The Archangels Sept. 29

 

In our profession of Faith, we profess that we believe, God has created things that are “visible and invisible.”

There is so much more to life than what we see. 

So often we rely on what we can see and hold in our hands to help us when  even greater things that we cannot see are right next to us to help us.

God’s Holy Angels. 

There are three main archangels and a 4th lesser known one always watching over us. 

Michael the angel of strength;

Gabriel of Good News

Raphael of Healing

And Uriel of Light. 

There is an Ancient Hebrew Prayer that is prayed in he evening for protection as one goes to sleep. 

For What we do not see as we sleep, 

God's Holy Angels do see, 

and watch over us and protect us always. 

"In the name of Adonai the God of Israel:

May the angel Michael be at my right,

and the angel Gabriel be at my left;

and in front of me the angel Uriel,

and behind me the angel Raphael...

and above my head the Sh'khinah (Divine Presence)."

26th Sunday of Ordinary Time

 An Instrument of Peace

During the time of St. Francis of Assisi in the 13th century,

Italy did not exist as a country. 

Instead there were city states all at war with each other,

Vying for power, money and influence. 

Unable to get along or agree. 

In particular Assisi and Perugia were at war with each other. 

And so Francis put on his armor and went off to war. 

He was captured and imprisoned for a year. 

When Francis was released from prison,

while kneeling in front of the cross, the Lord spoke to him. 

And told him to rebuild His church. 

Everything at the time of St. Francis was falling into ruin.

The church, society, culture, economics, politics. 

And Francis’ response was to walk around saying,

“God give you Peace!” “God give you peace!” “God give you Peace!”

Over and over again. 

Because there was none. 

None between cities;

None in the church;

None in the human heart. 

From his spirit, we have received a prayer. 

A prayer that should be on our lips and in our hearts 

wherever we go

And with whomever we speak. 

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace:
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy.

O divine Master,
grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console,
to be understood as to understand,
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen.

God Give you Peace!

Andrew Kim and Paul Chong and Companions

The Church in Korea is unique because it was founded by lay people, 

for there were no priests. 

In less than a century, 10,000 laity were martyred for the Faith. 

 

103 of the Korean martyrs are celebrated today: 

they are mostly lay men and women: 

some married, some not; some old, some young, some even children. 

Today we ask ourselves 

As a Layperson, what have I done for my Parish and the spread of my Faith?

Friday 24th week of Ordinary Time

 Money is the root of all evils 1Tim. 6:2-12

Beware, money is the root of all evil. 

Every war, every revolution that has ever been fought was because someone or some country wanted more land or more riches or more honor. 

If you have nothing, no one cares. 

No one breaks into your house or robs you. 

Envy only arises between those who want what someone else has. 

St. Francis of Assisi had nothing;

No money;

No possessions;

No wants;

No enemies;

Nothing!

In his poverty he was truly free from all evil. 

Wednesday 24th Week of Ordinary Time

 Some people will never listen Lk. 7:31-35

They played a flute and they did not dance

They sang a dirge and they did not weep. 

No matter what Jesus said and did,

Whether He preached fire and brimstone 

Or the Mercy of God. 

Fasted or feasted;

Whether He healed the sick

Or laid down His life.  

There were those would not listen

No matter what He did. 

And we should not be surprised when the same happens to us. 

No matter what we say and do. 

All we can do is stay as Faithful as possible 

So that we will be vindicated when the Time comes. 

Tuesday 24th Week of Ordinary Time

 Sts. Cornelius 253d. and Cyprian 258d.

We may think there is confusion in the church nowadays 

But it is nothing compared to the time of Pope Cornelius and Bishop Cyprian. 

Both of them addressed false teachings of Novatian that lapsed Catholics could not be readmitted to the church. 

Instead both proclaimed the Mercy of God to Catholics who wavered in their Faith during the persecution 

Both of them were exiled by the Roman Emperor 

And shed their blood for the Faith. 

It is not easy being a Pope or a Bishop at anytime. 

Because they face challenges that most people never know of. 

This is why we pray for Pope Francis and Louis our bishop in every Eucharistic Prayer at Mass. 

So that they might remain Faithful in face of great challenges and True Teachers of the Faith, as Cornelius the Pope and Cyprian the bishop were. 

Sept. 15. The Sorrows of Our Lady

Mary's sorrows did not start at the foot of the cross. 

They began when there was no place at the inn. 

They continued when Herod's soldier came to take the life of her child. 

They did not stop when she had to immigrate to a foreign country. 

They culminated at the foot of the cross. 

Because of her sorrows, we know that she understands our sorrows. 

Because she stood at the foot of the cross 

we know that she will stand with us in our crosses. 

She did not stop loving God in the Face of sorrow and suffering. 

She stood her ground at the foot of the cross. 

Undaunted and undefeated;

Through Her sorrows, 

she shows us how not to lose Faith or stop loving God in our sorrows. 

But to stand there in the face of our sorrows;

Undaunted and undefeated as well.