If we are seeking a plan for our life, the Beatitudes provide us with one blessed by God.  The catch to following it calls us to accept the virtue of humility which allows God to work through us for others.

Last weekend I attended a men’s retreat from one of the two parishes at which I serve.  The title of the retreat was: “Who is Jesus Christ?  Who am I?  Find the Divinity Within.”

One of the talks presented on the first day touched on how we discern our path in life’s journey.  Do we choose ambition or vocation? 

Today’s feast of the Epiphany of our Lord is one of those liturgical celebrations that use the same readings, psalm and Gospel for Cycles A, B and C.  Based on the revelation of the Savior, Jesus, who brings hope to the world, its theme is one of Hope Revealed in relation to what is happening in the world.  Since that time 2000 plus years ago, believers and non-believers have been trying to recognize what that means in their life. 

Things don’t always seem to be what we believe they are or should be based on our viewpoint.  This Sunday’s readings and Gospel are indicative of that, especially in light of God’s plan for our lives.  It often seems contradictory, because our beliefs propagated by what the world has put into place don’t always agree with God’s.  The question for us is: “With whom do we place our trust, man or God, no matter how difficult the situation, if we seek eternal life”?

We are called to prepare the way for Jesus to come into ours and other people’s hearts so we can experience the joy of salvation, healing, wholeness and holiness for which we long and gives real meaning to our lives.  But, how do we do that when we are imprisoned into a world of sin as was St. John the Baptist?

Connected through the ages of time, we still prepare during Advent for the coming of Christ in our lives beginning with his birth, suffering, death, resurrection, ascension and return. Both readings and St. Matthew’s Gospel illustrate how God’s plan was meant for us whether we were known as an Israelite or Gentile prior to or after implementation of Christianity.  Our preparation is for acceptance of who Jesus is as told to us through the scriptures and to find ways we can be repentant, have a personal change of heart and a transformation or conversion as we help to bring peace and justice as Jesus did.

DEAR FRIENDS –

TODAY’S BLOG MARKS THE BEGINNING OF THE THIRD-YEAR (CYCLE “A”) I HAVE BEEN SHARING IN “A CATHOLIC DEACON’S PERSPECTIVE.”  AS I WROTE IN THE PAST, MY HOPE IS THAT IT GIVES YOU A DEEPER INSIGHT INTO YOUR JOURNEY WITH THE LORD.  JUST AS IN THE LAST TWO YEARS “B” AND “C“ BLOG SUBMISSIONS HAVE REMAINED ON THIS SITE TO REVIEW OR COMPARE, YEAR “A” WILL BE ADDED FOR THE SAME REASON. OUR PRIMARY GOSPEL PROVIDER FOR YEAR “A” IS ST. MATTHEW.  

PLEASE KNOW THAT YOU REMAIN IN MY THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS AS WE TRAVEL A PATH TO FOLLOW JESUS TO HIS PROMISE OF EVERLASTING LIFE FOR THOSE WHO ARE FAITHFUL TO HIS TRUTH OF LOVE, MERCY AND FORGIVENESS. 

GOD BLESS,

DEACON JIM MERLE

Benevolent monarchies without a spiritual force behind it rarely exist to offer the fullness of what Jesus, a Christian King, provides for us through His love of all that exists in His realm with His Father and the Holy Spirit.  If that were not enough of a challenge, outside influences based on fulfilling one’s personal needs of wealth, fame and power all but destroy human decency, morals and integrity so that nothing can exist without negativity in all facets available for peaceful co-existence.

“Death is but a passing from this life to the next,” is how I define eternal life.  Where that eternal life is depends on how you live your current life.  If you are like the Sadducees in St. Luke’s Gospel today, you will spend it in hell.  If you follow Jesus’ logic, you will be heaven in love with everyone you have ever loved on earth.  After all, isn’t love God’s focus?

Each day I start my morning prayer of the Liturgy of the Hours with an examination of conscience in the following way:

“Lord, forgive my inequities, cleanse me from my sin, help me to be one with You in all that I am and in all that I do in thought, word and deed as well as Faith, Hope and Love.  Give me courage, strength, wisdom, understanding, peace, joy and grace to be obedient to your will.  For all those for whom I pray, may they receive your care, comfort and healing.”

A religious from Europe active in missionary work in Zambia at a hospital and orphanage and more recently in the Ukraine, shared yesterday at Mass about a four-day ordeal he had in a basement of an apartment building in which 13 children were hiding after being wounded by a Russian missile.  Though he was able to help because of his work in Zambia, it was through perseverance in prayer that helped him and the children to cope with what happened and how they will be able to face an uncertain future.  This incident brings our Gospel and readings this weekend to life and hopefully us in how we live as practicing Catholics.

My two surgical encounters with cancer in 2008, concerned me, but I never felt I was being punished or that I was fortunate because I had no further episodes.  I took it as a sign of my faith being challenged in which I could honor my belief in God and accept His love of healing.  It was an opportunity for me to view what was happening as a sign of strength, not weakness.  I found that putting my trust in God was more rewarding towards a good relationship with Him rather than second guessing my plight in life.

I had learned this lesson when I was in my twenties.  As a writer/reporter for a large Midwest newspaper, I was invited at Christmas time to visit veterans’ hospitals with my colleagues.  We would bring financial gifts from subscriber donations to remind those who were injured that they were not forgotten and how much they were appreciated for their service during a time of need.

The first ward we visited had soldiers who had been there since the Spanish-American War of 1898 and World I from 1917 through 1918.  Many were missing limbs, were blind or were too old to communicate as it was in the mid-1960s and they had no relatives alive or things in common with current care givers.  Some said thank you, others smiled and some had tears that they were still remembered.  Other wards had soldiers from World War II and the Korean Conflict, but they never expected to leave the hospital due to their injuries.  Most seemed to have accepted their condition.

What I noticed in many of the wards were items indicating a connection with religion; whether it is a picture of Jesus, a crucifix or non-Christian remembrances such as a Star of David.  Some mentioned they prayed to God and would have visits from clergymen of different faiths.

Many were grateful that they were still alive, but mentioned they lost comrades in battle for which they were sad.  Even though their lives would be spent in a hospital the rest of their time, most seemed to have reconciled that aspect of it and were grateful they were still alive.  I didn’t second guess what was said, accepting they were honest in their assessment of what life brought them.

At the end of these visits, it gave me a sense of how difficult life can be for some people, especially those who fought for our freedom and suffered physical, mental and emotional wounds for their sacrifice.  I made a promise to myself that I would never take for granted what people in all sorts of dilemmas suffer.  God created us for a purpose.  We need to recognize what it is and to cement our relationship with God so we can better understand our purpose on earth which is to serve all those in need just like Jesus and Elisha did in healing lepers in St. Luke’s Gospel and Book of Kings, respectively.  May we all be like Naaman or the Samaritan leper who appreciates God’s part in our life and thanks God with all our heart for His love and healing ways? 

Reading 1:  Second Kings 5: 14-17
Reading 2: Second Timothy 2: 8-13
Gospel: Luke 17: 11-19

Today is Respect Life Sunday based on Pope St. John Paul II’s 1995 encyclical “Evangelium Vitae” (The Gospel of Life) held every October to reaffirm the value and inviolability of every human life and to appeal to all people to respect, protect, love and serve every human life. 

For those who live in urban areas, seeing a poor person like Lazarus in St. Luke’s Gospel is a normal scenario.  Exit ramps from highways, expressways and freeways are filled with people begging for help due to being homeless or hungry.  Whether it is a lone figure or a family, the cardboard signs with dark writing cannot help but catch the eye of those passing by.  And, most do just pass by without an offer to help.

Have you ever heard the saying: I would rather be clever than smart?  I even used it myself when I was much younger.  It was a trait that peaked my imagination to allow me to be creative.  People seemed to be more responsive when I said or did something either because it seemed to make sense or it made me look like I knew something they did not.