May 2023 – alleluia.nyc

"Weekly Challenge" May 2023

Week Beginning May 28, 2023

Renew

“They that hope in the Lord will renew their strength, they will soar on eagles’ wings;

They will run and not grow weary, walk and not grow faint.”

~ Isaiah 40:31

The Lord comes into the world to make all things new. “I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you” (Ezekiel 36:26). Pope Francis notes that the Church begins “from the shared experience of God’s love.” Pentecost marks the birth of the Church when the Spirit is sent to guide the renewal of creation. The response to our first reading this Pentecost Sunday is: “Lord, send out your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth” (cf. Psalm 104:30). Pope Francis explains: “the change that the Spirit brings is different. It does not revolutionize life around us, but changes our hearts.” When we open our hearts to cooperate with God’s action through the Holy Spirit, we actively participate in renewing the face of the earth.

Pentecost is a celebration that also invites us to renew our personal commitment to Christ and to live as faithful witnesses of the Gospel. Both individually and as a community of believers, we seek the ongoing presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Saint Paul teaches us: “Do not conform yourselves to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and pleasing and perfect” (Romans 12:2).

This week, our challenge comes from Pope Saint John XXIII:

“Consult not your fears but your hopes and your dreams. Think not about your frustrations, but about your unfulfilled potential. Concern yourself not with what you tried and failed in, but with what it is still possible for you to do.”

There are many ways we can contribute to building the Kingdom of God. How can you use your unique gifts to serve the Lord?

Week Beginning May 21, 2023

Reflect

Desiderius Erasmus refers to reflection as “a flower of the mind, giving out wholesome fragrance.” When reflection blossoms, we breathe in a fresh perspective perfumed with awareness, objectivity, and discipline. Leaders, philosophers, and saints throughout the ages rely on reflection to make wise decisions and accomplish marvelous deeds. Marcus Tullius Cicero remarks: “It is not by muscle, speed, or physical dexterity that great things are achieved, but by reflection, force of character, and judgment.”

Reflection also promotes our spiritual growth. By reflecting on our experiences, we recognize God’s presence in our lives and become attuned to His will. We develop a mature and nuanced understanding of the mysteries of our faith, and we gain a profound appreciation for the richness and complexity of our beliefs. This helps us discern the path that we are called to follow. Throughout our journey, Saint John Bosco encourages us to “Walk with your feet on earth, but in your heart be in heaven.” Saint John Vianney asks us to “reflect on these words: the Christian’s treasure is not on earth but in heaven. Our thoughts, then, ought to be directed to where our treasure is.”

The Ascension of the Lord is the perfect time for us to cast our gaze upward. Pope Francis explains:

“The Ascension of Jesus into heaven acquaints us with this deeply consoling reality on our journey: in Christ, true God and true man, our humanity was taken to God. Christ opened the path to us…He is now in the lordship of God, present in every space and time, close to each one of us. In our life we are never alone.”

This week, our challenge comes from Saint Augustine:

“Let us leave a little room for reflection in our lives, room too for silence. Let us look within ourselves and see whether there is some delightful hidden place inside where we can be free of noise and argument. Let us hear the Word of God in stillness and perhaps we will then come to understand it.”

As we complete the 18^th month of this program, thoughtfully and prayerfully consider the richness of God’s plan. Where is He leading you?

Week Beginning May 14, 2023

Refresh

“Let everything in creation draw you to God. Refresh your mind with some innocent recreation and needful rest, if it were only to saunter through the garden or the fields, listening to the sermon preached by the flowers, the trees, the meadows, the sun, the sky, and the whole universe. You will find that they exhort you to love and praise God; that they excite you to extol the greatness of the Sovereign Architect Who has given them their being.”

~ Saint Paul of the Cross

Spiritual refreshment quenches the thirst and satiates the hunger of our souls. When we are nourished by the teachings of Christ and the traditions of the Church, our connection with God deepens and we grow closer to Him. Jesus says, “whoever drinks the water I shall give will never thirst; the water I shall give will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life” (John 4:14). He also tells us, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst” (John 6:35). Just as our bodies need water and food to survive, our souls need the living water and the bread of life to thrive.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches us:

“Since the beginning of the world, water, so humble and wonderful a creature, has been the source of life and fruitfulness. Sacred Scripture sees it as “overshadowed” by the Spirit of God: At the very dawn of creation your Spirit breathed on the waters, making them the wellspring of all holiness” (CCC 1218).

Our spiritual sustenance is guided by the Holy Spirit and rooted in the sacraments. The cleansing water at baptism purifies us from all sins, thus enabling us to become partakers of the divine nature as adopted children of God (CCC 1265). We are forever configured to Christ, even when sin prevents us from bearing the fruits of salvation (CCC 1272). Saint Ambrose describes how those who are baptized by the water from Christ are able to experience genuine tears of penitence. During the sacrament of reconciliation, our relationship with God is restored as our own tears help to wash the stains of our sins. Our hardened hearts, softened by His enduring love and mercy, undergo meaningful conversion. “God gives us the strength to begin anew” (CCC 1432). When we encounter Christ again in the Eucharist, our souls are further refreshed. That sacred banquet renews our life of grace, wipes away venial sins, replenishes lost vigor, and preserves us from future sin (CCC 1392-1395).

Our spiritual refreshment brings peace, joy, and fulfillment to our lives through this ongoing process of conversion. The more we appreciate the love of God, the harder we try to avoid sin. “It is in discovering the greatness of God’s love that our heart is shaken by the horror and weight of sin and begins to fear offending God by sin and being separated from him” (CCC 1432).

Jesus reveals a very special message to us in our Gospel reading this Sunday. He says to his disciples, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments” (John 14:15). We often think of rules as being restrictive or limiting. But when viewed through the lens of a loving parent, rules are guidelines to help us navigate difficult situations as we learn and grow. These commandments are actually the key to our human flourishing. When we obey Jesus and follow along his path, we avoid sin and grow closer to God. We achieve the purpose for which we are made by participating freely in His love and allowing it to flow through us to others.

This week, consider the many ways God shows His love in our lives. Out of love for Him, how can you do a better job keeping His commandments? Are there are any rules that you break regularly that could lead to spiritual dryness? Reflect on why you repeat your indiscretions, and pray that God helps you to realize the benefits that His commandments provide for you. Saint Theresa Benedicta of the Cross observes: “God is there in these moments of rest and can give us in a single instant exactly what we need.” Do you struggle with temptation? Remember that God permits those occasions only to increase the virtues necessary to overcome our challenges. Saint Mary Magdalen de’Pazzi explains: “Trials are nothing else but the forge that purifies the soul of all its imperfections.”

For more information on the bread of life and the Triune God, please refer to our previous posts:

Week Beginning January 22, 2023: Holy Eucharist

Week Beginning January 1, 2023: Resurrection and Holy Trinity.

Week Beginning May 7, 2023

Restore

Psalm 23

The Lord, Shepherd and Host

A psalm of David.

I

The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I lack.

In green pastures he makes me lie down; to still waters he leads me;

he restores my soul. He guides me along right paths for the sake of his name.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff comfort me.

II

You set a table before me in front of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

Indeed, goodness and mercy will pursue me all the days of my life; I will dwell in the house of the Lord for endless days.

The first part of this psalm shares powerful imagery of God caring for His people the way a shepherd cares for his flock. He guides and He provides. When we the sheep trust and follow, we can rest assured that all of our needs will be met now and forever.

Restoration involves making something new again. Spiritual restoration is rebirth. When we accept Jesus as our Savior and Lord, we are born again and become new creations in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17). David properly notes, “he restores my soul” (Psalm 23:3). We cannot restore our souls without the loving mercy of God leading us through our conversion.

Our redemption is a large component of our restoration. We not only are restored from sin, but we are also restored to carry out God’s good works and live united in charity. As we submit to following the path of Jesus Christ, we are transformed from the inside out.

It is interesting to note here that rest precedes work. Once our souls are restored, we are prepared to perform righteous acts. Rather than being justified by our deeds, we are justified for our deeds. We are not saved by what we do, but rather we do because we are saved.

This week, take some time to reflect upon your personal situation. Do you need God’s healing in any areas of your life? Are there outstanding issues that prevent you from experiencing the joy of a soul restored by God? Pray for a new beginning and a fresh start. Be comforted by God’s presence in your life, and rest knowing that He can bring about good in all circumstances.

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