So, two weeks have passed since my last post and many things have transpired since my last post. As you might recall I was headed to Dayton for Provincial Council meetings. It was great to be there and I stayed at our Novitiate on the property of Mount St. John. I lived on that property for a year when I was in the Novitiate from 1991-1992. I have great memories from my time in the Novitiate. The great thing now, is that the old Novitiate was torn down and a new Novitiate was built. I had the opportunity to see the new Novitiate in May and was able to stay there during my time in Dayton. While I do have nostalgic moments about the former Novitiate building, this new building is beautiful and much more conducive to community life. I was able to spend some time with the novices and actually celebrated my birthday while I was there. One of the novices cooked a great meal and I felt very much welcomed and celebrated in the community. I did not want to spend my whole birthday on the plane returning to Mexico, so I decided to stay an extra day and celebrate with my American Brothers. It was a very good decision! Our Council meetings went well too. I am really starting to admire some of the men with whom I work on the Council. Overall, it was a great trip, I saw a bunch of Marianists at a fundraiser for an Urban Farm organized by Lay Marianists in Dayton, and had a chance to have dinner with another friend of mine, Sr. Nicole, a Marianist Sister that I've known for many years now. Here are some pics of the Novitiate and other parts of the property of Mount St. John.
Novitiate Building
Dining Room
Kitchen
Living Room
Chapel
Grotto
Closer look at the Grotto
Bergamo Retreat and Conference Center
Cemetery of Deceased Brothers
More of the Cemetery
Once I returned to Mexico it was back to classes for me. I do like going to school, but as I indicated earlier, it is getting tiresome. In my conversation class there are now five guys, three of whom are priests! We do have a good time in the class. Also, when I returned, the whole community went out to a restaurant to celebrate my Birthday. We drove for about 45 minutes to go to this restaurant that is famous in the area. We enjoyed ourselves with many beers and tequila! The Brothers had the wait staff sing Happy Birthday to me, it was very fun.
Friday night I met once again with Br. Juan Pablo and Karina and Millie to discuss next steps for the development of the school. We had a very productive meeting and when we finally finished almost 3 hours later it was time for me to prepare for a meeting that I was facilitating with all of the Brothers in Mexico. The other Brothers from Puebla came to our community for this meeting. I had to conduct the meeting in Spanish.... it was difficult, but I was able to get through it. Like all teachers who have too much information, we really could have used more time to process some of the items, but I was glad that I needed more time rather than the opposite. So, there is plenty of fodder for future meetings. It was great being with the other Brothers and to spend time with them. I hope to visit Puebla in November after my next trip to the US.
Today I presided at the Sunday liturgy in Via Dorado. It's the colonia right next to our colonia. You might remember I presided at the outdoor celebration there. Today the Mass was in the Chapel. The Chapel is small, built for probably 40-50 people. Well, I think we had about 150 at Mass today. I had the congregation singing during the homily. I did not play my guitar but we sang the Spanish version of "Open the Eyes of My Heart Lord". I think they enjoyed it.... it was definitely something different for them, and it was different for me to do this type of preaching in Spanish.
So, this week will be busy with school, Masses in the community ( I now preside M/W/F mornings) and other meetings to move the educational project along. Oh, and by the way, we were very safe here in Queretaro. Hurricane Patricia was no where near us, though we did receive some heavy rains off and on for two days.
As always, here is my homily for today:
Homily
Oct 25
Open
the eyes of my heart Lord
Open
the eyes of my heart
I
want to see you, I want to see you.
Come on Church, let’s sing it together!
Today in the Gospel of Mark, we encounter a blind man
by the name of Bartimaeus. Throughout
all of the Gospels, we find those who are blind and see and those who see but
are blind to the presence of Jesus. Even
today, there are times when those of us who can see, do not see clearly the
things we need to do in life, Amen? We often say that we need to pray about
something so that we might clarity in our lives, so that we can know how to
respond to God’s invitation to love and mercy.
The character of Bartimaues today is important for three reasons: (1) He
calls out to Jesus in his need, (2) He is persistent, even loud, in his asking
for his necessities, and (3) His faith provides a cure and he follows
Jesus. This sounds like prayer doesn’t
it? Let’s look at this story a little
closer.
Bartimaeus is sitting on the side of a road begging for
his needs. He was dependent upon others
to help him get to and from the roadside so that he could beg for some money
that would help him each day. Bartimaeus
must have heard about Jesus from others and knew that Jesus could help
him. Bartimaeus is not concerned with
how he will appear to others, he cries out in a loud voice. Now that takes a lot of courage. Here is Bartimaues making a scene, he does
not care what others think of him. He is
determined to get Jesus’ attention. Bartimaues
takes the initiative to have Jesus come into his presence. He could have just sat there and felt sorry
for himself, but he cries out. How often
do we just feel sorry for ourselves and just think that our situation will
never change? This blind man will not play the victim. He knows what he needs. He needs Jesus. He calls out to Jesus in his need. Will you?
Abre
mis ojos oh Cristo
Abre
mis ojos te pido
Yo
quiero verte
Yo
quiero verte
Bartimaeus is persistent
in his crying out to Jesus. The crowd
rebukes Bartimaeus. Perhaps the crowd can sometimes be like the Church. There is a schedule to follow, and if a
person does not fit into the schedule, then it is easy to just walk on by, to
leave the persons needs behind because their needs do not fit into the Church’s
schedule. But Jesus stops and listens to
the blind man. Jesus was on the way to
Jerusalem, but mercy and healing was more important than a schedule for Jesus. It was two thousand years ago, and it is the
same today. The mercy of God does not
adhere to a schedule…that is Good News, Amen?
Bartimaeus cries out in a loud voice, “ Jesus, son of David, have pity
on me.” This phrase definitely gets
Jesus’ attention. Bartimaeus recongnizes
who Jesus is, and what he can do for him.
Jesus tells the disciples to call the blind man. Jesus tells Bartimaues to take courage and
asks what he wants. Bartimaues is clear,
he wants to see. He addresses Jesus
first as son of David, and then as Master.
He tells Jesus, “Master I want to see.”
Bartimaues makes his needs known to Jesus. He wants to see. He wants to see clearly. When we live in faith, we do see the world
differently, Amen? Do you want to see with eyes of faith? Then repeat the words
of Bartimaeus today, “Master I want to see”.
Let’s say it again, “Master I want to see.” Let’s open our eyes…
Abre
mis ojos oh Cristo
Abre
mis ojos te pido
Yo
quiero verte
Yo
quiero verte
And so because Bartimaeus called out to Jesus, and
made his needs known, Jesus granted his request. Bartimaeus was now able to see, and not just
see the world clearly, but see the world through the eyes of faith. Bartimaues became a believer, yes, he became
a disciple, for the Gospel states that , “immediately he received his sight and
followed him on the way.” Remember, “the
way” was the early name for those who followed the teachings of Jesus. So, prayer should lead all of us to following
“the way”. And we know that “the way”
often demands sacrifice. Once our eyes
are opened, we can never live like we did in the past. We gather in this Church each Sunday so that
we might remember to leave our old ways behind, to see the world through the
eyes of faith, and know that like Bartimaues we too have been granted mercy and
forgiveness in our lives. When we
remember that we have received mercy, it is easier for us to be merciful, Amen?
So,
today, as we approach the altar to receive Jesus, who opens the eyes of the
blind, let us say in our hearts the words of Bartimaues, “ Master, I want to
see.” Then, let us leave this Church
with the ability to see the world through the eyes of faith and be messengers
of hope and mercy to our world.
Abre
mis ojos oh Cristo
Abre
mis ojos te pido
Yo
quiero verte
Yo
quiero verte
Abre
mis ojos oh Cristo
Abre
mis ojos te pido
Yo
quiero verte
Yo
quiero verte
Vamos Iglesia, vamos a cantar juntos!
Hoy en el Evangelio de San Marcos, nos encontramos con un hombre ciego de nombre Bartimeo. A lo largo de todos los Evangelios, nos encontramos con aquellos que son ciegos y ver y los que ven pero son ciegos a la presencia de Jesús. Incluso hoy en día, hay momentos en los que se ve, no ven con claridad las cosas que tenemos que hacer en la vida, Amén? Se suele decir que tenemos que orar por algo para que nosotros, la claridad en nuestras vidas, para que podamos saber cómo responder a la invitación de Dios para amar y misericordia. El carácter de Bartimeo hoy es importante por tres razones: (1) Él llama a Jesús en su necesidad, (2) Él es persistente, incluso en voz alta, en su pidiendo sus necesidades, y (3) Su fe ofrece una cura y que sigue a Jesús. Esto suena como la oración no es cierto? Vamos a ver esta historia un poco más cerca
Hoy en el Evangelio de San Marcos, nos encontramos con un hombre ciego de nombre Bartimeo. A lo largo de todos los Evangelios, nos encontramos con aquellos que son ciegos y ver y los que ven pero son ciegos a la presencia de Jesús. Incluso hoy en día, hay momentos en los que se ve, no ven con claridad las cosas que tenemos que hacer en la vida, Amén? Se suele decir que tenemos que orar por algo para que nosotros, la claridad en nuestras vidas, para que podamos saber cómo responder a la invitación de Dios para amar y misericordia. El carácter de Bartimeo hoy es importante por tres razones: (1) Él llama a Jesús en su necesidad, (2) Él es persistente, incluso en voz alta, en su pidiendo sus necesidades, y (3) Su fe ofrece una cura y que sigue a Jesús. Esto suena como la oración no es cierto? Vamos a ver esta historia un poco más cerca
Bartimeo está sentado en la orilla de un camino mendigando sus necesidades.
Él dependía de otros
para ayudar a llegar al y desde
el borde de la carretera para que
pudiera pedir algo de dinero
que le ayudará a cada
día. Bartimeo debe
haber oído hablar de Jesús de
entre los demás y sabía que Jesús podía ayudarlo. Bartimeo no se refiere a la forma en que se mostrará a los demás, grita en voz
alta. Ahora que tiene mucho valor. Aquí está
haciendo Bartimeo una escena,
que no le importa lo que otros piensan
de él. Él está
decidido a llamar la atención de
Jesús. Bartimeo toma la
iniciativa para que Jesús entre en su presencia. Él
podría tener sólo se sentó allí y sintió lástima
de sí mismo, pero él grita.
¿Cuántas veces nos sentimos lástima por nosotros
mismos y sólo pensamos que
nuestra situación no va a cambiar?
Este hombre ciego no jugará la víctima. Él
sabe lo que necesita. Él necesita a Jesús. Él llama
a Jesús en su necesidad. ¿Podrías?
Abre
mis ojos oh Cristo
Abre
mis ojos te pido
Yo
quiero verte
Yo
quiero verte
Bartimeo
es persistente en su clamando a Jesús. La multitud reprende Bartimeo. Tal vez
la gente a veces puede ser como la Iglesia. Hay un horario a seguir, y si una
persona no encaja en el programa, entonces es fácil de caminar por, dejar las
personas necesita atrás porque sus necesidades no encajan en el calendario de
la Iglesia. Pero Jesús se detiene y escucha el ciego. Jesús estaba en el camino
a Jerusalén, pero la misericordia y la curación era más importante que un
calendario de Jesús. Fue hace dos mil años, y es el mismo hoy. La misericordia
de Dios no se adhiere a un horario ... eso es una buena noticia, Amén? Bartimeo
grita en voz alta: "¡Jesús, hijo de David, ten compasión de mí." Esta
frase, sin duda llama la atención de Jesús. Bartimeo reconoce quién es Jesús, y
lo que puede hacer por él. Jesús dice a los discípulos que llamar al ciego. Jesús
le dice a Bartimeo tomar coraje y pide lo que quiere. Bartimeo está claro, que
quiere ver. Él se dirige a Jesús por primera vez como hijo de David, y luego
como maestro. Él le dice a Jesús: "Maestro que pueda ver." Bartimeo
hace sus necesidades a Jesús. Él quiere ver. Quiere ver claramente. Cuando
vivimos en la fe, nosotros vemos el mundo de manera diferente, Amén? ¿Quieres
ver con los ojos de la fe? A continuación, repita las palabras de Bartimeo hoy:
"Maestro que pueda ver". Vamos a decirlo de nuevo: "Maestro que
pueda ver." Abramos nuestros ojos Senor
Abre
mis ojos oh Cristo
Abre
mis ojos te pido
Yo
quiero verte
Yo
quiero verte
Y así
pues Bartimeo gritó a Jesús, e hizo sus necesidades conocidas, Jesús le
concedió su petición. Bartimeo ahora era capaz de ver, y no sólo ver el mundo
con claridad, pero ver el mundo a través de los ojos de la fe. Bartimeo convirtió en un creyente, sí, se convirtió en un
discípulo, para que el Evangelio dice que, "al momento recobró la vista y comenzó
a seguirlo por el camino." Recuerde, "el camino" era el nombre
temprano para aquellos que siguieron las enseñanzas de Jesús . Así, la oración
debe conducir a todos nosotros a seguir "el camino". Y sabemos que
"el camino" a menudo exige sacrificio. Una vez que nuestros ojos se
abren, no podemos vivir como lo hicimos en el pasado. Nos reunimos en esta
Iglesia cada domingo para que podamos recordar a abandonar nuestras viejas
costumbres atrás, para ver el mundo a través de los ojos de la fe, y saber que
como Bartimeo también nosotros hemos
sido concedidos la misericordia y el perdón en nuestras vidas. Cuando
recordamos que hemos recibido misericordia, es más fácil para nosotros ser
misericordioso, Amén?
Así, hoy en día, cuando nos acercamos al altar para recibir a Jesús, el que abre los ojos de los ciegos, digamos en nuestro corazón las palabras de Bartimeo: "Maestro, que pueda ver." Entonces, dejemos esta Iglesia con la capacidad de ver el mundo a través de los ojos de la fe y ser mensajeros de esperanza y misericordia
Así, hoy en día, cuando nos acercamos al altar para recibir a Jesús, el que abre los ojos de los ciegos, digamos en nuestro corazón las palabras de Bartimeo: "Maestro, que pueda ver." Entonces, dejemos esta Iglesia con la capacidad de ver el mundo a través de los ojos de la fe y ser mensajeros de esperanza y misericordia
Abre
mis ojos oh Cristo
Abre
mis ojos te pido
Yo
quiero verte, Yo quiero verte
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