Daily Reading & Meditation
Friday (12/5): "According to your faith be it done to you"
Scripture: Matthew 9:27-31
27 And as Jesus passed on from there, two blind men followed him, crying aloud, "Have mercy on us, Son of David." 28 When he entered the house, the blind men came to him; and Jesus said to them, "Do you believe that I am able to do this?" They said to him, "Yes, Lord." 29 Then he touched their eyes, saying, "According to your faith be it done to you." 30 And their eyes were opened. And Jesus sternly charged them, "See that no one knows it." 31 But they went away and spread his fame through all that district.
Old Testament Reading: Isaiah 29:17-24
“In that day the deaf shall hear the words of a book, and out of their gloom and darkness the eyes of the blind shall see.” (Is. 29:18)
Meditation: Are there any blind-spots in your life that keep you from recognizing God's power and mercy? When two blind men heard that Jesus was passing their way, they followed him and begged for his mercy. The word mercy literally means "sorrowful at heart". But mercy is something more than compassion, or heartfelt sorrow at another's misfortune. Compassion empathizes with the sufferer. But mercy goes further; it removes suffering. A merciful person shares in another's misfortune and suffering as if it were their own. When two blind men approached Jesus, he questioned their earnestness. "Do you believe that I am able to do this?" Jesus put them to the test, not to rebuff them, but to strengthen their faith and trust in God's mercy. He touched their eyes, both to identify with their affliction and to awaken faith in them. Their faith grew as they responded to his word with confident hope. Jesus restored their sight – both physically and spiritually to the reality of God's kingdom. Faith opens the way for us to see the power of God’s kingdom and to experience his healing presence in our lives.
In Jesus we see the fulness of God's mercy and the power of his kingdom – power to save from death and destruction, to forgive sins and lift the burden of guilt, and to heal infirmities and release the oppressed. Jesus never refused to bring God's mercy to those who earnestly sought it. How can we seek and obtain God's mercy? God gives mercy to the lowly in heart – to those who recognize their need for God and for his forgiveness and healing power.
God wants to change and transform our lives to set us free to live as his sons and daughters and citizens of his kingdom. Faith is key to this transformation. How can we grow in faith? Faith is a gift freely given by God to help us know God personally, to understand his truth, and to live in the power of his love. For faith to be effective it must be linked with trust and obedience – an active submission to God and a willingness to do whatever he commands. The Lord Jesus wants us to live in the confident expectation that he will fulfill his promises to us and bring us into the fulness of his kingdom – a kingdom of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit (Romans 14:17). Do you know the peace and joy of God's kingdom?
"Lord Jesus, help me to draw near to you with faith and trust in your saving power and mercy. Free me from doubt and unbelief that I may approach you confidently and pray boldly with expectant faith. Let your kingdom come and may your will be done in me."
Psalm 27:1-4, 13-14
1 The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
2 When evildoers assail me, uttering slanders against me, my adversaries and foes, they shall stumble and fall.
3 Though a host encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war arise against me, yet I will be confident.
4 One thing have I asked of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to inquire in his temple.
13 I believe that I shall see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living!
14 Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; yea, wait for the LORD!
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(c) 2008 Don Schwager
Daily Reading & Meditation
Thursday (12/4): "Who shall enter the kingdom of heaven?"
Scripture: Matthew 7:21,24-27
21 "Not every one who says to me, `Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 24 "Every one then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house upon the rock; 25 and the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat upon that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. 26 And every one who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house upon the sand; 27 and the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell; and great was the fall of it."
Old Testament Reading: Isaiah 26:1-6
“In that day this song will be sung in the land of Judah: "We have a strong city; he sets up salvation as walls and bulwarks. ..Trust in the LORD for ever, for the LORD GOD is an everlasting rock.” (Is. 26:1,4)
Meditation: What’s the best security against disaster and destruction? In the ancient world a strong city, an impregnable fortress, and a secure house were built on solid rock because they could withstand the forces of nature and foe alike. Isaiah speaks of God as an “everlasting rock” (Is. 26:4). He is the rock of refuge and deliverance (Psalm 18:2) and the rock in whom there is no wrong (Psalm 92:15). Scripture warns that destruction will surely come to those who place their security in something other than God and his kingdom. Jesus’ parables invite us to stake our lives on the coming of his kingdom or face the consequences of being unprepared when the day of testing and destruction will surely come.
When Jesus told the story of the builders he likely had the following proverb in mind: "When the storm has swept by, the wicked are gone, but the righteous stand firm for ever" (Proverbs 10:25). What's the significance of the story for us? The kind of foundation we build our lives upon will determine whether we can survive the storms that are sure to come. Builders usually lay their foundations when the weather and soil conditions are at their best. It takes foresight to know how a foundation will stand up against adverse conditions. Building a house on a flood plain, such as a dry river-bed, is a sure bet for disaster! Jesus prefaced his story with a warning: We may fool humans with our speech, but God cannot be deceived. He sees the heart as it truly is – with its motives, intentions, desires, and choices (Psalm 139:2). There is only one way in which a person's sincerity can be proved, and that is by one's practice. Fine words can never replace good deeds. Our character is revealed in the choices we make, especially when we are tested. Do you cheat on an exam or on your income taxes, especially when it will cost you? Do you lie, or cover-up, when disclosing the truth will cause you injury or embarrassment? A true person is honest and reliable before God, one's neighbor and oneself. His or her word can be counted on. If you heed God's word and live according to it then you need not fear when storms assail you. God will be your rock and your refuge. Is your life built upon the sure "rock" of Jesus Christ and do you listen to his word as if your life depended on it?
"Lord, your are my Rock and my Refuge. Help me to conform my life according to your word that I may stand firm in times of trouble and find hope in your promises."
Psalm 118:1, 8-9, 19-21, 25-27
1 O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his steadfast love endures for ever!
8 It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to put confidence in man.
9 It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to put confidence in princes.
19 Open to me the gates of righteousness, that I may enter through them and give thanks to the LORD. 20 This is the gate of the LORD; the righteous shall enter through it.
21 I thank thee that thou hast answered me and hast become my salvation.
25 Save us, we beseech thee, O LORD! O LORD, we beseech thee, give us success!
26 Blessed be he who enters in the name of the LORD! We bless you from the house of the LORD.
27 The LORD is God, and he has given us light. Bind the festal procession with branches, up to the horns of the altar!
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(c) 2008 Don Schwager
Patience – A Hard Pill To Swallow
We are now entering the Christmas season and all the waiting and preparing that comes with it. Remember, Advent (the days before Christmas) is not the same as Christmas itself. I realize that many stores put up Christmas displays right after Halloween just to put us in the buying mood. Our lives should not be governed by commerce, but rather by Faith; and Faith requires prayerful patience. Advent is a season that reminds us to patiently wait for God.
Pay close attention to the readings at Sunday Mass and you’ll hear how God tells us to await his coming because he can come at anytime. Are we ready to receive him as the welcome guest who may arrive at a moment’s notice?
Patience is truly a hard pill to swallow. It’s not an easy thing to be or to have, but, it’s a remedy for the ills of this complex society. If you pray to be more patient, God will answer your prayers with a traffic jam, irritating co-workers, children who are picky eaters, or challenging marriage situations because God wants to invite us to a deeper understanding of Faith. And that requires patience.
Although the message is simple, this is not an easy blast for me to write, since I’m not the most patient person in the world. I feel like a hypocrite trying to encourage people to be more patient, but I know I‘m a sick man, plagued by the sin of impatience; therefore, I must encourage others to be patient. Have you ever met someone who is struggling as best they can to cope with sickness? I think of Pope John Paul II. Wasn’t he absolutely inspiring? In his vulnerability, he grew ever dependent on his faith in God’s promise to heal and deliver him.
Aren’t we all a little sick with something, whether it be physical, emotional or spiritual illness? Do we realize that we’re supposed to be patient and faithful patients who know God will provide healing? We need to encourage each other to be more like this. Only when we recognize our own weaknesses can we also be patient with ourselves.
My sickness of impatience is one reason I’m not a baker. I met a baker at Holy Family Catholic Church this past weekend who tells me the best way to make icing for cakes is a very slow churn of butter cream. After tasting her cake, it’s definitely worth the wait.
I’m always tempted to open the oven to see if everything is cooked. Baking requires the talent and the patience to measure the ingredients, follow mixing instructions, and to wait for the dough to rise before even putting it in the oven. Then, you must again wait patiently as it bakes, suffering the aroma of that sweet buttery goodness. You must wait again after the food has baked, lest you burn yourself or ruin the dish by not allowing it to settle. My type of dessert is the kind that cooks up fast.
As impatient as most of us are, I’m sure we’d all prefer perfectly cooked meals courtesy of a microwave if that were possible. We need to realize that God uses a Crockpot and His blessings are the result of loving patience.
In an age where shoppers are impatient to the point of creating a stampede that killed a retail employee, I have to wonder what’s the hurry? People run to be first in line at the cashier; they push to be the first in line for communion in order to be first out of the door to beat the traffic out of the church parking lot. Those same people are the very last to take part in the Sacrament of Confession, where God patiently awaits us. Remember that Judas was the first to leave the first Mass. The fallen disciple failed to realize that salvation comes to people at God’s appointed time.
Patience and the right timing are two different things. Patience requires awaiting the future. But when it comes to accepting Christ as Lord and Savior, the time to receive His gifts is not in the future. The right time is right now! There is no need to wait. God has been patiently waiting for us and we cannot afford to save our relationship with God for the future.
In this busy season, Mass readings should remind us that in our rush to get other’s gifts, Jesus’ birthday is the reason for celebration. The best way to prepare for His birthday is to wait for Him in prayer. If you don’t believe me, prayerfully and patiently read the Scriptures and see that waiting for Him is what He wants for Christmas.
Ongoing Thanksgiving – Vegetarian-style Eggplant Caponata!
Many have asked me about my Thanksgiving feast. It was a day to be grateful for the abundant blessings on and around the table.
Table at the seminary kitchen
The celebration started with the Knights of Columbus who provided an early supper for seminarians who did not travel. It was quite a feast. Much thanks to the Knights for being such abundant providers for the Church’s spiritual and temporal hungers.
I had an opportunity to walk off some of the meal with seminarians from Lafayette, Louisiana by hiking to the top of Indian Lookout in Emmitsburg, Maryland. There, we toasted God’s goodness with one of the local berry wines.
The little bit of exercise definitely helped prepare me for my family’s own Thanksgiving feast. By late afternoon, I was off to my family’s home for meal worth waiting for.
It was a big ole Filipino Thanksgiving with turkey and all the trimmings, in addition to other dishes such as baked ham, creamy chicken stew, Filipino egg rolls, salmon with caper soy marinade, and baked teriyaki chicken wings.
For this week’s recipe, I’d like to offer a dish that we made when we filmed a short segment for vegetarians. I’ve definitely heard your requests for more veggies, so we recently shot a few webisodes that feature vegetarian dishes. Be sure to keep your eye out for it. This recipe can work perfectly for holiday meals or regular family meals. It can be a great side dish or an easy vegetarian entrée. And the great thing about this recipe – its quick!
Like a lot of families, my family tends to over-prepare for Thanksgiving. I know that many people are still managing their way through Thanksgiving leftovers, which is why Thanksgiving should not be limited to one day a year. We should give thanks every day with a delicious family meal.
If you have extra turkey you can add it to this dish, but everyone who has tasted it says it’s a meal in and of itself.
Please click here for the recipe.
Prayer for Patients who need patience
Often when we think of praying for patience, we pray for ourselves. However, there is a group of people who seriously need our prayers: actual patients. The ill especially need patience. It’s tough to be sick, particularly in this busy season. Many people who are limited or hurting because of sickness (in body, mind, or soul) must recognize that our Lord is inviting them to be truly patient. The Lord will heal them, though it may take much longer than they may want. But, in patient waiting for health, God will help them see that their suffering will come to an end and an eternal feast awaits those servants who are willing to wait for the Divine Physician.
Let us pray:
Father give us a heart that patiently and trustingly longs for You. Grant us grace in this season of patient waiting so that we can reflect on how Your holy ones waited for their eternal reward in Heaven. Bless those who are sick in hospitals, nursing homes, or homebound. Lord, You know how they long to be able to celebrate these festive days. Give to them serenity and patience to deal with their problems. Give them courage to trust that You, the Divine Physician, will be there every day of their lives. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
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