Next Gathering

Sunday, Sep. 10, 2023
at 2:00-4:30 PM

*2nd Sunday*

Accepting God's Love
A Reflection by Fred Schaeffer, OFS
 
Michelangelo's "Creation" shows the hand of God reaching out to the hand of man; a picture that reminds me of a very personal touch between God and man. Picture in your mind, if you will, a 2-year old sitting on your knee, perhaps, and with an innocent smile reach for your chin, or your nose with a fingertip. You see this gesture all the time in baby pictures. Now that you've got the picture, continue meditating that Jesus Christ is sitting next to you, and He's reaching out to you, offering to you His hand... so that you may shake His hand.

We not only shake His hand, but He hugs us in a tight embrace each and every time we receive Him in Holy Communion! When we receive Him we are accepting God's Love. God loves us no matter what we do, right or wrong. When we accept Him by receiving Him in our heart and soul, we show Him a little of our love. But in order for our love to be real we have to make an honest effort, every day, to get better at welcoming Him in our midst. ..."Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." (Mt. 4:17).

There are, unfortunately, millions of people for whom it seems too late. They are entrenched in evil and darkness. They make no effort to even acknowledge there is a God, let alone obey the Ten Commandments. While man uses every effort to hide the Ten Commandments away from the public view, the wayward are not reminded, periodically, that they have an obligation to live in obedience to laws of the country, and ultimately, to the laws of God. I listened to the radio to a report of the far-reaching perversion of man's mind into such areas as narcotics and pornography and it is difficult to even find the end of the tunnel... these vices are too widespread already. So people live in sin, completely oblivious to the rest of society, and their numbers are increasing rapidly. Yet, even for those, God's hand is reaching out. Do they still know how to accept God's love?     Continued from first page

As Catholics, we have a very special command to reach out to everyone, regardless of age, sex, quality of life, skin color, or whatever. We love everyone because they are the creation and product of God's love. We hope that all are treated as we wish to be treated ourselves, and that they feel the presence of the Lord rather than that of the evil existence they may be leading. Secular Franciscans, see Rule 13.

Having said this, are we really reaching out? When was it that you last comforted a poor sinner or a homeless man or woman? You can't do that by sitting at home. While you sit in your nice house, remember that there are those who have no place to stay. Many live on the streets. So go out and reach out and touch someone. I reached out by participating in prison ministry. I used to do this for many years. There were 4 men and 4 women in our little group, and we went to the county jail to touch base with people whose names and locations were on a list given us by the prison chaplain. Most of the time we had never met them before. They are eager to speak, to be listened to. That's because they are often forgotten, by family, by friends, but they have not forgotten God. They struggle with each day to become His friend again. They have a long road ahead of them. Most of the time, they have no one to rely on. Their family life, has come to an end when they enter prison. Once convicted, they lose what little they had. They become nameless, faceless and often friend-less. Then they begin to realize that the only friend they have is God, and for some, who follow Him, Jesus Christ.

When have you last reached out to anyone? As a former Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion (what we used to call "Eucharistic Minister" before the Vatican changed the name), many of us went out to bring Jesus to the homebound, the hospitals, and to nursing homes. When visiting the sick, you don't just run in and out, subject to permission from hospitals or nursing homes. You are visiting people who are very lonely and who, often, find no one to talk to. People who are sick don't always reach out to other sick people, and that seems especially true with men who somehow do not make an effort to draw out of their shell. To them, you are a trusted friend, who, rain or shine, comes with Jesus, to make the Sacred Species available to them. So you spend extra time, talking about whatever they want to discuss, and in this way you are, as they are, accepting God's love. In your parish church talk to priests/deacons about these ministries and how you can help.

Peace and all Good!

Fred Schaeffer, OFS 
2019, rev. 8/24/2023

 Inner Strength
by Fred Schaeffer, OFS

"Prudence is defined as the virtue which disposes us to form right judgments as to what we must do or must not do under all circumstances." Some people have it, and use it. Others acquire it. Still others do not have it, but they desire it. Prudence is an important virtue. Prudence came as a grace with Baptism. This "supernatural" prudence makes us do the right thing, make the right judgments on the basis of what is pleasing to the God whom we love.

Prudence is an important virtue. If we do not have it, we leave ourselves wide open to distraction that seeks to get us away from God. People who are prudent ask themselves, in any situation, what would God have me do. Of course we need to be scrupulously honest in answering this challenge within ourselves.

We will not have inner strength nor real peace of mind unless we have respect for ourselves, especially when we are a person who makes compromises with prudence. If we are married, we know it is foolish to visit the ex-girlfriend at night and alone. It is not wise to laugh at an obscene joke or to join in with other people who are mocking Jesus Christ. Yet we do. And, just because everyone else deems something to be OK, we must make up our own minds without compromising good prudence.

We are imprudent if we do not respect or show equal dignity to everyone we meet, regardless of color or position in life. Be humble, do not imagine you are someone whom you are not.

I am strong when I am prudent, humble, patient and serene. I am not prudent when I am sloppy in these principles. Don't get discouraged at first. Believe strongly in the Lord, and do what you promise. Don't live life half-way. Be a person of principle, inner strength and personal worth.

Allow the Lord to inspire your Inner Strength and to keep you strong! Keep out of trouble.

Fred Schaeffer, OFS 
2020, republished 8/24/2023

Based on Chapter IV of "More than Many Sparrows". 1958 Leo J. Trese. © Fides Publishers Association, Chicago IL

 September Saints

 01 Blessed Beatrice da Silva 1425-1490 

 02 Blessed John Francis Burte, Apollinaris Morel, and Severin Girault 

 04 St. Rose of Viterbo 1234-1252   

 15 Catherine of Genoa (d.1510) 

 17 Feast of the Stigmata of our holy father Francis 

 18 St. Joseph of Cupertino 1603-1663 

 20 St Francis Mary of Camporosso 

 23 Padre Pio da Pietrelcina 1887-1968 

 23 Finding the Body of St. Clare 

 26 Blessed Delphina of Glandeves 

 27 Elzéar of Sabran (d.1323) 

 30 Blessed Charles of Blois (d.1364)