How to ace the test

Remember when you were in school and just maybe your marks weren’t always the best they could have been. And there was always that one sibling or one of your best friends that somehow managed to be the top student every marking period, the highest grades on every report card.

And of course, they received the accolades, they received the prizes and the rewards. That was me, not the smart one, but the one who passed by the skin of their teeth.

But then that one semester you were determined to do your best, and you did and reaped the benefits, yes, the rewards, maybe some money, the pats on the back and it felt great.

Even a surprise quiz, completely unexpected printed from a mimeograph machine with the blue smelly ink you were ready for.  And, because you studied diligently, you aced it. You were prepared for the unexpected.

For me, most of the time while in school, I not only never studied diligently, or even never studied.

That’s how our life is, and that’s what God is telling us throughout the New Testament. Be prepared, for we never know when God is going to call us. 

That is one test we want to ace. But if we are always thinking of him and preparing ourselves by praying and helping others and showing him our love, then we will ace that test too.

Yes, life is a test and while we are here on this earth, we are preparing for the final exam. And if we pass, we graduate to our eternal reward, heaven.

They heard it first hand

Was this the greatest sermon ever? It had to be, and outside no less, and on a mountain. So many people sitting on the grass, on the mountain side, listening to the greatest sermon by the greatest teacher.

And who were these people, where did they come from? Why were they there? For the most part they were the poor people from the surrounding areas, they were the sick, the crippled, the uneducated. They were the unimportant people of the world. They were us

Yes, it was a teaching moment for Jesus, the Master and a learning experience like no other for the people who came to find the truth that would set them free. It is to these very people that Jesus tells them, “you are the salt of the earth, it is you who are the light of the world”.

He tells them as he tells us that Just as salt makes food taste better, it is you and I, by our example, that can bring others to the banquet table of the Lord.

Jesus said, “you are the light of the world”. Just a lamp lights up a darkened room it is you and I who reflect the light of Jesus and have the power to bring lost souls back by that same guided light.

Be the person that when people see your actions, they know you have God in your heart. Yes, you are like that light house, a guiding light, the light that leads, not just you, but those who you don’t even realize you are guiding, to eternal life.

You are the new salt for them. Life begins to taste good. The spiritual life is nurtured. You are the one who makes life worth living again.  You are reaching out, not by harassing them, not by thanking God you are not like them, but by love, by spiritually embracing them by your kindness, by your leadership.

 As we lead others to the right path, we sprinkle the salt on their path that makes their journey a craving for more.

Jesus is here, to refresh us, to nourish us, to provide us with the gifts to satisfy our own spiritual hunger, and to quench the thirst of those longing for Christ.  

We have a duty to bring the Word of God to those who are lost. As we ourselves mature in our faith God gives us the graces to proclaim his truths and spread his good news, as Jesus tells us, “if you love me – feed my sheep”.

Against the odds

It makes you wonder what kind of impression James and John had of heaven. From Jesus’ teaching they seemed to know it was a place and it was a place of honor where some went after death. And they realized not everyone made it that glorious place.

They wanted so much to be in heaven and close to Jesus that they thought what an even better honor than to be on both sides of Jesus, one on his left and the other in his right. Not, sure where they thought the other apostles were to sit.

James and John were brothers and they didn’t want to be separated from each other nor did they want to be separated from Jesus, so why not ask even though the other apostles became quite upset of the audacity of such a question.

But Jesus uses this as a very teachable moment. See, Jesus did offer them the privilege of sharing in his suffering, but this did not mean that their sufferings would take away anyone’s sins. Jesus could only do that by his death and resurrection. But still he offered them the privilege of bearing his burdens as well as his joy and so becoming as compassionate as he was.

Heaven was their goal and heaven is our goal, and Jesus is telling us we must be the servant, humbling ourselves against the odds. Return love for any hatred against us, and love when we are misunderstood. That is humility. What could cause more pain than to love so deeply, and not be loved in return? Wasn’t that Jesus’ very act of self-giving.  He drank the cup, and want our love in return.
In our own ways, each of us is called to drink from Jesus’ cup.  Who does not face opportunities every day to do something for our brother. Who does not have opportunities to serve others and reflect on the life and love of Jesus, the humblest of all servants?

This life will pass, and those who suffered humility in this life will be first in the life to come. How can we become more like Jesus? Serve! In heaven the servants would receive the highest positions, not those with the highest honors.

Is this one of your goals

Saint Paul has a way of telling it like it is. Of where you are and where you need to be. And what he tells the Thessalonians, is certainly meant for us. “Even as you learned to conduct yourself that is pleasing to God, so you must learn to make still greater progress”.

It’s like saying, don’t be pleased with your progress towards holiness. Don’t be satisfied with where you are, but be conscience of God’s will for you.  And he tells us, “it is God’s will that we grow in holiness”

If we are satisfied and pleased with our progress, then there is no cross.

And Jesus said to his disciples, "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me”.

Some of us know where we are in many aspects of our life, the goals we’ve set, the progress we’ve made and the obstacles we will encounter. And the sacrifices we will endure to overcome those obstacles to achieve the goal.

Heaven is a goal and that goal comes with many more obstacles than most any other goal we have or will set. And this goal, is by far the most important goal of your life. This goal can only be achieved through holiness.

“Strive for peace with everyone, and for holiness without which no one will see the Lord” (Heb 12:14).

Storms of life

Life is like the ocean; some days are rougher than others. But even in the storms of life there can be a peace for those who have faith. “He rebuked the winds and the sea and there was a great calm”. Bring your storms to Jesus, “For even the winds and the sea obey”.

We must never forget that our first duty is always the one imposed on us by our Baptism: to preserve intact the white garment of grace and purity. Before everything else, we have the immense responsibility of living our Baptism promises.

The uncertainties of life, when left in our own hands, can remain uncertainties, but when we place our doubts, our fears and our reservations in God’s hands we can be assured he has a certain plan for our future. With trust and patience, God can work with us.

"God never forces anyone; He takes what we give him, but does not give himself wholly until he sees that we are giving ourselves wholly to him", a beautiful quote by St. Teresa of Avila. God has made man free, and with that freedom we accept him or refuse to accept him.

For Jesus, Nazareth was peaceful and home was comforting, but Jesus answered the call and the challenge of God. At Jesus’ baptism, the heavens were opened to him, and the mystery of the Trinity was made manifest. The same Holy Spirit was upon us at our own baptism.

It is true, this life is a challenge, but God says, “my grace is sufficient”.  Take a leap of faith, renew your baptismal promises and answer God’s challenge, placing you on that narrow road.

Surprise like no other

Maybe it was an element of surprise, for this poor old man. “Now, Master, you may let your servant go, in peace, according to your word”. It took the eyes of an old man and the faith of an old woman to recognize that the Lord was in their presence.  These two had been waiting, they had been preparing for His coming, and the world had waited and prepared for hundreds of years. Surprise, and maybe amazement for them both.

I don’t know if there will be an element of surprise for us today, or anytime soon, but, Like Simeon and Anna, we need to prepare ourselves for an encounter with the Lord. 

Jesus has many ways of surprising us, and there are many ways to encounter Jesus in our lives.  Every creature we meet, every person we speak to, everyone who is around is an encounter with. As we all know, the Holy Spirit works in mysterious ways.

The poor and helpless, the sick and dying, and those in prison, hospitals and the homebound; our co-workers, both holy and unholy people, Jesus is in every one of those souls. Maybe that can be an element of surprise for us.

Jesus is always waiting for us in his temple, every one of his brothers and sisters. He is in the Eucharist, waiting for us to embrace him and hold him close to our hearts.  His love, stronger than any sin we may commit – will purify us.  Then like Simeon, we will be filled with his grace and peace.  Like Anna, we will give thanks to God.

Yes, preparation is the key, for the element of surprise may not be today, may not be in our meeting of a homeless person, may not be in the Scripture verse we read, but our element of surprise, may be that day we are judged by our Lord.  

Blessed to All

How blessed and pure she was, sinless in God’s eyes.  There can be no room for sin when you are “full of grace”. “And all generations will call me Blessed”, she cries with joy to her cousin Elizabeth. Yes, all will call her blessed.

 A beautiful woman who said “Yes” for all mankind, and then with that trust and humility in her God, lived a life as the Mother of the Savior of the world.  “And Mary kept all these things reflecting on them in her heart”

Saint Alphonsus Liguori says, that the most holy Virgin saw her Son in the crib of Bethlehem, and believed Him the Creator of the world.

She saw Him born and believed Him eternal, she saw Him poor and in need of food, and believed Him the Lord of the universe. She heard Him weep, and believed Him the joy of Paradise.

 And yes, she saw Him in death, despised and crucified, and, although faith wavered in others, Mary remained firm in the belief that He was God. Yes "Mary stood, supported by her faith."

Her faith is the pillar of strength that when we imitate her, becomes our strength as well. And that strength provides the stepping stones to receive all the other virtues of our Blessed Mother, that model of perfection.

So many times, God asks each of us to "cast out into the deep", enter the unknown, just like He did with Mary. These are challenges, and these challenges, when accepted, imitate Mary’s trust, Mary’s unshakable faith, moving us forward knowing that He is with us every step of our journey.

Mary carried Jesus within her body, the first Tabernacle.  Our own body and soul, when prepared, can receive Jesus as the Living Waters, needed to refresh and nourish us for our journey.  

Today, let us thank God for all He has done in our lives and for all that He has blessed us with, and for that he will wants to do if we allow him to live in our heart.

Mary, our Blessed Mother, Queen of Heaven and earth, pray for us to be imitators of your virtues.