The Hi's and Low's of Week 7

Hey folks! Well it is hard to believe that I just completed 7 weeks here in Mexico!  This week  was filled with joy's and frustrations for sure!

I went back to the Language School this past week.  That was both joyful and frustrating at the same time.  My schedule changed again, and now have classes from 11:30am-2:30pm.  All in all, I enjoy the schedule, but the schedule does have some trade offs.  I like that I can stay longer in the community in the morning and remain for daily Mass, meditation and breakfast.  It has been helpful since I presided 3 times during the week in the community, so the practice is good for me.  Also, I do not have to deal with very crowded buses and morning traffic, so I arrive at school refreshed and ready to work.  I was placed in a conversation class with 2 other students who are really far better than me in conversational Spanish.  The first day, I was definitely very intimated, but I had to get over it and just try to speak as best as I could.  As the week unfolded, I did get better, but the other two students are still far superior to me.  I appreciate their patience and their willingness to let me stumble on my words!  I am also in a grammar class by myself.  I study for 2 hours each day with a teacher and am trying to speed up the process of covering material.  The overachiever in me wants to be further ahead than I currently am, but I have to be patient.  As a teacher, I know that it is difficult to move on when the student is not fully "getting it".  And believe me, I am not fully getting it! I guess I am just getting tired of the routine and want to be done with the whole travel to and from school each day and the sitting in class for 3 hours a day.  In my weak moments I try to convince myself that I can continue learning on my own, but I am not really sure that I have that kind of discipline in my life at this stage in my life... perhaps 10-15 years ago, I would be able to do that and be dedicated, but now it seems like distractions take on a life of their own! Maybe I have adult onset of ADD!

I also met again with Br. Juan Pablo, Karina, and Milie for a meeting regarding our educational project.  The meeting lasted almost 3 hours! It was a very good and productive meeting and I feel like we are have a good start for what we need to accomplish.  We will meet again in 2 weeks prior to our meeting with all the Brothers in the Sector.  So, things are starting to move along here. Our timeline is currently to open the school in August of 2017.  So, many documents, professional and spiritual formation, permits and building, and inspections need to be scheduled and executed in the next two years.... its exciting and scary at the same time.

This weekend was a busy weekend here in the community and for the people in the Colonial.  It is the Feast of Our Lady of the Pillar and one of the colonias celebrates this feast as its patronal feast. It was also the celebration of Fr. Raymundo's 40th Birthday.  So, he asked if I would take the Mass Saturday eve in the colonial of Via Dorado and the Sunday eve Mass in the Chapel of Amanacer because their was going to be a big celebration in the afternoon that included a procession, rosary and Mass for hundreds of people.  So, I did say yes to both.  Saturday afternoon, we all went to the party for Fr. Raymundo.  We ate well, listened to a Mariachi band and danced a bit too.  I  stayed for a few hours and after that I left to get ready for the Mass in the other colonia.  . 

Fr. Raymundo with the hat

Mariachi Band

 

Decorations ( For Padre Ray.....PRAY)

I was the only one who noticed it!

 

The guys again

 

Both Masses on Saturday and Sunday went surprisingly well.  The Mass Saturday evening was outside under a huge tent.  Outside Masses, though beautiful, can be very tricky.... especially with the wind and the unintentional turning of pages.... but I was able to complete the Mass without any major mishap! 

 

I will head to Dayton on Wednesday for Provincial Council Meetings.  I am once again looking forward to being in the US and seeing some friends in the area and meeting with the Council and catching up with them.  I hope your week goes well.... keep me in your prayers!  I leave you with my homily for this Sunday... and I did get the people to say, Amen!

 

Homily, 28th Sunday of Ordinary Time

 



For God, all is possible, Amen? First, let me apologize for my Spanish.  I am studying Spanish right now at a Language School and I have been here in Queretaro for two months.  It’s difficult, but I know firsthand that with God, all is possible! So let me hear you say it, For God….. all is possible….now say it like you mean it.  For God…. all is possible.

The Word of God today reminds us of what is important in our lives.  If you are like me, sometimes I forget what is really important in life and become distracted by things that are not so important.  The Word of God tells us the following things are important: Wisdom, The Word of God, and Following Jesus.  While we all know these things are important, perhaps we all spend too much time thinking that money, prestige, the respect and admiration of others, and a good life is what is important in life, and yet the Word of God is silent on these matters today. So, what does the Word of God tells us today?

In the Book of Wisdom, we are reminded that what brings riches to our life is not necessarily money, but rather, wisdom and prudence.  Now believe me, I like money too, and money can provide many things for families, but money can be here today and gone tomorrow.  Money is fleeting.  What remains is wisdom.  Wisdom is worth more than silver or gold.  Wisdom is eternal.  We do not have to check the stock market each day to see the price of Wisdom.  Unlike the dollar, peso, silver or gold, wisdom does not fluctuate depending on the circumstances of others.  Wisdom depends upon God, and with God….nothing is impossible.  Sometimes it’s easy to throw money at a problem, it is more difficult to talk through a problem, to see the many sides of an issue, to investigate the possible solutions, to look past the obvious externals and to see the important internal issues of a problem.  Wisdom help us with this, when we truly know Wisdom in our lives we too can “deem riches nothing in comparison with her.”  Wisdom is a gift that all of us should pray for more in our lives.  So, from the first reading, what is important in our lives? Wisdom!

The letter to the Hebrews reminds us that the Word of God is living and active.  It cautions us that it is a two edged sword.  The Word of God has a way of both inspiring and challenging us, Amen?  As it has been said in the past, the Word of God has the ability to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable.  I sometimes think that we should wear a protective helmet or vest when we come to Mass each Sunday and we hear the Word of God.  Change can be positive and dangerous.  Sometimes the Word of God invites all of us to change in big and small ways.  That can be dangerous for our lives, for our relationship with our friends and family, our relationship with our co-workers, our relationship as citizens of nations.  If we really believe in the Word of God, then we must speak out when there are injustices in our homes, our community, and our society.  The Word of God brings comfort and challenge.  Once again, we need wisdom and prudence for how we speak out against injustices and remind the world of God’s vision for all of us, Amen?

And finally in our Gospel today, we are all challenged to follow Jesus in the same way the rich young man was challenged.  Now, you may be sitting here thinking, well this does not pertain to me.  I am not rich.  I do not have many things.  Whew!  Well, I would imagine that all of us has one thing that holds us back from following Jesus more intently.  At times I may think, okay Jesus, you have 90% of my heart….isn’t that enough? 90% is pretty good right?  And Jesus looks upon me with love and says, John, thanks for the 90%, now give me the remaining 10%. Really Jesus?  So what is your 10% that you are holding back from Jesus? We all know what hold’s us back.  You may be thinking, I just can’t give up…..and we fill in the blank.  And the answer is yes, you cannot on your own, but for God….all is possible!!!

So, the Word of God is challenging today! Amen? Today, let us ask God for wisdom, to know the challenge of Scriptures and to give Him all of our heart.  We may think, impossible!  But for God….all is possible! Amen?

Spanish Version

Para Dios, todo es posible, amén? En primer lugar, quiero pedir disculpas por mi español. Estoy estudiando derecho español ahora en una escuela de idiomas y he estado aquí en Querétaro durante dos meses. Es difícil, pero sé de primera mano que para Dios, todo es posible! Así que déjame escucharte decir que, Para Dios ... todo es posible ... Ahora dicen que como lo que significa.  Para Dios ... todo es posible. Bueno!

La Palabra de Dios hoy nos recuerda lo que es importante en nuestras vidas. Si ustedes son como yo, a veces se me olvida lo que es realmente importante en la vida y distraerse con cosas que no son tan importantes. Es familiar? La Palabra de Dios nos dice las siguientes cosas son importantes: Sabiduría, La Palabra de Dios, y seguir a Jesús. Aunque todos sabemos estas cosas son importantes, tal vez todos nos pasan demasiado tiempo pensando que el dinero, el prestigio, el respeto y la admiración de los demás, y una buena vida es lo que es importante en la vida, y sin embargo, la Palabra de Dios no dice nada sobre estos cuestiones actuales. Así que, ¿qué dice la Palabra de Dios nos dice hoy en día?

En el Libro de la Sabiduría, se nos recuerda que lo que trae riquezas de nuestra vida no es necesariamente dinero, sino más bien, la sabiduría y la prudencia. Ahora me cree, me gusta dinero mucho, y el dinero puede proporcionar muchas cosas para las familias, pero el dinero puede estar hoy aquí y mañana no. El dinero es fugaz. Lo que queda es la sabiduría. La sabiduría vale más que la plata y el oro. La sabiduría es eterna. No tenemos para comprobar el mercado de valores cada día para ver el precio de la Sabiduría. A diferencia del dólar, el peso, la plata o el oro, la sabiduría no fluctúa dependiendo de las circunstancias de los demás. Sabiduría depende de Dios, y para Dios ... todo es posible. A veces es más fácil de tirar el dinero en un problema, es más difícil hablar a través de un problema, para ver las muchas caras de un problema, para investigar las posibles soluciones, a mirar más allá de las cosas externas obvias y ver los problemas internos importantes de un problema. La sabiduría nos ayuda con esto, cuando realmente sabemos sabiduría en nuestra vida nosotros también podemos "considere riquezas nada en comparación con ella." La sabiduría es un don que todos debemos orar por más en nuestras vidas. Así, desde la primera lectura, lo que es importante en nuestras vidas? Sabiduría!

La carta a los Hebreos nos recuerda que la Palabra de Dios es viva y eficaz. Nos advierte que es una espada de doble filo. La Palabra de Dios tiene una manera de tanto inspirador y nos desafía, Amén? Como se ha dicho en el pasado, la Palabra de Dios tiene la capacidad de consolar a los afligidos y afligir los cómodos. A veces pienso que deberíamos usar un casco protector o un chaleco cuando venimos a misa cada domingo y escuchamos la Palabra de Dios. El cambio puede ser positivo y peligroso. A veces la Palabra de Dios nos invita a todos a cambiar en formas grandes y pequeñas. Eso puede ser peligroso para la vida, para nuestra relación con nuestros amigos y familiares, la relación con nuestros compañeros de trabajo, nuestra relación como ciudadanos de las naciones. Si realmente creemos en la Palabra de Dios, entonces debemos hablar cuando hay injusticias en nuestros hogares, nuestra comunidad y nuestra sociedad. La Palabra de Dios trae consuelo y desafío. Una vez más, necesitamos la sabiduría y la prudencia de cómo hablamos en contra de las injusticias y recordamos al mundo de la visión de Dios para todos nosotros, Amén?

Y finalmente en nuestro Evangelio de hoy, todos estamos desafiados a seguir a Jesús en la misma forma en que el joven rico fue impugnada. Ahora, ustedes pueden estar sentado aquí pensando, bueno esto no pertenece a mí. No soy rico. No tengo muchas cosas. Whew!  Bueno, me imagino que todos nosotros tiene una cosa que nos impide seguir a Jesús más intensamente. A veces puede pensar, ¿de acuerdo a Jesús, tiene el noventa por ciento de mi corazón ... . es suficiente? Noventa por ciento es bastante bueno ¿no? Y Jesús mira a mí con amor y le dice: gracias por el noventa por ciento, ahora me dan el diez por ciento restantes. En serio Jesus? Entonces, ¿cuál es su diez por ciento que no darle a Jesús? Jesus esta llamando todos a siguerle, pero necistamos a darle todo.  Todos sabemos lo que nos retenimos seguir Jesus. Ustedes pueden estar pensando, yo no puedo renunciar a ________________y nos llene el espacio en blanco. El diez por ciento es lo que Jesus quiere de todos nosotros.  Y la respuesta es sí, no se puede por su cuenta, pero para Dios ... todo es posible.

Así, la Palabra de Dios es difícil hoy! Amén? Hoy, pidamos a Dios sabiduría, saber el reto de las Escrituras y para darle todo nuestro corazón. Podemos pensar, imposible! Pero, para Dios ... todo es posible! Amen