4th Week of Lent. Jesus heals a Blind Man

 

4^th Week of Lent.  The Blind Man

Fr. Malloy’s Midweek Message.  March 22, 2023

Friends,

Do we ever stop and pause and realize what a gift sight is?  Just being able to have eyes that function is miraculous.  Even the gift of eyeglasses to correct vision is such a marvel.  What would it be like to not see?

Even more, what is it like to be blind morally or spiritually?  Do we need our eyes opened to see what God needs us to see?  Am I willing to have God call my attention to what I don’t want to see? 

Do I see what is happening on our Southern border, the desperation of people fleeing danger and death in Central America only to be met with rejection along the Rio Grande?  Do I see the horror, devastation and sheer insanity of the war Russia is waging against the Ukraine?  Do I see the daily deaths on the streets of our cities?  Do I see the death of young people killed here in Baltimore?

Into all this world gone mad, into this world of blindness and sin, Jesus bursts with the message of hope and truth and love.  Jesus brings peace to our bruised and battered hearts.  Jesus calls us to mission, to take up the cross and move out into our world.  Bearing our crosses brings resurrection and transformation not only to us personally, but to the social structures and political economic systems of our world.  By bearing our crosses, we unite ourselves to Christ’s suffering on the cross and cooperate with the salvation of the world and all her peoples.

This Gospel for the 9^th chapter of John’s gospel tells of Jesus making mud and placing it on the blind man’s eyes (this is from where we get the expression, “Here’s mud in your eye.”).  Jesus heals our blindness.  This is also the source of the hymn Amazing Grace with it’s line, “I was blind but now I see.”

Enjoy the amazing Aretha Franklin singing Amazing Grace

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gkKOIQwTiKE

Peace,

Fr. Rick Malloy, S.J.

Keep Safe.    Keep Sane.    Keep Smiling

     

Cuarta Semana de Cuaresma.  El Ciego

El Miercoles Mensaje del Padre Malloy, S.J.  

22 de Marzo, 2023

Amigos y Amigas,

¿Nos detenemos alguna vez y nos damos cuenta del don que es la vista?  El mero hecho de tener ojos que funcionan es un milagro.  Incluso el don de las gafas para corregir la visión es una maravilla.  ¿Cómo sería no ver?

Más aún, ¿cómo sería estar ciego moral o espiritualmente?  ¿Necesitamos que nos abran los ojos para ver lo que Dios necesita que veamos?  ¿Estoy dispuesto a que Dios me llame la atención sobre lo que no quiero ver? 

¿Veo lo que está sucediendo en nuestra frontera sur, la desesperación de la gente que huye del peligro y la muerte en Centroamérica sólo para encontrarse con el rechazo a lo largo del Río Grande?  ¿Veo el horror, la devastación y la pura locura de la guerra que Rusia está librando contra Ucrania?  ¿Veo las muertes diarias en las calles de nuestras ciudades?  ¿Veo la muerte de jóvenes asesinados aquí en Baltimore?

En todo este mundo enloquecido, en este mundo de ceguera y pecado, Jesús irrumpe con el mensaje de esperanza, verdad y amor.  Jesús trae paz a nuestros corazones magullados y maltratados.  Jesús nos llama a la misión, a tomar la cruz y salir a nuestro mundo.  Llevar nuestras cruces trae resurrección y transformación no sólo a nosotros personalmente, sino también a las estructuras sociales y a los sistemas políticos y económicos de nuestro mundo.  Al llevar nuestras cruces, nos unimos al sufrimiento de Cristo en la cruz y cooperamos a la salvación del mundo y de todos sus pueblos.

En el capítulo 9 del Evangelio de Juan se cuenta que Jesús hizo barro y se lo puso en los ojos al ciego (de ahí viene la expresión "Aquí tienes barro en el ojo").  Jesús cura nuestra ceguera.  Esta es también la fuente del himno Amazing Grace con su línea, "Estaba ciego pero ahora veo".

Disfruta de la increíble Aretha Franklin cantando Amazing Grace

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gkKOIQwTiKE

La Paz,

P. Ricardo Malloy, S.J.

Sigamos Seguro.    Sigamos Sano.    Sigamos Sonriendo

   

January is Poverty Awareness Month

Fr. Malloy’s Midweek Message.  January 18, 2023

Friends,

January is Poverty Awareness Month.  The Catholic Bishops of the USA Campaign for Human Development provides a great deal of information on their website . 

We all need to hear the cry of the poor (Psalm 34) and respond to the needs of those suffering in poverty.

Poverty Facts:  37 million live in Poverty in the USA.  In 2020, 11.4% (37 million persons) of the USA lived in poverty.  Use our interactive map to take a closer look at poverty statistics in the United States.

According to the US Government, a family of three with $19,985 a year is poor.  For four people, the poverty line is set at $25,701.  Even with those low thresholds, 5.3% of the population—or 17.3 million people—live in deep poverty, with incomes below 50% of their poverty thresholds.  And 29.9% of the population—or 93.6 million—live close to poverty, with incomes less than two times that of their poverty thresholds.

Median family income in the USA is $65,712 (half are above that, half below that).  Median rent is $1,062 a month.

Who Lives in Poverty?  http://www.povertyusa.org/ 

    

Listen to Jesuit Fr. John Foley’s beautiful song, The Cry of the Poor

Peace,

Fr. Rick Malloy, S.J.

Keep Safe.    Keep Sane.    Keep Smiling

                  

Enero es Mes de Concienciación Sobre La Pobreza

El Miercoles Mensaje del Padre Malloy, S.J.  18 de Enero, 2023

Amigos y Amigas,

Enero es el mes de la concienciación sobre la pobreza.  La Campaña de los Obispos Católicos de EE.UU. para el Desarrollo Humano ofrece mucha información en su sitio web. 

Todos debemos escuchar el clamor de los pobres (Salmo 34) y responder a las necesidades de quienes sufren la pobreza.

Datos sobre la pobreza:  37 millones de personas viven en la pobreza en Estados Unidos.  En 2020, el 11,4% (37 millones de personas) de EE.UU. vivía en la pobreza.  Utilice nuestro mapa interactivo para echar un vistazo más de cerca a las estadísticas de pobreza en Estados Unidos.

Según el Gobierno de EE.UU., una familia de tres personas con 19.985 dólares al año es pobre.  Para cuatro personas, el umbral de pobreza está fijado en 25.701 dólares.  Incluso con esos umbrales tan bajos, el 5,3% de la población -o 17,3 millones de personas- vive en la pobreza extrema, con ingresos inferiores al 50% de los umbrales de pobreza.  Y el 29,9% de la población (93,6 millones) vive cerca de la pobreza, con ingresos inferiores al doble del umbral de pobreza.

La renta familiar media en Estados Unidos es de 65.712 dólares (la mitad está por encima y la otra mitad por debajo).  El alquiler medio es de 1.062 dólares al mes.

¿Quién vive en la pobreza?   http://www.povertyusa.org/

 

Eschuca La Canción del Padre Jesuita John Foley El Grito de Los Pobres

La Paz,

P. Ricardo Malloy, S.J.

Sigamos Seguro.    Sigamos Sano.    Sigamos Sonriendo

          

Ignatian Spirituality: Advent II

Fr. Malloy’s Midweek Message.   December 7, 2022

(Next week we'll talk about the Immaculate Conception and Guadalupe)

Friends,

These darker, quieter days of December sooth our souls and calm our Christmas preparations.  Let’s try and resist the frenetic impulse these days, and instead find time for prayer.

GRACE: Praying gives us grace.  And grace is the ability to do what we could not do before.  One grace we can ask for in these Advent days is the grace of faith, the ability to believe in goodness and hope, even when things seem out of whack and off kilter.

Pain and Suffering:  Recently, I heard of two horrific traffic accidents.  In both accidents, a small child’s life was ended.  The pain parents and siblings are feeling right now!  How hard Christmas will be to celebrate in the wake of such tragedy! 

“One of the great challenges of life is the task of bearing pain.  We suffer and those whom we love suffer.  We instinctively flee from pain, yet it is a fact of life that spiritual, bodily, and emotional suffering is inevitable.  In the Ignatian perspective, our graced response to pain is called compassion.  The English word compassion is drawn from two Latin words meaning “to suffer” and “with.”  Authentic Christian compassion is a virtue that enables us to share the suffering of others, as well as to bear our own pain.  It is a grace another gift from God” (David Fleming, S.J., What is Ignatian Spiritualty? p. 83).

FAITH: Faith can give us the ability to bear suffering.  “Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Heb 11:1).  Faith is more a response than an answer to the question of life.  Faith is placing our Trust in God and knowing that God is with us in good times and in bad.

CONSOLATION and DESOLATION:  In our living lives of faith, St. Ignatius teaches us to monitor experiences of desolation and consolation.  Consolation is when we feel energized, when we realize that God exists, when we know God loves us.  We feel on fire with the desire to love others, to serve others.  We want to make a world of peace and justice.  Desolation is when we think or feel God isn’t there, life isn’t worth the effort, all seems filled with despair and hopelessness.  Ignatius points out that we will have alternating times of consolation and desolation in our lives.  He urges us to “go with” consolation, and “push against” desolation.  Check out some other Ignatian ways of living our faith: Ignatian.info — Office of Ignatian Spirituality (jesuitseastois.org).  And let’s pray these days, “O Come, O Come Emmanuel.”

O Come, O Come Emmanuel

Peace,

Fr. Rick Malloy, S.J.

Keep Safe.    Keep Sane.    Keep Smiling

 

La Espiritualided Ignaciana: Adviento II

El Miercoles Mensaje del Padre Malloy, S.J.    

7 de Noviembre, 2022

(La semana que viene, conversamos sobre La Immaculada y La SENORA de Guadalupe)

Amigos y Amigas,

Estos días más oscuros y tranquilos de diciembre sosiegan nuestras almas y calman nuestros preparativos navideños.  Intentemos resistir el impulso frenético de estos días y, en su lugar, encontremos tiempo para la oración.

GRACIA: Rezar nos da gracia.  Y la gracia es la capacidad de hacer lo que antes no podíamos hacer.  Una gracia que podemos pedir en estos días de Adviento es la gracia de la fe, la capacidad de creer en la bondad y la esperanza, incluso cuando las cosas parecen estar fuera de lugar y desviadas.

Dolor y sufrimiento:  Hace poco me enteré de dos terribles accidentes de tráfico.  En ambos accidentes, un niño pequeño perdió la vida.  ¡Qué dolor sienten ahora los padres y los hermanos!  ¡Qué difícil será celebrar la Navidad después de semejante tragedia! 

"Uno de los grandes retos de la vida es la tarea de soportar el dolor.  Sufrimos y sufren los que amamos.  Instintivamente huimos del dolor, pero es un hecho de la vida que el sufrimiento espiritual, corporal y emocional es inevitable.  En la perspectiva ignaciana, nuestra respuesta de gracia al dolor se llama compasión.  La palabra inglesa compassion procede de dos palabras latinas que significan "sufrir" y "con".  La auténtica compasión cristiana es una virtud que nos capacita para compartir el sufrimiento de los demás, así como para soportar nuestro propio dolor.  Es una gracia, otro don de Dios" (David Fleming, S.J., ¿Qué es la Espiritualidad Ignaciana? p. 83).

FE: La fe puede darnos la capacidad de soportar el sufrimiento.  "La fe es la certeza de lo que se espera, la prueba de lo que no se ve" (Heb 11,1).  La fe es más una respuesta que una respuesta a las preguntas de la vida.  La fe es poner nuestra confianza en Dios y saber que Dios está con nosotros en los buenos y en los malos momentos.

CONSOLACIÓN Y DESOLACIÓN: En nuestra vida de fe, San Ignacio nos enseña a controlar las experiencias de desolación y consolación.  Consolación es cuando nos sentimos llenos de energía, cuando nos damos cuenta de que Dios existe, cuando sabemos que Dios nos ama.  Nos sentimos ardiendo en deseos de amar a los demás, de servir a los demás.  Queremos hacer un mundo de paz y justicia.  Desolación es cuando pensamos o sentimos que Dios no está ahí, que la vida no vale la pena, que todo parece lleno de desesperación y desesperanza.  Ignacio señala que en nuestras vidas se alternarán tiempos de consolación y desolación.  Nos exhorta a "ir con" la consolación y a "empujar contra" la desolación.  Echa un vistazo a otras formas ignacianas de vivir nuestra fe: Ignatian.info - Oficina de Espiritualidad Ignaciana (jesuitseastois.org).  Y recemos estos días: "Ven, ven Emmanuel".

O Come, O Come Emmanuel

La Paz,

P. Ricardo Malloy, S.J.

Sigamos Seguro.    Sigamos Sano.    Sigamos Sonriendo

 

   Congrats CRJ Class of 2021!!!

Baccalaureate Homily Cristo Rey Jesuit 

Baltimore  June 2021.

Rick Malloy, S.J.

Remember when you were a little kid, and you did something, and you’d call out, “Look at me!”

Well, we have been looking for you for these past four years.  Today we see you.  Young scholars.  Open to growth; committed to being life-long learners; ready to work hard in all arenas of life; burning with the desire to see a society of Justice; ready to love in ways that will make a world of peace and prosperity, joy and justice, hope and healing, faith and freedom, life and love.

It has been a long and trying year.  Classes online, the never ending Covid crisis, so much of life disrupted and disjointed.  The tragedy and pain of the loss of our beloved Gabby.  But through it all you have persevered.  You have applied to and been accepted by so many wonderful colleges.  From Morgan State to Morehouse, from Notre Dame in South Bend to Notre Dame of Maryland, from Loyola and Johns Hopkins here in Baltimore to Howard University in Washington, DC: on and on!  You are set to go and set the world on fire!

Let me today say something about fires, good fires and bad fires, and something about freedom.

St. Ignatius says, “Go and set the world on fire.”  There are two kinds of fire.  There are fires that burn down and destroy.  And there are fires that transform and give light.  Today, as young men and women for and with others, Go and set the world on fire with the transformative fires of justice and truth, peace and love.

Our faith in liberation begins with the experience of Moses.  He’s out in the desert.  He has run away from Pharoah.  He is living quietly and comfortably.  And he comes upon a burning bush, a good fire that reveals the presence of God.  It is a burning bush that is not destroyed by the flames.

From that good fire comes the communication of our mysterious God.  The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob says, maybe screams, “I have heard the cry of my people.  I have heard them crying out because of the slave drivers.  I am moved by their suffering.  I have come to rescue them.”  And so, Moses knew he stood on Holy Ground.

Holy Ground.  This is Holy Ground today.  Cristo Rey Jesuit, on Chester street, and online, is Holy Ground.  You stand today on the Holy Ground of your future, our future.

Class of 2021, you are poised to go on to college and careers.  You are like Moses.  You are like his sister Miriam.  You are called by God to work today for the liberation and freedom of those who are oppressed and enslaved.

Today, there are a lot of bad fires burning out there.  These bad fires need to be put out.  Some of Baltimore is burning.  Our environment is burning.  Our society is being burned by systemic racism.  Our politics are burning in the fires of polarization, misinformation and outright lies.  The destructive fires of prejudice and hatred directed at LGBTQ persons, Asians, African Americans, and Latinos and Latinas, are burning down norms of civility and truth telling.  There are thousands of fires burning on the Southern Border of the USA, La Frontera.  Thousands of people, many of them little kids, are fleeing for safety.  Their homelands are burning. 

But the good fires, the transformative fires, also burn.  The good fire of the bush that Moses saw still lights the way to God and community.  Out of that burning bush comes the Word.  The Word is transformative fire, the fire of God’s love that lights our paths. 

Go and set the world on fire with the transformative fire of God’s love.  Throw water on the destructive fires of hate and prejudice, injustice and political insanity.  Get busy.  Go and confront Pharoah.  Go and tell Pharoah to let the people go Free.  Go and make a world of Faith and Justice and Reconciliation.  Go and establish Social Justice in the land.  Go and love one another.  Go and worship the God who gives us the grace, the power, to do all these things.

Congressman John Lewis, the great civil rights leader, who was no older than you when he began to work with Rev. Martin Luther King in the early 1960s, said,

“Do not get lost in a sea of despair.  Be hopeful, be optimistic.  Our struggle in not the struggle of a day, a week, a month or a year.  It is the struggle of a lifetime. Never, ever be afraid to make some noise and get in good trouble, necessary trouble.”

That’s what Moses did.  He got into trouble with Pharoah.  That led to setting free the enslaved Israelite people.  The second Moses, Jesus, comes and begins his public ministry with the promise and challenge “to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free.” 

St. Paul tells us “For freedom, Christ has set us free” (Gal 5:1).  Us… all of us… not just the few, not just the rich, not just the mighty…. Us…. all of us, free.  Jesus wants us all to be truly free.

Cesar Chavez, who organized farm workers in California once said,

“We cannot seek achievement for ourselves and forget about progress and prosperity for our community… Out ambitions must be broad enough to include the aspirations and needs of others, for their sakes and for our own.”  Chavez also said, “It is possible to become discouraged about the injustice we see everywhere. But God did not promise us that the world would be humane and just. He gives us the gift of life and allows us to choose the way we will use our limited time on earth. It is an awesome opportunity.”

This awesome opportunity is your story.  Michelle Obama says, “Your story is what you have, your story is what you will always have.  Your story is something to own.”  Own the story of freedom, the story of liberation, the story of Moses and Jesus, of John Lewis and Cesar Chavez. 

Mrs. Obama also says,

“You cannot take your freedoms for granted. Just like generations who have come before you, you have to do your part to preserve and protect those freedoms... you need to be preparing yourself to add your voice to our national conversation.”

Class of 2021, young scholars, you matter.  You are loved.  Go and Be like Moses and Miriam.  Go and be like Jesus.  Go and be like John Lewis.  Go and be like Cesar Chavez.  Go and add your voice and tell the story of Freedom of which Mrs. Obama speaks.  Go and bless the world, for you are blessed.  You have blessed Cristo Rey Jesuit High School.  Thanks for who you are.  Remember: You matter.  Go and make a world wherein we can all grow happy and healthy and holy and free.  God Bless you this day and all the days of your life.

And may our Good and Gracious God grant you all Joy for the Journey, Courage for the Choices, Faith for the Freeing, Hope for the Healing and Love for the lasting.  AMEN.