INTERSECCIÓN, TENTACIÓN, CUARESMA (2017-03-05)

5 marzo 2017, 1^O  domingo CUARESMA

• Génesis 2:7-9 • Salmo 51 •

• Romanos 5:12-19 • Mateo 4:1-11•

[__01__]   En cada encrucijada, en cada intersección, se toma y decide una dirección y un destino.

En el cruce o intersección de Main Street y Eagle Rock Avenue en West Orange, o en Broadway y 7th Avenue en Times Square, decidimos un destino y dirección. Hay tentaciones en ambos lugares, quizás más en Times Square.

Zona residencial. Centro de la ciudad. Cuesta arriba. Cuesta abajo. Norte. Sur. Este. Oeste.

[__02__]   En nuestro evangelio de este domingo, primer domingo de Cuaresma, Jesús fue llevado al desierto por el Espíritu Santo para comenzar 40 días de oración, ayuno y entrega de sí mismo ante Dios.

De esto, viene nuestro propio CUARENTA días de Cuaresma antes de Semana Santa y Semana Santa. Y, Jesús mismo estaba siguiendo el camino de Moisés y Elías. Tanto Moisés como Elías -bajo diferentes circunstancias- también fueron sin comida o bebida durante cuarenta días.

Nuestra tradición de abstenerse de la carne - de no comer carne - los viernes durante la Cuaresma es nuestro esfuerzo por caminar sobre los pasos de Cristo, para seguir su viaje.

[__03__]   Acabamos de leer acerca de sus 3 tentaciones, la primera de las cuales es una tentación basada en el hambre, en el deseo de alimento, de alimento.

También es una tentación basada en un deseo de cambio, de transformación.

[__04__]   En esta primera tentación -o primera intersección o encrucijada en el desierto- podríamos preguntarnos cuál es la actitud de nuestro Salvador hacia la oración?

Y la oración es una de las prácticas que se nos pide hacer más explícitas, más deliberadas durante la Cuaresma.

          ¿Cuál era la expectativa de nuestro Salvador en su oración y oración? ¿Cuál es tu y mi esperanza y esperanza en nuestra oración?

[__05__]   Ciertamente, es justo y bueno que debemos orar para que sucedan cosas buenas, para la salud, para la fuerza, para nosotros mismos y para los demás.

En silencio y silencio, reconocemos nuestra necesidad de la ayuda de Dios, su energía y su fuerza.

Sí, todos tenemos dificultades - crisis - en las cuales necesitamos la gracia de Dios.

Sin embargo, ¿sólo oramos para que Dios cambie las piedras en pan?

En otras palabras, ¿estamos orando sólo por un cambio material y físico a las circunstancias o condiciones de mi vida?

O, estoy dispuesto a rezar para que yo mismo pueda ser cambiado, convertido. Que mi corazón de piedra también se convierta en el corazón de carne de que habla el profeta Ezequiel. (Ezequiel 11:19)

[__06__]   Hace varios años, recuerdo que estaba en una encrucijada, en una intersección. Tuve problemas de coche, problemas con la dirección, la dirección, la fiabilidad de mi coche.

Había estado conduciendo este coche en particular durante unos tres años. Pero, de repente, era muy inestable, parecía poco fiable. Era particularmente peligroso cuando el camino estaba mojado. Me temía que sería aún más traicionero en la nieve.

Me lamentaba que tendría que reemplazar el coche después de sólo tres años.

Pero, mientras tanto, yo realmente no había hecho nada para investigar la causa. Yo estaba - en cierto sentido - cediendo a la circunstancia y la condición. Tenía teorías sobre la FÍSICA, la QUÍMICA y la ECONOMÍA del vehículo.

Pero, todavía, yo no había sido a un mecánico real.

Finalmente, fui a un mecánico y supe que la falla no estaba en el vehículo - en su totalidad - sino sólo en los neumáticos y la presión de los neumáticos. La avería, en este caso, fue forutunamente fácil de remediar y reparar.

[__07__]   Tú y yo encontramos situaciones que son ciertamente peores que este pequeño problema. Pero, también tenemos una manera - yo sé que tengo una manera - de ampliar y acercar, para crear un problema más grande, una catástrofe mundial, cuando el problema no está localizado y aún no globalizado.

¿Incluso sabía cuál era el problema? ¿Me importó? Tal vez, sólo quería sentir lástima por mí mismo.

Quería que alguien convirtiera esta piedra de la pobre presión de los neumáticos en el pan de un vehículo más nuevo.

[__08__]   Tú y yo encontramos piedras que pueden ser inmóviles, inamovibles, ...

Por ejemplo, puede haber una crisis difícil, una enfermedad, un tema en la escuela, un proyecto en el trabajo.

Lo que podemos desear en esos momentos es una transformación mágica e inmediata.

          Es decir, convertir piedras en pan.

Queremos que la persona deshonesta o egoísta se vuelva santa y caritativa.

Queremos que se cambie la otra persona o la condición.

[__09__]   Esta es la tentación. Esta es la encrucijada.

Pero, ¿estamos dispuestos a examinarnos a nosotros mismos, a nuestras propias vidas o -en mi ejemplo- a mi propio vehículo.

[__10__]   Nuestro Salvador nos está recordando que lo que sobrevivimos no es el material del pan, sino el espíritu de las palabras que salen de la boca de Dios.

En nuestras propias relaciones amorosas e íntimas, no se nutren realmente a largo plazo no por lo que damos material o financieramente, sino también por la palabra de nuestras promesas, nuestros compromisos mutuos.

[__11_]   Espero y oro para que esta temporada cuaresmal nos ayude a nosotros ya todos nosotros en momentos de intersección, de decisión, de elección, de tentación.

Sí, en nuestra oración podemos orar por el cambio en las circunstancias, la ayuda y la sabiduría.

Sin embargo, ¿no estamos orando también para que podamos ser cambiados, que podamos adaptarnos y que ustedes puedan tomar la cruz cada día.

En la parroquia de Lourdes, durante la Cuaresma, os invito a considerar la posibilidad de venir a misa durante la semana si el tiempo lo permite, para uniros a nosotros para las estaciones de la Cruz en nuestros viernes programados, para nuestra Novena San José a partir del 11 de marzo.

Y, dondequiera que estemos recordando las necesidades de los demás que encontramos en nuestra familia parroquial. Llegamos a estas intersecciones, estas encrucijadas juntas.

Nuestra Señora de Lourdes, ruega por nosotros.

[__fin__] 

  

Temptations, Intersections, LENT (2017-03-05)

Sunday 5 March 2017, 1^st Sunday LENT

 • Genesis 2:7-9 • Psalm 51 • Romans 5:12-19 • Matthew 4:1-11•

[__01__]   At every crossroads, at every intersection, a direction and destination is taken and decided.

At the crossroads or intersection of Main Street and Eagle Rock Avenue in West Orange, or at Broadway and 7^th Avenue in Times Square, we decide a destination and direction. There are temptations in both places, perhaps more in Times Square.

          Uptown. Downtown. Uphill. Downhill. North. South. East. West.

[__02__]    In our Gospel reading this Sunday, the first Sunday of Lent, Jesus had been led into the desert by the Holy Spirit to begin 40 days of prayer, fasting and giving of himself before God.

          From this, comes our own FORTY days of Lent before Easter and Holy Week. And, Jesus himself was following the path of Moses and Elijah. Both Moses and Elijah – under different circumstances – also went without food or drink for forty days.

          Our tradition of abstaining from meat – of not eating meat – on Fridays during Lent is our effort to walk in the footsteps of Christ, to follow his journey.

[__03__]    We have just read about his 3 temptations, the first of which is a temptation based in hunger, in desire for food, for nourishment.

          It is also a temptation based in a desire for change, for transformation.

[__04__]   In this first temptation – or first intersection or crossroads in the desert – we might ask what is the attitude of our Savior towards prayer?

          And, prayer is one of the practices we are asked to make more explicit, more deliberate during Lent.

          What was the expectation of our Savior in his prayer and praying? What is your and my expectation and hope in our prayer?

[__05__]    Certainly, it is right and good that we should pray for good things to happen, for health, for strength, for ourselves and others.

          In silence and quiet, we acknowledge our need for God’s help and energy and strength.

          Yes, we all have difficulties – crises – in which we need God’s grace.

          However, do we only pray in order that God will change stones into bread?

          In other words, are we praying only for a material and physical change to the circumstances or conditions of my life?

          Or, am I willing to pray that I myself can be changed, converted. That my heart of stone will also become the heart of flesh that the prophet Ezekiel speaks of. (cf. Ezekiel 11:19)

[*** pause ***]

[__06__]   Several years ago, I recall that I was at a crossroads, at an intersection.  I had car trouble, trouble with the steering, the direction, the reliability of my car.

          I had been driving this particular car for about three years. But, suddenly, it was very unsteady, seemed unreliable. It was particularly dangerous when the road was wet. I feared it would be even more treacherous in the snow.

          I was lamenting that I would have replace the car after only three years.

          But, meanwhile, I had really done nothing to investigate the cause. I was – in a sense – surrendering to the circumstance and condition. I had theories about the PHYSICS, the CHEMISTRY, and the ECONOMICS of the vehicle.

          But, still, I had not been to an actual mechanic.

          Finally, I went to a mechanic and learned that the fault was not in the vehicle – in its totality – but only in the tires and the tire pressure. The fault, in this case, was forutunately easily remedied and repaired.

[__07__]    You and I encounter situations that are certainly worse than this little problem. But, we also have a way – I know I have a a way – of magnification and zooming in, to create a bigger problem, a worldwide catastrophe, when the problem is not localized and not yet globalized.

          Did I even know what the problem was? Did I care? Perhaps, I just wanted to feel sorry for myself.

          I wanted someone to turn this stone of poor tire pressure into the bread of a newer vehicle.

         

[__08__]    You and I encounter stones which may be immobile, immovable, …

          For example, there may be a difficult crisis, an illness, a subject in school, a project at work.

          What we may desire at such times is a magical and immediate transformation.

          I.e., turn stones into bread.

          We want the dishonest or selfish person to become saintly and charitable.

          We want the other person or the condition to be changed.

         

[__09__]    This is the temptation. This is the crossroads.

          But, are we willing to examine ourselves, our own lives or – in my example – my own vehicle.

[__10__]     Our Savior is reminding us that what we survive on is not the material of the bread, but the spirit of the words that come forth from the mouth of God.

          In our own loving and intimate relationships, are not really nourished for the long term not by what we give materially or financially but also by the word of our promises, our commitments to each other.

[__11__]      I hope and pray that this Lenten season will help you and me – all of us – at moments of intersection, of decision, choice, temptation.

          Yes, in our prayer we may prayer for change in circumstances and help and wisdom.

          However , are we not also praying that we can be changed, that we can adapt and that you and can take up the cross each day.

          At Lourdes, during Lent, I invite you to consider coming to Mass during the week if time permits, to join us for Stations of the Cross on our scheduled Fridays, for our St. Joseph Novena starting on March 11.

          And, wherever we are to remember the needs of the others we encounter in our parish family. We come to these intersections, these crossroads together.

          Our Lady of Lourdes, Pray for Us.  [__fin__]   

Ash Wednesday 2017 (2017-03-01)

Ash Wed.2017 March 1    [Start]: 9:10   [Finish] 13:30

[►]  = [_i.e., _e.g., _to illustrate]

[__01__]   This Gospel reading speaks about the importance of prayer – fasting – charitable giving – in SECRET. (Concept of confidentiality / personal relationship with Christ.)

          What do we mean by SECRETS and SECRECY in this case?

          What I suggest we might consider is the personal and confidential connection we all desire with God and with God’s mercy?

          And, do we not all have confidential information, confidential data?

          For the 40 days of Lent, starting Ash Wednesday, you and I are asked to retain, to remember, to this confidential and personal connection with Christ as our Savior.

          In certain situations, we are strongly motivated to keep secrecy or confidentiality.  Regarding certain information, we endeavor not to reveal the digits of our PIN or Social Security Number. We are also given – by banks and other institutions - secret questions and passwords to which few would be able to decipher your or my personal answer or identity:

[►]   “your mother’s maiden name?”

[►]   “the street where you grew up”

[►]   “the first school you attended”

          Can we keep such data confidential?

          If there were some financial gain or reward for us, then, would we not be motivated to keep such confidentiality?

          But, Jesus also speaks of the reward when you and I can give something with our “left hand” confidentially and personally …and not let the right hand – or the rest of the world know what we are doing.

[__02__]   As we start our forty (40) days of Lent, we start with a mark of ASHES on our forehead or forehead. Neighbors, co-workers, family, friends can see this visible, obvious sign.

          Yes, we can see the ASHES which are the result of the burning of the palm branches of Palm Sunday. And, on Palm Sunday, we recall the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of our Savior. In the ashes, we recall that we are sinners, but we also recall that Jesus loves us so much that he dies for our sake, personally.

          It is no secret that we are sinners. This is not confidential information. However, we are also reminded that we are given the sacrament of penance, confession – so that we can repent and disclose our sins personally, confidentially – to God through the priest.  And, we receive the forgiveness, absolution, mercy we need personally, confidentially.

          Can you and I keep confidential – and remain confident – of God’s mercy as it is presented as a personal gift to you, to me?  It is in our account.

 [__03__]   From an incident a some years ago, I recall a moment of forgiveness and mercy that was shown to me.  Through my own fault – and we all have our own faults – I had committed an error that caused some difficulty for my boss and co-workers and a customer

          In this case, I was able to accept responsibility, but I was troubled by lack of good judgment, by own lack of wisdom.

          About a month or so later, still bothered by this fault, my boss simply side to me personally, individually … “Well, I have done worse than you….”

          In that encounter, I was being encouraged to move on.

          I also recognized that he was, perhaps, more generous than necessary under the circumstances.

          But, isn’t  this the nature of forgiveness. That God is more merciful than we might deserve – or merit. And, I think you and I, at times, are challenged to be more merciful, more compassionate than another person “deserves” or “merits”, i.e., more generous than our desired minimum percentage or deduction to the other.

          But, in this statement of forgiveness, my boss was encouraging me to move on, to accept the forgiveness, the mercy that I had been resisting up to that point.

          And, in this case, I was learning that the mercy shown to me was greater than the fault, the error, sinfulness.

          And, this is the personal and confidential message to you and me. That Jesus loves us so much the he died for our sake.

          This is the value in our account. Should we not try to retain this data, this information, for own benefit?

[__fin __]