WHITE HOUSE JESUIT RETREAT

St. Louis, MO 63129

1-800-643-1003

Jesuit retreat center high on the bluffs of the Mississippi River in St. Louis, MO.  Since 1922, thousands of people from around the world make annual three-day silent, guided retreats here to relax, reconnect with God and strengthen their spirituality.  A true gem in the Midwest!  Call 314-416-6400 or 1-800-643-1003.  Email reservations@whretreat.org  7400 Christopher Rd.  St. Louis, MO 63129

Both men's and women's retreats are offered as well as recovery retreats.

Take Spirituality to the Next Level!

Weekend Reflections for 9/14/18

September 13, 2018  /  Joe Parisi

Who do you say I am?

In our faith life I’m inclined to believe that each of us will be asked at one time or another the question that Jesus poses to his disciples in this Sunday’s Gospel : who do you say I am. In the second reading from St. James’ epistle there is a challenging second question presented: how do the actions of my life or my behavior conformed to my response to Jesus’ question. Another way of putting this, are my faith life and my actions consistent? If Christ is for me God’s anointed my Savior who spent his life so that I might be free from the sins and evil in it and around it, then how well does my behavior conformed to Jesus teachings, to his example?

Jesus does not make it any easier for Peter and the disciples, as well as for you and me in warnings us that his enemies, those who reject this teaching and manner of life will fully reject him by having him nailed to the cross. Moreover for all who endeavored to be faithful followers, they too will have their own cross (or crosses) to bear. The power of the forces of evil in our world will do everything they can to impede our stop our faithful following of Christ. Little wonder that Peter did not want the cross for Jesus.

In the mystery of our redemption Jesus stops the seemingly unstoppable flow and transmission of evil by having it nailed to the cross with his broken body and poured out blood. We are told that hate begets hate and that evil begets evil. Jesus does not let this happen. Instead he forgives those responsible for his death, he forgives those who deserted him and Peter who denied knowing him. Thus he nails evil and hatred to his cross.

His Father’s response is that Jesus Christ is now our risen Lord!

Jim Blumeyer, S.J.

PLEASE PRAY FOR THOSE ON RETREAT THIS WEEK AS WELL AS OUR DECEASED RETREATANTS.

PLEASE PRAY FOR PEACE IN OUR COMMUNITY