“PEACE  BE  STILL”

When one goes to ‘The Holy Land’, a visit to the ‘The Lake of Galilee’ is a must. Sometimes it is called ‘The Sea of Galilee’ or ‘The Lake of Genesareth’. One sees an expanse of beautiful blue water with hills in the distance, beyond, the Golan Heights. The last time I visited Israel I enjoyed a trip on what is called, St.Peter’s Boat (mind you, a tourist attraction), but the light breeze, beautiful blue skies and greenish-blue waters of the Lake changing to dark blue, make the trip unforgettable… more important, recalling the fact that Christ crossed that Lake.

Yet a thought came to my mind, which spoiled the whole trip: what if the calm sea all of a sudden turns into a storm. The Lake is notorious for its storms, and they come with terrifying suddenness. These are caused by streams of air blowing from the many ravines on the east, they meet winds blowing from Mt.Hermion. The result is the one similar to that experienced by the Apostles, whilst Jesus was with them, fast asleep.

But Peter and his friends were experienced fishermen, and could certainly read in the currents and winds what lay ahead. Yet there was no indication of a storm on that occasion. Notwithstanding, it did happen. So there must have been a reason. Here we recall the words of Hannah, the mother of Samuel, “The Lord kills and makes alive, He brings down to the nether world and brings back.” This means that the great storm arose when, and because, the Lord was present.

We all know that those who live a godly life in Jesus Christ will suffer persecution. Is not this included in one of the Beatitudes? How often the Apostles must have crossed the Lake and they knew its secret, they must have done their homework before venturing to go along. But, this time, they were believing in Christ, they were following the Divine Call … so they were expected to run into all kinds of afflictions.

Quoting a verse from Wisdom: “Son, when you enter the service of God, prepare your soul for trials.” Those who work in the Apostolate can vouch the truth of this Wisdom. The Lord sometimes ‘permits’ all kinds of trials for those He loves. He holds them to their duty and to keep it from appearing that they serve Him for the sake of temporal happiness. According to Satan, it was for the sake of such happiness that patient Job served God.

We must ALL cross our Lake of Galilee in our life, and in our boat there is Christ present. “What, one might ask, ‘if Christ goes to sleep?’ “It is good to remember in the words spoken by the Master: “Without Me you can do nothing.” The time, when He goes to sleep, is the time when He allows us to act as we wish, in order that when we realise that we are getting nowhere, we may immediately turn back to Him. And in Matthew’s words we tell Him: “Lord, save us lest we perish.”

HE, then addresses the ‘sea and the winds’ with words of command: “Peace, be still.”

   

 

“IN HIS OWN GOOD TIME” ... FOR HE IS LORD

What farmer in his right senses would waste seeds by sowing on the rocks, spreading seeds amongst the thorns or throwing them by the wayside ... maybe  to feed the birds? He would be an irresponsible person, to say the least. Yet, we find these words recorded by Saint Mark in the Gospel, words spoken by Jesus Christ.  So, there MUST be a reason.

There are two sides in every coin. Let’s take the first side or face and ask a simple question. Whom does the ‘sower’ represent? Most Bible Commentators say that the ‘sower’ represents Christ. Let us accept this suggestion. So that means that the seed, which represents  ‘The Word of God’, is not only sown on good soil but sometimes even amongst the thorns, along the wayside or on the rocks. In other words, in places and conditions not normally fit for the seed to grow.

But these words were spoken by Jesus. So what He must have had in mind is that  ‘The Word of God’, can, and should be sown, spread, in every imagineable place, not only in churches or in prayer groups, within the precincts of the church. The seed should not be limited to good soil only. I believe that the thorns, the rocks, the wayside mentioned, is a clear reference to the streets, to lazy corners, in bars, in favelas and restaurants and ... on every social ocassion.

That is just what Father John Bosco (now Saint) did with the abandoned children in the streets of Turin. So did Padre Orione (now Blessed) in the lazy corners of Naples, and Fra Antonio (now St.Anthony) with unbelievers, atheists and userers in Padova. He sowed the seeds amongst the thorns, and fruit did come out. For more examples one can consult any book on the ‘Lives of Saints’ and Missionaries’ work, the world over. It was not an easy task for Francis of Assisi sowing ‘seeds’ amongst the Moslem heathens.

St.Paul was convinced that he, himself, was only the ‘sower’ just like Francis of Assisi, Anthony of Padova, Don Orione and so many others, but once the seed was sown, the rest was in the hands of the Lord. It is a fact that some ‘seeds’ were eaten by the birds, others were dried up by the sun for lack of soil to take root, and some were choked among the thorns. BUT, other accepted the grace and increased, and gave abundant fruit.

And this is the other side of the coin. Any Christian can be the sower? Yes, every priest, every teacher or preacher of the ‘Word of God’ is a sower of the truth. We have to be bold enough to sow the seed in every possible way; by setting a good example, by being a true witness to Jesus, in our actions, the way we speak, by making the sign of the Cross when in the public.

We have to be bold enough to use every social ocassion; whether it be amongst the thorns, on the rocks or on the wayside. If you are good ‘sower’, use every possible way and means in every imaginable situation; in clubs, in soccer grounds, on hikes, at the office, in the factory, at the market, during social meetings, parties, wine bars, restaurants, even on the beach. It does not necessarily mean speaking over a PA system with a loud speaker.

Having tried and done your very best, as a good ‘sower’ should, let God do the rest, HE is in no hurry, as it is written, “IN HIS OWN GOOD TIME.”

WHAT, ANOTHER FEAST ???

Instead of explaining certain aspects of the Blessed Eucharist, I think it best to try and recall what are the incidents, events leading to this wondrous Mystery.

The Feast of Corpus Christi knows its beginning in Belgium, in the 13th century. It was celebrated by the Benedictine Friars behind the walls of their Monastery. In 1264, Pope Urbanus extended this Solemnity throughout the Universal Church. According to some, the reason behind the Pope’s decision was influenced by the Bolsena Miracle.

Yet one might ask, why create a new feast in the Church? Is not this same occasion celebrated during Maundy Thursday? Do we not commemorate it during every Sunday Mass? Could we not say that the Feast of the Body and Blood of Jesus is re-presented and celebrated in every single Mass, every day?

All these arguments hold water, but the main aim of this Feast, in a solemn way, was not to remind the faithful of any episode in the life of Jesus; say His Birth, His Presentation, His Baptism and the rest, but to make one and all conscious about “a truth of Faith”; the Real Presence of Christ in the Blessed Eucharist. The Church felt the need to make a solemn proclamation about a “fact of faith.”

The need was felt of the imminent danger of accepting this fact as a habit, as a matter of fact, and as a habit would, in turn, be ignored and ‘taken forgranted.’ If we fall into such a category we will be deserving of the accusation made by John the Baptist, when he said to the Jews: “In your midst there stands one whom you do not recognise.”

THIS is the reason for the extraordinary, and visible solemnity of this Feast in the Catholic Church. There was a time when the procession of Corpus Christi was the one and only manifestation organised by the Catholic Church with great Solemnity. Yet, sorry to say nowadays these processions have become more of a ‘pageant’.

The Liturgy of this solemnity is reflected in the Readings, the Antiphons, the Hymns and the Prayers, they are all witnesses of this wondrous miracle. Had not the Feast of Corpus Christi already existed, the Church would have felt the need to create one. Nowadays all believers are facing the problem of many who try to paint this Mystery as something ‘trivial, insignificant’.


Those of us who are past their seventies still recall the fact that to receive Holy Communion, we had to fast for a good number of hours and prepare ourself by going to Confession. Today, it seems, with all due respect; many, in their hundreds, receive the consecrated Host, and yet no one seems to go to Confession.

Another heart ache is the fact that many attend (rather than participate), Holy Mass, yet they do not partake of the Banquet. We know quite well that the aim of the Mass is in the partaking of the Bread changed into the Body and Blood of Christ. I can’t imagine any one attending a party without even taking part of the eats and drinks provided (save for health reasons).

At the same time it is best to keep in mind what St.Paul told us:” He who eats this Bread and drinks from this Chalice unworthily, will be guilty of the Body and Blood of Jesus.”

It would be beneficial, both for our soul and body to keep in mind the words of St.Francis of Assisi. He used to shake and tremble all over at the simple thought of holding the Body and Blood of Jesus in his hands. As a human being he felt so much unworthy to hold in his hands the Creator of the whole Universe. God has humbled Himself for your sake, for my sake; let us show our appreciation for such a wondrous miracle of love.