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Dear Followers of Jesus,

In our Christian tradition, the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:1-12) are the roadmap to sainthood. This blueprint to living the Kingdom of Heaven here on earth is not unattainable in our own lives. We already possess the nature and heart of God through the gift of our baptism. We already belong to God. We already possess the nature of goodness or blessedness in God’s continuing creation.

Jesus announces these blessings for people who live in “the kingdom of heaven.” These aspects of our discipleship include: being poor in spirit, mourning loss, being meek, seeking justice, being merciful, being clean of heart, being peacemakers and bearers of insults and persecution. The Beatitudes are amazingly countercultural. Our happiness comes in letting go of our rigid and judgmental attitudes, our demands and certainties, and instead, learning to rely on God. We are given happiness from the Kingdom of God when we finally let go our ego and self-assuredness.

These Beatitudes are really a formation process for a life of gratitude. Perhaps as we listen and reflect on this week’s gospel, we can take to heart this message of gratefulness. This is another good posture, to turn toward gratefulness, as we begin the year of 2017.

Many of us can easily turn away from blessedness. Life can get us down. We easily lash out and blame others for our misfortunes and problems. Living this kind of life only leads to bitterness, envy, fear and loneliness.

God invites us to a different kind of life than foul-mouth blaming and finger pointing. Jesus is suggesting to us that we take stock of our lives and learn to be grateful. Thankfulness is a spiritual practice. This practice is often overlooked. For many people it seems frivolous and a waste of time, especially when a parent has lost a job or a youth has been rejected entrance into his first-choice for college.

Gratefulness is an act of blessedness. Unless we become humble enough, we will never find the Beatitudes. We may never discover a life of sheer grace, beauty and freedom. Here are some thoughts about living a life of gratefulness:

Allow yourself to find some moments of silence in the early morning. Make a list of blessings and gifts that you were given in the past twenty-four hours. Recall every conversation and feel the memories in your heart. If there are things you regret in those conversations, offer that regret in prayer. If there are aspects of anger, ill will, judgment or bitterness, offer those things to Jesus. Take stock of your relationships, family, work, talents, gifts, creativity and past. Be with God in silence and simply be grateful. Thank God for everything.

This is a life of Beatitudes. This is a life of gratefulness and thankfulness.

Blessings to you,

Fr. Ron

On the Margins from Mater Dei Radio, Portland, OR

Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time: Matthew 5:13-16

This show does not have the usual opening and closing and is unedited

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The Beatitudes are very counterculture. Humility and weakness are bold and strong. This is the place where Jesus really lives. How do we live the life of Jesus once we are called into the life of Jesus? With hope and love!

Here is an interview from this afternoon with Relevant Radio, Oak Ridge, IL.

My portion of the interview is in the last half hour.

Topic: Corporal Works of Mercy

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“Jesus withdrew” Pastel: Ronald Raab, CSC

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Dear Followers of Jesus,

Today’s gospel (Matthew 4:12-23) reveals the call of the first disciples. Simon and Andrew were brothers. Jesus saw them and invited them to follow him. With no second thoughts, they left everything behind to follow Jesus. Wow! There must have been more to this story! Imagine that a stranger comes along and invites you to follow his ways and you leave everything you have ever known, including your livelihood, to follow him.

Jesus asked the same of two other brothers, James and John. They even left their father, Zebedee, to follow Jesus. Jesus then performed miracles along the way, curing every disease and illness among the people, and establishing his authority among them.

One thing strikes me in this gospel. Jesus saw the best in people. He recognized their potential. He overlooked many of their weaknesses and foibles. I believe that Jesus does the same for us. I want to hold on to this from Jesus’ encounter with his disciples.

So many times when I hear people talk about their relationship with Jesus, they start off by saying that it is a negative relationship because of what people have done in their lives. I don’t believe that anything really stands in the way of our relationship with Christ Jesus. Life is a journey. I think we need to take this gospel to heart. Jesus wants the best for us because he sees the best within us. Perhaps we can learn to carry this example into other aspects of our lives. Examine how many times you put other people down or speak negatively about them when you meet someone new or hear rumors about their lives.

Perhaps we can let these negative things go and begin to see the positive aspects of people’s lives as Jesus did. Whether in parish communities or politics, in our family lives or with people in authority, we tend to condemn first and ask questions later.

The gospel today suggests that Jesus saw the best in these two sets of brothers. Let’s examine our lives so that we, too, may follow in the path of Jesus seeing the best in one another. When we can do this, all kinds of new miracles will flow into our lives.

Let’s build a community where we can see the best in people and believe the best about what people do.

Here are some questions to consider: How can I realize that I am loved and accepted by Jesus? How can respond to his call in my life? How can I take a minute to reflect on Jesus’ ways so I don’t respond negatively to other people? Can I start the New Year by seeing on the good in others?

Blessings to you all,

Fr. Ron

On the Margins from Mater Dei Radio, Portland, OR

Third Sunday in Ordinary Time: Matthew 4:12-23

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Jesus calls his disciples and calls us as well. Jesus sees the best in them. They leave everything to follow. What do we need to let go of in order to follow Christ?

“The Baptism of Jesus” Pencil Drawing for Bulletin: Ronald Raab, CSC

Click here to read the full bulletin for January 15, 2017

Dear Followers of Jesus,

We listen to today’s gospel (John 1:29-34) and it seems we are back to the beginning of Advent. John is pointing again into the direction of Jesus and says, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.” His gesture and words point out to us who Jesus really is- the Lamb who will be slain for our sins. He is God who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.

The point of these gospels in the early weeks of Ordinary Time is to establish Jesus’ authority in his ministry. We are back to the beginning of his adult life and his ministry needs to be put into a context of what will happen. His entire ministry as an adult leads him and us to his passion, death and resurrection.

Our own baptism enables us to know Jesus. Our connection to Jesus does not get washed away in our memory from when we were baptized. Our identity does not fade away. Our connection does not get lost even though we move on to other things such as greed, power or lust as the primary source of our identity. Our connection to the Holy Spirit always finds a way to refresh us even though we get lost in our denial or self-sufficiency. Our life in the Holy Spirit is real even when we believe that God must have abandoned us years ago. Our future remains tightly in the bonds of the Holy Spirit even when we have not prayed in the years since we were children.

Perhaps this year we can renew our lives in the Holy Spirit. Perhaps we can pick up the scriptures again and pray. Perhaps we can learn a new dependence on God even in the center of our aches and pains and our anger about being lost and alone. Perhaps this is the year that we can recognize Jesus as John did—that He is the Lamb of God who takes away my sin and loves me for who I really am.

Here are some questions to ponder this week and beyond:

Jesus, how do I learn to trust you again? Help me Jesus, to have the gumption of John, to truly recognize you, to call your name out loud and find my place within your life.

Jesus, how do I learn to pray again? Help me Jesus, with my lonely heart, and show me again how to pray in the silence. Sustain me when I feel so abandoned and lost. Give me the grace to get out of my head and into my heart.

Jesus, how do I learn to live with a greater love in the world? Help me Jesus and show me the real needs of people so I may learn to offer your love to people.

Blessings,

Fr. Ron

On the Margins from Mater Dei Radio, Portland, OR

Second Sunday in Ordinary Time, January 15, 2017

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We recognize Jesus along with John, “The Lamb of God.” We are part of the mission of Jesus and his baptism. John helps us point into the direction of Jesus and we share his mission and his authority on earth.

“The Searching Kings” Original Cover Art: Ronald Raab, CSC

My original cover art and column both for this week’s parish bulletin

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Dear Followers of Jesus,

Matthew’s gospel (2:1-12) invites us into a very well known story known from our childhood. However, this story is anything but childish when it comes to our spiritual lives. Let’s look at this story from an adult spiritual viewpoint.

The magi received word that a king was born. Herod was threatened about this new king. The magi followed their instincts and the star to the place where Jesus was born. What they found was a king with his mother, Mary. The newborn king was poor. He was different and their lavish gifts seemed worthless in the sight of Jesus.

The search for Jesus is still important for us. I spoke many times during Advent that we are all searching for Jesus. I believe this with my whole heart. We may not even understand for ourselves what this means. As adults, we must find the reasons why we believe in God. We cannot let our faith slip into sentimentality or childishness. The story of the Epiphany guides us to who Jesus really is. God of all eternity is born to be accessible to every human being. Our searching leads us to the child, who is Jesus, our Messiah. Our search for Christ is ongoing.

Our search must be endless and life-long. We cannot love until we find that we love with God. We cannot forgive until we understand that we forgive only with God’s grace. We cannot understand our life direction until we cooperate with Jesus’ call and challenge to follow him, from his manger to his cross.

“Epiphany” means the manifestation of God. We are all drawn to the Light of God. We are all drawn from darkness of sin, doubt, despair and hardship to the beauty of God’s grace and fidelity. The manifestation of God is still being made new within us! This is such a beautiful and magnificent concept. We are still part of God’s plan. So often these feasts of Christmas are lost to us adults because we think that Christmas is for children. This could not be farther from the truth. We are connected to God in baptism. Christmas invites us to live our giftedness in the world as children of the Light.

We all receive gifts from God. However, we all give gifts to God. These gifts are not gold, frankincense and myrrh but all the richness and talents that we have to make God known, loved and served in our world. I hope that you will reflect on this beautiful feast of the Epiphany in this coming week.

What am I searching for in my life? What gifts do I bring to Jesus in this Christmas season? How can I learn to make manifest the gifts of love, tenderness and hope to all people, especially people in poverty, in hunger and in various human needs?

Follow the star and know the place of Jesus in your own life,

Fr. Ron

On the Margins from Mater Dei Radio, Portland, OR

The Epiphany of the Lord

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We are all searching for Jesus. We follow the Light bearing gifts. On this Epiphany, may we recognize the gift through the darkness and our home in the saving presence of Christ Jesus.