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The Power of Christ

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Today’s Gospel is quite long but so rich. At first, it can seem like Jesus is in a bad mood during these readings and is just calling people out left and right, condemning them. While these readings are very clear that Christ is making the Ten Commandments even harder than what people were used to, he isn’t doing this to spite or condemn them, he is telling them of his power.

Moses allowed divorce in the times of the Old Testament. Why was this allowed? Because people did not yet have the power of Christ. They did not have the grace that flows from the power of the cross. They lost their grace with original sin and had not received power from Jesus.

However, the people in the Gospel are different, and Jesus wants to make that known. The difference is himself and his power. You have heard not to commit adultery, but I say do not even lust. It can be easy to look at that as a condemnation, but I prefer to look at it as a call. It shows how far we are actually able to go if we believe in and accept grace from Christ.

In our original state in the garden, we had the grace of God and walked with him; after the fall, we lost it, all that remains is to gain it back. Thankfully this grace is a free gift, and we now live with the reality of Christ dying for our sins. All that is left for us to do is to be open and to ask for grace. This is what makes it possible for us to live in the way Jesus commands in the Gospel today. It gives us real power. This should give us great hope. Let’s take stock in that hope this week. God Bless!

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Tommy Shultz is Director of Marketing for Ablaze ministries as well as Director of Evangelization for the North Allegan Catholic Collaborative. In these roles he is committed to bringing all those he meets into a deeper relationship with Christ. Tommy has a heart and a flair for inspiring people to live their faith every day. He has worked in various youth ministry, adult ministry, and diocesan roles. He has been a featured speaker at retreats and events across the country. His mission and drive have been especially inspired by St. John Paul II’s teachings. Tommy is blessed to be able to learn from the numerous parishes he visits and pass that experience on in his presentations. Contact him at tshultz@diocesan.com.

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The Amazing Value of Not Much, Not Many

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How much time do you have?
How much money do you have?
How much patience do you have?
How many talents do you have?
How much energy do you have?
How much prayer time do you have?
How many gifts do you have?

You’re probably thinking: not much, not many.

“How many loaves do you have?” Jesus asked his disciples as he looked on the thousands of people who were hungry because they had been following him for days.

The disciples were probably thinking: not much, not many.
Notice that Jesus did not ask them how much EXTRA food they had. They were hungry, too, of course. Jesus did not ask them if they had a surplus to help feed others. He asked them how much they had, and they gave it all to him.

Then he gave thanks, broke the bread, and gave it to his disciples to distribute to the crowd. It would have been unbelievable if everyone had gotten a bite. It would have been incredible if everyone ate enough to be satisfied. But it is amazing that everyone ate and was satisfied, and there were still seven baskets of fragments leftover.

Jesus is not just doing this to amaze, of course. Jesus is acting out of compassion and addressing a real need of the people who were following him to hear about the Kingdom, who would not have had enough strength to get back to their homes.

Jesus, as always, is also teaching a lesson: he wants us to participate in his saving mission by putting what we have at his disposal. Jesus did not make bread out of thin air (which he could have), nor did he distribute the bread himself. He asked his disciples to give what they had and asked them to hand out the gift. They entrusted their meager resources to the Master, and they must have been in consternation as they continued to hand it out to the people without running out!

What would have happened if the disciples had decided that they had no surplus, and kept those loaves for themselves? This would not have been unreasonable. But God calls us to act beyond reason, to act in faith.
Jesus asks each one of us to entrust our meager resources to him, knowing that God’s work is done beyond our small human abilities, reason, and calculations. We may think we do not have much to give, but when we give generously, he is able to give more generously. In fact, God does his best work when we are at the end of our capabilities and lean into him for results. And God’s results far surpass the sum total of what we give.

Let’s confidently hand him all we have – our meager loaves and little fish – and then watch what he can do.

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Kathryn Mulderink, MA, is married to Robert, Station Manager for Holy Family Radio. Together they have seven children (including newly ordained Father Rob and seminarian Luke ;-), and two grandchildren. She is a Secular Discalced Carmelite and has published five books and many articles. Over the last 25 years, she has worked as a teacher, headmistress, catechist, Pastoral Associate, and DRE. Currently, she serves the Church as a writer and voice talent for Catholic Radio, by publishing and speaking, and by collaborating with the diocesan Office of Catechesis, various parishes, and other ministries to lead others to encounter Christ and engage their faith. Her website is https://www.kathryntherese.com/.

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The Circus Won’t Be Coming To Town

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Recently my small town got very involved in a major brouhaha.

We’re a tourist destination, and most people meet their financial obligations by working in the summertime and then trying to live on what they made for the balance of the year. It’s tricky. It’s also important for us to have continued reasons for tourists to keep coming here, and that’s especially true this year, because it’s the 400th anniversary of the arrival of the Mayflower, and we’re bracing for more people than ever.

Cirque du Soleil is a traveling show offering a unique take on the circus arts: animal-free, striking, dramatic, beautiful, and reflective, it features outrageous costumes, magical lighting, and original music. The organization receives 3,000 requests a year to produce customized shows, of which they only accept twelve worldwide. Some individuals in my town proposed that Cirque produce a show specifically for the 2020 summer celebration, and a long process of negotiations began. They were done perforce under nondisclosure terms, and as the time to announce the show drew near, a reporter overheard something about it and wrote a highly inaccurate scare piece in the local newspaper. Too many people! It will overwhelm the town! It will take away from the artists who already perform here! We’ve never done it before!

The town was in an uproar, fiercely divided over the issue. The producers issued a press release explaining the legalities of why it hadn’t yet been publicized and showing that it would in fact be the jewel of the festival season—but it was too late. Another misleading article was published, and the inevitable happened. Cirque will not be coming.

I’ve been feeling sad about that decision, not only for the lost opportunity but also because it showed how we let fear and ignorance take the driver’s seat in our lives; and then I read today’s Gospel and realized that human nature is exactly the same today as it was in Jesus’ time. I don’t know whether to be relieved or disheartened!

“He ordered them not to tell anyone. But the more he ordered them not to, the more they proclaimed it.”

We all want to be the first ones to know a secret. From childhood, when we taunt each other with “I know something you don’t know” (best when done in a singsong voice), through the cherished tale-tattling of our adolescence, and finally into adulthood, when being “in the know” indicates access, power, prestige: we want to be first to share the news. Who wants to be the last person in the office to hear that Rosemary was fired? Who wants to learn their best friend in the Mommy Club is seeing a counselor and told with everybody else?

Maybe I’m being too harsh here. Maybe when Jesus admonished people to not talk about his miracles, they disobeyed out of love for their fellow sufferers, so that more people might flock to him, more miraculous cures could happen. Could be. But I don’t think so. I’ve seen too much of “I really shouldn’t tell you this, but…” to think their motives were entirely selfless and pure.

Jesus had good reasons for asking for discretion. He didn’t want people coming to him exclusively for healing; he wanted them to come to him in faith. He was fulfilling his life’s plan and needed to keep the Messianic secret until the end, until his resurrection. But whether or not he had good reasons, the point is that he made the admonishment, and the man he’d healed disobeyed. He just couldn’t help himself. He had to break the news, be the important one, the bearer of the secret.

And when that happens, it always ends badly.

In my example, one could wish the reporter who uncovered the story had done due diligence before printing her piece. It was biased and distorted (and one has to wonder how biased and distorted the cured man’s sharing of his news was, as well!), and perhaps most importantly, she saw her sharing as giving her prestige. Thank goodness for her, she broke the news, she saved everything. And never mind who got hurt in the process.

We all get hurt in the process. We’re supposed to be “the least of these,” but we puff ourselves up and want to be the ones who have all the good stuff, the gossip, the details. “But the more he ordered them not to, the more they proclaimed it.”

And the circus won’t be coming to town.

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Jeannette de Beauvoir is a writer and editor with the digital department of Pauline Books & Media, working on projects as disparate as newsletters, book clubs, ebooks, and retreats that support the apostolate of the Daughters of St. Paul at http://www.pauline.org.

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We Can Always Gamble On God’s Mercy

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Today’s Gospel gives hope to the heart of any parent, to any of us really. Any creature who is desperately in distress, as this woman was, can gamble on the mercy of God and win. 

This woman walked from the Gentile district of Tyre to meet Jesus in order to submit to him her desperate need. This Canaanite woman had a daughter possessed by a demon, and she was pleading for his help. The depths of the despair of the human heart can be touched most easily in the frightened pleas of a parent begging God for a child’s life. This one mother’s anxiety for her child, as recounted in the Gospel of Mark, stands in stark contrast to the 23 verses that preceded it. In these earlier verses, the Pharisees also had come to Jesus, but their purpose was to gather around him and quibble about how the disciples kept the law. For them, Jesus was not their healer, their Savior. He was someone who had to prove his authority to them, to measure up to their expectations, to fit into their religious understanding. Theirs was a calculated relationship that held Jesus at arm’s length, a dance devoid of love and intimacy.

But this woman from the district of Tyre was not a Jew. She was not a believer. She was a Gentile, a pagan. Her story leaps from the pages of Scripture to assure us that Jesus’ heart is by nature, attuned to his creature’s cry of distress. He led this woman on a gentle journey toward a loving tryst. She searches for him and finds him even in the place where he was trying to escape notice. She risked rejection as she approached this Jewish healer whom she had probably heard stories about. She was willing to fall at his feet to beg him for help for her daughter. This anxious mother didn’t come with a demand or an argument why Jesus should help her. She simply threw herself on his mercy, trusting that a mother’s plea for her child would move this teacher who himself had a mother.

Jesus is moved by our humanity, a humanity that he took up when the Word became flesh. Everyone who makes desperate intercession for another can trust that the heart of Jesus will be moved as it was for this Canaanite mother. 

Even though she presented her request to Jesus with the audacious and visceral faith that seemed almost to twist God’s arm, she remained at his feet in humble homage, in submission. And it was by this confident humility that she won his heart. God wants to be overcome by us. He wants to say, “I can no longer resist you. Be it done as you say.” He desires that every intercessory prayer be a moment of greater intimacy with him. 

Take with you today this mother’s courage. Where do you need a miracle? Where do you or a loved one need saving? Where are you in complete dependence on God with no other recourse? Like her leave behind your fear, take up your heart’s courage, and cast your cares upon the Lord. Do not debate with yourself or doubt, but set out. Bow down before the One who is the center, who is God’s loving tenderness on earth seeking to make us truly and forever happy.

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Kathryn James Hermes, FSP, is the author of the newly released title: Reclaim Regret: How God Heals Life’s Disappointments, by Pauline Books and Media. An author and spiritual mentor, she offers spiritual accompaniment for the contemporary Christian’s journey towards spiritual growth and inner healing. She is the director of My Sisters, where people can find spiritual accompaniment from the Daughters of St. Paul on their journey.

Website: www.touchingthesunrise.com

Public Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/srkathrynhermes/

For monthly spiritual journaling guides, weekly podcasts and over 50 conferences and retreat programs join my Patreon community: https://www.patreon.com/srkathryn.

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Rooted in His Ways

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In Today’s Responsorial Psalm, we hear that if the law of God is in your heart, your steps do not falter. It states that the LORD helps them and delivers us from the wicked and saves us because we take refuge in him.

In Today’s Gospel, we hear Jesus say that “From within the man, from his heart, come evil thoughts, unchastity, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, licentiousness, envy, blasphemy, arrogance, folly. All these evils come from within, and they defile.” Jesus is calling it all out today, and it is good that He does! He is sharing with us the importance of reflecting and examining the depths of our hearts and minds; it is there that the evils He listed can live. We must be careful to guard our hearts against these things but also to remember the Psalm today. How can we make sure our hearts do not fall into these temptations? By setting the law of the Lord in our hearts.

Is your heart rooted in His ways? Do you make a regular examination of conscience? If not, do so today. May each of us look at His commandments and see where we may be failing. Perhaps you haven’t gone to confession in quite some time; maybe it is time to go and receive His mercy again. Let us remember that He helps and delivers us from evil; He saves us because we take refuge in Him. Be not afraid; He longs to give you His love and mercy today.

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Briana is the Pastoral Minister at St. Mark Church in Cleveland, OH. She is also a district manager at Arbonne. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Theology and Catechetics from the Franciscan University of Steubenville, OH and is excited to use these skills to serve the Church. “My soul has been refined and I can raise my head like a flower after a storm.” -St. Therese

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May All Our Temples Be Sanctuaries

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In today’s First Reading, Solomon utters a beautiful, awe-filled prayer of blessing over the temple. He humbly realizes that this new structure cannot contain the God of heaven and earth, but does acknowledge that He will be honored there, and thus wishes it to be a holy sanctuary.

Perhaps we might feel similarly when we step foot inside an adoration chapel. We recognize that God is not contained in that room, or even in that monstrance, but we come to honor and adore him in that holy place. Churches and chapels and even designated areas of our homes are truly important because they raise our minds and hearts to God amid the chaos of our everyday lives.

But even more significant, our very bodies are important for that same reason. Jesus chastises the scribes and Pharisees for holding fast to so many unnecessary rules when their hearts were far from him. How often do we ourselves “nullify the word of God” in favor of our not so good habits?

Our overall health is important to our mission of being a light to the world. If I cannot temper my attachment to caffeine, fast food, and sugary treats in order to have more energy to give it all to my kids, am I reaching my full potential? If I cannot overcome my laziness to get some decent exercise a few times a week in order to relieve stress and obtain greater psychological health, is my light reaching as far as it could?

I remember thinking when I was 12 years old that I knew all there was to know about my faith and that I would quite possibly be bored the rest of my life simply living it out. Now, I realize more than ever how far I am from living it out to the fullest.

I have been convicted lately to make some major changes in 2020. I stopped reading compelling, page-turning novels and started reading spiritual and self-improvement books instead. I began drinking six glasses of water a day to keep my body awake and hydrated. I began seeking more concrete ways to provide for my family’s needs. But most of all, I have felt convicted to pour out more of myself, particularly to my kids.

It’s still so often all about me. I’m tired, I’m sick of the noise, I’m not in the mood to play chess, I’m waiting for you to brush your teeth so I can go to bed. My heart needs a dramatic change. I am not giving until it hurts. When it starts to hurt, I raise my voice or send them to their room. I am not listening to their stories. When they want to go on and on about their day, I tell them to hurry up because I’m tired.

Maybe if I were more respectful to my kids, they would be more respectful of others. Maybe if I listened to them better, they would listen to me. Maybe, just maybe, if I gave my all to them, a much more positive atmosphere would ensue.

So here’s to concrete changes in my own “temple” and my own heart. May I confirm instead of nullifying the Word of God so that I might be a light to others, beginning with the littles right under my nose (literally).

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Tami grew up in Western Michigan, a middle child in a large Catholic family. She spent early young adulthood as a missionary in Mexico, studying theology and philosophy, then worked and traveled extensively before finishing her Bachelor’s Degree in Western Kentucky. She loves tackling home improvement projects, finding fun ways to keep her four boys occupied, quiet conversation with the hubby and finding unique ways to love. She works at Diocesan, is a guest blogger on CatholicMom.com and BlessedIsShe.net, runs her own blog at https://togetherandalways.wordpress.com and has been doing Spanish translations on the side for almost 20 years.

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Who’s Your Superstar

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The day I started to think about this post was the day Donald Trump held one of his rallies in New Jersey. The news reported that people were lining up at the venue as much as 48 hours before the event, camping out trying to be the first into the arena. Think about it. Someone so popular with some folks that they go to great lengths to show their fandom.

In the summer, the Today show on NBC holds Friday concerts. People crowd Rockefeller center to be a part of the event, lining up days ahead of time. Thousands and thousands. It is mind-boggling to see the streets wall-to-wall with people, screaming in support of “their star.”

In Gennesaret, the people saw Jesus coming onshore and crowded around him. “They scurried about the surrounding country and began to bring the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was. Whatever villages or towns or countryside he entered, they laid the sick in the marketplace and begged him that they might touch only the tassel on this cloak;”

Do you see any difference in these three scenarios?

In the Trump rally, one gets the satisfaction of supporting a favorite politician; in Rockefeller Center, people get emotionally frenzied at the thought of seeing a star and get caught up in the music; in Gennesaret, Jesus goes quietly around the countryside, gathering with the sick and healing them, and, as the Gospel tells us, “as many as touched it (the tassel)” were healed.

My question to you is:  who is your real superstar? I hope you will answer that it is Jesus. In Jesus’ day, he was very much like a famous politician or music star. His fame spread far and wide throughout the region, as folks looked for him and immediately responded, knowing that what they heard about his power to physically heal them, was true! Who else is going to do that for you? Who else, but Jesus who will also heal your soul and calm your spirit.

Do you ever participate in the Sacrament of Anointing for the healing of the sick when offered at your parish? I recall once, many years ago, I was experiencing a very emotionally trying time. While attending the daily Mass, Father decided to offer the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick.  I went forward with everyone else, praying that my burden be lifted. When I returned to my seat, my head bowed in prayer, and I felt the physical sensation of warmth starting at my feet and moving up my body to my chest. I swear this is true. At that moment, though my trouble was still there, I somehow knew that everything would be okay. I only had to believe and trust. And, eventually, it was okay. My trust in Jesus’ healing power saw me through. It will do the same for you! And as for physical healing, miracles have happened and will continue to happen. But it is also a miracle of healing to be given the strength to endure and acceptance of what is to be. That peace of mind is priceless.

Now, you may still rally around your favorite politician, music star, actor, or other famous people as you like. You should, and you should enjoy doing that. But you must remember that is only Jesus who will genuinely give you something of worth. In the end, rallies and concerts will leave you with only a ticket stub or a program book. But Jesus, alive to us in the Eucharist and Sacraments, will leave you with everlasting healing and peace. The eternal promise of the Greatest of the Superstars.

God Bless.

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Jeanne Penoyar, an Accounts Manager at Diocesan, is a Lector at St. Anthony of Padua parish in Grand Rapids, MI. Jeanne has worked in parish ministry as an RCIA director, in Liturgy, and as a Cantor. Working word puzzles and reading fill her spare time. Jeanne can be reached at jpenoyar@diocesan.com.

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A Light to the Whole World

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A sacrament is a visible sign of invisible grace, of the grace of God. When we receive the Eucharist in the Mass, we are physically receiving God’s love and have that love not only in our hearts, but we consume it. Then immediately we hear, “The Mass has ended, go in peace.” You would think that something so important would necessitate a lot of time to process and pray. So why does the Church immediately dismiss us?

Check out the Gospel from today. It’s all about the light that we can be to the world and not hiding that light but bringing it to all. The reality is that the most divine we will be on this earth is right after we receive our Lord. Why does the Church immediately send us out? Because it’s at this moment that we can evangelize better than ever. We have literally become little Christs to go out and be with others and share grace and love.

Thankfully, because we have received Jesus, it does not need to be all on us. We don’t have to worry about our faults or weaknesses. We don’t need to know the Catechism back to back or memorize all the right scripture verses. We need only to receive Jesus and share with others our experience of Him. Today, people put more stock into personal experience than they do in deductive reasoning. This would seem to be negative in sharing Christ with people, but I have found the opposite.

When sharing the love of Christ with others, if we share our own personal experience of Christ, nobody can argue with that. It’s our own experience. They can’t tell us we are wrong. At most, they can just say they don’t agree. But in a world where subjective experience has become king, it can be powerful to share our subjective experience of the Lord.

This means that we have to have an experience. This means that our religion must be more than rules and regulations and just something we do. I agree with G.K. Chesterton, who said, “Let your religion be less of a theory and more of a love affair.” Let us all receive Christ, experience Christ, and bring Christ to all those we meet. God Bless!

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Tommy Shultz is Director of Marketing for Ablaze ministries as well as Director of Evangelization for the North Allegan Catholic Collaborative. In these roles he is comitted to bringing all those he meets into a deeper relationship with Christ. Tommy has a heart and a flair for inspiring people to live their faith every day. He has worked in various youth ministry, adult ministry, and diocesan roles. He has been a featured speaker at retreats and events across the country. His mission and drive have been especially inspired by St. John Paul II’s teachings. Tommy is blessed to be able to learn from the numerous parishes he visits and pass that experience on in his presentations. Contact him at tshultz@diocesan.com.

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Rest A While

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The world is a busy place – fast paced, on-the-go, and often yielding a need for multitasking. It is hard to find time for rest and silence in the world today. There are so many demands, so much that needs to get done, and so little time to get it done.

How do we find the time and space to rest in Christ when the demands of daily life become too much? I am in the process of learning how to do this now. While working in full-time ministry the individuals served need very much love and support – the harvest is plentiful. One thing I find helps me amongst the busy days is to say “Jesus, I trust in You”. While the full schedules don’t go away a peace washes over me when I say His name.

It can be difficult to slip away from the world for a bit to rejuvenate. Maybe for you it is reading 5 minutes of scripture, praying the Divine Mercy chaplet, or even saying “Jesus, I trust in You”. Whatever draws you into the peace of Christ should be a priority in your life. Your relationship with Jesus comes first. In order to serve others we must remember the importance of our own faith and relationship with Christ. Be not afraid to take a few moments as needed to spend that time in a sacred place with Him.

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Nathalie Shultz is a joyful convert to the Catholic faith and a competitive swimmer with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD).  She loves to share her passion for Catholicism with others, including her conversion story and how God continues to work miracles in her life through her OCD. She is the Director of Religious Education for the North Allegan Catholic Collaborative of parishes. Nathalie is married to her best friend, Tommy Shultz. Her favorite saints include St. Peter the Apostle, St. Teresa of Calcutta, and St. John Paul II.  She is also a huge fan of C.S. Lewis. If you have any questions for Nathalie, or just want her to pray for you, you can email her at rodzinkaministry@gmail.com.

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Perspective

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I recently had a visit with my spiritual director. I look forward to this dedicated time (for where two or more are gathered in my name, Mt 18:20) because we talk about the situations in my life, how I see the world, and how that is linked to the relationship I have with the Lord. 

Part of our conversation concerned the topics of control (or power) along with acknowledgment, acceptance, and action, as I experience daily life. This process is illustrated in today’s readings.

The first readings for the last two weeks have focused on David’s life. We read of his accomplishments, sins, and his change of heart (metanoia). David acknowledged his mistakes, accepted his sinfulness, and found an abundance of ways to glorify the Lord. Today’s reading tells us that David has dedicated all the people (of Israel) to sing God’s praise and give Him thanks. Because of these efforts, the Lord forgave David’s sins and exalted his strength forever, giving David the rights of royalty in Israel. 

The Gospel tells the story of Herod’s hearing of Jesus and the beheading of John the Baptist. Herod had his own successes, troubles, mistakes, and vanities. History has not been kind in its descriptions of his life. 

Self-check: what would history make of my life story? 

I need to acknowledge my own mistakes and sinfulness (my pride, anger, envy, lust, greed, and laziness). I need to recognize that everyone I come in contact with is on a different path than I (even if the end goal is the same). My points of reference and memory-triggers while going through life can be very different from yours. 

I find myself needing to acknowledge the different perspectives and expectations I have going into any given situation and recognize that they may be a stark contrast to the person who is right in front of me. I need to accept the fact that our viewpoints and way of dealing with the world are not alike, and that is OK, especially when we continue to respect each other and work together on common goals. When I act, my focus should be on the Gospel acclamation, “keeping the word with a generous heart, and yield a harvest through perseverance.” 

Like David, with acceptance and change of heart, I can be made new, and my sins are forgiven. Listen to this song by Matthew West. It can help remind you that you, too, can be made Brand New.

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Beth is part of the customer care team at Diocesan. She brings a unique depth of experience to the group due to her time spent in education, parish ministries, sales and the service industry over the last 25 yrs. She is a practicing spiritual director as well as a Secular Franciscan (OFS). Beth is quick to offer a laugh, a prayer or smile to all she comes in contact with. Reach her here bprice@diocesan.com.