Imitation

Years ago I visited my brother and his family. At that time his son and daughter were then quite young and very active. One morning I was awakened by them jumping up and down, doing faux karate kicks and rolling around the floor. Having a great time! I asked what was going on and they solemnly explained that they were 'Ninja Mutant Turtles' whom I learned later were characters from a then very popular children’s show. They were imitating how the cartoon turtles acted on television. Funny, and I am sure that those blessed with children have many similar stories.

But it is not just children who imitate others, in fact, we all do, sometimes in small ways, sometimes going so far as to model our life around the actions of others.

Who do we imitate and what do we get out of it?

This is one of the questions which today's readings poses. St. Paul asks us to imitate Christ, which means loving (even our enemies!), being generous, grateful and centering our life on God. Not to copy the famous or movie stars with more bling or the latest I Phone but how we imitate Jesus in loving- that is the standard that matters.

Imitation of Christ leads not to a diminishment of life ( i.e. missing out on all the 'fun'!) but its achievement in a deeper way; a transformation that can make us more human and less chained by sin, fear, and ego. The Gospel reading tells us about the Transfiguration where Jesus met with Moses and Elijah, each with bodies radiating light (scholars say this is possibly a post-Easter event woven into the Gospel by Luke to make a point for his congregation!). Just as Jesus at Mt. Tabor is transfigured so through grace we can slowly be transformed if we choose to daily imitate Him. But unlike on Mount Tabor our transformation is neither instantaneous nor pain free. Nonetheless, imitation of Christ leads to our transformation into people who are more loving, grateful, generous and alive to the wonders of creation. And a person in love not only is transformed but helps transform others through love.

Imitation of Christ opens our hearts to those around us as well as those whom we do not see. The poor, our brothers and sisters in Christ, around the world are suffering and pleading for help. Mission Doctors Association heeds that call and dedicates itself to sending many fine men and women to give medical care to the world’s poor. MDA also offers a way for us to help this fine work.
 
Today's guest blog post is contributed by Brother John Kiesler, OFM is a member of the facility of the Franciscan School of Theology in California. Brother John is a member of the Formation Facility for long-term missionaries through Mission Doctors and presents at the Annual Retreat Seminar on the theology of mission. Additionally he serves as a member of the Board of Directors for Mission Doctors Association.

Temptations

Here we are the first Sunday of Lent- beginning of our liturgical journey which ends with Easter and Pentecost and any trip begins with the first step. True enough but why talk about temptation immediately, it seems so negative and depressing, why not focus on something uplifting?

Today’s reading from the Gospel of Luke does indeed focus on temptation, specifically the story of Satan tempting Jesus three times when He was in the desert. While this may seem a depressing topic (who really wants to focus on his/her sins?) it is filled with hope. We are all tempted at times do not be loving to others, to not listen, to be selfish, jealous, not to forgive, to be angry, or greedy or gluttonous. It is a common human experience and many of us feel powerless in the face of temptation. This Gospel takes this common experience and shows us that even Jesus was tempted (He is not only divine but shares our human nature) and resisted. We have a God who understands what it is like to be distracted by the allurements of sin but one who promises to be with us to resist. A God who loves us, forgives us when we sin and helps us resist sin.

But temptations to evil are only part of the story.

Daily we also have 'temptations' to do good; the Holy Spirit is alive and moves amongst us in our daily life. The Spirit is constantly calling us to be more loving, more understanding of difficult co-workers, family and friends, or to be more fearless in living as a Christian. In addition to realizing that temptation to sin is real and that God is with us to resist- perhaps we can also ask:
How is the Spirit moving me this Lent to be a better Christian?
How are we called to be a better husband/wife/son/daughter?
Are they people who could be helped by a visit and listening ear?
How can I help people who bring healing to the world?

Mission Doctors Association provides the support, financial and practical, to enable many doctors to respond to the Holy Spirit in order to bring healing to God's poor. It invites us to participate in this healing mission through prayer and financial support.

Perhaps the Spirit is ‘tempting’ you to pray and donate to this work during Lent?

Today's guest blog post is contributed by Brother John Kiesler, OFM is a member of the facility of the Franciscan School of Theology in California. Brother John is a member of the Formation Facility for long-term missionaries through Mission Doctors and presents at the Annual Retreat Seminar on the theology of mission. Additionally he serves as a member of the Board of Directors for Mission Doctors Association.

  
Oh no, here is it again the beginning of that time of year! You know what I mean! A day when we go to church, get ashes smudged on our foreheads, listen to a rather somber homily reminding us of our mortality, and, perhaps, decide what we want to ‘offer up’ for Lent. What is the point of getting depressed with reminders of death in a world in which I have too much too do? It is a common question and one that often points to how the meaning of Lent has been over overlooked or forgotten.

Ash Wednesday is the beginning of Lent but it is not meant as a period of sadness but rather reflection on our life. Ashes and reminders of death are intended not to sap the joy out of life but as reminders of its giftedness and transitory nature. During Lent we are called to focus on prayer, fasting and almsgiving to the poor not as punishment (or somehow to show how good we are) but to remind us that as humans we have a body as well as a soul (how often has the Church and theology overlooked that connection in the past!) and both are gifts of God. We are not just solitary individuals with souls and bodies but people in relationship (whether we realize it or not) with God, creation, and others- thus the call for more attentiveness to prayer, fasting and generosity to the poor. Through these practices (not just pious thoughts but real actions) the Church calls us to think about our life, with its shortness, and how we can be more loving to God, more respectful of creation by consuming only what we need and more alive to suffering brothers and sisters.

Lent is a marvelous time for us to get down to basics. So rather than see it as a time for sadness or something to endure perhaps we can see it as a time to ask ourselves some questions, for example:
How much time do I really spend with God, with my spouse, children, friends, family?
Do I try to bring peace and love to those around me in family or at work?
Am I hooked on mindless consumption of goods or addicted to electronic media?
Do I live as if there are not over two billion poor in the world today?

Basics. And part of this is action to change our present habits to ones more enriching to ourselves and others. One way of doing this might be to support through prayer and monetary donations the work of Mission Doctors Association, which sends doctors around the world to bring healing to the bodily ills of poor who would otherwise be neglected.

Donations to MDA can be a way to celebrate Lent and remind us of others in the world who suffer but connect us to good doctors who are trying to bring positive solutions in Christ’s name.

Year of Mercy

Brother John Kiesler, OFM is a member of the facility of the Franciscan School of Theology in California. Brother John is a member of the Formation Facility for long-term missionaries through Mission Doctors and presents at the Annual Retreat Seminar on the theology of mission. Additionally he serves as a member of the Board of Directors for Mission Doctors Association.

We recently asked him: "How can we speak about the Year of Mercy in light of our work?" 

His answer:
As you may recall from Old Testament studies, one feature of early Israelite society was the Jubilee time every seven years- a time to re-balance life and society. This took very concrete forms: fields were to lie fallow for a year; debts were forgiven; and land sold after the previous Jubilee was returned to the original owners. The scriptural foundation for this practice is found in the Book of Leviticus Chapter 25. Additionally, there was a major Jubilee year every 50 years.

The Church historically took up this idea, not in terms of social re-adjustments, but in declaring every 50 years a Holy Year, a year of Jubilee, marked by special indulgences, special penance services and a time for reflection on God's mercy.

In more recent times this Jubilee year has continued every fifty years but additionally some popes have declared special Jubilee years to encourage penance, forgiveness and reconciliation.

So what about the 'year of mercy'? On April 11 of this year Pope Francis in a bull of indiction declared the period from December 8, 2015 until November 20, 2016 (the Feast of Christ the King!) to be an extraordinary year of Jubilee (meaning that it does not fall in the normal 50 year cycle[verses. 4-5]). In the document Misericoriae Vultus the Pope picked December 8 in order to point to Mary as Mother of Mercy as well as a celebration of the fifty years since the close of the Second Vatican Council.

In Misericoriae Vultus the Pope calls for this year to be a time of repentance, pilgrimage and the granting of special indulgences to sinners in order to remind us of God’s great mercy (verses 12-14; 22). It also calls for the faithful to pay special attention to the poor and marginalized: "In this Holy Year we look forward to the experience of opening our hearts to those living on the outermost fringes of society; fringes which the modern society creates." (verse 15). It is the hope that Catholics would re-awaken a sense of mercy as well as "...Reawaken our conscience, too often grown dull in the face of poverty." (verse 15). This concern is more than a new awareness of the poor but a call for action as Pope Francis says: "Let us rediscover these corporal works of mercy.... (verse 15). Finally, there is a discussion on need for confessors, “ missionaries of mercy” and a communal Church to witness of mercy.

As you can see this fits very well with a call for Catholics to be mindful of our brothers and sisters in need of medical care in poorer parts of the world!

The document in its entirety (only 21 pages) can be found on line at www.vatican.va 

I hope that this helps and if you have any other questions please ask.
Brother John Kiesler,OFM

Sometimes in our lives we are fortunate enough to meet a saint, then there are days when you can meet two!

The Archdiocese of Los Angeles White Mass (named for the white coats worn by health professionals) is co-sponsored by the Archdiocese Department of Health Affairs and Mission Doctors Association and takes place near the feast of St Luke each year.

This year Bishop Clark was the main celebrant and he offered a moving homily on how service can transform a life. Two of the other celebrants were also the recipients of Mission Doctors Catholic Doctor of the Year award, and I only wish everyone could have spent time with them.

Fr. Jack MacCarthy. MD and Fr. Maurice Schroeider, MD are priest physicians who have served together for 30 years in the Amazon Basin of Peru caring for the indigenous people in 100 villages up and down the Napo river.  We heard story after story of faith and healing, we laughed, we were moved, I was overwhelmed by the humility and dedication of these two men... In their eyes I think I can see a wish that this was the first day and thirty years lay ahead of them... Yet they are not done,  Padre Jack is making plans to return to Peru in January, and Padre Moe has a full schedule in Ottawa to strive to make Santa Clotilde Hospital self sustaining

You can read more about them and the award on the Tidings page.

Fr. Jack and Fr. Mo receiving the Catholic Doctor of the Year Awards

Father's Day

Love.  Dedication. Hardworking. (A bit goofy).  Poet.

These are the words I think of when I think of my own father. He was hard working grocery store manager, a dedicated husband, and veteran of WWII - a bit of a show off - with the heart of a poet.

Fathers around the world like my father, George, support their families, care for their children and give everything they have for their families and spouses.  They sacrifice much to ensure that their children will be able to achieve to their abilities.

Dr. Brian Medernach, a mission doctor serving in Peru, and a father to young Charlie, wrote a beautiful blog post for Father’s day that I want to share.

All Mission Doctors sacrifice their efforts, their time, resources and comfort.  This Father's Day please join me in remembering and holding up in prayer our Mission Doctor fathers who have served, and who are serving around the world today.  May our loving Father be their strength, may St. Joseph be their model, and may they be rewarded for all they do for their children.

PS - In the Newsletter that will be coming out in July 1st - I invite you to read another article by Brian about the tremendous dedication of a father on the Napo river who paddled 6 hours to bring his critically ill son to Santa Clotilde Mission

Global Day of Parents

Today, June 1, is the Global Day of Parents.

The United Nations set aside this day in 2012 to recognized and honor parents around the world.

When I first heard about this holiday I immediately thought about the parents I visit when I travel for Mission Doctors.  Both the Mission Doctors who are parents themselves, and the parents I meet sitting at the bedside of a child in a hospital.

Sacrifice is the universal language of parenthood – not a sacrifice the is laden with obligation but sacrifice filled with joy. It doesn’t make it easy to get up with an infant who hasn’t slept well for a week but when gazing at the sleeping child most mothers will say their (sleepy) hearts fill to overflowing.

Every parent wants the same thing for their child.  We want our children to be happy, to be health, to reach their potential.

Circumstances make this very hard for so many.  For the parents waking today in a refugee camp; for those who lack a permanent home; for parents who aren’t sure if they will be able to feed their children today – or if their child will survive the night….

My children and grandchildren are well. I am grateful.

My prayer is that all parents everywhere will have the opportunity to share this joy.