Friday, October 31, 2008

Homily – 10-31-2008 – Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time - Friday

It is interesting in the gospel passage that when Jesus asks the Pharisees a common sense question regarding helping a person who is sick (when and where they need the help); helping an animal when in danger (when and where it needs help) – they cannot answer the question – because all they have in their minds is their rigid legal prescriptions that apparently, to them, take precedence over the kind and loving thing to do.

For those who experience real love: that is, those who experience ever more deeply the knowledge of Jesus and his ways: those who experience intimate friendship with him by walking with him and talking with him – values are clear, motivations are pure, and actions are blameless in comparison with the coming of the day of Christ. Glory will be the reward of those who loved and took care of all God's creatures – but especially fellow-men and women - any time of the day, any day of the week – with Christ's own love!

May our love be his love today!

How great are the works of the Lord – in themselves and through us!

Thursday, October 30, 2008

Homily – 10-30-2008 – Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time - Thursday

The readings today speak of the one King who comes in the name of the Lord. That king is Jesus! We hear a foreword about this coming at Christmas in the alleluia verse: and the angels sang: Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.

Those on whom his favor rests are those fitted with the armor of God – those able to stand fast against the tactics of the Evil One – who will try to seduce God's people until the very last moment! God's armor is the gift of faith – faith in the word of God that is spoken in many and varied ways all day long – but most especially faith the produces the close relationship that we now can have with Christ Jesus the Lord, who is God's word and the Holy Spirit who is God's strength!

St. Paul tells the Ephesians and us to pray: pray at every opportunity in the Spirit to be watchful against the wiles of the enemy. And to pray that he Paul and all of the disciples of Christ will know what to say to combat evil, and what to do to eradicate it. At this political time of the year it is always advisable to pray a great deal about how our word, our voice can make a difference in bringing about God's will against the incessant activity of the Evil One.

In the gospel passage, Jesus makes a political statement: he calls Herod and the Roman government a fox – a very cunning and sly opponent – who disregard basic human rights – who thwart the will of their own gods and most certainly the One God in great style. Yet, Jesus does not stop his work of healing when told that Herod wants to kill him. There is work to be done and Jesus will not be deterred from his mission.

But what is more upsetting to Jesus even than the indignities of the Romans is the hard-heartedness and ignorance of his own people: the ones who refused to be gathered close to him for safety and redemption, the ones who killed their very own prophets who were trying their best to prepare the way for him, the Messiah! Jesus says in the passage: behold, your house shall be abandoned – speaking of the destruction of Jerusalem a few decades hence. But, then he tells them that he shall be victorious when the temple of his own body is destroyed in a few weeks time – which will have as its prelude a regal entry into Jerusalem amid shouts of: Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!

Blessed be the Lord, my rock – my mercy and my fortress, my stronghold, my deliverer, my shield in whom I trust!

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Homily – 10-29-2008 – Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time - Wednesday

Today we have interesting readings: the first is about obedience – the second about the requirements for being "saved." Actually, they are about the same thing: the informed decision to live as true disciples of Christ.

On the one hand, if we learn obedience from our parents and then apply it throughout our entire lives, if we voluntarily consider ourselves as obedient "salves of Christ" – then we will be poised and primed to obey what really matters – the laws of God, especially the new law of loving God and others as we have been loved by Christ. But then we actually have to do it love God, love others – not just remained poised to do it!

On the other hand, if we only "pal around with Jesus" – simply take note of how he ate and drank in our company and taught in our streets – and then claim that association as a valid reason to enter heaven at the end of our lives - without actually living the life he proposed – we may be counting ourselves among the first who will be last, if they will even be there at all.

As many people can be saved
who desire to cooperate in their own salvation – is now the rule – because Jesus did come and eat and drink with us, and teach in our streets, and died on a cross for us, and rose from the dead. Not that we can save ourselves without him – but now we must choose to participate in the redemption he won for us - or it will not apply to us!

The Lord is faithful in all his words. May we be faithful today in our response to his words: by always choosing to cooperate in the means he gives us to live full, happy, rich, abundant and peacefilled lives – as we await the great day of incorporation into the great Kingdom of Heaven!

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Homily – 10-28-2008 – Sts. Simon and Jude

Today we celebrate the feast of one, who, no doubt, all of us has prayed to for one reason or another: St. Jude, the Apostle. Not much is known about Jude nor the exact reason why he is the patron of "hopeless cases." Some say that it is because he was such a comfort to those suffering persecution in the early days of Christianity in the first century – those who seemed most assaulted felt a great deal of soothing help from him! Others say, that because his name is so closely associated with Judas – who betrayed Jesus – he was always the last to be called on for intercessory powers that, nevertheless, always seemed to prove very helpful! And so, he got to be connected to last and lost causes!

Whatever the reason – trust in Jude's intercessory power proves fruitful for those who are constant and persistent in their requests!

Not much is known about St. Simon – other than he was not the Simon who later became Peter; and that he was a Zealot – his zeal may have been on behalf of Israel's independence or for the law. According to tradition, he engaged in missions to Egypt and Persia, where he and Jude were martyred together on the same day. Their relics were said to have been brought to St. Peter's Basilica in Rome in the seventh or eighth century.

We rejoice today as we celebrate the feast of two martyrs who form the foundation of the house and household of God – with Jesus himself as the capstone. We rejoice too because due to our baptism and incorporation into Christ we too are living stones in this holy edifice. May we live like it this day – feeling the support of one another – and feeling ourselves supporting others as is our role as an integral part of the building of God!

As Jesus selected his chosen band of twelve - of whose number were Simon and Jude - after a night of prayer to his heavenly Father, may we also make informed decisions about what is important in our spiritual and temporal lives after long hours in silence and prayer.

Praying directly to God, through the Holy Spirit, and asking the intercession of the angels and saints – especially for difficult cases: St. Jude Thaddeus – may we arrive at a happy conclusion to our quest for that which is good, true and just – in the sight of God, and the sight of men!

The message of the Apostles goes out through all the earth!

Monday, October 27, 2008

Homily – 10-27-2008 – Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time - Monday

The theme of our readings today comes from the responsorial refrain: Behave like God as his very dear children!

We are not only invited to be such children of God, we are also empowered to be so! It is not an easy thing to make moral, pure and generous other-oriented decisions all of the time: but it is possible, with the help of the Holy Spirit!

St. Paul tells the Ephesians and us today: though once you once were darkness (notice he says here not "you were in darkness" but "you were darkness itself") now you are light in the baptism of the Lord Jesus that makes all the difference in your world, and in the world at large. So live as children of light. Put away any semblance at all of immorality, impurity or greed – and rather give God glory, praise and thanks both directly and in all you do – the God whose light you are!

In the gospel passage Jesus encourages us all to use our heads and our hearts in being of loving service to one another: the moral, pure and generous other-oriented decision is always the appropriate thing to do: even "on the Sabbath" – even at an unscheduled, seemingly inappropriate time. The law of love, the law of God always takes precedence over external legal prescriptions.

May all of us be cured of our crookedness this day: because we ask God's help and he graciously wills it so even though there may be many reasons for this not to be the "correct day" for it!


 

Sunday, October 26, 2008

Homily – 10-26-2008 – Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Last week's gospel was about "giving Caesar what belongs to Caesar, but giving first and foremost to God what belongs to God." It was not so much an either or question, but one of primacy and priority. What is most important is rendering God all glory, praise and thanks!
Constantly, and for everything! In the right ordering of society (which is the realm of "Caesar") God expects us to
use our intelligence to move always towards the good and the truthful and the just. Natural intelligence and reasoning power can help us along these lines – but what can help even more is available supernatural help!

The Primary Truth, Good and Justice is God himself! And so to allow us deeper insight into keeping our priorities straight – he gives us supernatural aids: 1)the Word of Scripture that we read at this and every Mass; 2)the homily which is a practical application of the readings; 3)the possibility of offering ourselves and all of creation to him by the prayers of this Mass over the bread (which represents all these things) that is brought up in the Offertory Procession; 4)and to have them transformed into real spiritual food (the very Body and Blood of Jesus) to help us live balanced and abundantly rich spiritual lives. It is in the Eucharistic Celebration that Jesus himself unites us to his Passion and Death, so that we can also be sharers in the newness of resurrected life – and by the gift of the Spirit, to always know better what to do when we need to know it and do it!

The motivation behind all of this is the LOVE OF GOD! The LOVE that God has for us; the LOVE that he expects us to have for him and one another in return! The readings today speak of such love!

In the gospel passage when asked about the "greatest commandment" – Jesus recites the age old Jewish prescription: "You shall love God – with all you've got! AND you shall love your neighbor as you love yourself." These TWO he tells them forms ONE commandment.

What Jesus is doing here is telling us outright that WHEN WE LOVE OUR NEIGHBOR AND OURSELVES WHOM WE CAN SEE – we are at the exact same time loving Him whom we cannot see with our human eyes! And this is very pleasing to God.

The converse is also true: WHEN WE DO NOT LOVE OUR NEIGHBOR NOR OUR SELVES to the extent that we are empowered to, then we cannot possibly be loving God. And God is not pleased – at all. This means that even if you pray all day and go to church every Sunday – IF YOU DO NOT REALLY CARE ABOUT THE PEOPLE SITTING BESIDE YOU or the people living next door to you or down the street – or across town, or across the country or across the world - St. John – who is an expert par excellence on the love of God – says – to the extent that you don't do these things: you are a liar! Pretty strong words!

And so: giving God what is his due: glory, honor, praise, thanks and LOVE always comes first!! And then, everything else just seems to fall into place. We know much more easily how to get along with one another; we know much more easily how to
interact with one another peacefully on the family level, social level, as members of society, as members of the world; we know much more easily how to discern and choose the good, the true and the just – and how to go after it; we know much more easily how to decide how to "render to Caesar what is his due" in the business of formal government: the bottom line here beings always: that is best which promotes the greatest good and gives the most freedom to put God first and his precepts, his laws and his commandments.

GOD is meant to be our strength, our rock of refuge, our shield, the horn of our salvation, our stronghold! Not Caesar! "Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, but give to God what belongs to God!" Let us keep our eyes fixed on him and pray that he always be our primary ruler and guide – and we will always be on the right, good, true and just path – and we will end up where we ought to be! HIS KINGDOM – where JESUS will reign as KING forever!

Saturday, October 25, 2008

Homily – 10-25-2008 – Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time - Saturday

The gospel passage today underlines Jesus' condition of repentance in order to be qualified to receive all of the graces and benefits that he has to offer us. Good things and bad things happen to people– but those who are in right relation with God – who see themselves in constant need of repentance – who have their priorities in right line – will have nothing to fear. God does not simply punish people randomly in the same way as he would deal with those who truly choose not to be a part of his order of things. Such people should expect for God to deal sternly with them.

In the first reading St Paul tells the Ephesians that being an active and responsible part of the Body of Christ is of the utmost importance – so that the energies of life are directed to building one another up and bringing the mystical Body to full stature. In this way – the divine justice will deal kindly with us and the love of Christ will pervade all so that he will become all in all!

May we today see things more clearly God's way rather than our own unaided human way!

I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked man, says the Lord, but rather in his conversion that he may live.

Friday, October 24, 2008

Homily – 10-24-2008 – St. Anthony Mary Claret

Today's saint: Anthony Claret was born at Sallent in Spain in 1807. After being ordained a priest he traveled many years though Catalonia, preaching to the people. He founded a society of missionaries (known as the Missionary Sons of the Immaculate Heart of Mary – now known as the Claretians) in 1849. He wrote over 200 books and pamphlets and established the Religious Library in Spain. In 1850 he was appointed archbishop of Santiago, Cuba where he was renowned for his pastoral zeal. It was at his episcopal consecration that he took the name Mary to ensure his constant dedication and devotion to the Blessed Virgin. He returned to Spain in 1857 and became confessor to Queen Isabella II. He died at Fontfroide in France in 1870.

It is refreshing to see the life of an ordinary man, an ordinary priest, and ordinary bishop who did ordinary things extraordinarily well – doing them because God asked him to do them – and because he loved to do what God asked him to do – with the help of Mary, the Mother of God. In this regard Anthony Claret is a model for all of us!

In the first reading today we hear of the beauty of the feet of those who bring glad tidings, announcing peace, bearing good news, announcing salvation! This Anthony Mary Claret did – in imitation of Jesus who brought the message of light and life to a waiting world! Wherever Anthony went there was a brightness and the possibility of a more abundant spiritual life due to the power of the Holy Spirit working through him!

The gospel passage shows Jesus calling his first disciples who would become his Apostles – the first bishops of the Church. We thank God that he has always provided successors to this original band of unlikely candidates! Let us remember that his choice for leadership roles in the Church is his own business – and it is the business of those under their authority to respect and love them because they are chosen and placed in authority by God himself!

We pray that God will always provide enough and qualified bishops and helper priests to tend the flock he has redeemed – so that all the ends of the earth will behold the salvation of our God!

Thursday, October 23, 2008

Homily – 10-23-2008 – St. John of Capistrano

Today we celebrate the feast of a noteworthy Franciscan priest: John of Capistrano. He lived in Italy in the 14th century and first became governor of the town in which he went to study law: Perugia. Then he entered the Order of Friars Minor and, after ordination to the priesthood, led an untiring apostolic life preaching throughout Europe both to strengthen Christian life and to refute heresy. He died in Austria in 1456, where he was sent to defend the Church against John Hus and his heretical band.

The readings today speak of keeping sights set on the whole mission of Christ: TO RECONCILE MANKIND WITH GOD! St. Paul tells the Corinthians that the love of Christ brought about reconciliation for all – and in Christ all have died, so that all might be saved! He then tells the Corinthians to live like they are in fact reconciled. Be the new creation that you can be – if you count yourselves in on the reconciliation!

This is the message that John of Capistrano – ambassador of Christ – brought to the Franciscan Community – to all who heard his preaching – and to those who were doctrinally in error: fullness of life in Truth is available in Christ Jesus, the Lord!

The gospel passage recounts the life of John of Capistrano, his Franciscan brothers and indeed all of us who are called to follow Christ – Jesus says: KEEP YOUR SIGHTS FIXED ON ME when you feel me calling you to discipleship. You will have all you need to be a faithful and good disciple – if you do not make excuses or keep looking back and away to other things and projects! The Kingdom of Heaven awaits those who follow very closely and literally in my footsteps!

I am the light of the world, says the Lord; whoever follows me will have the light of life.

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

Homily – 10-22-2008 – Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time - Wednesday

Today's readings have to do with the knowledge of the plan of God's mystery that is freely given to those God wishes to have it.

St. Paul was one such person. But he was given the knowledge so he could share it and thus motivate God's people to act as who they were truly chosen to be: God's special people – members of his family, living stones of his spiritual temple!

Jesus in the gospel passage refers to the same dynamic in making the point that much will be required of the person entrusted with much, and more of the person who has more – that which is in possession here being the knowledge and benefits of life in the kingdom of heaven!

God wishes to supply us with what we need to live rich and abundant spiritual lives both here and hereafter! This is a drawing of spiritual water from spiritual springs of salvation! May we be thirsty this day – may we approach and drink in the mysteries of God – and then share them with all we meet – especially in acts of loving service!

You will draw water joyfully from the springs of salvation!

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Homily – 10-21-2008 – Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time - Tuesday

Today we begin mention of the familiar Fall theme in the liturgical calendar of the "Last Things" and the "Last Day." It will continue well into the new Advent Season coming in November.

BE VIGILANT AT ALL TIMES

AND PRAY THAT YOU MAY HAVE THE STRENGTH TO STAND BEFORE THE SON OF MAN!

Gird your loins and light your lamps and be like servants who await their master's return from a wedding, ready to open immediately when he comes and knocks…. Because then, the master will gird himself, have them recline at table, and proceed to wait on them! We are speaking here of the eternal nuptial banquet to which we are all invited!

We want to be among those at the banquet and waited upon by the Lord and Master of all – Jesus! He will continue his act of humble service that he began while among us – he will feed us, comfort us and shepherd us forever!

In the first reading from the letter of Paul to the Ephesians we see Paul trying to convince the Gentiles, that along with the Jews, they are called to that heavenly wedding banquet. There is but One Banquet, to which everyone is invited. The dividing line between far and near; us and them; Jews and Greeks was united by the Cross of Jesus: now there is One Hope for all – and the possibility of One fulfillment for that hope!

Let us – in accepting and believing these things – become living members of the spiritual structure which is the Temple of God – with the Apostles and prophets as the foundation, and Jesus himself as the capstone. Then we will enter into that temple to feast and enjoy eternal life forever – with all of the saints forever! Amen!

Monday, October 20, 2008

Homily – 10-20-2008 – St. Paul of the Cross

St. Paul of the Cross is the founder of the Passionist Congregation of priests who meditate on the Passion of Christ and help the poor and the sick. Paul was born near Genoa, Italy in 1694. As he went about founding homes, exercising apostolic zeal and afflicting himself with harsh penances, he died at Rome on October 18, 1775.

Paul, in a letter, wrote: "it is very good and holy to consider the passion of our Lord and to meditate on it, for by this sacred path we reach union with God. In this most holy school we learn true wisdom." Paul, rightly, however, did not encourage seeking suffering for sufferings' sake: but rather, "suffering as the will of God." Seeking the perfection of doing the will of God was more important than simply deciding to suffer or to not suffer!

And when the suffering is God's will – then it must be undertaken with the love with which it was given in the first place. And it ought to be done silently and patiently. "When you become true lovers of the Crucified, you will always celebrate the feast of the cross in the inner temple of the soul, bearing all in silence and not relying on any creature." And the feasting will always be "a solemn banquet and the food presented: the will of God, will be exemplified by the love of our crucified Christ."

The readings today speak of the contradiction of the cross and the necessity of embracing it in our lives as Christians. For those of worldly mind the cross of Christ appears to be nothing but foolishness and pointlessness; but for the Christian it is everything! The depth of the meaning of the cross is immeasurable: let it suffice to say that it is not only a sign of love, a sign of caring, a sign of sacrifice – it is also a sign of salvation. From it comes forgiveness of sins and everlasting life. What could be more amazing and powerful than that! To reject the cross, therefore, would be to reject the key that unlocks the door of heaven for us. As Jesus, embracing our humanity grasped and accepted his cross; so we - to embrace his divinity - must reach out and grasp the same cross (especially as it is refashioned and custom made for us into a smaller version that we can handle).

As St, Paul of the Cross and the Passionists reflect continually on the wonder and glory of the Cross of Christ Crucified; so too, if we do the same, will celebrate continually a feast of strength and consolation and joy – that can come only from embracing the will of God – suffering – and the cross of Christ!

Sunday, October 19, 2008

Homily – 10-19-2008 – Twenty-Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Jesus didn't get much into politics: he did not come as a politician, a social reformer, a world-class economist or trade-specialist. He did not come as an earthly king or regent of any sort. He came as Savior. He came as Healer. He came as Reconciler! He came as King of All Creation (not just any one part of it! – since He made it all in the first place!)

And so, in the gospel passage today, Jesus says in responding to a question about taxation: give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God. If there is a question involved here: it would be one of priority. Which is more important: The giving to Caesar or the giving to God?

Without a moment's hesitation our answer as Catholic Christians ought to be: "giving to God what is his due is most important!"

And what is God's due: CONSTANT HONOR, GLORY, PRAISE AND THANKS – FOR EVERYTHING! If God did not "speak" his "Word" and "create" everything: then nothing would exists! That we do exist – and all creation around us - is a sign of God's favor, his love, his care, his providence. Since we are NOTHING without him – he deserves ALL thanks, and praise and glory and honor FIRST and FOREMOST! This is not difficult to understand!

Then, as we use the intelligence he gives us to order ourselves into harmonious living situations and conditions with one another – both in small and large groupings called: villages, towns, cities, countries; while we try to achieve peace and balance among ourselves – who are truly brothers and sisters – of the one Creating and Sustaining God and Father; we are to render to those in legitimate government offices what is their due – according to legitimate need and lawful requests – and according to our own rightly formed consciences – after we primarily render to God what is his due: which is what we are doing here and now in this Mass: giving him worship, praise, glory, honor and thanks – and telling him that he can count on us to be his hands and feet and heart and voices as we go from here to love others with his own love!

When we keep our priorities straight and our perspective clear – then we better know how to interact both as members of the Church and members of the country in which we live, and the world in which it finds itself!

When we do this: we, with Jesus, who is Light of the World, become like lights shining in the world so that not only we ourselves, but all others, might see the way – which will lead ultimately to the One Kingdom of Heaven, where there will be One King: Jesus – and all will be all in him – and peace, and joy will reign forever!

Sing to the Lord a new song: all you lands;

For great is the Lord and highly to be praised;

The Lord is King;

he governs the peoples with equity!

Saturday, October 18, 2008

Homily – 10-18-2008 – St. Luke, Evangelist

Today we celebrate the feast of St. Luke the Evangelist. He was born of a pagan family. After his conversion he became a fellow-worker of the apostle Paul. From St. Paul's preaching he compiled one of the gospels, the third. He also handed down another work, The Acts of the Apostles, which tells of the events of the beginnings of the Church up to the time of Paul's first sojourn in Rome.

Luke was also a physician and referred to as The Beloved Physician.

The basic point of Luke's New Testament writings is to underscore the love and compassion of Christ and his concern for the poor. Some of the most moving and memorable parables emphasizing these themes are in Luke's Gospel, for example, the Prodigal Son, and the Rich Man and Lazarus. He also mentions women more in his gospel than any of the other three evangelists. He also places great emphasis on the Holy Spirit in the life of the Church and of the individual Christian and on the importance of prayer!

The first reading today Paul tells Timothy that it is God himself who gives him the strength to do what needs to be done in his work; Luke, most certainly felt that same power and presence in his own work; and it is available to us who are baptized into the death and resurrection of Jesus: strength of resurrected life through suffering and trial of earthly life as we do our God-given work!

In the gospel passage Jesus tells his disciples and co-workers to trust in him absolutely and he would provide what they needed as they made their way proclaiming the arrival of the Kingdom of Heaven in the person of Jesus!

May we receive what the apostles and evangelists have to offer us: divinely inspired and truly useful accounts of the life of Christ: and may we believe and then put into practice what we hear – for our own good and the good of the whole Church!

I chose you from the world, to go and bear fruit that will last, says the Lord.

Friday, October 17, 2008

Homily – 10-17-2008 – Twenty-eighth Week in Ordinary Time - Friday

The readings today have to do with giving glory to God by living authentic and genuine lives of honesty and integrity.

In the first reading, St. Paul tells the Ephesians that all things – but especially we, as baptized human beings exist for the glory and praise of God. When we honor God thusly we are acting according to his will and intention – and both we and he are happy!

In the gospel passage Jesus warns his disciples to seek their happiness not in deceitful and underhanded ways – such as the hypocritical Pharisees do. But rather, they are to live transparent lives – lives filled with the glory of God – so that all can see their good intentions and motives – and actually see them carried out in very real and sincere kinds of ways!

And then, the praise of God's glory will be pleasing to him, and our lives with one another will be truly helpful and beneficial!

Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own! Let us choose to be his – in response to his offer! Let us be grateful for the redemption with which he has graced us!

Thursday, October 16, 2008

Homily – 10-17-2008 – St. Margaret Mary Alacoque

St. Faustina Kowalska of our own day, was not the first to have envisioned the heart of Jesus as the source of mercy and love. In the 17th century today's saint: Margaret Mary Alacoque had similar visions of Jesus who encouraged her to spread devotion to his most Sacred and Loving Heart!

Margaret Mary was born in 1647 in France. She was always attracted to the life of a nun and thus joined the Visitation sisters in 1671. There was widespread secularism at the time in France and this is one reason why Jesus chose this time to use her as an instrument of devotion to his heart. She was to promote the establishment of the Feast of the Sacred Heart to be assigned on the Friday after the feast of Corpus Christi. She was to establish the practice of receiving Communion on each of the first Fridays of the months in reparation for sins; and to spend an hour in prayer every Thursday night in remembrance of the Lord's agony in the Garden of Gethsemane.

Later, the prescription was made that any who made nine consecutive First Fridays would "be among the blessed at the Last Day" All of these things came to pass over a period of time and it was in 1956 that Pope Pius XII gave unquestionable theological foundation to this devotion.

Margaret Mary died at age forty-three, on October 17, 1690. She was canonized in 1920.

The readings today speak of the love and mercy pouring forth from the heart of Jesus into hearts who believe in him: and in this way knowledge of him can become complete, and a desire to serve him in others can become authentic and real.

Jesus chose to communicate to Margaret Mary a greater depth of the secrets of the mystery of his love and mercy and for this we are grateful: from her experience with him, we know that we can take our wounded, tired and burdened hearts and place them in his – and we will be refreshed and strengthened and renewed: our burden will become light and we can love and serve him with all the more ardent willingness and desire.

Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth; you have revealed to little ones the mysteries of the Kingdom! May we become little enough today to "get the message!"

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Homily – 10-15-2008 – St. Teresa of Avila

The readings today are perfectly suited for the celebration of the saint whose feast it is: Teresa of Avila. "All creation is groaning as it awaits in hope its fulfillment in Christ Jesus, the Lord." "Your words, Lord, are Spirit and Life." "Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing!"

Teresa understood and lived out these words to the maximum.

She was born in 1515 in a small town near Avila, Spain into a large, aristocratic, Castilian family with Jewish ancestry. She entered the Carmelite monastery in Avila in 1535 at the age of twenty. She was subject to a series of illnesses – some of which were very intense. It was while convalescing from one of them that she meditated on an image of the wounded Christ and underwent a spiritual conversion. She wrote: "When I fell to prayer again and looked at Christ hanging poor and naked upon the Cross, I felt that I could not bear to be rich. So I besought him with tears to bring it to pass that I might be as poor as he."

Over the course of the next thirty years Teresa did just that: she became truly poor and even though she never had day in her adult life that she did not feel ill – she went about doing what she believed God wanted her to do (even having mystical conversations with him – getting her directions directly from God). Teresa learned early on not to ever not do anything out of fear – fear of lack of resources or lack of stability of health, fear of rank of opposition - for if it was God's will – he would supply always what was lacking in the project.

And so, she ended up founding over twenty convents for her Carmelite sisters, and with the help of St. John of the Cross – helped to reform the whole Carmelite Order – making them less worldly and more in line with true monastic principles! Teresa knew that apart from Christ she could do nothing – and she basked in the light of his presence, his help and his consolation. She had deep and constant devotion to the Blessed Eucharist which was her mainstay throughout her adult life!

Under obedience to her superiors, Teresa wrote "The Interior Castles" – her spiritual masterpiece on contemplative prayer and union with God. It outlined the stages that a soul goes through to achieve total union (marriage) with God! It was a classic from it first printing! The bottom line is that contemplation is a gift from God. We can approach God only insofar as he allows us to approach him, and gives us the tools in order to do so! Of ourselves, we truly are nothing, and can do nothing!

Teresa died on October 4, 1582 at which time the scent of lilies could be found in the air around her. She was beatified in 1614 and canonized in 1622 along with Ignatius of Loyola, Francis Xavier and Philip Neri, and was the first of two women named Doctor of the Church in 1970 by Pope Paul VI.

Today, let us pray humbly with Teresa that "nothing will disturb us, nor frighten us - as all things pass away; It is God alone who never changes. Let us remember that patience obtains all things, and that he who has God finds he lacks nothing – for GOD ALONE SUFFICES!"

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

Homily – 10-14-2008 – St. Callistus – Pope & Martyr

Today we celebrate the feast of St. Callistus, Pope and Martyr. He lived in the late 100's and early 200's. He was reputed to have been a slave. Once he obtained his liberty he was ordained a deacon by Pope Zephrinuis and succeeded him in the Chair of St. Peter. He was a kind a merciful pastor who also fought against the Adoptionist and Modalist heresies: those who said on the one hand: Jesus was not born divine, but later became divine (was adopted such by God); and God is One Person who manifests himself in three ways or modes: Father, Son and Spirit.

He received the martyr's crown in 222 and was buried on the Aurelian way.

The readings today give evidence of the kind of priesthood that Callistus lived: one of loving pastoral concern for the flock of God – it was a ministry of service based on the example of Jesus himself.

Today we are called to believe in the orthodox and true doctrines of the Church. We are called upon to know them and to defend them in a time when heresy is still present and the unity of the Church has not yet been achieved. We give ourselves to you, Lord, this day and ask you to do with us what you will – to bring about your end, your will, your way!

I call you my friends, says the Lord, for I have made known to you all that the Father has told me!

Monday, October 13, 2008

Homily – 10-13-2008 – Twenty-eighth Week in Ordinary Time - Monday

In the first reading today we are reminded of the true freedom that Jesus gained for us. He set us free from the slavery of sin. Now sin is even more precarious because it is truly of our own free-will and deliberate choosing! And so St. Paul tells the Galatians to stand firm and do not submit once again to the yoke of slavery!

In the gospel passage we see Jesus telling the people the reason they need no extraordinary signs to make them want to stand firm in their belief of him. The extraordinary sign is he himself. The extraordinary sign is everything the Jesus says and does. The extraordinary sign is most especially his death, burial and resurrection to newness of life!

These signs that are present to them, and to all of us, far surpass anything from the most ancient of times because they are about Jesus who came as promised, who is ever new, ever effective, never changing!

It today we hear the voice of the Lord helping us to believe the signs that he has already given us – let us not harden our hearts!

Sunday, October 12, 2008

Homily – 10-12-2008 _Twenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time

This is the harvest celebration time of the year. "Octoberfests" are happening in many places in our country and throughout the world. The Jewish people celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles or Booths at this Fall time of the year. It reminds the people of how they were freed from slavery in Egypt by the Exodus and how they lived in the desert for forty years in portable tents – while God provided for their needs!

The first reading today tells of the mountain of the Lord of hosts that would one day provide for all peoples a great feast of rich food and choice wines – not just the people of Israel – but everyone would be invited. This, of course, referred to the mountain of the Lord's bounty in the Eucharist which emanates from the Last Supper and the Mount of Calvary – and the celebration of the Mass that we are attending right now! It is here we have the richest of food and the choicest of wines – the very Body and Blood of Jesus to be our nourishment in our wandering in the desert of earthly life while we aim at the goal of life in the heavenly Jerusalem – where the banqueting and feasting on the very presence and life of God himself will last forever!

St. Paul in the second reading today, too, mentions how God would supply the needs to the Phillippians in accord with his glorious riches in Christ Jesus – referring again to the celebration of Eucharist and the feasting on the Bread of Life and the Cup of Eternal Salvation!

The gospel passage also restates the whole scene yet once again! It is a parable regarding the heavenly banquet – but those who were invited didn't want to come for a variety of reasons – and so the banquet hall was filled with anyone and everyone who could be found on the streets! This at first glance seems like a good thing! Maybe there's a chance for anyone, anywhere! BUT – the story goes on that at least one man who had been escorted into the banquet was not wearing a wedding garment! It appears that there was a very strict "dress code" for banquets in those days: and this man did not measure up – and so he was not only kicked out – but he was tied up and thrown outside into the darkness where he wailed and ground his teeth! The moral of the story is that the "dress-code" is very important – and the wedding garment is necessary if we are to attend the royal wedding banquet of the Lamb of God in heaven.

Now – what exactly IS this wedding garment!

For us it is both real and symbolic!

On the day that we are baptized – all of us – and the two who will be baptized in just a few minutes – receive our white baptismal garment – the wedding garment of the parable! It is symbolic of the life of Christ into which we are incorporated by the baptism – a life of virtue and goodness that we are to carry as unspotted as we possibly can throughout our lives, so that when we arrive at the heavenly banquet it will be clean and white and pleasing in the sight of God who will welcome us into the Great Hall for the feasting!

What can stain that garment is less serious personal sin; what can remove it altogether is serious mortal sin! But, thanks to the Sacrament of Reconciliation it can be restored to us again– white as snow!

Therefore, on this day of celebrating baptism, in the season of Tabernacles and Octoberfests, let us all recall our own baptism and our own progress toward salvation! And let us ask God for forgiveness at this Mass for less serious sins (that can be forgiven now) and think about making an appointment to see a priest about the forgiveness of more serious sins - so that if we are chosen at random – and when we least expect – to display our wedding garment to the Judge of all – we will be ready!

And now we move on to the incorporation of two new members into the Body of Christ! They will now be eligible to one day feast on
the rich food and the choice wine of the Eucharist – and partake in all of the spiritual benefits of life in the Catholic Church as true adopted children of the Father, true brother and sister of Jesus and all of us – forgiven of all their sins, and gifted with God-given powers of Faith and Hope and Charity – so to live a life of intimate union with God and service to and with all of us - both now and forever!

We rejoice today and we are glad that God the Father has graciously willed all of this to be so! Amen!

Saturday, October 11, 2008

Homily – 10-11-2008 – Twenty-seventh Week in Ordinary Time - Saturday

Once again we hear the very short but very to the point gospel passage in which Jesus clarifies true happiness: it is the result of hearing the word of God and observing it! What greater happiness can there be then to be able to hear real truth, hear real love, hear real practical suggestions on how to live a life that will be meritorious of everlasting life – and then to live them out!

Now hearing the word is one thing, but the first reading today tells us that what is also necessary is FAITH – in order to believe what it says. Faith that is the motivation to put into practice what is hoped for in the word, and prescribed as loving service.

We are justified by such faith – not merely in the doing of legal prescriptions. Such adherence to the law was only a temporary step on the way to Jesus – whose fulfillment of the law in self-sacrificial loving service is all that matters now!

May we be among those today who hear the word of God – believe it – and observe it, live it out in loving service to all we meet!

Friday, October 10, 2008

Homily – 10-10-2008 – Twenty-seventh Week in Ordinary Time - Friday

In our first reading today we are reminded that observance of the law will never lead to justification – redemption – forgiveness – freedom of the tyranny of the law; but that faith in the one who alone can bring about this salvation would lead to justification, righteousness and newness of life.

Abraham was the first to believe in such a way that God could bring about salvation any way he chose to. The curse of the law was to be "hung on a tree" in the person of Jesus – so that it could be ransomed once and for all ages and all peoples! Yes, salvation, redemption and newness of life is also for the Gentiles as well as the Jews – and thankfully so, because we are among those very Gentiles who are enjoying the benefits of such redemption!

In the gospel passage, Jesus discusses the power that he has over the prince of this world. He is referring to the time when he would be lifted up on the cross and would draw all men and women to him – including the Gentiles! He encourages his disciples to spend their energies not running away from evil spirits, but in embracing the Cross and him on it – which is the source of life and blessing and peace both now and forever!

May we today embrace and see in the tree of the Cross also the tree of Life and Love – and may the way we live our lives reflect what we see. We are loved so very much, and it just seems right to love others with that very same love – even the "gentile-like" people we meet every day!

Thursday, October 9, 2008

Homily – 10-09-2008 – St. Denis

The readings today certainly fit those whom we remember in our celebration: Sts. Denis and companion martyrs. They lived in the 3rd century – when to be a Christian was a very costly thing at times. The persecution of the Christians was continuing by the Roman Empire and the royal foundation of the Church was being formed in a big way by the blood of the martyrs.

St. Denis (or Dionysius) was sent to Gaul (France) from Rome – and he became the first bishop of what later became Paris. During a persecution – he and two other bishops suffered greatly and were killed in a brutal fashion. He thus became not only the first Apostle to France, but also its first martyr.

On the spot where he was martyred a chapel and later an abbey was built and dedicated in his name.

The first reading today tells of the difficulties that a minister of God would face, but also of the consolations that would come from God if the minister would endure and always try to see the opposite side of the coin: that in everything negative that was happening – the positive was that God was being proclaimed, magnified and glorified – and that the fruit of the labor would endure far beyond the present time!

Those who sowed in tears would truly reap rejoicing one day!

In the gospel passage Jesus reminds the apostles, disciples and following community-at-large to be with him the Light of the World! He came to be that light and to enlighten others – so that the darkness of the world could be overcome! We, therefore, must accept our responsibility and live up to the mandate we were given at our baptism: to carry the lighted candle of faith, hope and charity to a waiting world. We can make a difference – and through our good deeds God the Father can be glorified.

We thank St. Denis, his companion martyrs and all martyrs this day for being blazing flames in the annals of Church history! –May we rekindle our own lights this day – through their intercession – and by the merits of the very Eucharist we celebrate at this altar!

Those who sow in tears shall reap rejoicing!

Wednesday, October 8, 2008

Homily – 10-08-2008 – Twenty-seventh Week in Ordinary Time - Wednesday

In the gospel passage today Jesus teaches us the perfect prayer! In this, Luke's version, it is very brief and to the point – though it still has seven major points: calling God FATHER (an enormously important point – he is our Father, we are therefore his children); calling his name "holy" because it is the fullness of life and love; proclaiming that the "kingdom of God will come" especially in us who believe it and live like it is on the way and is in effect already begun; asking for "daily bread" – for the things we actually and truly need which God will provide because he is Father / Provider / Sustainer; asking for forgiveness of our own sins (which is now possible because of the merits of Jesus' death and resurrection) but only insofar as we are willing to and actually do forgive others who sin against us in anyway whatsoever at all; and to save us from the final test that would be most difficult to pass: a test in which the power of evil would win out over us.

This prayer touches everything that is truly important in our lives as Christians. Giving God what belongs to him, and asking him to give us what we needs to be good children, so that we can end up in the heavenly home he has prepared for us! If any of our individual prayers do not fit somewhere in these above listed categories – then they are "less than perfect" – and just may not be answered close to the way we would want them to be answered.

In the first reading today we see that when we do pray, when we are open to the movement of the Spirit within us, when the Truth of God takes root in us – we have the ability sometime to see things clearly in a way that can be useful for correction. St. Paul corrected St. Peter (of all people) because Peter was being narrow-minded and a bit prejudiced regarding who should be admitted to the Church and how? He said that Peter had no problem "living like a Gentile" – but that as far as the Gentiles living like Peter (like a mainstream Christian) there were difficulties due to circumcision and other religious practices.

Paul straightened out Peter on the matter; and we, when we are sure that we are in the right about a particular matter that has depth and substance, have the duty and obligation – in a charitable and peaceable way – to make our position known so that Truth may win out, not us! We must never "glory" in having our own way – but always "rejoice that the Truth be told" in all things!

The Truth of the matter is: we have received the spirit of adoption through which we can all cry out: ABBA! FATHER!


 

Tuesday, October 7, 2008

Homily – 10-07-2008 – Our Lady of the Rosary

Today we celebrate Our Lady of the Rosary. But we must right away get the proper perspective when dealing with Mary, the Mother of God. Mary was but a humble maid-servant. She simply did what God asked her to do. It was his extraordinary plan for her to be the mother of his Son; but what make it work was that she emptied herself as completely as she could of her own self and will – so that it could all happen according to God's will and way!

The focus of all God's dealings with Mary was therefore JESUS! The Incarnate Word; the one who would live an amazing life, who would die an ignominious death, and would be rewarded for all his effort in a life of glory that he would share with those who believed in him!

The prayer that God and the Church have given us to meditate - in an organized way - on the entire life of Christ - is the Rosary. It parallels the gospels themselves and is a highly recommended prayer form for Catholics. Both the rosary and the gospels contain the essence of the life of Christ! And now, thanks to Pope John Paul II we have twenty mysteries to consider when praying the rosary. Those having to do with the Incarnation: "The Annunciation" "The Visitation" "The Nativity" "The Presentation" "The Finding of Jesus in the Temple;" those having to do with his life as Light of the World: "The Baptism of Jesus" "The Wedding Feast at Cana" "The Proclamation of the Kingdom" "The Transfiguration" "The Institution of the Eucharist;" those having to do with the Passion: "The Agony in the Garden" "The Scourging at the Pillar" "The Crowning with Thorns" "The Carrying of the Cross" "The Crucifixion;" those having to do with the glorification of Jesus: "The Resurrection" "The Ascension" "The Descent of the Holy Spirit" "The Assumption of Mary" "The Crowning of Mary."

We associate Mary with all of this as one who gave birth to Word Made Flesh; one who lived the life of discipleship along with all the rest during Jesus' public life; one who suffered greatly along with her son during his passion; and one who rejoiced with the disciples and the whole community of believers at his resurrection and as the process of the completion of the Lord's work is carried out in the Church – until the end of time!

We are a part of that final process! We are invited to partake of Christ completely – both now and forever! We are called to invite all others to partake and to become members of Christ's Body – the Church, along with us! We are called to be children of God and children of Mary – when we, like she, put his will and way ahead of our own!

Hail Mary, Hail Full of Grace!

The Lord is truly with you!

And blessed are you among all women!

Amen.

Monday, October 6, 2008

Homily – 10-06-2008 – St. Bruno

Today we celebrate the feast of the founder of the first Carthusian monastery: St. Bruno of Cologne. He was born in Cologne about the year 1035. Being educated at Paris, after ordination to the priesthood, he taught theology. However, Bruno desired a solitary life and to that end he founded the first Carthusian monastery in 1080! It was for both monks and nuns and was ruled by its own "Statutes" rather than the Rule of St. Benedict which was common for most monasteries. When called upon by Pope Urban II, he aided the pontiff meeting the needs of the Church. He died at Squillace in Calabria in 1101.

The readings today fittingly describe the desires and goals of the monastic life: to come to the knowledge of Jesus and the power of his resurrection, so that – as a result of living a life of virtue and hope – there will be a merited crown of happiness awaiting the ones who keep the monastic rule (which is none other than the rule of the Gospel).

Jesus says in the gospel passage that setting your sights on him and knowledge of him will require single-mindedness and purity of intention. The many distractions and excuses that may come the way of the monk, nun or Christian at large need to be dealt with and dismissed so that we may all may follow very closely in the footsteps of Jesus – which become more and more visible and clear to those who delight in the law of loving service – as Jesus promised it would!

Blessed are they who hope in the Lord. Blessed are they who delight in the law of the Lord.

Sunday, October 5, 2008

Homily – 10-05-2008 – Twenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time – Respect Life Sunday

IF we took St. Paul's words to heart, in the second reading (to the Phillippians) today: and we spend more time rather than less thinking about what is really true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, gracious, excellent and worthy of praise - then the peace of God which surpasses all understanding would guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus in ever increasing measure – and we would know better how to deal with all life's challenges and sometimes difficult choices.

In both the first and third readings (the third being the Gospel Passage) it is clear that God has entrusted us with the care of a vineyard – the vineyard of our own personal and family affairs as we move toward eternal life – the vineyard of the Church's affairs as it is the pre-eminent aid in our journey – the vineyard of the world around us in which we as members of the Church are to make an impact as we help effect the transformation and redemption of everyone, everywhere!

It is true that there are many "out there" who wish to impede our task, our mission, our work. "The world" with its self-absorbed spirit of selfishness is pulling us one way; the Church is offering us a counterweight - if we choose to use it! The Church can help us to keep focused: to keep thinking about what is really true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, gracious, excellent and worthy of praise - so that the peace of God which surpasses all understanding can now and always stand guard over our hearts and minds through the teaching and spiritual presence and food that comes from Christ Jesus!

This teaching and spiritual presence and food is what rightly forms our consciences as Catholic Christians. If we view everything in our lives through the filter of a rightly formed conscience – which we obtain most fully through homilies, catechesis, the reception of the sacraments (especially Eucharist and Penance), and the give and take of Spirit-guided discussions and discernment processes of the Catholic Church– then even the most important issues - such as the right to life; the dignity of all human persons from conception - throughout each and every moment of life - to natural death, the right to work, the right to a just wage, the right to dissent, the right to exercise free-will according to God's own will and way (which we have been talking about for the last couple of weeks) – (all of these issues) can be approached and dealt with in a calm and peaceable way – with a peace that even surpasses all human understanding.

If we fix our eyes on Jesus (and especially him crucified, as St. Paul tells us over and over again) – we will know what to do and have the power to do it!

I have chosen you, from the world, says the Lord, to go and bear fruit that will remain.

We recommit ourselves to you, today, Lord Jesus, to be open to the task at hand of conducting our lives in a way that pleases you, and brings dignity to others and to ourselves – and that will merit us your praise and blessing when you return one day to settle up accounts in the vineyard you have leased out to us!

Friday, October 3, 2008

Homily – 10-03-04-2008 – St. Francis of Assisi

Today we anticipate the feast of one of the most beloved saints in Church history: St. Francis of Assisi, whose actual feast day is tomorrow, Oct. 4th.

For a man small in stature Francis Bernardone of Assisi made a giant impact on the spirituality of the Catholic Church in a time in its history (the 13th century) when it so desperately needed someone to help it find its way again – to regain its balance – to remember where it came from in the first place and who it really was! This was not Francis's idea, but rather Jesus' who told him to "Go, rebuild my Church!" It took Francis several years to even begin to understand what that actually meant or that anything that he was doing had anything at all to do with that command!

Francis knew one thing for sure though: HE WANTED TO BE POOR – AND POOR HE WAS! Poor in material things – and poor in spirit!

Francis was a "tangible saint" – so many seemed to be able to identify with this barefooted, raggedy-clad wanderer – so poor materially, yet so rich in what really mattered – spiritual intimacy with God.

The life of Francis can be described in 12 ways (like the numbers on a clock): it was a life of simplicity, of joy, of solitude, of humility, of creativity, of chastity, of community, of compassion, of appreciating God's creation, of service, of peace, and of prayer. He emulated all of these concepts and activities to an amazing degree!

It is about the last three that I would simply like to elaborate (service, peace, prayer): SERVICE: unless our personal lives of prayer and solitude leads to service of others – as many others as possible – then it is truly meaningless – we must love as Jesus loved or what's the point?;

PEACE – if our prayer and service of God does not promote peace (beginning within ourselves), then we have not grasped the object of our endeavors at all: JESUS who alone grants peace; unless "wage peace" and not "wage war" begins to be our motto – then we have "missed the boat of the Church" spiritually – we cannot give away what we don't possess, love or peace;

lastly, if PRAYER, spiritually-energy-revitalizing prayer is not a permanent part of our daily spiritual diet, then we lose touch with Jesus and his love and his peace and we have nothing to give anyone!

Francis and the many thousands of members of the Franciscan community throughout history and today seek the balance of all twelve of these realties in their lives – so they have something worthwhile to share with others: to share with the hungry and the homeless; the sick and the dying; the naked and the imprisoned. For if they, and we with them do not minister to those who have such needs then Jesus will say to us on Judgment Day: when you did not do these things: you did not do them to me – away with you! Sometimes we think he is kidding here – but I think he is very serious!

Let us rather be among those who hear Jesus saying on that Day: COME, BLEST OF MY FATHER – INHERIT THE KINGDOM THAT HAS BEEN PREPARED FOR YOU FROM MTHE FOUNDATIONS OF THE WORLD – FOR I HAD MANY NEEDS AND YOU TOOK CARE OF THEM ALL by ministering to the very least of my brothers and sisters!

Thursday, October 2, 2008

Homily – 10-02-2008 – The Guardian Angels

Today we celebrate God's care, God's love, God's desire to protect us in a special way as we honor the Guardian Angels that he has assigned to each of us so that we can feel safe, secure and protected – come what may!

The Church has always believed in the help that these created spirits are meant to be for God's people both in Old Testament and New Testament times. The Book of Exodus talks about the angel of the Lord encamping near the Israelites in the desert; the psalms talk about the angel of the Lord guarding God's chosen lest they dash their foot against a stone; Jesus himself speaks more than once about angels and their duties towards God's children!

Our own angel guardian – the one assigned to us - is ever ready – day or night – to help us! Sometimes he does so without our asking (when we are in real danger); but he would like to be asked – to be someone who we really relate to, talk to and rely on – in the way God intended

It is at the throne of God that one day angels and saints, men and women and children will praise God forever – as is mirrored in this and every Eucharistic Celebration! Let us be grateful to God for our "spiritual allies" – especially the ones that are here right now to help us offer fitting and proper thanks, praise and sacrifice to God, the heavenly Father!

The Lord has put angels in charge of us, to guard us in all our ways!

Wednesday, October 1, 2008

Homily – 10-01-2008 – St. Therese of the Child Jesus

Today we celebrate the feast of St. Therese of the Child Jesus – "The Little Flower." She was born in Alencon in France in 1873 of very pious parents – who are themselves now in line for canonization. While still a young girl, (and with special permission from the bishop) she entered the Carmelite monastery of Lisieux. There she lived a life of humility, evangelical simplicity and trust in God. By word and example, she taught these virtues to the novices of the community. She always longed to be a martyr – but found God's special calling for her to give her life completely as one who loved much – who found her place in the Church – as one who – even though stricken with tuberculosis – could give all she had in a very simple way to God and her sisters (and brothers) in the Body of Christ.

The first reading today tells of the complete joy of one who knows they are found by God, loved by God and taken care of by God – just as Israel was restored to its former beauty, status and position by God who never really abandoned it during the Exile. St. Therese felt herself thus loved by God – and willing to love because of that experience!

In the gospel passage Jesus tells us that the Kingdom of heaven belongs to those who are like children – especially in their trust, their devotion, their loyalty and single-mindedness: this was St. Therese of Lisieux. Her childlike simplicity is the hallmark of her saintly life.

Today may we recommit ourselves to simply love much – as she did – as did St. Therese of Lisieux.

In you, Lord, we have found our peace!

Happy New Year 202

  A Happy New Year to you all! I hope and pray I am able to keep this blog up to date now that we are entering into the New Year! I would li...