St. Benedict of Nursia
ca. 480-547
Gracious and Holy Father,
Please give me:
intellect to understand you,
reason to discern you,
diligence to seek you,
wisdom to find you,
a spirit to know you,
a heart to meditate upon you,
ears to hear you,
eyes to to see you,
a tongue to proclaim you,
a way of life pleasing to you,
patience to wait for you
and perseverance to look for you.
Grant me a perfect end,
your holy presence,
a blessed resurrection
and life …
Month: August 2022
Create in Me a Clean Heart / Crea en Mi un Corazón Puro
It’s always hard to come back to reality after vacation, isn’t it? I mean, after breathing in fresh air, gazing on the azure waters of the Great Lakes and feeling the breeze flow through the abundance of beautiful tall trees, who wants to go home? Every year, we talk about finding a place there and making it our permanent abode. One can always dream, right?
As we drove home my kids were depressed and whiny, worsening my already somber mood. I popped in a movie and promised them pizza and finally we pulled in the driveway. The house always seems so foreign after being away for several days. It even smells different, having been still and lifeless for almost a week.
Yet, despite the inevitable sadness, it’s always good to sleep in my own bed, take a shower in my own bathroom and get back to a steady routine that isn’t so exhausting, albeit, exciting.
Today’s First Reading reminds me of the good a change of scenery does for the soul: “I will sprinkle clean water upon you…I will give you a new heart and place a new spirit within you, taking from your bodies your stony hearts and giving you natural hearts.”
Yet, there is something that the day-to-day offers us as well. I remember a friend saying that the reason the liturgical color for Ordinary Time is green is because it’s a season of growth. Just as the green grass grows and the green buds appear on the trees, so do our ordinary lives allow for growth so that, “you shall be my people, and I will be your God.”
I also found it fitting that today’s Psalm states: “A clean heart create for me, O God, and a steadfast spirit renew within me…Give me back the joy of your salvation”. Time and time again, I had to remind my kids, who REALLY didn’t want mommy to go back to work, that I had to return to earn a living for our family. Although a vacation is refreshing and brings joy, it is during the day in and day out that God teaches me to have a steadfast spirit. So, whether they like it or not, it is through work that God hones us and provides for our needs.
So as I get back into the daily grind, refreshed, exhausted and a little sad, I am reminded that my God offers me a new heart and a new spirit, and gives me the grace to work as I must.
Siempre es difícil volver a la realidad después de las vacaciones, ¿no? O sea, después de respirar aire fresco, contemplar las aguas azules de los Lagos Grandes y sentir la brisa fresca a través de la abundancia de hermosos árboles altos, ¿quién va a querer regresar a casa? Cada año, hablamos de encontrar un lugar allí y convertirlo en nuestra morada permanente. Uno siempre puede soñar, ¿verdad?
Mientras manejaba a casa, mis hijos estaban deprimidos y quejumbrosos, lo que empeoró mi estado de ánimo ya sombrío. Les puse una película y les prometí una pizza y por fin llegamos a casa. La casa siempre parece tan extraña después de estar varios días fuera. Incluso huele diferente, después de haber estado quieto y sin vida durante casi una semana.
Sin embargo, a pesar de la inevitable tristeza, siempre es bueno dormir en mi propia cama, ducharme en mi propio baño y volver a una rutina constante que no sea tan agotadora, aunque sí emocionante.
La Primera Lectura de hoy me recuerda el bien que hace para el alma un cambio de ambientes: “Los rociaré con agua pura …Les daré un corazón nuevo y les infundiré un espíritu nuevo; arrancaré de ustedes el corazón de piedra y les daré un corazón de carne.”
Sin embargo, hay algo que también nos ofrece la vida cotidiana. Recuerdo que un amigo dijo que la razón por la cual el color litúrgico del Tiempo Ordinario es verde es porque es una temporada de crecimiento. Así como la hierba verde crece y los brotes verdes aparecen en los árboles, nuestras vidas ordinarias permiten el crecimiento para que “ustedes serán mi pueblo y yo seré su Dios”.
También me pareció apropiado que el Salmo de hoy diga: “Crea en mí, Señor, un corazón puro, un espíritu nuevo… Devuélveme tu salvación, que regocija”. Una y otra vez, tuve que recordarles a mis hijos, que REALMENTE no querían que su mamá volviera a trabajar, que tenía que volver para ganarme el sueldo para nuestra familia. Aunque las vacaciones refrescan y traen alegría, es durante la vida diaria que Dios me enseña a tener un espíritu firme. Entonces, les guste o no, es a través del trabajo que Dios nos perfecciona y provee para nuestras necesidades.
Entonces, cuando regreso a la rutina diaria, renovada, agotada y un poco triste, recuerdo que mi Dios me ofrece un corazón nuevo y un espíritu nuevo, y me da la gracia para trabajar como debo.
Tami Urcia grew up in Western Michigan, a middle child in a large Catholic family. She spent early young adulthood as a missionary in Mexico, studying theology and philosophy, then worked and traveled extensively before finishing her Bachelor’s Degree in Western Kentucky. She loves tackling projects, finding fun ways to keep her little ones occupied, quiet conversation with the hubby and finding unique ways to love. She works at for Christian Healthcare Centers, is a guest blogger on CatholicMom.com and BlessedIsShe.net, runs her own blog at https://togetherandalways.wordpress.com and has been doing Spanish translations on the side for over 20 years.
Feature Image Credit: by Felix Urcia, a view of Lake Michigan from Ludington
St. Helena: Saint of the Day for Thursday, August 18, 2022
St. Helena was the mother of Emperor Constantine the Great and an Empress of the Roman Empire. Very little is known about Helena’s early life, but it is believed she is from Drepanum (later known as Helenopolis) in Asia Minor and born into a poor family and lower class in the Roman culture of the day. St. Ambrose described Helena as a “good stable-maid.”
Despite her background, Helena married Constantius Chlorus. With him she birthed her only son, Constantine. around the year 274. Nearly two …
St. Christopher’s Prayer for Strength: Prayer of the Day for Thursday, August 18, 2022
Dear Lord,
We appeal to you for strength.
Help us choose the vocation set for us.
Help us take up our daily burden, as St. Christopher did.
Help us navigate the hazards of this life.
Help us manage the burdens upon our backs.
See us safely to the other side, where we shall receive our promised reward.
We ask this through Christ, Our Lord.
Amen.
Shepherds / Los Pastores
As the eldest child, I was born into a leadership role and have continued to have more leadership roles as I’ve grown older. In leadership roles, it’s easy to get an inflated ego. People are asking you questions, asking for advice, and needing your presence and validation. But someone once told me that a great leader is not someone who makes themselves look more successful; A great leader is someone that makes others feel more successful. Moreover, a great leader is someone that makes the “lowest” or “outcast” feel included and successful.
In the First Reading, we are immediately thrown into a passage in which the leaders have not been good leaders so they are being punished. Not only have they led their people astray but they have also left them to their own devices. No right, no wrong, no direction. This passage also reminds us that the LORD is our shepherd. In one fell swoop, we learn about the consequences of not being a good leader, but also get a quick reminder that it is not man that we should expect to lead us, but the Lord.
Of course, this brought the parable of the lost sheep back to the forefront of my mind. In Luke 15, Jesus uses this example to share that even if 99 of the sheep are safe and herded, we should go looking for the one sheep that is lost. Then, once the lost sheep is found, there is rejoicing. That is being a good leader and a good, fellow Christian.
I think both of today’s readings tie into that parable since they serve as reminders to us to not only bring that one lost person back to the faith and be Christ’s love to them, but also that we should not be prideful and think, “Well, it’s not my fault they got lost. Maybe if they were like me and went to Church and prayed, then they wouldn’t be lost.” But this is not being humble. That is selfishness, pride, and jealousy.
Upon further reflection, I’m left looking at where I have failed to be a humble servant of the Lord and humble leader to His people. Have I left my parents and those older than me to their own devices because “they don’t need to be reminded to go to Mass since they’re older and wiser”? Have I avoided Christian conversation with certain people because my pride tells me that I will look ignorant of the Bible? Have I let others fall because I thought they deserved it? What other ways have I not acted out of love, because it was what felt easier?
Ask yourself; What kind of shepherd am I?
Heavenly Father, we humbly come to you and ask for your assistance.
Help us to avoid selfishness, pride, and jealousy
so we can minister to your flock, our fellow brothers and sisters.
Give us strength to put our egos aside,
so we may do what is right, not what is easy.
Be with us in each step so that we are not afraid
to leave the 99 and find the 1,
so we may rejoice with you once found.
Amen.
Como hija mayor, nací con un rol de liderazgo y he seguido teniendo más roles de liderazgo a medida que crecía. Con roles de liderazgo, es fácil tener un ego inflado. Las personas te hacen preguntas, te piden consejos y necesitan tu presencia y validación. Pero alguien me dijo una vez que un gran líder no es alguien que se hace ver más exitoso; Un gran líder es alguien que hace que los demás se sientan más exitosos. Además, un gran líder es alguien que hace que los “menospreciados” o los “marginados” se sientan incluidos y exitosos.
En la Primera Lectura, somos arrojados inmediatamente a un pasaje en el que los líderes no han sido buenos líderes, por lo que están siendo castigados. No solo han descarriado a su pueblo, sino que también los han dejado a su suerte. No hay bien, no hay mal, no hay dirección. Este pasaje también nos recuerda que el Señor es nuestro pastor. De un solo golpe, aprendemos acerca de las consecuencias de no ser un buen líder, pero también recibimos un rápido recordatorio de que no es el hombre quien debemos esperar que nos guíe, sino el Señor.
Por supuesto, esto trajo al frente de mi mente la parábola de la oveja perdida. En Lucas 15, Jesús usa este ejemplo para compartir que incluso si 99 de las ovejas están a salvo y pastoreadas, debemos ir a buscar la oveja que se perdió. Entonces, una vez que se encuentra la oveja perdida, hay regocijo. Eso es ser un buen líder y un buen compañero cristiano.
Creo que las dos lecturas de hoy se relacionan con esa parábola, ya que nos sirven como recordatorios no solo para traer de vuelta a la fe a esa persona perdida y ser el amor de Cristo para ellos, sino también que no debemos ser orgullosos y pensar: “Bueno, no es mi culpa que se hayan perdido. Tal vez si fueran como yo y fueran a la iglesia y oraran, entonces no se perderían”. Pero esto no es ser humilde. Eso es egoísmo, orgullo y celos.
Después de reflexionar más, me quedo viendo dónde he fallado en ser un humilde siervo del Señor y un humilde líder para Su pueblo. ¿He dejado a mis padres y a los que son mayores que yo solos porque “no necesitan que les recuerden ir a misa porque son mayores y más sabios”? ¿He evitado la conversación cristiana con ciertas personas porque mi orgullo me dice que pareceré ignorante de la Biblia? ¿He dejado caer a otros porque pensé que se lo merecían? ¿De cuales otras formas no he actuado por amor, porque era lo que me parecía más fácil?
Pregúntese; ¿Qué tipo de pastor soy?
Padre Celestial, humildemente venimos a ti y te pedimos tu ayuda.
Ayúdanos a evitar el egoísmo, el orgullo y los celos
para que podamos ser ministros a tu rebaño, nuestros hermanos y hermanas.
Danos fuerza para dejar de lado nuestros egos,
para que podamos hacer lo correcto, no lo fácil.
Acompáñanos en cada paso para que no tengamos miedo
para dejar al 99 para encontrar el 1,
para que podamos regocijarnos contigo una vez que te encontremos.
Amén.
Image Credit: Sergio Martínez, unsplash.com/photos/1eqDa8UXSPs
Veronica Alvarado is a born and raised Texan currently living in Pennsylvania. Since graduating from Texas A&M University, Veronica has published various Catholic articles in bulletins, newspapers, e-newsletters, and blogs. She continued sharing her faith after graduation as a web content strategist and digital project manager. Today, she continues this mission in her current role as communications director and project manager for Pentecost Today USA, a Catholic Charismatic Renewal organization in Pittsburgh.
Shepherds
As the eldest child, I was born into a leadership role and have continued to have more leadership roles as I’ve grown older. In leadership roles, it’s easy to get an inflated ego. People are asking you questions, asking for advice, and needing your presence and validation. But someone once told me that a great leader is not someone who makes themselves look more successful; A great leader is someone that makes others feel more successful. Moreover, a great leader is someone that makes the “lowest” or “outcast” feel included and successful.
In the First Reading, we are immediately thrown into a passage in which the leaders have not been good leaders so they are being punished. Not only have they led their people astray but they have also left them to their own devices. No right, no wrong, no direction. This passage also reminds us that the LORD is our shepherd. In one fell swoop, we learn about the consequences of not being a good leader, but also get a quick reminder that it is not man that we should expect to lead us, but the Lord.
Of course, this brought the parable of the lost sheep back to the forefront of my mind. In Luke 15, Jesus uses this example to share that even if 99 of the sheep are safe and herded, we should go looking for the one sheep that is lost. Then, once the lost sheep is found, there is rejoicing. That is being a good leader and a good, fellow Christian.
I think both of today’s readings tie into that parable since they serve as reminders to us to not only bring that one lost person back to the faith and be Christ’s love to them, but also that we should not be prideful and think, “Well, it’s not my fault they got lost. Maybe if they were like me and went to Church and prayed, then they wouldn’t be lost.” But this is not being humble. That is selfishness, pride, and jealousy.
Upon further reflection, I’m left looking at where I have failed to be a humble servant of the Lord and humble leader to His people. Have I left my parents and those older than me to their own devices because “they don’t need to be reminded to go to Mass since they’re older and wiser”? Have I avoided Christian conversation with certain people because my pride tells me that I will look ignorant of the Bible? Have I let others fall because I thought they deserved it? What other ways have I not acted out of love, because it was what felt easier?
Ask yourself; What kind of shepherd am I?
Heavenly Father, we humbly come to you and ask for your assistance.
Help us to avoid selfishness, pride, and jealousy
so we can minister to your flock, our fellow brothers and sisters.
Give us strength to put our egos aside,
so we may do what is right, not what is easy.
Be with us in each step so that we are not afraid
to leave the 99 and find the 1,
so we may rejoice with you once found.
Amen.
Como hija mayor, nací con un rol de liderazgo y he seguido teniendo más roles de liderazgo a medida que crecía. Con roles de liderazgo, es fácil tener un ego inflado. Las personas te hacen preguntas, te piden consejos y necesitan tu presencia y validación. Pero alguien me dijo una vez que un gran líder no es alguien que se hace ver más exitoso; Un gran líder es alguien que hace que los demás se sientan más exitosos. Además, un gran líder es alguien que hace que los “menospreciados” o los “marginados” se sientan incluidos y exitosos.
En la Primera Lectura, somos arrojados inmediatamente a un pasaje en el que los líderes no han sido buenos líderes, por lo que están siendo castigados. No solo han descarriado a su pueblo, sino que también los han dejado a su suerte. No hay bien, no hay mal, no hay dirección. Este pasaje también nos recuerda que el Señor es nuestro pastor. De un solo golpe, aprendemos acerca de las consecuencias de no ser un buen líder, pero también recibimos un rápido recordatorio de que no es el hombre quien debemos esperar que nos guíe, sino el Señor.
Por supuesto, esto trajo al frente de mi mente la parábola de la oveja perdida. En Lucas 15, Jesús usa este ejemplo para compartir que incluso si 99 de las ovejas están a salvo y pastoreadas, debemos ir a buscar la oveja que se perdió. Entonces, una vez que se encuentra la oveja perdida, hay regocijo. Eso es ser un buen líder y un buen compañero cristiano.
Creo que las dos lecturas de hoy se relacionan con esa parábola, ya que nos sirven como recordatorios no solo para traer de vuelta a la fe a esa persona perdida y ser el amor de Cristo para ellos, sino también que no debemos ser orgullosos y pensar: “Bueno, no es mi culpa que se hayan perdido. Tal vez si fueran como yo y fueran a la iglesia y oraran, entonces no se perderían”. Pero esto no es ser humilde. Eso es egoísmo, orgullo y celos.
Después de reflexionar más, me quedo viendo dónde he fallado en ser un humilde siervo del Señor y un humilde líder para Su pueblo. ¿He dejado a mis padres y a los que son mayores que yo solos porque “no necesitan que les recuerden ir a misa porque son mayores y más sabios”? ¿He evitado la conversación cristiana con ciertas personas porque mi orgullo me dice que pareceré ignorante de la Biblia? ¿He dejado caer a otros porque pensé que se lo merecían? ¿De cuales otras formas no he actuado por amor, porque era lo que me parecía más fácil?
Pregúntese; ¿Qué tipo de pastor soy?
Padre Celestial, humildemente venimos a ti y te pedimos tu ayuda.
Ayúdanos a evitar el egoísmo, el orgullo y los celos
para que podamos ser ministros a tu rebaño, nuestros hermanos y hermanas.
Danos fuerza para dejar de lado nuestros egos,
para que podamos hacer lo correcto, no lo fácil.
Acompáñanos en cada paso para que no tengamos miedo
para dejar al 99 para encontrar el 1,
para que podamos regocijarnos contigo una vez que te encontremos.
Amén.
Image Credit: Sergio Martínez, unsplash.com/photos/1eqDa8UXSPs
Veronica Alvarado is a born and raised Texan currently living in Pennsylvania. Since graduating from Texas A&M University, Veronica has published various Catholic articles in bulletins, newspapers, e-newsletters, and blogs. She continued sharing her faith after graduation as a web content strategist and digital project manager. Today, she continues this mission in her current role as communications director and project manager for Pentecost Today USA, a Catholic Charismatic Renewal organization in Pittsburgh.
St. Clare of Montefalco: Saint of the Day for Wednesday, August 17, 2022
Clare was born at Montefalco, Italy, around 1268. As a young woman she joined a convent of Franciscan tertiaries. This group established Holy Cross Convent at Montefalco in 1290, adopting the Rule of St. Augustine. Clare’s sister Joan was the abbess of this community, but at her death Clare succeeded her. She led an austere life, being particularly devoted to the Passion of Christ and His Cross. When Clare died in 1308, an image of the Cross was found imprinted on her heart, and her body …
Act of Faith: Prayer of the Day for Wednesday, August 17, 2022
O my God, I firmly believe that you are one God in three divine Persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; I believe that your divine Son became man and died for our sins, and that he will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe these and all the truths which the Holy Catholic Church teaches, because you revealed them, who can neither deceive nor be deceived.
Seek Christ / Buscar a Cristo
This Gospel reading is a beautiful opportunity for us to pause and reflect on our real goals in life. It is easy to get caught up in the great hamster wheel of life and forget the most important mission we are on is to be with Jesus for all of eternity.
In this Gospel passage, we are reminded that wealth and money are not a sign of being part of God’s favored people but rather a real warning that these blessings come with tremendous responsibility to others.
Our goal in life should never be to be rich but rather to live in a way that resembles Jesus. We need to be careful that we do not spend our entire life “chasing our dream of money and significant wealth” and forget the real task at hand to grow closer to Christ and live out our faith. Our jobs are a means to provide for our family and an opportunity to do good for others, but they should not distract us from our end goal, heaven.
Jesus is evident in this Scripture about the great reward waiting for us in heaven if we are willing to live out the Gospel message. Peter is much like all of us as he evaluates if it is worth giving it all up. He is even bold enough to ask the ageless question of whether it is worth following Christ and giving up everything. His straightforward manner allows us to hear this tremendous answer from Jesus,
“Amen, I say to you that you who have followed me, in the new age, when the Son of Man is seated on his throne of glory, will yourselves sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands for the sake of my name will receive a hundred times more, and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.”
Jesus is reminding us of the glory that awaits us in heaven, and he tells us in a straightforward way that true happiness in this life and the next comes from how we live our lives. This Gospel also reinforces how priests and religious who give up family, home, and even homeland for the sake of the Kingdom will be eternally blessed.
Esta lectura del Evangelio es una hermosa oportunidad para pausar y reflexionar sobre cuales son nuestras metas verdaderas en esta vida. Es fácil quedar atrapado en la gran rueda de hámster de la vida y olvidar que la misión más importante que tenemos es estar con Jesús por toda la eternidad.
En este pasaje del Evangelio, se nos recuerda que la riqueza y el dinero no son una señal de ser parte del pueblo favorecido de Dios, sino una advertencia real de que estas bendiciones vienen con una tremenda responsabilidad para con los demás.
Nuestro objetivo en la vida nunca debe ser hacernos ricos, sino vivir de una manera que se asemeje a Jesús. Debemos tener cuidado de no pasar toda nuestra vida “persiguiendo nuestro sueño de dinero y una riqueza significativa” y olvidarnos de la verdadera tarea que tenemos entre las manos para acercarnos más a Cristo y vivir nuestra fe. Nuestros trabajos son un medio para mantener a nuestra familia y una oportunidad de hacer el bien a los demás, pero no deben distraernos de nuestro objetivo final, el cielo.
Jesús es claro en esta Escritura acerca de la gran recompensa que nos espera en el cielo si estamos dispuestos a vivir el mensaje del Evangelio. Pedro se parece mucho a todos nosotros cuando evalúa si vale la pena dejarlo todo. Incluso es tan audaz como para hacer la eterna pregunta de si vale la pena seguir a Cristo y renunciar a todo lo demás. Su manera directa nos permite escuchar esta tremenda respuesta de Jesús:
“Yo les aseguro que en la vida nueva, cuando el Hijo del hombre se siente en su trono de gloria, ustedes, los que me han seguido, se sentarán también en doce tronos, para juzgar a las doce tribus de Israel. Y todo aquel que por mí haya dejado casa, o hermanos o hermanas, o padre o madre, o esposa o hijos, o propiedades, recibirá cien veces más y heredará la vida eterna. Y muchos primeros serán últimos y muchos últimos, primeros.’’
Jesús nos está recordando la gloria que nos espera en el cielo, y nos dice de manera directa que la verdadera felicidad en esta vida y en la próxima viene de cómo vivimos nuestras vidas. Este Evangelio también refuerza cómo serán eternamente bendecidos los sacerdotes y religiosos que dejen la familia, el hogar e incluso la patria por causa del Reino.
Emily Jaminet is a Catholic author, speaker, radio personality, wife, and mother of seven children. She earned a bachelor’s degree in mental health and human services from the Franciscan University of Steubenville. She is the co-founder of www.inspirethefaith.com and the Executive Director of The Sacred Heart Enthronement Network www.WelcomeHisHeart.com. She has co-authored several Catholic books and her next one, Secrets of the Sacred Heart: Claiming Jesus’ Twelve Promises in Your Life, comes out in Oct. 2020. Emily serves on the board of the Columbus Catholic Women’s Conference, contributes to Relevant Radio and Catholic Mom.com.
Feature Image Credit: cathopic_1488495306931388.jpg
All Glory Is His / Toda la Gloria es Suya
**This reflection is being posted for Aug 8th. Due to a technical issue, it did not post.**
There is a lot going on in today’s readings, from Ezekiel’s vision of the glory of God, to Jesus predicting his death — one of three times that happens in Matthew’s Gospel — to the miracle of the coin in the fish’s mouth. Then you also have the feast day of St. Dominic, founder of the Order of Preachers. Where does one focus? Where can you find the most meaning? Holy Spirit, will you help me, please?
We really have to begin with Ezekiel, because the lesson there is where I think we’ll end up by the end of this reflection. There are angels, there is a throne of sapphire, there is a rainbow-like background, and there is the Lord, appearing like fire and gleaming metal. If you read on in the book, you’ll see God shows this glory to Ezekiel before He sends him to be a prophet to Israel, even warning him that they won’t accept him, and worse. But Ezekiel goes despite these impossible odds. Such is the power of God’s glory.
Our Psalm reflects that glory, and it instructs us what to do about it: Praise the Lord! His name alone is exalted; His majesty is above, and beyond, earth and heaven!
Then, in Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus’ disciples are overwhelmed with grief when He tells them that He will be put to death. Did they not hear the part about rising on the third day? Maybe we can understand their reaction, since we know how hard it was for them to understand what “rising from the dead” meant before it actually happened. But Matthew moves quickly from this interaction to the question of the temple tax. Does Jesus pay it? Peter says yes, but we are left to wonder, was Peter lying? Was he covering for Jesus? It doesn’t really matter, because Jesus knows what’s up, and He brings it up to Peter with no prompting at all. Who gets taxed? The tax is levied on foreigners. Jesus is hinting to Peter and to us that we are foreigners not of this world, and we belong, or should belong, to a far greater kingdom, the one that appeared to Ezekiel in his vision.
Jesus performs the miracle of the coin in the fish’s mouth, as He says, “that we may not offend them.” In other words, let’s pay them their tax so such minor issues cannot impede them or us from knowing the truth that Jesus is the Messiah, that He came to Earth to be sacrificed for our wrongs, and that through His conquering death and resurrection, we, too, can participate in the glory of the Lord.
The path to eternal communion with our loving God is clear, then. Through the difficulties we encounter as Ezekiel did, through the mundane of everyday life like Peter was confronted with, in all things, our focus needs to be on the glory of God as our destination. Praise the Lord! Pray always. Be like St. Dominic and pray the rosary constantly. Put it all in the perspective that being with God in His glory is our only goal.
Están sucediendo muchas cosas en las lecturas de hoy, desde la visión de Ezequiel de la gloria de Dios, hasta Jesús prediciendo su muerte, una de las tres veces que sucede en el Evangelio de Mateo, hasta el milagro de la moneda en la boca del pez. Luego hoy también es la fiesta de Santo Domingo, fundador de la Orden de Predicadores. ¿Dónde se enfoca uno? ¿Dónde puedes encontrar el mayor significado? Espíritu Santo, ¡ayúdame, por favor!
Realmente tenemos que comenzar con Ezequiel, porque la lección allí es donde creo que vamos a terminar al final de esta reflexión. Hay ángeles, hay un trono de zafiro, hay un fondo como un arco iris, y allí está el Señor, que aparece como fuego y metal reluciente. Si sigues leyendo, verás que Dios le muestra esta gloria a Ezequiel antes de enviarlo como profeta a Israel, incluso advirtiéndole que no lo aceptarán, y cosas peores. Pero Ezekiel va a pesar de estas probabilidades imposibles. Tal es el poder de la gloria de Dios.
Nuestro Salmo refleja esa gloria, y nos instruye qué hacer al respecto: ¡El nombre del Señor alaben todos, pues su nombre es excelso; su gloria sobrepasa cielo y tierra!
Luego, en el Evangelio de Mateo, los discípulos de Jesús se llenan de dolor cuando Él les dice que lo matarán. ¿No escucharon la parte acerca de resucitar al tercer día? Tal vez podamos entender su reacción, ya que sabemos lo difícil que fue para ellos entender lo que significaba “resucitar de entre los muertos” antes de que realmente sucediera. Pero Mateo pasa rápidamente de esta interacción a la cuestión del impuesto del templo. ¿Jesús lo paga? Peter dice que sí, pero nos quedamos preguntándonos, ¿Peter estaba mintiendo? ¿Estaba defendiendo a Jesús? Realmente no importa, porque Jesús sabe lo que pasa, y se lo cuenta a Pedro sin ninguna indicación. ¿Quién paga impuestos? El impuesto se aplica a los extranjeros. Jesús le está insinuando a Pedro y a nosotros que somos extranjeros, no de este mundo, y pertenecemos, o deberíamos pertenecer, a un reino mucho más grande, el que se le apareció a Ezequiel en su visión.
Jesús realiza el milagro de la moneda en la boca del pez, como dice, “para no darles motivo de escándalo”. En otras palabras, paguémosles su impuesto para que esos problemas menores no les impidan a ellos ni a nosotros conocer la verdad de que Jesús es el Mesías, que vino a la Tierra para ser sacrificado por nuestros errores, y que a través de Su muerte y resurrección vencedora nosotros también podemos participar en la gloria del Señor.
Entonces, el camino hacia la comunión eterna con nuestro Dios amoroso es claro. A través de las dificultades que encontramos como lo hizo Ezequiel, a través de lo mundano de la vida cotidiana como lo enfrentó Pedro, en todas las cosas, nuestro enfoque debe estar en la gloria de Dios como nuestro destino. ¡Alabado sea el Señor! Oren siempre. Sean como Santo Domingo y recen el rosario constantemente. Ponlo todo en la perspectiva de que estar con Dios en Su gloria es nuestra única meta.
Mike Karpus is a regular guy. He grew up in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, graduated from Michigan State University and works as an editor. He is married to a Catholic school principal, raised two daughters who became Catholic school teachers at points in their careers, and now relishes his two grandchildren, including the 3-year-old who teaches him what the colors of Father’s chasubles mean. He has served on a Catholic School board, a pastoral council and a parish stewardship committee. He currently is a lector at Mass, a Knight of Columbus, Adult Faith Formation Committee member and a board member of the local Habitat for Humanity organization. But mostly he’s a regular guy.
Feature Image Credit: images.unsplash.com/photo-1526385092893-3c2356624514?ixlib=rb-1.2.1&ixid=MnwxMjA3fDB8MHxwaG90by1wYWdlfHx8fGVufDB8fHx8&auto=format&fit=crop&w=1068&q=80