Monday, July 27, 2009

Weeds and flowers in God's bouquet

Good News ReflectionTuesday of the 17th Week in Ordinary TimeJuly 28, 2009
Today's Readings:Ex 33:7-11; 34:5b-9, 28Ps 103:6-13Matt 13:36-43http://www.usccb.org/nab/072809.shtmlUSCCB Podcast of the Readings:http://ccc.usccb.org/cccradio/NABPodcasts/09_07_28.mp3
Weeds and flowers in God's bouquet
The explanation of the harvest at the end of time, which Jesus gives us in today's Gospel reading, raises, in my mind, the question: Why do we have to wait until the end of the world for God to rescue us from evildoers? I want them out of my life – NOW!
Oops, how selfish of me! That would make my life extremely easier, but what about the people who are weeds in my plot of land in the field? What about their lives? What about their ETERNAL lives?
We Christians are nurtured in the garden of God's love to grow strong and tall, as beautiful flowers, so that we can make the world a prettier place. We have been commissioned by Christ to go into the world with our fragrance, the perfume of heaven, to affect the lives of the weedy, so that they, too, will want to join the bouquet of God's kingdom.
If weeds are yanked out too early (such as when criminals are executed by a death penalty), they lose opportunities that God had planned for their conversion. Then, we who wanted our soils free of their filth will have to explain to God why we didn't care about their souls.
Oh, and by the way, some weeds are quite ugly, but some are very pretty. We have to learn to recognize the difference between beautiful weeds and true flowers so that we aren't duped into accepting their sins as okay and end up joining them in their filth. But what IS that difference?
A weed is any plant that's growing where it's not supposed to be. Grass is a weed in a corn field, but on my lawn, corn would be the weed. A weed-person is anyone who has planted themselves in the field of God but is not really committed to being one of his beautiful flowers.
My job, as a commissioned Christian – and yours, too – is to help weed-people discover their true beauty and fragrance, in other words: who they are as children of God and how they are called to grow into beautiful flowers.
All weeds started out as plants that God made and called "good." In their rightful place, doing what God designed them to do, they're not weeds. But by growing in ways that they were not designed to do, they became evil-doers. Weeds are unblossomed flowers who have not discovered their true identities as children of God nor their true callings as servants of God. Many die in this state. Others live a long time in self-inflicted misery and slavery to sin before they turn to God in desperation.
Instead of complaining about the evildoers, we should do what we were commissioned and empowered by God to do: Reach out to the weeds and help them discover their inner beauty and awaken their desire to be true flowers in God's bouquet.
© 2009 by Terry A. ModicaFor PERMISSION to copy any of my reflections, go to:http://gogoodnews.net/DailyReflections/copyrights-DR.htm
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Note: Good News Ministries is a non-profit organization that accepts donations as support for its ministries but does not charge for anything. Catholic Digital Resources™ is my employment through which I provide my writing services; the income from this (although very small at these early stages) will eventually support the future growth and projects of Good News Ministries. Please spread the word; tell your DRE, RCIA Director, pastor, etc. about what's available for parishes at Catholic Digital Resources™.
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What mustard seeds are you sowing?

Good News ReflectionMonday of the 17th Week in Ordinary TimeJuly 27, 2009
Today's Readings:Ex 32:15-24, 30-34Ps 106:19-23 (with 1a)Matt 13:31-35http://www.usccb.org/nab/readings/072709.shtmlUSCCB Podcast of the Readings:http://ccc.usccb.org/cccradio/NABPodcasts/09_07_27.mp3
What mustard seeds are you sowing?
What are your mustard seeds? We all have them. If you've been baptized, you have a pouch full of mustard seeds. They are the gifts and talents and resources that the Father has provided to you. Therefore, you are that person whom Jesus describes in today's Gospel reading.
It doesn't matter if your seeds seem too small to make a big difference. The kingdom of God is like a mustard seed that starts out very tiny, yet after it sprouts, grows and grows and eventually becomes a large, bushy tree. To see proof of this, go to the grocery store, buy a jar of mustard seeds from the spice aisle, and plant one seed in a paper cup at home. Water it, put it into the sunshine, and soon a plant will be springing to life and zooming in rapid growth.
Today you'll have an opportunity to plant a mustard seed in God's kingdom somewhere. The seed might be as small as a word of encouragement that you give to a co-worker or a neighbor who's feeling upset. Little words of hope, when planted with prayer and God's power, take root even if the people you give them to forget what you said. The mustard seed you gave them will sprout into renewed strength that helps them work through their problems.
And unless the soil of their soul is hard and rocky, this young sprout will develop branches that will spread hope in new directions, affecting more areas of their lives. The branches will develop leaves that provide them with shade from the heat of their difficulties, giving them endurance, so that they can strive forward to a solution that they hadn't noticed before you entered their garden to provide seeds of encouragement, when they were still feeling angry and discouraged.
The mustard sapling will continue to grow as they become stronger in confidence, because confidence grows out of experiences that provide evidence that there's reason to hope. The next time a similar problem happens, the mustard tree will shade them from despair.
This tree will further develop into one that's big enough to provide leafy branches that others can "nest" in. This is what Jesus meant by the birds that come to dwell in the tree's branches. The people in whom you sowed your itty bitty seeds are now passing hope onto others by sharing the strength that they gained while growing through their hardships.
We won't know the extent of the impact we make until we die and enter into the fullness of the kingdom of God. Purgatory will be a time of deep, inner heart-ache as we learn what happened when we withheld our seeds because we thought they were worthless. Heaven will be the discovery that even our tiniest gestures of holiness have made a beautiful difference.
God rejoices over every little thing we do for his kingdom.
© 2009 by Terry A. ModicaFor PERMISSION to copy any of my reflections, go to:http://gogoodnews.net/DailyReflections/copyrights-DR.htm
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Note: Good News Ministries is a non-profit organization that accepts donations as support for its ministries but does not charge for anything. Catholic Digital Resources™ is my employment through which I provide my writing services; the income from this (although very small at these early stages) will eventually support the future growth and projects of Good News Ministries. Please spread the word; tell your DRE, RCIA Director, pastor, etc. about what's available for parishes at Catholic Digital Resources™.
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Good News ReflectionFOR NEXT SUNDAY: August 2, 200918th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle B

Good News ReflectionFOR NEXT SUNDAY: August 2, 200918th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle B
Parish bulletins, faith-sharing groups, RCIA: For professionally published, printable copies of this reflection, please go to Catholic Digital Resources:http://catholicdr.com/calendar/August/18thB.htm - Preview a sample
Next Sunday's Readings:Ex 16:2-4, 12-15Ps 78:3-4, 23-25, 54Eph 4:17, 20-24John 6:24-35http://www.usccb.org/nab/080209.shtmlUSCCB Podcast of the Readings: http://ccc.usccb.org/cccradio/NABPodcasts/09_08_02.mp3
In next Sunday's Gospel reading, Jesus says: "Do not work for food that perishes but for the food that endures for eternal life." In other words: In your daily life, work hard to obtain whatever will nourish your soul and sustain you past death into eternity.
Jesus says: "The work God wants you to do is to believe in the one he sent." Why does he call this "work"?
To fully believe, we must work at getting rid of every doubt and distrust that interferes with our belief in Christ, with our trust in his words (including the official teachings of the Church), and with our willingness to conform to his way of life.
This work requires first identifying our vulnerabilities that make us doubt and distrust, uncovering what we're afraid will happen if we do trust, and overcoming that fear by gaining a better understanding of the truth. Any fear that interferes with our holiness is always based on something untrue.
Jesus says: "The bread of God, which nourishes your soul, is that which comes down from heaven and gives life." He is referring to himself in the bread that he offers at every Mass. What work do you need to do so that you can be nourished more fully by the Eucharist? Is there something that's blocking you from believing that the Eucharist is truly Jesus making himself more available to you?
Is there something that's stopping you from receiving the Eucharist? Work hard to remedy that obstacle! It will make a difference to your eternal soul. If you're sincere about uniting yourself to Christ, he will make possible whatever is needed to clear the way.
Because the Eucharist is Jesus, it can heal us, purify us, and help us become more like Christ himself. However, it takes conscious effort to fully embrace this opportunity. Why would we want to be lazy about that? The benefits of hard work in our faith life will endure for eternity.
Questions for Personal Reflection:Do you believe you're going to go to heaven after you die? (If you're thinking "no, I'm going to purgatory" then the answer is really yes, because purgatory is not a stopping place, it's a purging place before entering into the fullness of heaven.) What raises doubts in your mind? What in your relationship with Jesus needs more work so that your belief in him will give you confident hope that he is guiding you to heaven?
Questions for Community Faith Sharing:How has the Eucharist helped you stay on course on your journey to heaven? How has it changed you, purified you? Is it possible that Christ's true presence in the Eucharist can also help those who are unable to receive communion? How so?
NOTE: Pope John Paul II wrote an entire encyclical about this, entitled Ecclesia de Eucharistia ("The Church of the Eucharist"). In it, he tells us that we're on a journey to heaven and that the presence of Christ in the Eucharist helps us stay on course. Let me walk you through this wonderful Church document! Take my online course at http://catholicdr.com/e-Classroom/Eucharistia/
STARTING ON MONDAY, if you're a member of the "Emmaus Journey" e-group, share your answers by writing to EmmausJourney@gnm.org* To join and become a member, go to: http://gogoodnews.net/GNMcommunities/EmmausJourney/
© 2009 by Terry A. ModicaFor PERMISSION to copy any of my reflections, go to:http://gogoodnews.net/DailyReflections/copyrights-DR.htm
Seeking a past reflection?Click this button to register for the searchable Archive Library of the Good News Reflections. One week access is free as a special gift to subscribers of these emailed reflections.
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Why do I need you as a partner in my daily ministry?Please help with a donation, including non-financial support. Good News Ministries affects countless lives around the world, including in countries where people have no Catholic Mass and where Christianity is persecuted. continue...
Note: Good News Ministries is a non-profit organization that accepts donations as support for its ministries but does not charge for anything. Catholic Digital Resources™ is my employment through which I provide my writing services; the income from this (although very small at these early stages) will eventually support the future growth and projects of Good News Ministries. Please spread the word; tell your DRE, RCIA Director, pastor, etc. about what's available for parishes at Catholic Digital Resources™.
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Thursday, July 23, 2009

Sowing the right seeds

Good News ReflectionFriday of the 16th Week in Ordinary TimeJuly 24, 2009
Today's Saints: Boris and GlebPray to overcome injustices:http://wordbytes.org/saints/DailyPrayers/BorisGleb.htm
Today's Readings:Ex 20:1-17Ps 19:8-11 (with John 6:68c)Matt 13:18-23http://www.usccb.org/nab/072409.shtmlUSCCB Podcast of the Readings:http://ccc.usccb.org/cccradio/NABPodcasts/09_07_24.mp3
Sowing the right seeds
We usually look at today's Gospel reading and feel challenged to wonder: "Which type of soil am I?" Or we assess someone else and think: "No wonder the truth is not sinking in; his soil is hard-packed." This time, however let's put our feet into the sandals of the sower and ask: "What kind of seeds am I sowing? And am I sowing them in the right places?"
A good farmer knows his environment. He researches and studies the soil, the climate, and even the past use of the land. He learns what will grow best in the location where he farms. He pays attention to his own wisdom, i.e., which types of crops he understands the most. And he doesn't try to grow other crops.
What seeds of God's kingdom do you already have that you can offer in the environment where you live and work and recreate?
Don't try to produce the fruits that others are good at growing, even though you enjoy their flavor. Don't envy others for what they can grow. Instead, study your own farm: What experiences have you gained that can serve the needs of others? Sow those seeds. What lessons have you learned the hard way that could benefit people who are now in similar situations? Sow those seeds. What talents are natural for you? Sow those seeds. What wisdom have you gained in your spiritual growth? Those are wonderful seeds!
A good farmer knows not to waste seeds by tossing them onto the road or rocks or among briers and weeds. Don't sow the seeds of your life's experiences at those who aren't ready to learn from their own hardships; that would be sowing your seeds onto the road.
Don't sow your talents into rocky places where your gifts will have no lasting value. Instead, consider how they can be used to help your Church community; that's where to find fertile soil.
And when someone asks for your insights and wisdom because they recognize that you have faith, look for evidence that they really want to use your advice. If they're not sincere, don't keep trying to help them; that would be sowing the seeds among briers. Reserve your seeds for those who show a sincere and humble desire to improve.
Remember, seeds are tiny. They might look too small to be worthwhile. Don't be fooled by their appearance. You know the potential that's within every seed, especially when God provides the nourishing rain. You have many valuable seeds to spread around! Sown in the right places, God will grow an amazing crop from them. Eventually, you will see many delightful fruits come from your tiny offerings – although in many cases, you'll have to wait until heaven to find out how huge of a difference you've made. Never be discouraged by a lack of seeing evidence now. Keep on sowing!
If you need help figuring out which talents God has given to you for sowing and how he wants you to sow them, download my e-book "Knowing God's Will and Doing It Well", published by Catholic Digital Resources at http://catholicdr.com/ebooks/GodsWill.htm.
© 2009 by Terry A. ModicaFor PERMISSION to copy any of my reflections, go to:http://gogoodnews.net/DailyReflections/copyrights-DR.htm
Seeking a past reflection?Click this button to register for the searchable Archive Library of the Good News Reflections. One week access is free as a special gift to subscribers of these emailed reflections.
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Why do I need you as a partner in my daily ministry?Please help with a donation, including non-financial support. Good News Ministries affects countless lives around the world, including in countries where people have no Catholic Mass and where Christianity is persecuted. continue...
Note: Good News Ministries is a non-profit organization that accepts donations as support for its ministries but does not charge for anything. Catholic Digital Resources™ is my employment through which I provide my writing services; the income from this (although very small at these early stages) will eventually support the future growth and projects of Good News Ministries. Please spread the word; tell your DRE, RCIA Director, pastor, etc. about what's available for parishes at Catholic Digital Resources™.
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What makes us sluggish to hear the truth?

Good News ReflectionThursday of the 16th Week in Ordinary TimeJuly 23, 2009
Today's Saint: Bridget of SwedenPray for widows and widowers:http://wordbytes.org/saints/DailyPrayers/BridgetSweden.htm
Today's Readings:Ex 19:1-2, 9-11, 16-20bDaniel 3:52-56Matt 13:10-17http://www.usccb.org/nab/072309.shtmlUSCCB Podcast of the Readings:http://ccc.usccb.org/cccradio/NABPodcasts/09_07_23.mp3
What makes us sluggish to hear the truth?
What's different between those who understand what the Church teaches and those who don't? Or what God says in the scriptures? Or what Jesus meant by the parables? That's what the disciples wanted to find out in today's Gospel reading. The answer lies in the prophecy from Isaiah 6:9-10 that Jesus quoted: People's hearts are gross.
In the original Greek (the language in which Matthew wrote), the word "gross" meant thickening or fattening. Jesus was talking about what happens when we get filled up on the world's food. Because we want to eat whatever makes us feel good, we gorge ourselves from the world's cafeteria, gulping down large portions of Make Up Your Own Rules moral relativism or self-promoting agendas or "New Age" spirituality and anything else that's not on God's banquet table. On this diet, our hearts get "sluggish" and we miss the truth even when it's handed to us on a silver serving platter.
Why do children who were raised with strong faith leave the Church when they become adults? What makes a good Christian sluggish? Why do any of us get lazy about discovering and relinquishing the untruths we believe? Usually, it's because of fear. We're afraid we won't like what we'll hear – as if God (directly or through the Church) will tell us something that will harm us!
For example, a Christian woman who had an abortion many years ago has learned to bury the nagging thought that her fetus was a real child. Fearing that she would be unable to live with the realization that she killed her own child, whom she would have loved, she shuts down all thoughts about it. In this condition, there is no way she can hear Jesus invite her to the healing and forgiveness for which her soul secretly longs. She thinks she has peace, but it's nothing more than denial, which is peace only at the surface. This self-imposed false peace will be stripped away at the moment of her death when the child she aborted comes with Jesus to welcome her into the afterlife.
(Side note: Please see our ministry called Families of Aborted Children Praying Together at http://wordbytes.org/help_protect_life/prayerchapel.htm)
It's only by focusing on the reality of God's love for us, which is unending and unconditional and full of mercy, that we can risk hearing what our fears are screaming at us. Fear says that God does not care for us as much as we need him to. Fear says that God wants to make our lives miserable. Fear says that what we did wrong is bigger than God's mercy.
To silence our fears, we have to remind ourselves that fear never speaks the truth. Fear is a liar. Only God fully speaks the truth, and when we remember that with God nothing is impossible, we can bear to hear the truth. When we remember that God wants to make good come out of everything, we can dare to face the truths that we fear the most.
If you know people who are sluggish to accept a truth that you're trying to share with them, concentrate first on helping them learn how very much God loves them and that he offers forgiveness and healing. Show them the wonderfulness of this truth by loving them the same way. Then it will become easier to help them realize that their inner turmoil or fears or feeling separated from God's love can be remedied.
© 2009 by Terry A. ModicaFor PERMISSION to copy any of my reflections, go to:http://gogoodnews.net/DailyReflections/copyrights-DR.htm
Seeking a past reflection?Click this button to register for the searchable Archive Library of the Good News Reflections. One week access is free as a special gift to subscribers of these emailed reflections.
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Why do I need you as a partner in my daily ministry?Please help with a donation, including non-financial support. Good News Ministries affects countless lives around the world, including in countries where people have no Catholic Mass and where Christianity is persecuted. continue...
Note: Good News Ministries is a non-profit organization that accepts donations as support for its ministries but does not charge for anything. Catholic Digital Resources™ is my employment through which I provide my writing services; the income from this (although very small at these early stages) will eventually support the future growth and projects of Good News Ministries. Please spread the word; tell your DRE, RCIA Director, pastor, etc. about what's available for parishes at Catholic Digital Resources™.
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Letting go of our losses

Good News ReflectionWednesday of the 16th Week in Ordinary TimeJuly 22, 2009
Today's Memorial: St. Mary MagdaleneA prayer for those in bereavement ministry:http://wordbytes.org/saints/DailyPrayers/MaryMagdalene.htm
For a printer-ready distributable copy of today's reflection and more for the bereaving and those in bereavement ministry, please visit Catholic Digital Resources at:http://catholicdr.com/faithbuilders/bereavement
Today's Readings:Ex 16:1-5, 9-15Ps 78:18-19,23-28John 20:1-2, 11-18http://www.usccb.org/nab/072209.shtmlUSCCB Podcast of the Readings:http://ccc.usccb.org/cccradio/NABPodcasts/09_07_22.mp3
Letting go of our losses
We should reflect on Mary Magdalene's attitude and the great love she felt for Christ; for though the disciples had left the tomb, she remained.... And so it happened that the woman who stayed behind to seek Christ was the only one to see him. For perseverance is essential to any good deed, as the voice of truth tell us: "Whoever perseveres to the end will be saved." - Pope St. Gregory the Great (from a sermon on St. Mary Magdalene)
In today's Gospel reading, we see the emotions of Mary of Magdala, one of a Jesus' closest friends. First, she wept – like we do when someone or something important has been taken from us.
All the way to the core, we mourn and we try to hang onto past memories as if enfleshing them in the present. We wish our time with our loved one or a previous phase of life had never ended. We wish we could go back and relish more fully what we'd had. If we can, we even try to bring it back, and we get mad at those (and at God) who are responsible for our loss. This is normal for a healthy grieving process.Surely in Mary's tears was the feeling of: "I loved him sooooo much! I didn't get enough of him! I want more! I need more! I can't believe he's gone. It's not fair! It's not right! How could God allow this?"
Then, when the resurrected Jesus appeared to her and she finally recognized him, she embraced him with excitement, relief, and awe. It was more than a "welcome back" hug. She didn't want to let go. How do we feel when we regain something we've lost? We want to cling to it so we won't lose it again.
However, Jesus did not let her hug him very long. Why not? Surely he understood her feelings and her needs. His explanation: "I have not yet ascended to the Father." In other words, as good as it was to have Jesus back, something even better was going to happen.
Jesus was going to have to leave her again. His flesh had to depart from this world so that he could give his Holy Spirit to everyone. Thus he can be with all of us all of the time.
Whatever losses we've had in our lives, we need to trust that God wants to move us to a new place, a good place. We need to let go, stop clinging to the past, and quit the "what if" thinking that only makes us feel more miserable. Then, we become free to move on to a new life in which we experience more of the resurrected Christ through his Holy Spirit.
Death and resurrection are two essential ingredients of Christian living. There is no improvement without loss. There is no loss that comes without improvement, as long as we move through it with the Lord.
It's good to value the past – just as Mary Magdalene and the disciples forever treasured their three years with Jesus and repeatedly told others about it – but we should ALSO value what God is planning for the future, even if we don't yet know what that future holds. As scary or lonely as that future seems now, God will be with you, and he will be very good to you!
For a printer-ready distributable copy of today's reflection and more for the bereaving and those in bereavement ministry, please visit Catholic Digital Resources at: http://catholicdr.com/faithbuilders/bereavement.
© 2009 by Terry A. ModicaFor PERMISSION to copy any of my reflections, go to:http://gogoodnews.net/DailyReflections/copyrights-DR.htm
Seeking a past reflection?Click this button to register for the searchable Archive Library of the Good News Reflections. One week access is free as a special gift to subscribers of these emailed reflections.
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Why do I need you as a partner in my daily ministry?Please help with a donation, including non-financial support. Good News Ministries affects countless lives around the world, including in countries where people have no Catholic Mass and where Christianity is persecuted. continue...
Note: Good News Ministries is a non-profit organization that accepts donations as support for its ministries but does not charge for anything. Catholic Digital Resources™ is my employment through which I provide my writing services; the income from this (although very small at these early stages) will eventually support the future growth and projects of Good News Ministries. Please spread the word; tell your DRE, RCIA Director, pastor, etc. about what's available for parishes at Catholic Digital Resources™.
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Monday, July 20, 2009

Deciphering God's will

Good News ReflectionTuesday of the 16th Week in Ordinary TimeJuly 21, 2009
Today's Readings:Ex 14:21 -- 15:1Ex 15:8-10, 12, 17 (with 1b)Matt 12:46-50http://www.usccb.org/nab/072109.shtmlUSCCB Podcast of the Readings:http://ccc.usccb.org/cccradio/NABPodcasts/09_07_21.mp3
Deciphering God's will
In today's Gospel passage, Jesus tells us that if we do the will of his Father, then we are truly members of his family – the holy family – adopted by God, inheritors of everything that belongs to God on this earth and in heaven. But knowing what his will is can sometimes be difficult, not because we want to disobey, but simply because there are too many possibilities of what the Father's will might be.
God gave us our own individual will so that we're free to love him. This makes us vulnerable, however, to wrong decisions. We're free to make decisions without first discerning what is really best, right, and holy.
To be like our Divine Daddy and live as his child, we need to submit our will to his. This never means giving up our will. It never means that our desires and needs will be squashed or ignored by God. Rather, it means acknowledging that God has a better understanding of what's best, right, and holy. And since we want to benefit from God's better understanding, we want our will to be God's will, not by forcing God to agree with us and approve of our humanly-made decisions, but by forcing our will to agree with God's divine will.
That's not always easy. And sometimes it is! A good, healthy, holy prayer is: "Father, my Divine Daddy, here's what I want to do about ____, but you understand the whole situation infinitely better than I do, so please make sure YOUR will is done. I give you permission to conform my will to yours."
God does not want us to be confused or uncertain about his will and his desires. Even when there are multiple good choices and God likes them all, he has a preference, a top choice that he'd like us to know so that we can have the best possible life here on earth and the best possible relationship with him in heaven (with as short a time in purgatory as possible). He also hopes that we will reach our full potential for the sake of how we can help his other children.
Because he cares so much, he does not hide his will, lest it cause us to make terrible mistakes or blindly fall into sin. He does everything he can – which is more than we imagine – to help us remain close to him all the time, in every decision we make throughout the day, each day, even in details as small as choosing what to eat and which to wear. To figure out the how, when, where, etc., of his will, we need to (1) know what God reveals about it in scripture and in Church teachings, and (2) have an active, alive relationship with the Holy Spirit, who is the teacher and explainer of all truth.
When think we know God's will and desires, how can we be sure that God is really speaking to us and it's not just a trick of our own minds? This requires growth, a well-formed conscience, awareness of our weaknesses and vulnerabilities and areas of unhealthy thinking, surrendering ourselves continually to God, waiting for confirmation from reliable Christian community friends or spiritual directors, and trusting that God will provide other confirmation as well if it's that important.
For more on this topic, see these two WordBytes:http://wordbytes.org/ministry/discern/GodsWill.htmandhttp://wordbytes.org/ministry/discern/obstacles.htmOr download a collection of my reflections on this, in the e-book "Knowing God's Will and Doing it Well", published by Catholic Digital Resources:http://catholicdr.com/ebooks/GodsWill.htm
© 2009 by Terry A. ModicaFor PERMISSION to copy any of my reflections, go to:http://gogoodnews.net/DailyReflections/copyrights-DR.htm
Seeking a past reflection?Click this button to register for the searchable Archive Library of the Good News Reflections. One week access is free as a special gift to subscribers of these emailed reflections.
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Note: Good News Ministries is a non-profit organization that accepts donations as support for its ministries but does not charge for anything. Catholic Digital Resources™ is my employment through which I provide my writing services; the income from this (although very small at these early stages) will eventually support the future growth and projects of Good News Ministries. Please spread the word; tell your DRE, RCIA Director, pastor, etc. about what's available for parishes at Catholic Digital Resources™.
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Why do we need a sign?

Good News ReflectionMonday of the 16th Week in Ordinary TimeJuly 20, 2009
Today's Saint: Margaret of AntiochPray for expectant mothers:http://wordbytes.org/saints/DailyPrayers/MargaretAntioch.htm
Today's Readings:Exodus 14:5-18Exodus 15:1-6Matt 12:38-42http://www.usccb.org/nab/readings/072009.shtmlUSCCB Podcast of the Readings:http://ccc.usccb.org/cccradio/NABPodcasts/09_07_20.mp3
Why do we need a sign?
To know Jesus and what he's doing, we have to be able to read the signs of the times. If our focus is self-centered, we don't see the signs of God working through another person to give us what we need. If our focus is on what we want or what we think God should do to fix a problem, we don't see what he's really doing and thus we miss the joy that should be ours even in the midst of troubles.
The scribes and Pharisees in today's Gospel reading failed to read the signs that identified Jesus as the Messiah, because they were arrogantly certain that they knew the correct way to interpret the scriptures. So, when they asked Jesus to give them a sign, he knew that nothing would change their minds – nothing, that is, except humility.
Jonah learned humility in the belly of a whale. By referring to this story, Jesus was doing more than making a connection between Jonah's whale ride and his own upcoming three-day ordeal with death. Not even his closest disciples could recognize this sign yet. So why would Jesus use Jonah as a sign in an effort to inspire a change of heart in the scribes and Pharisees?
Always hoping that the blind would see, he was trying to evangelize them.
As he so often did (and still does), Jesus didn't directly answer their request. Although this is frustrating when we want to be in control instead of trusting Jesus, he always has our best interests in mind. He is trying to redirect the discussion to help us dig deeper and get to the truth that can change our hearts.
Has Jesus ever said to you, "I hear what you're asking, but I won't give it. Instead, I'm asking you to make a change"? Of course he has! I cannot count the times he has said that to me. And every time he does, there's a need for it.
If we rely on our own understanding of what we need, we get confused and we side-track ourselves from the deeper issues where our souls cry out for healing. The greatest answer to prayer is purification so that our hearts rest fully in the Lord. Are you sure you want to skip out on this?
If God gave us everything we asked for at the same moment we ask for it, how would we become more mature in our faith? Pride would immediately tell us that we can control God.
More important than getting what we ask for is discovering the deeper truth, which perfects us. True faith means having the humility to let God be God; let him remain in charge of your life no matter how well or how poorly you think he's doing his job.
Do we need a sign to build up our faith when we pray for a miracle? No! We need only Jesus. We already have the sign. It's in every Catholic Mass, when the bread and wine are transformed into Jesus himself.
What we're lacking is not proof that God cares, nor proof that our prayers will be answered. What is lacking is the humility to stop insisting that we know better than God does about what should be done and how soon it should happen. What is lacking is the humility to smile at Jesus and say, "You are so-o-o-o good to me! Thank you. Do with my life as you will. I place my trust in you, for you are worthy of trust. Duh!"
© 2009 by Terry A. ModicaFor PERMISSION to copy any of my reflections, go to:http://gogoodnews.net/DailyReflections/copyrights-DR.htm
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Note: Good News Ministries is a non-profit organization that accepts donations as support for its ministries but does not charge for anything. Catholic Digital Resources™ is my employment through which I provide my writing services; the income from this (although very small at these early stages) will eventually support the future growth and projects of Good News Ministries. Please spread the word; tell your DRE, RCIA Director, pastor, etc. about what's available for parishes at Catholic Digital Resources™.
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Good News ReflectionFOR NEXT SUNDAY: July 26, 200917th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle B

Good News ReflectionFOR NEXT SUNDAY: July 26, 200917th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle B
Parish bulletins, faith-sharing groups, RCIA: For professionally published, printable copies of this reflection, please go to Catholic Digital Resources:http://catholicdr.com/calendar/July/17thB.htm - Preview a sample
Next Sunday's Readings:2 Kings 4:42-44Ps 145:10-11, 15-18Eph 4:1-6John 6:1-15http://www.usccb.org/nab/readings/072609.shtmlUSCCB Podcast of the Readings: http://ccc.usccb.org/cccradio/NABPodcasts/09_07_26.mp3
I've heard next Sunday's Gospel reading de-supernaturalized with explanations such as: "The real miracle is that Jesus got the people to share the food that they had brought along with them", and even: "There wasn't enough food for everyone to have their fill, but what they had was offered to everyone, and the people were just so appreciative and willing to make sacrifices that they ate very little and thus there was food left over."
Yeah, r-i-i-ight. As if God can't multiply food miraculously.
The multiplication of the loaves and fish into a meal that not only satisfied everyone but was more than what they needed is an important foreshadowing of the Eucharistic banquet that we celebrate today. If we pay attention to what's going on in Mass, and if we take it to heart, Jesus satisfies our hungers and gives us more than we need. What did you need from him before you arrived at church? He's trying to give it to you in abundance!
Receiving all that he wants to miraculously give us requires that we trust him to provide for us. We have to expect the unexpected. We have to wait on his perfect timing. But rest assured that he wants to give us more than we need.
Maybe some of the folks on that ancient hillside wanted steak instead of fish, but what they received was a Messiah who filled their hearts with more than enough faith to grow spiritually, more than enough hope to become stronger in their trials, and more than enough love to share as they went forth to reveal Christ to others.
In our Liturgies of the Eucharist, there's a lot more abundance to receive from Jesus than just a little piece of bread and a sip of wine. What do you really need from Jesus? More faith? More hope? More love? It's a good idea to think about this on the way to Mass so that you can participate in Mass more expectantly.
Questions for Personal Reflection:Why do you go to Mass? Was there ever a time when you didn't go, and if so, why didn't you? What motivated you to start attending Mass again? How satisfied are you now? What's missing? How might God provide for those needs?
Questions for Community Faith Sharing:What is available from Jesus during Mass other than his real presence in the Host and Precious Blood of the Eucharist? How are the various elements of Mass gifts from God that can help satisfy your spiritual, emotional, and even physical needs?
STARTING ON MONDAY, if you're a member of the "Emmaus Journey" e-group, share your answers by writing to EmmausJourney@gnm.org* To join and become a member, go to: http://gogoodnews.net/GNMcommunities/EmmausJourney/
© 2009 by Terry A. ModicaFor PERMISSION to copy any of my reflections, go to:http://gogoodnews.net/DailyReflections/copyrights-DR.htm
Seeking a past reflection?Click this button to register for the searchable Archive Library of the Good News Reflections. One week access is free as a special gift to subscribers of these emailed reflections.
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Why do I need you as a partner in my daily ministry?Please help with a donation, including non-financial support. Good News Ministries affects countless lives around the world, including in countries where people have no Catholic Mass and where Christianity is persecuted. continue...
Note: Good News Ministries is a non-profit organization that accepts donations as support for its ministries but does not charge for anything. Catholic Digital Resources™ is my employment through which I provide my writing services; the income from this (although very small at these early stages) will eventually support the future growth and projects of Good News Ministries. Please spread the word; tell your DRE, RCIA Director, pastor, etc. about what's available for parishes at Catholic Digital Resources™.
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Friday, July 17, 2009

God desires mercy, not legalistic sacrifices

Good News ReflectionFriday of the 15th Week in Ordinary TimeJuly 17, 2009
Today's Saint: AlexiusPray for the homeless:http://wordbytes.org/saints/DailyPrayers/Alexius.htm
Today's Readings:Ex 11:10 -- 12:14Ps 116:12-13, 15-18Matt 12:1-8http://www.usccb.org/nab/071709.shtmlUSCCB Podcast of the Readings:http://ccc.usccb.org/cccradio/NABPodcasts/09_07_17.mp3
God desires mercy, not legalistic sacrifices
While Pope Benedict XVI was still Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, a journalist asked him (on Nov. 30, 2002) about maintaining fidelity to old Church teachings while being open to the Holy Spirit for new interpretations. "How is it possible not to fall into the extremes of rigidity or rupture?" he asked.
The future pope replied that although "fidelity and openness seem to exclude one another," they do not. He explained that authentic fidelity to the Church "is a dynamic fidelity.... [and] participates in the dynamism of the person of Christ, who can open himself to the different challenges of reality, of the other, of the world, etc."
This dynamism – the ability to adapt to life's challenges instead of remaining static – is what shook up the safe little world of the Pharisees when Jesus replaced legalism with love. In today's Gospel reading, they didn't attack Jesus simply to give him a hard time. They truly believed that to be right with God, one must obey all the laws and rules literally and exactly. They also insisted that laws and rules were to be obeyed equally; rules that dealt with rituals were kept as rigidly as the laws that dealt with morality. So when Jesus broke some of the ritual laws, they could not imagine how he could be a holy man, let alone the long-awaited Messiah.
To explain his position, Jesus said: "It's mercy God desires, not sacrifice." It's a sacrifice to obey a law that's unpleasant. This is virtuous! However, forcing the disciples to go hungry on account of an over-ritualized definition of "work" would have been unmerciful. Jesus is responding dynamically to the needs of the people based on the real purpose behind the commandment to rest on the Sabbath. What was the real purpose? Love! God's love for us! He knows we need to rest and that without making it a commandment, those of us who work hard wouldn't get around to resting.
A sacrifice that's unloving is not what God wants. Remaining legalistically static when a situation calls for deeper examination and merciful consideration comes from a fear that any perceived disobedience is a violation of God's will and therefore deserves punishment. We forget to look at the loving purpose of the law.
The bottom line and original reason for every commandment of God and every regulation taught by the Catholic Church is love. However, this can be hard to see when we're relying on simple obedience to make us "good" enough for heaven, which will never happen. Thank God that Jesus is our Savior, not the law.
Jesus is Lord of the Sabbath; his love has authority over the Sabbath. His love is the authority over all our religious laws, rules, and norms today. When they fail to convey the love of Jesus or they work against a person's eternal salvation, we have to rediscover their real intention and determine how it applies to the current situation. This is how we remain faithful to the Church's teachings without being merciless.
Mercy is a dynamic response to the challenges of a changing world. If we want to imitate Christ, we have to become dynamic Christians.
© 2009 by Terry A. ModicaFor PERMISSION to copy any of my reflections, go to:http://gogoodnews.net/DailyReflections/copyrights-DR.htm
Seeking a past reflection?Click this button to register for the searchable Archive Library of the Good News Reflections. One week access is free as a special gift to subscribers of these emailed reflections.
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Why do I need you as a partner in my daily ministry?Please help with a donation, including non-financial support. Good News Ministries affects countless lives around the world, including in countries where people have no Catholic Mass and where Christianity is persecuted. continue...
Note: Good News Ministries is a non-profit organization that accepts donations as support for its ministries but does not charge for anything. Catholic Digital Resources™ is my employment through which I provide my writing services; the income from this (although very small at these early stages) will eventually support the future growth and projects of Good News Ministries. Please spread the word; tell your DRE, RCIA Director, pastor, etc. about what's available for parishes at Catholic Digital Resources™.
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Wednesday, July 15, 2009

Weighed down or lifted up?

Good News ReflectionThursday of the 15th Week in Ordinary TimeJuly 16, 2009
Today's Memorial: Our Lady of Mount CarmelPray for protection:http://wordbytes.org/saints/DailyPrayers/MtCarmel.htm
Today's Readings:Ex 3:13-20Ps 105:1, 5, 8-9, 24-27Matt 11:28-30http://www.usccb.org/nab/071609.shtmlUSCCB Podcast of the Readings:http://ccc.usccb.org/cccradio/NABPodcasts/09_07_16.mp3
Weighed down or lifted up?
Do you feel lifted up by wearing the yoke of Jesus or is it so heavy that it weighs you down?
In the midst of plowing through our own personal struggles, other people need our help and our unconditional, patient, going-the-extra-mile love. If we're yoked to Jesus, we have to respond like he would. It's no wonder we feel burdened and exhausted. Yet Jesus says in today's Gospel passage: "Come to me when you are weary and find life burdensome, and I will refresh you."
Ahhh, that sounds good, relaxing, restorative. But then why does he add: "Take my yoke upon you"? How can we find the recovery we need while locked into his yoke of ministry and evangelization? A yoke is for doing hard work. Who wants to be yoked into hard labor like oxen churning up the hard-packed soil of some huge field? I get tired just visualizing this!
The restful peace that we long for is already within us, available every moment, because Jesus lives in us. We yoke ourselves to him not to be dragged around and forced into hard labor, but to benefit from his strength. If we freely choose to serve as he serves and plow what he plows, we're carried along by his supernatural strength. We are partnered with him, but he does the heaviest labor. His yoke not only binds us to his outreach ministry, it also binds us to his in-reach ministry. He serves us while we're helping him serve others.
When we're in pain because someone has made our work difficult, Jesus is beside us, kissing our wounds and affirming our goodness. When we're challenged by a huge undertaking and we feel overwhelmed, Jesus guides us as he pulls ahead to keep us going in the right direction. When we feel tired, Jesus stops the fieldwork and sits down so that we sit down, and then he ministers to us, restoring our energy (unless we keeping pulling and pushing because we think we cannot afford to take time off).
When burdens feel so heavy that we cannot handle them, something's amiss. We're doing more than God wants us to do. Our priorities are wrong. Being yoked to Jesus is a relationship that only works well if we pay attention to him so that we follow him instead of straining to go off in a different direction or at too fast of a speed. Trying to take the lead is a struggle that wears us out and never succeeds unless the yoke breaks.
When we feel worn out, God is warning us: Slow down! Simplify your life! Make a change! Spend more time in prayer listening to me! Trust me! My ways are better than you think they are!
Jesus knows how to energize us and strengthen us. He knows what to give us so that our needs are met for the tasks ahead. Being yoked to Jesus means serving others the same way he serves us, and nothing more than that. Nor anything less.
© 2009 by Terry A. ModicaFor PERMISSION to copy any of my reflections, go to:http://gogoodnews.net/DailyReflections/copyrights-DR.htm
Seeking a past reflection?Click this button to register for the searchable Archive Library of the Good News Reflections. One week access is free as a special gift to subscribers of these emailed reflections.
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Why do I need you as a partner in my daily ministry?Please help with a donation, including non-financial support. Good News Ministries affects countless lives around the world, including in countries where people have no Catholic Mass and where Christianity is persecuted. continue...
Note: Good News Ministries is a non-profit organization that accepts donations as support for its ministries but does not charge for anything. Catholic Digital Resources™ is my employment through which I provide my writing services; the income from this (although very small at these early stages) will eventually support the future growth and projects of Good News Ministries. Please spread the word; tell your DRE, RCIA Director, pastor, etc. about what's available for parishes at Catholic Digital Resources™.
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Healing our image of God's Fatherhood

Good News ReflectionWednesday of the 15th Week in Ordinary TimeJuly 15, 2009
Today's Memorial: Saint BonaventureThe prayer from my book for this is not available online; to order the book, please go to http://gnm.org/books.htm
Today's Readings:Ex 3:1-6, 9-12Ps 103:1b-4, 6-7 (with 8a)Matt 11:25-27http://www.usccb.org/nab/071509.shtmlUSCCB Podcast of the Readings:http://ccc.usccb.org/cccradio/NABPodcasts/09_07_15.mp3
Healing our image of God's Fatherhood
It is through Jesus that we discover what God the Father is really like. Otherwise, our heavenly daddy is obscured by the images of human fathers and other parental figures that we've known. Their flaws and failures, limitations and sins get unconsciously projected onto God as we try to perceive and understand our Creator.
Regardless of how wonderful they were, these people have been imperfect role models of what the Perfect Father is like. We see God the Father as the disciplinarian of the Holy Trinity. And because we assume that he's like the human fathers who pushed for better grades on our report cards, we think that God condemns us for our imperfections – even the smallest ones, even the mistakes that are not sinful.
Our human fathers loved us insufficiently, no matter how great they were as dads. And so we need to differentiate between human authority figures and the True Father. Only Jesus can show us what the True Father is really like, for as he says in today's Gospel reading, "No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son reveals him." We should project Jesus – and no one else – onto the Father to perceive and better understand our Creator.
If we're doing our best to live a holy life, keeping our eyes on Jesus, the Father becomes so real, so close to us, that we melt into his loving embrace. Trusting him becomes natural. All our fears, worries, anger, and the hurts of life dissolve in his arms.
Jesus has given you to the Father. And he gives the Father to you. You are no longer your father's child; you are your Father's child. The most loving, the most caring, the most powerful Daddy in the universe has adopted you as his very own.
Just as it was for Jesus the Son, you are a son or daughter who is meant to have a wonderful Father-Child relationship, unblemished by the imperfections and sins of human relationships. This Father is your Dear Papa, the only Fully Loving Parent (which includes all the nurturing traits of motherhood), and he believes in you. He not only loves you, he likes you. He appreciates you. The Father cries when you're hurting and comforts you in his big, secure lap. He knows how hard you've been working to improve yourself. He understands your shortcomings and has unending patience for you. He admires you for your efforts, even the failed ones.
Can you sense the compassionate closeness of this invisible Father? Can you feel his non-physical yet protective embrace? Can you hear him quietly reassure you that he knows how good you truly are? You know you need this. To experience it, prayerfully contemplate the differences between God and the imperfect humans you've known. Increase your prayer time to become aware that you're sitting in Daddy-God's love.
Note: This theme is furthered in my PowerPoint Presentation "Life in the Father", which is Part 2 of my parish evangelization retreat "Life in the Holy Trinity". To find out more, please visit http://catholicdr.com/TrinityRetreat
© 2009 by Terry A. ModicaFor PERMISSION to copy any of my reflections, go to:http://gogoodnews.net/DailyReflections/copyrights-DR.htm
Seeking a past reflection?Click this button to register for the searchable Archive Library of the Good News Reflections. One week access is free as a special gift to subscribers of these emailed reflections.
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Why do I need you as a partner in my daily ministry?Please help with a donation, including non-financial support. Good News Ministries affects countless lives around the world, including in countries where people have no Catholic Mass and where Christianity is persecuted. continue...
Note: Good News Ministries is a non-profit organization that accepts donations as support for its ministries but does not charge for anything. Catholic Digital Resources™ is my employment through which I provide my writing services; the income from this (although very small at these early stages) will eventually support the future growth and projects of Good News Ministries. Please spread the word; tell your DRE, RCIA Director, pastor, etc. about what's available for parishes at Catholic Digital Resources™.
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Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Miracles that lead to ruin

Good News ReflectionTuesday of the 15th Week in Ordinary TimeJuly 14, 2009
Today's Memorial: Blessed Kateri TekakwithaPrayer for those who are ridiculed:http://wordbytes.org/saints/DailyPrayers/Kateri.htm
Today's Readings:Ex 2:1-15aPs 69:3, 14, 30-31, 33-34Matt 11:20-24http://www.usccb.org/nab/071409.shtmlUSCCB Podcast of the Readings:http://ccc.usccb.org/cccradio/NABPodcasts/09_07_14.mp3
Miracles that lead to ruin
In today's Gospel passage, Jesus prophesies against those who experience miracles but refuse to reform their ways. Miracles abound in our Church, including at every Mass in the Liturgy of the Eucharist. Do we go home unchanged?
Where else have you witnessed or experienced God's supernatural actions? If we don't use these opportunities to grow spiritually, our church activities will ultimately ruin us! We will be judged by the events that should have purified us and increased our holiness.
Are we miracle chasers instead of truth seekers? Do we wear Marian scapulars only because of the promises they carry (what Mary can do for us) instead of promising God that we will grow in holiness using the example of Mary? Do we bury St. Joseph as a statue (upside-down no less) to sell our house instead of asking St. Joseph to help us become a holier family, whether the house sells or not? Do we ask God to rescue us from difficulties to make our lives easier instead of thanking him for the hard times because they're helping us become holier?
Are we changed each time we witness the miracle of bread and wine becoming the body and blood of Christ at Mass?
I've been to Capernaum. Since this was the town that Jesus called home after he left Nazareth, you'd think it would be exalted forever. This is where Peter lived and where his mother-in-law was miraculously healed. Across the street is where Jesus preached in the synagogue. As a significant trade center at the Sea of Galilee, many people passed through it and heard Jesus preach. It was a busy, prosperous town that saw a lot of Jesus. It could have become a center for Christianity. It could have become the Vatican – the Seat of Peter!
But now it's a dead town. Capernaum is nothing but ruins. (See it at http://wordbytes.org/holyland/pilgrim055.htm)
Our lives can become ruins, too. Is there anything deteriorating in your spiritual life? When we're not growing, we're falling apart. If we don't allow God to change us within our daily situations, we're stagnating like rotting muck in a lifeless pond.
God works miraculously for us every day. The evidence is there, but we can't see it when our expectations are different from his or when we're not paying attention. Spend more time recalling his mighty deeds. Why is he involved in your troubles? Is it to make your life easy and pain-free? No. It's to help you overcome obstacles on the road of ever-increasing holiness.
Repenting and reforming are never easy, but this what keeps our faith alive and growing.
© 2009 by Terry A. ModicaFor PERMISSION to copy any of my reflections, go to:http://gogoodnews.net/DailyReflections/copyrights-DR.htm
Seeking a past reflection?Click this button to register for the searchable Archive Library of the Good News Reflections. One week access is free as a special gift to subscribers of these emailed reflections.
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Why do I need you as a partner in my daily ministry?Please help with a donation, including non-financial support. Good News Ministries affects countless lives around the world, including in countries where people have no Catholic Mass and where Christianity is persecuted. continue...
Note: Good News Ministries is a non-profit organization that accepts donations as support for its ministries but does not charge for anything. Catholic Digital Resources™ is my employment through which I provide my writing services; the income from this (although very small at these early stages) will eventually support the future growth and projects of Good News Ministries. Please spread the word; tell your DRE, RCIA Director, pastor, etc. about what's available for parishes at Catholic Digital Resources™.
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Division for the love of Christ

Good News ReflectionMonday of the 15th Week in Ordinary TimeJuly 13, 2009
Today's Readings:Ex 1:8-14, 22Ps 124:1b-6, 7-8Matt 10:34 -- 11:1http://www.usccb.org/nab/readings/071309.shtmlUSCCB Podcast of the Readings:http://ccc.usccb.org/cccradio/NABPodcasts/09_07_13.mp3
Division for the love of Christ
God is a God of reconciliation. He provides it as a sacrament so that we can receive directly from Jesus the healing that reunites us with his Divinity and with his Body, which on earth is now the Church.
In Confession, we acknowledge that we have divided ourselves from God and from others. In Confession, the priest stands in for Christ and for the whole Church and accepts our repentance. Through this communal confession and absolution of our sins, we are then reconciled with everyone. We might still have to apologize to specific individuals, but in this sacrament, Christ wipes away the division that was caused by our sins.
Isn't it odd, then, that in today's Gospel reading Jesus says he came not to bring peace between people, but division – especially within families.
Think about it: If we have a parent who disagrees with our Christian decisions and behaviors, do we really honor them if we give up the virtue that divides us? When spouses interfere with our spiritual growth, do we really honor the love that unites us if we allow them to control our faith? When relatives want us to approve of abortions or homosexual relationships or couples living together outside the holy graces of sacramental marriage, do we really honor the truths we do share in common if we cooperate with the falsehoods they believe?
In situations like these, maintaining unity in the family has a high cost: It reinforces immoral behavior and gives the impression that behaving unlike Christ is okay and that disobeying God's commandments is not destructive.
Standing firm on what divides us shows that we care more about what Jesus taught than what the relatives say or think about us. The cost of this division is the cross, because those who should be loving us will surely reject us. They will nail us to the cross with our Lord. But remember what comes after Good Friday!
Maintaining unity can be spiritually deadly. Division can produce new life.
How willing are we to be persecuted by our families and by friends who are like family to us? It hurts more when we're nailed by the people who should love us more. Is it good to protect ourselves by compromising our values for the sake of an easier life? Or should we argue and insist that they believe what we tell them about the truth? Neither option is Christ-like.
Jesus spoke in parables for those who weren't ready for the whole truth. Our lives are his modern parables. We must live in such a way that it's clear where we stand on the issues that divide us. At the same time, we must also make known that we do not condemn anyone for disagreeing with us, for we cannot judge their hearts and we will always love them, oh so deeply.
© 2009 by Terry A. ModicaFor PERMISSION to copy any of my reflections, go to:http://gogoodnews.net/DailyReflections/copyrights-DR.htm
Seeking a past reflection?Click this button to register for the searchable Archive Library of the Good News Reflections. One week access is free as a special gift to subscribers of these emailed reflections.
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Why do I need you as a partner in my daily ministry?Please help with a donation, including non-financial support. Good News Ministries affects countless lives around the world, including in countries where people have no Catholic Mass and where Christianity is persecuted. continue...
Note: Good News Ministries is a non-profit organization that accepts donations as support for its ministries but does not charge for anything. Catholic Digital Resources™ is my employment through which I provide my writing services; the income from this (although very small at these early stages) will eventually support the future growth and projects of Good News Ministries. Please spread the word; tell your DRE, RCIA Director, pastor, etc. about what's available for parishes at Catholic Digital Resources™.
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Sunday, July 12, 2009

Good News ReflectionFOR NEXT SUNDAY: July 19, 200916th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle B

Good News ReflectionFOR NEXT SUNDAY: July 19, 200916th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle B
Parish bulletins, faith-sharing groups, RCIA: For professionally published, printable copies of this reflection, please go to Catholic Digital Resources:http://catholicdr.com/calendar/July/16thB.htm - Preview a sample
Next Sunday's Readings:Jer 23:1-6Ps 23:1-6Eph 2:13-18Mark 6:30-34http://www.usccb.org/nab/readings/071909.shtmlUSCCB Podcast of the Readings:http://ccc.usccb.org/cccradio/NABPodcasts/09_07_19.mp3
Everyone in ministry feels overwhelmed by their calling from time to time. Whether it's the ministry of raising children, or caring for an ill spouse or elderly parent, or working a job in a way that reveals Christ, or a responsibility at church or the priesthood of the ordained, it's important to take time out for ourselves — a vacation, a holiday — for nourishment and rest and recuperation. Jesus says so in next Sunday's Gospel reading.
If we don't obey this commandment, we become cranky. We make selfish or poor decisions. We become like the evil-doing shepherds of the first reading, who misled and scattered those whom they were called to serve.
The reason why it's so easy to become unlike Christ while doing the ministry of Christ is that we cannot give what we do not have. It takes energy to reveal God's love. It takes energy to remain enthusiastic in our service to God's kingdom. But how can we get recharged with new energy if we don't take time to sit still, rest, and pray?
How can we care about others when we don't take good care of ourselves? Jesus lives within us, but before we can give him to others, we must first let him minister to us.
Daily we encounter people who are like sheep without a shepherd; they are seeking Jesus whether they realize it or not. They want the unconditional love that he has to give. They want the healing and peace that comes only from him. He pities them and wants to help them, but if we who are his hands and feet and voice are too weak and worn out from our hardships, what then?
If we're insufficiently healed from our wounds, and if we're missing the peace of Christ, how can we be peaceful shepherds who lead others to his healing power?
We need to go to a deserted place with Jesus and rest awhile in his nourishing love. If we go away on a retreat or vacation and come back to our ministries (parenting, care-giving, work, or other responsibilities) still cranky (i.e., if the people we shepherd wish we'd go take a longer trip), we haven't rested enough. We've cut short the restoration process. Nevermind the pile-up of workload. Jesus is inviting us to "Come away by yourself and rest awhile longer with Me until you become more like Me."
Questions for Personal Reflection:What work of the Lord has become unhappy for you? What stole your joy? How can you get it back? (You might need a spiritual director to help you figure this out.) What needs of yours must be met before you can feel enthusiastic about ministry? What will you do this week to let Jesus meet these needs?
Questions for Community Faith Sharing:Why do people neglect to give themselves enough time for rest and restoration? What do you do to recharge your energy so that you can minister to others? What's been most helpful in restoring your Christian enthusiasm?
STARTING ON MONDAY, if you're a member of the "Emmaus Journey" e-group, share your answers by writing to EmmausJourney@gnm.org* To join and become a member, go to: http://gogoodnews.net/GNMcommunities/EmmausJourney/
© 2009 by Terry A. ModicaFor PERMISSION to copy any of my reflections, go to:http://gogoodnews.net/DailyReflections/copyrights-DR.htm
Seeking a past reflection?Click this button to register for the searchable Archive Library of the Good News Reflections. One week access is free as a special gift to subscribers of these emailed reflections.
WAS THIS FORWARDED TO YOU BY A FRIEND?To sign up for your own subscription, go to:http://gogoodnews.net/DailyReflections
Why do I need you as a partner in my daily ministry?Please help with a donation, including non-financial support. Good News Ministries affects countless lives around the world, including in countries where people have no Catholic Mass and where Christianity is persecuted. continue...
Note: Good News Ministries is a non-profit organization that accepts donations as support for its ministries but does not charge for anything. Catholic Digital Resources™ is my employment through which I provide my writing services; the income from this (although very small at these early stages) will eventually support the future growth and projects of Good News Ministries. Please spread the word; tell your DRE, RCIA Director, pastor, etc. about what's available for parishes at Catholic Digital Resources™.
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Thursday, July 9, 2009

Until the right moment comes, trust!

Good News ReflectionFriday of the 14th Week in Ordinary TimeJuly 10, 2009
Today's Readings:Gen 46:1-7, 28-30Ps 37:3-4, 18-19, 27-28, 39-40Matt 10:16-23http://www.usccb.org/nab/071009.shtmlUSCCB Podcast of the Readings:http://ccc.usccb.org/cccradio/NABPodcasts/09_07_10.mp3
Until the right moment comes, trust!
We are so impatient. We want to know NOW that everything worrying us is going to turn out okay. Whatever relationship we're struggling with, whatever task seems too hard, whatever wolves we are facing, we assume that we could deal with it better if only we knew the outcome and if only we could see that it will all be worthwhile.
So we try to envision the future. We think we can correctly guess what will happen to us if we stay on our present course of difficulties, and usually we predict disaster. If we're not following Jesus, we're probably right, but if we are doing what the Lord is asking of us, in anything that becomes troublesome, the biggest problem is self-made: We lose our patient trust.
God has a good plan that will benefit us as well as everyone else who's part of our trial, and yet we worry. We negate what the priest prays for us during the consecration of the Eucharist: "Free us from all anxiety."
In today's Gospel reading, Jesus makes it clear that we are not to worry because the Holy Spirit will help us WHEN THE MOMENT COMES. Not one second sooner.
Jesus says we're to be like sheep in the face of the wolves who threaten our peace – sheep who are shrewd like serpents and simple like doves. He's not telling us to be sheep that stand dumbly in the path of the wolf wearing a sign that proclaims, "Bite me, I'm standing still." No, we're to be shrewd sheep, clever enough to wait for the right moment before standing up to the wolf, and simple-minded (read that as "single-minded" not "stupid") enough to trust that the Holy Spirit will provide the wisdom and the words when that right moment comes.
Living in the kingdom of God causes us difficulties. Jesus is very clear about that. So, we can tell God that we really do want to serve him, and we really do trust him, but then fear asks, "Is everything going to work out okay?" And then impatience demands that we get the answer now. How sincere is our relationship with God if we aren't content to trust that the Holy Spirit is taking action on our behalf?
God is good to us! We have the Holy Spirit as our aid. There is nothing more reliable in the whole universe! The power of the wolves is really so much smaller, very hugely smaller; in fact, it's nothing compared to the power of our Lord who is at work in us.
If you can't feel God's power yet, if you cannot hear his wisdom or his words, at least trust that it's there, already inside you like electricity waiting for the flip of a switch. You can't feel it surging through you, because it's not the right moment yet.
Pay attention. Keep your eyes on Jesus. The right moment WILL come. In the meantime, closely follow your Good Shepherd.
© 2009 by Terry A. ModicaFor PERMISSION to copy any of my reflections, go to:http://gogoodnews.net/DailyReflections/copyrights-DR.htm
Seeking a past reflection?Click this button to register for the searchable Archive Library of the Good News Reflections. One week access is free as a special gift to subscribers of these emailed reflections.
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Why do I need you as a partner in my daily ministry?Please help with a donation, including non-financial support. Good News Ministries affects countless lives around the world, including in countries where people have no Catholic Mass and where Christianity is persecuted. continue...
Note: Good News Ministries is a non-profit organization that accepts donations as support for its ministries but does not charge for anything. Catholic Digital Resources™ is my employment through which I provide my writing services; the income from this (although very small at these early stages) will eventually support the future growth and projects of Good News Ministries. Please spread the word; tell your DRE, RCIA Director, pastor, etc. about what's available for parishes at Catholic Digital Resources™.
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God's gift exchange

Good News ReflectionThursday of the 14th Week in Ordinary TimeJuly 9, 2009
Today's Memorial:Saint Augustine Zhao Rong and his companions, martyrs
Today's Readings:Gen 44:18-21, 23b-29; 45:1-5Ps 105:16-21 (with 5a)Matt 10:7-15http://www.usccb.org/nab/070909.shtmlAudio:http://ccc.usccb.org/cccradio/NABPodcasts/09_07_09.mp3
God's gift exchange
God has his own exchange policy when it comes to giving and receiving gifts. It takes a little getting used to – it's not what we normally experience in the earthly world.
"Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give," Jesus says in today's Gospel passage. God has freely given us his mercy, his kindness, many blessings, our talents that be turned into income, our homes, our families, and best of all, his salvation – even though we have not deserved it. But that's only half of the equation. Whatever gifts we've received from the Lord we are to give as gifts to others, without stopping to consider whether or not they deserve it.
Reflect on your talents, the knowledge and insights you've gained, the skills you've learned, the maturity that grew out of your sufferings, and so on. These blessings have made you rich in non-material ways. They have lifted your spirit, graced you with joy, provided healing, and filled you with a satisfying peace.
Consider also the material goods that he's provided. Even if you worked hard to get them, God is the original source of everything that you own. If what you have purchased is good and does not lead to sin, God is very pleased with his investment, but it is meant to be shared.
We are distributors of his blessings. If a gift from God sits quietly unused in the closet of our selfishness, the good feelings that came with it dissipate rather quickly. But in passing it on to others, the blessings take deeper root and expand. We experience more of God's loving, generous abundance.
That's the first half of God's exchange policy. The second half is to allow others to pass on to us the gifts that God has given to them. Just as we are to be generous, so are we to allow others to be generous toward us when God says to them, "Distribute this to my dear friend!" Jesus told his disciples to travel unpacked. Even when we can take care of our own needs, God wants us to experience the blessing of community life. He wants us to allow others to feel good about sharing what God has given to them. By graciously accepting what they offer, they experience more of God's loving abundance in exchange.
God's gift exchange policy can be summed up like this: Freely give AND freely receive. This is how the blessings spread and multiply throughout the world. And if someone refuses to accept what you try to give them, or if they abuse it, don't wallow in unforgiveness. Move on, shaking the dirt from your shoes. This is yet another way to gift them with your love. It gives them more time to become ready to receive the blessings, which, by the way, most likely will come from someone else, not you. We all work together, even when we never meet the stranger who finally delivers the gift.
God distributes his gifts through the community. Receiving gifts from others is how he touches us with his love. And freely passing on to others what he's given to us is how he touches others. And thus God becomes more fully present in the world.
© 2009 by Terry A. ModicaFor PERMISSION to copy any of my reflections, go to:http://gogoodnews.net/DailyReflections/copyrights-DR.htm
Seeking a past reflection?Click this button to register for the searchable Archive Library of the Good News Reflections. One week access is free as a special gift to subscribers of these emailed reflections.
WAS THIS FORWARDED TO YOU BY A FRIEND?To sign up for your own subscription, go to:http://gogoodnews.net/DailyReflections
Why do I need you as a partner in my daily ministry?Please help with a donation, including non-financial support. Good News Ministries affects countless lives around the world, including in countries where people have no Catholic Mass and where Christianity is persecuted. continue...
Note: Good News Ministries is a non-profit organization that accepts donations as support for its ministries but does not charge for anything. Catholic Digital Resources™ is my employment through which I provide my writing services; the income from this (although very small at these early stages) will eventually support the future growth and projects of Good News Ministries. Please spread the word; tell your DRE, RCIA Director, pastor, etc. about what's available for parishes at Catholic Digital Resources™.
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To subscribe for your own copy of Good News Reflections "by Terry Modica of "Good News Ministries" just follow the link http://gogoodnews.net/DailyReflections