Looking within Ourselves

We sometimes take so much interest in fixing other people’s problems and even in trying to solve the world’s problems. However, the truth to the matter is that we cannot change anyone except ourselves. We may want so much for someone to change their wayward ways, but we can’t change it for them. I think we can see this most clearly with parents and their children who may have gone down a not so good path or siblings who can see the same. Even though we cannot change for them, what we can do is be that role model for them. To do this we must take a good look at ourselves.

We can’t see clearly when there’s a splinter in our eyes. But the harder part is that sometimes we can’t even see the splinters. Do we know their there but choose to ignore them? Do we simply keep putting eye drops in to ease the pain, but not really doing anything about them? It’s time to remove those splinters. We can’t remove them alone. Even if we try to use the mirror it will be difficult. That’s is why we need God’s grace. God can help us remove those splinters. But we need to want Him to and we need to ask Him to. So, if we really want to change the world, end violence within our communities, and promote peace and love, the answer is not to yell and scream, but to sit in the silence, asking the Father for the graces we need to be honest with ourselves and allow the fruit of that to move us to conversion. Others will come to change if we first look within ourselves. By looking within ourselves, asking God for the graces we need, believing that we are loved, and living our lives knowing that, peace will come – first within our hearts, second to others, and finally to the ends of the earth.

Being a Man

What comes to your mind when you hear “living freely?” Living freely does not mean living without pain or suffering, but it does mean embracing them. We may have a tendency to want to hide those pains and sufferings because we are taught that we ought to be ashamed of them and that any appearance of pain is a sure sign of weakness. Hiding your pain and suffering is weakness. Embracing them and owning them is strength and freedom. Jesus did not hide His pain. He cried. He wept. He grimaced. Jesus embraced His suffering because He knew somehow that the Father was going to bring about great good from it. So, how can we label as shameful or an embarrassment something through which God can bring great good?

We must not fear our weaknesses or our past. God knows them well and He will use them for good. The best example a father can give to his children is to show them that a real man loves and allows himself to be loved, and by doing so experiences pain and is not afraid to show it.  This Father’s Day may we turn to St. Joseph, who took care of Jesus and raised Him, and ask him to intercede for us, he who is the “terror of demons.”  Jesus will surely not deny anything St. Joseph asks of Him for it was he who taught Jesus what it means to be a man.

St. Joseph, pray for us!

Pondering in Our Hearts

When Mary and Joseph found Jesus in the temple, they asked Him why He had run off and did what He had done. Jesus was seemingly puzzled and asked why they were worried and explained that of course He’d be in His Father’s house. We are told that Jesus followed His parents back home and was obedient to them, while Mary pondered and kept all that had happened in her heart.

Mary must have been afraid, hoping nothing bad had happened to Jesus, and when she found Him, He seemed indifferent. How hurt Mary’s heart must have been, but she kept it in her heart. Perhaps she did not understand then, but she soon came to see that whatever Her Son ended up doing would be the Father’s will. In Jesus’ mind, the Father’s will always came first, and Mary understood that because she too said “yes” years ago. There will be times in our lives when we get upset or angry or frustrated because of what someone may say or do. Sometimes those whom we love will do things that will cause us pain. Yet, our love for them never goes away. They never truly intend to hurt us, but it happens. We feel pain and hurt because there is love! To ponder in our hearts is to love. When pain and hurt come our way, may we imitate Mary and ponder those things in our hearts, marveling at the great love that is there, and allow that love to bring us to an even deeper love.