Calendar

Leader's School
Thur June 6, 7:00pm
St. Benedict's, BA
RE classroom #8

Ultreya-Tulsa
Fri June 7, 7:00pm
St. Mary's, Tulsa

Ultreya-BA
Fri June 21, 7:00pm
St. Benedict's, BA

Leader's School
Thur July 11, 7:00pm
St. Benedict's, BA
RE classroom #8

Ultreya-Tulsa
Fri July 5, 7:00pm
St. Mary's, Tulsa

Ultreya-BA
Fri July 19, 7:00pm
St. Benedict's, BA

Men's Weekend #31
Sept 26-29, 2002
St. John's, McAlester

Women's Weekend #31
Oct 10-13, 2002
St. John's, McAlester

SPIRITUALITY 101

SPIRITUAL REFLECTION- 41

Deacon Jim Breazile ocds

St. Benedict (who died in 543) was sent to Rome by his father to study science and literature. When he found himself in that large city, he became frightened at the risk of going astray because of scandal from his evil companions. He ran away from school thinking it was better to be ignorant but virtuous than to be learned but licentious. 

It is this sort of sensitivity of the soul that is necessary to live the beatitudes.

BEATITUDES:

BLESSED ARE YOU WHO ARE POOR IN SPIRIT

FOR THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS YOURS (Matt. 6:20)

When we respond fully to the gifts of the Holy Spirit, we experience such a perfection of virtues in our lives that we obtain a presentiment of the Beatific Vision of God in paradise.  It is for this reason that these special gifts are called the beatitudes. When we live continually in anticipation of the Eternal Beatitude of God Himself, we are empowered to fulfill our personal vocation of beatitude on earth.  Each of the general gifts of the Holy Spirit inspires us to exhibit a corresponding beatitude in our lives.  The gift of fear of the Lord inspires us to be poor in spirit. You may want to review the qualities of the gift of fear of the Lord in reflection No. 37 above. 

When the gift of fear of the Lord is freely expressed in our lives, then God will become all that is real for us and He will pervade every avenue of our lives. Full expression of this gift will seek only the eternal and will not tolerate a desire for any temporal or spiritual events and things aside from the Lord Himself. There will be such a suppression of appetites for temporal and spiritual pleasures that sin will be overcome. Because of our fear of offending our Lord, we will want to show our love for Him in every way possible. We accomplish this by not loving anything, even the experience of His love for us, more than God Himself.  St. John of the Cross explains that a dispensation of all temporal and spiritual pleasures for ourselves represents a "Dark Night." This essentially means that we would experience the only object of our love, God and nothing else. Since God is incomprehensible to our sensory or mental knowledge nothing can be perceived of Him.  The poverty required to love God with our entire being and experience nothing is the perfection of poverty of the spirit.

When one is first confronted with this gift of the Spirit of poverty, we usually ask a number of questions.  At first there is doubt that this humanly possible. We must conclude that this is true, without God it is impossible. How do we acquire such convincing knowledge of God to give all to Him and claim or expect nothing in return? God gives us a slight insight in his Dialogues with St. Catherine of Siena. He tells Catherine "Here is the way, if you would come to perfect knowledge and enjoyment of me, eternal life: Never leave the knowledge of yourself. Then put down as you are in the valley of humility you will know me in yourself, and from this knowledge you will draw all that you need."  ( from "The Dialogue", Article 4) It is only in knowing ourselves in this valley of humility that we can know God to the degree that we can come to love Him with all our heart, our mind, our spirit, soul and body, while He Himself remains absent to our spirit and our senses.

When we recall the last reflection, concerning the fact that God has loved us throughout eternity, gave us life, breath, strength, intellect, will, memory and an eternal soul, we must come to realize that we exist only because He exists. Our knowledge that we are totally dependent upon God for each breath, each heart beat, for each wonderful gift of life, will lead us to respond to the gift of poverty of Spirit. Although this sounds reasonable to us and on the surface seems as if this would be easily accomplished, we know in our hearts that responding to this knowledge represents a tremendous struggle. We can be convinced of what we need to do, but are confronted with the fact that due to the effects of sin in our lives, we are spiritually weak, fallen persons. It seems that we cannot hold the course of this perfect faith in the Lord for more than a few moments at a time. We most often find that we are powerless to overcome all attachments to the things of this life and put God first in all things.

Such a detachment from all spiritual and temporal pleasures is not something we can achieve by our efforts. It is in itself a gift from God. Instead of being stirred up trying many ways to bring ourselves into obedience, God gives us a simple directive. "Be still and know that I am God." (Psalm  41:11) Put your soul at rest and in the quiet of His presence. Let your soul be free to respond to the beatitude of His grace. 

NEW CATHOLIC CATECHISM

ARTICLE NO. 538

The Gospels speak of a time of solitude for Jesus in the desert immediately after his baptism by John.  Driven by the Spirit into the desert, Jesus remains there for forty days without eating; he lives among wild beasts, and angels minister to him. (Mk 1:12-13) At the end of this time Satan tempts him three times, seeking to compromise his filial attitude toward God.  Jesus rebuffs these attacks, which recapitulate the temptations of Adam in Paradise and of Israel in the desert, and the devil leaves him” until an opportune time.” (Lk 4:13)

ARTICLE NO.  539

The evangelists indicate the salvific meaning of this mysterious event: Jesus is the new Adam who remained faithful just where the first Adam had given in to temptation.  Jesus fulfills Israel’s vocation perfectly; in contrast to those who had once provoked God during forty years in the desert, Christ reveals himself as God’s Servant, totally obedient to the divine will.  In this, Jesus is the devil’s conqueror: he “binds the strong man” to take back his plunder (Ps 95:10; Mk 3:27) Jesus’ victory over the tempter in the desert anticipates victory at the Passion, the supreme act of obedience of his filial love for the Father.

DIVINE TEMPTATIONS

Deacon Jim Breazile ocds

Ó2001 DR. JAMES E. BREAZILE, deacon 
JOHN PAUL EVANGELIST OCDS

SPIRITUALITY 101

SPIRITUAL REFLECTION- 42

Deacon Jim Breazile ocds

A young monk left the abbey to spend some time in the desert. He was searching for a personal relationship with God.  After several months of prayer and living on insects and other morsels that he found in the desert, he returned to monastery.  He met with the abbot, and told of how he had discovered God in his heart, and that he could feel the flame of love constantly burning in his heart.  He ask the abbot what he could do next.  The abbot held out his hands and flame shot from his finger tips. He said, "Let the Kingdom of grace fill you and become fully aflamed by the Lord, and you will not only feel His love, you will experience the Kingdom of glory and you will be His love. This is Beatitude

BEATITUDES:

BLESSED ARE YOU WHO ARE POOR IN SPIRIT

FOR THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS YOURS (Matt. 6:20)

We are assured by the beatitude of poverty of spirit lived in our lives, that we shall have the kingdom of God. The idea of a kingdom of God, where God reigns in all things and in which we might share may seem a bit puzzling. In order to gain some understanding of what it means to share in the kingdom of God, it may be helpful to provide some background. Sacred Scripture and the Fathers of the Church discern a threefold kingdom, a) the kingdom of nature b) the kingdom of grace and c) the kingdom of glory. In each of these kingdoms God exercises His authority, His power, His mercy, or His love.

                The kingdom of nature refers to the continuation of the creative nature of God within his creation after the universe is made. God continually holds all the universe in being by his creative power. St. Bellarmine tells us that God continues to exercises His sovereignty over all creatures, ruling and governing them as their Lord. Should He withdraw His sustaining power for one moment, all created things would cease to exist. This idea takes us back to the eternal Word (Thought), the Son of God through which all creation takes place. Because the Word is eternal, it never ceases to exert its power over all that is created. The kingdom of God is in this sense, the continued execution of Divine Providence, the government of the universe that He created and holds in being. We all live in the kingdom of nature and are invited to participate in Divine Providence toward the accomplishment of His will.   Because the kingdom of nature is unalterable and cannot be extended, the kingdom of nature is not the kingdom that comes to fulfillment in the lives of those who live the gift of poverty of spirit.

                The kingdom of grace is in the world, but is not of the world. In the kingdom of Grace, men and women can know a living God, acknowledge His right to make laws that govern their minds and hearts and dedicate themselves to worshiping Him, making Him a companion of their daily lives. It is this kingdom for which we pray when we say "Thy kingdom come."  It is this kingdom that Jesus referred to when he replied to Pilate's question "Art thou a King?, Jesus replied: "You say it. But my kingdom is not of this world." (Jn 28:36).

When Jesus left, to return to the Father, He transmitted His power and authority to His Church. To this Church, His kingdom present in mystery (Vat. II, Lumen Gentium Art. 3), Jesus entrusted the continuation of his authority, the guardian-ship of his teachings, the preservation of His Sacraments and the fulfillment of His mission to the world.  The members of this spiritual kingdom are bound together by the virtues of faith, hope and charity.

                It is by the kingdom of grace through which we pray, through which God may take possession of our souls, that he may be master of our hearts and minds, thoughts affections and actions so as to find obedience to his will.  When we live within this kingdom of grace, we can say with St. Paul, "I live now not I, but Christ lives in me." (Gal 2:20) and that St. Luke says: "The kingdom of God is within you.:" (Lk. 27:21)

                Through life in the kingdom of God's grace, there is one more kingdom available to us. This is the kingdom of God's glory. This kingdom is in heaven, where we can dwell with Him for all eternity. In this sense St. Augustine says when we pray "thy kingdom come," we ask God not only to grant us paradise, but also the grace of being made worthy of paradise.  How can we ever dare for so much. The answer lies in God's Church in which His Sacraments, prayer and repentance provides this paradise.  As the repentant thief on the cross  demonstrated that he was the best of thieves. Through his repentance of Sin and confession to Christ, he obtained (has stolen) heaven. 

                Responding to his grace with the poverty of spirit, we can begin to share the gifts of paradise today, here on earth. We can experience the peace, the joy, the consolations purchased for us by the death of Jesus on the Cross. They are available to us through the Church, the community of love.

NEW CATHOLIC CATECHISM ARTICLE NO. 544

The kingdom belongs to the poor and lowly, which means those who have accepted it with humble hearts. Jesus is sent to “preach good news to the poor”;(Lk 4:18; cf. 7:22) he declares them blessed, for “theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”(Mt. 5:3) To them; -- the “little ones” --the Father is pleased to reveal what remains hidden from the wise and the learned. (Mt. 11:25) Jesus shares the life of the poor, from the cradle to the cross; he experiences hunger, thirst and privation. (Mt. 21:18; Mk 2:23-26; Jn 4:6-7; 19:28; Lk 9:58) Jesus identifies himself with the poor of every kind and makes active love toward them the condition for entering his kingdom. (Mt. 25:31-46)

KINGDOM OF THE POOR

Deacon Jim Breazile ocds

Ó2001 DR. JAMES E. BREAZILE, deacon 
JOHN PAUL EVANGELIST OCDS

SPIRITUALITY 101

SPIRITUAL REFLECTION- 43

Deacon Jim Breazile ocds

BEATITUDES:

BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO MOURN

FOR THEY SHALL BE COMFORTED

Jim Spiegel lived in Oklahoma in the1930's, when there was a nationwide depression and in Oklahoma, a

great dust bowl in which the economy caused many to leave the state. Jim's wife had died, and he was the sole parent of a 2 year old boy Mikey, whom he loved more than life itself.  He obtained a job in St. Louis, Missouri working for the railroad.  His job was the raising and lowering of a railroad bridge across the Mississippi river. Mikey, now 3 years old was always with him, as Jim"s salary did not provide any extra for someone to care for him during Jim's working hours.

                One evening, Jim had dozed just a bit as he waited for the 6:00 passenger train from Chicago. He had to be alert to the green light in his small shelter above the bridge, so that he could lower the bridge in time for the train to cross.  Upon opening his eyes, he noted the Mikey was not there beside him.  His eyes scanned the area, and to his horror he saw Mikey just below, crawling up on the big gears that lifted the bridge.  Just then the green light came on. Jim knew that a passenger train loaded with possibly a 100 people was speeding toward the bridge. He also knew that he could not lower the bridge without crushing little Mikey in the massive gears.  He hesitated a moment, and knew what he had to do. With great sobs racking his chest and tears pouring down his face, he pushed the lever activating the gears. He knew full well the fate of his beloved son.

                Just as the bridge locked into place, the train came racing across the bridge. Jim opened his eyes a bit and through his tears could see the passengers by the train windows. Some were talking, others rising from their seats preparing to detrain at the station, some were quietly reading their newspaper. None, of course knew the grief that he experienced and would experience for the rest of his life.

                It must be something like the grief experienced by our Father in Heaven, who also sacrificed His Son for us. His grief must be multiplied when we disregard that sacrifice.

The Gospels indicate that there were two times in which Jesus mourned to the point of weeping.  Luke

19:41, indicates that Jesus wept over Jerusalem, "because they would not recognize the time of their visitation." (Luke 19:44).  We gain some insight into why Jesus would mourn for the city by examining several Old testament prophesies in which such mourning occurred. The prophet Nehemiah also mourned for Jerusalem. Upon hearing of the desolation of his people in Jerusalem he wept, fasted, prayed and continued to mourn for several days. (Neh. 1:4)  The Psalmist writes of the mourning of his people while under captivity in Babylon. They wept at the memory of Jerusalem (Zion). (Ps. 137:1) The prophet Jeremiah speaks of weeping because his people would not listen to the word of God (Jer. 13:17)

Jesus wept at the tomb of Lazarus (Jn 11:35). He did not mourn the death of his friend, because He knew

that Lazarus continues to live. Jesus mourned because he knows that the unconditional gift of Himself in love as the Good Shepherd (Jn 10:11, 14-15), the Resurrection and the Life, who offers life here and hereafter to all who would believe in Him(Jn 11:25-26) would not be understood or accepted.  Just moments before it seemed that his friends Martha and Mary had accepted and believed.  First Martha professed her faith in Jesus when she said "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know whatever you ask of God, God will give you." (Jn 11: 21--22) Martha again professed her faith when, she recalled the Hebrew teaching about a resurrection on the last day and said "I know he will rise, at the resurrection on the last day." (Jn 11:24)  Martha emphasized her faith with the profession, "Yes Lord. I have come to believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the One who is coming into the world." (Jn 11:27)

When Martha's sister Mary came to Jesus, she expressed the same as her sister, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. " (Jn 11:32). But it seems that both Martha and Mary returned to the Jews and continued weeping in sorrow for the loss of their brother.  It was not the professions, but the actions of Martha and Mary that caused Jesus to weep. He sorrowed because even though they profess faith in Him, and in His power to preserve life, they do not rejoice in the everlasting life guaranteed through His presence to them and to Lazarus.  Mary and Martha, like the Jews accompanying them (Jn 11:37) were only concerned about the loss of a brother and friend. None of them, however demonstrate faith in the everlasting life of glory promised by Jesus.

Those who mourn are those who recognize that all people are loved into being by a God. They know that God not only creates each of us with great love, but that he affirms every property of our being and the capacity for each talent He wishes us to have.  Those who live the beatitude of mourning understand that most of God's people do not recognize any relationship to him. If they recognize some sort of relationship it is a convenience, a tradition or a socially acceptable aspect of their lives.  The person of faith who experiences such lack of faith is a person of tears.  They may be secret tears, but there is a pain in their heart that wounds them in a way that is as real as though their closest friend had died.

The Christian mourns in suffering from an unrequited love.  It is not that they are passionate about another person not loving them as they had expected, but their passion is for the lack of love others have for God.  God is so much a part of their life that a lack of love for Him causes them pain. This is the silent mourning of the saint.

NEW CATHOLIC CATECHISM ARTICLE NO. 548 and 549

The signs worked by Jesus attest that the Father has sent him. They invite belief in Him. The signs worked by Jesus attest that the Father has sent him. (Jn. 5:36; 10:25, ;38) To those who turn to Him in faith, he grants what they ask. (Mk. 5:25-34; 10:52) So miracles strengthen faith in the One who does his Fathers works; they bear witness that He is the Son of God. (Jn 10:31-38) But His miracles can also be occasions for “offense” (Mt. 11:6) they are not intended to satisfy people’s curiosity or desire for magic. Despite His evident miracles some people reject Jesus; he is even accused of acting by the power of demons. (Jn. 11:47-48; Mk 3:22)

By freeing some individuals from the earthly evils of hunger, injustice, illness, and death, (Jn 6:5-15; Lk. 19:8; Mt. 11:5) Jesus performed messianic signs.  Nevertheless he did not come to abolish all evils here below, (Lk 12:13-14; Jn 18:36) but to free men from the gravest slavery, sin, which thwarts them in their vocation as God’s sons and causes all forms of human bondage. (Jn 8:34-36)

MIRACULOUS MESSAGE

Deacon Jim Breazile ocds

Ó2001 DR. JAMES E. BREAZILE, deacon 
JOHN PAUL EVANGELIST OCDS

SPIRITUALITY 101

SPIRITUAL REFLECTION- 44

Deacon Jim Breazile ocds

A saint was exorcising a man possessed of the devil. The man was very distressed and nothing seemed capable of calming him.  The saint asked for the name of the devil in the unhappy man. The devil replied "My name is 'unconcerned,' because I close the mind of those who hear of Gods glory and would want to do demonstrate the glory to the world. In another person I close the heart of those who hear of the need for love to repay for the great sacrifice that Christ made for them on the cross and would want to make a sacrifice of themselves. I close the spirit of those who hearing that man is a social animal and is made for community in order to reflect the community of the Holy Trinity and would want to build up the community of the Church.  When I possess a person, they hear, they know, they would ordinarily want to respond to their Lords presence in their lives, but remain 'unconcerned'."  The saint then sprinkled some holy water on the possessed person and in the name of Jesus ordered the devil to depart. The person, who was now free of restraint, with an open mind, heart and spirit began to respond to the grace of the Lord with great shouts of praise, responded to the love by serving the poor and responded to the Trinity by blessing everyone they met.

If we respond to this devil and remain unconcerned, or too busy with worldly affairs to assist in the building of the kingdom of God, we will not be a part of the kingdom when it comes. We will remain for all eternity within the kingdom of Satan. 

BEATITUDES:

BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO MOURN

FOR THEY SHALL BE COMFORTED

It may seem strange in our mourning we receive comfort from God.  We may picture ourselves at a funeral with black arm bands, bowed heads and flowing tears of mourning, with God standing beside us, His arm around our shoulders speaking calming, comforting words.  As we have seen in the previous reflection, the mourning that He is interested in is not that of the death of a loved one, but lack of recognition of the death of a Loved One, His Son, Jesus.  A reflection on our life and its goals may help us to understand this relationship.

Each of us wish to find comfort in this life. We want to life a life in which strife does not disturb us. We wish to find love that is not disturbed by selfishness, distrust or hate.  We search throughout our lives for truth that is not tainted with falsehood and lies. These desires are built into our personalities. They are given to us by God in order that we will search for perfection that is found only in Him alone.  From the very early years of our childhood we search the world we life in for these perfections. The search makes us restless because we cannot find the perfections we seek in worldly things and earthly relationships alone. 

When we are little children, we always compare our toys with those of other children and realize that some of theirs are better than our toys. We compare our friends and claim that our friends are bigger, faster, smarter, more beautiful than yours.  When we reach teen ages, we see those of the opposite sex as possibly able to fulfill the need for love that extends the parental love we have at home. We begin to seek the perfect person to fulfil this need. Each person we encounter doesn't quite present a perfection that completely satisfies our search.

As we grow in maturity and age, we study literature, the arts, humanities and science and feel an urge to know more.  We may devote our life to study, acquiring doctorate degrees in this and that, and yet we continue our study, realizing that all these studies bring us only to partial truths. None fulfill our inner need for perfect truth.

The Lord wants to reward us with comfort of soul, so that we can rest in His care and knowing Him, enjoy perfect happiness here on earth. Knowing this is His desire, we have to ask the question "Why don't we achieve this perfect happiness?"  If perfect life, truth and love are the goals of our life and it is Gods will that we achieve these goals, the answer must lie within ourselves. We know that even though God wills good for us, he will never over-ride our will by giving us a good that we do not will.  There must therefore be something about our will that does not let the grace of God reward us with the completion of these goals.

Change our will to a desire for Gods will being done in this world rather than our will, effectively removes this obstacle to grace and we begin to experience the peace and comfort of heaven in this life. When we see that God's plan for showering His goodness into the souls of all people of all nations and realize that most people do not receive this goodness, we mourn the great loss. When our mourning for all  people and all nations of God's creation to realize the goodness He wishes them to receive overrides our attachment for all other things in life, we will then devote all our life energies to that end. When this mourning is the primary urgency of our life to correct this situation, we will find the peace and happiness that God wants for us. We will find perfect life in the Father who creates us, perfect truth in the Word, the Son who brings us salvation and perfect love in the Holy Spirit Who, acting as a channel brings the love of the Father and the Son into union with our human spirit.

NEW CATHOLIC CATECHISM ARTICLE NO. 550

The coming of God's kingdom means the defeat of Satan's: "If it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you." (Mt. 12:26,28) Jesus' exorcisms free some individuals from the domination of demons. They anticipate Jesus' great victory over "the ruler of this world." (Jn 21:31; cf. Lk 8:26-39) The kingdom of God will be definitively established through Christ's cross: "God reigned from the wood." (Lent, Holy Week, Evening Prayer, Hymn Vexilla Regis: "Regnavit a ligno Deus.")

Ó2001 DR. JAMES E. BREAZILE, deacon 
JOHN PAUL EVANGELIST OCDS

SPIRITUALITY 101

SPIRITUAL REFLECTION- 45

Deacon Jim Breazile ocds

Blessed Clement Hofbauer, in 1800, when collecting alms for orphans was spat upon by a gambler in a Warsaw inn. Turning to the one who insulted him he said, "sir, this is for me; do you have something for my orphans." The man was so moved that he gave him all his money and in a few days later approached a priest about how he could most ably serve the Church.

St Augustine was listening to a story of the torture of Epictetus.  The pagan relating the story was amazed by the fact that Epictetus told his torturers that if they continued to twist his leg, they would break them.  When the leg snapped, Epictetus, so as not to insult his torturers simply said, "I told you it would happen."  The pagan then asked, "did your Christ ever do such a beautiful thing as this? St. Augustine replied, "Yes, He kept silent."

These stories remind us that the way we see others is the source of our mercy and love for them. When we can see them through Gods eyes, we will do nothing that would bring them discomfort or embarrassment.

BEATITUDES:

BLESSED ARE THE MEEK

FOR THEY SHALL INHERIT THE LAND

The gift of the Beatitude of meekness makes little sense in the world in which the mantra "Take care of number 1, because nobody else will," resounds within every family. The beatitudes, including the gift of meekness is given to all at Baptism. We respond to these gifts, just as with other gifts of the Holy Spirit, by willing to do God's will. The beatitude of meekness is related to the virtue of charity and obtains its growth under the influence of the Gift of the Holy Spirit of knowledge. The gift of knowledge nourished by Scriptural descriptions of our creation encourages us to life the gift of meekness.  Through this knowledge we come to know who we truly are. We know that God is our Creator, and that He created us in His image and likeness.  This is clear in Genesis 1:26-27.  The importance of man to God is also emphasized in other places in Scripture (Psalm 8:5 "What is man that you are mindful of him, mere mortal that you care for him?"; Wisdom 2:23 "For God formed man to be imperishable, the image of His own nature He made him." and 1st Cor. 11:7 "A man should not cover his head, because he is the image and glory of God.")

When we respond to this knowledge we know that because man is the glory of God, and reflects His image to the world, we each enjoy an inalienable dignity derived simply from Gods love. God loves every person who has ever lived, or will ever live. We know that this eternal love never ceases,  even for a moment. We know from Scripture that the Love of God is His very nature (1^st John 4:7). He instills this nature into us when He creates us to be His image and likeness and to be His glory in the world.  Because God equally loves all whom He creates, each person is sacred and represents to us a glorious gift from God. 

This knowledge, when it becomes habitual to us, causes us to see every other human person in a new light.  If God loves them, we have no right not to love them.  If God loves them with his very essence (or nature), then we also must love them with all that we are. The basis of a moral life and a spiritual life in this world is the recognition of this inherent dignity of the human person.  The application of this principle recognizes that this dignity cannot depend upon the achievement or lack of achievement, the sin or lack of sin of the person. Each person is a sacred gift of divine love. 

Before the first (the original) sin of Adam and Eve, in the garden of paradise, man had the capability to love in this manner.  After that sin man has found that sin, inherited from our ancestors through the ages, tracing back to Adam, has weakened our ability to "see" the dignity others and to love them.  Deep within our souls, however, God has placed a recognition of this knowledge. No one can look in the eyes of another person, having that person looking back at them, without knowing that every person holds some element of this great mystery of eternal love.

When we love another, even in a human way, we are more than willing to bow to their will in deference to our own will. We want them to be happy and will go against our desires in order to achieve their happiness. Even in human love we will always place ourselves last. With divine love lived out in the fullness of the beatitude of the meek, we would give up anything in this life, including life itself to bring another person to the happiness of heaven.  Meekness is the keystone of the life of an evangelist. The meek person knows that true happiness comes from the love of God and from loving Him in return. They know that it is the will of God that all created persons would know Him, love Him and serve Him. With this knowledge, and the insight gained from the gift of meekness they will do whatever is necessary, without regard for their happiness, comfort, or even their life to bring another person to this happiness. `

Understanding the meaning of the beatitude of meekness, we gain some insight into why Jesus would wash the feet of his Apostles and ask us to do the same. We can also begin to understand why He accepted the torture of scourging, crowning with thorns, carrying His cross and the Crucifixion without regard for Himself, to restore the dignity of all persons to be in accord with the original will of His Father in heaven. We are called to do the same. This seemingly sacrifice is our happiness.

NEW CATHOLIC CATECHISM ARTICLE NO. 551 and 552

From the beginning of his public life Jesus chose certain men, twelve in number, to be with him and to participate in his mission. (Mk 3:13-19) He gives the Twelve a share in his authority and “sent them out to preach the kingdom of God and to heal.” (Lk 9:2) They remain associated forever with Christ’s kingdom, for through them he directs the Church.

      As my Father appointed a kingdom for me, so do I appoint for you that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel. (Lk           22:29-30)

Simon Peter holds the first place in the college of the Twelve, (Mk. 3:16;9:2; Lk 24:34; 1 Cor 15:5) Jesus entrusted a unique mission to him.  Through a revelation from the Father, Peter had confessed: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Our Lord then declared to him: “You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it.” (Mt. 16:18) Christ, the “living stone,” (1 Pet. 2:4) thus assures his Church, built on Peter, of victory over the powers of death. Because of the faith he confessed Peter will remain the unshakable rock of the Church.  His mission will be to keep this faith from every lapse and to strengthen his brothers in it. (Lk 22:32)

MISSION OF STONE

Deacon Jim Breazile ocds

Ó2001 DR. JAMES E. BREAZILE, deacon 
JOHN PAUL EVANGELIST OCDS

SPIRITUALITY 101

SPIRITUAL REFLECTION- 46

Deacon Jim Breazile ocds

Catherine of Siena used to take care of a woman suffering from cancer, but the sick woman instead of thanking her for her kindness slandered and defamed her. Catherine's mother tried to stop Catherine from visiting the woman. Catherine's response was "Do you think our savior is happy when we stop doing works of mercy just because we are repaid with ingratitude? Did our Savior, nailed to the Cross, on hearing the insults of ingrates give up His work of redemption?"

BEATITUDES:

BLESSED ARE THE MEEK

FOR THEY SHALL INHERIT THE LAND

A life lived in accord with the beatitudes reveals an insight into the fullness of life of God's kingdom. They will become sons and daughters of God and heirs of the kingdom. As heirs they will become inheritors of what was lost by the sin in the garden of Eden. As they begin to live with this inheritance, the land lost in the garden will be theirs. When Christ comes again to finally complete the Lords kingdom those who inherit the land will inherit the "new earth" that will accompany the "new heaven." The meek are blessed in this world by experiencing the new earth in every day life.

"The Lord God formed man out of the clay of the earth and blew into his nostrils the breath of life and so man became a living being" (Genesis 2:7). Made from the earth in the image and likeness of the Creator God, we are to be God's glory in the world.  In the beginning, endowed with intellect and man lived in solidarity with the Lord, with the earth and with himself.  Because God created man for His special purpose, the will of man was in accord with and was fully obedient to Gods will. Because of the special nature of man, God placed him in the garden to cultivate and to care for it (Genesis 2:15). Man had dominion over the earth and the earth submitted to his will.  Mans' unity with himself was manifested by the dominance of his will over the clay of his body.  What man willed, his body responded to with full obedience. There was no discord in the garden. All creation lived in harmony as though dancing to a divine symphony.

When sin entered into the world through the cooperation of the will of man with the will of Satan, discord erupted in the garden. With this discord, man lost solidarity with the Lord and fearing God,  hid from Him when He came into the garden. (Genesis 3:10)  The earth no longer submitted to man. In response to man's sin, the earth was cursed and gave forth only thorns and thistles. Man could obtain food from the earth only by toil and the sweat of his face. (Genesis 3:17-19) Man also lost solidarity within himself. He recognized his nakedness and the experienced of shame entered into man (Genesis 3:10). No longer did his body obey his will.  He knew what he must do, but found that the earthly body dominated over his will. Paul states it in this way. "I am carnal, sold into slavery to sin. What I do, I do not understand. For I do not do what I want, but I do what I hate." (Rom 7: 14-15) The body itself, originally created to be incorruptible and separated from the earth by the image and likeness of God it revealed, became corruptible and death became the enemy of the body. The body was destined to return to the earth from which it came.

With the incarnation, death and resurrection of Jesus, grace was once again made available to man. This time grace was infused into man through sacraments. Through sacramental grace, integrity could be restored to man and his body brought under the control of the will.  Through the influence of sacramental grace on man, his relationship with the earth and of all of creation could be restored (Romans 8:18-22). Although man must still subdue the earth in order to gain his living, the threat of death is removed by the knowledge that the body is meant for glorification. Although sacramental grace has not overcome the discord caused in the earth by the sin of man, hope was restored to man. The teaching, death and resurrection of Christ assured that living a life of charity in which one loves God above all things and all others as himself, the rebellion of the earth would not be a burden. 

Through the habitual living of the beatitude of meekness, we as individuals are empowered by this gift of the Holy Spirit to be the glory of God. Our lack of concern for death frees us to live a life of full happiness and joy.  Our ability to control our actions, so that they are in accord with our will and the will of God provides us with a security of sure knowledge that although we are made from the earth, this dust from which we are made will share Gods divinity.  As this surety grows within us, as the fruit of meekness, we begin to live in God's kingdom. We remain in the world, but become separate from the world. Our cares are diverted from the every day concerns of the world to how well we demonstrate Gods glory and assist in building His kingdom on earth.  When Gods kingdom is completed on earth, those who life a life of meekness will once again be in accord with themselves, with God and with the earth from which we are made.

NEW CATHOLIC CATECHISM ARTICLE NO. 553

Jesus entrusted a specific authority to Peter: "I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." (Mt. 16:19) The "power of the keys" designates authority to govern the house of God, which is the church. Jesus, the Good Shepherd, confirmed this mandate after his Resurrection: "feed my sheep." (Jn 21:15-17; cf. 10:11)The power to "bind and loose" connotes the authority to absolve sins, to pronounce doctrinal judgments, and to make disciplinary decisions in the Church. Jesus entrusted this authority to the church through the ministry of the apostles (Cf. Mt. 18:18) and in particular through the ministry of Peter, the only one to whom he specifically entrusted the keys of the kingdom.

THE POWER OF THE KEYS

Deacon Jim Breazile ocds

Ó2001 DR. JAMES E. BREAZILE, deacon 
JOHN PAUL EVANGELIST OCDS

SPIRITUALITY 101

SPIRITUAL REFLECTION- 47

Deacon Jim Breazile ocds

Mary was 80 years old. She lived in St. Louis, Missouri for her entire life, where she and her husband had raised a family of 6 children. They enjoyed their family and the 16 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren, who often visited her home.  When her husband George died of cancer, however, Mary's life changed dramatically. Because of her frailty, the family agreed that she would have to move into a nursing home. None of the children had the space or the time to care for her in their homes.  Mary was devastated.  She rebelled by vowing never to speak to another person for the reminder of her life time.  In the nursing home, she was the silent one. She spoke nothing day or night, even when the grandchildren and great grandchildren came, she did not speak. She just sat in rebellion and rocked in her rocker day and night.

Tom, worked as a caretaker at the nursing home. One day, he moved a second rocker into her room and at his lunch breaks, he came in and sat in silence, rocking with Mary. Neither said a word. Each day for 6 months, they rocked together during the noon hour.  One day, Tom rose to leave and Mary said, "Tom, you have a good day."

Most of the time, it is our presence that people really need. They may like our ideas and to listen to us talk, but we show our love most when we are really present to them.

BEATITUDES:

BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO HUNGER AND THIRST FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS

FOR THEY WILL BE SATISFIED

At some stage in our lives we begin to experience this love of the Lord, and we begin to love Him in return.  It is possible that for some of us, that recognition of God's love comes rushing upon us as an overwhelming force, like it did Saul in the desert.  In most cases, however, recognizing God's love, like the recognition of human love develops through three recognizable stages.  Although these stages are overlapping they are distinctly recognizable by those who truly love.

The first stage of human love is often referred to as infatuation. It is in fact an infatuation, but it is still real love.  It is much like new wine, it is all bubbly and effervescent and causes a great stir within us. We find that we want to be with the beloved all the time. Time away from the beloved passes slowly. Time with the beloved passes swiftly and the time of departure is always too soon.  So it is with our love of God.  When we begin to love Him, His love is experienced with increasing intensity, and we hunger and thirst for His presence. We begin to schedule our time to go to where we are sure He is going to be. We visit the Church to sit before the Holy Tabernacle, where He resides day and night. As His lover, we hunger and thirst for His Words, to hear Him speak to us and know that He is there. The desire to be with Him leads us to spend more time reading Holy Scripture, more time in prayer. 

The second stage of human love is that we want to touch our beloved.  Lovers  hold hands, they embrace each other. As love grows there is never enough touching and holding and being with the one we love. The most important times are those in which we touch our beloved with our inner being, as Tom touched Mary. When this happens, lovers are quiet. Each looks into the eyes of the other and both souls are united. Most of the time this union is fleeting, but it leaves with us a knowledge of the other that is long lasting. It also produces an increased hunger and thirst to renew the union. Our Lord, the personification of Love, touches us in this way. Occasionally in our prayer, or even when our mind turns to the Lord while we are at work or play, He will bless us with a holy touch. His touch, like the touch of human souls, sends our soul spinning, and draws us into ecstasy. Once having received His favor of a spiritual touching our souls are never more at rest. There is a continuous longing, an unquenchable hunger, an all penetrating thirst to once again experience this touch and our desire for Him increasingly controls our lives. Our search for Him becomes more ardent, and we spend more time thinking, praying and being with Him.

In the third and final stage of human love there is a great desire to please the beloved. Because lovers do what pleases the each other their love begins to transform them into a likeness of the beloved. Lovers laugh together, they cry together and as love ages, they begin to look like each other. Because of His eternal nature, our love does not transform God When we begin to experience His love and love Him in return we are gradually transformed into His likeness. In this transformation our will becomes His will and His desire our desire. We know that His greatest desire is the salvation of souls.  During His crucifixion Christ thirsted for all the souls of mankind. In our love for the Him, we join in His thirst for souls. Our greatest desire is to become a sacrifice for Him, joining Him in His crucifixion in order that our life may bring other souls to salvation. It is in this way that we fulfill the great commandment, "Love God with your whole mind, body and soul, and love your neighbor as yourself."

NEW CATHOLIC CATECHISM ARTICLE NO. 571 and 580

The Paschal mystery of Christ’s cross and Resurrection stands at the center of the Good News that the apostles, and the Church following them, are to proclaim to the world. God’s saving plan was accomplished “once for all” (Heb.9:26) by the redemption death of his Son Jesus Christ.

The perfect fulfillment of the Law could be the work of none but the divine legislator, born subject to the Law in the person of the Son. (Gal. 4:4) In Jesus, the Law no longer appears engraved on tables of stone but “upon the heart” of the Servant who becomes “a covenant to the people,” because he will “faithfully bring forth justice “(Jer. 31:33; Isa. 42:3,6) Jesus fulfills the Law to the point of taking upon himself “the curse of the Law” incurred by those who do not “abide by the things written in the book of the Law, and do them,” for his death took place to redeem them” from the transgressions under the first covenant.” (Gal 3:13; 3:10; Heb. 9:15)

JESUS AND THE GIBBET

Deacon Jim Breazile ocds

Ó2001 DR. JAMES E. BREAZILE, deacon 
JOHN PAUL EVANGELIST OCDS

SPIRITUALITY 101

SPIRITUAL REFLECTION- 48

Deacon Jim Breazile ocds

A theologian has searched the earth for a satisfied person.  He had visited many very successful business people and found that they were anxious about their further success and their businesses. He visited rich men and found that they were worried about preserving and expanding their riches. Family people worried about the education, marriage and success of their children. Religious people were concerned about their sin, sinful people were concerned about religion. Everything in the world seemed to lead people to worry, discontent and concern. What seemed satisfying did not bring satisfaction.

The people he visited kept telling him of a man of the city, whom they had heard was satisfied. The didn't know his name, but they knew that he had never been known to complain and always demonstrated satisfaction to others. During the day he could be found on a street corner where he conducted his business. The theologian sought him out.  He arrived at the street corner and saw a minstrel with his monkey. The minstrel played a lute and the monkey danced, everybody laughed, and the minstrel seemed happy.  When questioned, however, it was found that he worried about his monkey, his income and his family as had all the others he had visited.  He also found there a lovely lady who sold flowers.  She seemed not to have a care in the world, but when queried, the theologian found that she was worried about many things.

Finally the theologian noticed a third person on the street corner who was about half-hidden in a large cardboard box. He was a homeless man.  He sat in the open end of the large box, with an open hat on the street for alms that people tossed him as they walked by.  He was a beggar.  Upon approaching him, the theologian noted that he was had a foul odor from not being bathed recently, and that his skin was covered with infected ulcers and pustules. He was quietly singing a song, giving praise and glory to God. The theologian first asked him; "Are you having a good morning?  The beggar declared, "Sir, I don't remember having a bad one!"  The theologian stated that he would wish the beggar better luck and the beggar stated "Sir I have always had the best of luck!" The theologian then said, "How is it possible when you are obviously homeless, depend upon others for food and clothing and are covered with the dirt of the streets, with ulcers and pustules.  How can you live like this and say that you have good luck?"  The beggar replied, "The lord gives this life to me, He has given me a good life, I have many friends whom I serve by begging.  My good lord graces those who give me alms and I am satisfied.  The good lord gives me this box to live in, so that I will look forward to living in His house someday, and I am satisfied.  I bathe when He gives me rain, and if he doesn't I don't bathe, it is all a great gift from my Lord.  I am satisfied, because I live in His kingdom.

That day the theologian, who had taught for many years, gained a little insight into the mystery of the satisfaction acquired from the love of the Lord.

BEATITUDES:

BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO HUNGER AND THIRST FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS

FOR THEY WILL BE SATISFIED

Satisfaction that comes from the desire to live God's will in our lives to the degree that we are transformed into His likeness is not at all like satisfaction derived from worldly efforts. In the world we gain satisfaction from fulfilling our desire to gain important achievements in our lives.  We are satisfied with nearly every step of our worldly life, as long as each step seems to bring us closer to a worldly goal.  When we are students, satisfaction is gained from good grades and from graduation.   When we are in love with another person satisfaction is gained from doing what pleases them, and possibly even joining them in marriage.  When our spouses or children do well in school or in their careers, we are satisfied.  The list of things that bring us satisfaction in life is endless.  It is satisfaction in the world that causes us to work hard, sometimes to the detriment of friendships and good health to acquire what we consider necessary for a happy life. 

Some characteristics of satisfaction in worldly events however, is that the satisfaction is never complete and is always followed or accompanied by a search for other satisfying events.  We are never fully and terminally satisfied with anything we achieve in the world. Worldly satisfaction, if not resurrected in memory and conversation, is fleeting and soon forgotten.  Remember how many times Uncle Jake told the story of his battles in Viet Nam. How many times does Aunt Jane tell about her victory over the battle with cancer?  These are undoubtedly important events in their lives, and should not be forgotten. They are recalled and retold so that they can be relived from memory and their experience of satisfaction renewed. The memory of worldly satisfaction fades with time and call out to be renewed.

All that God does is eternal. Satisfaction gained by union in love with our Lord is eternal. His love is eternal, and even though our love for him is temporal and of this world, when it is joined to His love and begins to transform us into His likeness, our love becomes eternal.  This great miracle of transformation through love cannot be understood by our limited intellect. Revelation assures us that when we are joined with Him in love the Trinity resides within us, as in a temple.  Where the Trinity lives, there is happiness without end, joy beyond expression, love that is eternal and satisfaction that is complete.

When we have found and have become one in eternal love with our Lord, we will be satisfied. We will then no longer seek satisfaction in anything else except the Greatest of All Lovers, Our Lord Himself.

NEW CATHOLIC CATECHISM ARTICLE NO. 600

To God, all moments of time are present in their immediacy. When therefore he establishes his eternal plan of “predestination,” he includes in it each person’s free response to his grace.  “in this city, in fact both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the gentiles and the people of Israel gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place.”: (Acts f:27; Ps 2:1-2) For the sake of accomplishing his plan of salvation, God permitted the acts that flowed from their blindness. (Mt. 26:54; Jn 18:36; 19:11; Acts 3:17-18).

FREEDOM OF GRACE

Deacon Jim Breazile ocds

Ó2001 DR. JAMES E. BREAZILE, deacon 
JOHN PAUL EVANGELIST OCDS

SPIRITUALITY 101

SPIRITUAL REFLECTION- 49

Deacon Jim Breazile ocds

When Elizabeth of Hungary gave alms to the poor, she would always say, "Give alms yourselves." "but how can we, if we don't have any money?" She replied; It is not always within our reach to be able to open our pocketbooks, but we should never close our hearts. This is the source of mercy.  Even if we do not have any money, we have a heart of mercy to give to the needy, eyes to see them, feet to visit them, and a mouth to encourage and comfort them." These alms can be given to anyone who loves God. These are the alms of mercy for those who suffer from the many sins in the world. This type of mercy brings redemption into peoples hearts.

BEATITUDES

      BLESSED ARE THE MERCIFUL

      THEY WILL BE SHOWN MERCY

Although the word mercy is applied to many situations in our life, we recognize that as it is used in this beatitude, we are to give it the application that God intends.  We understand that in the beginning God created human beings in His image and likeness, in order that they would be His glory in the world. They were to live in paradise with Him, and to rejoice in His eternal love.  Their task was simply to tend to His garden in dominion over His creation of a world of peace and love.  We know the story of how Satan entered the garden and with the lies of incitement lured our original parents Adam and Eve into sin. Through their cooperation with evil, they inherited the evil of disobedience and lost friendship with God.  God could have said, "OK, you didn't know any better.  In fact, since you didn't have knowledge of good and evil, who can blame you for this mistake? You didn't even recognize that Satan was a fallen angel." Because God is all merciful, we may think that He could have forgiven all at that point, with a warning, and everything could have gone on as before. 

This may seem reasonable to us, but the problem with this scenario is that not only is God all merciful, He is also all just.  Although we might think that God could do anything He decided to do, we know that He is always true to His own nature.  His justice could not allow this offence to go unpunished.  Man, a creature had insulted the Creator, who was love.  In doing so, man had removed the possibility of loving union with the Creator until justice was done and man could be made righteous once again. The effect of this original sin alienated man from the garden of paradise and from God Himself.

Because this fault in His creation had been brought about my man, it was necessary that man atone for the sin. Divinity could not stand in the place of man to correct the fault, it would require that a man correct the fault.  Since the insult was against divinity, man could do nothing to correct the insult to God. This could be achieved only by Divinity. It was necessary therefore that a divine person would have to become man in order to correct the fault. This could occur through the eternal love that God had for man by sending His only Son, His Word into the world as man. Thus as man Jesus could stand in the place of man to correct the wrong, and as Divinity, he could redeem the harm done. It was through this divine mercy that Christ was born of the immaculate womb of the Virgin Mary, lived in this world as a human being with a human body, mind, heart, spirit and soul, but with a divine personality.  Through His humanity, He suffered and died, in order to correct the insult to His Father. Through His divinity, He rose from the dead and took humanity into paradise restoring union with the Father.

For us to live the beatitude of mercy requires that we demonstrate a merciful love for the souls of others that is like that of God our Father. To be merciful there can be nothing in our lives, including life itself, that is more important to us than the salvation of the souls. This type of mercy for a human person is impossible unless we share in the great grace of Gods mercy in our daily lives.  We maintain this sharing in His mercy through remaining united to Him as firmly as possible through Sacramental grace. We will celebrate the sacraments of Reconciliation and of the Eucharist as often as possible. Daily celebration of the Eucharist is celebrated by a large number of Catholics today, but we hardly hear of daily celebration of the Sacrament of Reconciliation.  When we are properly disposed, the penitential rite of our Eucharistic celebration removes venial sin, and it may be that we do not commit a daily mortal sin. The regular confession of venial sins is, however, a great bulwark against mortal sin. Celebration of the Sacrament of Reconciliation once a week would be adequate for most people. This celebration must not however become routine ritual. If it is to be effective in assisting us to grow in mercy, celebration of  Reconciliation must be accompanied by serious remorse for our voluntary separation from God, and a serious intent to reform our life so as not to commit to sin again.

Mercy cannot be lived in isolation. Perfection of mercy in our lives requires a life of prayer and fasting. Mercy, prayer and fasting each nourish and sustain the others.  Living a life of mercy means that we do all we can at all times to bring the souls of others to salvation. Living a life of prayer means that we continuous recognize that God is present within us.  Living a life of fasting means that we are willing to give up any pleasure, time, or possession that interferes with our life with God. When all this is done with prudence, we will become merciful as our Lord is merciful.

NEW CATHOLIC CATECHISM ARTICLE NO. 612

The cup of the New Covenant, which Jesus anticipated when he offered himself at the Last Supper, is afterwards accepted by him from his father’s hands in his agony in the garden at Gethsemane (Mt. 26:42; Lk 22:20) making himself “obedient unto death.” Jesus prays: “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me...”(Phil 2:8; Mt. 26:39, Heb 5:7-8) Thus expresses the horror that death represented for his human nature.  like ours, his human nature is destined for eternal life; but unlike ours, it is perfectly exempt from sin, the cause of death. (Rom 5:12; Heb 4:15) Above all, his human nature has been assumed by the divine person of the “Author of life,” the “Living One.” (Acts 3:15; Rev. 1:17; Jn 1:4; 5:26) By accepting in his human will that the Father’s will be done, he accepts his death as redemptive for “he himself bore our sins in his body on the tree.” 1 Pet 2:24; Mt. 26:42). 

DYING ON THE TREE

Deacon Jim Breazile ocds

Ó2001 DR. JAMES E. BREAZILE, deacon 
JOHN PAUL EVANGELIST OCDS

SPIRITUALITY 101

SPIRITUAL REFLECTION- 50

Deacon Jim Breazile ocds

During the great depression, New York City had a mayor, who loved everyone and everyone loved him.  His name was mayor La Quardia.  He had great compassion for everyone, and since nearly everyone was poor, he spent a lot of time easing their pains of hunger and poverty, by building them up and making them feel good about themselves.  He knew that people needed to be cheered up, so on Sundays he read the comics over the radio to everyone who wanted to listen. 

One day, he became curious about what went on in the city courts, so he decided to be a city judge for a day.  He had himself legally installed as a city judge and took the bench.  One of the first persons to come before him was charged with theft of a loaf of bread.  The mayor saw that the man was destitute, and asked the man why he had stolen the bread.  The man told his heart-breaking story of a starving family, with little children that he had to feed, and the fact that he had no money.  He had stolen the bread, meager though it was, in order to give a meal to his family.

La Quardia looked at him with compassion and explained that according to the law, he had no choice but to fine the man $10.00 for the theft.  Justice in the law demanded this fine.  Everyone in the courtroom gasped. How could our kind and generous La Quardia demand such a sentence?  They knew that justice demanded it, but where was the mercy?

La Quardia then said, "Now I fine everyone in this courtroom $1.00, for living in a city in which someone has to steal a loaf of bread to feed their family."  He collected $20.00 and after taking out the $10.00 fine, gave the rest to the man and said, "Here, go and feed your family."

Justice without mercy is tyranny, and mercy without justice is empty.

BEATITUDES

      BLESSED ARE THE MERCIFUL

THEY WILL BE SHOWN MERCY

When John expresses in his 1st letter "God is love," (1 Jn 4:16) it is as though he has just discovered a way to describe the infinite nature of God. Love has so many meanings in the secular world that it takes on a mystery.  All the expressions are simply attempts to express this mystery of love.  John, who is known for his mystical view of eternity, the kingdom of God and God Himself, attempts to assist our understanding of infinite love.  Infinite love has a very special character that is adapted to our weak human nature.  This special character is mercy. 

When God created us, He made us perfectly in His image and likeness and mercy was not necessary.  When Adam and Eve fell into sin, however, all creation became flawed and man became fragile and weak.  The fallen nature of man required an adaptation in the way God loved man. Mercy was born of the love God had for his creature, who through disobedience and lack of love deserved death.  It was in this birth of mercy that God began His plan for salvation which led, as a trail of blood through ages to come to terminate in the blood of His Son, crucified to redeem our sin. 

The trail of blood involves an act of God in which there is a shedding of blood and it is vicarious, the one who should have died did not die.  This is seen as God killed an animal in Eden to provide clothing to cover the shame of Adam and Eve exposed through their sin. The commandment, "do not eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil in the center of the garden or you shall die," demanded their death.  The death of an animal satisfied their death, and even though the sin was not forgiven, their lives were spared.

The trail continues through the Old Testament times. It is seen in the murder of Abel by Cain. Instead of death, which Cain deserved a mark was put on Cain (possibly the blood of Abel, that cried out from the grave) so that Cain was saved. It is seen again in God's command to Abraham to kill his son Isaac.  God provided a ram, caught in a bush for sacrifice, blood was shed and Isaac was saved.  Throughout the time of judges and prophets, animals were sacrificed in the hope for Gods mercy to wipe out the sin of man and restore man to friendship with God.

Finally because God loved us so very much and felt such great need for mercy He send His only Son, to shed His blood on the Cross and redeem all sin.  The shedding of Christ's blood to restore our souls to health, and provide us with intimacy with God is the culmination of the Mercy of Gods love.

You might ask, "Why is the shedding of blood so necessary to demonstrate Gods mercy upon us?" It is because sin affects us as though it is in the blood. Sin pervades every avenue and corner of our being, transforming our very life into a rebellion against God.  Blood, which is life for the body must be shed to overcome sin.  The author of the Letter to the Hebrews affirms this; "Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sin" (Hebrews 9:22).

When we contemplate the Cross and realize that when Christ took a human body in the womb of the Blessed Virgin Mary, He emptied himself, masking His divinity for a time to become one of us.  This emptying of Himself for our redemption was fulfilled with the Roman centurion thrust his spear into His Most Sacred Heart.  Christ, now dead emptied His heart of life saving blood, the blood of our redemption.  In His mercy, he responds to our mercy by bending over our broken, fallen soul and forgives us.  Mercy is love, bending down to relieve the misery wrought in the world by sin, raising it up to Himself and easing its pain.

God's Mercy is obtained through our mercy. When we forgive, and assist in mending the wounds caused by sin in the world, we will be strengthened in our work, because God will nourish us with His mercy "for He remembers that we are but dust" (Psalm 103:14).  When God bends down to us, to give us mercy, He doesn't lose anything of Himself.  In this act He reveals Himself, and in our minds and hearts becomes more real to us. This is the great gift of beatitude.  The gift of mercy gives us life to its fullest, making us fully and completely human.

NEW CATHOLIC CATECHISM “He descended into hell, on the third day he rose again”

ARTICLE NO. 635

Christ went down into the depths of death so that “the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live.”(Jn 5:25; Matt. 12:40; Rom 10:7; Eph 4:9) Jesus, “the Author of life,” by dying destroyed “him who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and [delivered] all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong bondage.” (Heb 2:14-15; Acts 3:15) Henceforth the risen Christ holds “the keys of Death and Hades,” so that “at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on the earth and under the earth.” (Rev. 1:18; Phil. 2:10)

IN SATAN’S LAIR

Deacon Jim Breazile ocds

Ó2001 DR. JAMES E. BREAZILE, deacon 
JOHN PAUL EVANGELIST OCDS