Painting of Saint Jerome by Antonio Vivarini retrieved from the public domain
Saint Jerome, the 4th century saint born in Stridon in the historic region of Dalmatia (present day Croatia) was responsible for translating the Bible into the Latin vulgate. After a vision and conversion experience that asked him why he appreciated the words of Cicero more than Christ, Jerome became a hermit and learned Hebrew so that the good work of translating the Bible into Latin could begin.
As Saint Jerome once said, Ignorance of Scripture is Ignorance of Christ. It is important for us as Catholics to prepare ourselves for the Divine Liturgy ahead of time by reflecting on the readings before we come to Mass.
A reflection on the Book of Isiah from the Liturgy of the Hours by Saint Jerome:
I interpret as I should, following the command of Christ: Search the Scriptures, and Seek and you shall find. Christ will not say to me what he said to the Jews: You erred, not knowing the Scriptures and not knowing the power of God. For if, as Paul says, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God, and if the man who does not know Scripture does not know the power and wisdom of God, then ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ.
Therefore, I will imitate the head of a household who brings out of his storehouse things both new and old, and says to his spouse in the Song of Songs: I have kept for you things new and old, my beloved. In this way permit me to explain Isaiah, showing that he was not only a prophet, but an evangelist and an apostle as well. For he says about himself and the other evangelists: How beautiful are the feet of those who preach good news, of those who announce peace. And God speaks to him as if he were an apostle: Whom shall I send, who will go to my people? And he answers: Here I am; send me.
We should glory in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ,
in whom is our salvation, life and resurrection,
through whom we are saved and delivered.
A discourse of St. Andrew of Crete (from the Office of Readings):
We are celebrating the feast of the cross which drove away darkness and brought in the light. As we keep this feast, we are lifted up with the crucified Christ, leaving behind us earth and sin so that we may gain the things above. So great and outstanding a possession is the cross that he who wins it has won a treasure. Rightly could I call this treasure the fairest of all fair things and the costliest, in fact as well as in name, for on it and through it and for its sake the riches of salvation that had been lost were restored to us.
Had there been no cross, Christ could not have been crucified. Had there been no cross, life itself could not have been nailed to the tree. And if life had not been nailed to it, there would be no streams of immortality pouring from Christ’s side, blood and water for the world’s cleansing. The legal bond of our sin would not be cancelled, we should not have attained our freedom, we should not have enjoyed the fruit of the tree of life and the gates of paradise would not stand open. Had there been no cross, death would not have been trodden underfoot, nor hell despoiled.
Therefore, the cross is something wonderfully great and honourable. It is great because through the cross the many noble acts of Christ found their consummation – very many indeed, for both his miracles and his sufferings were fully rewarded with victory. The cross is honourable because it is both the sign of God’s suffering and the trophy of his victory. It stands for his suffering because on it he freely suffered unto death. But it is also his trophy because it was the means by which the devil was wounded and death conquered; the barred gates of hell were smashed, and the cross became the one common salvation of the whole world.
The cross is called Christ’s glory; it is saluted as his his triumph. We recognise it as the cup he longed to drink and the climax of the sufferings he endured for our sake. As to the cross being Christ’s glory, listen to his words: Now is the Son of Man glorified, and in him God is glorified, and God will glorify him at once. And again: Father, glorify me with the glory I had with you before the world came to be. And once more: “Father, glorify your name”. Then a voice came from heaven: “I have glorified it and will glorify it again”. Here he speaks of the glory that would accrue to him through the cross. And if you would understand that the cross is Christ’s triumph, hear what he himself also said: When I am lifted up, then I will draw all men to myself. Now you can see that the cross is Christ’s glory and triumph.
The Mother of God Trenousa (17th-18th century). National Museum of Serbia retrieved from public domain at Wikimedia Commons
What is in a name? As baptized & Confirmed Christians we receive the indelible spiritual mark from the Holy Spirit in which we belong to Christ (CCC 1272). The ancient Greek philosopher & theologian Dionysius the Areopagite wrote of The Divine Names. It would make sense that Mary, Queen of Saints, & Mother of God’s Son Jesus would have such a name recognition too. Contemplate & reflect on the name of Mary today by reciting the Litany of Mary: https://www.ewtn.com/catholicism/devotions/litany-of-loreto-246
For further reflection, check out St. Bernard’s homily from the Divine Office this day.
From the homilies of St Bernard of Clairvaux on the glories of the Virgin Mother
“And the Virgin’s name was Mary”. Let us speak a little about this name, which is said to mean “star of the sea,” and which so well befits the Virgin Mother. Rightly is she likened to a star. As a star emits a ray without being dimmed, so the Virgin brought forth her Son without receiving any injury. The ray takes naught from the brightness of the star, nor the Son from His Mother’s virginal integrity. This is the noble star risen out of Jacob, whose ray illumines the whole world, whose splendour shines in the heavens, penetrates the abyss, and, traversing the whole earth, gives warmth rather to souls than to bodies, cherishing virtues, withering vices. Mary is that bright and incomparable star, whom we need to see raised above this vast sea, shining by her merits, and giving us light by her example.
All of you, who see yourselves amid the tides of the world, tossed by storms and tempests rather than walking on the land, do not turn your eyes away from this shining star, unless you want to be overwhelmed by the hurricane. If temptation storms, or you fall upon the rocks of tribulation, look to the star: call upon Mary! If you are tossed by the waves of pride or ambition, detraction or envy, look to the star, call upon Mary. If anger or avarice or the desires of the flesh dash against the ship of your soul, turn your eyes to Mary. If troubled by the enormity of your crimes, ashamed of your guilty conscience, terrified by dread of the judgement, you begin to sink into the gulf of sadness or the abyss of despair, think of Mary.
In dangers, in anguish, in doubt, think of Mary, call upon Mary. Let her name be ever on your lips, ever in your heart; and the better to obtain the help of her prayers, imitate the example of her life. Following her, you do not stray; invoking her, you do not despair; thinking of her, you do not wander; upheld by her, you do not fall; shielded by her, you do not fear; guided by her, you do not grow weary; favoured by her, you reach the goal. And thus you experience in yourself how good is that saying: “And the Virgin’s name was Mary”.
(Joshua 24:1-2a, 15-17, 18b Psalms 34 Ephesians 5:21-32 or 5:2a, 25-32 John 6:60-69)
Today’s Gospel from John Chapter six has his followers questioning Jesus. Jesus reminds us that the Spirit gives life while the flesh is weak in describing his ascension. Our embodied souls long for more. Some of Jesus’s followers turned away from Jesus and went back to their former way of life because they could not comprehend that Jesus has the words of eternal life and is the path to God the Father. Peter’s proclamation of “where should we go…Jesus has the Words of Eternal life when some are leaving and going their separate ways is something for us to contemplate. Where shall we go?
Just like it was in the times of Jesus, we find in today’s time that some turn away from longing and living for the Word, Jesus, to give us life sustaining nourishment. We probably know some fallen away Christians that no longer believe. Perhaps we may sometimes allow the words of the world instead of the words of Jesus to consume our thoughts and taint our soul. It is easy to allow sin and the culture of complacency and conformity to maintain our status quo in life where we become like shallow roots without a firm foundation rooted in Christ Jesus (Mt. 13:23), who is the Word come down from heaven and has the words of eternal life (Jn. 1:1).
The Old Testament reading from Joshua also has a challenging and similar question for the ancient Israelites: to whom will you serve? Will they serve the one true God or other false gods? Many times in life we can let our faith life become weak where we put God in a compartmentalized box and allow shallow words of today’s culture to permeate our hearts and minds. We can become complacent and go in a different direction that is not of the Holy Spirit, which empowers us on our journey. We may serve other gods that take away from our prayer life and focus to place God first. Sometimes on our faith journey we can develop a form of selective hearing in which we hear only those words we want to hear that don’t challenge us to go deeper.
We must become contemplative Christians longing to immerse ourselves in the Holy Scripture and find the living Jesus in our midst where Jesus has the words of eternal life. Many times at Mass, we as Catholics lose sight of the importance of the first part of the Liturgy, with the Liturgy of the Word. To truly receive Jesus in the Eucharist…body, blood soul and divinity is to be attentive to the readings and meditate on the core truth from the responsorial psalm (34): Taste and see the goodness of the Lord. Where else can we go in this life, but to Jesus, who has the words of eternal life.
As the song lyrics from Guns N Roses Sweet Child O’ Mine reminds us – “Where do we go now, sweet child o’ mine” can lead to one answer – to the outstretched arms of Jesus who is the way, the truth and the life (Jn.14:6) as all of God’s adopted children made in His image.
The Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary is one of great joy and hope for us to reflect on. Our second reading from Paul’s letter to the Corinthians (1. Cor 15) reminds us that “Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep.” It is fitting then that Mary, as one of us in every way with the exception that she was preserved from the stain of original sin by God’s sanctifying grace (CCC 493) should naturally be assumed into heaven body and soul and not await the last day of final judgement (CCC 1038). The reading from Revelation chapter 11, verse 19 and chapter 12 in which Mary is representative of the ark and Queen of heaven who vanquishes the dragon (Satan/sin, etc) is an awesome image to contemplate. In one sense we can look at the Ark as a boat that carried Noah and his family/creatures with that covenant. Another Ark is a box carrying the Ten Commandments given to Moses. Mary, however, carries Jesus in her womb who brings forth a new covenant. Mary is a most holy vessel that God has chosen as a different and most unique ark. We like Mary are chosen when we are baptized, confirmed and receive our spiritual nourishment of Jesus in the Eucharist as holy arks and temples of the Lord. As Saint Paul reminds us, our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit in which the Holy Spirit wishes to dwell and our bodies our not our own (1 Cor. 6:19). We should keep this in mind on our earthly journey with the hope that we too will be glorified one day as saints destined for greatness! Our trust and hope to one day have holy and glorified bodies that are free from imperfections, frailties and weakness will come to fruition in which Christ Jesus will come again to raise the dead is His promise to us faithful. While it may be a struggle for some in which our bodies get old, don’t work the way they used to or have imperfections; we should not lose our faith. Jesus suffered greatly on the cross at Calvary and sacrificed his body to fulfill the new covenant made to all of us in which there is the promise of a Resurrection Day. Our eternal souls will be united with our glorious, holy and perfect body on this day and Mary is the great exemplar of this promise.
The Gospel reading from Luke and Mary’s Magnificat in visiting her cousin Elizabeth in which her baby leapt at Mary’s greeting can be summed up with “my soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my savior” (Lk. 1:46-47). Let us reflect on this mystery of the Assumption and not take for granted the part of the Apostle’s Creed proclaiming the resurrection of the body. Truly, Mary is the Queen that stands on the Lord’s right hand, arrayed in gold per the responsorial psalm 45.
I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried; He descended into hell; on the third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from there He will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Holy Catholic Church, the communion of Saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting.
Franciscan friar and priest Maximilian Kolbe died at the hands of the Nazis at the death camp at Auschwitz fulfilling the Christian command in that “there is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for a friend” (Jn. 15:13). St Kolbe volunteered to take the place of a fellow prisoner chosen for death at the camp. https://saintmaximiliankolbe.com/biography/
A letter of St Maximilian Kolbe
From a letter of Maximillian Mary Kolbe (Scritti del P. Massimiliano M. Kolbe, Italian translation, vol. I, pt, 1 [Padua, 1971], 75-77,166)
Apostolic zeal for the salvation and sanctification of souls
The burning zeal for God’s glory that motivates you fills my heart with joy. It is sad for us to see in our own time that indifferentism in its many forms is spreading like an epidemic not only among the laity but also among religious. But God is worthy of glory beyond measure, and therefore it is of absolute and supreme importance to seek that glory with all the power of our feeble resources. Since we are mere creatures we can never return to him all that is his due. The most resplendent manifestation of God’s glory is the salvation of souls, whom Christ redeemed by shedding his blood. To work for the salvation and sanctification of as many souls as possible, therefore, is the preeminent purpose of the apostolic life. Let me, then, say a few words that may show the way toward achieving God’s glory and the sanctification of many souls.
God, who is all-knowing and all-wise, knows best what we should do to increase his glory. Through his representatives on earth he continually reveals his will to us; thus it is obedience and obedience alone that is the sure sign to us of the divine will. A superior may, it is true, make a mistake; but it is impossible for us to be mistaken in obeying a superior’s command. The only exception to this rule is the case of a superior commanding something that in even the slightest way would contravene God’s law. Such a superior would not be conveying God’s will.
God alone is infinitely wise, holy, merciful, our Lord, Creator, and Father; he is beginning and end, wisdom and power and love; he is all. Everything other than God has value to the degree that it is referred to him, the maker of all and our own redeemer, the final end of all things. It is he who, declaring his adorable will to us through his representatives on earth, draws us to himself and whose plan is to draw others to himself through us and to join us all to himself in an ever deepening love.
Look, then, at the high dignity that by God’s mercy belongs to our state in life. Obedience raises us beyond the limits of our littleness and puts us in harmony with God’s will. In boundless wisdom and care, his will guides us to act rightly. Holding fast to that will, which no creature can thwart, we are filled with unsurpassable strength.
Obedience is the one and the only way of wisdom and prudence for us to offer glory to God. If there were another, Christ would certainly have shown it to us by word and example. Scripture, however, summed up his entire life at Nazareth in the words: He was subject to them; Scripture set obedience as the theme of the rest of his life, repeatedly declaring that he came into the world to do his Father’s will. Let us love our loving Father with all our hearts. Let our obedience increase that love, above all when it requires us to surrender our own will. Jesus Christ crucified is our sublime guide toward growth in God’s love.
We will learn this lesson more quickly through the Immaculate Virgin, whom God has made the dispenser of his mercy. It is beyond all doubt that Mary’s will represents to us the will of God himself. By dedicating ourselves to her we become in her hands instruments of God’s mercy even as she was such an instrument in God’s hands. We should let ourselves be guided and led by Mary and rest quiet and secure in her hands. She will watch out for us, provide for us, answer our needs of body and spirit; she will dissolve all our difficulties and worries.
From the Collect at mass today: O God, who filled the Priest and Martyr Saint Maximilian Kolbe with a burning love for the Immaculate Virgin Mary and with zeal for souls and love of neighbor, graciously grant, through his intercession, that, striving for your glory by eagerly serving others, we may be conformed, even until death, to your Son. Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.
There has been some discussion of the topic of Christian Nationalism as the United States finds itself in another political divide with election season in full swing.
I would posit to my fellow Christians that true Christian Nationalism includes being a witness and portraying the love of Christ regardless of thy neighbor’s belief system. As the Greatest Commandment from Jesus reminds us: “love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these (Mk. 12:30-31). What a difficult concept to live by in our divided society where the lack of civil dialogue and respect for the dignity of one’s neighbor is not commonplace.
If we need another reminder of what true Christian Nationalism should look like, we should turn to the beatitudes:
“Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are they who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the land.
Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be satisfied.
Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the clean of heart,
for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of evil against you [falsely] because of me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven.
(Mt. 5:3-12).
As Jesus reminds us, give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what belongs to God (Lk. 20:25). This reminder is our call to see the face of God in one another regardless of political ideology, religious affiliation or lack thereof. We are in a battle in this nation among the church militant longing to be part of the church triumphant to be saints! Go out and start a real movement of Christian Nationalism to live and proclaim the Gospel. They will know we are Christians by our love, by our love!
Jesus Went Out into a Desert Place by James Tissot in the public domain
Today’s gospel from Mark reminds us that we can become like sheep without our shepherd when we become entrenched in ministering to our brothers and sisters of Christ in which we can lose focus. We might attribute such talents of our ministry to our own achievements. Perhaps, we might place ourselves upon a pedestal of pride and forget the one who is leading us. Maybe there is someone in ministry that has stumbled and fallen from grace leading to confusion and making us feel as if the whole church is in disarray. Sometimes even those in ministry including our clergy can lose focus and become burnt out misplacing Jesus as the sheep gone astray. We may become like Martha and Mary where we are task oriented and get off track, losing focus like Martha instead of resting and enjoying the Lord’s presence like Mary (Lk. 10:38-42). As the prophet Jeremiah says in the first reading, “Woe to the Shepherds who mislead and scatter the flock of my pasture says the Lord” (Jer. 23:1). As Saint Paul reminds us we should not be distracted by getting off track for he reminds us what Jesus came to do as the Good Shepherd! “He came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near, for through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father” (Eph. 2:17-18). It is Jesus that asks us in today’s gospel to not get lost when we are overwhelmed by the crowd. “Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.” People were coming and going in great numbers, and they had no opportunity even to eat (Mk. 6:31).
The weeklong National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis, Indiana that took place recently reminds us that our Shepherd, Jesus, is not far away (https://www.eucharisticcongress.org). We should take some time this week to find time to get away and rest in His presence in the Eucharistic chapel or in silent adoration. When it seems like we are being led astray or we are in need of rest in our ministry, ask for strength before Jesus truly alive in the holy host. The Holy Spirit will lead us back to the Good Shepherd, Jesus, if we take the time to rest and meditate by getting away in prayer.
The Lord is my Shepherd; there is nothing I shall want (Ps. 23).
Our Lady of Mount Carmel and Saints (Simon Stock, Angelus of Jerusalem, Mary Magdalene de’Pazzi, Teresa of Avila) by Pietro Novelli from the public domain
Today the Church commemorates the Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, patroness of the Carmelite Order in which she appeared to St. Simon Stock, and bestowed upon him the brown scapular in 1251. According to The Sisters of Carmel, Our Lady bestowed the following promise to those wearing the scapular: “This shall be a privilege for you and all Carmelites, that anyone dying in this habit shall not suffer eternal fire.” In time, the Church extended this magnificent privilege to all the laity who are willing to be invested in the Brown Scapular of the Carmelites and who perpetually wear it.”
To be eligible to be enrolled in the Brown Scapular Confraternity, one must go through a simple ceremony and receive the blessing from a priest in which the scapular should be worn at all times.
Early in the pontificate of Pope Francis I was, generally speaking, what could be called a “Francis skeptic.” To be honest I didn’t pay that much attention to him at first. As the father of three little kids, I primarily focused on survival in those days. I wasn’t even aware of the dubiaor the original Viganò bombshell but, being a conservative in a conservative family, I had absorbed the idea that at the bare minimum his style was suspect. I have to admit, I was late to the game. When I finally got around to looking at the websites and material that family and others recommended to me, I was shocked. The sheer lack of charity and bombastic insults being leveled at the Holy Father was unbelievable. I began to read Pope Francis’ writings and found the opposite: warmth, joy, peace, and an overwhelming love of Jesus. I still didn’t agree with every word he said, but—if one reads his words in context and in their entirety—his deep love for Jesus was undeniable. I could understand having a disagreement with the Pope, but the lack of charity towards him was a clear sign that this was not the work of the Spirit.
It is this lack of charity, which is so ubiquitous, that has perplexed me for quite some time. What is its root? How has it taken hold in so many people, many of whom I know are good and holy people? I think the answer—or at least part of it—can be found in the true meaning of charity as it is lived and in its relationship with the other two theological virtues, faith and hope.
Let us look at what the Church teaches us about faith. First of all, the Catechism of the Catholic Church defines faith as obedience: “to obey in faith is to submit freely to the word that has been heard, because its truth is guaranteed by God, who is Truth itself,” and describes Abraham as a model and the Virgin Mary as “its most perfect embodiment” (CCC 144) and “the purest realization of faith” (CCC 149), who never wavered in her faith, even when she did not fully understand.
The Catechism also teaches that faith is first prompted by “interior helps of the Holy Spirit” but then requires “the full submission of intellect and will to God who reveals” (CCC 153-154). It cautions us that “What moves us to believe is not the fact that revealed truths appear as true and intelligible in the light of our natural reason: we believe because of the authority of God himself who reveals them.” Thankfully we are provided with “motives of credibility” that make this submission easier, but it is this submission that is faith itself (CCC 156).
Springing from this submission we get to the theological virtue of hope. The Catechism defines hope as: “the theological virtue by which we desire the kingdom of heaven and eternal life as our happiness, placing our trust in Christ’s promises and relying not on our own strength, but on the help of the grace of the Holy Spirit” (CCC 1817). Once we place our faith in the reality of Christ, we can then hope in that which he promises. True hope produces in us humility and piety as we reorient our lives to the reality of God’s greatness in relation to our smallness. The Catechism points to another product in a Christian as well: “Buoyed up by hope, he is preserved from selfishness and led to the happiness that flows from charity” (CCC 1818).
Finally, we come to charity. Paragraph 1822 of the Catechism defines charity as, “The theological virtue by which we love God above all things for his own sake, and our neighbor as ourselves for the love of God.” The following paragraph says “by loving one another, the disciples imitate the love of Jesus which they themselves receive.” This definition shows us that the foundation of charity is faith in the reality of God’s love for us. This reality, that God the Father loves us beyond measure gives us an unshakable hope, which allows us to radiate this love to others.
The Catechism describes this reality beautifully as: “The practice of the moral life animated by charity gives to the Christian the spiritual freedom of the children of God. He no longer stands before God as a slave, in servile fear, or as a mercenary looking for wages, but as a son responding to the love of him who first loved us” (CCC 1828).
How might this picture of the theological virtues be related to the loss of charity among so many people, seemingly overnight? I believe the key is found in one of Pope Francis’s foundational principles: “realities are greater than ideas.” Our faith is based upon the reality of God’s love for us, which is demonstrated in the life, death, and resurrection of Christ. We also find it in the many real and concrete promises he made to us about how he would safeguard his Church. In the realm of ideas, there are many beautiful and important descriptions and explanations about this reality that help us to better understand it, but these ideas are always secondary to the reality of the Gospel. We are not a people of a philosophy, but a people of a reality. We find this profoundly in the outward, physical signs of our sacraments. This is also reflected in the great importance we place on relics, good works, and other tangible and physical signs of God’s love in our physical world.
The division found today in the Church and the malice towards the pope are caused, in large part, by people placing their faith in their ideas more than in realities. We might expect this, of course, in the secular world where—lacking the faith in the love of God—people put their faith in ideologies, political parties, and other worldly things. People often refuse to see the reality of the truths that they might find if they were open to listening to both sides of a discussion. Instead, many people choose to celebrate their own narrow-mindedness. Rather than being open to other perspectives in search for the truth, many will obstinately place their hope in the success of a political party or the proliferation of an ideology, and will only give charity to those who are in agreement. Anyone who disagrees is seen as an obstacle. At the extreme end of this phenomenon, people will begin to create alternate realities to safeguard their ideas. This is what causes the proliferation of conspiracy theories.
Regretfully, we see this in the Church as well. Many Catholics have placed their faith (and subsequently, their hope) in their own ideas about doctrine or in their own interpretations of the Gospel. Quite often, these are conflated with secular ideologies or political platforms. Rather than placing their hope and faith in the reality of the Gospel and Christ’s guarantee that he will protect the Church, many Catholics treat the faith in the same way as the secular world: forming divisions and only showing charity to those in their camp. When someone challenges their narrow understanding and tries to broaden their rigid worldview, they see it as a direct challenge to their faith, since their faith is built only on the sand of their own ideas and conclusions.
When our faith is built upon the solid rock of the Love of Christ and his promises to us there is never a reason for fear and no reason to lack charity. In fact, when the reality of God’s love is the foundation of our faith, we will want to love as he loves, which means even loving our enemies. “God proves his love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us” (Rom 5:8).
When I began to recognize that this is the fundamental reason why there is so much division in the Church and so much malice towards the Holy Father, empathy for those in this situation began to well up in me. I have sorrow and love for them, not contempt, and this helps give me certainty that I was on the right track. May we all pray for the unity of the Church. We can only make this a reality by taking Christ at his word and trusting, with faith, hope, and charity, in the Holy Spirit who guides the Church.
Today the church celebrates the memorial of Saint Thomas the Apostle. Saint Thomas may be known as doubting Thomas but it was that faithful encounter where he touched the wounds of Jesus that led to his belief in Jesus’s resurrection. Oftentimes we can be like Thomas where we may be witnesses to God’s graces working in us and among us in our world, but still doubt the risen Christ Jesus in our midst. I too have oftentimes doubted God’s presence in a chaotic world. I wanted proof only to realize that the Holy Spirit was leading me to our risen Lord all along. Our encounters with others in ministry, with our family, friends and coworkers is one way where we can find the risen Jesus in our midst by being a Christ & seeing Christ in our brothers and sisters as being made in the Creator’s image. Continually seeking an encounter with God in a daily prayer routine will also aide us on our faith journey to find the risen Lord. To have faith and say “my Lord and my God” allows us to admit that we are not the rulers of our life nor the captain of our ship. Being dependent on the belief that the risen Jesus is in our midst despite not having the encounter that Thomas did allows us to go outside our comfort zone and be truly vulnerable for what may come our way. When we cast aside our doubt, the grace of the Holy Spirit can transform our limited human perception into one of awareness and belief in God’s power to lead us into a better place where the risen Lord wishes to dwell.
One place of prayer we can renew our faith in the risen Lord is within Eucharistic adoration. A National event taking place this month in Indianapolis will call all pilgrims in attendance to renew such a tradition of adoration in which we profess our faith in Jesus being present with us in the consecrated host. https://www.eucharisticcongress.org
My Lord & My God
John 20:24-29 Thomas, called Didymus, one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples said to him, “We have seen the Lord.” But Thomas said to them, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger into the nailmarks and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” Now a week later his disciples were again inside and Thomas was with them. Jesus came, although the doors were locked, and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands, and bring your hand and put it into my side, and do not be unbelieving, but believe.” Thomas answered and said to him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.”
It is believed that St. Thomas ventured to Parthia and India spreading the good news of the gospel in that region under which the Syro Malabar Christian church was started. Thomas was tasked with building a palace for the king in India and is a patron saint or architects as in some depictions Thomas holds a carpenter’s square with a book in the other hand signifying his evangelical work. It is believed that Thomas was killed by a spear in India as a martyr of the faith.
Saint John the Baptist Bearing Witness – painting by Annibale Carracci
We are all made for a purpose. St. John the Baptist’s purpose was to testify to the light of the world, preparing others for Christ Jesus to enter. How do we imitate this saintly figure in leading others to Jesus? What is our purpose? As St. John the Baptist said about Jesus, “He must increase, I must decrease” (Jn. 3:30). How will we make straight the path of the Lord to lead others to Jesus. How can we be a messenger of the good news of the gospel? Will we decrease so that He can increase?
Luke 1:57-66, 80
“When the time arrived for Elizabeth to have her child she gave birth to a son. Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown his great mercy toward her, and they rejoiced with her. When they came on the eighth day to circumcise the child, they were going to call him Zechariah after his father, but his mother said in reply, “No. He will be called John.” But they answered her, “There is no one among your relatives who has this name.” So they made signs, asking his father what he wished him to be called. He asked for a tablet and wrote, “John is his name,” and all were amazed. Immediately his mouth was opened, his tongue freed, and he spoke blessing God. Then fear came upon all their neighbors, and all these matters were discussed throughout the hill country of Judea. All who heard these things took them to heart, saying, “What, then, will this child be?” For surely the hand of the Lord was with him. The child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the desert until the day of his manifestation to Israel.”
From a sermon by Saint Augustine, bishop
John is born of an old woman who is barren; Christ is born of a young woman who is a virgin. That John will be born is not believed, and his father is struck dumb; that Christ will be born is believed, and he is conceived by faith.
I have proposed some matters for inquiry, and listed in advance some things that need to be discussed. I have introduced these points even if we are not up to examining all the twists and turns of such a great mystery, either for lack of capacity or for lack of time. You will be taught much better by the one who speaks in you even when I am not here; the one about whom you think loving thoughts, the one whom you have taken into your hearts and whose temple you have become.
John, it seems, has been inserted as a kind of boundary between the two Testaments, the Old and the New. That he is somehow or other a boundary is something that the Lord himself indicates when he says, The Law and the prophets were until John. So he represents the old and heralds the new. Because he represents the old, he is born of an elderly couple; because he represents the new, he is revealed as a prophet in his mother’s womb. You will remember that, before he was born, at Mary’s arrival he leapt in his mother’s womb. Already he had been marked out there, designated before he was born; it was already shown whose forerunner he would be, even before he saw him. These are divine matters, and exceed the measure of human frailty. Finally, he is born, he receives a name, and his father’s tongue is loosed.
Zachary is struck dumb and loses his voice, until John, the Lord’s forerunner, is born and releases his voice for him. What does Zachary’s silence mean, but that prophecy was obscure and, before the proclamation of Christ, somehow concealed and shut up? It is released and opened up by his arrival, it becomes clear when the one who was being prophesied is about to come. The releasing of Zachary’s voice at the birth of John has the same significance as the tearing of the veil of the Temple at the crucifixion of Christ. If John were meant to proclaim himself, he would not be opening Zachary’s mouth. The tongue is released because a voice is being born – for when John was already heralding the Lord, he was asked, Who are you and he replied I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness.
John is the voice, but the Lord in the beginning was the Word. John is a voice for a time, but Christ is the eternal Word from the beginning.
(From the Office of Readings, Sermo 293,3: PI, 1328-1329 by St. Augustine)
Christ in the Storm on the Sea of Galilee by Rembrandt
The gospel from Mark (4:35-41) reminds us of the storm at sea and how the disciples were terrified while Jesus slept in the boat. When the disciples woke Jesus up, he commanded the wind and the sea to be quiet and still. Jesus asked why they didn’t have faith. Oftentimes in life we are filled with the same fear and trepidation when a storm wreaks havoc in our life. We are terrified because like the disciples we don’t have faith. What is our prayer life like? Do we actively ask Jesus to be a part of our life during not only the good times, but the bad times and storms of life? Sometimes it may seem like God is not answering our prayers and is silent, but must recall that Jesus is in the boat with us and asks each one of us to have faith. Let us place our faith in Jesus and seek a foundation of prayer in which we know that our Lord will be there to calm the storms in our life and ask for the grace to overcome such moments.
Painting of Saint Anthony of Padua with the Christ Child by Giovanni Battista Tiepolo. Image from public domain at Wikimedia Commons
Born in Lisbon Portugal in 1195 and died in Padua Italy in 1231
Patron Saint of Lost Items
Came from a wealthy family and was a great orator. Saint Anthony joined the Canons Regular of St Augustine and then found his place with the Franciscan Friars. Saint Francis in seeing the humility of Anthony assigned him to teach theology to the other friars.
Canonized in 1232 and proclaimed a Doctor of the Church by Pope Pius XII.
A Sermon by Saint Anthony
(From the Office of Readings in the Memorial for St Anthony)
The man who is filled with the Holy Spirit speaks in different languages. These different languages are different ways of witnessing to Christ, such as humility, poverty, patience and obedience; we speak in those languages when we reveal in ourselves these virtues to others. Actions speak louder than words; let your words teach and your actions speak. We are full of words but empty of actions, and therefore are cursed by the Lord, since he himself cursed the fig tree when he found no fruit but only leaves. Gregory says: “A law is laid upon the preacher to practise what he preaches.” It is useless for a man to flaunt his knowledge of the law if he undermines its teaching by his actions.
But the apostles spoke as the Spirit gave them the gift of speech. Happy the man whose words issue from the Holy Spirit and not from himself! For some men speak as their own character dictates, but steal the words of others and present them as their own and claim the credit for them. The Lord refers to such men and others like them in Jeremiah: So, then, I have a quarrel with the prophets that steal my words from each other. I have a quarrel with the prophets, says the Lord, who have only to move their tongues to utter oracles. I have a quarrel with the prophets who make prophecies out of lying dreams, who recount them and lead my people astray with their lies and their pretensions. I certainly never sent them or commissioned them, and they serve no good purpose for this people, says the Lord.
We should speak, then, as the Holy Spirit gives us the gift of speech. Our humble and sincere request to the Spirit for ourselves should be that we may bring the day of Pentecost to fulfilment, insofar as he infuses us with his grace, by using our bodily senses in a perfect manner and by keeping the commandments. Likewise we shall request that we may be filled with a keen sense of sorrow and with fiery tongues for confessing the faith, so that our deserved reward may be to stand in the blazing splendour of the saints and to look upon the triune God.
When we give God our tithe, both in treasure, talent or time according to the needs of the Church, we are allowing ourselves to not be attached to the things of this world. Recently our family was asked to bring up the offertory gifts of bread and wine at mass. My 9 year old daughter was sad because we didn’t place money in the collection basket. I explained that we represented the parish church in bringing up bread & wine, a symbol of all of the church’s labor and sacrifice just as we do when placing our individual offerings in the collection basket. Typically we donate online, but our daughter always likes to put a tangible monetary donation in the basket.
Of course she was excited when she was able to put money in the Saint Vincent de Paul box at the end of Mass too. Nevertheless these symbols of giving to God at the offertory collection are more than just monetary exchanges. We are giving to God in return that which we were blessed with as stewards of His benevolent will for our life. Some have more than others financially and that is ok because we give according to status in life. In the book of Acts of the Apostles, it describes how people would give before the apostles’ feet and the distribution divided according to need (Acts 4:5). Then there is the story of the widow’s mite who put all she had in the treasury (Mk. 12:44). In both instances, such an instance reveals how we should not be attached to worldly possessions for all that we have been blessed with comes from God.
When we give to God our gifts at each Mass and lift up hearts to Him and place our worries & fears before the altar where Jesus’s great sacrifice is commemorated, we are united together in solidarity. At the Eucharistic meal we partake in, God will provide us with something greater. When we receive holy communion we are receiving the grace we need from the supernatural food that nourishes our soul and unites our bond with Jesus.
If we worry about finances in our life and this is a reason for not giving, ask God to be the ruler of your life.
We can pray to God to allow us to get through difficult moments. While praying to win the lottery won’t help, God may provide in other ways and provide us with peace and solace to get through the storm. Remember that we cannot only give to God our treasure, but can also give to God our talent and time in volunteering in the ministry of the church. Give freely and let go, let God so that we can be dependent on His grace. As Matthew’s gospel reminds us: “No one can serve two masters. He will either hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon” (Mt. 6:24).
A good prayer of intercession to Saint Matthew:
O Saint Matthew, former tax collector and patron saint of financial matters, I humbly come before you, seeking your intercession as I struggle with my finances. I ask for your guidance in managing my resources wisely, and for the grace to trust in the Lord Jesus Christ’s provision for my needs.
Offer Of The Poor Widow retrieved from the public domain
Pompeo Batoni: Sacred Heart of Jesus retrieved from the public domain
During the month of June and after the octave of the Feast of Corpus Christi, the devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus becomes popular for us Catholics. Such a devotion reminds us that we must come to the Lord in prayer and humility to the divine heart that is on fire for His creation. We are reminded that “we love because he first loved us” (1. Jn. 4:19). This month should be a reflection for all of us to love God with our whole heart and mind and to love our neighbor.
On December of 1674, Saint Margaret Mary received the first visitation from our Lord Jesus regarding His unconditional love through His sacred heart. St. Margaret Mary didn’t have the best life at home and had rheumatic fever off and on for four years until pledging a vow to the Blessed Virgin Mary to enter religious life. She was humble and had a fondness for Eucharistic adoration at an early age. Her work La Devotion au Sacre-Coeur de Jesus or Devotion to the Sacred Heart is a popular work among many Catholics. (https://www.newmanministry.com/saints/saint-margaret-mary-alacoque).
It is customary to start a novena to the Sacred Heart at the beginning of the Feast of Corpus Christi.
Stained glass, depiction Christ appearing to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque and showing her His Sacred Heart, St. Francis Xavier Basilica, Vincennes, IN
The Sacred Heart Solemnity and reparation to His sacred Heart reminds us of His merciful love where we unite our sacrifices for another. It was through Jesus’s redemptive suffering and amazing love that he bore the weight of sin for all mankind. Throughout this month we can fast and pray a rosary for someone. We can do a charitable act for someone. We can visit the tabernacle & offer our heart to His divine heart. We can perform an examination of conscience and look at our sins and ask God to instill in us the virtues for which we should strive to abide by.
The Sacred Heart reminds us of the true essence of love which is one of sacrifice and mortification for the love and good of one another. Such a love is not superficial, but a love surrounded by thorns symbolizing the agony of our Lord’s passion & death. Pierced by a lance, his blood was shed for the sin of all. Surrounded by the flame of the Holy Spirit, a heart that burns for all humanity. The cross on top of the heart symbolizes the ultimate sacrifice for all. His sacred heart beats to the eternal drum of merciful love for all. Making reparations to His sacred heart is akin to making merciful love offerings for the good of our soul & our neighbor’s soul as members of the Body of Christ, the church. We are called to share in His redemptive suffering. St. Paul in his letter to the Colossians states “Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I complete what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church” (Col. 1:24). The prophet Joel reminds us of the following as well: “Rend your hearts, not your garments, and return to the LORD, your God, For he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, abounding in steadfast love, and relenting in punishment.” (Jl. 2:13). Truly, our suffering in this life is nothing unless lifted up to His Sacred heart.
Pope Leo XIII’s encyclical Annum Sacrum has the following to reflect upon:
“ Jesus Christ, our God and our Redeemer, is rich in the fullest and perfect possession of all things: we, on the other hand, are so poor and needy that we have nothing of our own to offer Him as a gift. But yet, in His infinite goodness and love, He in no way objects to our giving and consecrating to Him what is already His, as if it were really our own; nay, far from refusing such an offering, He positively desires it and asks for it: “My son, give me thy heart.” We are, therefore, able to be pleasing to Him by the good will and the affection of our soul.”
“And since there is in the Sacred Heart a symbol and a sensible image of the infinite love of Jesus Christ which moves us to love one another, therefore is it fit and proper that we should consecrate ourselves to His most Sacred Heart – an act which is nothing else than an offering and a binding of oneself to Jesus Christ, seeing that whatever honor, veneration and love is given to this divine Heart is really and truly given to Christ Himself.” (https://www.papalencyclicals.net/leo13/l13annum.htm).
Let us humbly unite our hearts to His Saving Heart this month. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops advised the faithful to make a reparation to His Sacred Heart and pray this beautiful Litany: https://www.usccb.org/prayers/litany-sacred-heart-jesus
A Solemn Act of Consecration to the Sacred Heart of Jesus by Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque:
I give myself and consecrate to the Sacred Heart of our Lord Jesus Christ, my person and my life, my actions, pains and sufferings, so that I may be unwilling to make use of any part of my being other than to honor, love and glorify the Sacred Heart. This is my unchanging purpose, namely, to be all His, and to do all things for the love of Him, at the same time renouncing with all my heart whatever is displeasing to Him. I therefore take You, O Sacred heart, to be the only object of my love, the guardian of my life, my assurance of salvation, the remedy of my weakness and inconstancy, the atonement for all the faults of my life and my sure refuge at the hour of death. Be then, O Heart of goodness, my justification before God the Father, and turn away from me the strokes of his righteous anger. O Heart of love, I put all my confidence in You, for I fear everything from my own wickedness and frailty, but I hope for all things from Your goodness and bounty. Remove from me all that can displease You or resist Your holy will; let Your pure love imprint Your image so deeply upon my heart, that I shall never be able to forget You or to be separated from You. May I obtain from all Your loving kindness the grace of having my name written in Your Heart, for in You I desire to place all my happiness and glory, living and dying in bondage to You. Amen.
Mary set out and traveled to the hill country in haste to a town of Judah, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, cried out in a loud voice and said, “Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled.”
And Mary said:
“My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord;
my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.
From this day all generations will call me blessed:
the Almighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his Name.
He has mercy on those who fear him
in every generation.
He has shown the strength of his arm,
he has scattered the proud in their conceit.
He has cast down the mighty from their thrones,
and has lifted up the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent away empty.
He has come to the help of his servant Israel
for he has remembered his promise of mercy,
the promise he made to our fathers,
to Abraham and his children for ever.”
Mary remained with her about three months and then returned to her home.
The Holy Spirit filled Mary with pure joy and a sense of holy excitement at the news that she would be the new ark carrying the new covenant, Jesus. Mary traveled in haste to see her kinswoman Elizabeth who bore John the Baptist in which the unborn child John leapt with joy in encountering Jesus in Mary’s womb. The joy that the Holy Spirit provides is one that we cannot keep bottled up for we too must travel in haste to allow the urgency of sharing the good news of God’s love and of the gospel to others. Let us reflect on Mary’s Magnificat this day where we too shall proclaim the greatness of the Lord and rejoice in God our Savior.
Image retrieved from public domain & taken at Church of Mary Mother of Church, Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico
Jn. 19:25-27
Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary of Magdala. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple there whom he loved, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son.” Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother.” And from that hour the disciple took her into his home.
Come Holy Spirit, Creator Blest (Veni, Creator Spiritus)
Come, Holy Spirit, Creator blest, and in our souls take up Thy rest; come with Thy grace and heavenly aid to fill the hearts which Thou hast made. O comforter, to Thee we cry, O heavenly gift of God Most High, O fount of life and fire of love, and sweet anointing from above.
Thou in Thy sevenfold gifts are known; Thou, finger of God’s hand we own; Thou, promise of the Father, Thou Who dost the tongue with power imbue.
Kindle our sense from above, and make our hearts o’erflow with love; with patience firm and virtue high the weakness of our flesh supply.
Far from us drive the foe we dread, and grant us Thy peace instead; so shall we not, with Thee for guide, turn from the path of life aside.
Oh, may Thy grace on us bestow the Father and the Son to know; and Thee, through endless times confessed, of both the eternal Spirit blest.
Now to the Father and the Son, Who rose from death, be glory given, with Thou, O Holy Comforter, henceforth by all in earth and heaven. Amen.
At Easter, beloved brethren, it was the Lord’s resurrection which was the cause of our joy; our present rejoicing is on account of his ascension into heaven. With all due solemnity we are commemorating that day on which our poor human nature was carried up, in Christ, above all the hosts of heaven, above all the ranks of angels, beyond the highest heavenly powers to the very throne of God the Father. It is upon this ordered structure of divine acts that we have been firmly established, so that the grace of God may show itself still more marvellous when, in spite of the withdrawal from men’s sight of everything that is rightly felt to command their reverence, faith does not fail, hope is not shaken, charity does not grow cold.
For such is the power of great minds, such is the light of truly believing souls, that they put unhesitating faith in what is not seen with the bodily eye; they fix their desires on what is beyond sight. Such fidelity could never be born in our hearts, nor could anyone be justified by faith, if our salvation lay only in what was visible.
And so our Redeemer’s visible presence has passed into the sacraments. Our faith is nobler and stronger because sight has been replaced by a doctrine whose authority is accepted by believing hearts, enlightened from on high. This faith was increased by the Lord’s ascension and strengthened by the gift of the Spirit; it would remain unshaken by fetters and imprisonment, exile and hunger, fire and ravening beasts, and the most refined tortures ever devised by brutal persecutors. Throughout the world women no less than men, tender girls as well as boys, have given their life’s blood in the struggle for this faith. It is a faith that has driven out devils, healed the sick and raised the dead.
Even the blessed apostles, though they had been strengthened by so many miracles and instructed by so much teaching, took fright at the cruel suffering of the Lord’s passion and could not accept his resurrection without hesitation. Yet they made such progress through his ascension that they now found joy in what had terrified them before. They were able to fix their minds on Christ’s divinity as he sat at the right hand of his Father, since what was presented to their bodily eyes no longer hindered them from turning all their attention to the realisation that he had not left his Father when he came down to earth, nor had he abandoned his disciples when he ascended into heaven.
The truth is that the Son of Man was revealed as Son of God in a more perfect and transcendent way once he had entered into his Father’s glory; he now began to be indescribably more present in his divinity to those from whom he was further removed in his humanity. A more mature faith enabled their minds to stretch upward to the Son in his equality with the Father; it no longer needed contact with Christ’s tangible body, in which as man he is inferior to the Father. For while his glorified body retained the same nature, the faith of those who believed in him was now summoned to heights where, as the Father’s equal, the only-begotten Son is reached not by physical handling but by spiritual discernment.
Excerpt from St. Leo’s second sermon on the Ascension of the Lord Jesus in the Roman Catholic Office of Readings
The Word of God, incorporeal, incorruptible and immaterial, entered our world. Yet it was not as if he had been remote from it up to that time. For there is no part of the world that was ever without his presence; together with his Father, he continually filled all things and places.
Out of his loving-kindness for us he came to us, and we see this in the way he revealed himself openly to us. Taking pity on mankind’s weakness, and moved by our corruption, he could not stand aside and see death have the mastery over us; he did not want creation to perish and his Father’s work in fashioning man to be in vain. He therefore took to himself a body, no different from our own, for he did not wish simply to be in a body or only to be seen.
If he had wanted simply to be seen, he could indeed have taken another, and nobler, body. Instead, he took our body in its reality.
Within the Virgin he built himself a temple, that is, a body; he made it his own instrument in which to dwell and to reveal himself. In this way he received from mankind a body like our own, and, since all were subject to the corruption of death, he delivered this body over to death for all, and with supreme love offered it to the Father. He did so to destroy the law of corruption passed against all men, since all died in him. The law, which had spent its force on the body of the Lord, could no longer have any power over his fellow-men. Moreover, this was the way in which the Word was to restore mankind to immortality, after it had fallen into corruption, and summon it back from death to life. He utterly destroyed the power death had against mankind – as fire consumes chaff – by means of the body he had taken and the grace of the resurrection.
This is the reason why the Word assumed a body that could die, so that this body, sharing in the Word who is above all, might satisfy death’s requirement in place of all. Because of the Word dwelling in that body, it would remain incorruptible, and all would be freed for ever from corruption by the grace of the resurrection.
In death the Word made a spotless sacrifice and oblation of the body he had taken. By dying for others, he immediately banished death for all mankind.
In this way the Word of God, who is above all, dedicated and offered his temple, the instrument that was his body, for us all, as he said, and so paid by his own death the debt that was owed. The immortal Son of God, united with all men by likeness of nature, thus fulfilled all justice in restoring mankind to immortality by the promise of the resurrection.
The corruption of death no longer holds any power over mankind, thanks to the Word, who has come to dwell among them through his one body. (From the office of readings of the Roman Breviary)
From The Dialogue on Divine Providence by Catherine of Siena from the office of readings in the Roman Breviary
Eternal God, eternal Trinity, you have made the blood of Christ so precious through his sharing in your divine nature. You are a mystery as deep as the sea; the more I search, the more I find, and the more I find the more I search for you. But I can never be satisfied; what I receive will ever leave me desiring more. When you fill my soul I have an even greater hunger, and I grow more famished for your light. I desire above all to see you, the true light, as you really are.
I have tasted and seen the depth of your mystery and the beauty of your creation with the light of my understanding. I have clothed myself with your likeness and have seen what I shall be. Eternal Father, you have given me a share in your power and the wisdom that Christ claims as his own, and your Holy Spirit has given me the desire to love you. You are my Creator, eternal Trinity, and I am your creature. You have made of me a new creation in the blood of your Son, and I know that you are moved with love at the beauty of your creation, for you have enlightened me.
Eternal Trinity, Godhead, mystery deep as the sea, you could give me no greater gift than the gift of yourself. For you are a fire ever burning and never consumed, which itself consumes all the selfish love that fills my being. Yes, you are a fire that takes away the coldness, illuminates the mind with its light and causes me to know your truth. By this light, reflected as it were in a mirror, I recognise that you are the highest good, one we can neither comprehend nor fathom. And I know that you are beauty and wisdom itself. The food of angels, you gave yourself to man in the fire of your love.
You are the garment which covers our nakedness, and in our hunger you are a satisfying food, for you are sweetness and in you there is no taste of bitterness, O triune God!
Retrieved from the public domain Gemälde Jesus, wahrer Weinstock“ aus dem 17. Jh. in der Kirche St. Castor in Karden
Jn. 15:1-8
Jesus said to his disciples: “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine grower. He takes away every branch in me that does not bear fruit, and every one that does he prunes so that it bears more fruit. You are already pruned because of the word that I spoke to you. Remain in me, as I remain in you. Just as a branch cannot bear fruit on its own unless it remains on the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing. Anyone who does not remain in me will be thrown out like a branch and wither; people will gather them and throw them into a fire and they will be burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask for whatever you want and it will be done for you. By this is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples.”
Today, we hear another I am statement from Jesus in which he says “I am the true vine.” We are reminded from this image Jesus presents that the source and summit of the life we have comes from Jesus, the true vine. In order to be strengthened and bear fruit, we must always come back to Jesus, the Vine of life. In prayer and through the gift of the sacramental life do we receive the nourishment from Jesus as the Vine to nourish our roots that will wither if not firmly connected to His will. Our life in the Spirit finds its nourishment from Jesus and in holy scripture. We are also reminded that we must continuously come back to Jesus as the Vine in which all spiritual and corporal works of mercy are rooted in Jesus, the Lord.
Today, let us ask God for the grace to be firmly connected to the Vine so that we will bear much fruit. Amen.
The supper at Emmaus; Christ sitting behind a table, his nimbus stretching across the entire background, to the right of the table Cleophas, to the left the owner of the inn, both looking surprised as Jesus is breaking the bread. Two lines of letterpress below. 1530 retrieved from public domain
Lk. 24: 35-48
The two disciples recounted what had taken place on the way, and how Jesus was made known to them in the breaking of bread.
While they were still speaking about this, he stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be with you.” But they were startled and terrified and thought that they were seeing a ghost. Then he said to them, “Why are you troubled? And why do questions arise in your hearts? Look at my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me and see, because a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you can see I have.” And as he said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. While they were still incredulous for joy and were amazed, he asked them, “Have you anything here to eat?” They gave him a piece of baked fish; he took it and ate it in front of them.
He said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the law of Moses and in the prophets and psalms must be fulfilled.” Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures. And he said to them, “Thus it is written that the Christ would suffer and rise from the dead on the third day and that repentance, for the forgiveness of sins, would be preached in his name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things.”
Today, our church commemorates Laetare Sunday from the Latin “to rejoice” where we see a change in the vestments worn to a rose color. We recall that while we are wandering through our spiritual deserts in conducting our penances of increased prayer, almsgiving, fasting & drawing closer to the Lord, we are awaiting with joyful anticipation that Easter moment of resurrection.
However, just as we await with joy what is to come on Easter Sunday, we should contemplate the Gospel message today from John where the gospel writer describes a God of love. This God of ours who sanctified our condition through a selfless act of love & sacrifice bestows on us that saving grace for our transgressions. The true joy of Laetare Sunday reminds us that we are called to be selfless and humble servants in our own life for our brothers and sisters in our world. Even being a Christ to those we disagree with and our enemies requires a heart that is joyful and sincere. How do we find such joy in our world today?
We may wish to contemplate the fifth station of the cross in which Simon the Cyrene was made to help Jesus carry the cross. In a sense, Simon becomes the first Christian heeding the call of Jesus to take up the cross and follow him (Lk. 9:23). Our true joy is one where we imitate the humility of Jesus and take up the cross.
Retrieved from the public domain Simon van Cyrene wordt gedwongen Christus’ kruis te helpen dragen from Wikimedia Commons
As the responsorial psalm reminds us, “let our tongue be silenced if we should forget the Lord.” How can we forget the Lord’s great love for us unless we are lacking a heart of humility & piety and aren’t open to receiving His grace? Perhaps we are just going through the motions? Maybe we have yet to help Jesus take up the cross? The cross, a symbol of that sin and barrier that separates us from having the true joy of drawing closer to God’s love for each and every one of us is one we must carry.
The letter to the Ephesians reminds us of this great act of love and joy we hold in our hearts from Jesus’s passion. “God, who is rich in mercy, because of the great love he had for us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, brought us to life withChrist” (Eph. 2:4-5).
John’s gospel chapter 3 reminds us that Jesus is the light that came into the world, yet some prefer darkness to the light. In order to find the true joy of the Lenten season, we must not be afraid to cast those obstacles and sinful behaviors into the light. We must be open to receiving the light of Christ Jesus in the sacrament of reconciliation this Lent. When we receive absolution for the forgiveness of our sin in the sacrament of reconciliation, we receive the joy of Jesus’s love for us – a love that reminds us of that popular verse from John, chapter 3 verse 16 found in today’s gospel: “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life.”
Today, let us take up our cross and cast aside those sins and obstacles in our life that prevent us from having a joyful heart. Let us approach the Lord today in humility and be open to forgiveness in order to receive His grace so that we can better imitate His joyful presence to our world we live in.
Reredos of St Michael Within, Chapel Court, Bath, Somerset. The mosaic backdrop represents the Lamb of God, with the Latin Ecce Angus Dei “Behold the Lamb of God”. From Wikimedia Commons https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Reredos,The_Chapel_of_St_Michael_Within–geograph.org.uk-_988319.jpg
Spring is on the horizon and the commercialization of Easter is on full display in the stores. The Easter bunny has little to do with the true reason for the season. As John the Baptist proclaimed at the sight of Jesus, “Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.” (Jn.1:29).
As the prophet Isiah reminds us as a prophecy of Jesus’s ultimate sacrifice, He is “Like a lamb led to slaughter or a sheep silent before shearers, he did not open his mouth.” (Is. 53.7).
As we journey throughout the rest of this Lenten season, we should try to abstain from partaking of the early Easter rush. We are still journeying within our Lenten deserts where we are recalling Jesus, the Lamb of God slain for our transgressions as the ultimate sacrifice. Just as the blood of the lamb marked the doorposts of the Israelite peoples in captivity during Passover, so too should we live our Lenten journey with the indelible mark of our baptism as Christian witnesses.
It is not too late to do penance, give alms or to draw closer to our Lord in prayer. We await the greatest season of Easter reminding us of this Christian mystery of our redemption and new life. As Revelation reminds us, “Then I saw standing in the midst of the throne and the four living creatures and the elders a Lamb that seemed to have been slain.” (Rev. 5:6).
Next time at mass, take heart and reflect on these words at the invitation of holy communion:
Behold the Lamb of God, behold him who takes away the sins of the world. Blessed are those called to the supper of the Lamb. Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed.
From a sermon by Saint Leo the Great, pope (Sermo 4 de natali ipsius, 2-3: PL 54, 149-151) from the office of readings
The Church of Christ rises on the firm foundation of Peter’s faith
Out of the whole world one man, Peter, is chosen to preside at the calling of all nations, and to be set over all the apostles and all the fathers of the Church. Though there are in God’s people many shepherds, Peter is thus appointed to rule in his own person those whom Christ also rules as the original ruler. Beloved, how great and wonderful is this sharing of his power that God in his goodness has given to this man. Whatever Christ has willed to be shared in common by Peter and the other leaders of the Church, it is only through Peter that he has given to others what he has not refused to bestow on them.
The Lord now asks the apostles as a whole what men think of him. As long as they are recounting the uncertainty born of human ignorance, their reply is always the same.
But when he presses the disciples to say what they think themselves, the first to confess his faith in the Lord is the one who is first in rank among the apostles.
Peter says: You are the Christ, the Son of the living God. Jesus replies: Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jona, for flesh and blood has not revealed it to you, but my Father who is in heaven. You are blessed, he means, because my Father has taught you. You have not been deceived by earthly opinion, but have been enlightened by inspiration from heaven. It was not flesh and blood that pointed me out to you, but the one whose only-begotten Son I am.
He continues: And I say to you. In other words, as my Father has revealed to you my godhead, so I in my turn make known to you your pre-eminence. You are Peter: though I am the inviolable rock, the cornerstone that makes both one, the foundation apart from which no one can lay any other, yet you also are a rock, for you are given solidity by my strength, so that which is my very own because of my power is common between us through your participation.
And upon this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. On this strong foundation, he says, I will build an everlasting temple. The great height of my Church, which is to penetrate the heavens, shall rise on the firm foundation of this faith.
The gates of hell shall not silence this confession of faith; the chains of death shall not bind it. Its words are the words of life. As they lift up to heaven those who profess them, so they send down to hell those who contradict them.
Blessed Peter is therefore told: To you I will give the keys of the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth is also bound in heaven. Whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed also in heaven.
The authority vested in this power passed also to the other apostles, and the institution established by this decree has been continued in all the leaders of the Church. But it is not without good reason that what is bestowed on all is entrusted to one. For Peter received it separately in trust because he is the prototype set before all the rulers of the Church.
Presentation of Jesus in the Temple from the public domain at Wikimedia Commons
From the Collect at Mass:
Almighty ever-living God, we humbly implore your majesty
that, just as your Only Begotten Son
was presented on this day in the Temple
in the substance of our flesh,
so, by your grace,
we may be presented to you with minds made pure.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever.
From the Gospel Reading (New American Bible Re) Lk.2:22-40
When the days were completed for their purification according to the law of Moses, they took him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord, just as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every male that opens the womb shall be consecrated to the Lord,” and to offer the sacrifice of “a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons,” in accordance with the dictate in the law of the Lord.
Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. This man was righteous and devout, awaiting the consolation of Israel, and the holy Spirit was upon him. It had been revealed to him by the holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Messiah of the Lord. He came in the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to perform the custom of the law in regard to him, hetook him into his arms and blessed God, saying:
Now, Master, you may let your servant go
in peace, according to your word,
for my eyes have seen your salvation,
which you prepared in sight of all the peoples,
a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and glory for your people Israel.”
The child’s father and mother were amazed at what was said about him; and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be contradicted and you yourself a sword will pierce) so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.” There was also a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived seven years with her husband after her marriage, and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple, but worshiped night and day with fasting and prayer. And coming forward at that very time, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were awaiting the redemption of Jerusalem. When they had fulfilled all the prescriptions of the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him.
Saint Francis de Sales Oratory (St. Louis, Missouri) – St. Francis de Sales mosaic from Wikimedia Commons author RickMorais
From an excerpt from Introduction to The Devout Life by Saint Francis de Sales
When God the Creator made all things, he commanded the plants to bring forth fruit each according to its own kind; he has likewise commanded Christians, who are the living plants of his Church, to bring forth the fruits of devotion, each one in accord with his character, his station and his calling.
I say that devotion must be practised in different ways by the nobleman and by the working man, by the servant and by the prince, by the widow, by the unmarried girl and by the married woman. But even this distinction is not sufficient; for the practice of devotion must be adapted to the strength, to the occupation and to the duties of each one in particular.
Tell me, please, my Philothea, whether it is proper for a bishop to want to lead a solitary life like a Carthusian; or for married people to be no more concerned than a Capuchin about increasing their income; or for a working man to spend his whole day in church like a religious; or on the other hand for a religious to be constantly exposed like a bishop to all the events and circumstances that bear on the needs of our neighbour. Is not this sort of devotion ridiculous, unorganised and intolerable? Yet this absurd error occurs very frequently; but in no way does true devotion, my Philothea, destroy anything at all. On the contrary, it perfects and fulfils all things. In fact if it ever works against, or is inimical to, anyone’s legitimate station and calling, then it is very definitely false devotion.
The bee collects honey from flowers in such a way as to do the least damage or destruction to them, and he leaves them whole, undamaged and fresh, just as he found them. True devotion does still better. Not only does it not injure any sort of calling or occupation, it even embellishes and enhances it.
Moreover, just as every sort of gem, cast in honey, becomes brighter and more sparkling, each according to its colour, so each person becomes more acceptable and fitting in his own vocation when he sets his vocation in the context of devotion. Through devotion your family cares become more peaceful, mutual love between husband and wife becomes more sincere, the service we owe to the prince becomes more faithful, and our work, no matter what it is, becomes more pleasant and agreeable.
It is therefore an error and even a heresy to wish to exclude the exercise of devotion from military divisions, from the artisans’ shops, from the courts of princes, from family households. I acknowledge, my dear Philothea, that the type of devotion which is purely contemplative, monastic and religious can certainly not be exercised in these sorts of stations and occupations, but besides this threefold type of devotion, there are many others fit for perfecting those who live in a secular state.
Therefore, in whatever situations we happen to be, we can and we must aspire to the life of perfection.
Excerpt from The Introduction to the Devout Life (Pars 1, cap. 3) by St. Francis de Sales. found in the Roman Office of Readings breviary…
About St. Francis de Sales, bishop & doctor of the church:
Image retrieved from the public domain from Duccio di Buoninsegna Calling of Peter and Andrew
From the NABRE translation
Mk. 1:14-20
After John had been arrested, Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the gospel of God: “This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.” As he passed by the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting their nets into the sea; they were fishermen. Jesus said to them, “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Then they abandoned their nets and followed him. He walked along a little farther and saw James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John. They too were in a boat mending their nets. Then he called them. So they left their father Zebedee in the boat along with the hired men and followed him.
Today’s gospel is a difficult one in which Jesus begins his public ministry with the calling of his disciples (followers) who are to later be called apostles to go and be sent with a mission. Within this third Sunday of ordinary time we receive a foretaste of the upcoming Lenten season which will call us to repent as well as spread the kerygma (proclamation) and good news of the gospel to others. Repentance and acknowledgment of one’s wrongs is never easy, however our life is not one of a selfish nature if we wish to continue to carry the mark of Christian identity. This mark of being Christians is engrained upon our personhood at baptism in which we become united with one another in Christ Jesus!
A modern day Christian has to have just as much courage as the original followers of Jesus. Most of the original followers of Jesus were martyred for the faith. After all, in our Western culture we are led to believe that our individual rights supersede all else and that time for God and personal prayer and introspection where we examine the depths of our soul take second place.
As Saint Paul reminds us in the second reading from 1 Corinthians, the time we have is running out (1. Cor. 7:29). If we are still looking at making our New Year’s resolutions, have you asked yourself if you are going to make this year one where you desire sainthood in order to follow our Lord more closely by the life you lead? All of us should desire for not only ourselves, but those within our family and friends the goal and attainment of heaven with a most loving and compassionate God. However, it will take courage and sacrifice to follow Jesus and cast aside those habits and behaviors that don’t center ourselves toward God’s plan for our life. If we truly want to follow Jesus, the time is now.
The passage from John’s gospel describing how John the Baptist proclaimed Jesus as the Lamb of God to two of his disciples (followers) is a reminder of our Christian mission. The disciples of John at hearing such a proclamation left John to go and follow Jesus. Just as in another passage of John’s gospel does John the Baptist remark, “He must increase; I must decrease.” We too must lead others to Jesus and be humble enough to recognize the Holy Spirit working through us to spread the good news!
Both Andrew and Simon Peter recognize something important about this person, Jesus. They recognize Him as the Messiah & anointed one in this passage from the high Christological description of Jesus’s identity. How can we drop everything to come follow Jesus? Do we look at our ministry as Christian disciples in the lens of God working through us, or is it all about us and our own self?
The first reading from 1 Samuel, chapter three describes a young Samuel who eventually grew up to be an important judge, prophet & Levite (priest) in the Old Testament. Samuel did not know the voice of the Lord who was calling him in the night. With the advice from Eli, Samuel finally says to God, “Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening.”How can we ask the same thing of God in prayer?
We are all called to heed the Lord’s call in all that we do with the gifts & talents God gives us with His Grace in the Holy Spirit. How will you seek to answer the call just as Samuel did & John the Baptist in sending others to go & follow Jesus the Christ?
Let us go forth with our vocation as Christian disciples and lead others to the call to drop everything and follow Jesus, the Messiah, the Teacher, the Anointed one & our Master.
As the responsorial psalm reminds us: Here I am Lord, I come to do your will.
The Return of The Holy Family From Egypt by Nicolás Enríquez retrieved from the public domain at Wikimedia Commons
What is your experience of family? Perhaps your family isn’t perfect? That’s ok as the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph didn’t have an easy time from the accounts of scripture.
Within this octave of Christmas, we contemplate the example of the Holy Family and how they were continually being led back to God’s divine providence. Perhaps you lost a close member of your family during this special time in which you are experiencing loss, grief and sorrow. Rejoice, for the heavenly choirs of angels sing in glory with your loved one destined for their heavenly home despite your feelings of abandonment. We are never truly abandoned and through prayer, you still communicate with those you lost.
Regarding the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph – Mary and Joseph were not able to find lodging for God’s son to be born. Jesus was born in a lowly manger, in a barn. The Holy Family had to flee to Egypt due to a dream Saint Joseph had from an angel about fleeing to Egypt and King Herod’s slaughter of the holy innocent newborn children & intent to murder Jesus, our King. Mary misplaced Jesus when Jesus wandered off into the temple to teach the elders from the biblical account as the parents of Jesus were worried.
The Holy Family didn’t have a perfect life, yet God’s presence was with them in their hardship for they were faithful Jews abiding by the traditions of their ancestors. God continually works with all families on our earthly journey for the family unit, albeit a genetic family, church family, work family or extended family from marriage is God’s way of enkindling in us a special relationship of love that is a reflection of the holy family of Jesus, Mary & Joseph.
We are all adopted sons and daughters of God per Saint Paul.
May our families be strengthened this day as we contemplate the example of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph.
Prayer:
O God, who were pleased to give us
the shining example of the Holy Family,
graciously grant that we may imitate them
in practicing the virtues of family life and in the bonds of charity,
and so, in the joy of your house,
delight one day in eternal rewards.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
The Word was made flesh and dwelt among us! (Jn. 1:14).
How can you live more fully the reality of the Incarnation in your life where God’s Son becomes one of us to lift us up to a more godly and ontological destiny?
Image taken from St Joseph parish, Richardson
This is the theme of the Christmas season. Our 9 year old daughter Abigail (Hebrew for “joy of the Father”) knows that there are 12 days of Christmas. Our family doesn’t tend to open all the gifts on the first day of the Christmas season, and instead spaces out the giving of gifts leading up to the the Feast of the Epiphany (Theophany) and the three kings giving gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. The gold given to Jesus symbolizes his kingly role. The gift of frankincense symbolizes his role of priestly ministry as being the ultimate sacrifice for our transgressions on the cross at Calvary. The myrrh symbolizes the anointing of his body and embalming with a sweet fragrance (https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/people-cultures-in-the-bible/jesus-historical-jesus/why-did-the-magi-bring-gold-frankincense-and-myrrh/).
New threads I purchased for my niece’s baptism that coincides with the 3rd week of Advent
Today the Church recognizes Guadaute Sunday of the third week of Advent. “Guadaute”is derived from the Latin words “gaudium,” joy, and “gaudeo,” to rejoice or be glad. Our society teaches us that it is so easy not to be joyful in the world we live in. Oftentimes we have feelings that we think resemble joy, but are not to be confused with other emotions to be defined with the etymology of the word Joy. Joy comes from the Greek chara or Χαρά meaning calm delight or cheerfulness.
Personally & spiritually for me this Advent I have performed penitential acts of service the first two weeks of Advent pondering His second coming and being awake and alert. Recognizing my sins and human fragility and turning to the Lord God through Eucharistic adoration, family prayer time, lectio divina, the rosary, las posadas, cleansing of the clutter and monetary tithes during this season of Advent has awakened in myself a more joyful heart open to His wondrous incarnation and light of love. Through my reflection and spiritual re-awakening & renewal I came to realize the root cause of my sin. In pondering my past mistakes and thinking of myself as being a slave to sin & temptations by Satan made me believe I was not worthy of His grace, love & being made in His holy image. The other cause for falling into sin and lashing out at others was about my worries with a future I can’t control (anxiety) and not being more attentive to the present. Our life should be one of prayerful moments in which we see His radiant Joy working in us and through us and allow that joy to permeate our surroundings and those we encounter. From doing menial chores such as cleaning the toilet, to having a really bad day times two, can we allow a joyful heart to rule the day for it is not about the roadblocks & conditions of life that create or diminish a joyful heart and soul. The way in which one has a joyful heart and can always be smiling no matter what life throws our way is about choosing to be in harmony to the workings of the Holy Spirit in our life.
My niece will be baptized in the Church this week and she will share a baptismal birthday with my wife which is definitely a joyful coincidence. The white sport coat (symbolizing the white garment that I wore for my baptism for which we are made clean from the stain of original sin as a new creation) in conjunction with the pink or rose color of vestments worn seemed appropriate for the week. Plus another humorous and joyous guidepost was the experience of my daughter conferring with the sales lady in choosing pink since girls rock!
Life is fleeting (memento mori) and we can’t not have a heart of joy which is a fruit of the Holy Spirit working in us on this earthly journey. Let us prepare the way for the Lord as we recall His coming in which we can’t help but not repeat that everlasting sounding Joy!
Here are some biblical verses to reflect on from the New Catholic Answers Bible version:
Luke 15:7 “I tell you, in just the same way there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need of repentance.” Our sins are not too great for His Joy to rule.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-19 “Rejoicealways. Pray without ceasing. In all circumstances give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus. Do not quench the Spirit.
Philippians 4:4 “Rejoice in the Lord always.”
Isaiah 61:10 “I rejoice heartily in the Lord, in my God is the joy of my soul, For he has clothed me with a robe of salvation and wrapped me in a mantle of justice…”
Mary’s Magnificat from Luke 1:46: “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my savior.”
Psalm 118 from the spiritual songs often sung in Vacation Bible School: “This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it.
From a letter from Saint Ambrose found in the Roman Breviary Office of Readings:
You have entered upon the office of bishop. Sitting at the helm of the Church, you pilot the ship against the waves. Take firm hold of the rudder of faith so that the severe storms of this world cannot disturb you. The sea is mighty and vast, but do not be afraid, for as Scripture says: he has founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the waters.
The Church of the Lord is built upon the rock of the apostles among so many dangers in the world; it therefore remains unmoved. The Church’s foundation is unshakeable and firm against the assaults of the raging sea. Waves lash at the Church but do not shatter it. Although the elements of this world constantly beat upon the Church with crashing sounds, the Church possesses the safest harbour of salvation for all in distress. Although the Church is tossed about on the sea, it rides easily on rivers, especially those rivers that Scripture speaks of: The rivers have lifted up their voice. These are the rivers flowing from the heart of the man who is given drink by Christ and who receives from the Spirit of God. When these rivers overflow with the grace of the Spirit, they lift up their voice.
There is also a stream which flows down on God’s saints like a torrent. There is also a rushing river giving joy to the heart that is at peace and makes for peace. Whoever has received from the fullness of this river, like John the Evangelist, like Peter and Paul, lifts up his voice. Just as the apostles lifted up their voices and preached the Gospel throughout the world, so those who drink these waters begin to preach the good news of the Lord Jesus.
Drink, then, from Christ, so that your voice may also be heard. Store up in your mind the water that is Christ, the water that praises the Lord. Store up water from many sources, the water that rains down from the clouds of prophecy.
Whoever gathers water from the mountains and leads it to himself or draws it from springs, is himself a source of dew like the clouds. Fill your soul, then, with this water, so that your land may not be dry, but watered by your own springs.
He who reads much and understands much, receives his fill. He who is full, refreshes others. So Scripture says: If the clouds are full, they will pour rain upon the earth.
Therefore, let your words be rivers, clean and limpid, so that in your exhortations you may charm the ears of your people. And by the grace of your words win them over to follow your leadership. Let your sermons be full of understanding. Solomon says: The weapons of the understanding are the lips of the wise; and in another place he says: Let your lips be bound with wisdom. That is, let the meaning of your words shine forth, let understanding blaze out. See that your addresses and expositions do not need to invoke the authority of others, but let your words be their own defence. Let no word escape your lips in vain or be uttered without depth of meaning.
Half-length portrait showing Saint Nicholas of Myra. First half of the 13th century Saint Catherine’s Monastery, Sinai (Egypt) from Wikimedia Commons in the public domain
To introduce the year of St. Joseph, Pope Francis wrote one of the most beautiful letters of his papacy, his Apostolic Letter Patris Corde. Throughout the letter, the Holy Father reflects on many characteristics of St. Joseph. In his reflection on Joseph’s title “most chaste,” Pope Francis defines chaste love as “freedom from possessiveness in every sphere of one’s life.” He continues, “Only when love is chaste, is it truly love. A possessive love ultimately becomes dangerous: it imprisons, constricts and makes for misery.”
This is reminiscent of the teaching of Pope John Paul II in Love and Responsibility where he makes it clear that the opposite of loving someone is using them. Both popes point to a dangerous temptation that can distort our love for others. Love can easily turn unchaste when we desire to control and constrict the object of our love. In extreme cases, it ceases to be love at all – we simply use others for our own selfish ends. Note that neither pope limits his definition to the sensual dimension of chastity, but understands chastity to encompass our entire experience of relating to others. This, as with all virtues, is exemplified by God’s love for us. In Patris Corde, Pope Francis goes on to explain:
“God himself loved humanity with a chaste love; he left us free even to go astray and set ourselves against him. The logic of love is always the logic of freedom.”
It is clear then that God loves us in a chaste manner by leaving us free to be ourselves while encouraging us (both in his word and through his grace) to be the saints He made us to be. However, the question remains, “What does it mean to love God chastely?” The definitions given by John Paul II and Francis give us the key. We cannot approach God with an attitude of possessiveness that attempts to constrict and imprison God, and, most of all, we cannot attempt to use God for our own ends.
In the Gospel of Matthew there are only two times that Jesus expresses what can be seen as anger, and the cause of His anger in both cases can be clearly seen to be this unchaste love of God. The first time is just after Simon made his great profession of faith and is named Peter:
“From that time on, Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer greatly from the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed and on the third day be raised. Then Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, “God forbid, Lord! No such thing shall ever happen to you.” He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are an obstacle to me. You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do.” (Mt 16: 21-23)[1]
We can see here that Peter is indeed expressing his deep love, concern, and adoration for the Lord. However, Peter is trying to make Jesus into the type of messiah that he wants him to be instead of accepting the plan Jesus revealed to him. Peter is encouraging Jesus to be the proud and powerful warrior messiah that the Jews had expected, rather than the meek and mild suffering servant that Jesus is. Peter’s attempt to possess and control God was, understandably, met with a harsh rebuke.
The second time is when Jesus drives out the money changers and merchants in the Temple saying, “It is written: ‘My house shall be a house of prayer,’ but you are making it a den of thieves” (Mt 21: 13). The Temple was a building meant to be the place of the highest expression of the love of God. However, the Jewish elite had turned the sacrifices mandated by the Law into a way to extort and rob the poor, and, not only this, they claimed that God demanded such extortion. This was not love of God, but instead using Him for their own selfish gain. Jesus’ anger at this mockery of love was, once again, understandable.
Pope Francis, in Patris Corde, goes on to contrast this with the way Joseph loved:
“Joseph accepted Mary unconditionally. He trusted in the angel’s words. “The nobility of Joseph’s heart is such that what he learned from the law he made dependent on charity. … Often in life, things happen whose meaning we do not understand. Our first reaction is frequently one of disappointment and rebellion. …The spiritual path that Joseph traces for us is not one that explains, but accepts.”
This, it seems, is the key to being able to truly love God chastely. We have to approach Him always with a sense of wonder, humility, and acceptance. This means that the primary way that we know God is by Him revealing Himself to us, not by us grasping at that knowledge. The danger when we try to rely too heavily on our own explanations is that we attempt to possess, imprison, and constrict God and then our love becomes unchaste. Instead of us being a part of His grand plan, this constricted false image of God, that we create in our mind, becomes a tool or a weapon wieled in our petty worldly plans.
How then does the fact that the Church has always encouraged deep intellectual study, especially among the ordained, fit into this? The key here is to have clear in our minds why we are seeking to know more about God. The correct approach is to seek knowledge about God only so that we can better serve, love, and please him. In this way, we will not be using God, because we are seeking to unite our will with His will. However, one must have the intellectual humility to recognize that God is always beyond my finite understanding. As St. Augustine said, “Si comprehendis, non est Deus”[2] (If you comprehend, it isn’t God). There is also the well-known account of St. Thomas Aquinas, after receiving a revelation from God, leaving his great work of the Summa Theologiae unfinished and saying, “All that I have written seems like straw compared to what has now been revealed to me.”[3]
Finally, we can look to the comparison of Eve and Mary. Here we can see this difference between chaste and unchaste love once again. Looking at the story of the fall in Genesis we can see that, at first, Eve is loving and obedient to God, but the temptation of the serpent that convinced Eve to eat of the tree was, “your eyes will be opened and you will be like gods, who know good and evil.” Eve then looked at the tree and saw that, “ the tree was desirable for gaining wisdom.” We see here that her desire to grasp at the knowledge of God was, in a sense, out of admiration of God’s omniscience, but the devil used intellectual pride to convince Eve to attempt to make God’s power her own.
Now let us compare this to the actions of Mary in the Gospel of Luke. When told by the Angel Gabriel that she would bear the “Son of the Most High,” she did ask how it could be possible, but the answer she received was not a full scientific and theological explanation but instead a request to trust that, “nothing will be impossible for God.” She then responds with her fiat, “Behold I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your Word.” Here we see the desire to understand, but the preeminence of trust that is found in chaste love of God. We see this attitude continue throughout Mary’s life as she follows the will of God, but how she still “kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart.” Of course this posture of chaste humility towards God the Father was also exemplified by her son who, “though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God something to be grasped” (Phil 2: 6).
Any time we approach the study of God in an unchaste, possessive way, we are like Eve grasping at the tree of knowledge, attempting to make herself an equal with God. However, when we approach God in a humble and chaste manner, trusting in His will, He will slowly reveal Himself to us in a deeper more loving way than our feeble grasping could have ever obtained. May we all ask for the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary and her most chaste spouse, St. Joseph, that we may return to an attitude of loving trust and submission to God and His Church, and that by reflecting on His revelation we may unite our will to His will so that we can love Him and our neighbor in a more proper way.
A violent squall came up and waves were breaking over the boat, so that it was already filling up.
Jesus was in the stern, asleep on a cushion. They woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” He woke up, rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Quiet! Be still!” The wind ceased and there was great calm. Then he asked them, “Why are you terrified? Do you not yet have faith?” They were filled with great awe and said to one another, “Who then is this whom even wind and sea obey?” (Mk 4:37-41)[1]
On March 27, 2020, Pope Francis used this Scripture passage as the basis of his message during a special Urbi et Orbi blessing, when we were entering a time of great uncertainty due to the pandemic. In his reflection on the event, Pedro Gabriel wrote about how—to the pope’s critics and supporters alike—Pope Francis at that moment was recognized as “a much-needed beacon of hope in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.” In Pope Francis’s address he repeatedly returns to the refrain, “Why are you afraid? Have you no faith?” to address the fear and angst many people were feeling at the beginning of the pandemic. This question can also be applied to a current source of fear in the US Catholic Church today.
In recent months we have witnessed many people express fear, angst, and despair about the Synod on Synodality, and have even reached the point of a cardinal saying it could lead to the destruction of the Church. On the other side, however, we have a very vocal contingent of the Church who is extremely critical about the USCCB’s three-year Eucharistic Revival, seeing it as an attempt to downplay and distract from the global Synod. Despite this tension, however, the two initiatives are both deeply needed and intrinsically linked.
The True Meaning of “Synod”
When one breaks down the original Greek meaning of the word synod, it literally means “journeying together” (from syn- —”together” and hodos—”journeying”). This is why the above scripture passage is an apt metaphor for the synodal process we are undertaking as a Church. We are all in the barque of Peter on a journey of faith together. Additionally, a proper understanding of the Eucharist shows that it is also a celebration of a journey that we are on together—one that we generally refer to as “communion.” As St. Paul wrote to the Corinthians, “Because the loaf of bread is one, we, though many, are one body, for we all partake of the one loaf” (1 Cor 10:17). A deeper understanding of the Eucharist ought to draw us all into the idea that we are united in the Body of Christ, and that to hate our fellow members of the Body is to hate Christ himself.
Secondly, we know that when Jesus gave us the greatest commandment he first told us to love God, “with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind” (Mt 12:37). Then he says that the second—to love our neighbor as ourselves—“is like” the first (Mt 12:39). They are not two commands, but two sides of one commandment. As Catholics, the foundation of our great love for our neighbor is in seeing the image of Christ in them. We love Christ through our neighbor, and we love our neighbor through Christ. There is no greater expression of love of God and neighbor than when we partake of the Body of Christ at the same altar. In this sense, the Synod and the Eucharistic Revival should not be seen as rival initiatives, but as an expression of both sides of the greatest commandment.
The Eucharistic Revival
With the understanding that the Eucharist only strengthens our need to journey together, we may better understand the point in the passage when the storm begins and the disciples on the boat are filled with fear. Today, so many Catholics are filled with fear and doubt. Some are looking over the starboard side and see a huge wave of traditionalism threatening to tear apart the barque of Peter. Others are looking to port and see a wave of progressivism threatening to steer the barque off course. We cannot be naïve—these waves are very real and concerning—but an even greater problem is that so many in the crew are focused on the waves and forgetting who is asleep in the stern.
Originally, when reading the famous Pew Research poll indicating that many Catholics did not have a proper understanding of the Eucharist, I was not particularly convinced of its significance. After all, there are many Catholics who live deep lives of faith, prayer, and love for the Eucharist who would not necessarily give the correct theological answer. That said, the level of panic and fear about the Synod that I see among some Catholics suggests that the situation is indeed quite grave. However, the problem I’m witnessing is that many Catholics who likely would have answered the survey question in accordance with Church teaching on Christ’s presence in the Eucharist have shown by their words and actions that their faith is lacking in the reality of Christ’s presence in the Church.
In that March 2020 Urbi et Orbi address, Pope Francis said, “Lord, you are calling to us, calling us to faith. Which is not so much believing that you exist, but coming to you and trusting in you.” Even though the disciples who were with Jesus in the boat knew he was a great teacher, they did not understand until that night that Jesus was one “whom even the wind and sea obey.” This is the same Jesus asleep in the stern of every one of our churches, in the tabernacle. The Eucharistic Revival has the potential to educate and motivate more Catholics to live and act like they truly believe in the enormity of this reality. This is the type of faith that will be vital to the success of the Synod. If Catholics begin to see that the Church—the barque of Peter—is truly the Body of Christ, rather than a purely human political institution, then their fear, anxiety, and anger will dissolve and be replaced with real faith and trust.
If you are experiencing fear and doubt about either the Synod or the Eucharistic revival, perhaps this is an opportunity to go before Our Lord in adoration and—like the apostles on the boat who said, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?”—bring your concerns and fears to our Lord. Jesus’ response to this plea is, “Why are you afraid? Have you no faith?” This is not a reproach, but is the loving reassurance of a father to a child that he is in control and there is no need for worry.
Adam Stengel started out studying to be a medical doctor, then moved to Honduras to start a family and pursue a love for missionary work. He now lives in rural Arkansas with his wife and three children and is employed as a custom cabinet maker in a family owned shop.
Wailua River boat rideNinini Point Lighthouse & Lihue Airport, Kauai
My wife, daughter and I recently celebrated 10 years of marriage with a recent Hawaiian cruise. As I reflect on 10 years of marriage and being blessed with a daughter, I am left with the idea that this life God gives us is like a photo album. Life will throw us a curve ball and we will have those less than desirable photogenic moments that don’t end up in our photo album. We will have the stressors of the world that weigh us down, but learning how to have a God sighting of seeing how the Creator is ever present in our world is important.
Sometimes one needs to go on a retreat, vacation or even a walk in the world around us outside our interior “cloistered” life to cherish God’s gifts. Think about your favorite vacation or family experience. How do we make that a habit of having such memories in our day to day living?
It’s much like the parable of the sower in the gospel where our lives should yearn for deep roots where we are continuously filled with joy at living out the Good News of the gospel with those around us. Living without anxiety per the Our Father prayer and acknowledging God’s kingdom alive and among us on earth just as it is in heaven should be the goal.
Retrieved from the public domain at Wikimedia Commons
One thing we rely on too much is the luxury of instant photos with digital cameras and smartphones with enhanced photography capabilities. As Paul’s letter to the Colossians states, “Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth” (Col. 3:2). I found on my trip there were some photos of the open sea and landscape that were way too beautiful to capture on camera. The same is true with those special moments of marriage and raising a daughter that can’t be captured in a photo or social media post. After retrospection, the memory of living in the present moment and being aware that God’s presence is always with us, especially in those joyous moments is an awareness we should strive for in the Christian life. We should reflect on those mental photo albums of our life that go straight to our soul. Reflecting on those great times and seasons of life is one way as Christians we can nourish our roots. We might call these moments God sightings – how do you see God in your midst each day in your relationship with others & the world around you?
A Joyful heart is the health of the body, but a broken spirit dries up the bones. Proverbs 17:22
NAWILIWILI KAUAI waterfall Pu’uhonua O Honaunau National Historical ParkNā Pali CoastView of a Pacific Ocean sunrise
May the Lord bless you and keep you, May the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you. May the Lord lift up the light of his countenance upon you and give you his peace. Amen (Numbers 6:24-26)
El papa San León I Magno by Francisco Herrera the Younger in the public domain retrieved from Wikimedia Commons
From a Sermon from Leo the Great
Although the universal Church of God is constituted of distinct orders of members, still, in spite of the many parts of its holy body, the Church subsists as an integral whole, just as the Apostle says: We are all one in Christ. No difference in office is so great that anyone can be separated, through lowliness, from the head. In the unity of faith and baptism, therefore, our community is undivided. There is a common dignity, as the apostle Peter says in these words: And you are built up as living stones into spiritual houses, a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices which are acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. And again: But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people set apart.
For all, regenerated in Christ, are made kings by the sign of the cross; they are consecrated priests by the oil of the Holy Spirit, so that beyond the special service of our ministry as priests, all spiritual and mature Christians know that they are a royal race and are sharers in the office of the priesthood. For what is more king-like than to find yourself ruler over your body after having surrendered your soul to God? And what is more priestly than to promise the Lord a pure conscience and to offer him in love unblemished victims on the altar of one’s heart?
Because, through the grace of God, it is a deed accomplished universally on behalf of all, it is altogether praiseworthy and in keeping with a religious attitude for you to rejoice in this our day of consecration, to consider it a day when we are especially honoured. For indeed one sacramental priesthood is celebrated throughout the entire body of the Church. The oil which consecrates us has richer effects in the higher grades, yet it is not sparingly given in the lower.
Sharing in this office, my dear brethren, we have solid ground for a common rejoicing; yet there will be more genuine and excellent reason for joy if you do not dwell on the thought of our unworthiness. It is more helpful and more suitable to turn your thoughts to study the glory of the blessed apostle Peter. We should celebrate this day above all in honour of him. He overflowed with abundant riches from the very source of all graces, yet though he alone received much, nothing was given over to him without his sharing it. The Word made flesh lived among us, and in redeeming the whole human race, Christ gave himself entirely.
Excerpt from the Office of Readings in the Breviary on the occasion of the memorial of St. Leo the Great
On this 30th Sunday in ordinary time the gospel from Matthew reminds us of the greatest command summarized in two didactics by Jesus the Christ. Jesus reminds us of the need for love of God and our neighbor. Such a reminder summarizes the 10 commandments given to Moses on Mt. Sinai. Jesus reminds us of the simple, yet logical response in his answer. His response is not filled with a rigid legalistic approach to following God, but returns to the foundational Shema prayer (https://bibleproject.com/articles/what-is-the-shema/). The Pharisees were trying to entrap Jesus with such a question. The 613 Jewish rules in the Mitzvot are certainly important (https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/mitzvot). However, Jesus’s response to the Pharisees reminds us of the simplicity of how we should lead a good life. When we have a reciprocal relationship with a God that is love, how can we not love our neighbor, whoever that might be? Jesus as God’s Son fulfills this command for the salvation of all of us per the correlation to John’s gospel: “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life (Jn. 3:16).
Matthew 22:34-40
When the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together, and one of them [a scholar of the law] tested him by asking, Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?”He said to him, “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment. The second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments.”
Some practical tips for putting this into practice are the following:
Plan for a Christ centered life: turn to the Lord in prayer each day. Acknowledge our weaknesses and ask for God’s grace to go out and be a Christ (anointed) son & daughter of our Lord in our relationship with others. Frequent participation in the Sacrament of Reconciliation and Sacrament of the Eucharist at the Divine Liturgy (mass) will enrich our Christ centered mission. Ask Jesus to help us take up our cross to come follow Him each and every day for this earthly journey we are on has a lot of mini crosses.
Create times for personal and family prayer time. How can we love the Lord our God if we don’t pray? St. Paul in his epistle to the Thessalonians reminds us to pray without ceasing and give God our thanks. (1 Thes. 5:17-18).
Become a servant. By having a life enriched by selfless service to others where we put the need of others before ourself will we be humbled and begin to reflect that perfect agape love that God gives us with His Son, Jesus.
The cover image from Salvation Mountain in the state of California reminds us of this mission to live out Jesus’s Great Command. We acknowledge our weakness and brokenness to sin and ask God to fill us with His love, His grace. For more information about Salvation Mountain, a vision created by Leonard Knight, visit https://www.visitcalifornia.com/experience/salvation-mountain-slab-city/.
We are reminded in the Gospel of Matthew (chapter 26), Mark (chapter 14), Luke (chapter 22) that Jesus goes to the Garden of Gethsemane to pray before His arrest and suffering by bringing Peter and the two sons of Zebedee (James & John) with him to keep watch. All three could not stay awake as there are three moments where Jesus goes off in prayer only to come back and find his disciples asleep. His frustration shows with the remark toward Peter in that he could not keep watch for one hour and that the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak (Mt. 26:40-41). The story continues as Jesus chooses a way of peace and perfect love. Jesus is captured by soldiers, imprisoned, beaten, flogged, crowned with thorns and nailed to a cross as an act of the greatest sacrificial love that frees mankind from their sin. Jesus reminds us after one of his followers strikes the ear of the high priest’s servant’s ear that all who live by the sword, perish by the sword. He acknowledges that as God’s Son, 12 legions of angels could have come to his aid but the scripture from Isaiah 53 and the suffering servant prophecy must be fulfilled.
When we enter into prayer, we are casting aside our thoughts, doubts, fears and selfish desires and handing it over to God. When we add fasting to the mix, and limit our desire for food, we are truly ridding ourselves of that earthly desire which binds us all. By emptying ourself and giving everything to God allows a radical change to occur.
Perhaps we can add an act of kindness to a day of prayer and fasting where we express to our neighbor something as simple as a gesture such as a smile, or greeting? Perhaps we can add a more profound act of service to our day?
As St. Mother Teresa once remarked, “prayer in action is love, love in action is service.”
Let us heed the call of Jesus’s request to attempt to keep watch with Him for an hour. Let our fasting and prayers this day be a radical sign to the world that when Christians unite in prayer and fasting, goodness and peace can flourish.
StreetEvangelist 
