I raise my eyes unto the mountains, from whence comes my strength. My strength comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth.
Scripture for reflection: John 12:24
“Amen, amen I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the earth and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat; but if it dies, it produces much fruit.
Dr. Marcellino
D’Ambrosio tells us: The Garden of Gethsemane, by the way, is on the slope
of a mountain. The guards approaching the garden with their torches were
visible to Our Lord from a long way off, as they made their way along the
Kidron Valley. Jesus saw them coming. He could have simply walked over the
crest of the Mount of Olives and disappeared into the Judean wilderness…. Unless
a grain of wheat fall to the ground and die, it remains just a grain of wheat.
But if it dies, it produces much fruit. Jesus knew that his death would be
fruitful beyond all imagining. And being fruitful was more important to him
than being safe or comfortable. We
gratefully celebrate this love in every Eucharist…But the Lord calls us not
just to remember it, but to imitate it. We are called to be not just believers,
but disciples. Jesus lost his natural human life, but was given in return a
new, risen, humanity which explodes the limits of the humanity we know. We all have a life that we’re rather attached
to, with people, places, things, and activities that we are comfortable with.
My life may not be perfect, but it is familiar. And it’s mine. The Lord invites
me not just to give up dessert for a few weeks, but to give up myself. He asks
me to die to my own plans, my own will, and put my destiny entirely in his
hands. Incidentally, that is what baptism is supposed to mean–that it is no
longer I that live, but Christ that lives in me (Gal 2:19b-20). That I’m no
longer in the driver’s seat, but I’ve put Jesus there. That all that is dearest
to me, I’ve put on the altar, and will only take it back if the Lord gives it
back. Why would we do such a radical
thing? Only if we truly believe that planting the seed of our lives and dreams
in the fertile soil of the Lord’s vineyard will produce much fruit. That we, like
the apostles, will grow to be more than we’d ever hoped we’d be. That he would
do through us, as through them, more than we’d ever dreamt possible. So here’s
the question: is being fruitful was more important to you than being safe . . .
or comfortable . . . or in control? (http://www.parishworld.net/con_TopStory.cfm?contentUUID=43247609-2219-118E-D57D600C7EE2DBBD%7C201203)
Prayer: Psalm 23
THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD
The Lord is my shepherd,
I shall not want;
He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters;
He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness
for His name's sake.
Even though I walk through the valley
of the shadow of death,
I fear no evil;
for You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life;
and I shall dwell in the house of the
Lord forever.
The Lord is my shepherd,
I shall not want;
He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters;
He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness
for His name's sake.
Even though I walk through the valley
of the shadow of death,
I fear no evil;
for You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life;
and I shall dwell in the house of the
Lord forever.
My thoughts: My daughter Lauren lost a good friend this week. He had been scaling a mountain in Peru
and fell to his death. Apart from the tragedy of such a loss, I am speechless
at the legacy he left behind in his short life. Reports about him have been in
all the major and local newspapers and on all the television broadcasts. Every one of them
centered their reports on the profound love for Christ this young man had.
Whether he was climbing or working, hanging out or studying, he managed to
bring his love for Christ into every aspect of his life. One young woman said
that even if he disagreed with you, he still loved you with his eyes, just as
Christ would do. He loved this quote from Russian climber Anatoli Boukreev: “Mountains are not stadiums where I satisfy my ambition to achieve; they
are the cathedral where I practice my religion.” I think this young man brought
many people to Christ even in his death. I think many young people hearing the
commentary on his life will now say to themselves, “It is ok to be in love with
Christ, to seek that love in all I do, and to let that love be known.” I think
that would make him happy. A seed has fallen to the earth, but new life has
sprung from it. We should all learn this lesson: love Christ, see Him in the
beauty of His creation, and proclaim Him from the mountain tops. Ben Horne, rest
in peace.
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