“We speak a wisdom to those who are mature, not a wisdom of this age…1 Cor 2:6-10    Finger Painting: Ronald Raab, CSC

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Dear Followers of Jesus,

Today’s gospel (Matthew 5:17-37) challenges us beyond measure. The themes given to us in this text explore the hands-on way our faith is lived in the world. Jesus gives us another step beyond what was expected of people in this age. This text is also easily ignored as ultra-pious and unattainable in our day. Integrity, forgiveness, relationships and righteousness are not easy to discover and to live in our modern world.

One of the key reasons why Jesus came among us was to show us the compassion and forgiving love of the Father. This image of God totally changes people’s understanding of who God is and what is expected of us.

Forgiveness is at the heart of Jesus’ mission. Relationships based on such integrity and forgiveness are key to finding Jesus’ love. He desires healthy and loving relationships for people in poverty, for those who ache for justice, for people whose rights are wronged, for people who have been put down, degraded and abused.

Forgiveness and restored relationships reveal to us the true and lasting mission of Christ Jesus within the Church. Jesus goes beyond the commandment of thou shall not kill. He tells us even those who are angry with their brothers are going against his love. Forgiveness is key to following the true message of Christ. We all seek the grace from God to learn how to forgive. This is a lesson that is not learned in the classroom or through our intellectual pursuits. We cannot just wish for forgiveness. We must do something. Forgiveness changes our lives and reinforces our reliance on God. The first relationship that always needs to be restored is our relationship with God. This requires conversion of heart, attitudes, minds and actions. Forgiveness is next to Godliness.

Perhaps this week we can find some quiet time to reflect on our lives and sort out what forgiveness means. I discover in my ministry that many people hold hatred, anger and revenge for many years. Hatred towards another eats away our own love, hope and optimism. Hatred is poison. Un-forgiveness is slow death.

Here are some statements and thoughts to consider:

 As I reflect on my past, the areas of hurt and lack of forgiveness that remain are….

 The person I always wanted to forgive but never have is….

 Today, I ask Jesus to show me a new path towards forgiveness because….

 I hold so many grudges I can hardly count, so today I want to let go of….

 My first reaction to difference is often anger, so I pray that I may….

Blessings,

Fr. Ron

Sacred Heart Church, Colorado Springs, Co, Painting: Ronald Raab, CSC

I painted this image of Sacred Heart last fall. I used everything but a brush, including the edge of a credit card, a spatula and various utensils.

On the Margins from Mater Dei Radio, Portland, Or

Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time: Matthew 5:17-30

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We do not live our lives on our own. We are in relationship with other people. God’s law needs to find a new home in the person of Jesus.

Here is my interpretation of the second of our three churches.

Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Manitou Springs, CO. Painting: Ronald Raab, CSC

I recently painted each of three church buildings. Here is our chapel in Cascade, Co. I will post the others next week.

Holy Rosary Chapel, Cascade, CO Painting: Ronald Raab, CSC

“Don’t turn your back on your own” Finger Painting: Ronald Raab, CSC 2016

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Dear Believers in Christ our Light,

Several weeks ago when the winds blew strong in Colorado, many people experienced power outages. Many food items were lost when freezers got hot. Many people struggled to heat their homes for their infants and ailing parents. Many were not prepared to walk around in the dark in their own homes without bumping into things. Light became important again when we were without such a necessity.

Jesus has called us to be light and salt to the world (Matthew 5:13-16). These are strong images of survival and life. We know how quickly darkness comes when we cannot see what is right before us. We know the natural ability of salt to preserve and taste our food. Salt and light are ingredients that not only make life worth living, but ultimately are ingredients that we cannot live without. Jesus needs us to show others the way.

In these past few weeks, Jesus has called us again to follow him in the gift of the Holy Spirit in our baptism. This gift of the Holy Spirit fuels our ability to be salt and light for the world. I know these are just images, but they tell us a lot about how we are to respond to the call of mission and service in our world.

Jesus is inviting us to see ourselves as light. This means Jesus is relying on us to show people the beauty, love and hope that God has to offer us. We are to step out of the darkness of doubt, rudeness, laziness and apathy. We are to show the world that our faith means something.

This integrity of light comes to us from the fountain and source of our faith— the power of our connection to Jesus who is the light of the world. When our children don’t participate in faith, they lose the ability to show others the miracles of Jesus. When we grow old and think that we already know what to do and the rules to follow in the Church, we lose the light of faith that gives us purpose and connection to Jesus. We need one another to reveal the light of faith in the world. We need people’s voices to speak up for those who cannot help themselves.

We need one another’s talents to show the world that life in all of its forms has meaning. We need to pursue our faith through continued learning, personal growth and prayer, and through acts of compassion and justice for people in poverty. We need one another to be light! People are relying on us!

Perhaps there is a serious power outage within the hearts of many people who are already Christians. We hide our light under the bushel baskets of ignorance, what others think of us, and even under our own anger and rigidity. We need a new vision of who we are as people of light, people of hope and people who reveal the salt and light to those who need it most.

Here are a few things to pray about this week: How are you light and salt to your family and friends? Who reveals light and hope to you? How does your prayer keep you directed to the Light of Christ? What are those times in your life that you have felt incredible darkness? How do you find hope in your relationship with Jesus?

Blessings to all of you,

Fr. Ron

On the Margins from Mater Dei Radio, Portland, OR

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Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time: February 5, 2017

We are salt and light. We are given what we need to proclaim the Kingdom of Heaven in our world today.  We take light for granted. Light shows us the way and gives people hope for a life to thrive.

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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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