THANK YOU, CARDINALS! “Behold, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” – Acts 7:56 “White smoke!” the text message came in at 2:06 a.m. of March 14, 2013. I immediately rose up from bed and turned on the TV. Seeing the multitude of people gathered in front of St. Peter’s Basilica, jubilant at the much-awaited white smoke coming out of the chimney of Sistine Chapel, I couldn’t help but rejoice as well. When Pope Francis came out and just stood there for a few minutes, it was like seeing Jesus being baptized at the River Jordan and hearing God’s voice saying, “This is My Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” And when Pope Francis started speaking, I sensed a gentle and affectionate person who’s very much in touch with God in the present moment. He led the crowd in praying for Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, and before he gave his blessing, he asked them to pray silently for him. What humility! I thank the Cardinal electors for listening well to the Holy Spirit and letting His voice be heard through their votes. May God continue to speak through Pope Francis, His chosen one, as he navigates the Catholic Church amidst the challenges it faces today. by: Tess V. Atienza (svp_tvatienza@yahoo) Reflection: How do you regard the Vicar of Christ on earth? Say a prayer for him each day. Lord, thank You for sending Pope Francis to us to lead Your Church. Keep Him in Your embrace. Sts. Marian and James, pray for us. ===================================================== WHO HAS THE POWER? When we read about people looking for signs in the Scriptures, we can assume that behind the action is their search for the origin of the power behind the sign. It is not the sign that is important but what it signifies and, in this case, the people are looking for the origin of the power exercised in the creation of the sign. Too often in the Scriptures, the people attribute the power to the intermediary and not to God. Too often, the Jews focus on the person who manifests the sign or power, instead of looking up to God who, by His grace and omnipotent power, is the one at work behind all that is good. When we focus on the messenger and not the origin of the grace received, we distort both our understanding of the immediate manifestation of the grace and our relationship with both the intermediary and God. This is not good. Our focus and energies get misdirected and misled. Jesus is constantly telling the people to look beyond Moses or Elijah or the one who is manifesting God’s Word and will to them, and focus instead on the person of God. We have a personal God who desires to have an individual relationship with us. This is one of the beauties and wonders of Judaism and Christianity. God invites us into His presence in order to relate to us in the precise manner that we individually need. God is not some sort of amorphous power who deigns to interact with Creation every now and then. No, God is a personal God and He wants to make His way of relating to us personal. This is why He has created us in His own image and likeness — so that we are able to relate with Him on our own free will. It is impossible to stay distant from God and be in His good graces. God is up-close and personal, whether we like it or not. The dangers of an overly devotional faith is its tendency to keep God at a distance. In any communal expression of praise and worship, the challenge is to keep our faith experience intimate and personal. by: Fr. Steve Tynan, MGL REFLECTION QUESTIONS: What is your relationship with God like? Are you comfortable with the idea of an up-close and personal God? Holy Spirit, draw me into Your presence more deeply each day. Help me to open my heart and mind more fully to the blessings of a God who desires a personal relationship with me.
Posted on: Tue, 06 May 2014 01:06:29 +0000
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