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224. A Sunday
Prayer
Sundays are
generally quiet days in my life. The highlight of my Sunday is
singing with the choir at Holy Mass. Four part harmony... I sing
bass most of the time, sometimes tenor, if it's not too high. It
depends on how many singers are at hand. Our Music Director is a
very gifted person, who looks for excellence or as much of that is
possible from a non-professional choir. I must say, it sounds great.
I check the
e-mail on Sundays, and maybe do one of these reflections as I am
doing now in the evening of Sunday. I try to leave Sundays free from
heavy work because Our Lord doesn't really want us to work on
Sundays. Some people cannot afford to take Sundays off. People who
work 5-6 days a week, well, there's always lawn-mowing and lots of
other projects or shopping. I prefer not to shop on Sundays, nor
Saturdays for that matter. The stores are way too crowded on the
weekends. Be that as it may. Our Lord created the seventh day of the
week for rest, and for honoring the Father. That's important,
too.
Today happens
to be Mission Sunday, and I'm reminded of Franciscan friars who go
to the Missions. The few whom I know went to the Island of Jamaica,
to Nicaragua, and other places, usually far away. Missionaries are
servants, God sent His Son Jesus into this world, not to rule but to
serve. In his servanthood, Jesus came to us to reveal God to us.
When we hear about great servants such as Blessed Mother Theresa of
Calcutta, we are strongly reminded of the face of God, and those she
served most likely perceived her that way, as fundamental goodness
and love. Let us pray: "Lord Jesus Christ, make ours the same
attitude that was yours. You who emptied yourself, taking the form
of a slave, you humbled yourself, becoming obedient to death, even
death on a cross.¹" (see Phil 2:5,7-8)
Sundays are a good day to
reflect on God's wishes for us. He wants us to become
holy in our daily lives. Holiness manifests itself when
there is no longer any difference between our words and our
actions. As Catholics we promise to love God and our
neighbor (that means everyone) as ourselves. The intention
to do so are our words. The action is when we do as we
promise. We can stop sin in our lives. We have that power
with the help of the Holy Spirit. God has given us a free
will, so let us exercise that free will for the better.
Heaven is not something you will earn five minutes before
you breathe your last breath, if you have neglected it all
your life. But God is merciful and compassionate. Heaven is
earned by a life long pursuit of prayer (that is, talking
with Jesus, with God) and comparable action. People who pray
and pray, and every time they meet other people and act
foolishly, sinfully, are hypocrites. They are simply not
acting upon God's goodness. So we may pray for them, not in
comparison with ourselves, but simply ask God to bless them
and make their hearts like His. That they may live in His
presence now, rather than later. "As a deer yearns for
running streams, so I yearn for you, My God. In you is the
source of life, by your light we see light¹" (cf. Ps. 42)
"God's
love brings us to full blossom.²" With God's love, we can,
in His name, accomplish almost anything. His love nurtures
us as it does a most exquisite flower. Don't shut Him out,
but prepare each day to make Him welcome in your life and
your soul. Be joyful and grateful when He visits, and be
Christ to everyone you meet each and every day.
May the Lord bless you and keep
you well.
Fred Schaeffer, SFO
09/21/2008
If you truly want to help the soul
of your neighbor, you should approach God first with all your heart.
Ask Him to simply fill you with charity, the greatest of all
virtues, with it you can accomplish what you desire.
St. Vincent Ferrer
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1. Fr. Henry Nouwen
2. F. Schaeffer
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