Episodit
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Given as part of a Novena to the Immaculate Conception.
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A reflection given for the Novena to the Immaculate Conception on Mary as "Mother of the Fallen Away."
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In Advent we prepare for the coming of the Christ Child at Christmas. Jesus, who found no room in the inn at Bethlehem, can find room in our souls and our lives if we prepare well for his coming. Making room for Jesus means clearing other things out, finding time for prayer, and welcoming him in others.
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What is the Kingdom of God and the Kingship of Christ? How can we be loyal subjects of this Kingdom? What keeps us from letting Christ rule as King?
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Jesus encourages us to pray constantly. This advice is seconded by St. Paul and many other saints. Scripture teaches us the many benefits of habitual prayer: joy, motivation, peace and fruitfulness. Prayer is the very shape of Christian life: a sharing of our life with Christ's.
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Prayer was a regular part of Jesus' daily life. We can learn a lot from watching when, how and where he prayed.
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Given at an Annual Men's Conference.
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Jesus's parable of the widow and the unjust judge teaches us to pray with persistence and intensity. While always confident that God our Father hears and answers our prayers, we are called to exercise this confidence by patient perseverance in our petitions. "Prayer works." This is a fundamental Gospel truth. Prayer is powerful and others depend on our prayers of intercession for them. Prayer of petition brings us closer to God, by reminding us of our status as his creatures and children.
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After the Rich Young Man goes away sad, Jesus tells his disciples twice that it will be difficult for the rich to enter the Kingdom of God. The possession of riches comes with the danger of relying on them too much, seeking our happiness in them, falling into a kind of practical idolatry. The solution to this is detachment or poverty of spirit. Detachment frees our hearts to love God and others.
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When Job sees God he accepts God's plan and submits to his judgment. In this life, our vision of God is always indirect and partial. "We see through a mirror dimly." It takes thus faith to trust in God's plan and his providence especially when things are difficult or go against us. In this life, faith in God's promises substitutes for sight especially in moments when it is hard for us to understand God's ways.
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The reward for charity is great, the punishment for sin is daunting. We live in a battle between good and evil, between joy and misery. Victory in this struggle is not just a matter of effort but of clear spiritual vision.
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Matthew's response to his vocation demonstrates a great deal of trust in Jesus. His Gospel emphasizes Jesus's deep appreciation of faith and his disappointment at its absence. Trust in Jesus should be absolute, lending a great certainty to our faith in his Church and in all of his teachings. "Faith is the evidence of things unseen." This means that at times we will have to trust more in Jesus than in the evidence of our own senses or the apparent evidence of our own judgment.
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Christ's Triumph on the Cross defeated sin and death. It was a triumph of love over selfishness. This victory needs to be repeated in our own lives, in our own carrying of the Cross. Sin and selfishness have to be defeated in us and this entails the acceptance of suffering and sacrifice; in a word the acceptance of the Cross. Suffering is inevitable in life, but whether it is redemptive and sanctifying or futile and permanent is truly up to us.
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Our Faith constantly encourages us to overcome our fears. This entails standing up to them and being open to fearful situations. Christian courage, however, is primarily based on belief in God's powerful presence and protection. With God, "whom shall we fear?"
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St. James describes the word of God has "having been planted in us." This gift of God leads to the growth of His own Life in each Christian. To foster the growth of the word in us we need to remove obstacles and create an environment in which it can flourish.
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St. Bartholomew's first meeting with Jesus is recorded in the Gospel of St. John. Introduced by Philip, Bartholomew is struck by Jesus's already knowing him before they ever met. Jesus is struck in turn by Bartholomew's sincerity, "an Israelite in whom there is no guile." Our own Christian life is a matter of meeting Jesus, finding that he already knows and loves us, and being radically sincere with him so that he can completely forgive and save us.
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Martha invites Jesus into her home along with her sister Mary. Jesus's interaction with them is a great source of insight for us. "The better part" that Mary has chosen, sitting at the feet of Jesus, tells us of the importance of prayer. Jesus's correction of Martha, however, also has to do with her inner attitude of distraction, worry, and resentment. In this sense, Martha can choose the better part, keep working, and maintain her peace and joy.
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Jesus wants his joy to be in us and our joy to be full. Sharing the joy of Jesus means sharing in his victory over sin and death on the cross. Jesus receives a crown of glory and joy in heaven for his triumph. We too will be crowned victors if we persevere joyfully in the Spiritual Olympics of life.
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