Thursday 33rd week of Ordinary Time

 Recognizing our savior. Lk. 19:41-44

Masada was the last stronghold of the Jews. 

But the Romans surrounded it;

And built a palisade and besieged it. 

And did not leave a stone upon another

If only they had recognized Jesus as their Savior

It could have all been different. 

Instead they sought to save themselves. 

We are surrounded by the world

And all of its evils;

And we will be besieged by suffering; pain and loss. 

And neither will we escape;

Unless we recognize Jesus as their Savior only One who can save us. 

Wednesday 33rd. Week of Ordinary Time

God will give back 2Mac. 7:20-31

The Mother in the book of Maccabee’s what about to lose her 7 sons to the executioner. 

But she was not about to lose her Faith. 

She knew that it was not her who gave her sons the breath of life;

It was God who shapes each one’s beginning

And in His mercy will give them back their life and breath. 

If we remain Faithful as she was;

Then one day all that we love 

Will be given back to us;

From the God who gave them life in the beginning. 

Dedication of the Basilicas of Peter and Paul

Peter and Paul

Peter and Paul are two sides of the same coin. 

The coin of Faith on which the Church is built. 

This is why a church is built on the remains of Peter and Paul

In Rome where both were martyred. 

St. Peter’s Basilica on the Vatican hill where Peter was martyred upside down on a cross,

And at St. Paul outside the walls where St. Paul was beheaded. 

Our churches may not be as famous as these,

But they are just as important,

As long as they too a built on Faith. 

Monday 33rd week of Ordinary Time

 St. Elizabeth of Hungary. 1207-1231

St. Elizabeth of Hungary was a queen. 

And was rich beyond compare. 

Yet St. Elizabeth embraced poverty 

and gave all of  her riches away so that she could care for the sick. 

In what are we rich?

Money?  

Love?

Time?

Talent?

Friendliness?

Whatever we are rich in,

Give it away and become even richer in Christ.

33rd Sunday of Ordinary Time

 Tumbling Down Lk. 21:5-19

The Temple was the most magnificent building in the ancient world. 

Made of the cedars of Lebanon; 

gold and ivory;

Marble and stone and jewels. 

With votive lamps burning brightly throughout. 

There was nothing like it. 

And Jesus tells the people;

“Look around you!”

The day will come when there will not be a single stone left upon another.”

Look around!

At this beautiful church. 

The day will come when not a stone will be left upon another. 

Look around!

The day will come when everything you have worked for will come tumbling down. 

Look around,  For this world and everything in it will pass away. 

And a new world will come when Christ returns in all His glory. 

So what are we to do?

Just sit around and wait for it all to come tumbling down?

No one knows when the end will come

So St.  Paul tells us to work quietly until then;

By earning the food we eat   

And not being concerned with what others are doing. 

So that when the Lord comes 

He will find us not being busy bodies;

But instead busy doing His Most Holy Will. 

Saturday 32nd. Week Ordinary Time

“All who die in God’s grace and friendship, but still imperfectly purified, are indeed assured of their eternal salvation; but after death they undergo purification, so as to achieve the holiness necessary to enter the joy of heaven.” 

Catechism of the Catholic Church 1030
Eternal grant unto them, oh Lord, and the perpetual light shine upon them by their souls, and all the souls of the faithfully departed through the mercy of God rest in peace amen

Friday 32nd Week of Ordinary Time

 The Handiwork of God. Wisdom 13:1-9

No one has seen God;

But we have seen His handiwork. 

If one sees a painting;

One knows there is an artist. 

If one reads a book;

One knows there is an author. 

If one sees a building;

One knows there is an architect.  

One only needs to look at the sun and the moon;

The rivers and oceans;

The hills and valleys;

The birds and animals;

To know there is a Creator. 

Who made it all.