About fraternal correction

23^rd Sunday of the Year (A)

Mt 18: 15 – 20

About fraternal correction

Dear brothers and sisters:

            Today´s gospel (Mt 18: 15 – 20) talks to us about “fraternal correction”: «If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listen to you, you have gained your brother» (Mt 18:15).

            Certainly we are always ready to correct or signal the faults of the people around us; but is that fraternal correction or a simple critic that arises not from love but from envy? How to make the distinction?

«O that today you would listen to his voice!»

            We should look at the first reading –taken from the Book of the Prophet Ezekiel-; there we will find the key to distinguish real fraternal correction from mere critic or envy.

            According to the text, the Prophet has received the following order form God: «Wherever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me» (Ez 33:7); that means that the first one to correct us is God himself. Therefore in order to correct a brother we have to listen to the word of God first; only then are we capable of truly correct our brothers and sisters. And this is so because the correction arises not from our envy or critics; not from our own ideas or thoughts; but from the word of God.

Each one of us should make a personal examination: “When I correct a brother or a sister; from where does that correction arise? Does it arise from my envy or from the word of God?”

And now we understand why today´s psalm says: «O that today you would listen to his voice! Harden not your hearts» (Psalm 95: 7 – 8). Only a heart filled by the word of God can truly correct with love and out of love.

«If your brother sins against you»

            Now we are ready to understand and to put into practice Jesus’ words regarding fraternal correction.

            Firstly, He teaches us to look for personal dialogue: «If you brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone» (Mt 18:15). Certainly, this is a very simple and wise advice; but very difficult to put into practice. Sadly, it is very common to see how people criticize each other without looking for personal, mature and direct dialogue. It seems we prefer gossip to dialogue; confrontation to reconciliation. That is not the way of the Lord. He invites us always to grown in fraternal love and mutual responsibility through mature and sincere dialogue.

            If personal dialogue does not work; our Lord advices us: «Take one or two along with you, that every word may be confirmed by the evidence of two or three witnesses» (Mt 18:16). That means that we need to ask for help when personal dialogue does not work. This allows us to realize that the point of view of another person can complement our own point of view and enrich the dialogue in a constructive way.

            And finally, if this does not work, the matter should be taken to the community, to the Church. Why does the Lord advices this to us? Because if we really belong to a community, it means that we are subjected to his customs, laws and style of life. The belonging to our community should express itself in our attitude and in our concrete way of life. Therefore the community has the right and the responsibility to advice us and to correct us if necessary.

«For where two or three are gathered in my name»

           

Crowning of the Virgin Mary.
San Zeno di Montagna, Italy.
June 2013.

But again, we should remember that the foundation of the Christian community –and its decisions- should always be Christ: «Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in the midst of them» (Mt 18: 19 – 20).

              Therefore if the community wants to correct its members, she too has to put herself in the presence of the Lord and listen to his words. A community that continually listens to the Word of God is a community that will have the ability to educate its members according to God´s wishes and in a Christian style of life; the style that Saint Paul proposes to us in the letter to the Romans: «Owe nothing to anyone, except to love one another; for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. Love does no evil to the neighbor; hence, love is the fulfillment of the law» (Rom 13: 8. 10).

            Let us ask our Blessed Mother, Regina Caeli – Queen of Heaven, that she may educate each and every one of us as a community that reflects the presence of her Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, both, in attitude and action; we do so praying:

            “Mother, let Christ shine in us more brightly

            and join us together in holy community,

            always ready for the sacrifices

            our holy mission may demand of us”[1]. Amen.

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[1] FR. JOSEPH KENTENICH, Heavenwards, Schoenstatt Office, Prime.

«You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my Church»

21^st Sunday of the Year (A)

Mt 16: 13 – 20

«You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my Church»

Dear brethren:

            In today´s gospel (Mt 16: 13 – 20) we are witnesses of a very interesting dialogue between Jesus and his disciples. This dialogue took place «when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi».

«Who do you say that I am?»

            In a first moment the Lord asks «Who do men say that the Son of man is?». As they walk together, Jesus seems to want to know what people think of him; or, more precisely, how people perceive him and his ministry. The disciples answer: «Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets».

            As we can see, the answer of the “general public” situates Jesus at the level of the prophets; it seems he is only another prophet in the long religious history of Judaism. This is the answer of those who see Jesus from afar, the ones who don´t have a personal contact with him but rather have heard a thing or two about the Rabbi of Nazareth.

            Then, Jesus asks a similar question, but totally different because he changes the context of the question. He directs the question not to the “general public” but to his disciples, those whom he called to be «fishers of people» (Mt 4:19); those whom he gave «authority over unclean spirits with power to drive them out and to cure all kinds of disease and all kinds of illness» (Mt 10:1); those whom he appointed «to be his companions and to be sent out to proclaim the message» (Mk 3:14).

            To those, Jesus asks: «But who do you say that I am?». It is interesting to note that the question has also changed in an important way. Jesus does not refer to himself any more with the title the «Son of man»; he simply uses the personal pronoun «I». So he directs this question in a very personal manner to those who know him in a very personal way.

«You are the Christ, the Son of the living God»

            It is Peter who answers: «You are the Christ, the Son of the living God»; and, with this answer Peter formulates the main profession of faith of Christianity: “You, Jesus, are the Christ, the Son of the living God”.

            To this profession of faith, which Peter declares “on behalf of the Twelve”[1], Jesus answers: «Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jona! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.» This means that the act of faith, the act of trust that Peter does in Jesus, is not only fruit of his own capacities, but also from the grace of God.

            Many saw the signs Jesus perform, but not many had an open heart to them; not many saw what Peter saw in those signs.  Therefore “to make this act of faith, the grace of God and the interior help of the Holy Spirit must precede and assist, moving the heart and turning it to God, opening the eyes of the mind”.[2]

            And by this act of faith, Peter committed his whole self freely to Jesus and through him to God.[3] Yes, Peter entrusted himself to Jesus as Christ. When he did his profession of faith he was not only declaring an intellectual truth, rather he was expressing his vital experience with Jesus. And in that experience the grace of God opened his eyes and his heart to recognize in Jesus «the Son of the living God».

            So, we need to do experiences with Jesus in order to recognize him as Christ, as Son of God and as our Savior. Only in the experience made with faith the Holy Spirit can act. If we do not make a personal experience with Jesus; if we do not have a personal contact and relationship with him, then, we´ll be like those who know him only from afar, only though what others say about him.                

«You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my Church»

            And because Peter entrusted his life to Jesus Christ, our Lord entrusted him his Church: «And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my Church (…). I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.»

            What a great responsibility! What a great trust! What a great love! “The three metaphors that Jesus uses are crystal clear:  Peter will be the rocky foundation on which he will build the edifice of the Church; he will have the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven to open or close it to people as he sees fit; lastly, he will be able to bind or to loose, in the sense of establishing or prohibiting whatever he deems necessary for the life of the Church.”[4]

            Even though we know “it is always Christ's Church, not Peter's”[5], it is amazing the great confidence and mission that the Lord has put on Peter´s shoulders. Why has the Lord put this trust in Peter? Why has the Lord given him this mission?

           

Our Lady of Confidence - Madonna della Fiducia.
Pontifical Major Roman Seminary.
Rome, Italy.

              We may want to answer this question thinking on Peter´s capacities; or maybe his impulse or even his loyalty. However, by the Gospel we know that he was a simple fisherman, and we also know of his many faults. So, why has the Lord trusted on Peter?

           We can say that the Lord trusted in Peter simply because of Peter´s faith, because of Peter´s self-surrender to Jesus. On Peter, Jesus did not look for intelligence or capacities first, but rather, he looked for humbleness and trust. And when the Lord finds a humble heart, a heart that trusts, then He can entrust that heart with a great mission.

            Therefore, when we realize that the Lord has given us a great mission, lets us not put our own strength and capacities first; let us put our faith and trust in Jesus first. Knowing that Jesus trust sustain us we will be able to carry out the mission he put on our hands.

            With this certain hope; we renew our trust in Jesus trough our Blessed Mother, Our Lady of Confidence, as we say:

“When we consider our own strength

we lose all hope and confidence.

Mother, we stretch out our hands to you

and ask for your many gifts of love.”[6]Amen.

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[1] BENEDICT XVI, General Audience, Wednesday, 7 June 2006.

[2] SECOND VATICAN COUNCIL, Dogmatic Constitution Dei Verbum, 5.

[3] Cf. Ibid.

[4] BENEDICT XVI, General Audience, Wednesday, 7 June 2006.

[5] Ibid.

[6] FR. J. KENTENICH, Heavenwards, Morning Consecration, Confidence.

«A house of prayer for all peoples»

20^th Sunday of the Year (A)

Mt 15: 21 – 28

«A house of prayer for all peoples»

Dear brethren:

            Today the Gospel narrates to us the encounter between Jesus and a Canaanite woman (Mt 15: 21 – 28). Lets us look carefully at the dialogue between Jesus and this woman.

«Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David»

            First, we are told that «Jesus went away and withdrew to the district of Tyre and Sidon» (Mt 15:21); and in this scenario, «a Canaanite woman from that region came out and cried, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David; my daughter is severely possessed by a demon”» (Mt 15:22).

            It is important to note that the woman was a gentile, that is, she did not belong to Israel, the people of God according to the flesh. And even though she did not belong to Israel, she asks for mercy and in doing so she recognizes two things in Jesus: his condition as God´s Messiah –Son of David- and his power to bring salvation to her daughter.

            Therefore, we are seeing a person who, apparently, is far away from God and his people. But it is this person the one who has the capacity to recognize God´s presence in Jesus and his salvific power. Even though the woman was a gentile, she was thirsting for God.

            Maybe that is the first teaching of this passage of the Gospel. Many people, who are apparently far from God or his people, are longing for Him. And that longing for God expresses itself in the need of help, love and comprehension; in the need of health for both, body and soul. Are we capable of seeing that need of God in today´s people? Are we capable of seeing that need of God in those who are apparently far away from the Church?

Not in vain the Church says of herself: “The joys and the hopes, the griefs and the anxieties of the men of this age, especially those who are poor or in any way afflicted, these are the joys and hopes, the griefs and anxieties of the followers of Christ. Indeed, nothing genuinely human fails to raise an echo in their hearts.”[1]

«O woman, great is your faith»

            However, we are told in the gospel that after the woman cried for help, Jesus «did not answer her a word» (Mt 15:23). “Jesus’ silence may seem disconcerting, to the point that it prompted the disciples to intervene, but it was not a question of insensitivity to this woman’s sorrow. St Augustine rightly commented: “Christ showed himself indifferent to her, not in order to refuse her his mercy but rather to inflame her desire for it” (Sermo 77, 1: PL 38, 483).”[2]

Jesus and the Canaanite woman. Detail.

Redemptoris Mater Chapel. 

Vatican City. 1996 - 1999.

So the woman persisted, and kneeling before Him she said: «Lord, help me» (Mt 15:25). Whit words that may surprise us, the Lord answered: «It is not fair to take the children´s bread and throw it to the dogs» (Mt 15:26).

The Canaanite woman showed a great deal of humility and faith as she answered: «Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters´ table» (Mt 15:27). After this self humiliation, came the exaltation by the Lord: «O woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you desire» (Mt 15:28).

In today´s gospel, it is the Canaanite woman that teaches us how to present ourselves to the Lord in prayer. The first step is to ask for his mercy in our life and the life of those whom we love. Then, to recognize him as God; as the One who can save us. Finally, we have to humble ourselves in His presence. Trustfulness, recognition and humility are the attitudes of the person who believes in God and his mercy.  

«My house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples»

            The experience of this Canaanite woman, to whom “Jesus singles out (…) as an example of indomitable faith”[3]; shows us, that God´s mercy, love and salvation is for everyone. With Jesus, God´s mercy has broken the walls of human prejudice.

            This reality is expressed in a beautiful way in the words of the prophet Isaiah: «My house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples» (Is 56:7). The prophet foresees a time in which all peoples shall join the people of Israel in the recognition, praise and worship of the Lord.

            And that is so at least for two reasons. Firstly, because everyone who «keeps justice and do righteousness» (cf. Is 56:1), is actually «joining themselves to the Lord, loving his name and keeping his covenant» (cf. Is 56:6). Therefore, it is important for us not only to have an external attachment to God´s people, to his Church; but to live our religious and Christian experience from within ourselves, from our heart. It is about attitude and action. Or, as Fr. J. Kentenich says, we should always be attentive to the “cultivation of the spirit”.

            There is also another reason why God´s salvation is open for everyone. Saint Paul puts it in this way: «For God has consigned all men to disobedience, that he may have mercy upon all» (Rm 11:32). This means that all men and women need to be saved by the Lord. Everyone needs the encounter with Jesus Christ who is “the face of the Father´s mercy”[4]. Therefore, there is no one who is too far away of the mercy of God. Those who belong to the Church in an active way, and also, those who seldom participate on her, are all in need of the Father´s mercy.

            The only thing that God asks of us is a humble and sincere heart. A heart that trust and searches for God´s presence and mercy; a heart that is open to recognize God as savior; and a heart that is humble enough to recognize that it needs God´s salvation.

            And as we realize that all of humanity is called to enter into the people of God, Christ´s Church, we pray to our Blessed Mother, Mater Ecclesiae:

            “Help the Church to spread throughout the world

            and go victoriously through all the nations

            that soon there be one flock and one shepherd

            leading all peoples to the Trinity. Amen.”[5]  

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[1] SECOND VATICAN COUNCIL, Gaudium et Spes, 1.

[2] BENEDICT XVI, Angelus, Sunday, 14 August 2011.

[3] BENEDICT XVI, Angelus, Sunday, 14 August 2005.

[4] POPE FRANCIS, Misericordiae Vultus, 1.

[5] Cf. FR. JOSEPH KENTENICH, Heavenwards, Prayer of the Leaders.

The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary:

A mystery that concerns the whole Church

“Just as you accompanied Our Lord in this life

and lived and loved and suffered with him,

so, at the completion of your life,

he takes you body and soul into heaven.

            With my whole heart I share in your happiness

            and pray that the world may enjoy a similar fate.”[1]

Every year, on the 15^th of August, we celebrate the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. That is why I invite you to meditate in this mystery of the life of Mary; a mystery that actually concerns us all, each one of us and the whole Church.

You accompanied Our Lord in this life

In the book of prayers Heavenwards, Fr. Joseph Kentenich, begins his meditation on this marian mystery addressing the Blessed Mother as follows: “Just as you accompanied Our Lord in this life”. These words are not only pious or tender thoughts; rather they express the conviction of our Founder, that the Virgin Mary has a mission to fulfill alongside Jesus.

If we go through the pages of the Gospel we will see how intimately united was Mary to Jesus during his whole life. From his virginal conception and birth (cf. Lk 1:35. 2: 6-7), going through his first sign in Cana of Galilee (cf. Jn 2: 1-11) up to the Cross (cf. Jn 19: 25-27) and the beginning of the Church in Pentecost (cf. Acts 1:14). Truly, Mary has “accompanied Our Lord in this life”. She has walked through this life with Jesus and his disciples.

This constant presence of Mary alongside Jesus shows us her mission: She is the constant Helpmate and Companion of Jesus Christ in his Redemption work.

He takes you body and soul into Heaven

            And because she has been so intimately united to Jesus during her life, at the completion of her existence, He takes her, “body and soul into Heaven”.

Coronation of the Virgin Mary in Heaven - Detail.
Chapel of the Maison Marie Saint-Frai.
Tarbes, France. May, 2012.

If we realize that the faith of the Church always contemplates the Virgin Mary as “so wondrously united with Jesus Christ”[2]; then, we will understand that the Assumption of the Virgin Mary is a consequence of the fidelity of God to each person in his plan of salvation. She was called to participate of the earthly life of Jesus; therefore, she is also called to participate in his glory in Heaven.

And this participation of the Virgin Mary in the heavenly glory of Jesus is in body and soul. That means that the totality of the human personality of Mary participates in the fullness of life of the Risen Christ.

When the faith of the Church says Assumption in body and soul of Mary to Heaven; we should not imagine a new “localization” of Mary´s body. But, rather we should think of a change in the condition of Mary´s body. That is, the transit from an earthly condition to a glorious condition of the whole being. She is presently united to the spiritual and glorious body of her Risen Son.

I pray that the world may enjoy a similar fate

            This marian mystery, this salvific mystery, is far from being just a particular privilege accorded to Mary alone. We should look at this mystery as a concrete realization of the History of Salvation; history that always involves the whole Church and the whole of humanity; a history that is the work of God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. A history, in which God, with his action, takes the initiative in favor of the man, grounds his life and makes possible his free answer to the divine initiative and takes it to his fulfillment.

            That is why the Assumption of Mary signals us the destiny of the whole of the Church and of the whole of the humanity. Just as Mary was assumed in body and soul to Heaven, we too are going to be assumed in the totality of our humanity and of our life into the full and definitive presence of the Risen Christ.

            But, in order to get there, we must, as Mary, walk through life with Jesus Christ and his disciples. If we live with Him, love and suffer with Him, then we will participate also in his new life, in his Resurrection.

            That is why, with faith and hope we can pray now as we still walk in this life: “With my whole heart I share in your happiness and pray that the world may enjoy a similar fate.” Amen.

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[1] FR. JOSEPH KENTENICH, Heavenwards, Rosary of God´s Instrument, the Fourth Glorious Mystery.

[2] POPE PIUS XII, Apostolic Constitution Munificentissimus Deus.

«Let us keep our eyes fixed on Jesus»

19th Sunday of the Year (A)

Mt 14: 22 – 33

«Let us keep our eyes fixed on Jesus»

Dear brethren:

            In today´s gospel we hear the passage that narrates the moment in which the disciples saw Jesus walk on the water (cf. Mt 14: 22 – 33). We are told that «when the disciples saw him walking on the sea they were terrified» (Mt 14: 26). It seems that the disciples were not only surprised by this situation, but also afraid of it. And they were overtaken by fear until they recognized the voice of their Master who said: «Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid» (Mt 14:27).

            “This is an episode from which the Fathers of the Church drew a great wealth of meaning. The sea symbolizes this life and the instability of the visible world; the storm points to every kind of trial or difficulty that oppresses human beings. The boat, instead, represents the Church, built by Christ and steered by the Apostles.”[1]

We too can draw valuable lessons for our own life as we see how Jesus teaches “the disciples to bear life’s adversities courageously, trusting in God, in the One who revealed himself to the Prophet Elijah on Mount Horeb”[2] in the whispering of a gentle breeze (cf. 1 Kings 19:12).

«Do not be afraid»

            According to the gospel´s text, «after he had fed the people, Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and precede him to the other side of the sea, while he dismissed the crowds» (Mt 14:22). This verse makes reference to the immediate previous episode of the gospel in which Jesus feed «about five thousand men, not counting women and children» (Mt 14:21) after blessing five loaves and two fishes (cf. Mt 14: 13 – 21).

            So, after the “miracle of the loaves”, Jesus sends away the crowds and his disciples, and decides to go up on a mountain to pray alone (cf. Mt 14:23). After so much activity and encounter with so many people, the Lord needs a moment of recollection, intimacy and rest with God.

            Surely we can think that all these experiences may have been very intense for the disciples too. Through these experiences they were getting to know his Master; they were learning from his deeds and words, and, at the same time, they were witnessing the presence of the Kingdom of God in their midst.

            Therefore we can also suppose that by the time the disciples were in the boat, that «was being tossed about by the waves, for the wind was against it» (Mt 14:24), they were tired by the long day and unready for the sing Jesus was about to perform.

            So, tired and unready as they were, the disciples were not able to recognize Jesus when he approached them walking on the water. In fact, «when the disciples saw him walking on the sea they were terrified. “It is a ghost,” they said, and they cried out in fear» (Mt 14:26). However, Jesus calms his fears saying to them: «Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid» (Mt 14:27).      

«Come»

            And as the disciples hear the voice of their Master, peace and confidence return to their hearts. Once more, we see that the disciple has the ability not only to hear the voice of his Master, but also to recognize that voice in the middle of so many noises and distractions. And this is so because “faith’s hearing emerges as a form of knowing proper to love: it is a personal hearing, one which recognizes the voice of the Good Shepherd (cf. Jn 10:3-5).”[3]

           

Christ and Saint Peter in the lake.Chapel of the Sisters of Charity
of Saint Vincent de Paul.
Fiume, Croatia. October, 2008.

And this recognition of the Good Shepherd´s voice gives us not only peace and confidence but also the audacity to follow him and imitate him. That is why Peter said to Jesus: «Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water» (Mt 14:28).

           Realizing that was Jesus the one walking on the water, Peter wants to follow him and imitate him. He has heard the voice of Jesus; he has recognized that voice and has placed on it his obedience and trust. Therefore he sets forth when Jesus says to him: «Come» (Mt 14:29).

              And that is what faith is all about: to hear, to recognize, to believe and to act accordingly. That is what our founder, Fr. J. Kentenich, would call a practical faith in Divine Providence.

            Even though «Peter got out of the boat and began to walk on the water toward Jesus», the text of the gospel says that «when he saw how [strong] the wind was he became frightened; and, beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!”» (Mt 14: 29 – 30).

«Let us keep our eyes fixed on Jesus» (Heb 12:2)

            So, what happened to Peter? What happened to his trust and faith? “Peter walks on the water, not by his own effort but rather through divine grace in which he believes. And when he was smitten by doubt, when he no longer fixed his gaze on Jesus but was frightened by the gale, when he failed to put full trust in the Teacher’s words, it means that he was interiorly distancing himself from the Teacher and so risked sinking in the sea of life.”[4]

            Yes, even though Peter believed in the word of Jesus, he centered his attention not in his Master´s voice and presence, but on the strength of the wind and so he becomes frightened. His fears overcome his faith and trust.

            The same can happen to us. When we pay too much attention to the difficulties of our life and become pessimistic; when we try to solve everything just with our own forces and capacities, then we start to feel the strength of the winds of life and begin to sink in a sea of worries and hopelessness.

            What can we do to avoid this? We need to «keep our eyes fixed on Jesus» (Heb 12:2). Yes, in the middle of all our worries and problems; in the middle of all our difficulties and fears, -even in the midst of our weaknesses and sins- we need to fix our eyes on Jesus.

If we keep our eyes and our hearts sets on Him, then we will be able to dominate the winds of challenges and the sea of life. And so our everyday life will become a path that leads us to the encounter with God and to the fullness of life. As the psalmist says: «You will show me the path of life, the fullness of joy in your presence, at your right hand happiness forever» (Psalm 15 (16):11).

Lets us ask our Blessed Mother, Mater fidei – Mother of faith; that she may teach us to fix our eyes and our hearts on her son Jesus Christ. We do so saying:

“Help me to learn more and more the spirit of prayer

and always lift my heart to the stars of heaven.

Let me always look on Christ, the Sun,

and trust in him in all of life´s situations.”[5] Amen.

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[1] BENEDICT XVI, Angelus, Sunday, 7 August 2011.

[2] Ibid.

[3] POPE FRANCIS, Lumen Fidei 30.

[4] BENEDICT XVI, Angelus, Sunday, 7 August 2011.

[5] FR. JOSEPH KENTENICH, Heavenwards, Schoenstatt Office, Sext.