Dear Friends, One task that I am determined to do this summer is to

Dear Friends, One task that I am determined to do this summer is to

Website: www.nativityburke.org
18th SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
August 5, 2012
Dear Friends,
One task that I am determined to do this summer is to clean out my desk and file drawers, as well as my
closets at home. Many of you may be of the same mindset as I am as you look at all the “stuff” you have
accumulated over the years. I found keys from my old 1972 Oldsmobile; a desk clock that doesn’t work; outdated
files; books that I still have from college years that I have never opened just to mention a few. Nostalgia I guess,
but nostalgia amounts to clutter and dust. Looking at the closet at home, I think I’m filled with unrealistic
expectations: medium size shirts and several pair of pants with a size 33 waist. My shirt size is now large and my
waist size has unfortunately graduated to 38! I have given up on returning to the good old days and Salvation
Army has been the beneficiary. How easy it is to amass clutter, and the “don’t throw it away I may need it
someday” mentality. What I will not throw away, however, has little to no material value, but are so deep in my
heart. A candy dish that my mom made in her ceramics class when I was in my late 20’s with the words Love,
Mom, underneath. About that time, Dad made large picnic tables for Jack and Madeleine. I was living in the
rectory and had no need for such an item, but Dad made a small six inch table just for me. That remains one of
my favorite collectables along with a poem that he wrote for me on the occasion of my 25th anniversary.
This past week I was talking with my cousin, Mary Frances. While she and Matt have a comfortable
lifestyle now, Mary grew up in very poor conditions with her mother, my Aunt Mary, the sole provider for her
and her three other siblings. Mary, now in her 50’s, is one of the happiest of the “clan”. As we were reminiscing
about the good old days she said “Dick, if you can be happy for other people’s happiness, you’ll always be
happy.” And while talking about her somewhat impoverished earlier days she commented: “My wealth has never
been the material things I hold in my hand. My wealth is my husband, Matt, my son and my daughters. If my
house were to burn to the ground today, I would still be a very wealthy woman.” Much truth in those two
comments. Her words reminded me of the Gospel story entitled the Rich Fool. The story is about a rich man who
had an abundance of crops and each year he would build larger barns to store his harvested wealth. Never did he
think about sharing his abundance with others. And the haunting question of the Lord: “This night you will die
and to whom will all this piled up wealth go to.” (Luke 12:16-21).
Now I will continue to downsize, give away, and throw away. It will take a miracle for me to be able to
wear those size 33 pants anyway. Simple and less really is better. One thing in my office I shall not toss out
however is a small plaque that was given to me by Laurie Roberts, former school secretary. Again it has no
monetary value, but it continually reminds me of my cousins’ words above and what is truly important in my life:
“THE BEST THINGS IN LIFE ARE NOT THINGS.”
Now you know the pastor’s summer chores. Simple IS better. Too bad I didn’t realize this 30 years ago.
Have a nice week!
Website: www.nativityburke.org
18th SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
August 5, 2012
“Weekdays”
There is a wonderful little book written in 1992 by Greg Dues, entitled Catholic Customs & Traditions. It gives
a clear cut description of many of the practices of our Catholic faith. While browsing through this book the
other day, I came across some interesting information concerning the origin of “weekdays” and the beginnings
of our religious customs and practices. The seven day week is based on the natural quarterly subdivision of
the lunar month, and came into existence thousands of years ago. And of course, we find the seven day week
mentioned in the Book of Genesis. The seven days were named for the sun, the moon and the five planets that are visible to
the naked eye. In the pagan culture, these heavenly bodies were thought to have special supernatural powers and so were
considered gods. Later, during the Roman Empire, four of these days were renamed for the Roman gods. And so we have:
Sunday which is named for the sun, Monday is named for the moon, and Tuesday which is named for Tiw, the god of war.
Then we have Wednesday, named for the god Woden. Thursday is named for the god, Thor, and Friday is named for Frigg,
the goddess of love. Saturday is named for the planet Saturn. The earliest Christians truly celebrated only the first day of
the week, Sunday, the Lord’s day, with prayer, hymns and the Eucharistic memorial of bread and wine. They also did
hold very special the days of Wednesday and Friday, but more about that next week.
Are you going to leave me out in the cold?!! Please help by
volunteering to teach in the Religious Education Program. See
today’s bulletin flier for details. Call the Religious Education
Office today at 703.455.0372, or send an email to
[email protected].
Teachers and assistant teachers for the Religious Education
Program should attend the Orientation Meeting/Workshop on
Sunday, September 9, at 6:00pm in the Parish Hall. This is a
very important information meeting; please make every effort to
attend.
Mari Fernandez
Monday, August 6
7:30am
Fr. Martin
Jack Sellers
Tuesday, August 7
7:30am
Fr. Martin
Wednesday, August 8
Regina Balintona
7:30am
John Durkin
Thursday, August 9
7:30am
Fr. Korpi
Daniel E. Skuchko
Friday, August 10
7:30am
Fr. Korpi
Frank McHugh
Chris Hinnen
Spanish Mass
Saturday, August 11
9:00am
5:00pm
7:00pm
Fr. Korpi
Fr. Martin
Fr. Wilson
Students enrolled by August 26, begin religious education
classes the week of September 16.
Students enrolled after August 26, begin religious education
classes the week of September 23.
Receive an Early Bird Discount; register your child(ren) by
August 26, (tuition increases after August 26.) Important: a
student’s baptismal certificate must be included with the form
(including students baptized at Nativity) unless the certificate is
already on file in the Religious Education Office. Registration
forms are available in the Religious Education Office, on the
community board in the church vestibule, and at website:
www.nativityburke.org; click on Religious Education; then
click on Student Registration.
Pray the Rosary for World Peace.
Fr. Martin
Sunday, August 12
Special Intention for
M/M Ron Rawlin
Mary Warin
Gladys Zaptin
Frank Thomas
7:30am
9:00am
11:00am
12:45pm
Fr. Wilson
Fr. Hann
Fr. Charles
Fr. Wilson
Website: www.nativityburke.org
18th SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
August 5, 2012
PRO-LIFE CORNER
“With her long tradition of respect for
the right relationship between faith and
reason, the Church has a critical role to
play in countering cultural currents
which, on the basis of an extreme individualism, seek to
promote notions of freedom detached from moral truth. Our
tradition does not speak from blind faith, but from a rational
perspective which links our commitment to building an
authentically just, humane and prosperous society to our
ultimate assurance that the cosmos is possessed of an inner
logic accessible to human reasoning.” Pope Benedict XVI,
January 19, 2012. Full address during U.S. Bishops’ “ad
limina” visit to Vatican can be found at http://
www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/speeches/2012/
january/documents/hf_ben-xvi_spe_20120119_bishopsusa_en.html
The GABRIEL PROJECT supports women who are
facing a crisis pregnancy and need help. Contact 1-866444-3553 or [email protected] You
are not alone! (Gabriel Project is a crisis pregnancy
program open to all and sponsored by the Catholic Diocese
of Arlington.)
24-Hour Crisis Pregnancy Hotline:
1-800-395-HELP (4357)
Project Rachel (healing after abortion):
1-888-456-HOPE (4673)
Pregnancy Resource Centers Phone Numbers:
Catholic Charities National: 1-800-CARE-002
Catholic Charities Local: 703-425-0100
A Woman's Choice: 703-538-4305
Gabriel Project: 1-866-444-3553
Monday, August 6
8:00 pm……………………………....AA Meeting (APR)
Tuesday, August 7
9:30 am……………………………...Bible Study (APR)
Wednesday, August 8
11:30 am……………………….CYO Senior Citizen (PH)
7:00 pm…………………….Hispanic Prayer Group (SC)
7:30 pm…………………………..Legion of Mary (APR)
7:30 pm………………….………….Won meeting (APR)
Thursday, August 9
9:30 am……………………………...Craft Group (APR)
7:15 pm………………...…Prayer Group Meeting (APR)
Saturday, August 11
10:00 am……….....…………. Dog Obedience Class (PL)
Nativity School Summer Hours
Monday through Thursday 9:00am to noon
Closed Fridays
Regular schedule resumes Monday, August 20.
Inquiries? Contact
Mrs. Paulson at [email protected] ALTAR FLOWERS
In Loving Memory of
(Bill) Col. William Kahn
From Gerry Kahn
And
ANNUAL BINGO
The CYO will be holding their annual senior citizen bingo
game on August 15th, 2012. Lunch will be served at
11:30am followed by 2 hours of Bingo! Please see the flyer
in the main office for more information.
RCIC
The RCIC (Rite of Christian Initiation for Children)
program is looking for a volunteer to teach the younger half
of the program. The class is made up of children from 3rd
to 6th grade and meets on Wednesdays from 7:00-8:15pm.
If you are interested in serving in this way, please contact
Meghan O'Connor at 703-455-2400 or by email at
[email protected]. Thank you very much.
In Loving Memory of
Marie and Frank Denny
From Carol Denny
Thought of the Week
You’re never too old, never too bad, never too late, and
never too sick to start from scratch.
Bikham Choudhury
ADVERTISER OF THE WEEK
Certified Public Accountants
DONAVAN & PALMER. P.C.
703-426-5560
Website: www.nativityburke.org
18th SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
August 5, 2012
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT
New Jazz CD Available – Proceeds to Operation Starfish®
A SPECK IN TIME
Award-winning pianist and composer Bobby Jasinski will be signing copies of his debut CD, "A Speck in Time”
in the Nativity Gift Shop on Sunday, August 5th from 10-11 A.M. 100% of the donations raised at the signings
will be contributed to Operation Starfish. Bobby has donated the first 100 copies of his new album to our
ministry in Haiti. The suggested donation for each CD is $10. This music CD will be available in the gift shop
until the supply runs out.
Classically trained and influenced by jazz, Latin, pop, blues and funk, Bobby's debut CD is a vibrant and soulful
collection of 11 original compositions. For more information on this event or about Operation Starfish, please
contact Jim McDaniel, [email protected]. Additional information about the CD may be obtained by
contacting Bobby Jasinski at [email protected].
WOMEN OF NATIVITY CHRISTMAS IN AUGUST
The WON will be collecting school supplies after all
Masses during the weekend of August 11th –12th for its
annual Christmas in August Project. Items needed
include: loose-leaf paper, 3-ring binders, spiral notebooks
(single and multiple subject), pens, #2 pencils, fiskar
scissors, large glue sticks, thin Crayola markers, 12” rulers,
pencil cases and school backpacks. Supplies will only be
collected on the scheduled dates because of delivery arrangements. Thank you for your consideration in this
matter. For further information or questions, please call
Kathy McHugh at 703-239-2198 or Debby McLernon at
703-250-6869. Thank you in advance for your generous
contributions.
Prime Time Single Catholics
Ages 39 and up
Point of Contact
John McBride 703-820-9196
e-mail - [email protected]
Every Monday, 10 a.m. (except holidays) weather
permitting, Social Golf at the par 3 Burke Lake Golf
Center, Rose Sexton 703-644-4841
Weekly Thursday Luncheon, Joan Donahue (703)8665936
Sunday, Aug 5th 6:00 p.m. Dance at Elks Lodge. Call
Antonio Frato 703-751-3840
Saturday, Aug 11th 4:00 p.m. Walk at Mount Vernon,
ice cream or early dinner to follow. Call Janet Petri 703323-5055
Sunday, Aug 12th 9:15 a.m. Mass and brunch at Fort
Belvoir. Call Elaine Thies 703-356-7854
The 2ndSummer Exercise Session sponsored by The Shepherd’s Center Fairfax-Burke will be on Mondays from
9:30 AM-10:30 AM at the Lord of Life Lutheran Church, 5114 Twinbrook Rd., Fairfax. Gentle exercise for
strength, balance and flexibility using chairs as part of the program. Registration fee will be $12 for each of the 7
weeks. The second session is from Aug. 6th through Sept. 24th,with no class on Sept. 3rd. Please make checks
out to SCFB and pay on the first day of class. For further information call Bob Wiles at 703-323-5886. If
transportation is needed, call the SCFB office (703) 323-4788. See www.scfbva.org.
Website: www.nativityburke.org
18th SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
August 5, 2012
OPERATION STARFISH® NEWS
www.operation-starfish.org
High School Students Build House in Haiti
Madeline Ryan, a 2012 graduate of Georgetown Visitation Preparatory School in Washington, DC,
served as president of the school’s Hearts for Haiti club during her senior year. As a student leader,
she became aware of the need for housing following the devastating earthquake and led her class to
raise funds to build a house in Nativity Village at Mazere. Along the way, Madeline thought about
the children who lost family members and suffered injuries in the tragedy. So she also collected
over 300 stuffed animals to send to them.
Recently Fr. Martin presented Madeline with a Food For The Poor certificate and photo of the
Alexandre family, who have been moved out of the Shada slum and are now living in a new house,
thanks to the Visitation School senior class.
Georgetown Visitation was founded in 1799 and is sponsored by the Sisters of the Visitation. Rooted in the Catholic faith and Salesian
tradition, Visitation enrolls about 480 young women.
First Communion Dresses Sent to Haiti
When a Nativity parishioner recently spotted first communion dresses on sale at a local store, she scooped
up every one on the rack. With a gift from another parishioner to cover shipping, more than 20 dresses
were sent to Food For The Poor, where they will be put, space available, on the next sea container to Haiti.
In Fr. Martin’s thank-you letter, he said, “We can just imagine the looks on the little girls’ faces, can’t we,
when they receive these beautiful new dresses to wear on this special occasion in their lives.”
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THE MESSY OLYMPICS/WATER WARS will be on
August 14th at 6pm. We will be celebrating all things
messy!!! Please bring a change of clothes, a towel or two
and a water gun if you have one around your house!!!
SOS: On August 15th we will be having our annual senior
citizen bingo game. We will meet at 9am in the PH! Please
check facebook or email Meghan O'Connor at
[email protected] for more information.
Breakfast Club: On August 16th at 10:30am we will meet in
the APR for a movie and breakfast! 6th graders and up are
welcome!
Are You Interested in Becoming Catholic?
If so, we invite you to participate in Nativity’s RCIA program, beginning Monday, September 10, 2012, at 7 pm,
in the Parish Hall. The inquiry classes are held every
Monday evening up until Pentecost Sunday 2013 (except
Federal holidays and a Christmas break). The Sacraments
of Initiation are bestowed at the Easter Vigil.
RCIA, the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, is the
Catholic Church’s way of forming new disciples of Jesus
Christ, and welcoming new members into the Church at
the Easter Vigil. Our program involves instruction,
prayer, group discussion and spiritual events designed to
prepare those seeking to enter the Church. RCIA is open
to those who have not been baptized, Christians baptized
into another faith, adult baptized Catholics who have not
been confirmed and anyone else who wants to learn more
about the Catholic faith.
For more information, contact the Church office at (703)
455-2400, send an e-mail to Ron Riggins at
[email protected] or pick up an RCIA brochure at the
back of the Church.
Website: www.nativityburke.org
18th SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
August 5, 2012
REFLECTIONS ON OUR TRIP TO CHINA
Week 4
Final article
Ron Riggins
Young Adult Catholic Communities
The young adult community that provided our guides is led by a very courageous Chinese couple, who were
mentored by a leading figure in the Catholic Church. Young adult men and women come from all over China, making a
commitment to live in these communities for a formation period of at least two years – afterwards they return to their home
towns to develop new communities. The vision is to form new apostles who are commissioned to “go make disciples of all
nations”, that is, in all the provinces of China. The first China Youth Day this summer was modeled after the Pope’s World
Youth Day, with teachings, praise and worship and prayer ministry. It is expected that attendance will continue to increase
from the growing network of young adult communities.
We participated in one community in their Wednesday fasting and prayer session – in which we lifted up in prayer
each China province for conversion of their residents, for discipleship, for the courage of Catholics to evangelize, for young
adults to rise up to be lay leaders, and for the continued call to the vocations of ordained and religious life.
These young adults are hungry for God and love from older people. They did not want our money or even small gifts of
food and water. They wanted faith, hope and love. They wanted to learn how to forgive and about repentance. They
wanted to know that they had not been forgotten, that we were supporting them with our prayers and evangelistic efforts.
They experienced great joy in our love for them, knowing that we too put ourselves at risk to evangelize them.
We need to encourage these courageous young adults and leaders in their evangelization efforts. They need our
prayers. They need our financial support. They need more missionaries to help teach and encourage them. These young
adults are the future of the Church in China. Yes, there is risk, just like for the first Apostles. Blessed are they who are
persecuted in Jesus’ name.
Challenges in Evangelization in China
One of the keys to being a disciple of Christ is “surrender”, that is, surrendering our will to God’s will, saying “yes”
just like Mary’s “fiat” at the Annunciation. Teaching this type of surrender in China is a challenge in that they have little
understanding of free will given the obedience required in communism – in effect, they have already surrendered their will,
but to the government. The government ensures that the basic need of food is met through low prices and food programs to
pacify the masses and they promote national pride through the state controlled media. We helped them understand that God
created them to be unique, for a special purpose in the Kingdom of God, and that He created them because He loved them
individually. We helped them discern their identity in Jesus, and that the Holy Spirit gives them freedom despite the ordinary aspects of their lives. In this way, we were able to convey surrendering their will to God’s will. The essence of our
teachings was about love – not about rebellion – consistent with Jesus’ teaching to “render unto Caesar what is Caesar’s”.
Concluding Thoughts
This trip was life-changing for all of our missionary team. Based on our experience, we anticipate we will be
returning in the future to continue this work. We look forward to returning and sharing our faith with others, helping to
build the Church in China. Despite the impoverished nature of the Catholic Church in China, the faith of many young
adults is alive and vibrant. We were truly blessed to be able to perform this missionary work during an exciting period of
growth. We were stirred to tears with their courage in face of risk. We felt like we were witnessing the growth of the early
Church described in the Acts of the Apostles. We have been humbled by the faith of those we met, and how they risk
persecution by assembling to build up their faith and by responding to the call to discipleship. Our faith grew immensely as
we learned to trust God more in responding to the leadings of the Holy Spirit. We look forward to returning … and taking
new missionaries with us. As we left each conference, we gave them an inspired blessing of the Father, which ended with
the following:
Wo de hai zi (My children), wo ai ni (I love you).
Yin fu (In the name of the Father),
Ji zi (and the Son)
Ji sheng shen zhi ming (and the Holy Spirit).
Amen.
Our Lady of China, pray for us!
Website: www.nativityburke.org
18th SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
August 5, 2012
SOBRE TODO, PUES ESO, SEGUIMOS A JESÚS
XVIII
Javier Leoz
Después de la multiplicación de los panes, Jesús, nos presenta el discurso eucarístico.
Es como aquella madre que, sentando a su pequeño sobre sus rodillas, lo alimenta y a
continuación le inicia en las grandes verdades o cuestiones de la vida. Todo, en la in
tención de la madre, va unido: alimento y palabra, pan y enseñanza.
1.La multiplicación de los panes no había sido ni mucho menos una puesta en
escena de Jesús. El Señor, con esa intervención, sale al paso de una determinada y urgente
necesidad: existí hambre física.
-Cuando aprieta el hambre, el resto de los sentidos se resisten a funcionar. Ni el tacto es tan sensible ni, el oído,
resulta ser tan atento
-Cuando aprieta el hambre, las muchas palabras, no sirven de nada o de casi poco.
-Cuando aprieta el hambre, la debilidad se adueña y el sinsentido aparece en el horizonte.
-La Iglesia, allá donde está presente, cuida los dos vértices: da pan (movida por la caridad y generosidad de los
cristianos) y ofrece el Pan del Cielo (siguiendo el mandamiento de Jesús): haced esto en memoria mía. Las dos
acciones manifiestan la grandeza y la esplendidez de un Dios que sale al encuentro del ser humano.
2.¿Cómo es nuestra amistad con el Señor? ¿Gratuita o interesada? ¡Cuántas amistades humanas se
fundan precisamente en intereses materiales y en cálculos egoístas! Como aquel rey persa que
cruzaba el desierto, con sus camellos cargados de joyas y de diamantes ¿En qué acaba la historia?
Pues sí; aquel ministro fiel, que prefirió seguir a su rey en vez de quedarse con los tesoros, afirmó:
“Me importa más mi rey que todas las perlas de mi rey”. ¡Escasos de encontrar esta tipología de
personas! A veces por mirar el humo no deparamos en el fuego. A veces por mirar el contenido, no
cuidamos ni agradecemos la mano que nos lo da.
-Seguir a Jesús cuando las cosas nos van bien, cuando el trabajo abunda, cuando el amor ha llamado
a la puerta, es fácil
-Seguir a Jesús cuando la salud es fuerte y vigorosa, cuando tenemos medios suficientes para llevar
una vida cómoda, es fácil
-Seguir a Jesús cuando el ser cristiano no nos aprieta demasiado, cuando conseguimos de la Iglesia
sacramentos, atenciones o una religión a la carta, es fácil.
Pero ¿qué ocurre cuando, el Señor, nos exige ascender a un plano superior? Simplemente que
nos escandalizamos o nos retiramos por nuestra incapacidad de estar a la altura evangélica.
Que el Señor nos ayude a no instalarnos en la rutina. Que nuestra fe, además de alabanza, oración y
generosidad, sea un conocimiento de lo que Dios quiere para nuestra existencia humana: que
creamos en Él. Que nos fiemos de Él. Que le amemos con todo nuestro corazón y toda nuestra alma.
Un sacerdote en un barrio populoso de New York ofrecía a una persona la posibilidad de convertirse
al cristianismo. La respuesta (lógica por otra parte) del ciudadano fue la siguiente: ¿Y qué me dan
por ser cristiano? El sacerdote, por supuesto, le contestó: “entre otras muchas cosas, lo más
importante, la Vida Eterna”.
Website: www.nativityburke.org
18th SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
QUÉ ME DAS, SEÑOR, A CAMBIO
De mi confianza cuando la deposito en ti
y me alejo de los que me prometes otros paraísos
¿Qué me das, Señor, a cambio?
De mi seguimiento y de mi fidelidad
de mi silencio o de mi reconciliación
de la ofrenda de mi vida o de mis esfuerzos
¿Qué me das, Señor, a cambio?
De mi fe,
aunque sea débil y hasta interesada
De mi constancia,
aunque a veces me quede por el camino
De mi audacia,
aunque en momentos piense más en mí que en Ti
¿Qué me das, Señor, a cambio?
¿Me darás, tal vez, la Vida Eterna,
frente a esta efímera?
¿Tal vez tus palabras verdaderas
en contra de las falsas que me rodean?
¿Tal vez tu mano cuando otras me abandonan?
¡Necesito que me des tanto, Señor!
Tu presencia, cuando me encuentro huérfano
Tu luz, cuando la oscuridad eclipsa mi esperanza
Tu cielo, cuando sólo veo tierra y más tierra
Tus mandamientos, cuando construyo una vida a la carta
Tu respuesta, cuando ya nadie me escucha ni me responde
¡Dame, Señor, sobre todo tu persona!
Que temo no encontrarte en la dirección por donde busco
o, tal vez, hacerme un “dios” a mi medida
Que temo encontrarte demasiado rápido
sin cambiar mis días en poco o en nada
Que temo confundirte con otros señores
y disfrazarte de comodidad y de riqueza
de orgullo y de existencia del todo fácil
Ven a mi encuentro, Jesús,
y aléjame de todo aquello que me impide ser tu testigo
de todo aquello que me aleja de tu reino
de todo aquello que me confunde y me degrada
de todo aquello que, simplemente, no eres Tú.
Amén
Javier Leoz
Palabras mágicas
August 5, 2012
de lo que vemos o padecemos, y muchas veces recurrimos a
tópicos o causas simples, sencillas, de uso común: a
palabras mágicas, a ideas conocidas. Pero también, en otras
ocasiones, nos damos cuenta de que las cosas no son tan
sencillas, y de que la “palabra mágica” no da con la verdadera causa de un problema.
El calor puede ser debido, simplemente, a un cambio de
vientos, repetido cientos de veces a lo largo de los últimos
siglos sin que nadie nos haya dicho que esto puede volver a
ocurrir de nuevo. El niño con dolor de garganta quizá tiene
un problema incipiente de alergia, y estamos empezando la
primavera... Sobre el temblor de la tierra, lo más probable
es que se deba a los movimientos normales de las placas de
nuestro planeta, o quizá sea un preaviso del nacimiento de
un nuevo volcán: el agujero de ozono no es el responsable
de todos nuestros males y desgracias... Y quizá el fracaso
de la empresa que conocemos sea el resultado de una mala
gestión económica y de la acción de algún usurero que puso
la cuerda al cuello a un propietario ingenuo...
Conviene no olvidar dos hechos muy humanos. El primero:
aunque muy pocos llegan a conocer, a fondo, el porqué
profundo de todo lo que pasa a nuestro alrededor, muchos
se atreven a hablar sin conocimiento de causa para ofrecer
explicaciones que parecen verdaderas y que satisfacen ese
deseo que todos tenemos de dar nuestra opinión sobre los
temas más variados.
Lo más normal en esos casos es recurrir a los tópicos, a lo
que aparentemente podría ser explicación, sin que, en realidad, lleguemos a saber el fondo del problema. Pero actuar
así implica faltar a la prudencia.
Sería bueno aprender de algunos especialistas, como los
médicos, que reconocen el carácter probable, incierto,
aproximativo, de sus análisis y diagnósticos. Si un
especialista declara que se puede equivocar, es mucho más
frecuente el error en quienes juzgan (juzgamos) con muy
pocos datos en la mano. La prudencia a la hora de hablar
vale, por lo tanto, para todos.
Autor: P. Fernando Pascual
Después de un día de calor asfixiante, alguno exclama: ¡es culpa de la contaminación! Cuando un niño empieza a sentir
dolor de la garganta, la mamá cree que se
trata del inicio de una gripe. Si se produce
un terremoto cerca de mi casa, tal vez alguno diga que es culpa del agujero del
ozono. Y si una empresa se declara en bancarrota, no pocos pensarán que la culpa de
este fracaso está en la globalización.
Los hombres somos así: queremos encontrar la explicación
El segundo hecho es que, incluso si llegásemos a tener el
tiempo suficiente para investigar a fondo y con los instrumentos adecuados lo que está pasando, nos sentiríamos
abrumados por una infinidad de datos y detalles, por lo que,
casi instintivamente, daríamos más importancia a unos y
dejaríamos de lado otros, para quedar con algo más o
menos claro en nuestra cabeza y en los informes que preparemos para los demás. Somos simplificadores por naturaleza... o por pereza.
Si un joven se suicida, es más fácil acusar a sus padres que
analizar paso a paso las últimas decisiones del pobre
fracasado. Si un banco quiebra, resulta más cómodo hablar
Website: www.nativityburke.org
18th SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
de la macroeconomía que revisar las cuentas e inversiones de
ese banco en los últimos meses. Si la sopa me sale mal, más
de uno dirá que es culpa de la suegra, que lo distrajo con sus
problemillas precisamente en el momento más importante de
la cocción...
Para no incurrir en estos errores, vale la pena reconocer que
no comprendemos ni la mitad de cosas que ocurren a nuestro
lado. Si una esposa abandona a su marido y a los hijos, no
basta con pensar que todo se debe a la televisión (quizá ni
siquiera había televisión en esa casa). Si un manifestante
rompe un cristal de MacDonalds tal vez sea porque tiene una
fuerte tendencia agresiva, y no porque la globalización puede
ser un proceso injusto de unificación gastronómica...
Un poco de humildad nos evitará no pocos errores de juicio,
errores más graves cuando se trata de hablar sobre la fama de
hombres y mujeres que viven a nuestro lado.
El silencio puede ser señal de timidez, pero a veces es el resultado de un corazón profundo y atento, que no quiere decir
más de lo que se sabe. Y es que, de verdad, sabemos muy
poco de lo que pasa, de lo que somos, del mundo en el que
vivimos y del pasado que nos condiciona de mil modos.
Ojalá, al menos, sepamos que hay muchas cosas que no sabemos, y callemos cuando hay que callar. Guardar silencio,
aunque pueda parecer propio de ignorantes, muchas veces es
señal de sabiduría y sensatez...
La intención es lo que importa Autor: Oscar Schmidt
Es muy notable como la misma actitud, el
mismo gesto, puede en dos personas distintas
contener significados opuestos. Una buena
acción de alguien a veces nos deja con la extraña sensación de que algo está mal allí. Y la
misma situación puesta en cabeza de otra persona parece ser sin dudas un gesto de amor sincero.
Otras veces, una acción que nos parece incorrecta a la luz de
nuestro pobre juicio, nos deja con la impresión de que en el
fondo puede no estar tan mal. Y puesta en cabeza de otra
persona, ¡definitivamente es una mala actitud! ¿Qué es lo
que ocurre?.
Ocurre que hay algo que es invisible a nuestros ojos: es la
intención verdadera que tiene la persona en el corazón. ¡Y
sólo Dios puede ver lo que ocurre en nuestros corazones!.
¡Y sólo Dios puede ver lo que ocurre en nuestros corazones!.
Es por este motivo que Jesús nunca dejaba a sus discípulos
juzgar a los demás, porque muchas veces el silencio humilde
de una persona la colocaba en actitud incómoda frente a los
August 5, 2012
hombres, ante un supuesto mal gesto. Sin embargo, en su
corazón, esta persona guardaba una intención recta y sincera para con Dios. Y otras veces, quienes se esforzaban en
aparecer justos y nobles frente a los hombres eran quienes
abrigaban intenciones más indignas en el corazón.
Las cosas que se hacen deben estar originadas en intenciones virtuosas, intenciones de hacer el bien. Esto es mas
importante que las consecuencias mismas de nuestras acciones, ya que Dios ve en lo profundo de nuestros corazones, muy por encima de la opinión de los hombres sobre
nuestros actos. Y no hay que preocuparse tanto de cómo
luzcamos frente a los demás, ya que no son ellos quienes
nos juzgarán cuando llegue el momento de sopesar nuestra
vida: será el Justo Juez, Jesús, quien dictamine si hubo intención virtuosa en la forma en que hemos vivido.
Por otra parte, es preferible pensar que los demás tienen
una intención virtuosa en sus actos, y no desconfiar al extremo de accionar permanentemente nuestras defensas en
anticipación a ser engañados o perjudicados. Si el otro tuvo
intención virtuosa, Dios verá con agrado como dos de sus
hijos obran en el bien. Y si el otro se aprovechó de mi, pues
tendré un perjuicio a nivel humano, pero seré visto con
mirada agradable por Dios. Y el juicio Divino recaerá sólo
sobre el otro.
Jesús llevó la intención virtuosa al extremo de jamás haber
pecado. Y si bien El es Dios, también fue hombre. Y como
tal estuvo sometido a la tentación: recordemos los cuarenta
días en el desierto, y tantas otras veces en que los hombres
lo sometieron a presiones e intentos de engaño. Sin embargo, en treinta y tres años de vida ¡jamás pecó!. Buena
parte de las acusaciones que los hombres hicieron para llevarlo a la muerte, fueron acumulándose en la negativa de
Cristo a aceptar las reglas de juego del mundo: El simplemente tuvo intención virtuosa en todo lo que hizo, más allá
de las reacciones de los hombres. Claro que llevar la intención virtuosa a tal extremo de perfección tuvo sus consecuencias: ¡Nuestro Señor terminó crucificado en el Gólgota!.
Hagamos todo en la vida con una intención virtuosa, con
ánimo de hacer el bien. Las cosas nos podrán ir bien o mal,
pero sin dudas estaremos en el sendero que Dios marca
para nosotros.
¡La mirada de Dios es lo único que cuenta!.