Who do you say that I am?

It is a question that Jesus asked his disciples once.
It is a question that I have to answer throughout my life, not once, not twice...
It is a question that is ultimately not only about Jesus but about me as well.
The question, though asked in plural form, is addressed to me in person. I cannot hide behind others.
Jesus first asks who others say He is as if to prepare the ground for a more direct question. I think it is reasonable; after all, my faith is a heritage, something that I did not invent. My faith and its many expressions have been passed on to me.
But this faith has to grow and become personal. However, it doesn't cease to be a faith of the community. In fact, the community dimension is what gives faith a stable foundation, a solid rock, so that it doesn't depend on my whims and feelings.
My knowledge of Jesus is a relationship with Him. It is dynamic and alive and permeates my entire life. It has its ebbs and flows, as does my life. It is necessary to go away, to leave the hustle and bustle, so that in the silence of my heart, Jesus' question may be heard, "who am I to you?"

When God doesn't send fire

When I was a kid, one of my favorite Bible stories is that of the Prophet Elijah, especially about that duel with the prophets of Baal. The plot fascinated me, and my Bible illustrations made it even more compelling: one single prophet against the high and might Jezebel, King Ahab and the many prophets of Baal. The true God was the one who sent fire the burn the offering. Of course, Elijah won this round.
It doesn't always happen that way in life. God doesn't always send fire or manifest Himself in the way we want Him to.
It is time to go back to who we really are: We are creatures dependent on God's mercy and love. We don't need any grandstanding miracle to prove to ourselves that God exists. Every day I am already in touch with at least one miracle: MYSELF.

Be the one

When we feel short-changed by people, it is easier to wallow in self-pity or to complain just how unfair people can be.
But that is not the only option we have.
When others are not there for you, be the one.
Be the one to make the first step.
Be the one to see another person's need.
Be the one.
This was Jesus' answer to the question "who is my neighbor".
Be another one's neighbor.
Be the one.

Indifference

A big news in Rome these days is the death of a young lady burned by her ex-boyfriend. She asked at least two motorists for help but no one stopped, and this tragedy happened.
Indifference kills. In this instance, it killed a very young lady full of life and hopes for a future. It also killed what is human in each one of us, the natural instinct to reach out and be of help.
Certainly, there are many facets and aspects to the story. There are reasons for the choices of each of the persons involved in this event.
We pray that the young lady may enjoy eternal peace in heaven. We pray for us, that we may wake up and see that we, too, are accountable for a lot of things that are happening in the world, directly or indirectly.
Indifference kills.

More than a memory

The Eucharist is the Real Presence of Jesus. It is not a symbol; not a representation.
The Eucharist is truly Jesus who gives Himself as food for our journey. So that we won't feel alone.
Ronald Rolheiser speaks of the Eucharist as "God's embrace". Yes, when we partake of the Eucharist, Jesus becomes a part of us: God's embrace, assuring us that we are not alone.
The Eucharist is a very special gift. God knows that love is not a theory to be understood. Love is an experience that needs to touch our senses, human as we are. So Jesus allows Himself to come to us in the form of bread.
The Eucharist is a mystery we can never fully grasp. We can only bow our heads in humble gratitude.

Forgive

To forgive is to close the door to violence.

Blessed

We live in very frightening times. Everybody longs for and begs for peace. There are entire generations who have never known a time of peace. There are people who are forever haunted by violence, threat, and abuse. We are so helpless and so desperate we "buy" the first promise of "peace and order".
The thing is, all that the world offers is a promise of "fragile peace". It is fragile because most often it is bought by violence, by fear, by ignorance. That is not true peace.
The peace that God wants for His children is a "peace that surpasses all understanding". Perhaps that is why we don't buy it. We want peace that is translated as: order in the streets; well-being and prosperity; doing what I want without being accountable to anybody.
You see, our formula for peace is WRONG. It is so egocentric and without any reference to the common good, to what is best for others even if it means sacrifice on my part. The kind of peace that we like is violence-in-the-making. When we are at the center of the world, the world doesn't have any secure and constant point of reference. We see every day how we are prone to wanting one thing today and the exact opposite tomorrow. How then can we make ourselves the point of reference?
We live in very frightening times. But I am a Christian. My faith helps me to look at life with realism, hope and courage. Jesus Christ came to give us life, life to the full. This he did, not by making everything "perfect" according to our human schemes.
Jesus said and showed in  His life that the one who loses his life for the Kingdom (and all the values it represents) will find his life a hundredfold. This is what it means to have life to the full.
We may have a long life but it isn't a guarantee that we have found life's meaning.
The saints, yes, those considered fools by worldly standards, found the secret to life's meaning. It was the pearl of great price for which they have renounced everything.
That is why they are called BLESSED.