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November 3, 2014
Marian Shrine E-Newsletter
Volume 3, Issue 14
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There was a time when I felt sorry for that poor fellow in the Gospel parable who buried his talent in the ground. When he was called upon by his master to give an account, he was dismissed as a 'good-for-nothing servant' and ordered to be thrown out into 'the outer darkness where they was weeping and gnashing of teeth' (Matt. 25: 14-29).
I always thought that it was rather unfair that he was given such a harsh sentence, because the punishment he received was surely disproportionate to his crime.
Admittedly, he wasn't a very enterprising chap. He didn't earn any interest on his master's investment, but, on the other hand, he didn't embezzle or squander it either. In fact, he returned the original amount, so the worst you could say about him was that he may have been unduly timid and acted in an over-cautious manner.
However, my sympathy for this character soon faded away when I re-examined verses 24 and 25 and discovered a deeper meaning hidden there. At this point in the story the servant explained that his shameful inaction was caused by fear and that his fear was he saw his master as 'a hard man', who reaped where he had not sown and
who gathered where he had not scattered.
Sooner or later, it seems to me, we all have to face up to a basic choice in life. We can either listen to those fears in our hearts which distort our vision and paralyze our movement, or we can listen to the words of Jesus, words that reveal the truth and set our spirit free.
As the Gospel shows clearly, Jesus reveals God to us as a loving and merciful Father who is incapable of being mean or harsh. But if we allow our vision to be constricted by fear, we may tend to look on God as a 'hard man', who latches on to every little mistake we make and hands out punishment for every little offence we commit.
Perhaps, we need to take more notice of St. Paul's reminder to the Galatians that 'we are led by the Spirit and called to freedom'.
Perhaps, we need to remember, too, that if we allow our lives to be dominated by fear, especially the fear of failure or the fear of rejection, then much good is likely to be left undone.
On the other hand, if we have the courage to let the Spirit guide our steps we will be in a better position to see God as he really is and to see ourselves as his children. In that case, we shall avoid the misery of feeling spied upon or watched and rejoice in the freedom of being welcomed and accepted.
God Bless you.
In Mary Help of Christians,
I remain,
Fr. Jim McKenna SDB'
Director
Marian Shrine, NY
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Meeting on a train
Over a hundred years ago a university student found himself seated in a train by the side of a person who seemed to be a well-to do peasant. He was praying the rosary and moving the beads in his fingers. "Sir, do you still believe in such outdated things?" asked the student to the old man. "Yes, I do. Do you not?" asked the man. The student burst out in a laughter and said, "I do not believe in such silly things. Take my advice. Throw the rosary out through this window, and learn what science has to say about it". "Science? I do not understand this science? Perhaps you can explain it to me", the man said humbly with tears in his eyes. The student saw that the man was deeply moved. So to avoid further hurting the feelings of the man, he said: "Please give me your address and I will send you some literature to help you on this matter." The man fumbled in the inside pocket of his coat and gave the boy his visiting card. On glancing at the card, the student, lowered his head in shame and became silent. On the card he read: "Louis Pasteur, Director of the Institute of Scientific Research, Paris." A few years later when Pasteur died he held a Rosary in his hands. Louis Pasteur was a chemist, founder of physio-chemistry, father of bacteriology, inventor of bio-therapeutics. Born 1822 and died 1895. |
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 What love does
It was a busy morning, about 8:30 and the place was just being opened up, when an elderly gentleman in his 80s arrived to have stitches removed from his thumb. He said he was in a hurry, as he had an appointment at 9:00 am. The nurse whom he approached for help saw him looking nervously at his watch every now and then, and decided, since she wasn't really busy with another patient, that she would attend to his wound first. On examining it she saw that it was well healed, so she talked to one of the doctors, got the needed supplies to remove his sutures and re-dress his wound. While attending to his wound she entered into casual conversation with him, enquiring if he had another doctor's appointment that morning since he was in such a hurry. He mumbled something to the effect that he needed to go to the Nursing Home nearby to share breakfast with his wife. When the nurse inquired about her health he nonchalantly confided that she had been there for a while as she was a victim of Alzheimer's Disease. As the conversation continued, she asked if the wife would be upset if he was a bit late that day. To which he replied candidly that she no longer knew who he was, that she had not recognized him in five years now. Surprised, the nurse continued 'And you still go faithfully every morning, even though she doesn't know who you are?' He smiled as he patted her hand and said, 'She doesn't know me, but I still know who she is.' Deeply touched, the nurse had to hold back tears as he left. She had goose bumps on her arms and thought, 'That is the kind of love I want in my life.' True love is neither largely physical nor purely romantic. True love is acceptance of all that is, has been, will be, and will not be. But how rare to find that kind of love anywhere in the world! Love is perhaps the most talked of thing in our lives, one sees it bandied about everywhere, on hoarding advertisements, in short stories, in films - you name it and yet everyone seems to be hungering for it, as there is such a short fall of the genuine product! Strangely enough, that is the one commandment which Jesus felt he had to give his disciples before he sent them out on their own, and he called it 'the new commandment' because it had something to do with the way he himself had loved us. 'Love one another as I have loved you!' The "as I have loved" is what makes all the novelty, difference and difficulty. Most of us love others the way we feel like, 'doing what comes naturally,' and believe that we are all pretty good at it. Nevertheless if genuine love is to last, and if it is to be the way Jesus loved us, then it must have at least these three sterling qualities in large quantities: Intimacy, Passion and Commitment. It is only when all these three qualities are present and in the right proportion and balance that love will last and fulfill all who engage in it as did the love of this elderly gentleman. If any one of the three is missing or not present in the right proportion, then there is really no love worth talking about.
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 Laughter the best medicine
Horse Looking
One day a man passed by a farm and saw a beautiful horse. Hoping to buy the animal, he said to the farmer: "I think your horse looks pretty good, so I'll give you $500 for him."
"He doesn't look good, and he's not for sale," the farmer said.
The man insisted, "I think he looks good and I'll up the price to $1000!"
"He doesn't look so good," the farmer said, "but if you want him that much, he's yours."
The next day the man came back raging mad. He went up to the farmer and screamed, "You sold me a blind horse! You cheated me!"
The farmer calmly replied, "I told you he didn't look so good, didn't I?"
10 Questions
Our local paper runs a popular column called "10 Questions" that spotlights people who live in our community.
In addition to the usual inquiries about occupation and age, people are asked the questions that give a snapshot look of their personalities.
Recently one woman was asked, "What's the 'strangest' thing you ever bought?"
She answered, "Dog toothpaste."
Next question, "What is the 'most common' thing people say to you?"
Her answer: "Where did you get such white teeth?"
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 Devotion to the THREE HAIL MARY'S
The devotion of the THREE HAIL MARYS is a very simple yet most efficacious devotion.
Everyday, recite Three Hail Marys, adding the invocation: "O Mary, My Mother, keep me from mortal sin." Many people recite the Three Hail Marys as part of their morning and night prayers. To practice this devotion in time of danger, stress, special need or temptation, is a sure means to obtain Our Lady's help.
My sister-in-law was diagnosed with a malignant tumour of the breast and had to undergo an operation. Our fear was that the surrounding area would be infected or the breast would have to be removed. We are sincerely grateful to Our Blessed Lord and Mary Help of Christians through whose intercession not only was the tumour removed but not a single tissue or cell was affected. Mary, do keep us under your constant care.
Rosemary, MD
Thank you dear Mother Mary for granting my petitions. Gabriel, NY Many thanks to our Lady for the gift of a baby boy to my brother after 9 years of marriage. Mrs. Delphine, FL | |
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In Closing
Dear devotees of Our Lady and Don Bosco,
If you have received a miracle through the intercession of Our Blessed Mother, we would like to hear from you. Email us at MaryShrine@aol.com.
Bookstore hours: Monday - Saturday - 10 am to 5 pm, Sundays: 12 - 4 pm
Weekday Masses: 12 noon. Confessions on weekdays begin at 11.30 am.
Sunday Masses: 11 am and 12.30 pm
Other activities: Weekend retreats, Don Bosco Summer Camp, Rent Lomagno Hall, Eucharistic Adoration, Friday night Lenten Dinners, 50/50 raffle, 350 club, Rosary Madonna Statue.
MEMORIES
Remember a Loved One: Engrave plaques on Wall of Memories, adopt a Tree, Engrave blocks on Walk of Honor, All Souls, All year Candle lighting, Holiday (Christmas and Easter), Flowers, Schedule a Mass, Bell Chimes.
MASS INTENTIONS
To offer a mass intention, please write to
Fr. Jim McKenna SDB
174 Filors Lane,
Stony Point, NY 10980
mckennasdb@yahoo.com.
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