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Often when children want to be heard they will simply continue to raise their voices until someone takes notice. As we grow older we still want to have our voices heard, but we know that yelling is usually ineffective. There are other ways, though, and we also can speak through our actions.
The Blessed Virgin has many, many titles—among them is Our Lady of Mount Carmel. Mount Carmel is in northern Israel and has long been the site of a monastery of religious monks.
Jesus will be an agent of the Spirit of God–meek and gentle in the face of hostility. He is concerned with kindness more than with victory. He will extend the loving justice of God even to the Gentiles.
At a young age Josephine Bakhita was kidnapped from her Sudanese home, tortured, and forced into slavery. But on her deathbed she exhibited mercy and forgiveness to those who harmed her.
Saint Bonaventure was in many ways the second founder of the Franciscan Order. He served as the Minister General of the Franciscans and as the Cardinal Bishop of Albano. Through his teaching, writing, and mysticism, Bonaventure captured the spirit of Saint Francis and renewed the order accordingly.
Further opposition to Jesus by the Pharisees. The disciples are picking grain on the Sabbath. Therefore Jesus’ disciples are not observing the law, and Jesus seems to be approving their non-compliance. It’s easy to judge others, but when we do we may find Jesus judging us in return.
There are people in our midst and around the world who for the most part, go unseen. As a society and as individuals, we’re almost programmed to be blind to these human beings–many of whom live on the margins. May we lift up these “others” in our world through prayer.
Bullying is rampant. It’s everywhere. It can be deadly. And it needs to stop.
Known as the Lily of the Mohawks, Saint Kateri Tekakwitha courageously converted to Catholicism at age 19 despite her family’s disapproval. She was ostracized and forced into extreme poverty. Escaping to Montreal, Kateri continued to live a life of prayer and penance.
Jesus is the answer to all our troubles and burdens. He lightens them either by increasing our strength, or by clarifying our perceptions, or simply by taking this or that burden off our shoulders.
