Thursday 32nd Week of Ordinary Time

 The Kingdom of God is among us. Lk 17:20-25

Take a look at the world and one can become rather depressed

As we are surrounded by war, violence, division, greed, envy and revenge. 

But do not despair!

The Kingdom of God is among us. 

A kingdom that is within us

A Kingdom of Justice,Peace and Love.

And while the kingdoms of this world come and go

The kingdom of Jesus, they will have no end 

So seek first the kingdom of God.

And I will be given to you even now and in the world to come  

Wednesday 32nd Week of Ordinary Time

 Giving Thanks Lk. 17:11-19

Ten lepers were cleansed and only one came back to give thanks. 

At the thought of it we may be scandalized at how ungrateful the other 9 lepers were. 

Until we stop and think about our own lives. 

Do we ever fail to realize all that God has given us and done for us?

Did our family, friends, life and everything we have just accidentally fall into our laps

Or were they lovingly given to us by our Providential God?

On the Last Day our eyes will be opened

And we will be overwhelmed when we see and understand all that God had done for us and given us. 

And it will take all of Eternity to Thank God,

For all that He has done for us. 

Tuesday 32nd week of Ordinary Time

 St. Martin of Tours 316-397AD

Martin was a Roman soldier who One day, met a poor man, almost naked, trembling in the cold and begging. 

Martin had nothing but his sword and his clothes. 

So He drew his sword, cut his cloak into two pieces, gave one to the beggar and wrapped himself in the other half. 

That night in his sleep Martin saw Christ dressed in the half of the garment he had given away, and heard him say, "Martin, has covered me with his garment."

Therefore Never doubt that When we feed the hungry,

Clothe the naked

And visit the sick

For It is truly Christ we are feeding and clothing and visiting. 

St John Lateran

Living Stones  1 PETER  2:5

St. John Lateran is the oldest of the 4 major basilica’s in Rome and dates back to the year 325.  

What we celebrate today however is so much more than a building where we gather for Mass. 

In which we are baptized, married and buried. 

We are reminded that we are the Church!

So often we fail to realize that we are the Living Stones

That make up the church. 

the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit. 

For the first 300 yrs of the Church,

This is exactly how Christians saw themselves. 

For the first 300 yrs there were no buildings to pray in. 

No place in which to be baptized or married or buried. 

The Christians of the first 300 yrs were constantly being hunted and persecuted. 

They did not go to Church on Sundays dressed in their best clothes,

And listen to choirs sing and priests preach. 

They broke bread where they could

And wherever they were,

There was the Church. 

For they were the Church. 

And it was made up not of bricks and stone

But their very life and breath, flesh and blood. 

Built on the Apostles and Prophets Eph 2:20

And made of Living Stones for the Holy Spirit to dwell in. 

While it is wonderful to have a beautiful church in which to pray,

They are only meant to remind us;

That The REAL Church is US!

Monday 32nd week of Ordinary Time

 Pope Leo the Great

Pope Leo the Great was the first Pope to be called “the great.”

He was Pope for 21 years until his death Nov. 10, 461 AD

While he is famous for turning Attila the Hun away from sacking Rome and thus sparing the city. 

He is even more famous for His defense of The One Person of Christ in two natures  at the Council of Chalcedon. 

The early Christians were uncertain how to explain,

How Jesus was both, God and man. 

How Jesus could be both,

Immortal, infinite, omniscient, and Divine Son of God,

And at the same time, be mortal, finite, ignorant and human. 

Through the writing of Pope Leo,

The Council Of Chalcedon which was near Constantinople, which is present day Istanbul, Turkey, decreed,’

That while Jesus Christ is a Divine Person with a Divine Nature,

When He Became flesh He took on a Human Nature as well. 

So that the Second Person through His Divine Nature,

was Eternal, immortal, all knowing God 

All Souls

 On the feast of All Saints

We celebrate those Saints who intercede for us before the throne of God. On the Feast of All Souls we pray for those Souls in Purgatory who are preparing to see God face to Face. 

Why is there Purgatory for some people after they die?

Because Heaven is a place of Holiness. Where there is no selfishness or anger. 

No pride or envy. No grudges or gossip or greed. It is not enough to be forgiven for our sins. 

We must be cleansed of them as well. If we die and have any trace of these things in us, Then we must be purified, Washed clean So that we can enter Heaven Spotless and holy. 

For if everyone who had these sins went straight to Heaven Without being cleansed of these sins first, Then Heaven would be just like this earth Filled with selfishness and anger. Pride and envy.  Grudges, gossip and greed. And it really wouldn’t be Heaven anymore!

We can all go straight to Heaven If we spend our time on earth Striving for holiness, And then we too will be holy like all the angels and saints And behold God Face to Face. 

All Saints Day

The Beatitudes and Happiness

Each Beatitude begins with the word, Blessed or Happy.

Which gives one the impression that the rest of the phrase will make one Happy or Blessed.  

But how can being Poor in Spirit, or Mournful or Meek make a person happy?

The world continually tells what we cannot live without.

And yet we cannot possibly possess it all. 

So we are constantly frustrated. 

While Those who are Poor in Spirit do not constantly hunger for more and are truly Happy. 

While the world continues to urge us to chase after happiness,

Only to be frustrated when it continually slips away. 

Those who mourn, acknowledge that this world is passing away. 

And their tears set them free. 

Those who are meek are free from the constant need to defend oneself. 

Free from the obsession to be number one and the best. 

They have found true happiness in humility. 

In being who they are. 

While The world hungers for material things, power or popularity are never satisfied. 

And become consumed by their hunger. 

Those who hunger for holiness are the ones who are ultimately satisfied.

Those who are merciful to others in their faults and failings,

find that God always shows mercy to them in theirs. 

and they therefore are not overwhelmed by feelings of regret, inadequacy or failure.

But find forgiveness and acceptance for themselves and others and God. 

Those who are Pure of Heart find that their hearts are not divided. 

Their hearts are not torn by conflicting desires and feelings that continually cause them stress and anxiety and sleepless nights. 

Those who are Pure of Heart find their hearts are at rest and peace.

The Peacemakers are Happy because they are not lusting after land or power.  

They do not need to conquer others or win arguments or defeat their enemies;

For they live in Peace with themselves and with friend and foe alike. 

Those who are persecuted for the sake of Holiness and Faith are Happy,

for they know their persecution will end,

and they will be victorious in the Eternal Joys and Happiness of the Kingdom of Heaven. 

And those who are insulted because they bear the Name of Jesus are Happy because the world sees them as Christians. 

Thus proving their Faith to themselves, the world and Jesus. 

And the reward for their suffering will be great in the Kingdom of Heaven. 

And that is how The Beatitudes are the greatest source of Happiness in this world and in the next for those who dare to live them, as did the Saints.