Homily for 22nd Sunday of the Year (29 Aug 2009)

Fr James McTavish FMVD

Be Doers of the Word

“Doers of the Word” is an excellent book of Moral Theology written by a Redemptorist professor called Fr. Terence Kennedy. It is taken from the letter of James, where it is written “Humbly welcome the word that has been planted in you and is able to save your souls. Be doers of the word and not hearers only, deluding yourselves.” We are reminded to be not only listeners of the Word but doers also. Those who listen to the Word but who also put that Word into practice. Blessed is the one who listens to the Word of God and puts it into practice. This is how to give ourselves a solid foundation in our Christian life. So stop and think. If someone were to ask you which Word of God you were putting into practice this day what would you respond?

Last week I went to a retreat preached by our sisters. One reading given was St Paul’s letter to the church of Ephesus (chapter 6, verse 13) ‘Therefore, take up the full armor of God, that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.’ I understood that this week I needed to stand firm. And sure enough there were, as always in our following of Christ, some challenging moments, some moments when Jesus asks us to trust in him and to stand firm! One particular moment was to stand firm over a decision that was made. There were two activities to attend, both of them good. I chose one, after dialogue with my community and thus could not attend the other. Stand firm in that decision. In another moment I was asked to attend a funeral mass and give the homily. To stand firm and to share the Good News.

In the Gospel Jesus invites the listener to be very concrete. Not to get lost in unimportant things but to focus on the essentials. The Pharisees were focused only on keeping many traditions. Perhaps they lost sight of what is essential. What is it that is essential? Blaise Pascal once commented that ‘what is essential is invisible’. What is essential is what Jesus tells us. It may be that our practices are empty. Like the man who was in the church choir but led a very promiscuous life. He was singing nice songs with his lips but the message of his life was rather different - ‘This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me’.

What is essential is to listen to the Lord and do what he asks. If he asks us to
stand firm then it is to stand firm. All else is secondary. That is why it is vital to listen to the Word. How can we be doers of the Word if we don’t know what it is that Jesus is asking us to do? Like those who were doing many things, good things, holy things “Lord, we drove out demons in your name, we preached, we did miracles”. But how did our Lord reply? “Get away from me, I never knew you” (Matt 7, 22-23). What is needed is to really listen well, to spend time to discern the will of God.

Mother Julian of Norwich reassured all with her motto “All will be well”. All will be well if we listen to the words of the Lord and then do them. Sometimes it is difficult to propose this Christian way to others especially in our modern times. Why? “For the time will come when people will not tolerate sound doctrine but, following their own desires and insatiable curiosity, will accumulate teachers and will stop listening to the truth and will be diverted to myths.” But as St Paul (in 2 Timothy 4:5) reminds Timothy (and each one of us!) “But you, be self-possessed in all circumstances; put up with hardship; perform the work of an evangelist; fulfill your ministry.” Let us carry on fighting the good fight with courage, standing firm always knowing that our God is close to us and all will be well if we listen to his words and put them into practice. Be doers of the Word. Just do it!

So what Word will you put into practice today?

The search for Beauty

Homily for the Feast of St Augustine

Fr James McTavish FMVD

“Late have I loved you, O Beauty ever ancient, ever new, late have I loved you!”

Today is the Feast of St Augustine. Who cannot fail to be inspired by his life, his search for the truth? We know he had quite a worldly life – he prayed when he was a young man, “Lord give me chastity, but not yet!” He was searching for the truth, in philosophy, in ideologies…then he discovered it listening to the preaching of a Bishop called St Ambrose. Listening to the Word of God brought him to himself. It is a word entering into him, but also a Word that was already in him, calling him, beckoning him, to enter into the depths of his being. He discovered the beauty within in which led him to declare those beautiful words “Late have I loved you, O Beauty ever ancient, ever new, late have I loved you! “. He was searching for beauty and he found it –not outside of him but inside! Where are we searching for beauty? Outside? Or inside?

For many years of my life I was searching for beauty outside. In fact in my career before I had a lot of contact with beauty – I was a Plastic surgeon. I had a beautiful life. A beautiful house, a beautiful car, I could eat beautiful food, go on beautiful holidays. When I saw my salary each month with all those zeros…beautiful. And the most beautiful thing – my girlfriend! And of course being a plastic surgeon the best thing if there is a bit of her you don’t like, you can just change it. The lips, next week the nose…I came to my 29th birthday, I was working in Sydney Australia, a beautiful city I was with my friends, enjoying…a drink in my hand and singing along to the music. Then a song by a band called U2 came on “I still haven’t found what I’m looking for”. I still haven’t found what I’m looking for. Is it true? What? You still haven’t found what you are looking for? I am just singing. It is my birthday, leave me in peace.

But I had to admit it, I hadn’t found what I was looking for. In all the created things, enjoying their beauty but it was not here. I got invited to an activity by the Verbum Dei missionaries, to listen to the Word of God. What a surprise! I started to discover the beauty I had been searching for, or rather the beauty found me! “O Beauty ever ancient, ever new. You were within me, but I was outside, and it was there that I searched for you.” Of course discovering this beauty everything becomes beautiful! I want to dedicate my entire life to announce Christ. To be like the voice in the Gospel, announcing that the bridegroom is here. Go and meet him!”

In the Gospel it is very fascinating - we have 10 virgins, 5 wise and 5 foolish. One key feature is the oil. What does the oil represent? Good works. Who were the foolish ones? We know three things about them – they fell asleep, they had no oil, and the bridegroom said to them “I do not know you”. They had no oil, they had no good works. Why not? They were trying to respond after all they woke up when they heard that the bridegroom was coming? Why did they not have good works? Because they did not know the bridegroom.

Let us not be foolish – many times we can be foolish when we don’t make time to listen to the Lord, to spend time with him, to pray and listen to him through his Word. Many Christians will say they do not have time to listen to the Word of God, but then we have time to watch TV, surf the Internet, go malling and do many things! Many times I am foolish – I listen to many voices but not the voice of the one who knows me and can give me life.

Then we have the wise virgins. Who were they? They also fell asleep! They were not so ‘holy holy’! But they had oil. Why did they have the oil of good works and the foolish ones didn’t? Because they knew the bridegroom. If you know Christ, from this person a life of good works will flow. Who is the wise Christian? The wise office worker? The wise priest? The ones who spends time getting to know the bridegroom, listening to him, listening to his Word. That one will bear much fruit. The Word of God is essential in this.

It is not enough to be Catholic. I am a good Catholic. It is not enough. To keep loving in the Office, to not gossip, to forgive, to be honest! I know an office worker, he finds it challenging as there is a lot of corruption in his office. He wants to conduct himself in a way that pleases God, That helps him grow in holiness. Your work is not only a place to earn money but it must help you to be holy! It is part of your pathway to sanctification. But to keep growing as Christians we need to discover that inner beauty every day, to be in contact with the one who loves us and tells us “You are beautiful”. To know Christ is to know his Word –ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ. That is why as Verbum Dei we dedicate to the Word of God – explaining it, deepening in it, having formations, retreats, moments of prayer, recollections and announcing it too. Because often we understand it most when we have to share it –we have many lay people doing this. We invite you too – if you are interested.

Let us ask for the intercession of St Augustine. Our life is a search for the truth. There are many distractions. Let us be wise! To discover the source of beauty in us more and more each day, to not be foolish thinking that we can sustain a life of good works if we are cut off from the source of goodness. That is why Jesus says Remain in me and in my Word and you will bear much fruit but cut off from me you can do nothing. To realize that the Word of God is a privileged place for us to know Jesus, and to experience his transforming love. And also not to forget the challenge to be a voice to others, in our office, in our family, to each other! Not merely to say I am good but to help others discover Jesus, that their lives too can be beautiful. To be a voice that leads others to Christ.

The bridegroom is coming. Every time we listen to the Word and in every Eucharist. Let us open our hearts as we receive him.

Fr James McTavish FMVD

Reflection for Feast of St Bartholomew (24 Aug '09)

Help lay the Foundations! Be an Apostle!

Today is the Feast of the apostle Bartholomew, one of the Twelve apostles of Christ. The first reading gives us a beautiful image of the apostles – as the foundation stones of the city of God. “The wall of the city had twelve courses of stones as its foundation, on which were inscribed the twelve names of the twelve Apostles of the Lamb.” (Rev 21,14). Often on buildings is written the name of the benefactors or donors, thanking them for their contribution. Of course, God’s church is not primarily a physical building but a spiritual one. The apostles helped build the Church by spreading the Good News, helping to give the Church and its members a solid foundation. The psalmist today sings “Your friends make known, O Lord, the glorious splendor of your Kingdom.” (Ps.145). The building of the Church continues today. After 2000 years the building up of the Church is only just beginning! Who will continue to build it up? To dedicate to giving the youth of today a solid foundation in life? To give many couples a solid basis for the marriage? Who will continue to make known the glorious splendor of the kingdom today? Maybe we are looking around for other volunteers but guess who God is looking at? YOU! (and me!).

It is a beautiful experience to be involved in the work of building up the Church. At Easter we organized a 3 day stay over retreat to deepen in the Easter Triduum. Many were invited but many were the excuses. No I want to go on vacation, sorry I am going to the beach, would love to but I have a family reunion…so we went out into the virtual streets and lanes as the gospel advises us and tried to invite some extra people by email. One young man wrote back that his life was boring and lifeless like that of many youth of today. He was from a wealthy family but said that his family was so poor because all they had was money. He did not want to fill up his emptiness with materialism and consumerism. He realized as Pope John Paul II noted that “the real reason for materialism and consumerism is the absence of God’s love in the heart of man.” He came to the retreat, encountered Christ and everything changed. This person is so happy and is now organizing many activities for the mission and inviting others. What a joy this is for me! I see my name written there (in very small letters of course!) as this person starts to have a more solid foundation, being built into a spiritual building for the whole of eternity.

Each Christian is called to help in the rebuilding and reconstruction of many lives. As soon as I realized this I left behind my career and dedicate to God’s work full time. I was as a Plastic surgeon. That is why I am so handsome! Actually in case you are wondering, this beauty is 100% natural and comes from my mum! Many people ask me for beauty tips. The best cream for the face I tell them is Vitamin P. Of course we all know Vitamin C and D but Vitamin P? Yes, Vitamin Prayer. Try rubbing in 30 minutes of the Word of God into your face every day. For sure this will keep you looking young and beautiful! The Word of God is sharper than a scalpel (See Hebrews 4,12). When someone is filled with Christ, they radiate beauty and can draw many others to him. Like before I became a missionary when I was in Sydney and was being a bit slack in my church attendance. One day near the Cathedral and deliberating whether to go to mass I saw an old lady walking by in front of me. Frail but with a spring in her step. The heavens opened and it started to pour. I felt sorry for her as her flimsy umbrella did little to protect her from the drenching rain. I covered her with my umbrella and asked her where she was going. To church she replied. I commented that she was going to be soaked. Her reply engraved itself on my heart –“Do you think a little rain will stop me from seeing Jesus, the one who loves me the most?” Wow! I was amazed at how much love she had for Jesus which put my little love to shame. Ok I said, let’s go and we went to mass together. When a soul is in love with Christ many others will be drawn. This little lady was a walking talking incarnation of the love of Christ. How very attractive that is to see the love of Jesus walking around the streets of Sydney.

This is the mission of each one of us and as Jesus says in the gospel today “You will see greater things than this!” You ain’t seen nothing yet. You will see miracles if you believe! God will draw many to Christ through you. What do the people need to see? Apparitions? Miracles? The great miracle they will see in Christ’s presence in you. Of course you need to be intelligent! We can tell the youth “Go to mass! Go to confession!” Be as cunning as a snake and as innocent as a dove! “Go to an outing! Go to a song forum!” That’s better. The more we are in love with Christ the more creative we must be. Our founder who is 82 says “If I have to do a handstand and a cartwheel to draw the people to Christ I will do it!”. We need this strong experience of Christ’s love to go out of ourselves – this is ex-stasis. To go out of ourselves. As Edith Stein (Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross) the Carmelite Saint wrote “The deeper one is drawn into God, the more he needs to go out of himself –out into the world, that is to carry the divine life into it”.

And going out into the world as apostles what will we find? A lady from a rich neighbourhood told us to be careful going out into the poor squatter areas. Why? There are good poor and bad poor but there do you know what you will find? You will find only the bad poor, they are lazy. Mam, perhaps you will find you are a little prejudiced. We went to visit a poor family, as an advanced birthday of one of their children. We cooked some pasta and served it to them. We sang some songs. We talked with our little Tagalog (but the love of God overcomes all barriers of language and even the smell of the piglets became a pleasing aroma!) What did we find there? We found Christ himself. Not an apparition but Christ himself, incarnated in their simplicity and humility. A Christ who wants to be close to his people, loving them and sharing the Word of God with them.

A Christ who in this Eucharist will appear, not as an apparition but as flesh and blood, and tell us “If you love me, feed my sheep”. Feed your family, feed your husband, your helper, your driver, give them my Word, to your children, your children’s children! Christ needs apostles today. Urgently. Like the apostle Paul said “The love of Christ urges me. I become all things to all people to save at least some”. Christ needs apostles, he needs imitators not merely admirers or adorers. Christ needs imitators. Are you an admirer, an adorer only, or an imitator? Christ calls us to be imitators, to be apostles, called to build up the Church, to build up the foundations of many people. Imitate me and you will see great things. People will see my face through your life. Go and attract many people for Christ! Go and discover the joy of being an apostle! Go and discover the adventure of laying the foundations of a life in Christ that will last for the whole of eternity! Amen.

Reflection for 21st Sunday of Year (23 Aug ’09)

Fr James McTavish FMVD

Hardening of the heart kills

Sclerosis is a word derived from Greek which means hard or difficult. It is used in the diagnosis arteriosclerosis to signify hardening of the arteries which can cause heart attack leading to many deaths. In the gospel of today the disciples complain of ‘sclerosis’! Not arteriosclerosis but that the teaching of Jesus is too hard (sclerosis). But what is it that is too hard? The teaching of Jesus or just their hearts? As the psalms remind us “If today you would hear the voice of the Lord, harden not your hearts”. The Gospel will challenge us. There are moments when the teaching may see too hard. Not just hard but impossible humanly speaking. But nothing is impossible for God. Jesus asked “Does this shock you? It is the spirit that gives life, while the flesh is of no avail. The words I have spoken to you are Spirit and life.” (See John 6,60-69).

There is a saying “Love without demands spoils me, demands without love degrades me but love with demands exalts me”. Our love for Christ demands that we respond with an ever growing charity. Our faith promises not only blessings, favours and feelings of consolation but also some challenges. The Canon law of the Church teaches us that Christians not only have rights and privileges but also duties and obligations “to work so that the divine message of salvation is made known and accepted by all persons everywhere in the world. This obligation is even more compelling in those circumstances in which only through them can people hear the gospel and know Christ” (#225). This is not bad news but good news! It is the greatest thing and the greatest project to share the Gospel! As Tina Turner would sing “Simply the best! Better than all the rest”. ‘No business of this world, no dedication, ideal or task of any man can ever give us an idea of the transcendence, repercussion, influence and responsibility which implies the mission of the genuine evangelizer of Christ’ (Rev Fr. Jaime Bonet).

To follow Christ implies a certain hardship and for that reason “many of his disciples returned to their former way of life and no longer accompanied him.” How can this be explained? Thomas a Kempis, a German mystic in the 14th century in his famous “Imitation of Christ” wrote ‘Jesus has always many who love His heavenly kingdom, but few who bear His cross. He has many who desire consolation, but few who care for trial. He finds many to share His table, but few to take part in His fasting. All desire to be happy with Him; few wish to suffer anything for Him. Many follow Him to the breaking of bread, but few to the drinking of the chalice of His passion. Many revere His miracles; few approach the shame of the Cross.”

Jesus even asked the Twelve “Do you also want to leave?”. He valued their freedom and their free response to his love so very much. Simon Peter answered him, “Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” Peter's response to Jesus' question is striking. Father Thomas Rosica notes that “Peter doesn't say, "yes, of course," but he doesn't quite say "no" either. Instead, in good Gospel-style, he answers back with another question: "To whom else can we go?" It is not the most flattering answer in the world, but it is honest. Peter and the others stay with Jesus precisely because he has been a source of life for them. Jesus liberated them and given them a new life. Following Jesus and the teaching of the Church may not always be easy, or pleasant, or even totally comprehensible, but when it comes to the eternal-life business, there's not much out there in the way of alternatives.”

Peter was aware of the greatness and difficulty of the task at hand but also realized that what was important is to listen to the words of Jesus. Even after Peter’s denial the words of Jesus will save him once again. “Do you love me? Feed my sheep”. Let us ask the Lord to be responsible, to be able to respond. Not to be infantile or always asking “gimmee gimmee gimmee” but seeking how best to respond to Christ’s great love for us.

It is not simply a matter to be “good Catholics”. Of course we need to be good but not to use this as an excuse or an alibi to remain as we are. The real sin of omission is not that we are good but that we don’t strive to be perfect. Of course as Cardinal Newman commented “He who wants to be perfect must change often”. Sometimes we just don’t want to change. But seeing our lives, seeing the world around us it urges us to live an authentic Christian life. To sincerely try our best to follow Christ, to imitate him.

And really, Christ seeks not merely admirers or adorers but decided imitators. A well-to-do young man entered missionary life and found himself begging for fruit in a market in Spain. The stall owner scolded him and told him to get a job. The missionary overcame his shyness and told the man that before he was wealthy but had abandoned all to serve Jesus and in service of the Gospel. The man said “Wow, I really admire you”. The missionary responded “I don’t want admirers. I want imitators!”

Let us ask for the grace to follow Christ, to hold onto his word especially when the going gets tough. To be aware that sclerosis kills and what kills our spiritual life is hardening of the heart. To be sensitive to the realities around us. Lord help us not to close our eyes or our hearts to the realities around us. You are the heart expert. Perhaps we should have the confidence and trust to ask him, “Lord, is my heart hardened? To whom? Why?” Monitor us closely Lord and make sure our hearts do not harden. When the way ahead seems hard may we always remain open to you, for truly the words you speak to us are ‘spirit and life’. Amen.

Fr James McTavish FMVD

20th Sunday of Year

Chew your food well and don’t forget to say thank you!

“Make sure you chew your food well!” Most of us have either read this good advice or heard it first from our own mothers. To chew the food well as this aids digestion. “Take your time eating” is an additional advice to be heeded especially for those who gulp their food down. So where is this dietary advice leading us? Well the psalmist again this week reminds us to “Taste and see that the Lord is good” (Psalm 34). But the food we are offered as Christians is not just any old fast food. It is a food that nourishes and builds up. The living Word of God will not leave us malnourished! In the first reading Wisdom advises us “Let whoever is simple turn in here; To the one who lacks understanding, she says, Come, eat of my food, and drink of the wine I have mixed! Forsake foolishness that you may live; advance in the way of understanding.”(Proverbs 9, 1-6).

There is food available. No need to go hungry. The Word of God is a light for our path and lamp for our feet. It lights up the way and helps us to see the potholes to avoid on the way. However it is important to chew well the Word of God, not just to gulp it down but to chew it, to reflect on it, to assimilate and digest it. St Ignatius was fond of repeating that it is not many things that nourish and fill the soul, but a few things, deeply savored. Maybe I do not know so many things but what I understand I put into practice. It is useful in the hustle and bustle of life to try to find one aspect of our relationship with God that is nourishing us. Sometimes it is not easy to savour something deeply. Perhaps you feel that many things are happening in your life right now but what is the common thread? What is the deeper connection? For me it is that God is asking me to trust in him unconditionally. How about you? What is God asking of you at this moment? The Holy Spirit often gives us many clues as usually God manifests his wishes not just once but often he repeatedly shows us the area where he is asking us to grow. This is why St Paul reminds us “Brothers and sisters: Watch carefully how you live, not as foolish persons but as wise, making the most of the opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore, do not continue in ignorance, but try to understand what is the will of the Lord.” (See Ephesians 5:15-20)

The will of God will lead us to a closer identification with Jesus. In every Eucharist we are called to become what we receive – Body of Christ. Jesus says “Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink.” The classical Greek verb for eating (phagein) is not used here but rather trogon which has the sense of gnaw or munch. In a sense when we partake of the body and blood of Christ it cannot be a merely external participation but to really digest the mystery we receive. To allow Jesus to live in us, to vivify our way of thinking and acting, to be a sign of his presence in the world. That our lives may be a living Eucharist by being concrete signs of communion.

Eucharist means thanksgiving so our we can live a eucharistic life by continually giving thanks too – “giving thanks always and for everything” (Eph 5, 20). One day in a hospital there was a young woman dying of cancer with no money to pay for proper treatment. She woke up and I dreaded to hear the complaints she would have. What a surprise I got when the first words to come out of her lips were “Thank you Lord for another day of life”. Were our first words this morning when we awoke thanksgiving?

How great the other day to go to the 10th anniversary of a highly successful company and find them celebrating a mass of thanksgiving of the Lord for his many blessings. How often we can foolishly boast that it is because of our efforts alone and forget to thank the Lord for his help. They say the only healthy thing you are allowed to have in excess in life is thanksgiving. Thanksgiving leads to trust in God. We start to see the wonderful things he is doing in our lives. And that what we receive in the body and blood of Christ is eternal life. In a funeral mass the priest gave communion and as each person received the body and blood of Christ he said “You will never die”. As Jesus said “Whoever eats this bread will live forever.” Let us give thanks to God for this great Good News.

Help us Lord to savour what we receive, to let it nourish us. Teach us how to chew the Word we receive, to ponder and reflect on what you are doing in our lives. Teach us how to become what we receive in every Eucharist to be aware that we receive your body and blood every time we receive Holy Communion. And Lord Jesus, remind us to be thankful. Thank you! Amen.

Reflection for 19th Sunday of Year

Fr James McTavish

“Get up and eat or else the journey will be to long for you”

Imagine a person helping others by giving them bread to eat. Now let us say that this person is totally dedicated to this, working very hard, making many sacrifices, trying to feed many people for little or no income, giving up many of their own dreams, plans and comforts to be able to help others. What could we say about what this person is giving others? Is it only giving bread or is it not giving much more? I would say that this person is not just giving bread but that they are giving their very life. Jesus says in today’s Gospel “the bread that I shall give is my flesh, for the life of the world” (See John 6, 41-51). Jesus does not give things but he gives himself. Do I just give things to others or my very self?

Sometimes we can be hesitant to give our lives. Better to keep it in reserve. For what? For when? For who? As the Indian proverb goes “All that is not given is lost”. Life is an adventure, dare it! If you don’t take the bull by the horns, the bull will take you. But we can feel intimidated by life’s little challenges, even paralyzed with indecision in assuming a responsibility or task. But as Theresa of Avila, the great Spanish mystic and writer noted “The biggest cross is to avoid the cross”. That is why Jesus encourages us to pick it up, to embrace it and often we are surprised! I did it! (of course, with the help of God’s grace). We find that it was not so bad as we imagined.

When the people listened to the teachings of Jesus they complained because he said “I am the bread that comes down from heaven”. Jesus said to them “Stop complaining to each other”. Sometimes we complain when we think that God is not doing anything. As if he is sat in heaven twiddling his thumbs and oblivious to what is going on here down below. But do you really think that seeing that world of today, with its many challenges, that God is silent? It cannot be. He is shouting out but we have to listen! God is working powerfully in the world. Why don’t we notice sometimes what he is doing in our lives? Because we don’t ask him! Logical. It is very beautiful to stop once in a while and in a moment of prayer to ask God what he is doing in our lives. He will let you know and you will be surprised!

For sure the work of God in all of us is that we no longer live only for ourselves but for others. But for this you need to be well nourished. In the marathon often the runner will carbohydrate load before the race, stocking up and nourishing his body with pasta and bread so he or she will have enough energy for the race. Likewise if you want to endure in the race of life and to keep loving until the finish line you need to stock up on the Word of God, the bread of life which is full of energy and power. “Man cannot live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God”. Elijah the prophet was encouraged by the angel to eat well for the journey ahead. At first, Elijah only nibbled at the food offered and then fell asleep. The angel returned and said “Get up and eat, else the journey will be too long for you!” Elijah got up, ate, and drank; then strengthened by that food, he walked forty days and forty nights to the mountain of God, Horeb (see 1 Kings 19,4-8).That is why the psalmist invites us “Taste and see the Lord is good”(Psalm 34).

What is the sign we are well nourished spiritually? When we can follow the exercise plan (spiritual exercises!) of St Paul – “Never have grudges against others, or lose your temper, or raise your voice to anybody, or call each other names, or allow any sort of spitefulness. Be friends with one another, and kind, forgiving each other a readily as God forgave you in Christ (See Ephesians 4,30-5,2). Wow! This is a well nourished life, a life strong in the Lord and in serving others. I want this! Let us persevere then in running the race for we know that ‘the salvation of many depends on the prayer and sacrifice of the few’ (Pope Pius XII, 1943). Amen.

Mes de agosto: Información

Queridos lectores:

Durante el mes de agosto participaré en un mes de Ejercicios Espirituales, por lo cual dejaremos de publicar la reflexión dominical en español durante este periodo. En septiembre volveremos a estar de nuevo publicando nuestras reflexiones semanales.  Sin embargo, el Padre James McTavish seguirá publicando sus reflexiones dominicales en inglés.

Pido vuestras oraciones para que el Señor me acompañe e ilumine durante este retiro.

Gracias y Dios os bendiga.

Padre Luis Tamayo

MADRID 2011 World Youth Day

Sigue las noticias de las Jornadas mundiales de la Juventud en Madrid 2011 a través del Blog:

http://wyd2011.blogspot.com/

Follow the news about the World Youth Day Madrid 2011 on the following Blog:

http://wyd2011.blogspot.com/