecost, St. Vincent Ferrer

Happy Easter to you! I hope it was a day filled with joy.

Yesterday, we proclaimed, “Christ is risen!” For the faithful it is the day that brings eternal hope to our lives. It’s the day that reassures us there is a purpose to this life we live and all the struggles that accompany it so that one day we may be resurrected like Jesus and live with Him for eternity.

But, how do you feel today? Do you feel different than yesterday.? Or are you the same person you were a week, a month or a year ago? For many, you’ve returned to work or, in some way, returned to your daily habits. And, I’ll venture a guess, not all of those habits are completely virtuous. I know, I’m there with you.

This morning I set my alarm and arose an hour earlier than I have been the last couple weeks. A contractor was scheduled to show up early and begin remodeling the first floor of my house, and I wanted to make sure I had time for my morning prayer and meditation before they arrived. As I read the first reading from the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 2: 14, 22-33) about Peter’s speech at Pentecost to the Jews of Jerusalem, my attention was brought to the contrast between the Peter of today and the Peter of last week, who, out of fear, denied Jesus three times.

After the descent of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, Peter changed. He found courage to proclaim the name of Jesus and His death, and profess His resurrection to all of Jerusalem, even to those who were responsible for His crucifixion. I’m sure Peter was still the same in many ways – gruff and impetuous – but his timidity had been replaced with fortitude. He spoke boldly and with authority. He was no longer afraid to be associated with Jesus, rather, he rejoiced in the opportunity.

So I wondered how my life might change. Do I have what it takes to “proclaim Your death, O Lord, and profess Your resurrection” as I say every time I go to Mass? And, then I realized I do have what it takes. I was given the grace to be courageous in my faith when I received the Sacrament of Confirmation. If you’re a confirmed Catholic, then you were given that grace, too.

Well, it’s one thing to say I’m going to be more courageous, but it’s a whole ‘nuther thing to do it. Unsure exactly how I would do this today, I resolved to pray for the Lord to present me with an opportunity and, when He did, that I would rise to the occasion.

In the meantime, I decided to read about the saints of the day. Today is the feast day of St. Vincent Ferrer, a Dominican friar from the 14th Century. St. Vincent was a tremendous preacher who converted thousands throughout Europe. His efforts so built up the Church that he became the patron saint of those in the building trades.

As I finished reading about this great saint, there came a knock on my door. It was the contractor’s crew arriving to start work. We had a walk-around to show everyone the scope of the project and, then, as they were fetching their tools from their truck, it hit me: God had just presented me with the opportunity for which I had prayed. It was no mere coincidence that a crew of building tradesmen were beginning to work in my house on the feast day of their patron saint. And, so, as they all gathered back inside I asked them if they would mind if I prayed for their safety and to a successful project. I explained the connection with St. Vincent Ferrer, and they bowed their heads with me. I prayed, “Heavenly Father, thank You for the opportunity to praise You and for the virtues of patience and perseverance that have brought us to begin this project. I pray for the intercession of St. Vincent Ferrer, that he watch over these workers and keep them safe from harm, and that this project goes smoothly and successfully. I pray in the name of Jesus Christ our risen Lord. Amen.” And, then, in my mind I also prayed, “And, please, let their be no cost overruns!”

I love how God works for us when we love and trust in Him. Don’t let this Easter go to waste. Through prayer, place your love and trust in Him, and accept, realize and act on the grace of fortitude given to you in your Confirmation to proclaim the name of His Son, Jesus, to the rest of the world.

“Lord Jesus, thank You for this blessing today. I pray that, in our fallen society, this Easter season will bring a resurgence of hope to all Your faithful. Through the intercession of St. Vincent Ferrer, may a fortress of strength be built in our hearts such that we may all proudly and courageously proclaim Your death and resurrection. Amen.”

(How Will You Let this Easter Change Your Life? was first published on the blog Reflections of a Lay Catholic)

©2013-2021 Reflections of a Lay Catholic. Reposting and sharing of material in its full and original content is permitted, provided that full and clear credit is given to the author(s) and Reflections of a Lay Catholic.

Where are you at Calvary?

28 Sunday Mar 2021

Posted by Jerry Robinson in Bible Reflections

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

Calvary, Christ's Crucifixion, Eucharist, John 19:28, Mark 15:39

The following reflection was written by a friend and fellow Catholic Spiritual Mentor, Lisa Schartz, from Abilene, Kansas. In her daily prayer and meditation on the Scripture, Lisa asked herself from what vantage point would she have watched Christ’s crucifixion had she been there. The result was this beautiful and touching reflection which she shared with me and I feel obligated to share with you. I know Lisa would truly appreciate any thoughts or comments you might have. And, I know she shares my hope that each of you have a truly blessed Holy Week!

Where are you at Calvary?

by Lisa Schartz

Le Coup de Lance, Peter Paul Rubens, 1620

Imagine the scene at Calvary. Three men are crucified and suffering on their crosses. Blood drips slowly down from the holes in their hands and feet. In the center hangs a man covered in stripes of swollen and torn flesh from a recent scourging. At the foot of his cross stands a young man and several women weeping for the one hanging above them. Roman Centurions are there in force. A few are playing a game of dice off to the side. Others prowl about, keeping a watchful eye on the onlookers.

In the crowd are some who call out, mocking the man on the center cross. Others seem to be trying to hide the sorrow they feel as they weep behind their cloaks. Some are there merely to see the spectacle. It is not every day that you witness a crucifixion, let alone three at once. Among the crowd are men who appear to be priests or rabbis. Some of these men seem rather smug about the sight before them, but not all. A few of their number appear anxious as if they are waiting for something terrible to occur.

Picture yourself amid this scene. Listen to the taunts and jeers, the shouts of the soldiers, the cries of sorrow and lament. Where are you in this scene? Are you on the fringes of the crowd or are you watching from a distance? Are you among the group kneeling at the foot of the cross? Are you a soldier actively participating in the event? Where exactly do you fit into this scene?

I want to say that I would be kneeling with St. John and our Blessed Mother at the foot of the cross. Then, I consider that St. John was the only Apostle who had stayed with Jesus to this point. If the twelve who lived with and learned from Jesus for three years had abandoned him, would I not likely have done the same? Perhaps I would have stood and watched from a safe distance. Would I have been at the back of the group wanting to be there but reluctant to witness the scene before me? Or maybe, would I have been somewhere near the front of the crowd, watching and perhaps weeping but secure in the anonymity of the public?

What if I had been brave enough to kneel at the foot of the cross? Perhaps as I kneel there, I am close enough that a drop of Christ’s blood lands on my arm. I watch as the warm liquid seeps into my sleeve. I hear Jesus utter, “I thirst” (Jn 19:28). I ponder how the fabric of my clothes seems to drink in the blood that landed upon it, quickly absorbing it and appearing ready for more. Do I thirst for unity with Jesus in the same way He thirsts for a relationship with me? Does this drop of Precious Blood change me in any way? What if I inched just a little bit closer so that more of the Precious Blood fell on me? If I receive a larger share, will it penetrate my heart? Will I turn from my sinful ways and unite myself fully with the Divine Life of the One Who hangs above me?

If I am brave enough to stay there at the foot of the cross and watch my Lord expire before me, does it change my heart? Am I a different person, having witnessed His death and my salvation? I cringe as I hear the bones crack in the legs of the other two crucified men. My stomach turns at the thought of the pain just inflicted upon them. Then I watch as the Centurion comes before Jesus. He does not break Jesus’ legs since Christ is already dead. Instead, the Centurion grabs a spear and pierces the side of my Lord.

Truly this man was the Son of God!
-Mark 15:39

As he does, blood and water spray forth from his body, drenching the Centurion who falls to his knees. I am also covered in the spray of blood and water. Like the Centurion, I have been bathed in the blood of the lamb. I hear the Centurion utter, “Truly this man was the Son of God!” (Mk 15:39). I know in my heart this is true, and I lower my head to the ground and weep. These are not tears of sorrow, for I know what Jesus has done for me and that he will rise again. No, I weep for the realization of my sins, my failure to love God as he has loved me.

I invite you to spend time with this reflection. Imagine yourself as a witness to this event from different aspects at the scene, and as various people who would have been present at Calvary when Jesus was crucified. Then, I invite you to take it one step further because, as our Catechism teaches us, you have been present at this event many, many times in your life:

When the Church celebrates the Eucharist, she commemorates Christ’s Passover, and it [Jesus’ crucifixion] is made present: the sacrifice Christ offered once for all on the cross remains ever-present. “As often as the sacrifice of the Cross by which ‘Christ our Pasch has been sacrificed’ is celebrated on the altar, the work of our redemption is carried out.’”
(CCC 1364)

Our Catholic faith has it right. You are present at Calvary each time you attend the Sacrifice of the Mass. So, now, go back to that original question that I posed. Where are you in this scene? In my personal experience of Catholic Mass and the emptiness of the front pews, the reluctance of young men to answer the call to become priests, the hesitancy of men to act as altar servers, I doubt few of us can claim to be kneeling at the foot of the cross. Are you that person hanging out at the back of the crowd, sitting in the last pew, ready to bolt at the earliest convenience? Are you somewhere in the middle, perhaps wondering why you have bothered to come or when the event will be over? Maybe you could not be bothered to attend at all because of something in your life more important to you than your Lord.

Are you ready to hear God’s words and embrace His message for you? Are you prepared when the sacrifice is made fully present, and God’s grace is again poured forth? Where is your mind when Christ becomes present on the altar? Is your heart opened to receive God’s love for you? Are you changed when you are not only touched by the body and blood of Christ but allowed to consume your Lord? Or, are you perhaps distracted at the moment when Christ fully unites himself to you, more worried about what you will have for lunch or what time the game starts?

From the moment that Adam and Eve turned away from God to this moment when I turn from God, not much has changed in Salvation History. God still seeks us and longs for a relationship with us, with you, and with me. And I always find some forbidden fruit which, to my sinful nature, has a greater appeal than God. Where are you in your relationship with your Lord and Savior? Where do you stand at Calvary?

(Where are you at Calvary? was first published on the blog Reflections of a Lay Catholic)

If You’re Going to Believe in Everything You Read, then Start with Your Bible

17 Wednesday Feb 2021

Posted by Jerry Robinson in Bible Reflections

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Tags

Bible, Leaven of Herod, Leaven of the Pharisees, Lenten resolutions, Mainstream Media, Mark 8:14-21, Turn off your television

Last week I drove by the United Methodist Church in our town of Lebanon, Ohio and saw on their marquee this thought provoking quip, “If you’re going to believe in everything you read, then start with your Bible.” I thought at the time how it has become almost impossible to believe anything one reads or hears. The mainstream media distorts the truth to fit their agenda, and social media is filled with half-truths and opinions making it difficult to know what is reality. And, I agreed that the safest place one can go to read the truth and preserve one’s intellect is the Bible.

I thought about this again when I read today’s Gospel passage, Mark 8:14-21, where Jesus tells his disciples, “Watch out, guard against the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.” I know I’ve read this passage many times before but I was always like the disciples, not understanding Jesus’ intent. Today, I think I grasped His meaning.

Watch out, guard against the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.
Mark 8:15

Leaven, or yeast, is added to flour and water to make bread rise. Without it, you get flatbread. But, flatbread is still bread, unadulterated bread. The leaven is a change agent that adds air to the dough without adding any nutritional value, yet makes the bread look more attractive, and imparts a pleasing and desirable flavor.

The Pharisees, who were the religious component of authority in Jesus’ time, added their “leaven” of man-made laws which camouflaged God’s commandments, making them secondary. Herod, the Roman political component of authority, demanded that the Roman laws, his “leaven”, also supersede God’s laws so that he and his government would remain in power. Although the Jews were oppressed by the Romans, they also depended on them for their security.

We have a similar set up in our culture today. The modern day pharisees preach love of self over love of God (individualism), love of things before love of God (materialism), love of disordered pleasure over morality (hedonism), and that we can make up our own truth and disregard the truths of human nature given to us by God (relativism). Our society seems to have accustomed itself to depending on our government, our own Herod, for all its needs, placing our political leaders on a pedestal higher than God, which is right where they want to be. Together, the two are like the right and left hands of a marionette in a puppet show being orchestrated by Satan himself, the puppet master.

And, our mainstream media is narrating the entire production, telling us what to believe, who to believe, and how we should and should not act. It’s not just the news sources but also television shows billed as family entertainment, movies whose producers are coerced to present non-Christian content in hopes of receiving industry recognition, music that promotes every sort of immoral decadency, literature that entices us to believe that fantasy is preferential over reality, and declares pornography to be an art form.

And we wonder why our world is a mess. We have dug our hole deep and it’s caving in on us. The only way to dig ourselves out is to turn back to God and live by His commandments instead of the perverted norms of our society. We must adore God more than we do our political leaders and more than we do those who promote immorality.

How might you do this? For starters, turn off your television. Ask yourself if the information you glean from a news broadcast makes a positive difference in your life or does it simply cause anxiety, fear, and mistrust. Decide if watching that sitcom you’re addicted to is making you a better person. Do you really want to support Netflix or HBO or any of the other media sources by watching a not-so-bad movie yet knowing that their real appeal is in their “racier” offerings? Consider whether watching a televised sporting event is going to make a difference in your life, or could you be spending that couple hours building relationships with your spouse or children. The media knows we are weak. They know we will gravitate to what feels good over what is good. You can be stronger than they are.

Impossible you ask? It’s not. This month marks the thirty-fourth year my wife and I have not watched television. We have a television but it is only used to watch a handful of movies in a year. Spending time together in conversation, playing games, praying together, taking walks together and other mutual activities are much more rewarding. Our children grew up without television. Instead of parking them in front of the television as children we played with them, read books to them, helped them with homework, provided opportunities for creativity. In other words, we were present in their lives. It made a difference. I’m not pridefully patting myself on the back, just hoping to be an inspiration to you by giving an example that it can be done. Think about it.

The same goes for every other type of entertainment including books and music. Ask yourself if that which you are reading or listening to feeds your intellect with the truth of reality. Ask whether it is good or not. By good I mean that it not only brings you satisfaction but makes you a better person, whether it fulfills the purpose for which you were designed by God. We are only truly happy when both conditions are met. You can find that happiness in the Bible.

As I write this it is Fat Tuesday, or Mardi Gras, the eve of Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent. If you’re looking for something to “give up” for Lent, or wondering how you might grow closer to Christ in this season, consider fasting from television and replace it with reading Scripture, building relationships with God through prayer and with your family, friends and neighbors. I guarantee you will reap more rewards than by giving up chocolate.

Since television is not an issue for me, my lenten resolution is to fast from FaceBook completely. I venture there mostly to see pictures my daughters might have posted of my grandchildren. But, while looking for those, I easily become distracted by all the other addicting content that steals my time, and which may or may not be believable. I would much prefer reading the One Book that is believable because I know it is truth, letting it make me a better person, and then going out and practicing what I’ve learned.

I pray that each and every one of you grows closer to our Lord this Lenten season.

“Heavenly Father, You made us for more than we have become. Help me and all Your faithful during this Lenten season love You more and grow closer to You through prayer, as well as building loving relationships with our family, friends and neighbors. Amen.”

(If You’re Going to Believe Everything You Read, then Start with Your Bible was first published on the blog Reflections of a Lay Catholic)

An Inconvenient Pandemic

14 Sunday Feb 2021

Posted by Jerry Robinson in Bible Reflections

≈ 7 Comments

Tags

1 Cor 10:31-11:1, Corona virus, Covid-19, Healing of the Leper, Lv 13:44-46, Mk 1:40-46, Pandemic

About a month ago, on a Tuesday, I had cataract surgery on my right eye. I went in on Wednesday for a follow-up visit and all looked fine. But, by Thursday, my vision in that eye was a little cloudier than it was the day before so I made an appointment to go back in on Friday. However, also on Wednesday, I was having some chest congestion, some shortness of breath and a minor headache, so I made an appointment to get a Covid-19 rapid test at a clinic. A quick swab up the nose and bingo!, I had Covid.

Well, I had to do the right thing and let the ophthalmologist’s office know I had Covid. After some hemming and hawing, they decided I could still keep my appointment with some conditions: I had to wait outside until they were ready for me, they had to prepare a room just for me, I had to double mask with my mask taped to my face, and I couldn’t speak while I was in the office. On top of that, the doctor came in attired in full operating garb from head to toe.

It was an inconvenience for me but I didn’t take it personally. I knew the doctor couldn’t afford to catch the virus and risk giving it to other patients. But, when I got home I told my wife that I now knew how the lepers of biblical times must have felt!

This morning’s Scripture passages brought this recollection to mind. We heard in the first reading, Leviticus 13:1-2 & 44-46, how the Lord told Moses and Aaron that those with a “scaly infection” (leprosy) shall be declared unclean, be required to cry out “unclean, unclean!” whenever near another person, and shall dwell apart from other people. It always seemed cruel to me that they should be outcast from society, and I always felt sorry for them because there was no known cure which would allow their re-entry.

Today, as I meditated on that passage, I saw that there was perhaps a purpose behind God’s instructions to Moses and Aaron. An uncontrolled outbreak of the contagious disease could wipe out a significant portion of a civilization. I can see how God, in His wisdom, saw the necessity to sacrifice a few for the benefit of many.

This theme carried over into today’s second reading, 1 Corinthians 10:31-11:1, in which St. Paul says, “…do everything for the glory of God. Avoid giving offense…just as I try to please everyone in every way, not seeking my own benefit but that of the many, that they may be saved. Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.”

And then, in the Gospel, Mark 1:40-45, we read about how Jesus, moved with pity, cleansed the leper. My first thought was that Jesus, as I would expect, was more concerned about that one leper than he was for Himself and His disciples. But, then I considered that Jesus, seeing the bigger picture, obeyed the Father’s instructions to a tee, with one significant twist: He sacrificed Himself on a cross for the benefit of many, including you and me, and for the salvation of our souls.

Ever since the onset of the Corona virus pandemic, people’s opinions have been all across the spectrum on how we should live with it. Some are extremely cautious while others throw caution to the wind. There is much debate about whether masks are effective and if they are safe for the wearer or if they make matters worse. We are a mobile society which makes isolation painful, if not impossible, for some folks. Throw in the politicized aspects of the pandemic and one doesn’t know whom or what to believe.

I dislike wearing a mask as much as the next person. But, our society, our culture, our entire civilization for that matter, is mobile and cannot isolate completely. Thus, measures were implemented to protect the general population, the many, until science could catch-up. And, so, I had to ask myself if it was a sacrifice I was willing to make. I decided last year to wear my mask, including wearing it to church. Not because I wanted to, or because the Governor told us to, but because my pastor asked me to for the well-being of the many. Today, understanding that God advised the Levite priests to do much the same, brought me some consolation.

I found even more consolation in knowing that Christ sought not His own benefit but that of the many when he offered Himself as a sacrifice for all souls, including mine, that we may be saved. If He did that for me, then I can live with a little inconvenience.

“All loving and merciful God, I pray for the souls of those who have succumbed to this virus and for those who have suffered and survived, and I pray for a speedy end to the pandemic. Until then, I pray that, in our inconvenience, we may imitate Jesus and make just a small sacrifice for the benefit of the many. Amen.”

(An Inconvenient Pandemic was first published on the blog Reflections of a Lay Catholic)

Wanted: Saints in Heaven. Please Send Resume.

17 Tuesday Nov 2020

Posted by Jerry Robinson in Bible Reflections, Saints

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

1 Jn 4:10, Confession, Gratitude, Holiness, Hope, Interior Life, Lk 18:35-43, Lk 19:1-10, Love, Prayer, Ps 15:2-5, Reconciliation, Repentance, Rv 3:1-6, Rv 3:14-22, Saints, Zacchaeus

This last spring I applied for a job which I thought would be interesting, would lead me closer to Christ, and was in-line with my passion for helping others grow closer to our Lord. And, it offered full medical benefits at no cost to me! However, there were two downsides to the opportunity: first, that I would have to drive an hour each way to and from work (the cost of which would be offset by the savings on retiree medical insurance); and second, after being retired for three years I really didn’t want a full time job anyway.

After waiting the obligatory two weeks, I received a response thanking me for my interest but advising that my engineering degree and 36 years of engineering related management experience made me exceedingly over-qualified for the position. I felt neither rejected nor relieved at the response but, instead, looked at it as God saying that someone else needed the opportunity more than me. I was happy to let His will be done.

I thought about this as I read today’s Scripture (Rv 3:1-6, 14-22; Ps 15:2-5; 1 Jn 4:10; and Lk 19:1-10 NAB). I thought, “Every day I am adding one more experience, either good or bad, to my resume for the position of a Saint in heaven. When the day comes and it gets reviewed, will I be qualified or under qualified? (Thankfully, there is no such thing as being over qualified although we humans may often think we are!). How will my resume read? Will it be an affirmation of the requirements mentioned in today’s scripture?:

“Has my faith been alive or dead (Rv 3:1)? If it’s been alive, has it been on fire or has it been lukewarm at best (Rv 3:16)?

“Have I opened the door of my heart to the Holy Spirit and allowed Him to enter and form the interior life within me (Rv 3:20)?

“Do I hope for the victory and the right to sit next to Jesus on His throne (Rv 3:21)?

“Have I done what is right, and spoken the truth from the heart such that I can walk without blame (Ps 15:2)?

“Have I not harmed, defamed, or slandered a neighbor or friend (Ps 15:3)?

“Have I honored those who live a holy life, trying to live a holy life myself and steering away from the wickedness of the world in spite of the pressures to do otherwise (Ps 15:4)?

“Have I taken advantage of others financially and profited from it, or could I have been more generous in my charity (Ps 15:5)?

“Have I been grateful to God for His love and, out of love, sending me His Son for expiation of my sins (1 Jn 4:10)?

“Have I been grateful to God for all the love He has sent my way through my family and friends (1 Jn 4:11)?

“Have I lived in the present moment and been intentional about seeking Jesus through prayer (Lk 19:3-4)?

“Have I received Jesus with joy when He hears me, answers my prayers, and when I feel His presence (Lk 19:6)?

“Have I been grateful for all my possessions, especially all the graces the Lord has bestowed on me (Lk 19:8)?

“Have I confessed my sins when I know I’ve done wrong, and have I repented to do right (Lk 19:8)?”

Wow! Those are some exacting job requirements! And, I know it’s not all of them. Maybe it’s a good thing I didn’t get that job after all because I think I need to spend my retirement creating some new and positive experiences and tweaking the final edition of my resume.

The good news is that each of us already has an office in heaven with our name on the door just waiting for us to occupy it. It is not beyond our reach to become qualified for the position. The benefits will certainly make the drive worthwhile!

How will your resume read?

“Loving Father, as the blind man in yesterday’s Gospel (Lk 18:35-43), I pray to be able to ‘see’ – that is to grow in faith so that I may love You more clearly and more dearly; for the grace to live by Your commandments; and to never lose Hope that I may one day sit with You on Your throne. Amen.”

(Wanted: Saints in Heaven. Please Send Resume. was first published on the blog Reflections of a Lay Catholic)

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“I Am the Way and the Truth and the Life”

25 Friday Sep 2020

Posted by Jerry Robinson in Bible Reflections, Faith, Thanksgiving

≈ 12 Comments

Tags

Christ Renews His Parish, Eccl 1:14, Eccl 1:2-11, John 14:6, Luke 9:7-9, Prayer, Ps 90:14, Thanksgiving, The Life, The Truth, The Way

In today’s Gospel, Luke 9:7-9, we hear King Herod Antipas ask about Jesus, “Who then is this about whom I hear such things?” I don’t think Herod wanted to simply see Jesus to identify Him, rather, I think he wanted to know more about Him. Certainly, his ego probably made him feel threatened by the attention Jesus was receiving, but he could also have been curious to know what made Him so popular. What was it about Him that enthralled so many?

As I meditated on this passage this morning, my mind wandered back a few years, to Saturday, 14 April 2012, when I attended a Christ Renews His Parish weekend. I was present not because I felt I needed to grow in my spiritual life – I didn’t have a spiritual life – rather, I was there to find some rest and solace from the grind which my life had become; to seek clarity on what I needed to do to improve my relationships with those whom I loved; and, possibly, to meet new men and make new friends.

My life had recently become almost oppressive from difficulties at work and work related travel that kept me away from home and family. Like it was for Qoheleth, the author of today’s first scripture reading, Ecclesiastes 1:2-11, life seemed to be just vanity with little hope nor purpose. I was working and making good money, but coming up empty on the happiness meter. Life had become just a “chase after wind” (Eccl 1:14).

Each day was a dread and, if I had been a Christian, the prayer from today’s psalm, “Fill us at daybreak with your mercy, that all our days we may sing for joy” (Ps 90:14), might have been my mantra.

As I listened to men talk and give witness that day, I, like Herod, began to wonder who this Jesus was about Whom I was hearing such things? Listening attentively, I heard how they found happiness through their faith in Jesus in spite of many trials and tribulations, and even in the midst of severe tragedy, that made my problems in life seem insignificant. The love they had for Jesus, Whom they could not see much less hug, as well as the friendship they shared with each other, made me envious.

The men presenting that retreat were infected with something I did not have. It was something good and I hoped it was contagious. These were regular guys like me – they had jobs and families, heartbreaks and headaches, struggles and deep seated desires – but they had something more. They had prayer. They talked to Jesus like they knew Him, like He was their best friend, someone in whom they could confide and trust.

That night, bedded down in the church undercroft, sleep would not come. My mind was racing from what I’d experienced during the day. I knew that the only way I might catch their disease was to talk to Jesus myself, to pray and ask Him to help me. So, I rolled off my cot and went upstairs into the sanctuary. I took the third pew from the back on Joseph’s side and I knelt and truly prayed for the first time in my life. I spoke to Jesus and I called Him by name. I prayed to feel loved and that my family would know my love for them. Even though I got no response, I thanked Him for listening to me, and I went back to bed and let sleep overtake me.

The next day, I received dozens of cards and letters from my wife, children, parents, siblings and people I didn’t even know but who would soon become some of my closest friends. Each letter was one of love and encouragement, and the ones from my wife and children let me know that they felt my deep love for them as well. I had received all I had prayed for, plus some. In His mercy, God showed me His love for me, totally unexpected but as tangible as the love letters I held in my hand. I had never heard the scripture that is today’s Alleluia, John 14:6, but in that first inkling of naive faith I knew that Jesus is, “the way and the truth and the life”, and that I would follow Him from that day forward.

“Dearest Jesus, thank You for patiently waiting for me all those years. Thank You for revealing Yourself to me when I finally sought You and knew I needed You. Thank You for showering me with more love than I knew was possible, and for the grace to love You more every day. Thank You! Amen.”

(I Am the Way and the Truth and the Life was first published on the blog Reflections of a Lay Catholic)

Why Are You Here?

20 Thursday Aug 2020

Posted by Jerry Robinson in Bible Reflections

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

Belovedness, Holiness, Jn 17:20-26, Mary Seat of Wisdom, Mediation, Prayer, Ps 119:9-14, Sir 15:1-6, St. Bernard of Clairvaux

St. Bernard of Clairvaux, doctor of the Church, and whose memorial it is today, asked himself daily, “Why have I come here?” The question reminded him to respond, “To lead a holy life.” With the challenges facing society today, it’s easy to lose sight of our purpose. We should ask ourselves that same question and respond with the same answer.

Today’s scripture readings for the Memorial of St. Bernard give us clues as to how to do just that. First, we have to accept that we are God’s Beloved, that the Father loves us as He loved His only Son, that He has loved us for all of Eternity, and that He remains in us if we remain in Him. (Jn 17:20-26). In our daily prayer we need to give thanks for His great love and return that love to Him, and then, throughout the day, pass it along to others.

We need to seek God with all our heart and desire to do His will and keep His commandments and, thus, find joy more precious than any riches. (Ps 119:9-14). We need to ask God to send His Holy Spirit into our hearts, to open them wide to receive the message of His will for us that day, make a resolution to follow through on that message, and to rejoice when we have successfully completed our resolution.

We can’t sit idly by and not try to grow in holiness. We need to sit with our Blessed Mother, Mary, Seat of Wisdom, in praying the Rosary, and trust in her to teach us as she taught her son, Jesus, to Whom she will bring us (Sir 15:1-6).

These things don’t happen by themselves. They happen when we intentionally take time daily for solitude and silence, making time for prayer and conversation with God, telling Him what’s on our heart and, more importantly, listening to Him speak to it.

“Heavenly Father, thank You for Your love, a love so deep that You gave Your only Son so that I might live with You for all of Eternity. Thank You for the desire to do Your will and grow closer to You. And, thank You for our Blessed Mother, who gives me strength and teaches me to live a virtuous life. St. Bernard, pray for us. Mary, Seat of Wisdom, pray for us!”

(Why Are You Here? was first published on the blog Reflections of a Lay Catholic)