Tag: jesus

Understanding Jesus: Knowable Nature and Meaning

by Gerry Palermo, posted in Catholic, Lent
In the end, faith.

Greetings on this the Friday of the Fourth Week of Lent
Readings: Wisdom 2:1a, 12-22; Psalm 34:17-18, 19-20, 21 and 23; John 7:1-2, 10, 25-30

Summary

When the Messiah comes, no one will know where he is from.” (JN 7:27).

So Jesus cried out in the temple area as he was teaching and said, “You know me and also know where I am from. Yet I did not come on my own, but the one who sent me, whom you do not know, is true. I know him, because I am from him, and he sent me.” (Jn 7:28-29).

The wicked rely upon a very narrow understanding of the Priesthood of Melchizedek whom we know nothing of his ancestry, birth, or death. They assumed that the Messiah would be just as unknown ancestry and birth. Yet, we do know. He is King of Salem (Hebrew word for Peace, also alternate name for Jerusalem). Salem is tent. On Salem is God’s tent, his shelter on Zion (PS 76:3). But the divine logic is to be known. In a very sensate and sensible way to be known.

Jesus’ dialog helps us know his divinity as knowable. As in Psalm 76, Jesus is the Tabernacle of the Father. Rejecting Jesus is a function of the logic of the wicked. Not a judgmental statement. Falling into the logic is a pitiable situation.

Reflection

The logic of the wicked is encapsulated not so much by WHAT they do as WHY they do what they do. The Lament of Evil in the Book of Wisdom sums it perfectly in the first verse.

For, not thinking rightly, they said among themselves: “Brief and troubled is our lifetime; there is no remedy for our dying [the WHY], nor is anyone known to have come back from Hades. Come, therefore, let us … [the WHAT] (Wis 2:1, 6).

For the wicked, death has no remedy. Misery has no remedy except doing all the things we can to please ourselves as the lament continued.

Let Us (in our despair… in our unbelief… in our sense of isolation and insignificance)

  1. Let us have our fill of costly wine and perfumes.
  2. Let us crown ourselves with rosebuds.
  3. Let no meadow be free from our wantonness.
  4. Let us oppress the righteous poor.
  5. Let our strength be our norm of righteousness.
  6. Let us lie in wait for the righteous one, because he is annoying to us.
  7. Let us put him to the test.
  8. Let us condemn him to a shameful death.

These were their thoughts, but they erred; for their wickedness blinded them (Wis 2:21).

Our psalmist paints a far different picture. The Lord is knowable in the 34th Psalm.

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted (PS 34:19a).

Divine Care (from the psalm)

  1. The LORD confronts the evildoer.
  2. When the just cry out, the LORD hears them.
  3. From all their distress he rescues them.
  4. The LORD is close to the brokenhearted.
  5. Those who are crushed in spirit he saves.
  6. Out of [trouble] all the LORD delivers him.
  7. He watches over all his bones.
  8. The LORD redeems the lives of his servants.

Personal Reflection

You know me and also know where I am from (Jn 7:28).

Yes, Lord Jesus, I do know. And I refuse to fall into the trap of the wicked despair, unbelief and feeling of insignificance.

Your very appearance at the Feast of the Tabernacles reminds us you journey with us throughout the course of our life, our personal Exodus to the Promised Land and the Eternal HIlls. The Psalmist reminds us of the loving care you have for us. And that you will rescue us from the grave on our last day. Jesus, the ‘I AM’ of the Father, gives us a portion of his significance to be enjoyed together as family.

Sacred Readings full text: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/040425.cfm

Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry

Chatting with Jesus: A Lent Reflection

by Gerry Palermo, posted in Catholic, Lent

Greetings on this the Fourth Sunday of Lent
Readings: Joshua 5:9a, 10-12; Psalm 34:2-3, 4-5, 6-7.; 2 Corinthians 5:17-21; Luke 15:1-3, 11-32

Summary

This man welcomes sinners and eats with them (LK 15:2).

Jesus wants us to talk with him and he with us. A dialog. A conversation. There is no barrier to the dialog only the willingness to accept the generosity to be heard. To be really heard. He loves to hear our opinion:

  1. Tell us, then, what is your opinion? (Matt 22:17).
  2. What is your opinion about the Messiah? (Matt 22:42).
  3. What is written in the law? How do you read it? (LK 10:26).
  4. Do you think that I have come to establish peace on the earth? (LK 12:51).
  5. Why do you not judge for yourselves what is right? (LK 12:57).

These are but examples of the questions Jesus asks so we can open up and talk.

Open up and talk to Jesus.

Lost Sheep: And when he does find it, he sets it on his shoulders with great joy (LK 15:5).
Lost Coin: Rejoice with me because I have found the coin that I lost (LK 15:9).
Lost Son: [to the servants] This son of mine was dead, and has come to life again; he was lost, and has been found.’ Then the celebration began. [to the brother} But now we must celebrate and rejoice, because your brother was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.(LK 15:24, 32).

Reflection

Rejoice!

You are called by the Lord so as to return to him. From the moment of your awakening to your separation from divine love, and While he was still a long way off, his father caught sight of him, and was filled with compassion. He ran to his son, embraced him and kissed him (LK 15:20).

Deep Dive on the Prodigal Son: https://deacongerrypalermo.blog/2024/03/02/the-return-of-the-prodigal-son-henri-j-m-nouwen/
Sacred Readings full text: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/033025-YearC.cfm

Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry

Embracing Divine Love: The Gift of Rain in Lent

by Gerry Palermo, posted in Catholic, Lent

Greetings on this the Saturday of the Third Week of Lent
Readings: Hosea 6:1-6; Psalm 51:3-4, 18-19, 20-21ab; Luke 18:9-14

Summary

For it is love that I desire, not sacrifice, and knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings (Hos 6:6).

There is a tight relationship between the need to say your sorry and the divine love rain.

“Love means never having to say you’re sorry,” a quote from 1970 film “Love Story”. Tomorrow is the Prodigal Son parable. Note the words are never said: I forgive you. Did he forgive him. Yes! Did the Son say a perfect act of contrition? No, not in words anyway. But as Father Brian said to me yesterday when I made a mistake at Mass, ‘God knows what you meant to do. Don’t give it another thought”.

Love is the most written about topic in all of human writings. I write with care as I do not possess the writing skills of the greats.

He will come to us like the rain, like spring rain that waters the earth. (Hos 6:3).

In our first reading today, the prophet Hosea reminds us of the prayer concept to “rain down‘. This figuratively expresses the nature of the divine love upon us. The rains for agriculture is a necessity (after all, another saying, All Sun makes a Desert) and the gentle rains make for the growth of food. The rains sustain us for drinking water as we need water to survive and thrive. Beyond the obvious physical needs for rain we need the divine love to rain upon us – to sustain our souls when we are good or not so good. Rain is broadcast – everyone benefits even if you get a little more than me, or I a little more than you – this moment in time.

When we seek rain in prayer, especially in the season of Lent, we desire the forgiving love of God to rain down on us, copiously and without reservation or condition.

My sacrifice, O God, is a contrite spirit; a heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn (PS 51:19). Our contrition and humility comes from the realization we squandered the love rain from the Lord either by dissipation or by acquisition. We wasted the rain and it soaked into the earth to be given again.

The rain of the love of God greatly surpasses the burning sensation of sin. A cooling balm!

Reflection

Let us know, let us strive to know the LORD; as certain as the dawn is his coming, and his judgment shines forth like the light of day! He will come to us like the rain, like spring rain that waters the earth (Hos 6:3).

Jesus addressed this parable to those who were convinced of their own righteousness and despised everyone else (LK 18:9). [contrasting the tax collector and the leadership] But the tax collector stood off at a distance and would not even raise his eyes to heaven but beat his breast and prayed, ‘O God, be merciful to me a sinner’. (LK 18:13).

Personal Reflection

Lord, I know you rain blessings down upon me every day. Many times I just let it flow away. Sometimes I even use an umbrella. Even worse, sometimes I use it against others!
But Lord I desire to be right with you and let the rain have its effects intended. Every single drop.

Put away the umbrella!

Put away the umbrella when it comes to divine love rain!

Rain down your love on me!

Sacred Readings full text: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/032925.cfm

Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry

Offering Your Face: Spiritual Insights for Lent

by Gerry Palermo, posted in Catholic, Lent
Offer your face not your back

Greetings on this the Thursday of the Third Week of Lent
Readings: Jeremiah 7:23-28; Psalm 95:1-2, 6-7, 8-9; Luke 11:14-23

Summary

Even now, says the LORD, return to me with your whole heart, for I am gracious and merciful (JL 2:12-13). Which do we offer Jesus: our back or our face? Whatever we offered in the past, Jesus offers to meet us face-to-face in love not fear.

Reflection

Whoever does not gather with me scatters (LK 11:23).

In our gospel portion today, Jesus was driving out a demon that was mute, and when the demon had gone out, the mute man spoke and the crowds were amazed (LK 11:14).

There were three distinct responses.

  1. Amazement. The crowds were amazed (v14b).
  2. Spiteful Accusation. Accusation is to claim you did something illegal or wrong. By the power of Beelzebul, the prince of demons, he drives out demons (v15).
  3. Testing him. Others, to test him, asked him for a sign from heaven (v16).

Personal Reflection

How do we respond to Jesus?

The prophet Jeremiah gives so hints to the underlying causes.

  1. They walked in the hardness of their evil hearts and turned their backs, not their faces, to me (Jer 7:24).
  2. Yet they have not obeyed me nor paid heed; they have stiffened their necks and done worse than their fathers (Jer 7:26).

The skin of the back is very thick (3 to 4 millimeters thick). It can sustain much pressure to penetrate. The face (1.2 mm) and chest (0.5 to 2 mm), not so much. It is easy to penetrate the face of a person. Of course we are speaking of spiritual things. To turn one’s back to the Lord is to not wanting his word nor his person to penetrate you spirit.

Which do we offer Jesus: the back or the face?

Let’s face him with trust. Let’s face him with love. And let love and trust penetrate us.

Sacred Readings full text: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/032725.cfm

Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry

Embracing Gratitude: The Teachings of Moses and Jesus

by Gerry Palermo, posted in Catholic, Lent

Greetings on this the Wednesday of the Third Week of Lent
Readings: Deuteronomy 4:1, 5-9; Psalm 147:12-13, 15-16, 19-20; Matthew 5:17-19

Summary

However, take care and be earnestly on your guard not to forget the things which your own eyes have seen, nor let them slip from your memory as long as you live, but teach them to your children and to your children’s children. (Duet 4:9).

Jesus said to his disciples: “Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have come not to abolish but to fulfill (Matt 5:17).

Attitude of Gratitude

People in recovery programs such as Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, or in psychotherapy for depression or anxiety disorders are often of the practice of doing gratitude lists. That is to keep careful record of the good things that are occurring or the good ways people help them. Simple things and universal (rain, sun, night, day) and profoundly personal things (sobriety yesterday, reconciliation with family).

It should not be far from us to then apply the same line of reasoning to the Lord. Moses warned the people, having just received the law, to adapt an attitude of gratitude.

  1. Take Care.
  2. Be earnest.
  3. Be on guard.
  4. Do not forget.
  5. Remember what you saw (Exodus event, freedom from Egypt).
  6. Work at remembering them.
  7. Work at teaching them from generation to generation.

Jesus Remembers at the Core

In the gospel portion today, Jesus reminds the people to remember with gratitude as well. He describes it differently. Jesus says I have not come to abolish but to remember.

What follows in the gospel of Matthew is a series of six extensions of the law. Three are acceptance the Mosaic law but extend or deepen it and three reject it as a standard of conduct for the disciples (NABRE Commentary). It is helpful to remember the structure of the 5th chapter of the gospel of Matthew.

  1. Beatitudes – how you are to be.
  2. The Similes of Salt and Light – who you are.
  3. The Law affirmed – right relation.
  4. Modifiers to the Law (extend, deepen and set aside). Anger, Adultery, Divorce, Oaths, Retaliation and Love Enemies.

So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect (MT 5:48).

If the LAW is the fulcrum point then on one side we have the Beatitudes and Similies and on the other deeper expressions of the law and application.

Therefore, law is a central point but not valuable in and of itself (hang in there don’t declare a heresy yet). Law without Beatitudes and Deeper expressions is a point that has no contours. It is but nothing.

  • Perhaps you prefer the analogy of the Vanishing Point. Where two parallel lines going into the distance appear to merge into one point ahead? Both are present but become one.
  • Or perhaps from geometry? In geometry, a point is a fundamental, theoretical concept, an abstraction, rather than a physical reality, as it’s defined as having no dimensions or parts, which doesn’t exist in the real world (AI handy sentence).

The law then points to the Beatitudes and the pastoral refinements in expression of the law.

Personal Reflection

It s well to have an attitude of gratitude. It opens us up to the deeper truth and our reality as beloved of God. I pray for those who were my godparents (long since dead). They stood up for me in love and in the blessed hope of eternal life as I was baptized into the Lord some, ahem, years ago. Thank you, Joseph and Elizabeth (Peggy). May you rest in peace. The baptism was the deeper thing.

Sacred Readings full text: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/032625.cfm

Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry

The Barren Fig Tree: A Call to Divine Patience

by Gerry Palermo, posted in Catholic, Lent
Tower collapsing

Greetings on this the Third Sunday of Lent
Readings: Exodus 3:1-8a, 13-15; Psalm 103: 1-2, 3-4, 6-7, 8, 11.; 1 Corinthians 10:1-6, 10-12; Luke 13:1-9

Summary

In our sacred readings today we are given the awareness that Grace is experienced by everyone but it is up to each to decide if that grace and the divine purpose of that grace means more than simply convenience and bodily comfort. Our first reading Moses was sent by ‘I AM’ to rescue the people. Everyone was rescued but not all accepted the fullness of the rescue and ‘died in the desert (of disbelief)’. Our gospel portion (the second portion of it) describes how the barren fig tree will be tended and care for so that it may bear the fruit of the graces given. The Lord is very patient. 40 years in the desert. 4 millennia, post New Testament (that is just my poetic saying of a long time – not predicting the Second Coming to be 4025 AD).

Nobody is better or worse than anybody else. The dividing line is the acceptance of Grace in the person of the divine. In two days time we celebrate the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord. God dwelling among us.

Grace Abounds

I do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, that our ancestors were all under the cloud and all passed through the sea, and all of them were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. All ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual drink, for they drank from a spiritual rock that followed them, and the rock was the Christ (1 COR 10:1-4).

Manner of Death

In the first portion of the gospel story today, Jesus makes note of two terrible events: one in Galilee and one in Jerusalem – that is effecting the faith of all Israel. In Galilee the evil of a single man, Pilate. The details are unclear and the specific event not recorded elsewhere. It is framed to be similar stories of the cruelty of Pilate who killed the faithful and made sacrilege of holy vestments and sacrifices. In Jerusalem, the death of 18 in the collapse of the tower at Siloam. Here too the details are unclear and the specific event not recorded elsewhere. It is framed to be similar to the use and sacrilege of a Tower used by the elite and the religious including the storage of holy vestments.

  1. Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way they were greater sinners than all other Galileans? (LK 13:2).
  2. Do you think they were more guilty than everyone else who lived in Jerusalem? (LK 13:4).

Some of those killed by Pilate and some of those who died in the fall of the tower died in disbelief of divine grace. It isn’t the manner of death that matters as much as the state of the soul.

The Parable of the Barren Fig Tree

In the second portion of the gospel story today, Jesus tells The Parable of the Barren Fig Tree. Patience for us. Patience for each other.

‘Sir, leave it for this year also, and I shall cultivate the ground around it and fertilize it; it may bear fruit in the future. If not you can cut it down.’ (LK 13:8-9)”

Reflection

The patience of God is for salvation. The grace of God is for our well-being.

And that a higher gift than grace
Should flesh and blood refine,
God's presence and his very self
And essence all divine
(Praise to the Holiest, J. H. Newman, 1801-1890)

Personal Reflection

We have to separate the externality of the manner of death from the grace of the Presence interiorly. Let the Lord cultivate the ground and fertilize it around and about you. May you bear the fruits of faith and experience the fullness of grace.

Sacred Readings full text: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/032325-YearC.cfm

Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry

Jealousy: A Barrier to Love and Salvation

by Gerry Palermo, posted in Catholic, Lent
Jealousy is like shooting arrows at yourself

Greetings on this the Friday of the Second Week of Lent
Readings: Genesis 37:3-4, 12-13a, 17b-28a; Psalm 105:16-17, 18-19, 20-21; Matthew 21:33-43, 45-46

Summary

In today’s readings we encounter the reality of our rejection of God by way of rejecting his beloved. In our first reading Joseph betrayed by his brothers because ‘dad loves him more’. In our gospel reading, they coveted the property and inheritance of the son. This jealousy kills both victim and victimizer. Thankfully the Lord looks beyond such weaknesses and brings restoration and salvation to all.

Joseph Betrayed by His Brothers

They then sat down to their meal. Looking up, they saw a caravan of Ishmaelites coming from Gilead, their camels laden with gum, balm and resin to be taken down to Egypt. Judah said to his brothers: “What is to be gained by killing our brother and concealing his blood? Rather, let us sell him to these Ishmaelites, instead of doing away with him ourselves. After all, he is our brother, our own flesh.” His brothers agreed. They sold Joseph to the Ishmaelites for twenty pieces of silver (Gen 37:25-28a).

Jesus betrayed by His Brothers

[As taught by way of the parable] But when the tenants saw the son, they said to one another, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and acquire his inheritance.’ They seized him, threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him (MT 21:38-39).

The Lord will Not Abandon His Beloved

Joseph

Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Look, I put you in charge of the whole land of Egypt.” With that, Pharaoh took off his signet ring* and put it on Joseph’s finger. He dressed him in robes of fine linen and put a gold chain around his neck (Gen 41:41-42).

Jesus

Jesus said to them, “Did you never read in the Scriptures: The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; by the Lord has this been done, and it is wonderful in our eyes? (MT 21:42).

Personal Reflection

Jealousy is an angry beast. Joseph was loved by his father and his brothers jealous of this special consideration. Jesus was beloved of the people and his father and the leadership / powerful were jealous of this special consideration. How we are impoverished by our jealousies! How we covet love beyond the amazing love already ours!

God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son; so that everyone who believes in him might have eternal life (Jn 3:16).

Change of Heart

In this time of Lent shall we not focus otherwise?

  1. On the fact that you are invited to a beautiful life in love of the begotten one?
  2. Is not this love enough for us that comparisons are not the basis of our awareness?
  3. Is not this divine love a marvel for our human family?

Generative AI Helpful Explanation

See image here which outlines How to Avoid Jealousy.

Avoiding Jealousy

Sacred Readings full text: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/032125.cfm

Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry

Lessons from the Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus

by Gerry Palermo, posted in Catholic, Lent

AI Generated image. Looks weird to me!

Greetings on this the Thursday of the Second Week of Lent
Readings: Jeremiah 17:5-10; Psalm 1:1-2, 3, 4 and 6; Luke 16:19-31

Summary

Don’t you just love New Year’s? You get to start all over. Everybody gets a second chance – a quote from the movie Forest Gump.

As we approach Laetare Sunday, Rejoice Sunday, (we wear Rose colored clerical stoles, chasubles and dalmatics) it is to remind us that in the midst of the WORK of renewal there is the HOPE ASSURED of Success. Dives (the Rich Man) did not put his trust in the Lord.

Blessed are those who trust in the LORD; the LORD will be their trust (Jer 17:7).

The Work

The Lord knows the difficulty of the work. His entire mission on earth both in Galilee and in Jerusalem was the divine work of reconciliation and restoration. He had the desert experience, the temptations, the abuse, the betrayal and the disregard. He knows also the core problem. Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said to him, “You are lacking in one thing (MK 10:21).

More tortuous than all else is the human heart, beyond remedy; who can understand it? I, the LORD, alone probe the mind and test the heart, To reward everyone according to his ways, according to the merit of his deeds (Jer 17:9-10).

The Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus

Who can understand the heart of the rich man in this parable? How can he live this way and yet we know he isn’t an historical story but rather he is us. Dives is everyone.

The Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus.

“There was a rich man who dressed in purple garments and fine linen and dined sumptuously each day. And lying at his door was a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who would gladly have eaten his fill of the scraps that fell from the rich man’s table. Dogs even used to come and lick his sores. When the poor man died, he was carried away by angels to the bosom of Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried, and from the netherworld, where he was in torment, he raised his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side (LK 16:19-23).

Then Abraham said, ‘If they will not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded if someone should rise from the dead (LK 16:31).

Building Trust – a two part program

Blessed are they who have kept the word with a generous heart and yield a harvest through perseverance (LK 8:15). Blessed are they who hope in the Lord (PS 40:5a).

The first psalm of all the psalms and the first verse of all the psalm verses stands as the trust builder.

Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, Nor stand in the way of sinners, nor sit in company with scoffers. Rather, the law of the LORD is his joy; and on his law he meditates day and night (PS 1:1-2).

We can choose these things and allow the blessed effects happen! Act, Support, Align.

  1. Do not walk (act) in the counsel of the wicked (wisdom of evil).
  2. Do not stand with (support) the way of sinners (think of evil).
  3. Do not sit with (align) in the company of scoffers (faithless).

Focus instead on the holy things.

  1. Do good.
  2. Plan good.
  3. Align with the good.

Everybody gets a second chance.

Personal Reflection

Remember how the Lord saved his people. Remember the 40 years in the desert. Remember the Gospel (the Good News of Jesus Christ). Remember and live.

I led you for forty years in the wilderness. Your clothes did not fall from you in tatters nor your sandals from your feet; [nor did your feet swell these forty years Duet 8:4b] it was not bread that you ate (Manna), nor wine or beer that you drank (water from a stone) —so that you might know that I, the LORD, am your God (Duet 29:4-5).

Trust.

Sacred Readings full text: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/032025.cfm

Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry

Teamwork

by Gerry Palermo, posted in Catholic, Lent

communication is communion

Greetings on this the Friday of the First Week of Lent
Readings: Ezekiel 18:21-28; Psalm 130:1-2, 3-4, 5-7a, 7bc-8; Matthew 5:20-26

Summary of Teamwork

The Prophet Ezekiel captures the teamwork necessary to become righteous. Our Job: Cast away your sins and create for yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. The Lord’s Job: I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit. It is the mystery of the divine logic. We must choose right living, work for right living and be right living even as the Lord provides the divine aid to choose right living, work for right living and be right living.

Cast away from you all the crimes you have committed, says the LORD, and make for yourselves a new heart and a new spirit (Ezekiel 18:31).

I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh (Ezekiel 36:26).

Reflection on the Psalm

Again the Psalmist brings us clarity of the issue, teamwork: If you, O Lord, mark iniquities, who can stand? To which we must find trust. I trust in the LORD; my soul trusts in his word. For with the LORD is kindness and with him is plenteous redemption (PS 130:5, 7).

Change is a team effort

Jesus puts the question to its very core. Half-truth v truth. You have heard that it was said to your ancestors (incomplete)… But I say to you (complete). The list below is dealt with in the conclusion of the teaching of Jesus: going to court – i.e., judgment. So his teaching has two levels: (a) the effects of our errors and (b) the shared responsibility of our errors.

The ‘a’

  1. whoever is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment (i.e., shunning).
  2. whoever says to his brother, Raqa, will be answerable to the Sanhedrin (i.e., law).
  3. whoever says, ‘You fool,’ will be liable to fiery Gehenna (i.e., hell).

The ‘b’

In a plot twist much like the Jonah story of Wednesday, Jesus gives us the the truth of our blindness and guilt even as we accursed another (the ‘b’).

Therefore, if you bring your gift to the altar, and there recall that your brother has anything against you, leave your gift there at the altar, go first and be reconciled with your brother, and then come and offer your gift. Settle with your opponent quickly while on the way to court. Otherwise your opponent will hand you over to the judge, and the judge will hand you over to the guard, and you will be thrown into prison. Amen, I say to you, you will not be released until you have paid the last penny (Mt 5:23-26)”.

Who is guiltless before the Lord? Nobody. Who should we be merciful to? Everyone.

Prescription

The Lord’s Work

  • Let your ears be attentive to my voice in supplication (PS 130: 2).
  • But with you is forgiveness (PS 130: 4).
  • I trust in the LORD; my soul trusts in his word (PS 130: 5).
  • For with the LORD is kindness and with him is plenteous redemption (PS 130: 7).

My Work

  • Let my ears be attentive to the supplication of others.
  • Let me be forgiving.
  • Let me learn to trust people again.
  • Let me be kind and help restore proper order among men.

Sacred Readings full text: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/031425.cfm

Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry

Finding Joy Through the Solar Plexus Connection

by Gerry Palermo, posted in Catholic, Lent

Solar Plexus

Greetings on this the Thursday of the First Week in Lent
Readings: Esther C:12, 14-16, 23-25; Psalm 138:1-2ab, 2cde-3, 7c-8; Matthew 7:7-12

Summary

A clean heart create for me, O God;
give me back the joy of your salvation (Psalm 51:12a, 14a).
Jesus said to his disciples:
"Ask and it will be given to you;
seek and you will find;
knock and the door will be opened to you (Matt 7:7-8).

Reflection

Ultimately Joy is a state of being. Beyond mere feels and beyond intense emotion, joy is a type of equilibrium that requires no adjustment and no need beyond remaining in itself.

Our psalmist describes it as a clean heart. In ancient times and even today we say the heart is the center of the person. Today, we think of it as the heart muscle as the heart of a human and that is fine thinking. Actually, for the ancients, it is the area of the solar plexus as these two nerve bundles regulate the sensory stress response and the regulation of vital GI organ. When your solar plexus is calm you have no stress sensations and your GI system is running fine.

Our psalmist isn’t getting at anatomical and health truth but the essential truth. Our peace comes from the Divine One. Our solar plexus informs us of our State of Being. Salvation brings joy. You may think of salvation as forgiveness and establishing a right relation with one another and with the Divine.

What is your solar plexus telling you?

Personal Reflection

So Jesus advises us, we are loved. Let us then have the confidence to be bold is our outreach.

  • Ask Questions. Establish a dialog with the Divine (prayer) and also with those who you have offended (forgiveness – our daily bread).
  • Seek Reconciliation. How can I change the reality to be more just? (alms giving – our fish).
  • Knock on doors you’ve thought closed. Be the change. Knock on doors that seem closed. You’ll be happy to have the door opened to the good.

The Good Things

Which one of you would hand his son a stone when he asked for a loaf of bread,
or a snake when he asked for a fish? If you then, who are wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good things
to those who ask him (MT 7:9-11).

Solar Plexus video: https://study.com/academy/lesson/what-is-the-solar-plexus-definition-function-location.html
Sacred Readings full text: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/031325.cfm

Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry