BETTER THAN SILVER and GOLD!

BETTER THAN SILVER AND GOLD!
(a reflection on Acts 3:1-10, by Deacon Paul Rooney)

This weekend we celebrate the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles. At our Vigil Mass, the First Reading [Acts 3:1-10] brings us the delightfully wonderful scene of the healing of the crippled man by the Temple gate. We see several Christian themes strongly in evidence. These include almsgiving, prayer, praise, and the ministry of healing. But the most joyfully stunning picture of all is the image we are given of a no-longer-crippled man "walking and leaping and praising God" after ministry by Peter and John.

It is clear that our evangelist St. Luke, saw almsgiving is an important act of justice – he knew that as Christians, it is something we are all obliged to do all the time. It is not just an option to consider when we "feel" like it. In fact, our Church calls almsgiving and similar works of mercy or charity the extension of the
Church's preferential love for those who are "poor" in any of its multiple forms [CCC #2447-2448].

 On this occasion it is the crippled man who initiates contact with Peter and John by begging for alms, and that simple gesture began the process that changed his life forever. Just as the mission of Jesus himself had been confirmed by miracles and signs, so the mission of the apostles is confirmed by this first miracle in the Book of Acts, and there will be others that follow. St. Luke is emphasizing the disciples’ imitation of Jesus, showing that God’s plan for the salvation of all people extends beyond the earthly life and ministry of Jesus himself, through the church.

It is very important to note that it is only through the power of the name of Jesus that the crippled man is healed. The Church is not merely the successor of Jesus; it exists under the power of his name. Jesus lives; He is Risen - - that is our "forever" Easter message! And because HE lives, the Church lives, subject to Him. The prophet Joel (2:19) had predicted there would be signs upon the earth in the last days; the healing of the cripple is understood to be one of those signs. “The name of Jesus” signifies the presence of Jesus, and also his saving power during the time of his absence.

That gives us all great Hope! Healing and Deliverance from the influence of evil forces is not restricted to the time when Jesus walked the earth. It continues today! There are a LOT of "spiritually lame" people "sitting at the gate" waiting for the Peter's and John's and Harriet's of today to help them – through both alms AND healing prayer! In many respects, you and I are spiritually lame in certain areas, and need deliverance. Never underestimate the power of prayer spoken under the authority of and "in the name of Jesus"!

 My wife Patricia and I experienced this grace of "the name," as ministers on prayer teams at the "Unbound Conference" that was held at St. Bernard Church in Omaha on June 13-14. We witnessed this power and authority of "the name of Jesus." Many people (more than there was time for at the Conference) asked for private deliverance prayer, and they were all set free from many different issues that had been oppressing them and holding them in bondage. The mission of Jesus, proclaiming liberty to captives and letting the oppressed go free (Luke 4:18), is being continued by his disciples to this very day!

I would encourage each one of you to acquire the book "Unbound," authored by Neal Lozano, and read the
first nine chapters about the "five keys" to freedom. You can also google Lozano's website for more information. As Rev. Michael Scanlan [past president of Franciscan University of Steubenville] says, "This is the most helpful book I know for dealing with evil spirits and related impairments in people's lives." Silver and gold we have none...but we believe in the power and delegated authority of Jesus to all of His disciples, and we act upon that belief!
Blessings, Deacon Paul Rooney
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Credits: Beggar Healed: http://www.freebibleimages.org/illustrations/lame-beggar-healed/
Lame Man Healed: http://kelund.wordpress.com/2012/11/28/the-beggar-that-jesus-passed-by/
Unbound the Book: http://www.heartofthefather.com/product-category/books/

BEWARE of SPIRITUAL LEPROSY!

BEWARE of SPIRITUAL LEPROSY!

(a reflection on Luke 17:11-19)

by: Deacon Paul Rooney

 

There is a well-known yarn, one which may or may not be true, that you can find in the writings of a nephew of Mark Twain, writings about the famous author and Nobel Prize winner, Rudyard Kipling.  You remember the things Kipling wrote like "Gunga Din" and "The Jungle Book," both of which were made into movies.  Kipling sold one of his books for a price that netted him one shilling for every word, which might be about 40¢ a word today.  So sure enough, one wise guy mailed him a shilling, asking him for "one word."  Rudyard Kipling responded with one word: "Thanks."⁽¹⁾  Well, in today's gospel (Luke 17:11-19) Jesus gave ten lepers something far more significant than a shilling: he restored them to physical wholeness.  Yet only one man responded with that precious word, "Thanks."

Two things make this episode unusual.  First, only one of the ten men returned to give thanks to Jesus for the healing.  Since Jesus made a pointed comment

about this, it highlights the direct connection between gratitude and faith.  One precious gift, faith, should lead everyone to the proper response, gratitude.  An obvious message is that every Christian should be so grateful for the gift of faith-that-leads-to-salvation that they will praise God daily for so wondrous a gift.  We believe in God's promise of salvation, and we recognize that he died to save us.  When we stumble and fall through personal sin, the Sacrament of Reconciliation once again restores us to spiritual wholeness.  Grace upon grace, gift upon gift!  Praise and thanksgiving for God's tender mercies should well up in us throughout the day, every day!

The second unusual detail in this gospel segment is that it was not the nine Jewish men, but only the Samaritan who demonstrated his gratefulness for being made whole.  He returned, throwing himself at the feet of Jesus in thankfulness.  Jesus had every right to be sad, seeing that only one person saw fit to return and thank him for the healing, especially since the other nine men were fellow Judeans.  Jesus did not "need" their thanks; he had experienced rejection before.  But he knew that the insensitivity of the nine men gave a glimpse into the condition of their heart and mind.  They may have been cured of leprosy of the body, but they now had spiritual leprosy of the mind, a condition of ingratitude and ungratefulness.

One can discern lessons for us today in this scripture passage.  For one thing,

the Christian should not expect to be rewarded with praise and thanks for doing what he or she is sent to do.  After all, the Master was rejected and forgotten; so that will be His disciples' destiny as well.  But just as importantly, we need to do a self-examination of our own attitude of gratitude towards God.  Hopefully we all pray in gratitude at mealtime.  But what about the rest of the day?  Are we aware of the priceless gifts that have been showered upon us?  Faith, Hope, Love, the awesome Incarnation, the sacrificial death of Jesus for my salvation, my very life and breath, my family, and many, many more...am I taking these for granted?  If not, what is my proof?

There is a reason that our Daily Examen begins with a prayer of gratitude and thanksgiving!  It is to help us avoid contracting spiritual leprosy of the mind, an insidious disease for the lax Christian.  We need to be reminded of Who the Giver of all gifts is; that all is grace; and that a response is demanded from us.  The bible mentions the word thanksgiving (in it's many variations) about 140 times, which helps us to remember our obligation.  I pray that thanksgiving already is, or will soon become, a habit on your daily journey with God.

Deacon Paul Rooney

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Notes:

⁽¹⁾"A Ken of Kipling" by William Clemens; http://archive.org/stream/kenofkiplingbein00clemuoft#page/104/mode/2up/search/shilling
Photo Credits:
Kipling: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rudyard_Kipling
Nativity: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nativity_of_Jesus
Praying Hands: http://www.watton.org/clipart/prayer/prayer.shtml

 

HARDENING of the HEARTERIES

HARDENING of the HEARTERIES

a reflection on Luke 16:19-31 (gospel, 9-29-2013)
       - by Deacon Paul Rooney

Lazarus and the rich man has always been a sad gospel story for me (Luke 16:19-31).  My heart cries out for those who walk a path that leads away from eternal life, rather than toward eternity with God.  Some hearts are very hardened, especially on the dignity of life issues; other hearts just seem to pick and choose from Holy Scripture whatever fits their chosen lifestyle, and ignore the rest of the revealed truth that points to their sinfulness.  Still others look the other way rather than meet the eyes of the beggar holding a sign on the corner.  Under these circumstances, all we can do as Christians is try to set a good example by clinging to and living the truth revealed by Jesus our Savior, and intercede for those who suffer (without knowing it) from hardening of the hearteries.

 

The focus of this gospel story is on the ease with which riches can harden one's heart, if we are not aware of and avoid that consequence.  Jesus spoke elsewhere of the camel unable to go through the eye of the needle, because he knew from simple observation the way some hearts lust after money and the vices that follow its pursuit.  The rich man must have been aware of poor Lazarus sitting outside his gate, since he passed Lazarus every day when he entered or left his estate.  Also, he recognized him in the after-life and even called him by name.  What hurts the most about this gospel story is the gross indifference of someone who is able to help.  Such indifference leads immediately to a deadly blindness about the harm they are causing others not through acts of commission, but through acts of omission.

It is a good time and opportunity to check upon our own compassion.  The poor are all around us, and Jesus tells us that they will always be with us.  So how is that observable fact affecting your choices?  The drama of hunger in the world calls Christians to exercise responsibility toward their brethren, both in their personal behavior and in their solidarity with the human family (Catechism #2831).

Let me share a true personal story with you.  My granddaughter went to the Social Services office a couple of weeks ago to see if she could get some assistance for their newborn daughter.  While they were there, a homeless man in the waiting room recognized her.  Apparently, not too long ago, he was holding a sign on a corner of a busy street which said "homeless - please help."  My granddaughter thought to herself that she would begin to pray for him.  Then she thought, prayer won't fill his tummy right now!  So she went home, made him several peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, added a couple of Snickers bars and a bottle of water; drove back to where he was, and gave the lunch to him.  At that time, he was really touched by my granddaughter's kind gesture, and he told her so.

Fast forward to yesterday.  He recognized her in the waiting room.  He stopped her and told her that he thought it was really special what she did when she brought him sandwiches; but now, to see that she was in need herself, well, it made her gesture all the more meaningful, he said.

My granddaughter had met her Lazarus, and had responded to the gospel's ethical demand to love one's neighbor.  "By their fruits you shall know them."  Who is your Lazarus?

 

- Deacon Paul Rooney

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Photo credits:

Lazarus at the gate: http://www.rapturechrist.com/laz.htm;

Peanut Butter-Jelly: http://www.bbb.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/1.png;

Hardened heart: http://www.barbdahlgren.com/wp-content/uploads/Hardened-Heart.png