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Have Patience With Me

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“Have patience with me,” the servant asks of the King. “Have patience with me,” begs the sinner to the Lord. “Have patience with me,” says the child to her mother, as her mother kneels to sop up the puddle of milk from the floor. “Have patience with me,” I say reluctantly to the reflection in the mirror.
The forgiven servant, shown mercy by the King, refuses to extend that mercy, instead having a man indebted to him for a lesser sum, thrown into prison until he pays back what is owed. We see the dire consequences of being unable to offer another forgiveness, when that same servant is jailed by the King upon learning of his unmerciful behavior.
In a sense, the servant has imprisoned himself by his actions. Is this not what we do to ourselves when we are unable to let go of the debts against us? The hardest mercy to accept seems to be the one due to ourselves. This is especially true with regard to forgiving myself of my mothering mistakes. God has forgiven my parenting horrors and missteps, yet I struggle to do the same. I imprison myself in guilt and regret.
Jesus concludes this parable with a clear directive. We must forgive others “from your heart.” We are called to a personal metanoia – a spiritual change of heart. The Church offers the most remarkable opportunity to receive the King’s clemency through the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Contrition, the Catechism teaches, opens the penitent for “a radical reorientation of our whole life, a return, a conversion to God with all our heart.” A radical change to a merciful heart, once accepted and extended forward, is the key to our freedom from the jail of unforgiveness.

 

Dear Merciful Lord, fill my heart with the grace necessary to forgive as You forgive. Lord, I desire a radical reorientation of my heart that it may more closely resemble Yours.

Allison Gingras, founder www.ReconciledToYou.com (RTY); and host of A Seeking Heart on Breadbox Media weekdays 10 am ET. Allison created the “Words with” daily devotional App Series: Words with Jesus and Words with Mary. Allison offers retreats and talks on: Forgiveness; Works of Mercy; Trust and JOY!

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Have I Placed God First?

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Being a Catholic Christian in the 21st century, even if through conversion, means I am always a bit confused by the rejection Jesus faces by the Israelites. Perhaps this confusion is especially directed at the Pharisees, the ones who, on paper, should have recognized Him with the most ease.

How could they have witnessed so many miracles, heard so many wise sermons, and yet still not believe? Surely, I would not be one of these. Surely, I would not have rejected Jesus.
But, being a Catholic Christian in the 21st century in the United States also means I am privy to so much sacramental grace. I am able to freely attend Mass on Sundays and on Holy Days of Obligation, and even daily Mass if I were to properly order my life. I can receive the Sacrament of Penance weekly if needed, even daily too. I am blessed to share in the Divine Life of the Holy Trinity whenever I receive Him and to have our relationship repaired each time I disturb it.

I have all of those sacramental graces, so much more than the Pharisees; and yet, have I placed God first in my heart? Have I done more than observe the law? Have I truly loved Him above all else, and in turn, also loved as He loves?

O God, open my eyes to the rejection I have given You in the deepest recesses of my heart. Grant me perfect contrition and all the graces to love as You love.

Amanda Torres is a Catholic convert, wife, and working mom from St Paul, MN. She is making great use of her Bachelor’s Degree in History and Anthropology as a Management Analyst for the State of Minnesota. When she is not busy trying to get her husband, her rambunctious 7 year-old, and toddler twins into Heaven she enjoys reading, writing, and drinking coffee with entirely too much creamer. Amanda blogs for catholicmom.com and also occasionally blogs at In Earthen Vessels: HoldThisTreasureInEarthenVessels.wordpress.com

 

 

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Ten Paciencia Conmigo

“Ten paciencia conmigo,” el servidor le pide al rey. “Ten paciencia conmigo,” el pecador le suplica al Señor. “Ten paciencia conmigo,” dice el hijo a su mamá mientras se hinca en el piso para limpiar el charco de leche que se cayó. “Ten paciencia conmigo,” le digo de mala gana a mi reflexión en el espejo.

El servidor perdonado, con quien el rey fue misericordioso, rehúsa extender la misma misericordia, sino lo encarcela a un hombre que le debe mucho menos hasta que pague lo que debe. Vemos las consecuencias graves de ser incapaces de perdonar al otro cuando el rey lo aprisiona al mismo servidor al saber de su comportamiento cruel.

De una manera, podemos decir que el servidor se ha encarcelado a sí mismo por sus acciones. ¿No nos hacemos lo mismo cuando no somos capaces de perdonar las deudas contra nosotros? La misericordia más difícil de aceptar parece ser la que debemos a nosotros mismos. Esto es verdad especialmente cuando se trata de perdonarme de mis equivocaciones como mamá. Dios me ha perdonado de mis horrores y tropiezos como mamá, pero se me hace difícil perdonar a mí misma. Me encarcelo en la duda y el remordimiento.

Jesús concluye esta parábola con una directiva clara. Debemos perdonar a los demás “de corazón.” Somos llamados a una metanoia personal – un cambio de corazón espiritual. La Iglesia ofrece la oportunidad más increíble de recibir la misericordia del Rey a través del Sacramento de la Penitencia. El Catecismo enseña que la contrición abre al penitente a “una reorientación radical de nuestra vida entera, un retorno, una conversión a Dios con todo el corazón.” Un cambio radical a un corazón misericordioso, una vez aceptada y extendida, es la clave de nuestra libertad de la cárcel de la falta de perdón.

Querido Señor Misericordioso, llena mi corazón con la gracia necesaria para perdonar como Tú perdonas. Señor, deseo una reorientación radical de mi corazón para que sea más semejante al Tuyo.

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When Enough Is Enough

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There are a few select readings in the Bible that always throw me off. For example, in today’s reading Jesus, the Son of God, our Savior and Messiah, throws a tantrum. At least that’s how it looks to me. In my head, this isn’t the Jesus I’ve been told to look up to and model myself after. This sounds more like what I’m NOT supposed to do! I thought Jesus was supposed to be docile and change the world with his love…not flipping tables, whipping animals and throwing people’s money on the ground.

The more I thought about it, the more I wondered why Jesus acted this way and why this passage was even put in the Bible. Why would Jesus resort to anger instead of compassion? Why would the Bible include a story that lets everyone know that Jesus got so upset? Then I realized that in John 2:13-25,  he is not giving us an example of how to get angry, but the perfect example of when to get angry.

In order for this to make sense, you must understand the situation surrounding his cleansing of the temple. At this time, Jesus was in Jerusalem for Passover. For those of you who are unfamiliar with the Feast of Passover, it is the most celebrated Jewish holiday that is seven days long. For the Jews that were of the Kingdom of Judah, which Jesus and his family were a part of, it meant traveling to Jerusalem in order to celebrate Passover at the Temple of Jerusalem. In today’s Gospel, Jesus arrives at the Temple and there are merchants taking advantage of all the people, probably by hiking up their prices just because they can. These hundreds of thousands of weary travelers are here to give glory to God, and instead, they are surrounded by people that were presumably trying to sell them overpriced food, hotel rooms, and animal offerings.

To give you a modern-day example, imagine kneeling in a church pew during Adoration and Girl Scouts are trying to sell you cookies at $25 a box, or a Subway sign-spinner dancing on the altar, rapping about 5 dollar footlongs. Wouldn’t you be upset? I know I would be, but I’m only human. Well what do you know, Jesus is human too! At the end of the reading, it says that Jesus “did not need anyone to testify about human nature. He himself understood it well.”

So, as a fellow human with emotions, Jesus fulfills Scripture as his “Zeal for God’s house” consumes him. He knows in his heart that his zeal, or passion and devotion, for God is exactly why it is okay to be angry. Just because things are “normal” in society does not mean that it is right and we should idly stand by. We have the right to be angry and protest things that disrespect our God. We have the right to be angry and protest things that disrespect the sanctity of life. As humans, anger is sometimes what it takes to motivate us to make a difference in our world – to change the wrong to right – and Jesus understood that.

In our hearts, we know what is right and wrong. We know what kind of world that God wants for us and deep down, we know how to change it. Now all we have to do is have the courage to channel our inner Jesus and stand up to all of those that are “making my Father’s house a marketplace.”

Looking for more on the Ten Commandments in the first reading? See our previous post, The 10 Commandments Are Only The Beginning.

Veronica Alvarado is a born and bred Texan currently living in Michigan. Since graduating from Texas A&M University, Veronica has been published in the Catholic Diocese of Austin’s official newspaper, Catholic Spirit, as well as other local publications. She now works as the Content Specialist in Diocesan’s Web Department.

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¿Le He Puesto a Dios Primero?

Como una cristiana católica del siglo 21, aunque sea por una conversión, siempre me confundo un poco sobre el rechazo que Jesús enfrenta de los Israelitas. Quizá estoy más confundida por los Fariseos, aquellos que supuestamente deben poderlo reconocer más fácilmente.  

¿Cómo podría ser que hayan sido testigos de tantos milagros, oído tantos sermones sabios y todavía no creer? Seguramente yo no sería alguien así. Seguramente no hubiera rechazado a Jesús.

Pero siendo cristiana católica del siglo 21 en los Estados Unidos también significa que tengo conocimiento de mucha gracia sacramental. Puedo atender a la Misa libremente los domingos y los Días de Guardar, e incluso la Misa diaria si pudiera ordenar mi vida apropiadamente. Si lo necesito, puedo recibir el Sacramento de la Penitencia semanalmente y aún a diario también. Soy bendecida poder compartir en la Vida Divina de la Santísima Trinidad cuando Lo recibo y poder reparar nuestra relación cada vez que la altero.

Tengo todas esas gracias sacramentales, mucho más que los Fariseos, pero todavía me pregunto, ¿le he dado a Dios el primer lugar en mi corazón? ¿He hecho más que sólo obedecer la ley? ¿Lo he amado encima de todo lo demás verdaderamente, y a la vez, he amado como Él ama?

Dios mío, abre mis ojos al rechazo que te he dado en lo más profundo de mi corazón. Concédeme la contrición perfecta y todas las gracias que necesito para amar como Tú amas.

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Cuando Ya Basta

Hay unas cuantas lecturas en la Biblia que siempre me confunden. Por ejemplo, en la lectura de hoy, Jesús, el Hijo de Dios, nuestro Salvador y Mesías, tiene berrinche. Por lo menos, así me parece. En mi cabeza, ese no es el Jesús que me han dicho que debo admirar y seguir su ejemplo. ¡Suena más bien lo que NO debo hacer! Pensé que Jesús era dócil y que cambiaba el mundo con su amor…no volcando mesas, azotando a los animales y tirando el dinero de la gente en el piso.

Mientras más lo pensaba, más me preguntaba porque Jesús se portó de esta forma y por qué incluyeron este pasaje en la Biblia. ¿Por qué Jesús recurre al enfado en lugar de la compasión? ¿Por qué la Biblia incluye una historia que deja saber a todos que Jesús se enojó bastante? Luego me di cuenta que en Juan 2:13-25, no nos está dando el ejemplo de cómo enojarnos, sino nos está dando el ejemplo perfecto de cuando enojarnos.  

Para que esto tenga sentido, tienen que entender la situación alrededor de la limpieza del templo. En este momento, Jesús estaba en Jerusalén para la Pascua Judía. Para aquellos que no saben que es la Fiesta de la Pascua Judía, es la fiesta Judía más celebrada y dura siete días. Para los judíos que formaban parte del Reino de Judá, incluyendo a Jesús y su familia, significaba viajar a Jerusalén para celebrar la Pascua Judía en el Templo de Jerusalén. En el evangelio de hoy, Jesús llega al templo y hay vendedores aprovechando de las multitudes, probablemente subiendo sus precios solo porque podrían. Los cientos de miles de viajeros estaban allí para darle gloria a Dios y en lugar de eso, estaban rodeados de gente que supuestamente intentaba venderles comida, hospedaje y ofrendas de animales a alto precio.

Para darles un ejemplo de hoy día, imaginen que estás hincado en la iglesia durante la adoración al Santísimo y unas Niñas Exploradoras (Girl Scouts) están allí intentando venderles galletas a $25 por caja o un empleado de Subway que carga letreros está bailando en el altar cantando rap sobre los sándwiches de un pie por $5. ¿No te enojarías? Sé que yo sí estaría enojada pero solo soy ser humana. Pero ¿sabes qué? ¡Jesús es ser humano también! Al final de la lectura, dice que Jesús “no necesitaba que nadie le descubriera lo que es el hombre, porque él sabía lo que hay en el hombre.“

Así que, como otro ser humano con emociones, Jesús realiza la Escritura y el “Celo por la Casa de Dios” lo consume. Sabe en su corazón que su celo, o su pasión y devoción para Dios le da razón de estar enojado. Solo porque las cosas son “normales” según la sociedad no quiere decir que son correctos y no debemos quedarnos parados sin hacer nada. Tenemos el derecho de enojarnos y protestar las cosas que no respetan a Dios.  Tenemos el derecho de enojarnos y protestar las cosas que no respetan la santidad de la vida. Como seres humanos, a veces el enojo es lo que nos mueva a hacer una diferencia en nuestro mundo – a cambiar lo malo a bueno – y Jesús entendía eso.

En nuestros corazones, sabemos lo que está bueno y lo que está malo. Sabemos el tipo de mundo que Dios quiere para nosotros, y muy a fondo, sabemos cómo cambiarlo. Ahora lo único que tenemos que hacer es tener el valor de utilizar el Jesús que tenemos adentro y alzarnos contra todos aquellos que “conviertan en un mercado la casa de mi Padre”.

¿Estás buscando más sobre los 10 Mandamientos de la primera lectura? Puedes ver uno de nuestros escritos anteriores llamado The 10 Commandments Are Only The Beginning.

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What Does It Even Matter?

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After the ministers had finished distributing the Eucharist to the congregation, our pastor took the remainder of the consecrated hosts and put them in the Tabernacle. As he did, everyone on the altar knelt in acknowledgment: “This is Jesus.” And I couldn’t help but ask: “What does it even matter?” By appearance, texture, scent and taste, everyone just knelt in reverence to a not-so-good bread/cracker thing… “So, what does it matter?”

We know through our faith that it only has the appearance of bread, but that it is fully Jesus. It matters that we reverence Jesus in what “only appears” to be a not-so-good piece of bread/cracker thing so that we can learn to recognize and love Him outside of the Eucharist as well.

“Whatever you did for the least of these, you did for Me. (Matthew 25:40)” On a superficial level, Jesus’ body and blood appear to be something else. All human senses suggest that every Sunday there is a world-wide community of people who bow down before a not-so- good piece of bread/cracker thing and cheap wine. But when we learn to see by faith Who is before us, we will recognize Him in the weak and vulnerable.

I have no formal education for the work I do, but I believe I’ve been preparing for my job for years. By going to mass and falling in love with Him in the form of what appears only to be a not-so- good piece of bread/cracker thing, I can recognize Him in what appears to be a rude, annoying, socially unequipped stranger who in reality is a person in need of regular reminders for how to communicate well with others.

Open the eyes of faith.

Recognize Him.

Love Him.

During the week, Matt is a mentor for individuals who have developmental and intellectual disabilities. On the weekends, he is a drummer for Full Armor Band.
You can find more content by Matt and his band at www.fullarmorband.com

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“¿De Que Importa?”

Después de que lo ministros habían terminado de distribuir la Eucaristía a la congregación, nuestro párroco llevó el resto de las hostias consagradas y los puso en el tabernáculo. Mientras tanto, todos los presentes alrededor del altar se hincaron reconociendo que: “Es Jesús.” Y me pregunté: “¿De qué importa?” Por apariencia, textura, olor y sabor, todos se hincaron en reverencia a una cosa media pan, media galleta que ni sabe bien, así que, “¿De qué importa?”

Sabemos por la fe que solo tiene la apariencia de pan pero es verdaderamente Jesús.

Importa que hagamos reverencia a Jesús en lo que “solamente aparece” ser una cosa media pan, media galleta que ni sabe bien, para que podamos aprender a reconocerlo y amarlo en otros lados a parte de la Eucaristía también.

“Cuanto hicisteis a unos de estos hermanos míos más pequeños, a mí me lo hicisteis.” (Mateo 25:40)” A un nivel superficial, el cuerpo y la sangre de Jesús parecen ser otra cosa. Todos los sentidos humanos sugieren que cada domingo hay una comunidad mundial de personas quienes se inclinan ante una cosa media pan, media galleta que ni sabe bien y un vino barato. Pero cuando aprendemos a ver por la fe Quien está ante nosotros, lo reconocemos en los débiles y los vulnerables.

No tengo ninguna educación formal para el trabajo que hago, pero creo que me he estado preparando para mi trabajo por muchos años. Yendo a Misa y enamorándome de Él en la forma de lo que parece ser una cosa media pan, media galleta que ni sabe bien, puedo reconocerlo en lo que parece ser un extranjero tosco, fastidioso, y antisocial quien en realidad es una persona que necesita recordatorios frecuentes de cómo comunicarse bien con los demás.

Abre los ojos de la fe.

Reconócelo.

Ámalo.

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Unsorted Loves

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Lent this year, as everyone knows, began on Valentine’s Day. In its deepest meaning, we could say, Lent is about “sorting out our loves.” Today’s Liturgy of the Word shows us what happens when our desires and dreams are distorted and self-serving.

In the first reading from the book of Genesis (37:3-4, 12-13A, 17B-28A), the jealous brothers of the boy Joseph plotted to kill him. Joseph was the youngest in the family and the favorite of his father Israel. “Let us kill him,” they say among themselves, “and see what happens to all his great dreams. We can tell his father that wild beasts attacked him.” So when the unsuspecting Joseph caught up to his brothers, they throw him into a cistern in the desert. Looking up, they see a caravan of Ishmaelites passing by traveling down to Egypt, and they sell Joseph into slavery, for twenty pieces of silver.

My own “unsorted” loves are not quite as dramatic, but possibly no less violent than the narrative we are presented with in the Liturgy today. When I perceive situations in terms of what is in it for me, or how I can avoid something I don’t like, or how I can assure I get what I believe I’m entitled to, I am thinking like the brothers in today’s readings. I jostle for first place (or the last place if I’m trying to avoid something I don’t prefer), and I manipulate situations and events so a thin layer of goodness covers the self-centeredness, because I don’t want people to know what I really am like.

What if the brothers of Joseph had stopped the action in today’s reading and gotten in touch with what they were saying to each other, what they felt, what was really motivating them in the heat of the moment? What if they had the presence of mind to choose a direction more in line with their most authentic desires and the glory of God?

When we are manipulating for control in our own self-interests, there may be underneath our behavior a legitimate concern or gripe or need. Joseph’s older brothers may have had enough of their father’s doting on Joseph. Maybe they felt it was unfair. Maybe they wanted attention or rest or a voice or a relationship they perceived was impossible as long as Joseph was in the picture. In the heat of the moment, what seemed like a great idea presented itself, everything fell into place, and the deed was done before they got in touch with what they really needed for themselves and from their father, before they could touch the deeper motivation that was leading them, honestly owning their mistaken and distorted “loves.”

There is a simple, but not easy, practice that can help us sort out our loves this Lent. When thoughts and ideas arise in daily life, be prayerfully and gently vigilant about them. Give yourself a heart-break and step out of the momentum to observe what is happening and to detach from the thought or idea and its hidden motivation.

Lent is a great time to build up more authentic motivations in our hearts. We can start doing this by filling our mind and heart with short prayers that help us turn to God: “I am here for You.” “My soul thirsts for You.” “I need You. I give myself to You forever.” If we fill our waking hours with these thoughts, we will find it easier to sort out our loves and choose what is truly in our best interest and that of others for the glory of God.

Sr. Kathryn J. Hermes, FSP is an author, an active team member of My Sisters, an online faith community, and a compassionate mentor and guide. Through her writing and online ministry she takes others along with her on her own journey of spiritual transformation, specializing in uncovering in the difficult moments of life where God’s grace is already breaking through. Connect with her website and blog: www.pauline.org/sisterkathryn or find her at My Sisters. Learn more at www.MySistersinChrist.org.

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Perfect Love Casts Out Fear

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What will persuade us of the truth, the power, and the incredible beauty of Christ’s resurrection?
After His death, the rich man asks Abraham to send Lazarus to those of his family who are still living to convince them of the need to change their ways, in order to avoid eternal torment. But no, Abraham replies, if they won’t respond to Moses and the prophets, neither will they repent because someone has risen from the dead.

For we who live in the time after Christ’s resurrection, this last line can be particularly powerful—and maybe a little bit frightening. Do we really live in the light of the Lord? Do we try, in every circumstance, to walk in His ways? When we fall short, do we have the humility to sincerely make amends?

This season of Lent is sometimes a kind of reset, other times it’s a deepening, or maybe it’s a little bit of both. We consider more deeply what it is of which we need to repent and what we need to remove from our daily lives in order to draw closer to our Lord.

The motivation, however, ought to be different than what the rich man understands it to be. We do not seek to serve God and our neighbors because we fear being tormented in the afterlife (okay, maybe a little, but that’s secondary). Rather, we are moved by love—by the charity and hope manifested in Christ’s death on the cross and His glorious resurrection three days later.

Fear can only take us so far. Love, on the other hand, can bring us all the way home.

CatholicMom.com was started by Lisa Hendey in 2000 to create a community for Catholic parents to share insights on living their faith with their family. The website has grown substantially over the years to become a rich resource for all Catholics seeking spiritual enrichment for their families.  It continues to provide fresh perspectives from the enriching columnists and contributors with daily articles and reflections as well as book and tech recommendations.

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Amores Desordenados

Como todo el mundo sabe, la Cuaresma empezó en el Día de Valentino este año. En su sentido más profundo, podríamos decir que la Cuaresma se trata de “ordenar nuestros amores.” La Liturgia de la Palabra de hoy nos demuestra lo que pasa cuando nuestros deseos y nuestros sueños están distorsionados y egoístas.

En la primera lectura del libro de Génesis (37:3-4, 12-13A, 17B-28A), los hermanos envidiosos del niño José planeaban la manera de matarlo. José era el menor de la familia y el favorito de su padre Israel. “Démosle muerte,” dicen entre ellos, “Vamos a ver de qué le sirven sus sueños. Le diremos a su padre que una fiera lo devoró.” Así que cuando José, ignorante de lo que planeaban, alcanzó a sus hermanos, lo botaron a una cisterna en el desierto. Mirando a su alrededor, vieron pasando una caravana de Ismaelitas viajando a Egipto, y vendieron a José a la esclavitud por 20 piezas de plata.  

Mis propios amores “desordenados” no son tan dramáticos, pero posiblemente son igual de violentos de lo que la Liturgia se nos presenta hoy día con este cuento. Cuando percibo la situación en términos de lo que puedo ganar, o cómo puedo evitar algo que no me gusta, o como puedo asegurar que consiga lo que creo que merezco, estoy pensando igual que los hermanos en la lectura de hoy. Doy empujones para el primer lugar (o para el último lugar si es que quiero evitar algo que no me gusta), y manipulo eventos y situaciones para que una capa delgada de bondad cubre el egoísmo, porque no quiero que los demás sepan como soy de verdad.

¿Qué hubiera pasado si los hermanos de José hubieran parado sus acciones en la lectura de hoy y pensado lo que estaban conversando, lo que sentían, lo que les estaba motivando de verdad en la intensidad del momento? ¿Qué hubiera pasado si tuvieran la conciencia de escoger una dirección más en línea con sus deseos más auténticos y la gloria de Dios?

Cuando estamos manipulando para conseguir el control de nuestros propios intereses egoístas, puede haber al fondo de nuestro comportamiento una preocupación legítima, una queja o una necesidad. Quizá los hermanos de José ya estaban cansados de la preferencia que su papá le daba. Quizá sintieron que no era justo. Quizá quisieron la atención, el descanso o una palabra o una relación que percibieron imposible con José allí presente.  En la intensidad del momento, lo que pareció una idea excelente se presentó, todo sucedió ordenadamente, y se hizo el acto antes de que pudieron darse cuenta de lo que verdaderamente necesitaban ellos mismos y lo que necesitaban de su papá, antes de que pudieran tocar la motivación más profunda que los estaba guiando, tomando responsabilidad de sus “amores” erróneos y desordenados.

Hay una práctica sencilla, pero no tan fácil, que nos puede ayudar a ordenar nuestros amores esta Cuaresma. Cuando los pensamientos y las ideas surgen en nuestra vida diaria, podemos rezar y ser cuidadosamente atentos a ellos. Dale un descanso a tu corazón y toma un paso atrás para observar lo que está pasando y despegarte del pensamiento o la idea y sus motivaciones escondidas.

La Cuaresma es una época maravillosa para construir motivaciones más auténticas en nuestros corazones. Podemos empezar llenando nuestras mentes y corazones con oraciones cortas que nos ayuden a dirigirnos hacia Dios: “Aquí estoy Señor.” “Tengo sed de Ti” “Te necesito. Me entrego a Ti para siempre.” Si llenamos nuestras primeras horas de la mañana con estos pensamientos, será más fácil ordenar nuestros amores y escoger lo que verdaderamente nos interesa a nosotros y a los demás para la gloria de Dios.

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Pick Up Your Cross

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A few of my seminarian brothers have what are called “Comfort Crosses.” These wooden crosses are often made in the Holy Land or other pilgrimage sites and get their name from their smoothness in the palm of one’s hand. A few of us have started to jokingly call them “ergonomic crosses,” as even the idea of a “comfort cross” is incredibly ironic. Nonetheless, this harmless irony points to the desire that we all have: to avoid discomfort and suffering.

The first reading today is taken from the Book of the Prophet Jeremiah; who certainly knows a thing or two about suffering. We learn that the people of Judah are contriving plots against Jeremiah so that they can “destroy him by his own tongue” (Jer. 18:18). He calls out to God, “Heed me, O LORD, and listen to what my adversaries say. Must good be repaid with evil that they should dig a pit to take my life?” (18:19-20). He awaits suffering and persecution and begs the Lord to take it away.

Today’s Responsorial Psalm has a very similar tone. The Psalmist is aware of the snare set for him and can “hear the whispers of the crowd” (Ps 31:14). He calls out for the Lord to save him. While most of us haven’t experienced the intensity of persecution of Jeremiah, we can relate with the cry of both him and the Psalmist. At the first sight of discomfort, we are often asking for the Lord to take it away. Jesus speaks to the concerns of both Jeremiah and the Psalmist and teaches us an important lesson about suffering for the Christian.

Jesus has shared with his apostles that he “must go to Jerusalem and suffer greatly from the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed and on the third day be raised” (Matt 16:21). Soon after the Transfiguration, Jesus once again tells his disciples that “The Son of Man is to be handed over to men, and they will kill him, and he will be raised on the third day” (Matt 17:22-23). At the beginning of today’s Gospel, Jesus tells them again “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death, and hand him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and scourged and crucified, and he will be raised on the third day” (Matt 20:18-19).

But it doesn’t appear like James and John are listening to these stern words of warning from Jesus. Perhaps they are reflecting back on the splendor of the Transfiguration and want to share in his glory. They wish to sit to the right and to the left of Jesus in His Kingdom. Perhaps these sons of Zebedee anticipated another great transfiguration upon their arrival in Jerusalem. They are merely concerned about power and status and forget that Jesus is going to suffer and die. Perhaps when he asks them “can you drink the chalice that I am going to drink?” they imagine a chalice of sweet wine at a rich royal banquet.

Understandably, the rest of the apostles are indignant that James and John seek advancement. We, too, can become frustrated with James and John for trying to elevate themselves. But we, too, often want power, prestige or even a cozy life without the cross. We want a little cross we can hold in our hands that certainly won’t even give us a splinter. Jesus corrects his apostles noting that greatness in the Kingdom of God is about being a servant. He provides the example of this service in laying down his life on a giant, bristly cross.

Lent is a beautiful time of year to be brutally honest with ourselves. Are we able to drink his chalice? Do we call ourselves Christians for the comfort it brings us or are we truly willing to go to the cross with Jesus? This Lent, let us purify our hearts through penance so that we might follow Christ for his own sake.

James and John do offer us some hope. Despite their early insistence on power and prestige, both apostles were able to suffer with and for Christ. St. James is traditionally known for being the first apostle martyred in the year 44. While St. John wasn’t martyred, he is traditionally believed to have been at the foot of Jesus’s cross with Mary. Also, later in life, he was exiled for being a disciple of Christ. Both men later showed remarkable virtue and ability to suffer for Christ and his Church. Today we can look to both men as examples and ask their intercession, that we may accept the crosses of our own life.

Saints James and John, pray for us!

Noah is a seminarian for the Diocese of Grand Rapids, MI. He received his Bachelors degree in finance and economics from Grand Valley State University. He has a strong devotion to the Blessed Mother and his favorite Saint is St. John Paul II.