• Fr. Jeffrey R. Keyes
    • Psalms
    • Catechism Quizes
    • The Roman Catholic Priesthood
  • Blog
  • CV
  • St. Gaspar Del Bufalo
Omnia Christus est Nobis

Forty days at the foot of the Cross: Day 27

3/12/2016

1 Comment

 
The Gospel
John 7: 40‑53
 
                                           The plot against Jesus Continues.
 
St. Gaspar
          "My enemies assail me, but you battle with me, or better said you ward off their darts; all I have to do is to hide myself in the great tower of defense which is your most sweet heart, and therein, to allow myself to be governed and directed by you; "Domine vim patior, responde pro me." [1]What, then, can I fear when I find myself helped by a Father who is total love, total piety, by a Lord who is totally intent on what is best for me and before whom all creatures tremble.?" [2]
 
Reflection
This seems to be an angry Gospel.  We can take it one way and learn a perfect way to defend ourselves against growth and learning.  Or we can follow Jesus and learn how to be faithful in the face of verbal assaults and judgments.  The Pharisees here are very angry and judgmental. Rather than learning anything from what Jesus says, they characterize him and his people as cursed and backwards, incapable of having any knowledge of the law.  The Pharisees know the law, yet they manipulate it for their own purpose.
 
We can challenge ourselves in two ways with this gospel.  First we could ask ourselves if there is anyone in our life that we dismiss with a similar characterization or judgment.  This can often be the way we give ourselves permission not to listen.  Then we can ask ourselves how peacefully we carry the crosses the Lord has given us. St. Gaspar wrote the above passage from prison as life was going from bad to worse. He had been exiled for the profession of his faith and his loyalty to the church, and yet he continually rejoices in the Lord's continual care for him.


  • Whom do I judge or dismiss?
  • How do I react when listening to something new and different?
  • When do I speak up for Jesus?
 
[1] Isaiah 38:14, (Douay) " Lord, I suffer violence, answer thou for me.
[2] from Letter No. 62 to Countess Lucrezia Ginnasi, April 29, 1813, Resources 4, pg. 19
1 Comment
Tes
3/12/2016 11:41:00 am



(Today's 1st R, 1st R, Jer 11:18-19)
I knew their plot because the LORD informed me;
at that time you, O LORD, showed me their doings.

Yet I, like a trusting lamb led to slaughter,
had not realized that they were hatching plots against me:
“Let us destroy the tree in its vigor...

(Ps 7:9bc-10)
Do me justice, O LORD, because I am just,
and because of the innocence that is mine.
Let the malice of the wicked come to an end,
but sustain the just,
O searcher of heart and soul, O just God.

(And, from St Gaspar)
"What, then, can I fear when I find myself helped by a Father who is total love, total piety, by a Lord who is totally intent on what is best for me and before whom all creatures tremble.?"

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Omnia Christus Est Nobis

    Christ is everything for us!

    Picture

    Archives

    July 2022
    November 2021
    October 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    July 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012

    Categories

    All
    Daily Homily
    Holy Matrimony
    Priesthood
    St. Gaspar
    The Liturgy
    Travel

    RSS Feed

    Incoming Missal
    Explanation Coat of Arms
    Dinner with Fr. Keyes 2015
    The Women Speak
    An American Priest in Ireland
    Bringing the "Catholic" back.
    Burying the Alleluia
    Sacristy Art I
    ​
    Sacristy Art II
    ​
    Sacristy Art III
    Sacristy Art IV
    Sacristy Art V
    Sacristy Art VI

    Years in Review
    2015
    2016
    2017
    2018
    2019
    ​
    Decade in review
    ​2020

    Author

    I am a Roman Catholic Priest from California. I spent 13 wonderful years years as a member of the Province of the Pacific in the Missionaries of the Precious Blood. The outline of my life can be traced here. 

    Friend's Blogs

    Melissa and Andrew Steele
    ​
    Fr. John Hogan OCD
    Joan from Rome​
    Fr. Joseph Illo