REJOICE!

REJOICE!

“Christ Jesus, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God something to be grasped. Rather, he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness; and found human in appearance, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” (Phil. 2:6-8)

These words of St. Paul are a perfect description of Jesus’ last days on earth.

Let’s look at what those days were like:  With only a few more hours to help and guide them, he found himself calming his quarreling disciples, reminding them that none was superior to the others and that they should concentrate on preparing to spread the Good News and caring for the believers.  He instituted the Eucharist; the most monumental act in history, all the while sitting at the table with the one he knew had betrayed him for money!  He went to the garden to pray what may have been the most human prayers he ever said, and begged for a reprieve, but he knew the Father’s will and surrendered himself to it.  Then the troops and Pharisees arrived and roughly bound his hands like we use handcuffs and marched him away like a serial killer.  He was dragged around the city from one official to another, verbally scorned by men who believed themselves superior to everyone else, men who were put to shame by his quiet humility. He was charged, convicted and sentenced to death in the affair, which was more farce than trial. His disciples fled and Peter, his rock, succumbing to temptation, denied him.  He stood alone, as alone as anyone has ever been.  That was just the beginning.  Next came the physical assault, the shame and the grief that his mother must witness it all, culminating in the gruesome death.

If you look closely at the events that unfolded that day you can see the plight of the whole human race in the death of one person.  On that terrible day he experienced all the unbearable things humans bear.  He was one of us more that day than any other.  It is this knowledge that makes the resurrection so momentous.  This man, this very human man has conquered death.  Can any more proof be needed that we are loved? 

When someone we love dies, we grieve but we know that because they loved us, they would not want us to concentrate on their last painful days but instead rejoice that they lived.  And so it is with Jesus.  Easter is a day of rejoicing but more than that it should be a day in which we pledge to spread the joy of the Living Christ. 

I wish you all every blessing on this awesome day and encourage you to live a joyful life in Christ. Its what he would have wanted.

Happy Easter

Carol Lemelin OPA

A GENEROUS HEART

GENEROSITY OF HEART

“But as for the ones who, when they have heard the word, embrace it with a generous  heart, and bear fruit through perseverance.” (LK 8:15)

These words complete the parable of the sower and the seed.  The seed is the Word of God and for some hearers the word never gets a chance to develop.  For others the world has a stronger pull and the Word fades from their hearts.  Jesus praises those who hear the Word and embrace it with a generous heart.

It’s easy to spot someone with a generous heart.  These are the people who reach out to welcome, to greet or to help instinctively.  A generous heart described my father perfectly.  It comes as no surprise that he was a fireman.  He evidenced all the traits of first responders.  As to his faith, I’ve always described him as a happy Catholic.  He embraced the Word with a generous heart just as Jesus described.  He grieved over the fact that none of his 6 siblings were practicing their faith and his visits to them periodically to try to convince them to return met with no success.  But his perseverance was a wonderful example to me.

The greatest gift anyone can give another is knowledge of Jesus.  For most people talk of Jesus never happens or only with those who share the knowledge.  That is safe and non-threatening but it is not what Jesus meant when he spoke of the perseverance of a generous heart.  Those of us who live our lives in and for Christ know the strength we take from this relationship and that is what we ought to share with others.  All the Apostles were evangelizers and their success is probably unmatched in history.  They could never have done it unless their hearts were open and generous and they persevered despite the often-powerful resistance they met.

Many people have the wrong idea of God and how God works in our lives.  It’s up to those who trust in God, who recognize that God is ever near and that the Spirit guides and inspires, to convey that in the clearest way.  It’s a joyful thing to know God and it should be reflected in our generous and open hearts.

Easter is nearly upon us and that day of unparalleled joy should motivate us to bravely speak his name and share his message.

Blessings,

Carol Lemelin OPA

C H A N G E

3/9/16

CHANGE

CONFUSED, HOPEFUL, ANXIOUS, NERVOUS, GRIEVING, EXPECTANT.

            Researchers say that people are more afraid of speaking in public than dying.  That may be true, but I’m thinking what people are most afraid of is change.

For example, recently our local grocery store, which had been on the corner for over 35 years, was closed.  It was replaced a block away by a mega store.  Hundreds of people who never shopped in the original store showed up and strangers replaced many of the familiar employees.  Then merchandise was been expanded to include many products no one has ever heard of.  The regular neighborhood customers are not happy.  The change is too big and the comfort of familiarity has been taken away.

No one likes starting over especially when it wasn’t your idea in the first place          Israel was in for stupendous change when Jesus came on the scene.  Jesus was the greatest agent of change the world has ever known.   The society into which Jesus was born was insular.  Strangers were suspect, gentiles were unclean, and Samaritans were to be avoided at all cost.   Jesus’ outstretched arms welcoming everyone, even the most despised, was shocking and dangerous. His threat to the established way was viewed as even more perilous to those in power.  Think of the courage it took for the apostles to join him and make huge changes in their own lives.  What could impel anyone to do this?  The promise that the change would be good, would make life better and would ultimately transform their world was enticing, but it was Jesus himself that convinced them.  His message that when God said through Hosea (6:6) “I want you to show love … I want you to know me" was turning their world upside down. And yet, the prospect of that world made better by love convinced them.

            It is the unpalatable idea of change, which makes people resist evangelization, either as an agent of it or the target.  To evangelize is to go outside your comfort zone and actually talk about God to other people.  Strange isn’t it?  The God we depend on, who sustains us through life, which we love sincerely, is the one topic we are afraid to broach.  We have to share our own experience of the effect of God’s love on our own lives.  We are often too concerned about ourselves; how we look, how we sound, how the person will react to us instead of letting God speak through us.  Before we begin, we have to call on the Spirit to help us forget our ego for the moment and think only of the wonderful thing we are offering - God’s love, which transforms lives and brings peace.

            Change is as fundamental to growth as light is to vision. Don’t fight it.  Find the good in it and move forward.

Blessings

Carol Lemelin OPA

ISAIAH 55:11

ISAIAH 55:11

“Just as from heaven the rain and snow come down and do not return there until they have watered the earth making it fertile and fruitful … so shall the word that goes forth from my mouth.  It shall not return to me void, but shall accomplish that for which I sent it.”

            With these words God establishes his intention for the world in no uncertain terms.  As always, God is so clear. His message is unambiguous with no need for interpretation.  Simply, “I have sent my Word among you and there it will stay until the day I call it back”.  The word he has sent beginning with Abraham is rock solid and invincible. God has made his will known and nothing on earth can alter its course. 

            I think of it like this.  When Moses began his crusade to free the Israelites from Egyptian slavery he met one obstacle after another, all of them fierce.  He faced the power of Pharaoh, the might of the army, the reluctance of his own people, and his personal attachment to Egypt, the only home he had ever known. Still he found the strength and the will to persevere because he trusted in God’s Word and discovered the actual power of God.

            It’s easy to get discouraged by the amount of evil we see each day in the world.  It’s a mistake to get overwhelmed by it because we are then blind to the good that is being done.  The good that abounds in the world is fueled by God’s Word much like a warrior that forges fearlessly ahead oblivious to danger.

            After centuries of speaking to the world through prophets, God sent his Word to us in Christ Jesus who is The Word.   This miracle is the thing that keeps the promise alive.  “My word shall accomplish that for which I sent it”.  That is what gives us hope in the midst of the world’s strife.  It’s up to us to act on the belief that even when it seems we lose the battle the war is already won.  As St. Paul reminds us “Nothing can separate us from the love of God.” (Rom 8:37-39)

                  We have to soldier on like Moses intent on bringing God’s word to our own corner of the world.  We have to be steadfast in our faith and actively strive to seek out the good around us.  God is more powerful than all the evil in the world and with such power behind us we can achieve our purpose in life, which is to not only live the Word, but share it as well.  Oh, and what is the word?  Love one another.

Blessings,

Carol Lemelin OPA