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My Prayer Box
the Newsletter of My Catholic Tradition
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A
calling beyond comprehension |
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The whole
city seemed to be bursting in its seams but
nothing could have prepared us for the chaotic and
cramped subsistence in the area to which we were
heading. The two-car convoy hardly had enough room
to drive through because masses of skinny humanity
were just all over the place - people selling
goods to each other; older kids taking gambling
bets from younger kids; children lugging
impossibly-size bags, still in their school
uniforms.
Alcohol was
not really visible but I sensed somehow that some
of those eyes that stared blankly at us or the
street were not because they were created that
way. Those eyes were into something invisible -
drugs, alcohol, or hopelessness.
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| We were
literally inching along the narrow streets of
Pasil in the City of Cebu. Our guide did not warn
us not to stare but it was difficult not to
turn away from the sight and stare at the
floor or the ceiling of the car in a state of
shock.
At last we
arrived at the bare-looking two story building
with about a ten-foot high iron fence
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and block
walls all around. Compared to the houses and
stores and building around it, the building looked
like a sanctuary. And it is. |
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Standing
approximately four feet and a half, this
diminutive person welcomed us into the building with a bright smile
dressed in the white and blue robe of the
Missionaries of Charity founded by the
Blessed Mother Teresa.
Her skin was
darker than those of the locals who toiled under |
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the sun all
day. But that was the only indication that Sister
was actually from Bangladesh on a mission.
Everything about her - her ease with the Visayan dialect, her intonation
and mannerisms reflect that of one completely
submerged in the local culture, down to the
Visayan expressions.
Everything about her showed how desperately she
loved what she was doing. I felt suddenly taller
standing beside her, yet at the same time somehow
insufficient before her. |
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Seven of us
were led up to the second
floor of a really orderly and clean home, where we found about 15
children singing what
seemed to be an adaptation of "Happy Birthday"
re-worded to welcome visitors to their sparsely
furnished home. At
first the children, not plump but certainly
healthy looking, ranging from about 1 year old to
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about 10,
appeared shy. But like any in that age it took
only a split second before they were playing with
us. |
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Sister
related us horror stories of how some of the
children ended up with them. The Missionaries of
Charity sometimes received calls from the local
hospital of children abandoned by their parents.
Others were taken up by the Missionaries when
their mothers would knock at their gate for help.
One of those
children was almost a year old when her mother
gave her |
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up but she
had arms and legs a little bigger than a pencil.
When we visited she already about 18 months
and healthy but still could not sit up. Marasmus
malnutrition can be deadly to the child. She was
lucky. Some of the mothers came back, kept in
contact and eventually received back their healthy
children. Others,
however, were not so lucky. After nursing them
back to health the abandoned children were
transferred to another facility for
adoption. |
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We were there
for only about one hour but I saw how Mother
Teresa's Missionaries of Charity changed the lives
of these children, and hopefully the lives of
those living around the mission. That experience
certainly changed our lives, too, for the better.
But that
is their mission, as established by Mother
Teresa, to care for
"the hungry, the naked,
the homeless, the crippled, the blind, the
lepers, all those people who feel unwanted,
unloved, uncared for throughout society,
people that have become a burden to the
society and are shunned by everyone."
Indeed, a sacrifice, a calling beyond my
comprehension. |
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As you know
Mother Theresa's Missionaries of Charity does not
advertise for sponsors or donors. But their missionary work
is funded solely by donations
of any kind, including volunteer work. Please look
them up wherever you are.
If you wish
to contact them, this is their mailing address in
Cebu: |
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Missionaries of Charity
Barangay Suba, Pasil
Cebu
City Philippines 6000
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Christians
have an obligation to love their country, build
on its greatest qualities and serve its best
ideals. We also have the duty to pray for our
leaders and obey the law—insofar as the law does
not violate human dignity in some systematic,
gravely evil way. When bad laws and court
decisions cripple the soul of a society,
Christians must work to change them as a matter
both of justice and charity. Otherwise we risk
colluding in the evil of their outcome.
Obviously with families to raise, jobs to pursue
and lives to live, not all Christians can be
engaged in the many important issues facing our
country. But we can always at least serve the
truth by not lying to ourselves and to each
other.
Earlier this week, Barack Obama became the 44th
president of the United States. He
is a man of
extraordinary skill and intelligence. He was
elected on a message of national renewal, unity
and hope. These are worthy goals, and we should
wholeheartedly support his administration in all
these things. His inauguration marks a
tremendous victory for racial justice in our
country. It also serves as a fitting tribute to
the memory of Rev. Martin Luther King and his
struggle for civil rights. Barack Obama’s rise
to the presidency reminds us that among the
family of nations, the United States remains
very unusual: It is still a place where people
can succeed on their ability; where politics can
actually matter; and where evil structures and
laws can be changed by sustained, peaceful
witness.
This week, Jan. 22, also marks the 36th
anniversary of one of the most destructive
Supreme Court decisions in American history, Roe
v. Wade. By legalizing permissive abortion and
drastically limiting voters’ ability to restrict
it in any way, Roe set the foundations for an
abortion industry that has wounded countless
women and resulted in the killing of more than
40 million unborn children. President Obama’s
past record of support for abortion “rights,”
embryonic stem cell research and other
violations of human dignity is deeply troubling,
and also deeply ironic, given his sensitivity to
other human rights.
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To read the rest of the article,
please click here. |
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The Third Sunday in Ordinary Time
January
25,
2008
Come after me, and I
will make you fishers of men. Mark 1:17
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First Reading From
the Book of Jonah: |
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Jon 3:1-5, 10
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The word of
the LORD came to Jonah, saying:
"Set out for the great city of Nineveh, and
announce to it the message that I will tell you."
So Jonah made
ready and went to Nineveh, according to the LORD'S
bidding.
Now
Nineveh was an enormously large city; it took
three days to go through it.
Jonah
began his journey through the city, and had gone
but a single day's walk announcing,
"Forty days more and Nineveh shall be destroyed,"
when the people of Nineveh believed God; they
proclaimed a fast
and all of them, great and small, put on
sackcloth.
When God
saw by their actions how they turned from their
evil way, he repented of the evil that he had
threatened to do to them; he did not carry it out. |
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For
more of the story of Samuel and other Towering
Figures from the Old Testament,
please click here. |
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Responsorial From the Book of Psalms:
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Ps 25:4-5, 6-7, 8-9 |
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R. Teach
me your ways, O Lord.
Your ways, O LORD, make known to me;
teach me your paths,
Guide me in your truth and teach me,
for you are God my savior.
R. Teach me your ways, O Lord.
Remember that your compassion, O LORD,
and your love are from of old.
In your kindness remember me,
because of your goodness, O LORD.
R. Teach me your ways, O Lord.
Good and upright is the LORD;
thus he shows sinners the way.
He guides the humble to justice
and teaches the humble his way.
R. Teach me your ways, O Lord.
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Second Reading from the Letter to the
Corinthians |
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1 Cor 7:29-31 |
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I tell you, brothers and
sisters, the time is running out.
From now on, let those
having wives act as not having them, those weeping
as not weeping, those rejoicing as not rejoicing,
those buying as not owning, those using the world
as not using it fully.
For the world in its
present form is passing away. |
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Reading From
the Gospel of Mark:
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Mk 1:14-20 |
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After John had been
arrested, Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the
gospel of God:
"This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of
God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the
gospel."
As he passed by the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon
and his brother Andrew casting their nets into the
sea; they were fishermen.
Jesus said to them,
"Come after me, and I will make you fishers of
men."
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Then they abandoned their
nets and followed him.
He walked along a little
farther and saw James, the son of Zebedee, and his
brother John. They too were in a boat mending
their nets.
Then he called them. So
they left their father Zebedee in the boat along
with the hired men and followed him.
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References |
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Render Unto Caesar: Serving the Nation by Living our Catholic Beliefs in Political Life
by
Charles J. Chaput
(Author)
“At a time
when the ‘faith and values’ vote has never
been more important, Archbishop Charles Chaput
deftly explores the intersection of morality,
reason, and politics. |
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This isn’t
just a book for Catholics, but for anyone who
cares about the state of America’s soul —and
how that concern might shape the 2008
elections.”
—John
L. Allen Jr., NCR and CNN senior Vatican
correspondent,
Amazon |
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Happiness Is a Serious
Problem: A Human Nature Repair Manual
by Dennis Prager.
In this unique blend of self-help and moral
philosophy, talk-radio host Dennis Prager
asserts that we're actually obligated to be
happy, because it makes us better people.
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Praying With Frederic Ozanam (Companions for the Journey Series)
- Paperback, by Ronald Cm Ramson (Author) |
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Praying With Louise De Marillac (Companions for the Journey Series)
by Audrey Gibson (Author), Kieran Kneaves
(Author) |
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Praying with Vincent de Paul (Companions for the
Journey)
2004, by Thomas McKenna
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The Rise of Christianity: How the Obscure, Marginal, Jesus Movement Became the Dominant Religious Force ....
(Paperback)
by
Rodney Stark (Author)
From the Publisher |
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"... this account of Christianity's remarkable
growth within the Roman Empire is already the
subject of much fanfare. "Anyone who
has puzzled over Christianity's rise to
dominance... must read it," ...
Read
the first page. |
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Living Liturgy: Spirituality, Celebration, and Catechesis for Sundays and Solemnities - Year B - 2009
by C.PP.S. Joyce Ann
Zimmerman (Author), Thomas A. Greisen (Author),
S.N.D. de N. Kathleen Harmon (Author), M.S.
Thomas L. Leclerc (Author) |
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"Perfect for home use or to prepare for weekly
liturgy . . . It includes help for the
celebration, ideas for catechesis on the
particular event, and ways to understand the
readings more deeply. Finally, it includes
sample questions from which priests, deacons,
lay groups, ministers and others can jump off
into deeper discussion." |
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Straight Answers, Answers to 100 Questions about
the Catholic Faith
by Ph.D Rev. William P.
Saunders (Author)
Review by:
Reverend William G. Curlin Bishop of Charlotte
Straight Answers offers Catholics a simple and
direct response |
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to the many questions
concerning the Catholic Church. It spells out
profound truths in very simple language for all
who seek a better understanding of their Faith.
I highly recommend it for Catholics, both young
and old. |
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The Power of Intention: Learning to Co-create Your World Your Way
From Amazon: |
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After years of spiritual study and reflection,
inspirational speaker and bestselling
author Wayne Dyer has emerged a highly esteemed
teacher. His current message about tapping into
the power of intention may sound like good old
positive thinking: just stay focused on what you
want, rather than focusing on the lack of having
what you want. But the teaching here goes deeper
than just controlling thoughts (although he does
acknowledge that thought control is a
surprisingly challenging and significant
endeavor).
This book might
help readers land a better job, but it's more
relevant for those who are ready to detach from
an ego-driven life filled with quick fixes of
happiness and step into a more authentic,
joyful, and spiritually fulfilling life. His
core teachings speak to tapping into a universal
source of energy that can also be called the
"power of intention." |
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The Chariot of Israel: Exploits of the Prophet of Elijah
THE CHARIOT OF ISRAEL: When Elijah was caught up
to heaven, his disciple Elisha cried out, "the
chariot of Israel, and its horsemen." Elisha was
referring not to the chariot but to the prophet.
This study of Elijah’s life will captivate you
as |
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it walks you through a
pivotal period in Israel’s history, and
illustrative maps will give you a better
picture of the physical geography of this
ancient land. |
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The First Book of Kings (Cambridge Bible Commentaries on the Old Testament) This
volume of commentary on the New English Bible text of the First Book of Kings
follows the pattern of the now well-established series on the Old and New
Testaments. The main divisions of the text are those provided |
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by the New English Bible
itself, but these are further subdivided for the
purposes of the commentary, which is printed in
short sections following the relevant portion of
the text.
Canon Robinson suggests that the editors of I
Kings compiled their history in order to teach
the Hebrews that their existence as Israel, the
covenant people of God, depended upon their
continuing loyalty to their own religious
traditions, and their refusal to exchange them
for the very different traditions of the
Canaanites among whom they lived.
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I & II Samuel: A Commentary (Old Testament Library)
First sentence in
the book:
""THE BOOKS OF SAMUEL contain that
part of the history of Israel which describes
the foundation of the State, running from the
close of the period of the Judges to the
establishment of the united kingdom." |
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Read more about the Liturgical Year |
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The Origins of the Liturgical Year (Pueblo
Books)
by
Thomas J. Talley
(Author) The Rev. Dr.
Thomas J. Talley, Professor of Liturgics
at the General Theological Seminary in New
York, is one of the leading liturgists in
the country. He gives us a fresh
examination of the complex history of the
Liturgical Year. |
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The Cultural World of Jesus: Sunday by Sunday, Cycle C. (Bestseller! the Cultural World of Jesus: Sunday by Sunday)
by
John J. Pilch (Author)
Reader
Review: The book by Pilch provides those
who not only fill the pulpits across this
country but also all interested in the |
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cultural world in which Jesus lived with a lot
of pertinent information that sheds light on a
lot of areas that have been "muddled" in the
past. Yes, I highly recommend this book. -
James Mauldin |
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Learn more and read the Old Testament. |
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Preaching from the Old Testament
by Elizabeth Achtemeier (Author) Reader
Review: The author of these
thirty-two short chapters begins and ends
with the assumption that problems we
experience with the Old Testament are our
problem, not the Bible's. This
subordinating of the Bible reader to the
well-weathered book he holds in his hand
opens doors, not to forced
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harmonisations
of problematic passages, but to fresh
reappraisal of difficult texts on their
own terms. -
David A. Baer |
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The Navarre Bible: Pentateuch (The Navarre Bible: Old Testament)
This volume helps you make the first five
books of the Old Testament a vital part of
your spiritual reading and practical
growth in the Christian life. It contains
the full English and Latin texts of these
books, along with extensive and
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faithfully Catholic
commentaries. Like other volumes in the
world-renowned Navarre Bible series, these
commentaries draw on Church documents, the
exegesis of Fathers and Doctors of the Church, and the works of contemporary
spiritual writers — particularly St. Josemaría
Escrivá, who initiated the Navarre Bible
project. |
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Comments and
Suggestions are Most Welcome.
If you have any
comments or contributions, please
use the form in this link.
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Comments and Suggestions are Most Welcome.
If you have any comments or contributions,
please
use the form in this link.
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Copyright
© 2006. My Catholic Tradition. All rights reserved |
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Thank you.
Rey
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