Thursday, September 16, 2010

Homily – September 16, 2010 – Sts. Cornelius and Cyprian

+ Today we celebrate the feast of two third century bishops and martyrs: Sts. Cornelius and Cyprian. Cornelius was reluctantly elected 21st pope at a time when papal ascension was a quick death sentence: the Roman persecutions were still going on in full force. This was also a time of schism and apostasy. Novatian even went so far as to set himself up as anti-pope. But he called a synod of bishops to confirm himself as rightful pontiff. He had the support of St. Cyprian of Carthage. Cornelius welcomed back those who had apostasized during the persecution of Decius (without having to rebaptize them – which was another bone of contention at the time). Cornelius was finally exiled in 252 by Roman authorities to punish Christians in general who were said to have provoked the gods to send plague against Rome. He was martyred in 253. Interestingly, a document from Cornelius shows the size of the Church in Rome during his papacy: 46 priests, 7 deacons, 7 subdeacons and approximately 50,000 Christians.

St. Cyprian, who supported St. Cornelius, was born to wealthy pagan parents, taught rhetoric and literature and became an adult convert in 246. He was ordained a priest in 247 and Bishop of Carthage in 249. As a writer he was second only in importance to Tertullian as a Latin Father of the Church. He was involved in the great argument about if and how apostates were to be readmitted to the Church. He believed, as Pope Cornelius did, that they should be, but under stringent conditions – and without having to be rebaptized. During the persecutions of Valerian he was exiled in 257, brought back to Carthage and then martyred in 258. Both he and Cornelius are mentioned in the Roman Canon of the Mass.

Both Cornelius and Cyprian are examples of very close friends of Jesus – successors to the Apostles – who, knowing they were consecrated in the truth – spared no part of their lives or ministries in proclaiming and defending that truth – even to the point of giving their own lives in witness to it! And they were greatly rewarded with the martyr's crown! The first reading tells how they, like us, hold the treasures of the Gospel in earthen vessels, in human bodies which enables the surpassing power of God to shine forth from them. We thank Sts. Cornelius and Cyprian today for allowing themselves to be such vessels – and we pledge to the Lord our willingness to do the same – with his help, with his grace and with his love!

Blessed be the Father of compassion and God of all encouragement, who encourages us in our every affliction.

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Homily – September 15, 2010 – Our Lady of Sorrows

+ One week ago today we celebrated the birth of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Today we celebrate a very important aspect of her life: the spiritual martyrdom that she was called to endure. Any parent knows that being an integral part of their childrens' joys and sorrows, successes and failures, triumphs and tragedies goes along with the job of being parent. But for Mary it was particularly intense because her son was also the very Son of God, he was pure goodness sent into a cold and dark world to redeem it, he was called to be love in the midst of hate.

As Simeon foretold he would be a sign of contradiction his whole life long, and Mary would, in witnessing it all, be wounded in her own heart continually. The seven chief sorrows of Mary have been recorded as: the presentation of Jesus in the Temple, the flight into Egypt, Jesus being lost in Jerusalem, the encounter with Jesus on the way to Calvary, the Crucifixion, the taking of the body down from the cross, and Jesus' burial.

Though Mary's joys were also a part of her life: the Annunciation, the Nativity of Jesus, the Adoration of the Magi, the Resurrection of Jesus, the Ascension of Jesus, the Descent of the Holy Spirit, her Coronation in heaven - they must be understood as counterparts of her sorrows.

In the end, though, they confirm the very message of redemption: that the Cross of Suffering, the Cross of Christ's Suffering, (a feast which we celebrated just yesterday) can now be transformed into a Cross of Victory and Triumph because Jesus also rose from the dead!

And so today we celebrate today Mary's sorrow, but also her triumph – and also our own participation in this dynamic. With her prayers our sadness can be turned into joy as well – we can count on it!

Blessed are you, O Virgin Mary; without dying you won the martyr's crown beneath the Cross of the Lord.

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Homily – September 14, 2010 – Exaltation of the Holy Cross

+ Today's feast – The Exaltation of the Holy Cross – celebrates the finding of the True Cross of Christ under a Roman landfill by the emperor Constantine's mother, Helen, and the subsequent dedication of a basilica built by Constantine on the site of the Holy Sepulcher and Calvary on September 14, 335. It is also known as "Holy Cross Day." There are other legends as to the actual reason behind the feast but this one seems most credible.

No matter the origin, the true single simple message for the feast is: salvation comes through Christ's death on the cross. Just as in the first reading Moses lifts up the bronze serpent in the desert to save the people from death, so Christ allows himself to be lifted up on the cross in order to save us and bring us to eternal life.

Last Sunday we talked about the fact that distributing mercy is what God does best. The Cross of Christ's death is meant to be for all time an unmistakable symbol of that mercy won, effected and ready for distribution. If Christ did not die on the cross then we would die in our sins and never see life forever with God. But he did die; he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness, humbling himself and becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross.

Yes, God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son – so that whoever believes in may have eternal life. May our belief in the death and resurrection of Christ be strong today: and may every day be a "Holy Cross Day" – as we ever keep before us the image of the great instrument of both death and life; defeat and triumph; darkness and light: THE EXALTED CROSS OF CHRIST JESUS OUR LORD AND KING!

We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you, because by your holy Cross you have redeemed the world!

Monday, September 13, 2010

Homily – September 13, 2010 – St. John Chrysostom

+ St. John Chrysostom was born in 347 at Antioch. His father died when he was young. He was then raised by a very pious mother. Being well educated the boy studied rhetoric under Libanius one of the most famous orators of his day. He became a monk, a preacher and priest for a dozen years in Syria. While there he developed a stomach ailment that troubled him the rest of his life. It was for his sermons that John earned the title Chrysostom (meaning "golden-mouthed"). They were always on the point, and explained the Scriptures with clarity, and they sometimes went on for hours. He reluctantly became a bishop of Constantinople in 398, which involved him in imperial politics. He criticized the rich for not sharing their wealth, fought to reform the clergy, prevented the sale of ecclesiastical offices, called for fidelity in marriage and encouraged practices of justice and charity. He later became Archbishop and Patriarch of Constantinople. He revised the Greek Liturgy. Because his sermons advocated a change in their lives, some nobles and bishops worked to remove John from his diocese. He was twice exiled and banished to Pythius. He died on the road in 407 of natural causes. He was a Greek Father of the Church and proclaimed Doctor in 451.

As bishop and preacher, John Chrysostom championed what St. Paul was talking about in the first reading: peace-filled unity in the Holy Spirit as the goal of Christian life. There is one Body and one Spirit, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. While at the same time there is a diversity of roles in building up the body of Christ: Apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, teachers all having the goal of bringing the Body of Christ to full stature one day! The gospel passage speaks of seed sowing and growth. The seed of the faith was planted in John Chrysostom and it grew magnificently because he surrendered to God's will entirely to become the episcopal plant God had in mind. John planted other seeds – and they grew because his hearers were open to something new being introduced into their lives – a new thing that would lead to their eternal salvation more surely! We thank God that John was faithful to his calling; we ask John's prayers today to keep us faithful to ours – to keep us united in faith, in the bond of peace, and producing a hundredfold of blessings for our world this day!

Here I am, Lord, I come to do your will!

Sunday, September 12, 2010

Homily – September 12, 2010 – Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time

+ The theme of our celebration today is the extravagant mercy of God. The one thing that God likes to do most is to show us a father's love and shower us with mercy – a lot of times even before we ask for it. We can count on the fact that he understands us completely – inside and out – with our true weaknesses, limitations, and sinfulness – and that all he requires for the unleashing of oceans of mercy upon us –is a sign of willingness to admit that we are in need of it. God will not force anything upon us – not love, nor mercy, not forgiveness. But if we want it – he is right there with it.

The people of the first reading – God's own people of the Old Testament times – were so absorbed in themselves that a lot of them probably did not even know that they were sinners; others maybe knew, but at that point didn't care; others would be obstinate to the very end. Moses had his hands full just holding back the hand of God's justifiable wrath – reminding him that he is a God of mercy – and that the distribution of mercy is what he did best.

What was it that made God so angry with them as to consider even withholding mercy? The only answer I can come up with is that it was a double sin against faith and charity – as these two always go together. Those whose faith is very weak also have a great deal of difficulty "getting out of their own way." They need to hang onto something, so they hang on to their own selves and their own egos. The one motivating good in their lives is themselves. This goes against the first commandment, and is also a sin against faith; making themselves a god, they displace the real God and have faith in no one but themselves; thereby they also, steal charity – goodness and good works that others are entitled to - because they want to satisfy themselves. This sounds a great deal like the people Moses was dealing with. But even this people could erase all of that selfishness by sincerely asking God to have mercy on them and to forgive them.

St. Paul in the second reading tells us that he was a very great sinner. He was persecuting the church and trying to stamp it out at its origins. But the grace and mercy and forgiveness of Christ came upon him in a powerful way – like a great flash of light – and Paul was never the same. His life turned from one of self-service and righteousness – to one of amazing surrender to God's will and grace so that charity could prevail – the charity that is life in Christ – life in the Church.

May our faith and our charity increase this day because we consciously seek God's mercy, love and forgiveness – he is so very willing to accept our sorrow and contrition and help us transform them into a life of living for and loving others alone. We have the wherewithal – the graces, the love and even the material resources to share - so that others who are in need – no matter where they are in our lives, or in the world – will have what God wants them to have – using us and our outstanding generosity!

Friday, September 10, 2010

Homily – September 10, 2010 – Twenty-third Week in Ordinary Time - Friday

+ The blindness spoken of in today's gospel passage is in reference to the teachings of Jesus. Until the disciple has his eyes opened by the teachings of Jesus, then he remains blind and is in no position to be guiding others in a moral or ethical sense. The "plank" referred to in the passage is the concept that Jesus insists on of sharing possessions with others. Those who compromise in this area may see other people's errors along these lines in an exaggerated way. Remove the plank – share your possessions and your experience of being loved by God – and you will see all things clearly – and you will be able to truly and reliably help others not to fall into a pit!

The first reading today is full of Pauline imagery that is well-known and helpful to all disciples of Jesus. I preach the gospel because I am compelled to do so and woe to me if I do not preach it. Although I am a free agent, I have made myself a slave to all so as to win over as many as possible. I have become all things to all, to save at least some. Run the race in the stadium so as to win. Train yourself spiritually to win the race. And remember to stay the course or else you yourself may be disqualified at the end of the tournament – after having helped others along. These are powerful statements made by Paul. They are about true discipleship – they demonstrate the clarity of his vision of Christ and his commands – and there is evidence that there is a great love as a driving force behind it all – the love of Christ which impels him to strain on to the finish line! Paul was "once blind, but now he sees;" may any of us who are experiencing spiritual vision deficiencies find in the true, absolute and uncompromising teachings of Jesus and his Church the divine light we need to make our spiritual vision work properly.

Your word, O Lord, is truth; consecrate us in the truth.

Thursday, September 9, 2010

Homily – September 9, 2010 – St. Peter Claver

+ St. Peter Claver was among the first Jesuits. He was born in 1581 at Verdu, Catalonia, Spain. He was a farmer's son. He was very bright and studied at the University of Barcelona. He entered the Jesuits at age 20. Ordained a priest, he was influenced by St. Alphonsus Rodriguez, a humble Jesuit doorkeeper for forty years at the Jesuit school at Majorca, to become a missionary in America. But first he ministered physically and spiritually to slaves when they arrived in Cartegena (along the southern shore of Spain) converting a reported 300,000 of them and working for humane treatment on the plantations. Then he organized charitable societies among the Spanish in America similar to those organized in Europe by St. Vincent de Paul. Peter said of the slaves, "We must speak to them with our hands by giving, before we try to speak to them with our lips." He died September 8, 1654 at Cartegena of natural causes. In 1888 he was canonized by Pope Leo XIII.

The gospel passage today was part of St. Luke's Sermon on the Plain – as compared with St. Matthew's Sermon on the Mount. It is the summary of some of the most obvious and poignant of Jesus commands to demonstrate discipleship. Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. To the person who strikes you on one cheek, offer the other one as well, and from the person who takes your cloak, do not withhold even your tunic. Do to others as you would have them do to you. This is no doubt what inspired St. Peter Claver to minister to the slaves. This no doubt was the message that the slaves themselves needed to hear from Peter. This is also the message that we need to hear today – as sometimes it is difficult to say and do the right thing in the face of opposition – especially when the opposition are those closest to us.

If we don't do these things, however, St. Paul tells the Corinthians in the first reading, and we mistreat one another physically, mentally or spiritually then we are sinning against Christ who dwells in the ones we are hurting. Our goal is to be conscious of the fact that we all exist in God's very love, in his very heart, with his very power to do good and to love others ingrained in us by our baptisms. This ought to make loving easy – and the perfection of it a foreseeable conclusion for us.

Guide us, Lord, along the everlasting way – a way whose path-light is powered by good deeds well done out of love for God and one another – (today we remember) after the example of St. Peter Claver!

Wednesday, September 8, 2010

Homily – September 8, 2010 – The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary

+ Today's celebration of the birth of the Blessed Virgin Mary is as humble and unassuming as she was. It was only after the church Council of Ephesus in 431 – when Mary was designated as true "Mother of God" that devotion to her spread far and wide in the Western Church. And among the remembrances of the life of Mary, no doubt, was the fact of her birth – though it was always quietly remembered and celebrated. It is not certain where she was born; some say Nazareth, others Jerusalem. But no matter where it was it was a special birth. She, who would give birth to the savior of the world, entered the world to prepare the first tabernacle of flesh for the living God – her womb - for the Son of God. And his greatness would reach to the ends of the earth – and he would be peace for those who wanted to participate in peace!

It was holy Joseph who would take Mary later as his wife – having found her with child of the Holy Spirit. To Joseph the angel announced that her son would be named Jesus for he would save his people from their sins: and he shall also be called Emmanuel, a name which means "God is with us."

The hallmark of Mary's life was obedience to the will of God; as was the hallmark of Joseph's. This too must be the hallmark of any who call themselves Christian – being baptized into the very life of Christ Jesus for the forgiveness of their sins.

The final stages of preparation for the arrival of such a Messiah and Redeemer began the day that Mary, daughter of Joachim and Anne, was born.

With delight we rejoice in the Lord who has been good to us – through a humble maiden of Nazareth!

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Homily – September 7, 2010 – Twenty-third Week in Ordinary Time - Tuesday

+ The simple message from our readings today is that the ministry of Jesus and his Apostles and their descendants and helpers is one of healing and reconciliation. There was a sure and certain power coming from Jesus, as he walked the earth, that was easily recognizable, and so many came from all around to hear him, to be near him, to be healed by him. Those who were healed no doubt led a life of balance and equanimity afterwards. They knew how to deal with injustices when they came up in their own circles. They applied divine insight to legal matters – but not always. St. Paul had to remind the Corinthians to do this, as they were sometimes slow to make the connection between the gifts they had been given by God and real life.

May we make that connection today and everyday. Let us take the fruits of this Mass and apply them to the real concrete situations we find ourselves in. The Eucharist we receive will be all the encouragement and power we need – if we allow it to be so. God wants so much for us to help him transform the world into a glorious kingdom – may we let him use us today!

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

Monday, September 6, 2010

Homily – September 6, 2010 – Twenty-third Week in Ordinary Time - Monday

+ We can see in the gospel passage that Jesus is all for doing what is right, at the right time, no matter who is watching. He cures the man with the withered hand and deliberately cures him knowing that it would enrage the Pharisees present. The man is cured and the said Pharisees are enraged – and Jesus sighs!

In the gospel passage St. Paul does not have it so easy either: something right ought to have been done at the time that something wrong occurred, especially since the people involved were newborn Christians having the Holy Spirit freshly dispensed upon them: the case of the man who was living with his step-mother as in marriage was not handled appropriately by them. The Corinthians thought they were exercising their newfound "freedom of the children of God" by allowing this corner to be cut: but both Jews and Gentiles did not allow for such immoral concubinage. Therefore Paul has to remind them that he himself is present in spirit in their deliberations and that the man must be expelled (excommunicated) from the Christian community and delivered to Satan so his body can be purged, before the coming of the Son of Man so that perhaps his soul can be saved. (This gives rise to a kind of living purgatory that is possible for the good of the recalcitrant). Paul tells the Corinthians that their boasting was inappropriate – and that the real cause for boasting: the Holy Spirit of Truth and Right-living that is within them - should always be given priority. It is like new yeast that must leaven new dough in the new dispensation of Christ's reign – a dispensation of sincerity and truth.

May we today be such leaven wherever we go – may the reign of Christ ripple and spread forth because of the small acts of sincerity and truth that we administer today to all we meet!

Lead me in your justice, Lord.

Sunday, September 5, 2010

Homily – September 5, 2010 – Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time

+ Among the things that we need to pray for daily is spiritual (or divine) wisdom! It is a gift of the Holy Spirit – especially intensified at our Confirmations – but it needs to be "stirred into flame again," not only at every Mass we attend, but also every day in prayer. "To see things and understand them the way God does" – holy wisdom – is indeed a very important and useful gift. (And those who do not have or use the gift properly can end up with a distorted view of everything – for example, scientists who promulgate theories of the origins of the universe devoid of the presence and activity of God).

But as in any other gift God gives us – this one too is not for our own private use or fame or glory – but is rather for the good of others – those he has placed in community life with us, in the Church to which we belong. Therefore, to pray daily for an increase and rekindling of wisdom can only be a good thing so as to give us an insightful edge on the nature of things and how to get along with one another more compassionately, lovingly and self-sacrificially.

One of the insights, however, that wisdom gives is that, even though we live in the community of the world, and of our families, and of our Church – we are responsible first of all for our own salvation: "we can save the whole world," Jesus tells us in another place, "and lose our souls." The gospel passage today relates what Jesus thinks about the whole thing: UNLESS YOU RENOUNCE ABSOLUTELY ALL POSSESSIONS (including the material, the psychological, the emotional, the intellectual, the familial – relationships with people: including your own family) YOU CANNOT BE MY TRUE DISCIPLE AND YOU WILL NOT INHERIT THE KINGDOM prepared for you!

This is very clear, and seems very cold; but actually it is far from it. It is when one really and truly jumps entirely into the pool of Christian discipleship that everything is immediately given back – only they now seem entirely different; there are no more "claw marks" of grappling on them, there is no more excessive compulsion and need to control and manipulate, there is no more selfishness and self-centeredness. The true nature of things becomes very clear! And so, what is left is the ability
to enjoy not only relationships with people, including family and parish, but also the beauty and verity of all of God's creation and everything in it, and Christian service that is made now so much easier. And here, the playing field is also leveled – we look at everyone, of every socio-economic class as our true brother and sister – as St. Paul urged Philemon to do with the slave Onesimus in the second reading today.
EVERYTHING IS BRAND NEW ONCE WE SURRENDER OURSELVES COMPLETELY INTO THE HEART OF GOD!

He will accept your love and then ask you to prove it by loving the brothers and sisters that he has placed with you in this world. But that will be easy – because you will truly believe at that point that they really are indeed your brothers and sisters!

Yes, pray daily for the gift of Divine Wisdom – for it is the grace of God shining on you so that you can see everything and everyone clearly – even the laws of physics, even the law of human helpfulness!

God bless you!

Friday, September 3, 2010

Homily – September 3, 2010 – St. Gregory the Great

+ One week ago today we celebrated the feast of St. Augustine of Hippo, one of the four original Western Doctors of the Catholic Church. Today we celebrate the feast of another (later this month we will celebrate the feast of yet another: St. Jerome; the feast of St. Ambrose, the last of them, of course is celebrated in December).

Gregory is only the second pope in all of church history, thus far, to be called "The Great" – Leo I was the first; but John Paul II of our own day might be the third and the latest. Gregory was the first pope to be a monk and was one of the papacy's most influential writers. His Pastoral Care, which defined the ministry of bishop as one of shepherding souls, became the textbook for bishops of centuries after.

Gregory was son of a Roman Senator, who entered the service of state as a young man – becoming prefect of Rome, but in 573 he sold his extensive properties – including his own house which he turned into a Benedictine monastery – and founded six other monasteries in Sicily. He distributed much of his wealth to the poor. The next year he entered his own monastery and was distinguished for his austere lifestyle. Although only a junior deacon he was unanimously elected to the papacy when Pope Pelagius II died in 590. He had a difficult time as pope because of the breakdown of civil order, but was committed to the spiritual and ecclesiastical concerns that were part and parcel of being pope. He continued to have great concern for the poor – and saw to it that local churches throughout the known world took on the project of seeing to the needs of the poor. He is said to have sent Augustine (not of Hippo), with forty other monks to England in 569, later making him archbishop of Canterbury.

Given his own monastic background, Gregory was a strong promoter of monasticism and of the liturgy, especially of its music. His favorite was a collection of plainsong chants that became identified with his own name: Gregorian chant. Many prayers in the Mass and in the Divine Office are attributed to Gregory. His writings were more practical than theoretical and more derivative than original. But he was such an effective synthesizer, especially of the work of Augustine of Hippo that he came to be included in 1298 with Ambrose, Augustine and Jerome among the four original Western Doctors of the Church. St. Gregory the Great died in 604, in Rome, of natural causes. Today, September 3 marks the day that he ascended the throne of St. Peter and became pope – in 590.

The gospel passage today was chosen well for the feast: "let the greatest among you be as the youngest" – St. Gregory the Great considered himself "the servant of the servants of God" (especially as he was only a young deacon when he was elected pope). Gregory knew that since Christ is truly greatest – any greatness a human being could possibly have comes from total and utter surrender to him and his desires for us. The first reading reminds us also of the humility needed to be a monk, a preacher, a Christian, a pope – we do not preach ourselves- but Jesus Christ as Lord and ourselves as slaves for the sake of Jesus. It is only then that our light – which is his light – can shine in the darkness – which is knowledge of the glory of God on the face of Jesus Christ.

Christ, be our light – this day – and all the days of our life!

Thursday, September 2, 2010

Homily – September 2, 2010 – Twenty-second Week in Ordinary Time - Thursday

+ We have wonderful readings today! The first reading speaks of the one who is truly wise: the one who desires to be wise in the eyes of God rather than in the eyes of the world. Worldly wisdom usually has little to do with real wisdom – but rather craftiness and political correctness and nowadays a watered down version of truth so that it can apply to the greatest number of people, regardless of its true nature and essence. The reading reminds us that no one of us ought to boast about really wise thoughts that might be in our minds: they are gifts from God, and all we can do is thank God that we have the sense to accept the gift and have a willingness to use it!

The gospel passage demonstrates how Peter sizes himself and his wisdom up (even of his fishing business of which he considered himself somewhat of a professional) next to Jesus with his wondrous overriding miraculous powers – of knowledge of catching fish. Peter defers to Christ and realizes that anything Jesus would tell him to do would be OK by him, and that in comparison, he himself was nothing but a sinful man who didn't even belong in his company. But Jesus' response was to reassure Peter that his humble response was indeed the correct one – and that he was interested, very interested in using Peter's professional skills in "catching men" from now on! Peter thought that was a great idea, dropped everything, even the nets in his hands, and he followed Jesus!

May we this day bravely size ourselves up next to Jesus, realize our humble relationship with him, but welcome any ideas that he has in using our talents and professional skills for the good of others; and then cooperate with all our hearts in doing so. This is being truly wise, with a wisdom that will lead us into everlasting life one day – when all has been said and the work has been done!

Come after me, says the Lord; and I will make you fishers of men.

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

Homily – September 1, 2010 – Twenty-second Week in Ordinary Time - Wednesday

+ When we hear a gospel passage such as the one we just heard read it is easy for us to wish that we were there "at the time of Jesus" – to accompany him on his journeys, to observe him caring for the sick and sinful, to perhaps have him perform one of his acts of mercy and healing just for us – because we were there, when he was there!

But we must always remember – that, the way things were planned, and are working out – it is always "the time of Jesus!" Jesus is God – and God's life and love and ministrations are "eternal" – which means they are "time-less" – they are just as easily sought after and applied today as they were two-thousand years ago.

This is good news for you and for me! Jesus has therefore traveled to our town, proclaiming the gospel of the Kingdom of God! And for those who look outside themselves, who live for others, who seek and place the Kingdom above everything else – we can hear his gospel message clearly, and confidently approach him with our special requests.

We just need to always remember that it is God whom we seek, God whom we find; God who seeks us, God who finds us, and while God's ministers can plant the seeds of faith and charity in us, it is only God who can cause the spiritual growth. No man gets credit for doing that! We are all then God's co-workers, as St. Paul tells the Corinthians, God's field, God's building! God is in charge of the entire project. We can only be worthless servants – who are exalted because we stand in right relation with God – as hopeful children!

Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own! They will produce good works abundantly, by the life of God stirring within them!

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...