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Tuesday's Reflection

My audio of this reflection is podcast at: http://gnm.org/DailyReflections/podcasts/

Good News Reflection Tuesday of the Fifth Week of Lent March 31, 2009

Today's Readings: Numbers 21:4-9 Ps 102:2-3, 16-21 John 8:21-30 http://www.usccb.org/nab/readings/033109.shtml Audio: http://ccc.usccb.org/cccradio/NABPodcasts/09_03_31.mp3

What are you complaining about?

In today's Gospel passage, Jesus makes it plainly clear that he is God. Strangely, some of the Jews to whom he was explaining himself did not get his point, despite hearing Jesus come right out and say, "I AM" � which for the Jews meant "Yahweh", the name of God. They were deaf to the truth, because it was unexpected and/or unpleasant.

Are you deaf when a truth is hard? We all get hard of hearing from time to time.

Jesus gave the cure for the Jews' deafness: "When you lift up the Son of Man, you will realize that I AM."

He was referring to today's first reading, in which we hear about the Israelites' sin of continually complaining because they didn't like what God was doing. They were like bratty little kids who don't want to eat their vegetables, whining: "We don't like this food that you keep giving us. We'd rather be slaves in Egypt!"

How foolishly we behave when we don't like what God is doing! How insane are the alternatives that we think are better!

The cure for the Israelites' stupidity was a big dose of appreciation for life. Death by venomous snakes was far worse than a boring diet of manna, so their prideful complaints became a humble request. And God responded by saving them through a miracle that foreshadowed Christ's sacrifice on the cross.

God could have driven out the snakes a different way, but he took care of the people's need by requiring them to look upon their punishment. The bronze snake raised high for all to see reminded them of their sin and reinforced their humility.

Today, we have crucifixes raised high in our churches to remind us of our sins and to reinforce our humility. There, we see our salvation.

Complaints are a sign that we've forgotten who God is and how much he really cares. Hey, if Jesus went through all that torture and death on the cross for us, wouldn't he also do everything else that's good for us?

Our complaints indicate that we think we know better than God does about how to solve our problems. But he sees slavery in our so-called "better" plans. He saves us from our stupid ideas despite our whining!

We need to face our sins, look honestly at their venomous consequences, and nail them to the cross by acknowledging that Jesus died to heal us from these sins. Until then, we'll feel lost, confused, anxious, and abandoned. Only when we return to humility will we realize that Jesus has been with us the whole time, guiding us and helping us.

Today's step on the Lenten journey: Meditate on a crucifix. Identify your current sins and imagine placing them on the cross. Then go to the Sacrament of Reconciliation or use the penance rite of Mass to make it really happen.

� 2009 by Terry A. Modica For PERMISSION to copy this reflection, go to: http://gogoodnews.net/DailyReflections/copyrights-DR.htm

Have you ever been accused unmercifully? Whether we have been rightly reprimanded (like the woman found in adultery in today's Gospel reading) or falsely accused (like Susanna in the first reading), we feel terribly invalidated when we have to endure condemnation without forgiveness. Feeling remorseful for a genuine sin does not make it easier to accept the harsh reactions of others, so we defend ourselves rather than admit our guilt, and we try to rationalize away our sins. We want to protect ourselves from a crushing sense of shame. Does it really work though? No, only mercy can protect us. Only mercy can validate our worth. Without it, we try to manipulate people into liking us and approving of us and affirming us. The more we sin, the more desperate we become for other people's approval. And the more desperate we become, the less remorse we feel for what we've done wrong, because remorse is a feeling that says we deserve disapproval. To fill the emptiness and heal the wound, we need to realize that we've been forgiven by the mercy of God. The Sacrament of Confession gives us audible proof of this mercy. And we must understand that it's only God's opinion of us that really matters. Even if others refuse to give us mercy, if we know that we have God's mercy, we will have peace and the sense of personal value that we need. When we're falsely accused, we feel empty and invalidated because the truth has been misjudged and we're at the mercy of others' wrong opinions of us. They're rejecting us and it's totally unfair. We hunger for their affirmation, and if we don't receive it, we defend ourselves and offend them. We convert our innocence into selfishness and pride and unloving behavior. To fill this emptiness and heal this wound, we need to realize that we are protected by the mercy of God, and we must remind ourselves that it's only his opinion of us that really matters. No one can validate us or heal us like God can. He alone loves us no matter what we do. Mercifully, when we deserve punishment, he says: "I do not condemn you. I love you. Go on with your life and sin no more, but be assured that I will always love you, even if you sin this way again." God has more mercy to give you than you've allowed yourself to receive. Meditate on this and open yourself to his steady, merciful love. He wants to free you from the need to be validated and healed by people. This truth will free you to love others even when they sin against you. With Jesus, tell the Father: "I do not condemn them. Please grant them your forgiveness even if they do not ask for it." We forgive others not because they repent (some never will), but because God has been merciful to us. As we have received mercy from him, so do we share his mercy with others. *Today's step on the Lenten journey:* From whom (besides God) have you been seeking validation? What are you going to do to center yourself on God instead? � 2009 by Terry A. Modica For PERMISSION to copy this reflection, go to: http://gogoodnews.net/DailyReflections/copyrights-DR.htm

Good News Reflection Tuesday of the 3rd week in Ordinary Time January 23, 2007 How can we know God's will? [en Espa�ol: http://gnm.org/ReflexionesDiarias] Today's Readings: Heb 10:1-10 Ps 40:2, 4ab, 7-11 Mark 3:31-35 http://www.usccb.org/nab/012307.shtml Reflection: In today's Gospel reading, Jesus states that anyone who does the will of God is a mother or sister or brother to him. The responsorial Psalm has us declaring, "Here am I Lord (not someone else -- me); I come to do your will!" But how can we be sure we know what IS the will of God for us? Here are seven ways that God communicates it: 1. AUDIBLE VOICE OF GOD: Some people have heard God speaking to them audibly. However, this form of communication is rare and should never be expected, waited for, or trusted by itself. 2. DIRECT VOICE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT: For most of us, the direct voice of God sounds like our own thoughts. It's possible to carry on real conversations with God using our imaginations, but it's difficult to know when it's only our imaginations and when it's God. Thus, we must always ask the Holy Spirit to bless and purify our imaginations. 3. INNER PEACE: Whether we're struggling to discern correct decisions or making them instantaneously, we should always remember to stop and ask the Holy Spirit: "What's going on? Who or what is pushing me into this?" The driving force may seem logical, the people recommending it may sound rational, but if there is no inner peace, don't trust it. 4. RIGHT PRIORITIES: Feeling peace is not the same as feeling good. It's natural to feel good about a wrong decision when our human desires are saying "I want to do this!" A "good" idea is not always God's idea. Which choice best serves the kingdom of God? Which one strengthens our relationship with God? Which one is considerate of our own needs while at the same time respectfully cares about the needs of others? 5. SCRIPTURE: Everything we hear from the Lord will be completely in agreement with the Bible. We can purify our discernment and our interpretation of inner voices by studying scriptures, but if we take verses out of context, we'll use them to prove anything. It's important to learn the Bible and its message as a whole. 6. CIRCUMSTANCES: When patterns occur or "coincidences" keep happening, we need to stop and ask, "Lord, what are you trying to tell me?" God prepares the way for us to do what he asks of us, and everything generally falls into place. When we keep hitting walls -- circumstances that feel like closed doors -- as long as we're not the ones putting up the obstacles, God is telling us to move in a different direction. 7. SIGNS: Scripture says that if we are living according to the will of God, signs and wonders will follow. Notice: they follow. We aren't wonder-seekers, we're God-seekers. The devil can put up misleading signs to send us off in wrong directions. True signs are the good fruits that are produced by following the leadings of Jesus. <>< <>< <>< � 2007 by Terry A. Modica For PERMISSION to copy this reflection, go to: http://gogoodnews.net/DailyReflections/copyrights-DR.htm

Good News Reflection Friday of the 31st Week in Ordinary Time November 10, 2006 Can deviousness be good? [en Espa�ol: http://gnm.org/ReflexionesDiarias] Today's Memorial: Saint Leo the Great http://wordbytes.org/saints/DailyPrayers/LeoGreat.htm Today's Readings: Phil 3:17--4:1 Ps 122:1-5 Luke 16:1-8 http://www.usccb.org/nab/1101006.shtml Reflection: In today's Gospel passage, Jesus gives us a parable about deviousness: A rich businessman praises his dishonest employee for being enterprising. Why? Because the worldly take more initiative than Christians do in dealing with their own kind. Why? I propose that it's because Christians are too "meek". Being meek does not mean being wimpy. "Blessed are the meek," say the Beatitudes. Jesus was "meek and humble of heart" the scriptures tell us. Was Jesus wimpy? Was he meek when he stood up to the Pharisees and corrected them? Christ-like meekness means taking a firm approach doing God's will. It means standing strong in the face of opposition without belittling others, without casting stones at them, and without wishing for their demise. It also means finding a clever way around any obstacles that interfere with the goal. It's better to be devious than to be afraid of trouble and quit. Jesus' parable conveys that we should be assertive and strong in handling problems. God wants us to be enterprising. To be like Jesus is to attack problems with gusto. But where should we draw the line between clever deviousness and sinful dishonesty? Love. There's the boundary. If we can speak up for what is right with love and compassion, without condemnation and without feeling superior, then we must speak up! When someone swings at our proverbial cheeks, we must stand firmly in place and use that position to block further damage while conveying love for the one who is hurting us. When a door of opportunity to serve the Lord is slammed shut in our face, instead of fighting those who are working against God's desires, we must look for the back door that will lead to a new opportunity. Without love, deviousness is ugly. Perhaps an example will help. My husband and I used to have a friend who was alcoholic and lustful. In his sickness, he caused great harm, behaving, like it says in today's first reading, as an enemy of the cross of Christ. For a while, God wanted us to walk the extra mile with him to point out the way to repentance and recovery. But he continued to choose the path of destruction. He rejected our firm stand on the truth. It became clear that the greatest act of love we could offer him was to report him to the authorities -- a "devious" decision -- with the same tears that Paul shed for those whose minds are occupied with earthly things. Love is sometimes a very devious boundary. Blessed are the meek who assert the right boundaries as they stir up trouble. <>< <>< <>< � 2006 by Terry A. Modica For PERMISSION to copy this reflection, go to: http://gogoodnews.net/DailyReflections/copyrights-DR.htm Terry Modica's spiritual novel "Victor" and other books: http://gnm.org/books.htm

Good News Reflection Tuesday of the 31st Week in Ordinary Time November 7, 2006 Your invitation to God's party [en Espa�ol: http://gnm.org/ReflexionesDiarias] Today's Saint: Willibrord http://wordbytes.org/saints/DailyPrayers/Willibrord.htm Today's Readings: Phil 2:5-11 Ps 22:26-32 Luke 14:15-24 http://www.usccb.org/nab/110706.shtml Reflection: Jesus enjoyed going to dinner parties. He never turned down an invitation, even when it meant dining with a Pharisee, such as in today's Gospel story. Parties gave him an opportunity to mingle, and when he mingled, he ministered. Here, he used the occasion to teach the importance of accepting every invitation that comes to us from God. Perhaps someone has invited you to get up a little earlier and go to daily Mass; this is God hoping that you'll come to his banquet. Or maybe your pastor has sent out a general invitation to a special church event. Or have you been asked to teach the children or sing in the choir? Some of my readers have been invited to the priesthood or a religious order. Not all invitations are from God. How do we know which invitations to accept? In my own life, I find it helpful to ask the Holy Spirit to increase in me the desire to do what HE's inviting me to do and to decrease all other desires. Then I wait to see what happens. For example, if there's a choice of two activities on the same weekend, I already know that God wants me to spend some time resting in his lap. I won't do both. But which one? I pray: "Lord, whichever of these two opportunities is your will, increase my desire and energy for doing it and make me feel lethargic and uneasy about the other. And if both are pleasing to you, help me to make the best decision for this weekend." Then, I trust how my feelings change, and I trust that if I misinterpret God, he'll turn it all into good, because I did want to do his will. Discernment only works if we surrender our will and ideas to God, giving him permission to change us. We throw away the invitation when we disregard what the Holy Spirit is telling us deep within and make excuses for saying no. It's an odd thing about the kingdom of God: We get into the party not as a special guest who should be entertained, but by becoming like Jesus our Host, who, as we see in today's first reading, "emptied himself and took the form of a servant." This is why many turn the invitation down. Every invitation to God's party looks like a job -- a service -- of some sort, and it will often seem difficult and unpleasant. "Dear friend," the card reads, "please join me in the celebration I've planned. It's a pot-luck dinner, so bring something to share." Darn; I was hoping this would be a catered affair! But you know what? Once we get into the task that God's invited us to do, we discover it comes with many blessings. We come alive with personal satisfaction and renewed energy, because we're doing it with Jesus. <>< <>< <>< � 2006 by Terry A. Modica For PERMISSION to copy this reflection, go to: http://gogoodnews.net/DailyReflections/copyrights-DR.htm Terry Modica's spiritual novel "Victor" and other books: http://gnm.org/books.htm

Good News Reflection Wednesday of the 30th Week in Ordinary Time November 1, 2006 Which Saints are your special friends? [en Espa�ol: http://gnm.org/ReflexionesDiarias] Today's Solemnity: All Saints Day http://wordbytes.org/saints/DailyPrayers/AllSaints.htm Today's Readings: Rev 7:2-4, 9-14 Ps 24:1-6 1 John 3:1-3 Matt 5:1-12a http://www.usccb.org/nab/110106.shtml Reflection: There's a story of an overweight man who was so obtuse, he couldn't mount his horse. While struggling, he prayed, "All you saints of heaven, help me!" He then leaped up onto the horse, flew over the saddle and tumbled down the opposite side. "All right," he said, "only half of you help me this time!" Growing up Protestant, I didn't understand why the Catholic Church would make such a big deal out of declaring that some dead people were Saints and that we should honor them, have statues of them, and pray to them. Actually, theologically, Catholics don't pray "to" any Saint (not even to the Blessed Mother of Jesus), but we do ask them to pray WITH us and FOR us (as in the Hail Mary: "pray for us sinners..."). Since we ask our friends here on earth to pray with us and for us, how much better it is to have friends in heaven! Canonization of a Saint is the Church's official assurance that here is a person who's made it to heaven. The canonization process determines this through extremely careful scrutiny and investigation and undeniable proof of miracles. Even before they're "beatified" (i.e., deemed worthy of the title "Blessed") their power to pray for us must be proven by a major after-death miracle. Today's first reading depicts the communion of saints. All friends of Jesus share in this communion. Any friend of Jesus is your friend, especially those who live in perfect love because now they're in heaven. St. Teresa of Avila said, "Those who love you for his sake... will never desert you," ("The Way of Perfection", Chap. IX, 3). However, to feel their friendship and become aware of their love and their caring support, we must first develop an intimate relationship with the Holy Spirit, for it is in God's Spirit that our relationships with the Saints exist. Someone once asked me to identify a Saint to match the name that her granddaughter had already chosen for her Sacrament of Confirmation. Thank God there was no such name in the list of canonized Saints, because she had missed the point entirely! I advised her to tell her granddaughter to read about various Saints and pick one that she'd like to have as a personal friend. Which Saints are your special friends? Develop (or improve) your connection to them. Read about them. Read their own words in books or search for information about them on the internet. Ask Jesus to introduce them to you. Through the Holy Spirit, tell them what's going on in your life and what extra help you need in your spiritual growth. Even if you're not aware of what the Saints in heaven are doing on your behalf, know that they ARE doing something. They are especially interested in helping you grow in holiness. (Perhaps my book, "Daily Prayers with the Saints", will aid you in this. See http://gnm.org/books.htm.) <>< <>< <>< � 2006 by Terry A. Modica For PERMISSION to copy this reflection, go to: http://gogoodnews.net/DailyReflections/copyrights-DR.htm Terry Modica's spiritual novel "Victor" and other books: http://gnm.org/books.htm PLEASE HELP! Please thank Jesus for this Daily Reflection with a gift of financial help and/or prayer HERE: http://gnm.org/donate.htm