Saturday 30th Week of Ordinary Time

 

Trading Places

Many years ago I visited a man who was both blind and deaf.

Something must have happened to him later in life because he could talk but not see or hear.

We communicated through a small typewriter.

I would type a word and he could feel with his fingers the letters that I typed.

At the end of our visit, I laid hands on him and prayed, as I did I thought to myself,

"Would I take his place?"

Would I become blind and deaf so that he could see and hear?

Would you?

Would any of us take the place of a homeless person so that they could have a home?

Would we take the place of a prisoner so that he could be free?

Would we take the place of someone in the hospital so that they could go home?

Would we take the place of someone who is dying so that she could live?

This is what God did!

In Jesus, God took our place on the cross so that we could live.

He took on our sins and our guilt so that we could be forgiven.

He took on our wounds and suffering so that we could be healed.

So much does He love us.

By the Cross, we know how much God loves us.

How much we love others is determined by the crosses we are willing to bear for them.

God Bless

Friday 30th Week of Ordinary Time

 

Sabbath Rest

The Pharisees were scandalized that Jesus healed on the Sabbath.

They failed to understand that by healing the man with dropsy on the Sabbath

that Jesus was truly fulfilling the Sabbath,

for the Sabbath was meant to be a day when we rest in the Love and Mercy of God.

When we see a person who is broken, lost or hurting,

Do we ever say that it has been a long day and We are tired and need some rest.

Do we ever make excuses like the Pharisees and turn a blind eye?

Pain, sorrow, suffering and heartbreak do not know or care what day it is.

When People take a rest from Love and Mercy,

then pain, sorrow, heartbreak and suffering continue.

If we need a rest, take a break from our own drive for self satisfaction and self fulfillment but never from Love and Mercy.

God Bless

Thursday 30th Week of Ordinary Time

 

What are wearing?

When winter comes,

we usually put on warm clothes and a heavy coat to protect us from the cold.

But what do we wear when the world become cold with lies, selfishness and war.

We put on the armor of God. Eph.6:11

Put on Truth, Holiness and Peace.

Put on the helmet of Salvation

And the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God.

We don’t go outside unprepared for the weather,

Why go out into the world unprepared?

Because if we do,

We Will be over whelmed and overcome

By the cold harsh ways of the world.

God Bless

The Apostles Simon and Jude

 The Foundation

A foundation plays a major role in the construction of a building.

A good and strong foundation keeps the building standing

Even when the forces of nature wreak havoc.

The Catholic Church is built and founded on the Apostles.

The men who lived with Jesus for three years.

Who heard His teaching and who saw His miracles.

And most of all who saw Him risen from the dead.

Any other church is built on sand and hearsay

And will not stand.

The Catholic Church goes back to the Apostles and we know this because the remains of the Apostles are all found in Catholic Churches.

But the Church is not built on their remains,

But on their living Spirit handed down to every bishop

Who is there successor.

This is what makes the Catholic Church and Apostolic Church.

God Bless

Monday 30th week of Ordinary

 

Be Imitators of God. Eph 4:33

So many children grow up imitating what they see on TV

Or the video games they play.

And then they become adults and continue doing the same thing

They learned as a child.

St. Paul told the Ephesians,

To be imitators of God instead.

Be Kind, Compassionate and Forgiving.

If we want to be holy as God is holy 1Peter 1:16

Then there is no room in our hearts for

Impurity, gossip or greed.

God is Light so therefore live now as children of Light. Eph.5:8

God Bless

30th Sunday of Ordinary Time

 

How do we Love?

A man came up and asked Jesus which is the Greatest Commandment.

And Jesus answered by saying,

We must Love God with all our heart and soul and with all our mind.

And our neighbor as ourself. Mt. 22:34-40

As they always say,

“Practice what you preach!”

So How did Jesus show that He loved His Father,

Will all His heart and soul and strength?

When he was tempted in the desert

with food, power and popularity He rejected it all.

He said “My food is to do the will of him who sent me.” Jn. 4:34

And in the garden of Gethsemane he prayed,

“Not my Will but Thy Will be done.” Mt. 26:39

How do we show that we love God with all our heart and soul and mind?

Is our food to do the Will of God?

Do we pray,

Not my will but God’s Will be done?

Is coming to Church for one hour, one day a week,

Showing that we Love God with all our heart and soul and mind?

How did Jesus show that he loved His neighbor as He loves Himself?

He washed the feet of His disciples. Jn. 13:5

And He laid down His life for His friends. Jn. 15:13

Because There is no greater love.

What does our neighbor need from us?

What are we willing to sacrifice for our neighbor?

Do we even know our neighbors name?

And finally do we really love ourselves.

Are the things we eat and watch and do and read......

Are they really good for us?

The reason that God made The Great Commandment

to Love God with all our heart and soul and mind and

To Love our neighbor as ourself,

Is not to tell us what to do,

But because it is what makes life worthwhile and worth living.

And the more we do it the better life gets.

God Bless

Saturday 29th week of Ordinary Time

 

Bad and Good

Jesus taught that Bad things happen to Good people.

This was revolutionary.

Many people believed that if they led a good life,

Nothing bad would happen to them.

But the tower of Siloam fell on those people not because they were bad. Lk. 13:1-9

But because it is a part of life.

No one is all good or all bad.

Therefore all need to repent,

And thus be prepared for whatever comes along in life.

God Bless

Friday 29th Week of Ordinary Time

 One Faith, One Baptism, One Father Eph. 4:1-6

On the night before Jesus died,

He prayed that we all might be one. Jn. 17:11

And ever since that prayer,

Christians have been arguing among themselves.

St. Paul reminded the Ephesians of the dying wish of Jesus.

And reminded them that we are all one body, one spirit, flowing from one Baptism and one Father of all.

And the only way this will ever come to pass,

is if we are humble and gentle,

and bear with one another with love.

For this is to what we are called.

God Bless

Thursday 29th Week of Ordinary Time

 

Love surpassing Knowledge Eph. 3: 14-21

God is far superior to us,

Than we are to worms.

God has created this earth and more.

He has created all the stars and even billions of galaxies.

We will never truly know God,

But we can love God.

We can love God for all that He has done and for all that He is.

So rather than trying to know God and figure out why God does certain things and not others.

Which ultimately we will never know.

Love God instead

For where knowledge ends,

Love continues.

God Bless

Wednesday 29th Week of Ordinary Time

 

Much is given, Much will be demanded. Lk. 12:39-48

Jesus tells us that much will be demanded of the person to whom much has been given.

At first we might think that this refers to money.

That Those who have a lot of money,

much will be demanded of them by the Lord.

And while this may be true,

Even more will be asked

of those who have been given the infinite riches of Faith.

For Those who have been given the gift of Faith,

Are the richest of all.

And More therefore will be expected of them

than those who live in the poverty of unbelief.

God Bless

Tuesday 29th Week of Ordinary Time

Gird your loins Lk. 12:35-38

No one likes surprises.

Especially when it is a surprise guest knocking at the door.

Because we want to be presentable,

And we want to be hospitable hosts with something to offer.

Jesus will come knocking when we do not know

Or least expect Him.

Will we be presentable?

Will our hearts and souls be pure?

Will we be hospitable hosts

Ready to welcome Jesus

And offer Him a lifetime of Love and Faithfulness?

God Bless

Monday 29th Week of Ordinary Time

 

To Whom will they belong? Lk. 12:13-21

Americans like to shop till they drop,

As the saying goes.

In the parable about the man who tore down his barns to build larger one’s to store all of his possessions,

only to die that night,

Jesus warns us that one’s life does not consist of possessions.

Next time before you buy something,

Ask yourself,

Who will get this when I am no longer around?

And maybe it will not be as necessary as we thought.

God Bless

First Communion

 

At Mass we start with bread and wine.

But when the priest says,

“This is my Body”

The bread turns into the Body of Christ.

And when He says,

“This is my Blood”

The wine turns into the Blood of Christ.

So that when you receive Communion

You are really receiving the Body and Blood of Jesus.

And what happens When you receive communion?

Jesus comes inside of you and you become Jesus.

You become His hands that reach out and help people.

You become his arms that carry heavy loads for others.

You become His feet that walk with others in their difficulties.

His heart beats in yours so that you can share His love to others.

And the world needs lots of Jesus’ now.

Every time you receive Jesus in Communion

He comes into your heart

And lives in you,

So that you can be Jesus for other people;

Who need your helping hands,

Your strong arms,

Your fast feet

And most of all your loving heart!

God Bless

St. Teresa of Avila Oct. 15

 

Christ has no body now on earth but yours,

no hands, no feet but yours.

Yours are the eyes with which Christ looks out his compassion to the world.

Yours are the feet with which he is to go about doing good.

Yours are the hands with which he is to bless us now.

Take a moment to look at your hands and feet and body

And see that they are the hands and feet and body of Christ

What an awesome gift and responsibility.

Now what are we going to do with them today?

God Bless

Monday 28th Week of Ordinary Time

 

Signs Lk. 11:29-32

Why is it when the gas tank starts to read empty we look for signs pointing to the gas station

Or when the stomach starts to growl we look for signs where to eat.

And until then we do not pay much attention to the signs on the road.

The road of life is very similar

When people are sick or something is going wrong in their life they start looking for signs from God.

But when everything is wonderful and great they do not pay much attention to God and what He is trying to point out to them.

The people of ancient Israel wanted signs.

But Jesus knew their hearts.

He knew signs would not change their hearts or the road they were taking.

For those who have Faith no sign is necessary

But those who do not, no sign will ever be enough

God Bless

Saturday 28th Sunday of Ordinary Time

 

The Inheritance of Christ.

When a person dies they often leave an inheritance behind,

For family and friends.

It usually consists of money, property or possessions.

When Jesus died, He too left an inheritance behind,

For those who believe in Him.

And what is that inheritance.

Eternal life!

The riches of Heaven!

What an unbelievable inheritance is offered to every Christian.

What on this earth is more valuable than Eternal Life and the Riches of Heaven?

How sad when a Christian lives a Prodigal life which cause them to lose their inheritance.

God Bless

Friday 28th Week of Ordinary Time

 

Whispers in the dark

Jesus warned of the hypocrisy of the Pharisees

By saying,

“Everything done behind closed doors will be open for all to see.”

Everything done in the dark will be brought to light.

Everything whispered behind other people’s backs,

Will be proclaimed on the housetop.”

Therefore everyone should think twice

about what they say and do

and whisper behind other people’s back.

For one day it will all be revealed!

God Bless

Fratelli Tutti: A Dream and a Plan for a New Universal Fraternity

 

October 6, 2020

Fratelli Tutti is an encyclical that dreams of, and plans for, a new, inclusive and fraternal world. Once again Pope Francis has drawn inspiration from St. Francis of Assisi: in addition to taking Francis as his name, the Pope has now written a second Encyclical inspired by the Poverello – the first was Laudato si’. It is also significant that the Pope decided to sign the document upon the tomb of St. Francis, after celebrating Mass in the crypt of the Basilica of St. Francis on October 3, 2020.

Fratelli Tutti takes its title and opening words from the Admonitions of Francis of Assisi. The encyclical is a great universal project, a commitment of life and service, and an invitation to fraternity and social friendship. It breaks down all walls in order to build bridges of brotherhood, solidarity and justice. Pope Francis finds a model for this style precisely in Brother Francis, in Francis’ desire to open a dialogue with those who are “different.” The encyclical mentions the episode of Francis’ visit with Sultan Malik AL KAMIL. It also tells us that Francis was a man whose “fidelity to his Lord was commensurate with his love for his brothers and sisters” (no. 3). Therefore, in giving witness to dialogue – the first step in building relationships – “Francis did not wage a war of words aimed at imposing doctrines; he simply spread the love of God…he became a father to all and inspired the vision of a fraternal society” (no. 4). He was an advocate of that minority which makes us small before every creature.
The encyclical is divided into eight chapters and contains many of the Pope’s well-known reflections on fraternity and social friendship. It is a sort of summa of his vision of the world, written in the words and actions of his pontificate with the intention of establishing dialogue. Consider his meeting in Abu Dhabi and the document on brotherhood which he co-signed with the Grand Imam Ahmad AL-TAYYEB. It was aimed at recovering and rebuilding a mutual fraternal relationship.  This has become even more important as we face the difficulties posed by the pandemic (which began at the same time Pope Francis was drafting his encyclical). The encyclical provides further food for thought on the indispensability of having a global vision of humanity’s path. We shall always remember that extraordinary moment of prayer on March 27, 2020, in the midst of the lockdown, when the Pope, speaking for the world, invoked God’s help from a deserted St. Peter’s Square, beaten by rain, under a mantel of shared dismay.
Just as he has before, Pope Francis emphasizes how we are all in the same boat. He talks about how Covid-19 has shattered so many of our false certainties and how, in order to find safe harbor, a synergy is more necessary than ever. He reminds us that “no one is saved alone” (no. 32) and that we must rethink our lifestyles, relationships, the way society is organized, and our own existence.
But how do we proceed in this context, how do we solve this very intricate puzzle and how do we get out of a crisis that has so many fronts and regain a healthy, balanced world? Fratelli Tutti offers us a kind of roadmap that indicates where the cliffs and dead-end streets are. It also shows us a path to reach a renewed world order, characterized by a new outlook that must start first with each of us. It offers us a dream that lets us dream together “as a single human family, as fellow travelers sharing the same flesh, as children of the same earth which is our common home, each of us bringing the richness of his or her beliefs and convictions, each of us with his or her own voice, brothers and sisters all” (no. 8).

God Bless

Wednesday 28th Week of Ordinary Time

 

God’s Mercy knows no limit

In the early Church There were those “rigorists”

who believed that if you committed a serious sin,

You could not be readmitted to Communion.

Forgiveness however is not for the holy,

But for sinners.

And Pope Callistus knew this,

Pope Callistus therefore decreed that if any sinner repented and did penance for their sins they could be readmitted to the Church and Communion.

The doors of the Church are always open to sinners,

Like the loving arms of a mother,

To her wayward children,

Who want to come home.

God Bless

Tuesday 28th Week of Ordinary Time

 

Faith Working Through Love Gal. 5:6

St. Paul tells us that the work of Faith is Love.

We come to Church on Sunday and profess our Faith

So that on Monday we can put our Faith to work by the Love we show others.

And If we walk by Faith,

then our work is never done.

For Love never rests.

Our Faith is a Labor of Love.

Every time we love someone,

We are professing our Faith in Christ.

And every time we profess our Faith in Christ,

We must love someone.

And this is the circle of Life for a Christian.

God Bless

St. Faustina Oct. 5

 “During Holy Mass, I was so enveloped in the great interior fire of God’s love and the desire to save souls that I do not know how to express it. I feel I am all aflame. I shall fight all evil with the weapon of mercy. I am being burned up by the desire to save souls. I traverse the world’s length and breadth and venture as far as its ultimate limits and its wildest lands to save souls. I do this through prayer and sacrifice. I want every soul to glorify the mercy of God, for each one experiences the effects of that mercy on himself. The Saints in heaven worship the mercy of the Lord. I want to worship it even now, here on earth, and to spread devotion to it in the way that God demands of me.”

Quote from St. Faustina, the Saint of Divine Mercy

God Bless

St. Francis

 

St Francis started off like most people.

He was popular

Liked to hang around with his friends.

He was Middle class and his dad owned a business

And he wanted glory and fame as he went off on the Crusades.

And then one day

He knelt in front of a cross

And Jesus said to him,

“Go repair my Church, which is falling into ruin.”

And the way he tried to repair the Church and the people in it,

Was not by telling everyone what they should be doing,

But by trying to be more like Jesus!

All St. Francis wanted was to be like Jesus.

To Imitate Jesus;

Act like Jesus;

Think like Jesus;

So St. Francis gave away everything he had to the poor.

He took care of lepers and the sick.

And he loved creation and everyone and everything in it.

If we want to repair and restore our church

Then we must become more like Jesus.

What are we willing to give up?

What do we need to change so that we can be like Jesus?

After a lifetime of striving to be like Jesus,

There was one last thing for Francis to do.

Share in the sufferings of Jesus.

So one day Jesus appeared to him again,

And gave him His wounds.

Francis then had the nail marks of the cross in his hands and feet,

And the wound of the spear in his side.

Do we dare kneel in front of a cross

And wait for Jesus to speak to us?

And offer us His wounds and His suffering.

If we do,

Jesus will speak to us just as He spoke to St. Francis.

Then we too can become like Jesus.

And share His cross,

Just like he shares ours!

God Bless

Saturday 27th Week of Ordinary Time

 

Family Trees. Lk. 11:27-28

It is very popular nowadays to look up one’s family tree and where one came from and to whom one is related.

But what about our Spiritual Tree?

Who handed the Faith on to us?

Who taught us the Faith?

To whom are we handing on the Faith,

So that our Spiritual Tree can continue?

“Blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it.”

For they will bear much fruit.

God Bless

Friday 27th Week of Ordinary Time

 

Saved by Faith. Gal. 3:7-14

Throughout the history of Christianity there has been a debate about the relationship between faith and works.

The Church in her wisdom has always tried to hold faith and works

together.

We are not saved by our works or what we do.

We do not earn our way into heaven.

We are saved by faith.

We are saved by our Faith in the death and resurrection of Christ.

But our works are a reflection of our faith.

One cannot see or touch faith,

but our works are visible and can be seen and

touched.

So our works are a visible manifestation of our invisible faith.

And that is why St. Paul can say that we are saved by faith and Jesus can say that God will repay each man according to his deeds.

The best way we can show our Faith, is by showing our good works.

Of feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, visiting the sick.

In other words We must put our Faith into practice to show it is real.

God Bless

Thursday 27th Week of Ordinary Time

Ask and seek and knock. 

 

It sounds so simple and God will give you what you want.

Do you not think that the prisoners in Auschwitz asked until they were hoarse?

Do you not think that they looked until there was no where else to look?

Do you not think that they knocked until their knuckles were bloody?

Then where was God?

He was in the Franciscan priest St. Maximilian Kolbe. 

Maximilian showed them that they did not have to act like animals even though they were treated like one. 

He showed them that they could love even in a place of such hatred. 

He showed them that they could be filled to overflowing even in a starvation bunker. 

The question is not where is God.  

But rather what are we asking for?

Where are looking and

On what door are we knocking?

God Bless