BELIEVE IT OR NOT

BELIEVE IT OR NOT

“As a result of this, many of his disciples returned to their former way of life and no longer walked with him.”(JN 6:66)

There are fewer sentences in scripture more sad than this one.  This exodus came about when some followers asked Jesus what sign could he do that would convince them of his legitimacy.  They suggested the manna Moses gave his people.  Jesus was quick to remind them that it was not Moses, but God who gave them the manna. There follows one of the longest discourses and arguments recorded from Jesus ministry.  He states clearly, “I am the bread that comes from heaven.”  At this point the discussion becomes very intense.  Jesus says, “My flesh is true food and my blood is true drink and whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him.”  Many began to back away at that point.  Finally only those closest to Jesus remained.  Jesus asks them if they, too, will be leaving and Peter replies, “Where would we go?”  They stayed, not because they understood, but because they loved him and trusted him.  

It must have been quite a moment at the Last Supper when Jesus explained, holding the bread aloft, ‘This is my body” and“This is my blood.”I can imagine Peter wondering why Jesus hadn’t explained that sooner, but by that time Peter knew Jesus’ ways were not up for discussion.  

Now we come to the part that troubles me.  During the Flu season the Archdiocese announces that in the interest of health, the Cup can be omitted from the distribution of the Sacrament.  I think that if it were true that we could become ill from drinking the Blood of Christ, the Church would not have survived past the first century.  

I encourage you to read John 6: 22-71.  Read carefully and put yourself in the story.  Would you have walked away?  Do we actually believe what Jesus said?  When the priest is saying Mass, he clearly asks the Spirit to transform the bread and wine.  The Spirit does this, not the priest. This is the center of our faith. We either believe in the power of the Spirit or we don’t. There cannot be any ambivalence.  

Jesus watched as the people walked away shaking their heads and thinking it was really too bad that someone so promising was clearly not right in the head.  It isn’t hard to imagine how he felt.  They had come for a lot of reasons, mostly selfish, and walked away when they were challenged to believe his shocking words. That left only the true believers.  Imagine the sadness in his heart when asked them, 

“Do you also want to leave?”

Then there is this: Is stopping the distribution of the Precious Blood during flu season a version of walking away?   

May the Spirit guide us. 

Carol Lemelin, OPA

HOW WELL DO YOU KNOW JESUS?

HOW WELL DO YOU KNOW JESUS?

There broke out severe persecution of Christians in Jerusalem.

Saul went from house to house dragging men and women out

To be imprisoned.   (Acts: 8: 1b, 3)

Sound familiar?  It is, perhaps, the greatest weakness of the human being, that if something or someone is not understood, it/they must be destroyed.  It happens daily all over the world and probably always will.  The Killing Fields of Cambodia, the concentration camps of Poland, the Gulags of Russia, Boko Harum and ISIS, are all testaments to the failure of the human race to even try to understand one another. 

Jesus is meant to be the guiding light to that understanding.  Yet even Christian people are guilty of destroying others they do not understand.  It has to do with ego, with the need to control, with insecurities and fear.  All these things can be banished with a clear understanding of Jesus.  

Jesus appeared on the scene without fanfare or public relations personnel paving the way, unless you count John the Baptist.  He simply stood among the people and showed them the love of God. He spoke the truth to the powerful and encouraged the powerless to trust in the love of God. All the ugly things that keep us from one another can be controlled by the presence of Jesus in our lives.  The years of his mission, short as they were, were only the prologue to his presence on earth. If we believe him when he says that God loves us, we must believe him when he says he is with us all days.  This is not an illusion or a story we tell ourselves to make us feel better, but the absolute truth.  

The burning question is this; “Is Jesus meant to be the center of our lives, or is he merely meant to be the 911 operator?”  

When Jesus said;  “Peace be with you.”  He meant, “I’m here, be at peace. “ He is still here and he still brings peace, but we must know him better. We need to get to know him the way his disciples did. For centuries we have been made to feel guilty for the death of Christ.  Christ is depicted as a victim on every crucifix, a victim of our sinfulness. But He is not a victim. He is the victor. We are invited to share in that victory and to tell it to the world. But we can’t do that unless are comfortable in his presence.  Aren’t we always more comfortable with people we know? 

We should pray and ask Jesus to reveal himself to us. Then we should search for ways to find out more. To that end I would like to recommend a book called Beautiful Outlawby John Eldridge, which reveals the personality of Christ by examining the scriptures.  

To know Him is to love Him. 

Blessings,

Carol Lemelin OPA

IN SEARCH OF HOLINESS

IN SEARCH OF HOLINESS

Pope Francis has issued a new Apostolic Exhortation called Gaudete Et Exsultate, Rejoice and be Glad, in which he encourages us to achieve holiness. 

The dictionary describes holy as: worthy of complete devotion and/or perfect in goodness and righteousness. That definition is what keeps us from even considering the possibility that we can be holy.  We’re lucky if people like us, let alone considering us worthy of complete devotion. It seems beyond us, ordinary people that we are.  

The Holy Father, however, is explaining that holiness does not have to be lofty beyond the rest of the human race, but instead can be achieved through simple acts of kindness. We ascribe holiness to people like Fr. Solanus and Mother Theresa, but the truth is they were actually only doing their jobs.  They were patient, kind, concerned for others and set a good example for everyone else all the while acknowledging the presence of God in their lives. 

Fr. James Martin explains it this way:  “That doesn’t have to mean big, dramatic actions. Francis offers examples of everyday sanctity, like a loving parent raising a child; as well as “small gestures” and sacrifices that one can make, like deciding not to pass on gossip. If you can see your own life as a “mission,” then you soon realize that you can simply be loving and kind to move towards holiness. You also do not have to be “swooning in mystic rapture” to be a saint or walking around with “lowered eyes.” Nor do you have to withdraw from other people.  “

This will require a complete change of perception for us.  After a lifetime of thinking of holiness as something only extraordinary people achieve, we must begin to think of ways in which we can be holy.  First we have to get over the idea that we must be perfect.  I don’t think I could get through 10 minutes trying to be perfect.  The truth is I don’t think we want to be perfect.  Have you ever noticed that when you complete something, say a paint job or a sewing project, and are showing it to someone, the first thing you do is point out your mistakes? I believe we do not want to be different and holiness seems destined to make us different. But, the Pope says this is the way to holiness and his simple goodness and unselfconscious compassion look a lot like holiness. 

Let’s say holiness is goodness practiced regularly. Patience, lack of judgment of others, putting others needs ahead of our own, and genuine concern for justice backed up by action. All done with the understanding that it is what God wants from us and the love we show others is the reflection of God’s love.

Let us pray for one another. 

Blessings,

Carol Lemelin OPA

JESUS IN YOUR HEART

JESUS IN YOUR HEART 

In his letter to the Christians in Ephesus, Paul writes: 

“For this reason, I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and earth is named, that he may grant you, in accord with the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inner self, and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the holy ones what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.” (Eph3 :14-17)

In my humble opinion this is what every confessor should say to every penitent. A huge percentage of the faithful only think of Jesus with them, not inthem.  Paul, whom God blessed with the deepest insights, sets it straight for all to hear.  The trials that come with life on earth are so much easier to bear when one does not have to call on Jesus, but knows without doubt that Jesus is fully part of it all. 

It was truly Jesus’ intent when he said, “Behold, I am with you all days.”  Most of time, even when we mean well, our promises are hard to keep, because circumstances come in to play and the variables of life are unpredictable.  Not so with the promises of Jesus.  

There is no way to convey the wonder of the presence of Jesus within you to others, at least I haven’t found one, but you have to try.  The strength that you derive from his presence can see you through anything. Think of the people like Terry Waite who was imprisoned in Iran for years but never lost his faith and was not shy about sharing how Jesus kept him going. Consider Corrie Tenboom who was imprisoned in Ravensbruck concentration camp and watched her sister die, who came out of it preaching “There is no pit so deep, that He is not deeper still.”  Are they crazy? Skeptics say so, but others know better. I keep thinking of Mikey in the commercial for cereal whose brother kept saying “Try it, you’ll like it.”  I think that may be the answer.  Encourage people who are hurting, who are depressed, and who don’t know which way to turn, to try Jesus.  

Throughout Scripture, God keeps saying, “Don’t worry about what you are to say, I will be there with you.”  It’s scary, though.  I know a woman who is a manufacturer’s rep in groceries and whenever I see her in the store, I make a concerted effort to avoid her because she loves to talk gloom and doom religion. The devil is her favorite subject along with fear and retribution.   You know what I mean?  I can say without fear of contradiction that Jesus does not want you to do that.  He is all love and that is what he expects you to present. 

Remember to pray for the newly baptized.

Blessings,

Carol Lemelin OPA