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broFredsReflections APRIL 2024
Promises Fulfilled
A Reflection by Fred Schaeffer, OFS
"I will put my Spirit in you that you may live," the Lord promised through the prophet Ezekiel, a promise fulfilled through Jesus, for as Paul tells the Romans, "the Spirit of God dwells in you." It is a power of immeasurable greatness, for it is this same power that raised Jesus from the dead (Ephesians 1:19-20).
The New Testament reveals that the whole life and mission of Jesus Christ is lived out in total communion with the presence of the Holy Spirit. The descent of the Holy Spirit upon Jesus at his Baptism is the sign of his anointing as Messiah. Jesus promises to send the Spirit upon the apostles once he has completed his mission, a promise fulfilled both on Easter Sunday (Jn 20, 22) and on Pentecost (Acts 2,1-4). As Christ is filled with the Holy Spirit, those who are incorporated into his Body (us, the Church) are also filled with that same Spirit.
The Mother of Christ, our Mother, Mary - Mary's strength of character and clarity of vision evidenced in Scripture makes the reader long for more. We receive in the gospels only brief impressions of the real human woman-in the birth narratives; in the wedding feast at Cana (John 2:1f); at the foot of the cross (John 19-25f). We're given only enigmatic glimpses of her feelings as Jesus' life and ministry unfolds. We know she "treasured al1 these things in her heart" - (Luke 2: 51); we can see her confidence in her son: "Do whatever he tells you" (John 2:5); she obviously suffered greatly, as promised by Simeon: 'A sword will pierce your own soul too" (Luke 2:35). We are focused on hope and vindication and triumph. "Of all women you are the most blessed. Blessed is the fruit of your womb. "'My soul. magnifies the Lord'" The victory is complete; the promise fulfilled: unto us a child is born.
The Easter Vigil is THE most important celebration for us as Catholics, the Resurrection of Jesus, the source of our hope, the promise fulfilled, the Reign of God breaking into the sorrows of our 1ives. Death doesn't have the last word. The power of God is stronger, even when all seems lost. We light the Easter candle, the Light of Christ, bless the new water, baptize new Catholics and sing as many alleluias as we can!
"Jesus promised his disciples in Acts 1:8: “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the end of the earth.” This promise was fulfilled at Pentecost (Acts 2), and the first apostles and disciples never stopped boldly proclaiming the gospel of salvation in Jesus.
The Holy Spirit did more than give power and boldness to preach. The Holy Spirit was to be a guide, counselor and teacher (cf. John 14:26). The Holy Spirit was also to produce holiness through the fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. (Gal 5:22). The fruit of the Holy Spirit stands in sharp contrast to the works of the flesh observed in the world: including fornication, impurity, enmity, strife, anger, selfishness, envy and drunkenness (Gal 5:20–21). The Holy Spirit also brought about a community of faith and love (Act 2:42–47). Jesus, when he ascended into heaven, sent the Holy Spirit from the Father, to accompany us in a life of holiness and evangelization in the community of the Church."
Jesus commissioned his disciples, the twelve Apostles, as the first priests, as missionaries, to bring the Good News of Jesus Christ to their friends, their neighbors or anyone willing to listen to them as they spoke in areas ever larger than Jerusalem. Likewise, as serious Catholics, our great Pope, St. John Paul II, urges and strongly desires all Catholics to go out there, in the marketplace, so to speak, and spread the Good News, first through being Christ to others, and second by teaching and spreading God's word, and most of all, to teach other people about God's unconditional love for all of us. By ourselves we cannot accomplish this, but with the help of the Holy Spirit, God's love between Father and Son, and between God and us, we can accomplish this quite easily when we unconditionally say Yes, Lord.
The great gift Jesus gave us, His Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity, His Real Presence, was given to all of us that Thursday night at the Last Supper. Jesus told us to "love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind", and "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." So when He gave his life for us on Good Friday, He showed us His love for us... He gave His life for all of us, so that we may be redeemed and be saved.
What takes place in Holy Week is reality. In the Sacrifice of the Mass, Jesus gives us Himself. He lays down his life for us, so that we may find happiness in Him. Happiness without Him is a transient "feeling good," that withers away. For many people it is too late. Many of the world's people do not know Jesus and what He made possible for all of us. All too many people are unhappy because their life has become meaningless. When you take God out of life's equation, the luster of a human life subdues, there is no more meaning to life, there is no more life. What remains is an existence consisting of pain, frustration, anxiety, deprivation, and extreme loneliness. That's when some people turn to drugs or sex, to make it all bearable. That's not life, that's death. There is no beauty left and life has lost it's meaning. For those and for all of us, Jesus suffered a most terrible death. A death that seems to go wasted as long as we repel Him. But if we love Him, as He loves us, then there will be much joy in your life. Then you will happily get out of your gloomy existence and apply all your considerable talent and capacity for true love to join the millions who know Jesus by His first name. And we hope that some day, we may all be together in the House of the Lord: Heaven.
Many people fail to recognize that when God sent His only Son Jesus, to die on the Cross to redeem us, that God sent us the ultimate expression of His love. There are numerous examples of His love in Holy Scriptures but if that should still be unconvincing, then please go and sit by the Tabernacle for a half hour or more and tell Jesus in your own words that you love Him, that you need His help. Saint Bonaventure, the great Franciscan Doctor of the Church, speaks of devotion to Mary as the ninth Beatitude and he reminds us that all who will serve her worthily will be justified and saved. So while simply adoring the Blessed Sacrament in the Tabernacle, one might pray a Rosary or some Our Fathers and Hail Maries.
Saint Bernard, the last of the Fathers of the Church wrote: "It is by Jesus Christ alone that we have access to the Eternal Father. Likewise it is by Mary, and only by Mary, that we have access to Jesus." Why do I suggest praying to Jesus through Mary? Well, of course we can pray to Jesus directly but we regard Mary as our Mother and that is what she is, when Jesus told her on Calvary, (John 19:26b-27) "Woman, behold, your son!" Then he said to the disciple, "Behold, your mother!" We are all His disciples. The other part of the reason is that we naturally are at ease speaking to our natural mothers. We confide in them, so it also seems natural to confide in our Mother Mary. Speak to Mary, our mother in heaven as a child, with childlike trust. The author of the Hail Mary is the Blessed Virgin, what the Archangel Gabriel said to her at the Annunciation, and the conversation between Elizabeth and the Blessed Mother at the Visitation. God's ultimate expression of love can truly only be experienced in Heaven. A high level of perfection attained on earth will surely get us admitted into Heaven. Perfection on any level is not possible without a strong devotion to Our Blessed Mother. But it takes effort to live according to the Charter of Happiness, the Sermon on the Mount.
When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain, and after he had sat down, his disciples came to him. He began to teach them, saying:
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are they who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the land.
Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied.
Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the clean of heart, for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
See Matthew 5:3 for the complete text.
Easter Blessings,
Fred Schaeffer, OFS
April 3, 2024 from notes gathered years ago.
Divine Mercy Sunday: what a blessing!
A Reflection by Fred Schaeffer, OFS
Yesterday, Divine Mercy Sunday proved to be an adventure. A very early morning bathroom visit proved my undoing. In the bathroom, in the process of sitting down, I lost my balance. I’ve got a balance problem anyway, and have various handholds installed, but one of those bars let loose from its mounting at the point I needed it the most. Result was that I came down hard on the commode, and at that point, the water tank broke, cascading gallons of (fresh) water all over the bathroom floor and the adjoining hallway including some carpeting (sopping wet). I’ll admit my language got a bit salty, but I soon realized I needed God’s help more than usual, so I began to pray for His help. Help came soon with excellent results.
After I shut off the water, I called my backdoor neighbor. I felt bad about it since it was about 4:30 am; he was out of town. Unbeknownst to me, he called one of the Veterans (another neighbor but further away). After a while this man knocked on my door and initiated the repair and restoration of my bathroom. I couldn’t believe it. The morning turned into a wonderful blessing. All my early morning anxiety drained away, and by 9 AM he was on his way to pick up a new toilet from the store, and he installed it. I had texted another friend (asking for prayer support), who brings me Holy Communion during the week. He belongs to the Knights of Columbus, and he talked to a mutual friend who later visited with me. By noon, the bathroom was fully restored, most of the water was gone, although the carpets were still wet, but I have a fan running. And best of all, I strongly see God’s Mercy and Compassion in all of this, and it didn’t cost me a cent. Praise God.
I purposely did not name my benefactors although I wanted to. The Internet isn’t safe anymore, people use information they have no right to, so we need to be more careful. My benefactors know who they are, and they know of my respect and love for them. Thank you all.
God’s love reigns in this house and I am so happy He knows me. Let’s face it, amid millions of people on this earth we are just tiny person, but He told us he knows us by name. (Read about Human Dignity in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, and the words of Isaiah 43:1).
May the Lord bless you and keep you,
Fred Schaeffer, OFS
April 8, 2024
Keeping Jesus Company
by Fred Schaeffer, OFS
Many have left home, ease, and comfort, to join religious orders, cut off all ties because they desired to take Christ as their Companion forever. Secular Franciscans, by their perpetual profession have taken Christ as their Companion but, unlike religious, we have not left home or the ease and comfort.
Men and women (married and single), many members of the diocesan clergy are called by God to follow the way of perfection of the Gospel life after the example and manner of Saint Francis of Assisi, to share his charism, and to make it present in the world. They promise to follow Jesus Christ and to live the Gospel in fraternity by entering the Secular Franciscan Order. In this way they manifest the priceless gift of Baptism and realize it in a fuller and more fruitful way. (from the Preface, Ritual of the Secular Franciscan Order)
Even though we live our vocation in the marketplace, loving our brothers and sisters in and out of fraternity according to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, we need to work on ourselves as well. What we do for others needs to come from our love of Jesus. It is essential that Secular Franciscans develop a deeply spiritual relationship with Jesus, otherwise our external work means nothing.
As Franciscans we must go through a continual conversion, day by day. Our objective is perfection. Jesus is perfection itself. Our love for Him reflects the love we receive by serving others, for in the goodness of other people we see Jesus in His humanity. We cannot, however, see Him in others unless we have a life of the soul, a spiritual life with Jesus. As we mature we learn how to keep Jesus company every minute of our waking hours.
In our lives, spiritual and otherwise, the main thing we must realize is that HE must increase, and we must decrease. As we progress we see our vocation with gratitude for it is a gift of God to us. We strive to honor this new relationship with God by keeping watch, by consciously trying to reduce even venial sins in our lives. The burden of sin keeps us from loving God and therefore it also keeps us from loving one another. "When the soul has surrendered her powers to God, her light is lost in Divine Light."1 Each new degree of purity and of love increases the brilliance of light.
When we stray away from Jesus, we drag our aching soul to that lonely, hallowed, spot within the shadow of Gethsemane. The pain of loneliness and isolation that we can feel in our inmost being even though Franciscans are almost never lonely or isolated, it is at Gethsemane where Our Lord invites us to come and keep Him company and where he invites mankind to "come weep with Me."
When we as Franciscans help the suffering in our various ministries, we come to weep with them and Jesus. Recalling a day, long ago, when I brought the Body of Christ to about 9 people at a local nursing home, this thought of weeping with Jesus came to me starkly, as I passed in a hallway, a couple of very elderly people, obviously in great pain, totally alone and unattended, at least for the moment. There is real loneliness and isolation for those in nursing homes who have no one who visits them and where the staff has minimal contact because they seem peacefully asleep most of the time. If only people knew what goes on in the mind behind the outer facade of those seemingly asleep. Sometimes deep torment.
If the life of our souls are to reach a plateau of relative peace, there are some things we need to do while keeping company with Jesus. We have to be alert for any danger that will upset our inner relationship with Jesus. Self-control means keeping silent when we have nothing to contribute to a situation that is going nowhere. And if we have a temper, perhaps holding ones' tongue - for when we let our temper get away from us, we damage our inner relationship with Jesus. There is a dignity to our vocation for a Franciscan whose inner relationship with Jesus is strong and calm, who is not swayed by the endless vicissitudes of daily life, who is always gracious and kind, such a friend of God will reap the spiritual harvest to come.
Be always charitable, praise people, whether they seem to deserve it or not. Highlight the positive about the person you are speaking with. Don't even begin to think about all that is wrong with him/her. He comes to you out of need, asking you, perhaps, for a few dollars. Don't immediately jump to the conclusion that he's not going to use that money for food. I had such an encounter a few years ago in a large parking lot. I did not see him approach and as I was getting out of my car, a hand tapped me on the shoulder (itself, sometimes, an unnerving experience). I was looking at a haggard face, someone whose life experience showed in his eyes. Could I spare some money. Yes, of course I could. After I put my wallet back in my pocket I looked around. He was totally gone as if he never existed. I remember this encounter here because we never know who taps us on our shoulders. It could be Jesus himself.
We are expected to show refinement for "stepping aside is a graceful movement of the soul." Don't seek praise... but give it, as the Prayer of Saint Francis says. "We seek to take on the manners of Heaven. Stepping aside is the outer garment of humility. Also, always speak the truth. Even to yourself. Truth is strength, Truth is God.
Practice detachment from worldly goods. As Secular Franciscans we do not have a vow of poverty, but nonetheless, we know that amassing worldly goods is not the way to heaven. Also, a person who practices detachment does not deprive others of their rights. Do not judge others, just try to help where you can. St. Francis of Assisi could have scorned the lepers as the outcasts of society they were in the 13th Century, but he helped them and bathed their wounds.
Pride is a terrible obstacle to attaining perfection. Humility kills pride. It is a gift: "Were it not for our Master and Lord, not one of us would strive to acquire humility." Bear irritations and humiliations silently. Remember St. Francis' description of Perfect Joy - he bore irritation and humility with perfect joy! Silently accept sorrow as he did. You'll find out that being humble is real suffering at times, but offer it up for Jesus. "We catch a glimpse of God's patient and absorbing love," when we strive to be humble and patient.
Obedience to the Will of God takes total surrender. Breaking our own will, that very free will He gave us, takes an immense amount of pain and suffering. But we must... Jesus loves us totally and unconditionally. Can we do any less for Him? All this falls under the subject of personal conversion and we, as Franciscans, work on that every day. Also, feelings have no place in the life of the spirit. How often I hear someone say... it feels so good to pray. Our feelings must never be the issue in prayer... because our feelings are pride. The Eucharistic life is a marvel of love. Feelings have no place in this Eucharistic life - deep convictions do. Craving for anything outside of God will do us harm.
Our focus is clear from our Charism, our vocation. Service to others, our brothers and sisters, also to those who are marginalized and whose rights as human beings are trampled upon, that service is the loss of self in the interest of God. Service is the purchase price of peace. And, "whoever does not carry my Cross, cannot be my disciple." (Lk 14:27) Love all, do not overlook anyone. "A radiant smile is a blessing; bad humor, a poor choice of words, casts a pall of doom."
"Joy is one of the marks of sanctity. Smiles are sweet messengers." Have sympathy and empathy rather than apathy. In other words, have compassion as Jesus did, live with the pain of others rather than shun their grief because it is inconvenient. Bear ye one another's burdens (Gal. 6:2) And, take people as they are. Meet them where they are at and start there. Never betray their trust. Any private conversation between two people does not go anywhere. Gossiping is what kills relationships. It is not of God.
Pray to the Father in secret (Mt 6:6). That's our personal friendship for Jesus, the inner life of our souls with Jesus. Pray always. Prayer is conversation with God. Let Mary, our Mother and the Mother of God be our example. The example of holiness. "Mary is the veil through which God's beauty shines."
We should strive to empty the soul of anything not of God. That means constantly asking the question, is this what Jesus would do? Is this what He would look at? Is this what He wants to hear or touch? And be honest in answering these questions of the soul. Many people have lost the perspective of what is right and wrong. Their reasoning hinges on "if it feels right, do it." That's dangerous because our feelings are usually not of God. Feelings is the false cushion that is pulled away by reality.
The spiritual life, that life that allows us to keep Jesus company in the innermost region of our soul, is indeed a strange land. It is the land of trial, struggle and isolation. "Close union with God transforms life here on earth into a veritable exile for the heroic soul."
Jesus died a gruesome death on the Cross so that we may have Life. Life with Him in all eternity. Have we really thought about the amount of suffering He experienced? It is good to reflect on that; those who have a strong inner life with Jesus live in the sacredness of the Passion. We are preparing for that subtle separation between earthly life and his Kingdom, and this journey brings much agony. There is no way around it. Every day we suffer in some form. The important thought here is to take this suffering and bear it gracefully for Jesus, so that the fruits of the suffering we bear may bear fruit elsewhere. Yes, my brothers and sisters, our suffering makes us stronger inside, and can be offered for others for the love of God.
If we are to follow in the footsteps of Jesus among our brothers and sisters in the way of Saint Francis of Assisi, it can only be done in a quiet and understated way to have any chance of succeeding. Our "self" or our ego has no place in this concept. The "self" is a "sly, elusive sprite, clever and shrewd, defying even death." It is very destructive. Self is the enemy of the Will of God. Our "self" is what Jesus died for on the Cross. Self is arrogant and must be humbled. Self is ambitious and does not serve us well in charity. Self has to be put in chains and eradicated from our life. Jesus has called everyone to intimacy with Himself. It is a soul's highest possible achievement. Few try to reach that high. And most of those are religious in cloisters. Franciscans can reach that high, if they try hard and learn to recollect their minds. Prepare your soul to become the habitat of the Presence of God. Keep Jesus Company all the time.
Pax et Bonum!
January 16, 2004 (rev. April 2024)
(1) Quotations not contributed to other sources are from "Vigil" by a Sister of Notre Dame de Namur. P.J. Kenedy and Sons. New York. 1929. Note that only a few copies of this most inspiring text are still in existence, primarily in monastic libraries. While reading and studying this book while with the Monks of Adoration, I made 26 pages of notes, which have been useful here.
Prayer of Silent Love
A Reflection by Fred Schaeffer, OFS
In the Catechism of the Catholic Church (see Vatican website), we find a short summary in paragraph 2724: "Contemplative prayer is the simple expression of the mystery of prayer. It is a gaze of faith fixed on Jesus, an attentiveness to the Word of God, a silent love. It achieves real union with the prayer of Christ to the extent that it makes us share in his mystery."
Those who frequently read my writings on prayer, will recognize that I'm pursuing "Contemplation" more frequently for the last ten years. Yet contemplation is always a Gift of God. The only way we (people) can prepare ourselves to be open to contemplation is to make a change in our spiritual life - that is, curtail sin (wipe it out of your lives if you can!), attend the Sacraments frequently, and definitely when required. Build a level of enthusiasm in your prayer life. Let us remember that we are in the presence of the Lord who is our dearest friend.
Scriptures tell us that our relationship with God should be as that of a child. In other words, a relationship devoid of an 'agenda'. Children in their relationship to parents (primarily) or very close relatives, are open and trusting, and that is what our Lord wishes all of us to be with Him.
Many adults cannot relate to such simple and beautiful relationships because they have never experienced that in their young lives. First of all, there are probably thousands of people whose childhood was less than stellar. Many were victims of abuse, and if you were, that stigma stays in the back of your mind. Sometimes for life. Those who somehow have to relearn to have trust can do so with God's help, and ONLY with His help.
God is not like other people. He does not abuse for He can only do GOOD things. So if you are not ready for a contemplative relationship because of some long-suffering impediment, keep praying, and trust me when I say He does answer prayers. Not always right away, but He will help you particularly when you have Faith and you keep asking for peace in your soul. There will come a time when distractions possibly caused by previous onerous situations in one's life, will lessen. These distractions can even disappear altogether but you really should build up a daily prayer life. A spiritual bond, a time of silent love which is spent in thought (perhaps at Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament), frequently recurring (e.g. daily or once a week for a set period of time), and God will search you out and help you become closer to him.
As I've written before, it is not necessary for one to be a member of a monastery or convent in order to engage in contemplation if Our Lord extends this gift or grace to you. I've known very ordinary people in all walks of life whose relationship with God was very, very close. The only reason I know this is because they told me about it. And, I felt at the time, it was a privilege to listen to their story. Many just were close to Jesus but not necessarily in a contemplative relationship. This relationship is, of course, a very personal thing, so most will probably not share this information. Keeping up a close relationship isn't always that easy, in fact, most of the time it is not. People are heavily attacked through temptations which tend to break down this silent love between us and the Creator. As Pope Francis frequently tells us, Jesus desires us to talk to Him. Let's do that with great love.
May the Lord shower you with His Blessings!
Peace and Good!
Fred Schaeffer, OFS 4/15/24
His love for us
A Reflection by Fred Schaeffer, OFS
Mankind's greatest tragedy is that many of us are unhappy and it is totally unnecessary. In our own pain we have the tendency to lash out and hurt people we hold dear. When many of us hurt, the whole world needs to pay attention, but in truth that will never happen, so we are alone in our hurt and we are miserable. Then someone says a good word, and the mood passes, and we say ... it wasn't so bad after all. But what about the people we have hurt in the meantime? Have we made peace with them?
Heaven, the place of ecstatic happiness, is so desirable, that we forget the struggle of Jesus Christ whose crucifixion brought us a step closer to that beautiful goal. So what is a little suffering on our part? If there never was any suffering on this earth, what would be have to look forward to, in heaven? There are many good things that can come from suffering, particularly when we bear our troubles patiently and with humility. Tremendous Grace is the result of patient endurance of pain and frustration, and this Grace can be used in an intention for someone else’ suffering. For example, each time we pray for another person, we give them a little from ourselves. How beautiful if our suffering, born in patience and love, could be the grace needed by other people who suffer too. That is what Jesus means, to give your life for your neighbor. We can't give our life yet, because we are still alive, so we do the next best thing - we offer our earthly suffering for that other person's need.
People can be real irritable when they are sick, but as caregivers (if we function in this role) we will have to learn to cope with that. Do your job joyfully and offer all these little inconveniences for the person who may be the cause, or for the souls in purgatory. That they may be able to enter Heaven very soon.
Bottled up anger can harm us physically and mentally, but Jesus tells us not to get angry. Some people let out their anger on the road (e.g. road rage) which is not advisable in any case. Turn that anger around and instead, pray for the person who may have caused your frustration. There are all sorts of ways to cope with anger, getting angrier and more frustrated is dangerous and unnecessary.
For me, less is better. Live a simple life. Love God, and through His Love, love everyone else. That is, treat them right. And treat them evenly - do not favor one person over the other. Treat people in a mature way, be humble or meek, but do not be a doormat either. In my younger years, working in downtown New York City, for a brokerage firm, and being just about the youngest or most recent employee they had, it was always, "Fred, do this, or that, or get coffee for everyone." Well, I was good-natured and somewhat shy, so I did. There came a point however, that I felt, enough is enough. I felt I had ‘paid my dues’, so to speak. And I was no longer available for coffee runs. I was with that company for 10 years and I breathed a sign of relief when one day, after a particularly contentious morning, I said to myself - I don't have to work here. And I quit. About an hour or two later I had found another job! But that doesn't happen today anymore. One cannot take chances in quitting first and seeking a position afterwards. Nowadays, if one wishes to depart, it is necessary to quietly seek a new position before quitting the old one. Not an easy task, but if you're good at what you do, it can be done.
In those days in the mid-(19)sixties, I worked in a so-called "wire room" - as a teletype operator, basically very nerve-racking work, sending buy and sell orders to the floor of stock exchanges and other messages. Nerve-racking, because the tiniest mistakes could mean a lot of money lost. So you were always under pressure. Working in such an atmosphere could cause some major temper tantrums... and we did everything possible to avoid those volcanic eruptions. Those were also the days that I wasn't particularly going to church, which seemed to go hand-in-hand with the locale. Now I think differently about those things, and even if I were young, I would studiously avoid working in the Wall Street sector of employment. Isn't it easier when you're older to look back in hindsight and realize how much better it could have been, if you weren't so headstrong?
But I am, as usual, getting off the subject. Nothing that God has made is evil. God is never the cause of evil. We are. OK, maybe Adam and Eve were, since their sin, Original Sin, caused all this misery in the first place. But we have to live with it, no matter what we do. Likewise, the Lord permits things to happen, perhaps a Hurricane that robs people of their lives and property, or at least, He does not stop the Hurricane. If he were to stop that Hurricane for me, someone else He loves would get hurt. That isn't right either. Let us instead look for the good, so that under God ours may be a happy life. And if that life gets sadly interrupted, we pick up the pieces and we begin again. If St. Francis of Assisi taught us anything at all, it is in starting again for, as he said so often, "until now we have done nothing."
Our Lord loves us deeply, each one of us... now we should be Christ to one another! Meanwhile, please stay well, and trust in the Lord always.
My Lord and My All.
Fred Schaeffer, OFS
2008 Rev. 4/17/24 [source: Godslov3.htm]
Can we hear Jesus when He speaks to us?
A Reflection by Fred Schaeffer, OFS
I enjoy spending some time in total silence. For example, when I write these Spiritual Reflections on life, there has to be total silence, so that I can hear the Holy Spirit direct me. Now, people ask if I really hear the Holy Spirit... well, the answer is yes and no. Do I hear the Lord speaking to me, as when you and I are having a conversation. No. But the Lord does guide me, as these essays will bear out. He directs me to write the right thing, at the right moment, about a subject that other people can learn from, and, which leads back to the Father. It is only in total silence that we can hear Jesus!
One problem with silence is, we live in a busy and a very noisy world, and silence is a scarce commodity. I live in an area which is remarkably quiet, considering that my place is located very near a busy road. Many of these road noises are shielded out by buildings that lie in between my place and the road, and by dense vegetation. If we want to hear Jesus we have to find a quiet corner to pray. In Florida, many houses have pools. A quiet corner by the pool seems very appropriate, but in summer probably too hot and humid.
The Word of Jesus in Holy Scripture ". . .when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you." (Mt 6:6) We have to shut the world out, otherwise we cannot hear Jesus. We have to learn how to shut our internal motor down, so we can be receptive to His inspiration, His guidance and His love, even though these gifts of God only take a split second to discern. Do we hear Jesus? Yes, but often not in so many words... we hear Him when our actions are directed toward Him rather than toward materialism, self-serving actions, and other behavior not consistent with our Catholic Faith and our personal dedication to Jesus Christ.
St. Augustine, the great Doctor of the Church, lived from the year 354 to 430, and his writings are popular today, among peoples of all Faiths, but especially the Catholic Church where those writings are frequently quoted in the Office of Readings, Liturgy of the Hours, and in all sorts of prayers. I would like to end this Spiritual Essay by quoting a short meditation of St. Augustine on the "Lord's Prayer".
I cannot say OUR, if my religion has no room for others and their needs.
I cannot say FATHER, if I do not demonstrate this relationship in my daily living.
I cannot say WHO ART IN HEAVEN, if all my interests and pursuits are in earthly things.
I cannot say HALLOWED BE THY NAME, if I, who am called by His name, am not holy.
I cannot say THY KINGDOM COME, if I am unwilling to give up my own sovereignty and accept the righteous reign of God.
I cannot say THY WILL BE DONE, if I am unwilling or resentful of having it in my life.
I cannot say ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN, unless I am truly ready to give myself to His service here and now.
I cannot say GIVE US THIS DAY OUR DAILY BREAD, without expending honest effort for it or by ignoring the genuine needs of others.
I cannot say FORGIVE US OUR TRESPASSES AS WE FORGIVE THOSE WHO TRESPASS AGAINST US, if I continue to harbor a grudge
against anyone.
I cannot say LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION, if I deliberately choose to remain in a situation where I am likely to be tempted.
I cannot say DELIVER US FROM EVIL, if I am not prepared to fight in the spiritual realm with the weapons of word and prayer.
I cannot say THINE IS THE KINGDOM, if I do not give the King the disciplined obedience of a loyal subject.
I cannot say THINE IS THE POWER, if I fear what my neighbors and friends may say or do.
I cannot say THINE IS THE GLORY, if I am seeking my own glory first.
I cannot say FOREVER, if I am too anxious about each day's affairs.
I cannot say AMEN, unless I honestly say, " Cost what it may, this is my prayer."
Using this short but powerful meditation, praise Jesus for His teachings, His love and His Kingship. Thank Him for all He has done for you. In the quiet of your prayer corner, away from all household noises, open your heart to God, to the Holy Spirit, and listen to the Voice of God as He speaks to you in so many wonderful ways.
Fred S. Schaeffer, OFS
(Feb. 2006, Canticle; re-edited 2014, shortened 4/19/2024 Source: Bc722)
"Come, have Breakfast."
A Reflection by Fred Schaeffer, OFS
In Holy Scriptures, John 21:1-19, the storyline unfolds after Jesus revealed himself again to his disciples at the Sea of Tiberias. There was Simon Peter, Thomas (Didymus), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, Zebedee's sons, and two other disciples. Simon Peter said to them, "I am going fishing." They said to him, "We also will come with you." So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. When it was already dawn, Jesus was standing on the shore; but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.
Jesus said to them, "Children, have you caught anything to eat?" They answered him, "No." So he said to them, "Cast the net over the right side of the boat and you will find something." So they cast it, and were not able to pull it in because of the number of fish.
Jesus could have berated Simon Peter that Peter fell asleep three times in the Garden of Gethsemane and then denounced Him three times, but Jesus, who is love and kindness did not go into this. Instead, Jesus said, "Bring some of the fish you just caught." So Simon Peter went over and dragged the net ashore full of one hundred fifty-three large fish. Even though there were so many, the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, "Come, have breakfast." And none of the disciples dared to ask him, "Who are you?" because they realized it was the Lord.
Jesus came over and took the bread and gave it to them, and in like manner the fish. This was now the third time Jesus was revealed to his disciples after being raised from the dead. When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you." He said to him, "Feed my lambs." He then said to him a second time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you." He said to him, "Tend my sheep." He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" Peter was distressed that he had said to him a third time, "Do you love me?" and he said to him, "Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you." (Jesus) said to him, "Feed my sheep. Amen, amen, I say to you, when you were younger, you used to dress yourself and go where you wanted; but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go." He said this signifying by what kind of death he would glorify God. And when he had said this, he said to him, "Follow me." (NAB)
How would you feel tomorrow morning if Jesus was present at your bedside to ask you to come and have some breakfast? And what would we say to Jesus if He asked us if we loved him more than we love the world? Chances are He would have to ask it three times of us, too, before we'd give a clear and concise answer without any ambiguity and excuses.
Do you love Jesus?
St. Bonaventure said that if we love Him, we do not sin. And, if we still sin, we do not love Jesus enough! I don't remember where that occurs in Bonaventure's writing, but a friend told me, and it made perfectly good sense at the time. It is something St. Bonaventure would have said. Do we really love Jesus, or do we have blind Faith without the action to go with it? Are we being truthful or are we just paying Jesus lip service? Don't ever lie to Jesus- He sees right through untruths. Such a lie was a painful moment when He was nailed to the Cross. We're great at making excuses, aren't we? And I count myself right in that group of people.
I love certain stories told be Fr. Benedict Groeschel, C.F.R., (1933-2014). He was a great story-teller and this comes through in some of his lectures. Fr. Benedict tells of his visit to the doctor for "his personal apocalypse." He tells that doctors love to generalize. He waits for his doctor to tell him how a test went, and the doctor states: "Yes, the test was positive" (Father wonders "positive" means "negative?"). Doctor continues: "With any luck you should be in the post-terminal stage .... Father responds.... 'post ... post.... post? - that's generalizations. And Father reminds his listeners that Pontius Pilate told Jesus that "it is expedient to put a man to death." That too is a generalization. I think we all get the point. The reason I mention all this is that we're talking about displeasing Jesus - and all of us generalize in our responses to Him.
DO WE LOVE JESUS?
- Not, if we do not trust him.
- Not, if we seek compassion in something else (food?)
- Not, if we continue to sin without giving it any particular thought.
People will tell you that if you are not aware that you are being sinful, then you aren't committing a sin, because sin takes an intention to do bad. We have to realize that we're wrong and do it anyway? Yes, that's correct. But I'll bet that half the time we know we're wrong and we quietly think God understands... he just has to. But then we're trying to put him in a box... and Jesus cannot be contained in anything, anywhere - He is the Son of God! He is God in the Second Person of the Trinity! God is everywhere and is everything to us, and how dare we contradict His perfect love for us? No, we dare not.
I have been a monk for a short period of four years and three months. I led a cloistered contemplative life. I would still be doing that except that God had other plans. I experienced a stroke in 2002, and a wise Superior took that as a sign that perhaps I would be better of living by myself. My leaving was a mutual decision. In other words, I don't blame him (nor God).
Through His death on the Cross, Jesus has made it feasible for us to be with Him for all eternity. That's a significant gift, my friends. Please, don't let Him down.
May God's blessings be with you all day long.
Fred Schaeffer, OFS
April 2007 rev 4/28/2024