Daily Reading & Meditation
Thursday (11/13): "For as the lightning flashes and lights up the sky, so will the Son of man be in his day"
Scripture: Luke 17:20-25
20 Being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God was coming, he answered them, "The kingdom of God is not coming with signs to be observed; 21 nor will they say, `Lo, here it is!' or `There!' for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you." 22 And he said to the disciples, "The days are coming when you will desire to see one of the days of the Son of man, and you will not see it. 23 And they will say to you, `Lo, there!' or `Lo, here!' Do not go, do not follow them. 24 For as the lightning flashes and lights up the sky from one side to the other, so will the Son of man be in his day. 25 But first he must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation.
Meditation: What can lightning tell us about the coming of the Lord and his kingdom? The Jews is Jesus' time were watching in great anticipation for some sign which would indicate when the Messiah would appear to establish the kingdom of God. The Pharisees' question on this matter was intended to test Jesus since they did not accept him as the Messiah. Jesus surprised them with the answer that the kingdom or reign of God was already here! Jesus spoke of the coming of God's kingdom as both a present event and an event which would be manifested at the end of time. The "Day of the Lord" was understood in the Old Testament as the time when God would manifest his glory and power and overthrow the enemies of his people, Israel. The prophet Amos declared that the "Day" also meant judgment for Israel as well as the nations (Amos 5:18-20). The prophet Joel proclaimed that at this "Day" those who truly repented would be saved, while those who remained enemies of the Lord, whether Jew or Gentile, would be punished (see Joel 2).
Why did Jesus associate lightning with the "Day of the Lord"? In the arrid climate of Palestine, storms were infrequent and seasonal. They appeared suddenly and unexpectedly, seemingly out of nowhere, covering everthing in thick darkness. With little or no warning lightning filled the sky with its piercing flashes of flaming light. Its power struck terror and awe in those who tried to flee from its presence. Jesus warned the Pharisees that the "Son of man" (a title from the prophet Daniel for the Messiah) would come in like manner, quite suddenly and unexpectedly, on the clouds of heaven to bring God's judgment on the "Day of the Lord". No special sign will be needed to announce his appearance. Nor will his presence and power be veiled or hidden, but all will recognize him as clearly as the lightning in the sky.
Jesus identified himself with the "Day of the Lord". "Son of man" was understood as a Messianic title for the one who would come not only to establish God's kingdom but who would come as Judge of the living as well as the dead. Jesus points to his second coming when he will return to complete the work of restoration and final judgment. While we do not know the time of his return, we will not mistake it when it happens. It will be apparent to all, both believers and non-believers as well. When the Pharisees asked Jesus what sign would indicate the "Day of the Lord", Jesus replied that only one sign would point to that day and that sign was Jesus himself. Jesus surprised the Jews of his time by announcing that God's kingdom was already present among them in his very person – the Son of God sent from the Father to redeem the world from sin and destruction. In Jesus we see the power and the glory of God's kingdom. His power overthrew the powers of darkness and sin. Jesus knew that the only way to victory was through the cross. On that cross he defeated death and canceled the debt of sin for us. The victory of his cross opens the way for us to become citizens of God's kingdom. Do you seek the coming of God's kingdom with joyful hope?
"Lord Jesus Christ, may your kingdom come and my your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Be the Ruler of my heart and the Master of my life that I may always live in the freedom of your love and truth."
Psalm 146:5-10
5 Happy is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD his God,
6 who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them; who keeps faith for ever;
7 who executes justice for the oppressed; who gives food to the hungry. The LORD sets the prisoners free;
8 the LORD opens the eyes of the blind. The LORD lifts up those who are bowed down; the LORD loves the righteous.
9 The LORD watches over the sojourners, he upholds the widow and the fatherless; but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin.
10 The LORD will reign for ever, thy God, O Zion, to all generations. Praise the LORD!
Coming Home 20 Years Later
A few weeks ago, about 50 “ young” men returned to their alma mater for their high school reunion. I wanted to stress “ young” because I was one of them!
We celebrated our 20 year Mount St. Joseph high school reunion. It was strange to walk through halls where I once wandered aimlessly as a lost freshman, where friends played practical jokes on each other, and where I was yelled at a few times by teachers. We celebrated on the grounds of the newly constructed sports stadium with homecoming victories over our rivals in football.
For a few hours, several of my classmates shared life updates, visited old classrooms, marveled at the new structural additions, and most importantly, remembered moments that made high school more than just a building. In that brief reunion with my former classmates, I must say that it was good to be home.
Students at Mount St. Joe are referred to as “Mount Men.” Our patrons are St. Joseph, the foster father of Jesus, and St. Francis Xavier, the founder of the Xavarian Brothers, the o rder of religious brothers that staffs this school and many others around the world. The Mount “Tower,” part of the original building, still remains a focal point for the modern campus. It is a symbol of what each Mount St. Joe student is to exemplify – a strong, enduring, visionary beacon for the community and world. Even though none of us former students would have admitted it 20 years ago, we were all very proud to be a part of the Mount family.
Looking back, I realize the high school years can be some of the most challenging for young people. It’s a time of internal conflicts: bodies (and hormones) develop at an unbelievable pace, but limited psychological and life experiences prevent teens from fully understanding these inevitable changes. As high school students, we wanted to be treated as adults, yet we tended to act like unruly kids. Change occurs so quickly that some teachers hardly recognize students after a summer of growth spurts. Parents marvel at how clothes sizes change as dramatically as voices drop from tenor to squeaky baritone. The amount of transformation that occurs in a young person during this time requires the watchful eyes of faithful teachers. Change can be good, if we change into something good . Therefore, teachers must see that their objective isn’t simply to educate students so they can graduate. Teachers must see their vocation as vital assistance to parents in the formation of these children through academics, virtue- based development, and by sharing the gift of service with others.
Thank God for good high schools like Mount St. Joe, a place where the Brothers, Priests, and lay teachers watch, guide, and care for students as they would a brother or son. As parents entrust children to these institutions for about 8 hours daily, school should be an extension of the family. At the Mount, we are a large family of brothers. Granted, it isn’t perfect, but what is perfect this side of Heaven?
During the reunion, I was so proud to learn that from a class of about 200 men, three of us became Catholic priests and one non-Catholic student was ordained as a Protestant Minister. Many of my classmates are now working in secular industries. Some serve in the military, in manual labor, as doctors, lawyers, real estate agents, and a handful are fire fighters. Classmates spoke lovingly about their wives and how proud they were to be fathers. It did my heart good to see how one guy who arrived after the opening speech and prayer bowed his head to offer Grace before he ate his meal. I was even more honored to celebrate the Mass for several of my classmates, many of whom expressed their congratulations and prayerful encouragement of my work as a priest and as host for the Grace Before Meals movement. Some were surprised to learn that I entered the seminary only six years after graduating high school.
The homecoming reunion weekend at Mount St. Joseph made me reflect on the importance of religious orders that focus on the education of young people. We need more teachers who see that educating young people is more than a job, it’s a calling from God. We need more high schools that challenge young people to grow, not just in body, but in mind and spirit. We need families to ensure that what young people are learning in high school are life lessons and not just useless facts. Too often we hear stories of teachers who use the classroom to indoctrinate students in relativistic tendencies, to question authority (especially legitimate religious authority), and who try to convince children that opinion is fact.
These problems in high schools are very real. What is necessary to make certain high school becomes a good foundational experience for young people? The parent, the primary educator of the child, who talks with sons and daughters about what’s being taught in school. And after all, the best place for home schooling is the kitchen table.
After 20 years, it was wonderful to see a good number of us Mount Men, some prodigal sons, return for this special homecoming. We may not have had a fattened calf prepared for us, but we did feast on four years of memories. And at Mass, the greatest learning institution in world history, we celebrated the fact that we were more than classmates; we were students of truth, children of God, and brothers in the Lord .
A Mature Palate! Vitello ai Funghi – Veal and Mushrooms.
20 years ago, I never thought that I would become a priest , and I had no idea that food would become such an important part of my life. 20 years ago, I don’t even think that I could grasp a concept that combines priesthood and food .
Recently, I had an opportunity to be a guest on the show Franciscan University Presents where we discussed that very unique combination of theology, food, faith, and family.
In the discussion with Fr. Michael Scanlon and Dr. Regis Martin, the concept of maturity in regards to faith and food was presented analogously. We can’t appreciate certain theological concepts or even certain foods as children, because we have not yet grown up. 20 years ago, I would have never thought that I could ever enjoy a pan-seared slice of veal with a wild mushroom sauté. For me, pizza and nuggets were all I needed. On occasion, I eat foods that young people enjoy, but I definitely changed in that I would much rather have something fresh, with more veggies, and bold flavors that doesn’t require ketchup . Perhaps, moms and dads can make this very mature meal for their young high school students as a way to test the maturity of their palate. I can tell you, we didn’t get this in our high school cafeteria. At that age, I don’t think we’d even know what to do with it .
Please click here for the recipe.
Homecoming!
Being back at my old high school forced me to examine how much I’ve grown up. I did some pretty stupid things as a youngster , from which I have learned many lessons , especially through the act of confession. I’m still learning some of those lessons. One thing I’ve learned for sure, even after 20 years, Mount St. Joseph is still like a home. The priests, brothers, and teachers of my alma mater made sure the students were raised to be men who would continue to be true gentlemen and lifelong students – always learning, always growing!
Let us Pray:
Father, high school can be a tough time for young people. We pray that all involved in educating high school students can do so with patience and familial care. Give to the students a desire to learn and the motivation to grow. Protect them from harmful things that can destroy a young person’s future, even his or her life . Give to parents the grace to be patient with young people especially by helping them to remember, they, too, were young once . Let’s not forget to pray for the entire staff – the lunchroom crew, the janitorial staff, the coaches who urge us to victory, and even the bullies who hopefully grow up in life. And Father in Heaven, during the month of November when we remember the faithful departed, grant to all our teachers who have died eternal rest . Amen.
This was Brother Donald, the MSJ Librarian. In all four years of HS, this man was the only one who gave me detention for talking too much in the library. We miss you!
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