A Great Birthday Present

 

Yesterday was March 25^th, 9 months before Christmas Day, and we celebrated the feast of the Annunciation: “The angel of the Lord declared unto Mary” and she conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit.  That was the world’s most stupendous event, God became man.  He was born into the womb of Mary; this was the real birth day of Jesus.  But this year was also another “rare” event:  the people of the world prayed together.

A few years ago, a young girl was talking to me about Christmas and presents, when I asked her: What could you give Jesus on His birthday which would really surprise and delight Him, a surprise birthday present?”  She pondered that.  I recalled that conversation as yesterday the pope led a penance service, asking God’s forgiveness and mercy for our sins, and then --- in union with broadcasts and special prayer services at that hour around the world --- the pope and all the people asked God for forgiveness and mercy, and consecrated Russia and the Ukraine to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, for her to watch over them even as a mother does her children.  The whole world pled for mercy!  I think God was pleasantly surprised at that event.  He has never seen anything like that from this generation, and I’m sure it was a welcome birth day present

This Sunday’s Gospel (tomorrow) is the one where the Prodigal Son wastes his father’s gifts, ignores him, and then when he is starving comes home begging for His father’s mercy.  And the father hugs him and throws a party.  Yesterday, I think the pleaders for mercy around the world acted like the Prodigal Son, we’ve been so far away from the things Our Father taught us, and we’ve ignored Him.  I think God was surprised at the world’s attention and action yesterday, and it made Him happy.  I don’t expect Him to throw a party, but I hope for mercy and peace.

 

GOD IS GOD

 

The pope has said he will consecrate Russia to the Immaculate Heart of Mary tomorrow, as was requested by Mary at Fatima in 1917.  At that time Mary told the little children to request that consecration so that that Russia would be converted and a period of peace be granted to the world.  It was not done then.

I and many other people have been listening to the Bible in a Year readings; it is one of the most popular podcasts on the internet, in the world.  One of the most striking things you can’t help but learn from these daily readings is that God is true to His word, and that HE IS GOD, and must be obeyed.  We hear of the 400 years in Egypt, the 40 years in the desert, and many other things permitted to happen to HIS CHOSEN PEOPLE, because they failed to obey what He had commanded.  Sometimes, hearing those words of the Old Testament it is very good that Fr. Mike, who comments on them, keeps re-iterating that God seems like a mean God, but that He has to get it in the minds and hearts of the Jewish people:  HE IS GOD.  Yesterday we read in the Book of Joshua, chapters 6 and 7, how God commanded cities be destroyed utterly, “men and women, young and old, oxen, sheep, and donkeys”.  Fr. Mike comments on how harsh this seems to our ears.

God wanted nothing of evil cities to temp the Jewish people to evil, as they so often fell into.  He had demonstrated that in the past, how nothing of alien ways must come to His people.  Yet in Chapter 7, we hear the story of Achan, who admitted to Joshua that he had disobeyed the command, and kept “a beautiful mantle from Shinar, and two hundred shekels of silver, and a bar of gold weighing fifty shekels” and hid them in his tent.  So Joshua commanded that Achan and his wife, children, animals, tent, and those items be taken and “all Israel stoned him with stones, they burned them with fire, and stoned them with stones.”

Fr. Mike, who comments on these readings often notes how some of these passages seem like God is a very cruel God, but He brings home the point that God had to do these things:  the Jews just didn’t get it, and it had to be very strongly shown:  HE IS GOD.  You don’t disobey Him; you don’t treat Him lightly, you don’t ignore what He says, and you do fear Him --- yet know most firmly that He loves you and will never forget you.  And He is merciful, but HE IS GOD.

I’ve read some things which say that the pope has recently heard from advisors that it would be more politically correct and not offend anyone if he consecrated “humanity”, including the Ukraine and Russia, to the Immaculate Heart of Mary tomorrow.  The man Achan saved a few things which were pretty, why not?  And we heard the result.  Please pray that the pope and bishops do as God asked tomorrow, to do HIS will, and not to appease other men with what is politically correct.

Regardless of what happens, Jesus, I trust in You.   

Review: The Art of Living

 

This book, by Dr. Edward Sri, is unique in that it not only speaks of why virtues are key to living a good life, but also defines what living in virtue looks like.

 Dr. Sri noted:

Virtue should be understood relationally.  The virtues are not important for merely one’s own life … virtues give us the freedom to love, (and) have the ability to give the best of ourselves to God and others.

Dr. Sri notes that without virtues “we don’t know how to live friendship, community, dating, marriage, and family life well.”  He seems to be defining our present society.  He further emphasizes: “To the extent that I lack in virtues, I am not free to love.”  That summarizes the importance of this book, and it does a very good and precise presentation of what each of the virtues is and how it impacts our living.  Despite the importance of a virtuous life, unfortunately there is only one short chapter on growing in virtue, noting 3 keys as being:

1)      Educate ourselves
2)         Put in much effort
3)         Rely on God’s grace

    

The book has many good examples as it explains each virtue (and sometimes its opposite vice).  Unfortunately, I recognized myself in a number of those not-living-in-virtue examples.  This is a very good book and I highly recommend it.  I only wish it were longer, giving more examples of forming virtues, and of losing virtues.  A key part of the book, however, is the discussion questions at the end of each chapter.  Basically, Dr. Sri asks you to consider how you’ve gained, lost, or the impact of virtues you lack. He makes you consider “How well am I living? Will humbly adopting some of the virtues discussed make me better in my own eyes?  In God’s eyes? 

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I recently reviewed another book, Seeking First The Kingdom, by Fr. John Bartunek.  It is similar to The Better Part gospel meditations, and my Bible Study group recently started using Seeking First the Kingdom for its Lenten meditations.  We all agree it is an outstanding book in opening our eyes and hearts to better loving God.  It was this past week, however, that one of the group members said that “it’s too bad this book is out of print.”  What!!!??  My book is an original copy, although I don’t recall when or where I bought it.  I see the copywrite is 2014, so I am surprised it is out of print, especially since it is such an outstanding book.  My friends purchased, without my awareness, used copies which were available ---- for now.  Based on how well this fits in with my group now, despite going out of print, I can only conclude this is another of those “coincidences” God sends my way.