REFLECTION Sunday´s Gospel

Go forth and multiply! (Fr James McTavish, FMVD)

“The world is in trouble because of the lack of thinking.” These words are quoted by Pope Benedict XVI in his new encyclical Caritas in Veritate. Looking at the world of today, a superficial way of thinking and seeing situations will give rise to superficial and inadequate solutions. Typical examples of superficial thinking include research on human embryos in Great Britain designed to improve health yet the actual research involves destruction of human life. Human problems need truly human solutions.

Jesus teaches his disciples a deeper way of seeing things and how to respond in front of challenges. In front of a crowd of 5000 hungry people Jesus asks Philip what to do. Philip states that not even 200 days wages worth of bread would be enough to satiate the crowd. Philip sees the big picture. As for Andrew he notices the small details. He spots a boy with 5 loaves and 2 fish but feels this will be useless in front of such a big crowd. What is needed in front of this situation? To see the big picture or notice the small details? Both! But the disciples are working together. They are not one mind and one heart. They need to work together. Philip and Andrew show us two very typical human responses in front of problems – on the one hand to become discouraged trying to do everything or the other extreme, thinking that nothing can be done and losing hope. Their reactions are logical but the response of Jesus is theological. The disciples are thinking mathematically but the Lord wants to teach them how to think evangelically. The disciples look at the vast crowd but Jesus “looked up”. He turned his gaze towards the great Provider, the great Multiplier –his Father. And he gets the answer. “The Lord feeds his people” as the psalmist reminds us.

Jesus asks the crowd to recline on the grass! The disciples are flapping in front of the problem meanwhile Jesus is singing along to Avril Lavigne “Chill out, what ya yelling for?” Jesus takes the loaves and gives thanks. He appreciates what he has. They say that the best thing to have in excess in life and the only thing that does you no harm is thanksgiving. The Lord teaches the disciples to believe in God’s power. What they lack, God will provide. Five plus two equals five thousand. It is a call to let go and let God. In front of our problems and the problem of our world is our response merely logical or theological? It is not to denounce human reason as our intellect is a wonderful gift from God our Father. But it is to be aware that we should trust in God’s love and ask him what is best in the situation. In trying to respond when we offer what we have to the Lord he will multiply our efforts, our energy so that we will never lack the necessary grace for the God given task entrusted to us.

What is the sign that God is acting in our initiatives and efforts? When are they really fruitful? When there is communion. The big vision of Philip needs to be complemented by the vision of Andrew which notices more the small details. The differences can enrich us. When we try to do things alone often the fruit is division. Someone told me that they work for a huge international organization and in the offices there is so much envy and rivalry that instead of creating union there is division! Jesus came to make us one, to teach us how to work with him and to work together. Working with God and others multiplies the fruit of our labours.

Recently we had an activity with the Youth of the Philippines. Our preparations were pressured, many things to prepare but little time. But God gave us creativity and strength. The group was composed of 45 teenagers and the theme of our encounter was “I have a dream”. The students enjoyed the encounter with the Lord. We placed all our efforts, our talks, the dynamics of prayer, the animation and music in the hands of God, offering our five loaves and two fish and God did the rest. He is the great provider and multiplier. At times I was worried about the organization and another missionary with me kept reassuring me 'Relax, just enjoy. God will provide what we lack'. And true enough we did our part, God did the rest and everyone had more than enough to eat!

We pray that in front of life’s challenges we remember that our God is the great provider. He asks us to trust and believe. In front of the world’s problems let us pray for a deeper thinking, a deeper vision of reality, the capacity to discern the will of God. In this way we can find truly human solutions to human problems. Let us learn from Jesus how to work with him, to collaborate with his Spirit and work with others in a spirit of communion. Placing Jesus in the centre of our works will ensure that the loaves and fish we offer will be multiplied to feed many. Amen.

REFLEXION Evangelio Semanal

Aprender a descansar en Dios (P Luis Tamayo)

Se dice que muchas cosas no han cambiado a lo largo de los siglos… Hoy el Evangelio refleja como los discípulos estaban inmersos es una actividad fuerte, esto nos habla de la sociedad de hoy día donde la gente va acelerada, corriendo casi sin tiempo. Hoy día hablas con cualquier persona y te dice: estoy agotado…

Es verdad que hay un agotamiento físico que provoca cansancio. Esto es normal después de estar horas de pie en un Centro comercial, horas delante del ordenador en la oficina, horas delante de los clientes en un banco, horas de una enfermera o doctor en un hospital o para una ama de casa son muchas las horas atendiendo la casa y a la familia. Para todos ellos es normal que se de el cansancio físico al final de una jornada, y uno necesite un buen descanso y reponer las fuerzas durmiendo las horas necesarias.

Pero hay otro tipo de cansancio, que no viene del desgaste físico. Es más un cansancio emocional, es un cansancio debido a preocupaciones, a miedos, al pesimismo que se adueña de la cabeza y lo ve todo negativo, etc. Es un cansancio que se produce en la mente y que tiene repercusiones emocionales, y hasta físicas.

El cansancio físico se puede vivir con mucho sentido, es decir, una enfermera puede estar ocho horas dedicada a la gente y llegar a casa agotada pero feliz por su trabajo; una persona dedicada a la pastoral de una parroquia puede estar varias horas dando catequesis y preparando actividades, llegar a casa cansada pero con satisfacción por su servicio a los demás. Un papá puede estar haciendo horas extras de trabajo pero con mucho sentido, pues sabe que esta sosteniendo a la familia. El cansancio físico puede llevarse muy bien. 

Ahora estamos hablando de un cansancio que va por dentro y que es como un cáncer.  El otro día hablaba con una señora y estas eran las expresiones que utilizaba: “esto es un horror”, “bueno eso es una desgracia”, “aquello me sienta fatal”, “lo del otro día fue terrible”… Bueno no solo el agotamiento que debe producir el vivir en este tono tan pesimista, sino el agotamiento que produce a los de su alrededor.

Si uno no se da cuenta se va envolviendo en un ambiente que todo se lo toma a personal… es que el otro me dijo que… es que aquella me ha mirado de tal modo… es que mis hijos no me hacen ni caso… es que todo el mundo está contra mí… la autocompasión, la negatividad, la falta de autoestima, etc., y todo esto lo empieza a dar vueltas a la cabeza  no para, al final ni duerme, pues se pasa toda la noche dándole vueltas a la cabeza.  Esto genera un agotamiento que consume todas las energías.

El Evangelio de hoy (Marcos 6,30-34) nos da la respuesta.  Los discípulos estaban agotados y Jesús les dijo: -«Venid vosotros solos a un sitio tranquilo a descansar un poco.» Venid y descansar conmigo, dice Jesús. Nos preocupamos de las vacaciones, de ir a la playa o a la montaña… pero la pregunta es: ¿nos preocupamos de descansar en el Señor? Uno puede estar en el mejor hotel del mundo o en la playa paradisíaca pero si el “run-run” va dentro uno no descansa. 

Aprender a descansar en Dios, a poner la vida y los problemas en manos de Dios.  Uno se preocupa de planear unos días de vacaciones, pero pregunto: ¿Alguien planifica unos días de retiro o de ejercicios espirituales? ¿Nos tomamos en serio el descanso del espíritu y del alma? Muchas de nuestras preocupaciones son a causa dejar que Dios lleve nuestras vidas.  ¿Dios cuida de mi vida? ¿Dejo las cosas en manos de Dios? ¿Suelto las riendas para que Él conduzca mi vida?

Santa Teresa de  Jesús nos enseña desde su experiencia:

Nada te turbe,

Nada te espante,

Todo se pasa

La paciencia todo lo alcanza

Quien a Dios tiene, nada le falta

Solo Dios basta.

REFLECTION Sunday´s Gospel

The compassionate heart of Jesus (Fr James McTavish, FMVD)

Once during an anatomy lesson on the intestines and inner viscera the Professor pointed to some nerves and asked us what they were called. We looked at him blankly as he expounded “These are the splanchnic nerves”. After the anatomy exams I forgot all about the splanchnic nerves. What a surprise I got 20 years later reading Mark’s gospel and finding that the greek word used to describe the compassion of Jesus in the gospel of today is, you guessed it, splancnon. Compassion or splancnon arises from the very depths or insides of the person. Jesus felt compassion for the vast crowds because they were like sheep without  shepherd, with no one to guide them. This compassion of Jesus was not just a mere feeling but led him to action – he started to teach them many things. Jesus is the Good Shepherd and he knows the situation of the people and that is why he has compassion on them. In the well known psalm 23 of today we hear “The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. In green pastures he gives me repose; beside restful waters he leads me; he refreshes my soul. He guides me in right paths for his name's sake. Even though I walk in the dark valley I fear no evil; for you are at my side.”

Real understanding of situations comes from seeing the reality with the eyes of Jesus and not merely reflecting on it from a distance. I remember being on a mission trip in the Philippines with some youth from our community in Italy. We went to a shanty town and were planning to help a boy renovate his wooden shack. When we got there it was a little discouraging as there were probably at least 2000 houses in a similar or worse state. The question came to my mind “What is the point of fixing one house when there are so many dilapidated houses remaining?” This way of seeing the reality can even produce the sensation that it is better to do nothing as any effort is useless. When the boy whose house it was came, he took the hand of each group member and blessed himself with it (a Filipino custom). It was a humbling experience. We discovered that he was an orphan with two younger blind sisters to take care of. My heart was moved with compassion for him. Instead of just renovating it we rebuilt the whole house. As Blaise Pascal said “The heart has reasons which the mind does not know of”.

Let us not be content with merely discussing the world’s problems over a cappuccino! In front of the challenges of our world and of neighbor it helps to reflect on the words of Jean Vanier, the founder of the L’Arche communities - "What is important is not to wonder why there is suffering, but to decide to alleviate it". The first question must be not “Why does God allow suffering?” but “What can I do about it?” Don’t be afraid to get your hands dirty! As the prayer in the house of Mother Theresa read “Life is an opportunity, seize it. Life is beauty, admire it. Life is a dream, realize it. Life is a duty, complete it. Life is a game, play it. Life is mystery, know it. Life is a promise, keep it. Life is sorrow, overcome it. Life is a song, sing it. Life is a struggle, fight it. Life is an adventure, dare it.” She added “Life is Life, save it.”

Jesus is not looking for spectators or even admirers but he needs imitators. Christians who experience his compassionate love for others who suffer. This is to have the heart of a shepherd. The people in the gospel were in a deserted place. Pope Benedict XVI reminds us ‘there are so many kinds of desert. There is the desert of poverty, the desert of hunger and thirst, the desert of abandonment, of loneliness, of destroyed love.’  Only a God made flesh can help us learn how to be compassionate to each other especially towards the weakest and most defenseless. It is good to ask Jesus “Who around me or next to me is in a desert? How can I be compassionate towards them?” The same compassion is seen in the heart of the father welcoming his prodigal son with a kiss and a strong embrace and in the good Samaritan who experienced compassion on the wounded man, healing him, placing him on his mount and paying for his recovery. Let us ask Jesus the Good Shepherd for his same compassionate heart towards all our brothers and sisters.

REFLEXION Evangelio Semanal

El envío. (P. Luis J. Tamayo)

Hoy Jesús instruye a sus discípulos en lo práctico.  Jesús es un Maestro de vida, y lo que busca es enseñarnos a vivir. A veces hay personas con las que te hablan que te dicen: padre, hay muchas situaciones que uno no sabe vivir. ¿Como hacer? ¿Qué consejos seguir?  Por eso es importante acercarse a la Palabra y ver y aprender como Jesús vivió.  Jesús no nos propone una espiritualidad lejana a nosotros, sino que es una espiritualidad encarnada, una espiritualidad que se hace práctica y que está al alcance de la vida diaria.

Dice el Evangelio que Jesús envía a los discípulos, es decir, envía a los discípulos  a la vida de las gentes, a las casas, a los trabajos, a las familias… En la vida diaria y entre las gentes es donde tienen que enseñar a dar testimonio del Evangelio, donde tienen que mostrar el compromiso con el hermano, donde ha de transmitirse la fe y donde se puede "echar una mano".  El envío para nosotros no es ir ahora al continente africano, pero si que sería descubrir en la vida diaria donde Dios más me necesita, por ejemplo: ir a esa vecina que ya no quiere ir a misa y animarla, o hablar con ese nieto que está enfadado, o acercarse a ese familiar que necesita compañía, etc.

Hay veces que uno piensa “mira parece que Dios me ha puesto en esta situación para ayudar a esta persona”… esa es una conciencia de saberse enviado.

Nada más llegar a Cebú tuve un incidente con la moto que conducía.  Pasé de lado a un anciano que cruzó sin mirar y fuera de un paso de cebra y se asustó y calló al suelo con la mala suerte que se rompió la cadera.  Aunque no fue mi culpa yo paré para ver como ayudar.  Entonces se vinieron un montón de gente y me acusaron de que yo había atropellado al anciano… todo el mundo hablaba el dialecto local que todavía no había aprendido.  Me vi en un aprieto muy gordo.  Todo el mundo me gritaba y no entendía nada.  Fui a llamar a casa a una tienda de al lado.  Y según estaba hablando por teléfono se acercó una señora y muy amablemente me dice en inglés: ¿Es tuya esa moto? En ese momento me vi salvado.  Esta señora se quedó conmigo y tradujo mi versión a los agentes de policía.  Ella muy generosa se quedó conmigo hasta que todo quedó resuelto.  Finalmente decidimos llevar al anciano al Hospital y llamar a su familia.

La señora se quedó conmigo desde las 8 de la tarde hasta las 12 de la noche.  Con una generosidad extraordinaria. Esa señora me dijo que Dios la había puesto ahí para ayudarme.  Esa señora tenía conciencia de que Dios la necesitaba.  Ella solo me dio generosamente su tiempo.  Ella no necesitó dinero, ni una carta del Obispo, ni que alguien la dijera nada.  Ella se puso disponible para ayudar.

Así es cuando uno entiende cuando Jesús da las instrucciones a los discípulos: les encargó que llevaran para el camino un bastón y nada más, ni pan, ni alforja, ni dinero… ni siquiera una túnica de repuesto.  ¿Qué es lo que les está enseñando Jesús a modo practico? La confianza.  Les está diciendo que confíen en Dios en todas esas situaciones en las que se van a encontrar.

Jesús, no es un teórico. Jesús es muy práctico. Les dice:  llevad sandalias pero no una túnica de repuesto. Es decir, les está diciendo: ¿Podéis confiar en la providencia de Dios? Pues si tu te cuidas de la gente ¿cómo Dios no se va a cuidar de ti? 

Al final, yo descubrí que Dios me había enviado también a mí, pues otra persona, una vez hubiera aclarado su inocencia, no hubiera decidido acompañar al anciano al hospital y quedarse con él hasta que llegara la familia.  

REFLECTION Sunday´s Gospel

Trust and go! (Fr James McTavish, FMVD)

In my student days I loved to go Inter-railing around Europe. Packing my rucksack and heading off to different European cities by train. I still remember the advice given in my travel guide regarding what to take with you – “After you have packed your backpack take everything out and place it on your bed. Then just take half of it but double the money you think you’ll need!”  Jesus gives similar instructions for the journey and reminds his disciples to travel light! “Jesus instructed them to take nothing for the journey but a walking stick – no bread, no backpack, no money in their belts”. Why no bread? Because the bread they are to bring is the bread from heaven, the Word of God. Man cannot live on bread alone but on every word that comes from God’s mouth. What about the backpack? A backpack can weigh you down so much. What can weigh us down when we go to encounter others is negative thoughts! They can be very heavy. I went to talk to person and the previous time I had spoken to them I found them a little strange and to my opinion a bit rude. I mentioned this to the missionary I was with. He said “Are you still remembering that?” Sometimes we get weighed down by many unnecessary and negative thoughts! Instead Jesus asks us to wear sandals. These are the sandals of eagerness to announce Good News! Love does not keep a record of wrongs, believes all things, hopes all things and endures all things.

Jesus has such trust in those disciples of his. He sends them out like sheep among wolves. Maybe they  would like to have been wolves among sheep, as it seems they would have had the upper hand! But God’s ways are not our ways and God’s thoughts are not our thoughts! Trust is vital if the disciples are to accomplish their God given mission. Once there was an alpine mountain climber coming down from the summit after a hard climb. Evening came and soon he was engulfed by darkness. He continued to descend but then came a moment when he could see nothing. He called out to God, “Are you there? Lord save me!” God replied “Cut the rope”. The mountaineerer did not want to. Again God said “Cut the rope. Just trust me”. The next day the rescue party found the man frozen to death dangling from his rope. He was only 1 metre above the ground.

How hard to trust in God sometimes. But have you ever considered how much God trusts you? God trusts his disciples so very much. In every Eucharist, he places his divine life and love in our hands, the Father places his own Son Jesus in our palms. The basis of the commissioning of each Christian in the mission is God’s trust in each one of us. How great to have a God who trusts in us so much. I remember a boss of mine in the hospital who believed in me so much when I was training to be a surgeon. I was learning how to operate. It came to a moment when I had to do my first appendix operation. As I was about to make the incision my boss said, “OK, I know you can do it. I will be in the tea room. Call me if you need me.” Before I could protest he was gone. After the operation, which went smoothly, I was so overjoyed. My boss was waiting for me in the tea room. “I did it! I did it!” I said joyfully. “Of course!” he replied, “I knew you could do it.” How great to be supported by someone who trusts in you and believes in you. Who sees in you abilities which you do not see. This is God our Father with us, who loves us, trusts us and asks us to trust in him.

The basis of the confidence of the Church in her mission does not come from the talents or strength of its members. It comes from the power of the one who sends her and relies on his authority. It is Christ who gives the authority and power to his disciples. Recently I listened to a teenager give a talk on Life with a wisdom that belies her tender 16 years of age. This is the authority that comes from a life of prayer and friendship with Christ. She spoke to a big group of women who were older, sophisticated and better educated. But what wisdom cam from the mouth of this little teenager! A wisdom and authority which comes from the living encounter with Christ. He is the source of “every spiritual blessings in the heavens” (Eph 1,3). When we are open God can fill us with his graces and blessings. We will never lack in the mission especially when we are trying to fulfill God’s will and serve others. He is the one who gives the authority.

“Blessed be God the Father” because he is so generous and wants to equip us for the mission. His goodness is overflowing. Like my mum trying to send me a parcel. The weight limit was 2kg but the parcel was 9kg. It was so full of goodies! This is also God our Father who knows no limits in sharing many blessings with us. He is telling us “Get stuck into the mission! I am with you, I trust you, you will not go short.” We need to trust him! Like the day I went to visit a family. It was a long walk and I was so hungry. When I got there the first thing the family gave me was a piece of delicious chocolate cake! No need to take bread when God provides chocolate cake. How great to remember it is his mission. As the prophet Amos acknowledges in the first reading (Amos 7, 2-15) in the middle of rejection and opposition “I was no prophet, nor have I belonged to a company of prophets; I was a shepherd and a dresser of sycamores. The Lord took me from following the flock, and said to me, Go, prophesy to my people Israel."  Who of us here is worthy of the mission? None of us, it is a gift. So let us clearly recognize like Amos that it is God who calls us and sends us. We go with his authority, his trust and his power. So what are you waiting for? Get stuck in. Trust in God and go!

REFLEXION Evangelio Semanal

Nadie es profeta en su propia casa (por P. Luis J. Tamayo)

Todos tenemos conflictos de vez en cuando, pero el dolor viene cuando ves que el conflicto pasa delante de ti, en los que más quieres... y queriendo ayudar o aconsejar, descubres que no te hacen ni caso.

Cuantas veces hemos querido decir a alguien “no hagas esto que no te va a funcionar, o yo creo que de esta forma te va a resultar mejor…"  y con el tiempo te das cuenta que no te han hecho ni caso…  “No juegues con fuego que te vas a quemar… Ay!! Ay!! Me quemé… Cuantas veces te lo he dicho".

Esta es la lección que Jesús nos enseña hoy en el Evangelio (Marcos 6, 1-6):  nadie es profeta en su propia tierra. Jesús dice: «No desprecian a un profeta más que en su tierra, entre sus parientes y en su casa.»

Todos tenemos la experiencia de ver como los tuyos hacen más caso al vecino que a uno mismo.

El otro día hablaba con una señora, y me decía: mi hija está llevando a su hija al psicólogo, y mira, lo que le está ayudando ya se lo decía yo mil veces… pero ni caso.  Y ahora el psicólogo le dice lo mismo que yo y le hace todo el caso del mundo.

Esto es ley de vida.  Nadie es profeta en su propia tierra.  Y por ahora estamos hablando dentro de lo sencillo de cada día, pero más duele cuando entramos en el ámbito de la fe.

¿Qué vino a hacer Jesús? vino a anunciar el Reino de Dios, que Dios es Amor y es Padre.  Y a los primeros que quiso acercar el mensaje fue a los suyos… pero los suyos no le recibieron, ni le hicieron caso, hasta le rechazaron.

Un compañero de Seminario, me decía que cuando iba a casa en verano sentía el rechazo de su familia, nadie le preguntaba, nadie se interesaba por lo que vivía en el Seminario.  Y sin embargo, cuando iba a la parroquia conocía a otras personas que valoraban su vocación más que su propio padre.

¿Cuál es la lección de hoy? Que las dificultades y el rechazo lo vamos a experimentar muchas veces dentro de nuestra propia sangre, dentro de los nuestros.  Y no pasa nada!! Jesús ya nos lo avisó. Yo diría que casi lo que más duele es el rechazo añadido a la confesión y práctica de la fe.

Muchos hoy se preguntan: ¿por qué mis hijos ya no van a misa? ¿por qué mi marido no me apoya en la educación de la fe en los hijos? ¿por qué la sociedad tiene tanto rechazo a la Iglesia?

Uno muchas veces no sabe.  Lo que si es verdad es que el ambiente en general va muy en contra de la fe. Tres cosas a tener en cuenta:

1-  Cuidar mucho el ambiente de fe en casa, es decir, que el hogar sea un pequeño "cielo".

2-    Practicar lo que se pretende enseñar.  Que los mayores hagamos el esfuerzo de poner en practica los valores del Evangelio.  Cuantas veces hemos escuchado… “tú mucho ir a misa… pero luego no paras de enfadarte, no para de criticar, o eres muy egoísta…”

3-    No tiremos piedras sobre nuestro propio tejado. Es decir, ¿quién no ve defectos en la propia Iglesia? Incluso los que venimos a menudo vemos más los defectos… tendríamos que evitar la critica a la Iglesia con los que son débiles en la fe.  Dicen que los trapos sucios se airean en casa.  No es que no haya que decir lo que uno ve que no es correcto, sino que se habría de hablar con las personas que más pueden ayudar dentro de la Iglesia.

Al final, a pesar de todo esto, si uno realmente quiere ayudar y evangelizar… hay un dicho que dice “Ancha es Castilla”, es decir, que si no me escuchan dentro de casa, me voy a evangelizar fuera de casa, pues hay mucha otra gente que espera con ganas escuchar el Evangelio.  Jesús hizo lo mismo: Y se extrañó de la falta de fe de los suyos. Y recorría los pueblos de alrededor enseñando. 

EL AÑO SACERDOTAL, UNA OPORTUNIDAD DE “RENOVACIÓN INTERIOR”

CIUDAD DEL VATICANO, miércoles 1 de julio de 2009 (ZENIT.org).- Ofrecemos a continuación la catequesis pronunciada hoy por el Papa durante la audiencia general de los miércoles, con los peregrinos congregados en la Plaza de San Pedro.

******

Queridos hermanos y hermanas:

Con la celebración de las Primeras Vísperas de la solemnidad de los santos apóstoles Pedro y Pablo en la Basílica de San Pablo Extramuros se ha cerrado, como sabéis, el 28 de junio, el Año Paulino, en recuerdo del segundo milenio del nacimiento del Apóstol de los Gentiles. Damos gracias al Señor por los frutos espirituales que esta importante iniciativa ha aportado a tantas comunidades cristianas. Como preciosa herencia del Año Paulino, podemos recoger la invitación del Apóstol a profundizar en el conocimiento del misterio de Cristo, para que sea Él el corazón y el centro de nuestra existencia personal y comunitaria. Ésta es, de hecho, la condición indispensable para una verdadera renovación espiritual y eclesial. Como subrayé ya durante la primera Celebración eucarística en la Capilla Sixtina tras mi elección como sucesor del Apóstol San Pedro, es precisamente de la plena comunión con Cristo de donde “brotan todos los demás elementos de la vida de la Iglesia, en primer lugar la comunión entre todos los fieles, el empeño de anunciar y dar tetsimonio del Evangelio, el ardor de la caridad hacia todos, especialmente hacia los pobres y los pequeños” (Cf. Enseñanzas, I, 2005, pp. 8-13). Esto vale en primer lugar para los sacerdotes. Por esto doy gracias a la Providencia divina que nos ofrece ahora la posibilidad de celebrar el Año Sacerdotal. Auguro de corazón que éste constituya para cada sacerdote una oportunidad de renovación interior y, en consecuencia, de firme revigorización en el compromiso hacia la propia misión.

Como durante el Año Paulino nuestra referencia constante ha sido san Pablo, así en los próximos meses miraremos en primer lugar a san Juan María Vianney, el santo Cura de Ars, recordando el 150 aniversario de su muerte. En la carta que he escrito para esta ocasión a los sacerdotes, he querido subrayar lo que resplandece sobre todo en la existencia de este humilde ministro del altar: “su total identificación con el propio ministerio”. Él solía decir que “un buen pastor, un pastor según el corazón de Dios, es el tesoro más grande que el buen Dios puede conceder a una parroquia y uno de los dones más preciosos de la misericordia divina”. Y casi sin poder concebir la grandeza del don y de la tarea confiados a una pobre criatura humana, suspiraba: “¡Oh, qué grande es el sacerdote!... si se comprendiera a sí mismo, moriría... Dios le obedece: él pronuncia dos palabras y Nuestro Señor desciende del cielo a su voz y se mete en una pequeña hostia”.

En verdad, precisamente considerando el binomio “identidad-misión”, cada sacerdote puede advertir mejor la necesidad de esa progresiva identificación con Cristo que le garantiza la fidelidad y la fecundidad del testimonio evangélico. El mismo título del Año Sacerdotal – Fidelidad de Cristo, fidelidad del sacerdote – evidencia que el don de la gracia divina precede toda posible rspuesta humana y realización pastoral, y así, en la vida del sacerdote, anuncio misionero y culto no son separables nunca, como tampoco se separan la identidad ontológico-sacramental y la misión evangelizadora. Por lo demás, el fin de la misión de todo presbítero, podríamos decir, es “cultual”: para que todos los hombres puedan ofrecerse a Dios como hostia viva, santa, agradable a Él (Cf. Rm 12,1), que en la misma creación, en los hombres, se convierte en culto, alabanza del Creador, recibiendo aquella caridad que estan llamados a dispensarse abundantemente unos a otros. Lo advertimos claramente en los inicios del cristianismo. San Juan Crisóstomo decía, por ejemplo, que el sacramento del altar y el “sacramento del hermano”, o, como dice, el “sacramento del pobre”, constituyen dos aspectos del mismo misterio. El amor al prójimo, la atención a la justicia y a los pobres, no son solamente temas de una moral social, sino más bien expresión de una concepción sacramental de la moralidad cristiana, porque, a través del ministerio de los presbíteros, se realiza el sacrificio espiritual de todos los fieles, en unión con el de Cristo, único Mediador: sacrificio que los presbíteros ofrecen de forma incruenta y sacramental en espera de la nueva venida del Señor. Ésta es la principal dimensión, esencialmente misionera y dinámica, de la identidad y del ministerio sacerdotal: a través del anuncio del Evangelio engendran en la fe a aquellos que aún no creen, para que puedan unir el sacrificio de Cristo a su sacrificio, que se traduce en amor a Dios y al prójimo.

Queridos hermanos y hermanas, frente a tantas incertidumbres y cansancios, también en el ejercicio del ministerio sacerdotal es urgente recuperar un juicio claro e inequívoco sobre el primado absoluto de la gracia divina, recordando lo que escribe santo Tomás de Aquino: “El más pequeño don de la gracia supera el bien natural de todo el universo” (Summa Theologiae, I-II, q. 113, a. 9, ad 2). La misión de cada presbítero dependerá, por tanto, también y sobre todo de la conciencia de la realidad sacramental de su “nuevo ser”. De la certeza de su propia identidad, no construida artificialmente sino dada y acogida gratuitamente y divinamente, depende siempre el renovado entusiasmo del sacerdote por su misión. También para los prebíteros vale lo que he escrito en la Encíclica Deus caritas est: “En el origen del ser cristiano no hay una decisión ética o una gran idea, sino más bien el encuentro con un acontecimiento, con una Persona, que trae a la vida un nuevo horizonte y con ello la dirección decisiva” (n. 1).

Habiendo recibido un tan extraordinario don de la gracia con su “consagración”, los presbíteros se convierten en testigos permanentes de su encuentro con Cristo. Partiendo precisamente de esta conciencia interior, éstos pueden llevar a cabo plenamente su “misión”, mediante el anuncio de la Palabra y la administración de los Sacramentos. Tras el Concilio Vaticano II, se ha producido aquí la impresión de que en la misión de los sacerdotes, en este tiempo nuestro, haya algo más urgente; algunos creían que se debía construir en primer lugar una sociedad distinta. La página evangélica que hemos escuchado al principio llama, en cambio, la atención sobre los dos elementos esenciales del ministerio sacerdotal. Jesús envía, en aquel tiempo y ahora, a los Apóstoles a anunciar el Evangelio y les da el poder de cazar a los espíritus malignos. “Anuncio” y “poder”, es decir, “palabra” y “sacramento”, son por tanto las dos comunes fundamentales del servicio sacerdotal, más allá de sus posibles múltiples configuraciones.

Cuando no se tiene en cuenta el “díptico” consagración-misión, resulta verdaderamente difícil comprender la identidad del presbítero y de su ministerio en la Iglesia. ¿Quién es de hecho el presbítero, si no un hombre convertido y renovado por el Espíritu, que vive de la relación personal con Cristo, haciendo constantemente propios los criterios evangélicos? ¿Quién es el presbítero, si no un hombre de unidad y de verdad, consciente de sus propios límites y, al mismo tiempo, de la extraordinaria grandeza de la vocación recibida, la de ayudar a extender el Reino de Dios hasta los extremos confines de la tierra? ¡Sí! El sacerdote es un hombre todo del Señor, porque es Dios mismo quien le llama y le constituye en su servicio apostólico. Y precisamente siendo todo del Señor, es todo de los hombres, para los hombres. Durante este Año Sacerdotal, que se extenderá hasta la próxima Solemnidad del Sagrado Corazón de Jesús, oremos por todos los sacerdotes. Que se mutlipliquen en las diócesis, en las parroquias, en las comunidades religiosas (especialmente en las monásticas), en las asociaciones y los movimientos, en las diversas agregaciones pastorales presentes en todo el mundo, iniciativas de oración y, en particular, de adoración eucarística, por la santificación del clero y por las vocaciones sacerdotales, respondiendo a la invitación de Jesús a orar “al dueño de la mies que envíe obreros a su mies” (Mt9,38). La oración es la primera tarea, el verdadero camino de santificación de los sacerdotes, y el alma de la auténtica “pastoral vocacional”. La escasez numérica de ordenaciones sacerdotales en algunos países no sólo no debe desanimar, sino que debe empujar a multiplicar los espacios de silencio y de escucha de la Palabra, a cuidar mejor la dirección espiritual y el sacramento de la confesión, para que la voz de Dios, que siempre sigue llamando y confirmando, pueda ser escuchada y prontamente seguida por muchos jóvenes. Quien reza no tiene miedo; quien reza nunca está solo; ¡quien reza se salva! Modelo de una existencia hecha oración es sin duda san Juan María Vianney. María, Madre de la Iglesia, ayude a todos los sacerdotes a seguir su ejemplo para ser, como él, testigos de Cristo y apóstoles del Evangelio.

ON PRIESTLY IDENTITY

"One Who Prays Is Not Afraid; One Who Prays Is Never Alone"

VATICAN CITY, JULY 1, 2009 (Zenit.org).- Here is a translation of the address Benedict XVI gave today during the general audience in St. Peter's Square. He continued with the theme he took up last week: the Year for Priests.

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Dear brothers and sisters:

As you know, with the celebration of First Vespers for the solemnity of the holy Apostles Peter and Paul in the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls, the Pauline Year has come to a close -- the year that marked the 2,000th anniversary of the birth of the Apostle to the Gentiles. Let us give thanks to the Lord for the spiritual fruits that this important initiative has brought to so many Christian communities.

As a precious heritage of the Pauline Year, we can reap the Apostle's invitation to go deeper into the knowledge of the mystery of Christ, so that he becomes the heart and center of our personal and social realities.

This is, in fact, the indispensable condition for a true spiritual and ecclesial renewal. As I already emphasized during the first Eucharistic celebration in the Sistine Chapel after my election as the Successor of the Apostle St. Peter, it is precisely from that full communion with Christ that "flows every other element of the Church's life: first of all, communion among all the faithful, the commitment to proclaiming and witnessing to the Gospel, the ardor of love for all, especially the poorest and lowliest" (1st Message at the End of the Eucharistic Concelebration With the Members of the College of Cardinals in the Sistine Chapel, April 20, 2005).

This is true in the first place for priests. Because of this, I thank Divine Providence, which now offers us the possibility of celebrating the Year for Priests. It is my heartfelt wish that this will be an opportunity for interior renewal for every priest, and consequently, [a year of] firm reinvigoration in the commitment to his own mission.

Just as during the Pauline Year, our constant reference point was St. Paul, so in the coming months we will look to St. John Vianney, the holy Curé d'Ars, recalling the 150th anniversary of his death. In the letter I wrote to priests for this occasion, I wanted to emphasize what shines forth in the existence of this humble minister of the altar: "the complete identification of the man with his ministry."

He often said that "a good pastor, a pastor after the heart of God, is the greatest treasure that the good God can give to a parish, and one of the most precious gifts of divine mercy." And almost unable to conceive the greatness of the gift and the task entrusted to a poor human creature, he sighed, "Oh how great is the priesthood! … If he could understand himself, he would die. … God obeys him: He pronounces two words and Our Lord descends from heaven at his beckoning and enters into a tiny Host."

In truth, precisely considering the binomial "identity-mission," every priest can better see the need for this progressive identification with Christ that will guarantee him fidelity and fruitfulness in the evangelical testimony.

The very theme of the Year for Priests -- Faithfulness of Christ, Faithfulness of Priests -- shows that the gift of divine grace precedes every possible human response and pastoral accomplishment, and thus, in the life of the priest, missionary proclamation and worship are never separable, just as the ontological-sacramental identity and the evangelizing mission are not separable.

Apart from that we could say the objective of every priest's mission is "cultic": so that all people can offer themselves to God as a living host, holy and pleasing to Him (cf. Romans 12:1), that in creation itself, in people, it becomes worship and praise of the Creator, receiving from it that charity that they are called to abundantly dispense among each other. 

We clearly see this in the beginnings of Christianity. St. John Chrysostom said, for example, that the sacrament of the altar and the "sacrament of one's brother" or, as they say, the "sacrament of the poor," are two aspects of the same mystery. Love for neighbor, attention to justice and to the poor, are not just themes of social morality, but rather the expression of a sacramental conception of Christian morality, because through the ministry of the priest, the spiritual sacrifice of all the faithful is carried out, in union with that of Christ, the one Mediator: the sacrifice that priests offer in an unbloody and sacramental manner awaiting the new coming of the Lord.

This is the principal dimension, essentially missionary and dynamic, of priestly identity and ministry: by way of the proclamation of the Gospel, those who still do not believe are begotten in the faith, so that they can unite their sacrifice to the sacrifice of Christ, that translates in love for God and neighbor.

Dear brothers and sisters, faced with so many uncertainties and struggles, it is urgent to recover -- also in the exercise of priestly ministry -- a clear and unmistaken judgment about the absolute primacy of divine grace, recalling what St. Thomas Aquinas wrote: "The smallest gift of grace surpasses the natural good of the whole universe" (Summa Theologiae, I-II, q. 113, a. 9, ad 2).

The mission of every priest depends, therefore, also and above all on the awareness of the sacramental reality of his "new being." The priest's renewed enthusiasm for his mission will always depend on the certainty of his personal identity, which is not artificially constructed, but rather given and received freely and divinely. What I have written in the encyclical "Deus Caritas Est" is also true for priests: "Being Christian is not the result of an ethical choice or a lofty idea, but the encounter with an event, a person, which gives life a new horizon and a decisive direction" (No. 1).

Having received such an extraordinary gift of grace with their "consecration," priests become permanent witnesses of their encounter with Christ. Beginning precisely from this interior awareness, they can plentifully fulfill their "mission," by means of the proclamation of the Word and the administration of the sacraments. After the Second Vatican Council, the impression has come about that in our times, there is something more urgent in priests' missions; some believed that they should in the first place build up a distinct society. On the other hand, the verses from the Gospel that we heard at the beginning call our attention to the two essential elements of priestly ministry. Jesus sends the apostles, at that time and now, to proclaim the Gospel and he gives them the power to cast out evil spirits. "Proclamation" and "power," that is to say "word" and "sacrament," are therefore the two foundational pillars of priestly service, beyond its many possible configurations.

When the "diptych" consecration-mission is not taken into account, it becomes truly difficult to understand the identity of the priest and his ministry in the Church. Who in fact is the priest, if not a man converted and renewed by the Spirit, who lives from a personal relationship with Christ, constantly making the Gospel criteria his own? Who is the priest, if not a man of unity and truth, aware of his own limits and at the same time, of the extraordinary greatness of the vocation he has received, that of helping to extend the Kingdom of God to the ends of the earth?

Yes! The priest is a man totally belonging to the Lord, because it is God himself who calls him and who establishes him in his apostolic service. And precisely being totally of God, he is totally of mankind, for all people. During this Year for the Priest, which will continue until the next solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, let us pray for all priests. May there be an abundance of prayer initiatives and, in particular, Eucharistic adoration, for the sanctification of the clergy and for priestly vocations -- in dioceses, in parishes, in religious communities (especially monasteries), in associations and movements and in the various pastoral groups present in the whole world -- responding to Jesus' invitation to pray "to the lord of the harvest that he may send workers to his harvest" (Matthew 9:38).

Prayer is the first task, the true path of sanctification for priests, and the soul of an authentic "vocational ministry." The numerical scarcity of priestly ordinations in some countries should not discourage, but instead should motivate a multiplication of opportunities for silence and listening to the Word, and better attention to spiritual direction and the sacrament of confession, so that the voice of God, who always continues calling and confirming, can be heard and promptly followed by many youth.

One who prays is not afraid; one who prays is never alone; one who prays is saved! St. John Vianney is undoubtedly a model of an existence made prayer. Mary, Mother of the Church, help all priests to follow his example so as to be, like him, witnesses of Christ and apostles of the Gospel. 

REFLECTION Sunday´s Gospel

Called to be prophets!  (Fr James McTavish, FMVD)

Each Christian is called to participate in the prophetic mission of Christ. But it is not easy to be a prophet if we always want everyone to agree with us. Perhaps we can ask ourselves “How much of a conformist am I?”  Sometimes we will never share about our faith because we are so worried about what others will think. How much we like others to agree with us and how much we can even get upset with a little criticism! But as prophets we need to start to accept that not always everyone will agree with what we have to say. Look at our Lord and Master in today’s gospel. At first he is the talk of the town. He goes back to his native place to teach in the synagogue and many who heard him were amazed. “Where did this man get all this? What kind of wisdom has been given him? What mighty deeds are wrought by his hands!” (See Mark 6, 1-6). The people were impressed by Jesus but they were also challenged. Perhaps the universal love of Jesus for all men was too much for the small town folk. God always challenges our loving. It is easy to be complacent, thinking we are good Christians, better than others. Often it is said “I am not a bad person. I haven’t killed anyone”! While Jesus does not challenge his townsfolk he is welcomed and loved. But when he starts to challenge them or ask them to widen their perspective, to love those who are difficult, to forgive, to not keep a record of wrongs or to walk the extra mile. Hey, hold on a minute Mr. Jesus, just who do you think you are? How many times we need to be challenged to make an exodus from our comfort zone!

In the spiritual classic ‘The Imitation of Christ, it says “Many are in love with my Kingdom but few are ready to carry my cross. Everyone would like to rejoice with me but few wish to suffer with me. Many love me as long as they are without trials. Many praise me and bless me as long as they receive favours. Many follow me to the breaking of the bread but few to drinking the cup of my Passion”. When his own townsfolk are challenged by the magnamity of Jesus’ love for all they start to criticize him “Is he not the carpenter, the son of Mary,and the brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us?" The evangelists records that “they took offense at him”. Jesus was amazed at their lack of faith. How great if we could amaze Jesus with our strong faith just like the Centurion did. Looking at our faith today, would Jesus be amazed at it, or at its lack?

At times to be coherent with our faith our lives will attract criticism as did the life of Jesus. One example of this was Oscar Romero, an Archbishop of El Salvador. For much of his life he was just a conformist, turning a blind eye to the political killings in his country. One day at the funeral of a priest friend who had been assassinated he had a conversion. He started to speak out. He started to take seriously what God was telling him. To be a prophet to his own people and to the leaders in power. God spoke to Archhbishop Romero in the same way he spoke to the prophet Ezekiel in the first reading of today “As the LORD spoke to me, the spirit entered into me and set me on my feet, and I heard the one who was speaking say to me: Son of man, I am sending you to the Israelites, rebels who have rebelled against me; they and their ancestors have revolted against me to this very day. Hard of face and obstinate of heart are they to whom I am sending you. But you shall say to them: Thus says the LORD GOD! And whether they heed or resist—for they are a rebellious house—they shall know that a prophet has been among them. (Ezekiel 2, 2-5).

Oscar Romero was indeed a prophetic voice amidst the violence in El Salvador. He was told to be quiet, to stop causing trouble. He was criticized but responded thus “Do you want to know if your Christianity is genuine? Here is the touchstone: Whom do you get along with? Who are those who criticize you? Who are those who do not accept you? Who are those who flatter you? Know from that what Christ said once: "I have come not to bring peace, but division." There will be division even in the same family, because some want to live more comfortably by the world's principles, those of power and money. But others have embraced the call of Christ and must reject all that cannot be just in the world.” He spoke out to defend the rights of the people of El Salvador. One day, having announced to the military to live in a Christian way he was shot through the heart while celebrating the Eucharist.

Many times we are called to be a prophetic voice too. In fact, each Christian by virtue of their baptism is called to share in the very prophetic mission of Christ. Perhaps as a mother sharing the faith to her children, or a father helping to orient a wayward son who does not want to listen. It can also be the other way round, that children have to be bold in telling certain things to their parents that they do not want to hear! Those in  positions of responsibility often have to speak out to defend the truth or in management to correct an employee who is not performing. As Catholics there are certain social issues that cannot be ignored such as the duty to announce the right to life. It is helpful to ask the Lord in what way we can share in his prophetic mission? In this challenging mission God’s grace will strengthen us in our weaknesses. As the Lord reminded St Paul “My grace is enough for you”. Let us take up the challenge to be prophets in our own little ways. And not to expect everyone to always agree with us!