February 26, 2022
Thought for Today
“There is no such thing on earth as an uninteresting
subject; the only thing that can exist is an uninterested person.”
G.K. Chesterton,
Heretics,
1905
Saturday, February 26, 2022
Friday, February 25, 2022
Statement on the situation in Ukraine from Very Rev. Michael Brehl, C.Ss.R. (Superior General)
Dear Confreres, Sisters, and Partners in Mission,
It is with a certain urgency that I write to you again today. I believe that most of us are aware of the outbreak of war with the invasion of Ukraine by Russia, and the ongoing efforts on the part of world leaders to resolve this situation and prevent further violence. It is evident that this situation will have repercussions which will affect the entire continent of Europe, as well as a greater impact on our wounded world.
Pope Francis has continued to invite all of us to join in prayerful communion and solidarity with all the victims of war and violence. He has reminded us, and all people of good will, that war is madness, the work of the evil one, and a serious sin that inflicts great wounds on all humanity.
Here in Rome, the General Government echoes these concerns of the Holy Father. For this reason, I make a heartfelt appeal to all Confreres, Sisters, and Partners in Mission to participate, especially this weekend, in a united prayer for peace, especially in Ukraine. Please dedicate time in each of our Churches, monasteries, convents, communities and homes for this time of prayer, and invite the people of God to join with us. This prayer for peace is an expression of our communion and solidarity with our Redemptorist Brothers and Sisters in both Ukraine and in Russia., as well as with all people.
It is clear to us that this prayer will embrace and express our deepest longing for peace in every part of our wounded world, among all peoples, on every continent. May our prayer continue to help us to grow in our call to be witnesses of the Redeemer. May this communion express our conviction that we are truly sisters and brothers for we are all children of God.
In Christ our Redeemer and our Brother,
Michael Brehl, C.Ss.R.
Superior General
Rome, February 24, 2022
Thursday, February 24, 2022
Wednesday, February 23, 2022
February 23, 2022
Feast of St. Polycarp
7 Wednesday Ordinary Time
JAMES 4: 13-17 -
MORE OR LESS -
IN POETIC FORM
I like today’s first reading – James 4:13 – 17.
Last night I read it a few times and it gave me heavy thoughts.
I also thought, “Let it stand by itself!”
That would be enough, Then I said, “Be poetic. Why not put it into poetic form? It’s
puzzling – so put it in a puzzling poetic form – but keep it simple.
The homilist is supposed to do something like that with
the text – and not just walk away – like a match or a candle going out.
So here’s James 4: 13-17 in poetic form. I’ll call this, “Tomorrow!”
TOMORROW
Tomorrow.
Wait. I might not get a tomorrow.
I could be just a puff of smoke. I could be just for a
moment.
Air hanging in air – just for a moment – then
disappearing.
Today.
Okay I’ll take today. Right now I’m here in the here and
now – of today.
I’m here. I’ve
been there. But I might
not be in the next.
Surprise! In fact I could be gone – by tomorrow.
That’s humbling.
You never know.
That takes away any argument for arrogance.
So I guess the thing to do – the right thing to do – is
to do what the letter of James tells us to do, “If the Lord puts me in his will
for a next, take it - and live it. - Take
it and say, ‘Thanks.”
To not - to not do that - would be stupid – and actually
– it would be a sin.
So today - I’ll do - today. - I’ll try to live today – to
the full.
And tomorrow – I’ll do tomorrow - if I get a tomorrow.
I hope to. Thank
You God.
Together – we’ll find that one out – like today – like
yesterday – but tomorrow
Thank You.
February 23, 2022
HUMILITY
© Andy Costello, Reflections 2022
Tuesday, February 22, 2022
Monday, February 21, 2022
Sunday, February 20, 2022
February 20, 2022
THE CART
In one of his sermons, “Sin In The Present Tense”, Peter
Marshall tells the following story.
There was once a fellow who, with his father, farmed a
little piece of land.
Several times a year, they’d load up the ox-cart with
vegetables and drive to the nearest city.
Except for their name and the patch of ground, father and
son had little in common.
The old man believed in taking it easy … and the son was
the go-getter type.
One morning they loaded the cart, hitched the ox and set
out.
The young fellow figured that if they kept going all day
and night, they’d get to the market by next morning. He walked alongside the ox and kept prodding
it with a stick.
“Take it easy,” said the old man. “you’ll last longer.”
“If we get to the market ahead of the others,” said his
son, “we have a better chance of getting good prices.”
The old man pulled his hat down over his eyes and went to
sleep on the seat.
Four miles and four hours down the road, they came to a
little house.
“Here’s your uncle’s place,” said the father, waking up.
“Let’s stop in and say hello.”
“We’ve lost an hour already,” complained the go-getter,
“Then, a few minutes more won’t matter,” said his father.
“My brother and I live so close, yet we see each other so seldom.”
The young man fidgeted while the two gentlemen gossiped
away an hour.
On the move again, the father took his turn leading the
ox. By and by, they came to a fork in the
road. The old man directed the ox to the
right. “The left is the shorter way,” said the boy.
“I know it,” said the old man, “but this way is
prettier.”
“Have you no respect for time?” asked the impatient young
man.
“I respect it very
much,” said the old fellow.”
“That’s why I like to use it for looking at pretty
things.”
The right hand path led through woodland and wild
flowers. The young man was so busy watching the sun sink, he didn’t notice how
lovely the sunset was.
Twilight found them in what looked like a big garden.
“Let’s sleep here,” said the old man.
“This is the last trip I take with you,” snapped his son.
“You’re more interested in flowers than
in making money.”
“That’s the nicest thing you’ve said in a long time,”
smiled the old fellow.
A minute later he was asleep.
A little before sunrise the young man shoved his father
awake. They hitched up and went on. A
mile and an hour later they came upon a farmer trying to pull his cart out of a
ditch. “Let’s give him a hand,” said the father.
“And lose more time?” exploded the son.
“Relax,” said the old man.
“You might be in a ditch some time.”
By the time the other cart was back on the road, it was
eight o’clock.
Suddenly a great flash of lightning split the sky.
Then there was great thunder.
Beyond the hills, the heavens grew dark.
“Looks like a big rain in the city,” said the old man.
“If we had been in time, we’d be sold out by now,”
grumbled his son.
“Take it easy,” said the old gentleman, “you’ll last
longer.”
It wasn’t until late in the afternoon that they got to the
top of the hill overlooking the town.
They looked down on it for a long time.
Neither of them spoke.
Finally the young man who had been in such a hurry said, “I
see what you mean, father.”
They turned the cart and drove away for what once been the
city of Hiroshima.
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