Weekend of 10/27-28/12 … Sister Kate’s “Gospel Question for the Week”… In today’s Holy Gospel, we find the familiar story of Bartimaeus, the blind man. His meeting with Jesus gave Bartimaeus the gift of sight after being blind most likely since birth. Can you imagine this gift of sight? I can’t! I value my sight so much, I can’t even think about not having it, much less being given it back after being blind! No doubt, Jesus also gave Bartimaeus “spiritual sight” because the Gospel tells us that after the miracle, he became a disciple of Jesus. This story gives us much to think about. Let’s consider not so much the physical blindness that Bartimaeus experienced, but also the spiritual blindness that ALL of us experience. Each one of us suffers from a very real spiritual blindness. We need the light of the Holy Spirit to enlighten us and rid us of this kind of blindness. Anger, hatred, prejudice, jealousy, etc., are the things that make us spiritually blind and keep us from “seeing God” in one another. These qualities prevent us from seeing the goodness in our neighbors and God’s presence in them. So, let us pray this week to have a clear vision of the qualities that should mark us as Christians. A clear spiritual vision enables us to see the goodness in others, to express our appreciation for their presence in our life, and should cause us to back away from judging others. This week…approach Jesus in prayer with trusting faith, as Bartimaeus did, and listen carefully to the voice of Jesus asking you : "What do you want me to do for you?” And then, tell Him what is in your heart. According to a Jewish legend there was once a blind man who was married but had no children. Although his life was hard, he never complained. One day as the blind man was sitting by a river, the prophet Elijah came to him from heaven and said, “Even though your life has been hard, you never complained, and so God will grant you one wish.” The poor man frowned. “Only one wish!" he said. “I’m blind, I’m poor, and I’m childless. How will one wish satisfy all my problems? But give me twenty-four hours and I’ll think up a wish.” He went home and told his wife what had happened. She smiled at him and said, “Eat well and sleep soundly, for I know what you should wish.” He came back the next morning and said to Elijah as he appeared again, “I wish to be able to see my children eat from gold plates.” The wish was granted and the man and his wife lived happily for the rest of their days. Today’s story from the Holy Gospel presents a blind man whose wish was to regain his sight. Jesus restored sight to his eyes and to his spirit, and Bartimaeus immediately began to follow Jesus as a sighted, witnessing disciple. Question for the Week: How well do you see…really see the goodness in others?
Weekend of 10/20-21/12 … Sister Kate’s “Gospel Question for the Week”… In today’s Holy Gospel, we find a description of “servant leadership.” Are you familiar with that term? “Servant leadership” refers to the type of “leader” Jesus was…not a leader interested in worldly power or fame, but rather a leader who was intent on serving others and lifting them up. Jesus tells us that this kind of “leadership” is a criterion for greatness in His kingdom. The disciples were mistaken when they thought that real leadership came from “where you sat rather than how you served.” Jesus gave them (and us) a sharp rebuke when he reminded them that, those who follow the way of Jesus and seek to imitate his example of servant leadership must be willing to “drink His cup,” or suffer for others, as He did. The best place to begin the process of servant leadership or “self-giving," is in our own homes and in the workplace. We have to look upon our education, training, and experience as preparation for service to others. Whatever may be our place in society -- whether important or unimportant -- we can serve. We should learn to serve with a smile. This is possible whether we are in military service, social service, law, medical service, government or business. If we want to be leaders, we must learn to be available, accountable, and vulnerable. This three-fold plan for servant leadership…availability, accountability, and vulnerability… qualifies us for God’s Kingdom. “Life becomes harder for us when we live for others,” says Albert Schweitzer, “but it also becomes richer and happier.” Muhammad Ali, the boxer, used to call himself “the greatest!" There was something comical about his arrogance. Once he declared: "I float like a butterfly, I sting like a bee." The story is told of him that once when he was on an airplane about to take off, the flight steward said, "Sir, would you please fasten your seat belt?" Muhammad Ali replied, "Superman doesn’t need a seat belt." The steward replied, "In that case, Superman doesn’t need an airplane to fly. Would you like to exit the plane now?" Today’s Gospel tells us of two of Jesus’ disciples who wanted to be supermen—to sit at the right hand and the left hand of Jesus in his messianic kingdom-- to be the greatest, to be the first. Jesus informs them of what they need to be in order for this to happen…servant leaders! Question for the Week: What is your definition of a leader…a Christian leader?
Weekend of 10/13-14/12 … Sister Kate’s “Gospel Question for the Week”… In today’s Holy Gospel, we find three distinct scenarios with a message: a narrative about Jesus ‘encounter with a rich man…Jesus’ sayings about wealth as a possible obstacle to following Him… and Jesus’ promise of reward for those who share material possessions with the needy. Jesus reminded the rich man of the commandments that deal with relationships with other people, and challenged him to sell what he had and to give the money to the poor. Jesus shocked his disciples when he challenged the Jewish belief that material wealth and prosperity were signs of God's blessings. Instead, he declared that true “religion” consisted in one’s sharing his blessings with others rather than hoarding them and getting inordinately attached to them. Practically speaking, Jesus was telling each of us that: we need to accept the invitation to the type of generous sharing that Jesus expects from His followers….Jesus was so generous that He gave us His very LIFE…therefore, there should be a desire to give in the heart of every genuine Christian…God does not ask us to give up our riches, but He does ask us to use them wisely in His service…we must manage our possessions wisely, so that they do NOT gain control over our hearts…God gives each of us time, talents and riches that we may use them in the service of others. On the down side, we all have something in our lives that serves as a major obstacle to true happiness and peace. It may be anger, holding grudges, alcohol, drugs, apathy, unfaithfulness, dishonesty, or fraud. Let us resolve now to identify that obstacle in our life and to work hard to remove it from our path to the Lord. With a coconut, some roasted peanuts and a string, tribal people living in the border of forests in Africa, Sri Lanka, and India have been trapping monkeys for centuries. At one end of the coconut, they open a hole that is big enough to allow a monkey's hand to push inside. However, the hole is too small for a monkey to remove his hand when he makes a fist. On the other end of the coconut, a string is firmly attached and tied to a tree trunk. The coconut trap, with roasted peanuts inside, is placed along a monkey's trail, and the trapper hides behind bushes with a net. The monkey smells the peanuts and is attracted to them. He puts his hand through the hole and grabs a handful of peanuts, after which it is impossible for him to remove his hand since he is unwilling to let go of the peanuts. Suddenly the trapper casts the net over the monkey and traps it. We too are attracted by different "peanuts" that can be detrimental to our spiritual and physical pursuits. Today’s Gospel presents a rich young man who wants eternal life but will not relinquish “the peanuts" of riches. Gospel Question for the Week: What holds you back from committing your life to the Lord?
Weekend of 10/6-7/12 … Sister Kate’s “Gospel Question for the Week”…Today’s readings from scripture remind us about the bond of love that marriage creates between two people, a bond that God desires to be permanent. The readings challenge spouses to practice the same fidelity that their ever-faithful God practices with each of them. It demands that they should work at becoming the right person for each another, based on commitment, sharing, forgiveness, and sacrifice. This kind of relationship obviously requires daily of mutual adjustments…generosity…good will…the willingness to forgive and ask for forgiveness…and sincere cooperation. All of this is a daunting challenge, to be sure! Couples can rely on daily strength from God obtained by personal and family prayers and participation in the Eucharist. We know, of course, that not all marriages “make it.” It is not always easy for the two partners in a marriage to get along with each other. The husband and wife bring to the marriage their strengths and weaknesses, loves and hates, hurts and wounds, hopes and fears. Hence, the first requisite for a lasting marriage is that the spouses learn to accept each other as they are: two imperfect and vulnerable human beings. But circumstances may arise that break down that mutual trust that is so vital to a successful marriage. If this trust dissipates, divorce often follows. And when divorce occurs between two people, then it is our responsibility to reach out with Christian kindness to the people experiencing the devastating effects of the divorce and the problems that certainly will occur in the family. The parish community needs to support this family with acceptance, respect, compassion, sensitivity, and love, sharing the depth of their pain. “The secret of my success in my married life and in my business is the same”, said, Henry Ford on the 50th anniversary of his wedding, “I don’t change models every now and then; instead I stick to one and try to improve it”. Gospel Question for the Week: Do you work hard at making your relationships strong, even when it means sacrificing your desires?