Happy, Blessed, and Beloved

Dear Cursillo friends,

In a book entitled, LIFE OF THE BELOVED, by Henri Nouwen, Henri reminds me of the scripture passage: "You are my beloved, on you my favor rests."

Henri is speaking to each of us as we live our lives becoming more and more aware of our belovedness. How do you and I become more aware of this unique and very special truth?

Henri and many of my friends have reminded me that I became BELOVED through the grace of my Baptism. I believe this is true for each of us.

As I prepared to write this refection, I recalled Henri saying that we are empowered through the graced life of the Holy Spirit. We do not earn this life; we have been chosen.

I am graced and happy that I am blessed to be God's BEloved.

On the fourth Sunday of Ordinary Time, Matthew's account of the eight Beatitudes was proclaimed at our Sunday Liturgy.

Matthew uses the word BLESSED are...while Mark uses the word HAPPY to convey the result of the Beatitudes in our lives.

I googled the word: BEATITUDE. Both words, HAPPY and BLESSED are from a Latin word, BEATUS.

As I thought of the word BEATITUDE and its original meaning, I was struck by the first two letters B and E.

To BE is what I am called TO BE. I am called TO BE God's BELOVED, God's CHOSEN one.

I've also been touched with the reality that each Beatitude has its own beauty and depth.

And so as I reflect even more on BEATITUDE, I realize I am invited to "BE" kind, to "BE" helpful, to "BE" generous, to "BE" welcoming, to "BE" merciful", to "BE" a peacemaker and to "BE" clean of heart.

The word "BE" makes all the difference in what it means to "BE"God's BELOVED and to LIVE the BEATITUDES.

YOU AND I ARE GOD'S BELOVED!!!!!!

Sister Pat Meyer, OSF

February God's Call to Love

From the Lay Director (Each month, one of our Lay Directors will write an article.)

February, the month that highlights love. Valentines day. Is this what “real” love looks like? Don’t get me wrong, that is one very true version of love. And God expects us to love one another…..right? But what love does God have in mind? To love my brothers and sisters as I want to be loved; to be treated. I remember telling my children while they were young to treat others as they wanted to be treated, not as they were necessarily being treated. And that in fact is very hard at times..isn’t it. God expects us to love our neighbors when they talk trash about us to other neighbors. When the guy in church presents an idea to the parish that was ours, not his. When our co-workers stepped up to help on a project and steer it away from us when we were really looking forward to working on it…and they knew it! And the list goes on.

Jesus went through all these things when He was here on earth. He knew what we would come up against and yet He called and continues to call us to love. He went through all of it so that we could get through it… with His strength and courage.

Mother Theresa said, “People are often unreasonable and self centered. Forgive them anyway”.

Love looks beyond the present to see what could be, what is possible. And if we cannot see it, then we need to have faith and trust in God.

Last Sunday’s gospel is from Matthew 4:35-41. The beatitudes. How am I living for God? Am I putting Him first in my life by loving those around me? And I believe that family can be the hardest to love. They know all the buttons to push.

Peace, prayers, and blessings to all of you!

De Colores!

John Lyons lyons5876@gmail.com

Our Cursillo Patron Saint

Greetings Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

I am writing this on the Feast of St. Paul the Apostle, our Cursillo Patron. As we plan this new year ahead of us, there is no saint better to pattern our lives after. More than anyone else, Paul demonstrated to us all of the best character and virtue of which we are capable. He embraced each new day as another chance to serve Jesus Christ with more eagerness than the day before, despite the dangers that threatened him.

Paul summed up his attitude in this: “I forget what is behind me and go forward to what lies ahead.” When he thought death was imminent, he told others to share his joy: “Rejoice and be glad with me.” And when he faced danger, abuse and unjust treatment, he said: “I am content with weakness, mistreatment and persecution,” (for when I am weak, it is then that I am strong).

Paul was continually beaten, abused and cursed, and he wore all that he endured on his person as if a badge of honor, that he had been given the opportunity to give glory to Jesus Christ, for whom he suffered. He did not complain about the abuse, but offered thanks to God for it all saying “thanks be to God who is always victorious in us.”

The only thing that St. Paul truly worried about, the one focus of his life, was pleasing God. The most important thing of all to him, however, was that he knew he was loved by Christ.

He relished Jesus’ love and he considered himself happier than anyone else in the world. And if he were without Jesus’ love, nothing in the world could take its place. He preferred that love and being the least of all in the world, to any other friendships or honors. To be without that love, in his eyes, would by itself have been hell and endless, unbearable torture. Being loved by Christ, Paul thought of himself as possessing life itself and all that the world contains.

Paul put no value in the things of this visible world, any more than we would on weeds or rocks. He paid no attention to people in positions of power and influence, or those who resisted his efforts to spread the gospel and the love of Christ.

Frustrations, resistance, sickness, torments, pain and death itself were nothing to him, as long as he might bear some burden for the sake of Christ. Whether preaching, traveling or restrained in a narrow prison, “Paul dwelt in heaven.”

We should not simply admire St. Paul, but also imitate this shining example of virtue. “In thinking of Paul we should not consider only his noble and lofty virtues or the strong and ready will that disposed him for such great graces. We should also realize that he shares our nature in every respect. If we do, then even what is very difficult will seem to us easy and light; we shall work hard during the short time we have on earth and someday we shall wear the incorruptible, immortal crown. This we shall do by the grace and mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom all glory and power belong, now and always through endless ages. Amen.”

(St. John Chrysostom, Posted Jan. 26, 2021, Cross Roads Init., Hom. 2 de laudibus Sancti Pauli: PG 50, 477-484)

DeColores,

Deacon. Denny Scherger