Sunday, September 30, 2018

Sep 30 - Sunday 26th Week in OT

https://youtu.be/z-VHHsqkCXc

         
+ The “seventy plus two” that were on “the list” to have the spirit that was on Moses bestowed upon them for prophecy – foreshadowed the time many centuries later, when Jesus would send out seventy-two of his disciples to proclaim the message that he (as Messiah) was indeed now present in their midst, God was working special things for them, and that salvation was at hand. What was interesting in the first bestowal was that two of the chosen recipients – two on the list - (Eldad and Medad) were not even present in the tent when the other seventy received the spirit (no doubt by a laying on of hands – the usual way of representing the imbuing of the Spirit). This confirms the fact that God can do what he wants, with those he has selected for special ministry, the way he wants to – he is not bound by institutions and organized ways of doing things.

When there was complaint about the technicality that the two were not commissioned at the same time as the others, Moses answered: Would that all the people of the Lord were prophets! Would that the Lord might bestow his spirit on them all! This is a direct inference that in baptism one day all of the members of God’s family, Christ’s Body, would indeed possess the spirit and be not only a prophetic people – called on to speak on behalf of the Lord all the days of their lives – but also a priestly people who offer fitting spiritual sacrifice to God, and a kingly people, sharing the dignity of the royal family of God of which they are now direct heirs.

In the gospel passage Jesus is questioned about some who were performing actions that only he or his selected disciples were theoretically allowed to perform: the driving out of demons in Jesus’ name. Obviously, what they were doing brought about the desired result, but it was not the ordinary means. Jesus responds by saying that sometimes using the right formula does work (again, he is not bound by institution or organization): it is the work worked and the good intention (the good faith) of the worker that brings about the desired result: so don’t stop them he says. For if you notice, they are on our side – maybe in a remote and distant way – but nevertheless a real way! This applies to all good works done in general, and in the name of some higher authority – if done in good faith and for the good of another – and not to get credit – then the doer is “not far from the kingdom” – and affirming their good deed may draw them more readily into the true fold.

The bottom line today is that God’s people are taken care of: negative spirits are driven away, good spirits are encouraged, and God’s people feel nurtured, fed, and cared for! If we contribute to this project, then we are friends of Jesus, true disciples, and cooperators in our own salvation!, and if we don’t – even if we are members of the administrative branch of religion, then we are enemies of Jesus, and the entire Mystical Body suffers in ways great and small.  

May we live our life like we are children of God, for that is what we are; and let us take care of our brothers and sisters out of a true sense of concern, compassion and empathy – and our Father will be pleased – and our many sins will be more easily forgiven!

And for those who are the enemies of Christ, they will be taken care of and just punishments imposed if not here in this life time then surely in the next!


The precepts of the Lord, give joy to the heart.


Saturday, September 29, 2018

Sep 29 - Sts Michael, Gabriel and Raphael


+ Today was originally known as the Feast of St. Michael the Archangel (or Michaelmas Day), it was only later in church history that the lesser known feasts of Sts. Gabriel and Raphael were added to the celebration. They were linked together to highlight the activity of a group of powerful spiritual beings, archangels, who directly intervened in the affairs of men – the chosen people of God.



Archangel Michael was the great defender of the people of Israel in the Old Testament and is connected with the final battle that will take place at the end times: he will be defender and friend of all who tried their hardest to go the narrow way and live the life of Christ. There is every evidence that we may be in the throes of that final battle right here and now, with all that is going on not only in the attempts of Satan to destroy the church from within, and the hands of her own priests and prelates, but also the attack of Satan on the fabric of our democratic form of government and its ramification of infecting the fabric of the global community in which we live. I recommend all Catholics to pause after attendance at Mass, either daily or weekly to add the Prayer to St. Michael the Archangel written especially by Pope Leo XIII for this very purpose – if not to ask to have it added to say as a post-mass prayer as it was for decades decades ago! We must rely on his never-failing help!



Archangel Gabriel was God’s messenger and announced the births both of John the Baptist and Jesus the Messiah: he was therefore a key instrument in the history of salvation.



And Archangel Raphael brings messages and prayers from the people to God, especially prayers for healing – he was instrumental in both physical and spiritual healing in the life of Tobiah in the Book of Tobit.



We rejoice that we have as allies and friends those who are God’s special friends and agents. May we ask for defense against the insidious and cunning forces of evil from Michael, the announcement of good news and new life for us from Gabriel, and healing from physical and spiritual maladies from Raphael – as we make our way today to our heavenly homeland where we will live forever praising God and enjoying the company of all the angels and saints!



Bless the Lord, all you angels, you ministers, who do his will.




Friday, September 28, 2018

Sep 28 - Friday 25th Week in OT

https://youtu.be/uzl4P5jnZGQ

+ We have a continuation of our beautiful reading from Ecclesiastes today. Yesterday was “Vanity of vanities, all things are vanity!” Today we have rhythmic and pulsating “litany of time!” which is summed up in the first strophe: “There is an appointed time for everything, and a time for every thing under the heavens.”

          While yesterday’s rhythm and forecast was about absurdity and boredom, the ordinariness and actually the hopelessness of it all; today we have a more balanced way of saying the same thing, and somewhat more of a hopeful message: yes there is a cycle to everything, the positive/negative/positive cyles: - a time to be born, a time to die; a time to weep, a time to laugh; a time to be silent, a time to speak; a time to love, a time to hate.

Then the underlying cause for hope again is brought out: “it is God who has made everything appropriate to its time, he has put timelessness into our hearts, without letting us know it was him: this unless and until we are curious and want to ask questions. This too is a cycle, we seek answers, we seek wisdom, we seek information: and it will be given – until the time comes for more answers, more wisdom and more information! This, thankfully and wondrously will go on and on, thanks to the death / resurrection cycle inaugurated by Jesus’ death and resurrection – for life here and even hereafter – we will always be open and ready to learn what our Father in heaven wants us to know: so we will always continue eternally to become more and more who we really are: God’s image of us, with his likeness implanted deep into our souls.

The drama of the death/resurrection is slowly introduced to the disciples by Jesus, as is illustrated in the gospel passage today: though Peter blurts out, inspired by the Holy Spirit who was always hovering over his head: “You are the Christ of God!” But Jesus silences him, for this is a time of silence, and the time for speaking about it will come later when the resurrection does occur and a whole new dimension of human life emerges from the old that was crucified on a cross of shame.

Yes, the Son of Man came to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many! Let us share this message someway, somehow today, with all we meet!  Amen.


Thursday, September 27, 2018

Sep 27 - Thursday 25th Week in OT

https://youtu.be/KgkAB26ISho

+ We have two interesting readings today at mass: the first reading from the book of Ecclesiastes is the famous “Vanity of vanities, says Qoheleth, vanity of vanities! All things are vanity!” This has most always been understood as a spinning-wheels kind of message that tells us – being an Old Testament reading that it is – that “unless something radically new or different happens,” then, there is no real hope of rising above anything at all. “What was, is and will be, and that’s that – there is nothing new under the sun.”

But, in reality this is not the case at all. Jesus, the long-expected Messiah, would indeed come one day, God will break into human history, and it will never be the same again: HOPE will be regenerated, the upward, spiral of growth and development will be engaged in again, and what could never be possible before, would now be possible: all that drags us down, even to the point of sin and death, will be transformed into its very opposite by the willing acceptance of human death, on our behalf, of the sinless, deathless God. This is monumental! – and this is the same gospel message that has been proclaimed since the Apostles went out from the Mount of the Ascension – 2000 years ago.

The gospel passage is very interesting as well. Herod the tetrarch – the roman government official – was curious about all that was happening with the Jesus interruption into human history. “Who is this enigmatic person? Jesus of Nazareth? Why do I keep trying to catch a glimpse of him, both physically but also spiritually? What is there about this man that is so irresistible?

If we take these reading seriously, then we too will be asking the same questions: who is this person Jesus, why am I so interested in him, how can I find out more? Why do we ask these questions? because we need to prove to ourselves that the mundane, routine and ordinariness of our lives is really heading somewhere – the we are moving upwards and onwards, beyond the boundaries of the physical and mental, into the realm of the Real and the Beautiful and the Good and the LOVING!

Yes, Jesus, you are the way and the truth and the life! and I want to share in your friendship forever! Amen.



Wednesday, September 26, 2018

Sep 26 - Wednesday 25th Week in OT


+ What a marvelous first reading we have today: this gem from the Book of Proverbs sums things up nicely: put falsehood and lying far from me, give me neither poverty nor riches; provide me only with the food I need.



This echoes the beautiful sentiments that Jesus puts forth much later in history in the prayer that he taught us to pray: the quintessential prayer – “Our Father, …. give us this day our daily bread.” We need approach God the Father in a very childlike sort of way: innocent and straightforward, knowing that for our best interests it is not what we think we want that will be good for us, but rather for what our father, our dad, knows we need.



We must come before him with a clear conscience, putting falsehood and lying far behind us, and then desiring neither poverty nor riches, but only the food that I need. This attitude of humble trust moves the Father’s heart deeply and he will give each what is needed – for we all are unique and cherished sons and daughters of his.



In the gospel passage Jesus commissions us to proclaim the Kingdom of God, the Kingdom of Family Life with a Father who will provide everything we need in order to reach him safely where he resides, and to heal the sick – to give hope – to bring the human touch, smile and kind word.



Yes my brothers and sisters, the kingdom of God is at hand, in fact it is already here – right within us at any given moment – may we pause momentarily over and over again and bask in its glory, its strength and its peace! Amen.


Tuesday, September 25, 2018

Sep 25 - Tuesday 25th Week in OT


+ The message in today’s gospel passage sums everything up in just a few words: Jesus states that “his mother and brothers are those who hear the word of God and act on it!” His entire purpose and message are found here. Jesus is after all God the Father’s own word, made into a human being: therefore, Jesus entire divine/human being is nothing but “God’s Speech, Authentic and True” – everything he says, everything he does, just his actual presence in human history, in the scene that he is in today, speaks tremendously of GOD’S UNCONDITIONAL, UNFATHOMABLE LOVE for each and every person ever created: and yes, that means you and me.



And so, any kind of response at all that he can elicit, is not only greatly appreciated by him, but is essential to our own salvation and the reception of innumerable amounts of gifts and blessings he has in store for those who simply believes he is who he said he is, and let it affect their daily lives, words and actions.



Putting into practice what we can glean from the Divine Son of God – not only is a good thing – but it actually makes us related to him in a very intimate sort of way: as close as a mother, or a brother or a sister would be.



May we today show ourselves true members of the Royal Family of God, Himself, and go out of our way, in ways small or even great, and help other people in a variety of special and loving ways!



Blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it!  


Sunday, September 23, 2018

Sep 23 - 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time


+ Our readings today that have to do with the suffering and Passion of Christ, come about 10 days after the Feasts of both the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, and Our Lady of Sorrows: there is a certain sense of exigency in the air: something really important is being talked about here.



And what could be more important than the price of our salvation, and how it affected the lives of others who were there at the time.



In the gospel passage, Jesus first elicits from St. Peter a declaration that he is in fact the Christ of God: the anointed one, sent to bring the history of Israel to a major turning point! But then, after Jesus tells them all what he has to do as the Christ, to bring about the salvation of all mankind: “be rejected, and killed are rise after three days,” Peter rebukes Jesus and tells him to reconsider this  “unthinkable prospect,” – unthinkable, because he is thinking only in human terms of what will happen: Jesus then adds fuel to the fire of incredulity when he says that not only he must take up a cross and suffer and die, but everyone who wants to be a true and authentic disciple of his must do the same – if they want to share in the third part of Jesus’ original declaration “rise again after three days,”  the disciple will die with Jesus, yes, but as Jesus himself here promises, he will also rise with him!



And so the choice is ours, it is always ours: are we willing to believe that the Cross of Jesus merited newness of life for himself; and that imitation of him will yield the same results for us?



The first reading from the Prophet Isaiah relates the spirit in which Jesus embraced the shame of his Passion: no, it would not be easy at all to “go through with it” – but God would be his help, and he would get through it, and the spiritual lives of a great many would be salvaged.



For us, then, today, while the cause of our salvation rests solely on our belief that Jesus is the Christ – the Divine Son of God – and that he did in fact suffer and die and rose – for the forgiveness of our sins and so that the gates of heaven could be opened for us – let us also remember that this belief must be accompanied by cooperative acts of loving service to others motivated by love of God: for as Saint James tells us in his ever classic way: faith of itself, if it does not have works, is dead – and it will not be able to qualify us then for participation in the supernatural life of God!



With our Blessed Mother Mary, who knows about integrating suffering into a life of deep faith and works, may we count on her prayers this day, to aid us in being always pleasing to her Son, and to his Father in heaven. Amen.

Friday, September 21, 2018

Sep 21 - St. Matthew, Apostle


+ St. Matthew, the Apostle and Evangelist was the son of Alphaeus (and most likely brother of James the Less).  He lived at Capernaum on Lake Genesareth. He was a Roman tax collector by trade, a position equated with “collaboration with the enemy” by those from whom he collected taxes. Tax collectors were also known to keep some of the “take” for themselves, another reason for them being despised by the Jews.



Jesus’ contemporaries were surprised then to see the Christ with a traitor, but Jesus explained that he had come not to call the righteous but sinners. Matthew was also a gospel writer and his gospel is given “pride of place” in the canon of the New Testament, for it was written to convince Jewish readers that their anticipated Messiah had come in the person of Jesus. He preached among the Jews for 15 years; his audiences may have included the Jewish enclave in Ethiopia, and places in the East. Some accounts see him travelling as far away as Ireland to bring the gospel to the heathens. There is question as to his actual martyrdom, but he is given the benefit of the doubt.



Matthew is then an example of one like us, a sinner, called by God to greatness; and he responded generously and lovingly: he left his traitorous job and followed Jesus unreservedly. We can turn from sin and do the same, renewing our resolve each and every day. Jesus doesn’t mind associating with us – who are not perfect by any means; may we never mind associating with him who is the source of our conversion, our holiness and our choice of the correct path to take that will lead to life in his Reign, his Kingdom forever.



On this feast of one of the first bishops of the Church, and reflecting on the sins of the clergy, even bishops in our own day and age, though we are right in our justified anger at the nature of their actions against the most vulnerable in our parish demographics – we pray for the conversion of these men – we call them to be St. Matthew’s today – those who TURN COMPLETELY AWAY FROM THEIR PAST DEEDS and to live a life of joy in the Death and Resurrection of Jesus which merits us all reconciliation with the Father – and a place in the eternal kingdom. Yes, and they must also face sanctions both church and temporal – and their victims are to be supported and prayed for ceaselessly from now on – but we must let God ultimately be in charge of all retributions, punishments and future sanctions!



We praise you, O God, we acclaim you as Lord; the glorious company of Apostles praise you.



 

Thursday, September 20, 2018

Sep 20 - St Andrew Kim and Korean Martyrs


+ We celebrate today the feast of two major Korean saints and 103 of their companions who were put to death in the persecutions against the faith in Korea in the 19th century.



Andrew Kim was born of Korean nobility; his parents were converts and his father himself a martyr. Andrew was baptized at age 15, and then travelled 1300 miles to the nearest seminary in Macao, China. He became the first native-born Korean priest, and the first priest to die for the faith in Korea. He was the leader of the “Martyrs of Korea,” 103 of his fellow countrymen who embraced the fullness of the faith even to the point of martyrdom.



Paul Hasang was the son also of a martyr in the attack that killed all of the

clergy in the country. Though a layman he reunited the scattered Christians and encouraged them to keep and live their faith. He wrote to the Korean government explaining why the Church was no threat to them. He crossed into China nine times, working as a servant to the Korean diplomatic corps. There he worked to get the bishop of Beijing to send more priests to Korea. He pleaded directly to Rome for help, and on 9 September 1831, Pope Gregory X proclaimed the validity of the Korean Catholic diocese.



When the clergy began to return, Paul entered the seminary, however he died in the persecution of 1839 before he could be ordained. Paul Hasang is truly one of the great founders of the Catholic Church in Korea. Both he and Andrew Kim were canonized by Pope John Paul II in 1984.



In today’s first reading we read what might have kept these fine Korean martyrs true to the faith: St. Paul tells the Romans – and all believers – if God is for us, who can be against us? In all things (because he is truly with us) we conquer overwhelminglybecause nothing at all – not even persecution and death – can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. We are always safe there, we are always protected there, we are always strengthened there.



And the gospel passage, once again tells us that losing life – especially in martyrdom – is the sure way to find it forever. Spending our lives for others – even at the cost of our own physical existence – will help to ensure not only our own eternal survival, but the eternal survival and joy of the ones we help to get there with us by our sacrifices.



St. Andrew Kim, and Paul Hasang and all you legitimate Korean Martyrs pray for this globally catastrophic situation – and help to bring it to a peaceful conclusion.



If you are insulted for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of

God rests upon you




Wednesday, September 19, 2018

Sep 19 - Wednesday 24th Week in OT


+ If we begin with the premise that “love is all there is” “it’s all about love” then the readings make sense for today’s mass. And it is right to begin with that premise: because God is Love – God is Creator – therefore everything in existence is a reflection somehow of the God of Love. Jesus is that Wisdom of God, that Love of God made flesh for us and for our salvation.



St. Paul gives that wonderful exposition of real love in the first reading today from his first letter to the Corinthians. He encourages us to model our lives on the attainment of the higher gifts: he goes on to state that we can say and do all kind of truly remarkable and even astonishing things for others – but if these actions do not emanate from true love in our hearts – then we may as well not do them, God will not be pleased with them, and we will find ourselves in disfavor with him when the time comes and we wish we had paid more attention to our motivation and our actions.



No matter if we are the Pope, Cardinals, Bishops, Priests, Deacons, consecrated persons, lay persons: we are obliged, and duty bound the reflect the life of Christ – the Christ of Love – in our daily activities.



Every evening then, when we do the recommended Examen at Compline – which all members of the Church are invited to pray with everyone else – it can be found online at Universalis.com – where we look over all our actions, words, thoughts, and motivations of our hearts – are repentant for those outside the boundaries of love and promise to do better tomorrow.



If many more took the time to do this, especially those bound by vows and promises to do so – would then our actions would be purer, and our lives would be more peace-filled and our world would be a better place.



The Gospel passage finds Jesus berating the people of Israel for not recognizing the Son of Man, who is Son of God, he, himself, Wisdom made flesh – and trying to lock him into legal constraints that do not apply to him.



When others continue to misunderstand us, no matter how much we reflect the presence of the same Christ to them – all we can do is continue to be ourselves, smile and go on doing truly loving works day in and day out!



Accept God’s message for what it really is: God’s message, and not some human thinking.

Tuesday, September 18, 2018

Sep 18 - Tuesday 24th Week in OT


+ The readings for mass today are both informative and comforting. The gospel passage shows Jesus as he is, a man of compassion and love. He restores the life of a widow’s son and give him back to her. What rejoicing must have been in her heart, and what gratitude to God, and to this man Jesus – who she was refrained from recognizing as God’s own Son. It was God the Father who prompted Jesus to do this for her – because he understood sons, and he knew that in the not too distant future his own son would be murdered, just for being his Son, and for doing what a Son of God would do.



Jesus, no doubt at all, can restore to us broken parts of ourselves, broken or even dead relationships, all sorts of hopeless scenes and scenarios, broken relationships with him, where we become the dead son or daughter due to sin.



All we need do is ask him, he is poised and waiting for this act of trust on our part – and he will answer directly and appropriately – though sometimes not in the way we had guessed he would, nor in the timeframe that we had in mind.



The first reading talks about being members of one body – we who are baptized – and so the more we realize that for good or ill we are all connected in some way – it should make it easier for us to pray for one another, and to be willing to enter into life giving, life restoring, regenerative relationships with people – even though we may have to willingly enter into reconciliation processes for this to happen.



With God – all things are possible!

Friday, September 14, 2018

Sep 14 - Exaltation of the Holy Cross


+ Today we celebrate an enormously necessary and needed focal point that is precisely and exactly what we need in the dual diabolical attack on both country and church. Today we celebrate the Exaltation and Triumph of the Holy Cross of Christ our Savior, Lord and King. My homily resource has this to say about the feast: What are these Christians about, exalting an instrument of torture?

First, we rejoice that something so terrible should have been transformed into a means of redemption for the whole human race.

Second, we remind ourselves of the fact that Christianity is not an abstract
and spiritual religion. It springs from God’s direct intervention in the affairs of the world, a real historical event involving real people and, in the end, a real execution on a real cross. We may theorize and theologize all we like; but all our theorizings and theologizings are nothing without the history on which they are based. Take away that history – take away the Cross – and Christianity is nonsense.

And the central facts of the Cross and the Crucifixion are these: DEATH IS SWALLOWED UP, SIN IN FORGIVEN, THE GATES OF HEAVEN ARE NOW OPEN – AND AN ETERNAL REWARD BEYOND THE COMPRHENSION OF OUR HUMAN MINDS IS AWAITING US – this for certain and for sure.

But, since the world did not end/begin anew and afresh and fulfilled, at the moment of Jesus’ Resurrection for all of us too – it needed to play out for x numbers of years – 2000 years later it is still playing out: but we must remind ourselves now and never forget: as baptized and confirmed members of Christ we are fully armed spiritually to rule over our own minds and bodies and direct them always to what is good, kind, beautiful, helpful, truthful and merciful and Christ-like. The opposite is always an option and many have taken it – even members of the hierarchy of the church from priests to popes: we can side with the opposing force of evil, Satan, and while he waits his final placement in hell forever, he attempts to take as many as he can with him. Don’t be a sucker! Don’t side with him! Don’t side with lies, hatred, violence, sexual deviancies of all kinds, sexual atrocious sins which are also civilly and criminal detestable. SPEAK OUT AGAINST THEM.

THE CROSS TRUMPS EVERYTHING – but since the Second Coming has not occurred yet, we must cooperate in making inspired, informed and Spirit-filled decisions always for the right, the good and the TRUTHFUL – even when it hurts – even when it could cause family rifts, separations, and even violence. Right IS right, and wrong IS wrong, and the first flutterings of a “gut reaction” is telling you which is which. Being politically correct has nothing to do with the Christianity that we purport of espouse.

It is time to cooperate in the demise of the rich and the corrupt, the perverse hypocrites who are our “sainted religious leaders” – it is time to mete out criminal prosecution where true guilt lies, and this goes for political figures who are also called to lead us to the new Kingdom of God – by espousing laws and regulations always akin to supernatural laws of which they are a derivative.

WE MUST KEEP OUR EYES FIXED ON THE INSTURMENT OF OUR SALVATION – THE NEW TREE OF LIFE, LIBERTY AND THE PURSUIT OF ETERNAL HAPPINESS AND YES, EVEN BLISS! GOD BLESS YOU!

Wednesday, September 12, 2018

Sep 12 - Wednesday 23rd Week in OT


+ Once again, an astonishing synchronization of the given daily readings with what is going on all over the place, in the 9/11-sized attack by Satan on the very fabric of the Catholic Church, especially in our country, in the US Presidency, in the Hurricane that is poised to make significant damage to the Southeastern Coast of the US.  

It is time to turn the world upside down – you heard me right – it is time to take what we so erroneously and gullibly take as “truth” and turn it upside down and inside out! It is time for the TRUTH TO SET US FREE.

This is an urgent matter: because in the first reading to the Corinthians St Paul tells them that the world in its present form is passing away. And in a sense, it did, with the historical events that followed for them. But we need to heed the same call to watchfulness because it is quite clear with the above introduction to this homily that nothing will be the same in our Church, our Country or our World. And the historical events that are to come might actually be the final end of the end, and the beginning of the new beginning of heaven and earth: with the True Truth and King of the Universe and all Universes established as Regent King forever: and that would be Jesus Christ.

The Joyful Servants of the Cross has been praying specifically for 13+ years now specifically for the purification and perfection of the Church on earth, and the spiritual transformation of the world into the Kingdom of God in a new heavens and a new earth. I would say that our prayers are being answered. And at this point we recommit ourselves to being instruments of LIGHT, LIFE, HOPE, PEACE, and JOY, come as it will.
Of course, the gospel passage spells it all out dramatically and beautifully: the upside down stuff – we have to start “walking on the ceiling” – where Jesus proclaims rather matter of factly that in the real real world – his world which is our world – it is the poor who are rich, the hungry who will be satisfied, the weeping who will one day laugh, the hated, excluded, insulted, denounced, who will receive an amazing and unimagined reward in heaven our true homeland.

Then he woes the rich now, they will get no consolation later, he woes the full now, for they will go hungry, he woes those who laugh now, for they will grieve and weep, he woes those who are spoken well of now, for they will be spoken ill of, and these for eternity.

Perhaps we are truly at the beginning of the new world to come right now – which means that we need to be awake, ready and prepared for what will come in God’s Wisdom, Love and Providence – he really is in charge and if we just surrender totally to him – he will do everything to get us ready for the awesome final journey across the Bridge (of the Cross of his Son) where the upside down will be turned right side up again – and we will see, hear, smell, touch and taste like we can’t even begin to imagine. I promise!

The entrance fee: STAY ON THE BRIDGE, FOCUS ON THE CROSS OF CHRIST, PRAY UNCEASINGLY, AND CONTINUE DOING GOOD WORKS UNTIL YOUR LAST EARTHLY BREATH.


Tuesday, September 11, 2018

Sep 11 - Tuesday 23rd Week in OT


+ Today we have several things to draw together into one lesson:  and it will be the lesson of truth, right judgment, courage, discipleship and love: this in the face of: a shattered Church and an untrustworthy hypocritical hijacking of its leadership; we have a Presidency of our Great Nation that is teetering on the brink of insanity and dangerous ramifications nationally and internationally; we have the continued national bereavement that we all are engaged in as a result of the terrorist attack on our country 17 years ago today; we have a potentially catastrophic storm bearing down on the Carolina’s and our own state of Virginia – and we have a thousand loose ends and other significant newsworthy stories that cannot be told because of the unprecedented chaos of all of the above.

In the first reading today St. Paul tells the Corinthians that the “spiritual man or woman” are the only ones that can “judge” things “rightly” – because they have dominion and jurisdiction over all things, all law, all management of society. But, not as a rogue, or loose canon. And the jurisdiction of the spiritual man is not limited to earth, but “we will judge angels” – St. Paul states dramatically.

Then Paul goes on to say that “the unjust will not inherit the Kingdom of God.” “Do not be deceived; neither fornicators nor idolaters nor adulterers nor boy prostitutes now sodomites nor thieve nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor robbers will inherit the Kingdom of God.”

If you need to turn away from those things again, St. Paul tells them, then do so – swiftly and heartfeltly – so the Spirit of God may once again fill you and you will see all things rightly!

In the gospel passage Jesus spends the night in mindful communication with his Father – holy prayer – getting ready to choose common ordinary imperfect sinful but men with an inner integrity, drive, ability to focus, ability to be taught – and he names them as Apostles. In doing so he named their successors who are in our midst today.

Throughout the centuries for the most part these men have been true to their mission and call to inner conversion, but some have always been political, self-seeking, self-gratifying bad shepherds who actually prey upon the sheep, especially the young and the vulnerable in their flocks. We have many such shepherds, either directly or implicitly indirectly in place right now – and it is time that we the good hierarchy, the good sheep remove them from office and remove from them their clerical state and even revoke their “sainthood designations.”

And this, as Christians living in the world we must also do to government leaders who grossly and disgracefully mock and denigrate the very office they hold: namely the President of the United States: and with the release today of DC journalist Bob Woodward’s book: “FEAR: Trump in the White House” I pray that swift and decisive action be taken against the man for his own protection and national and international security and peace of mind.

And we remember today the thousands of Americans who had their earthly journey’s cut short by the unspeakable events of this day 17 years ago by those espousing ideologies of the diabolical nature: doing in the name of God what God abhors: the destruction of not only human lives, but human integrity and the ability to govern oneself according to the true will of God.

And as for the storm: we do pray that miraculous events occur throughout the duration: and that people-helping-people: the great face of America – may be present to all involved. Let peace, patience and good judgment prevail – to which we have a right as baptized and devoted disciples of Christ.

God bless you!


Sunday, September 9, 2018

Sep 9 - Sunday 23rd Week in Ordinary TIme


+ Our readings today have to do with at least 4 levels of deafness that can be found in our world. First) There is the absence of the ability to hear, using the human ear, that comes as a defect of birth: sometimes the hearing apparatus is not intact or even present at all and so deafness results; Second) in other cases a person is born hearing, but through some disease or accident, or even the natural process of growing older, he loses the ability to hear - slowly or quickly - sometimes temporarily - sometimes permanently. Third) there is also another kind of inability to hear or deafness that can occur as well, and this is a very real case of psychological deafness: people hear only what they want to hear and tune out the rest, quite conveniently and dare I say easily. And finally) the last kind of deafness is what can be called theological or spiritual deafness: things of God and of the spiritual life somehow are accessed by the inner faculties only slightly, or not at all: this is the saddest and worst kind of all the deafnesses: for it can end in personal eternal loss and separation from God.

Jesus came to our world to repair the third and fourth kinds of deafness: the psychological and the theological/spiritual; while at the same time, not being entirely uninterested in the first and second kinds of inability to physically hear what is going on in the world. And to show his power over all of nature, he did open the ears of the deaf so that they could literally hear; but he would do this only if it would not be the end of the story. What comes after any restoration of healing of any of the four deafnesses is very important: which Jesus demonstrated in the healing of the deaf man in the gospel passage. Once hearing is restored, really and fully restored, one can hear the voice of Jesus speaking (in the variety of ways in which he does indeed speak to us during any given day), and then it is up to the healed person to sing out his praises (literally) and to proclaim the glory of his Father, and by his own words and actions to invite others to join him in sharing his newfound joy!

Our first reading tells us that God indeed comes to be our vindication – to make things right – everything about us (even our hearing) – but this is so that all of us, rich and poor alike (as we hear in the second reading) – on a level playing field – can receive God’s healing and blessing and share with all others the good things we have so undeservedly received.

And so, may we who have heard the words of Jesus clearly at this Mass experience a deeper opening of our theological / spiritual ears and thus have even more to sing about, give God the glory about and reason to invite all we meet to become one with us in God’s never-ending praise and worship!

Praise the Lord, my soul!


Saturday, September 8, 2018

Sep 8 - Saturday 22nd Week in OT


+ Today we celebrate the nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, a feast originating somewhere between the fourth and the seventh centuries. We know next to nothing about the events surrounding this noteworthy event. It is only through the apocryphal Gospel of James that we know something about Sts. Joachim and Anne, her parents and about the fact that they had a girl-child whom they named Mary, whom they presented to the Lord in the Temple, thus dedicating her to God for life.

And so even though the details are sketchy, this only adds to the mystique that we have about Mary as a pure, humble, out-of-the-limelight maiden of Nazareth. She is not the key figure in all of human history: her future son would be that: Jesus Christ, who would be Son of God and Son of Man through her own humanity.

The first reading today talks of those who are predestined to experience the fullness of God’s grace: Mary certainly was that, from the first moment of her existence she was full of grace: the grace that was to be reestablished by Christ her son; and so Mary, then, was the first to “resemble Jesus her son” to the point that God delighted in her as a true daughter, in Christ.

We rejoice with Mary on her birthday today and ask her to pray for us constantly so that we may resemble not only Jesus her son (to the delight of God the Father) in his gentle, patient, compassionate nature; but also her, in her humility, poverty and obedience.

A concluding note would be this: Mary is not only Mother Jesus, she is also Mother of the Church – meaning she is our mother as well. It is preeminently clear that the Church of her Son is under attack from Satan in a way that the church hasn’t seen in a thousand years – the most scandalous part about this unfolding drama is that the sexual abuse by clergy is only part of the problem – another great part is clericalism – the sense of entitlement – the sense of greatness – the sense of superiority – the sense of “power over other human beings – especially the young and the vulnerable children - that Jesus railed against in the scene with James and John and their mother, and when discussing who will be greatest in the kingdom with the 12!

Yes, through the help of Mary our Mother, who is Queen Mother of the King of the Universe whose eyes are flashing now with unspeakable depths of fury and anger – it is time to take up the Rosary – and to help in the purification and perfection of the Church here – so she will be spotless and without blemish when Christ shall come again in glory!

Mary, you are the Dawn, and Christ your Son is the Perfect Day!



Friday, September 7, 2018

Sep 7 - Friday 22nd Week in OT


+ Our readings today challenge us to wake up to the facts that lie before us, to reflect on them, pray about them and then act in fulfilling the will of God regarding them, and not our own wills. In the gospel passage Jesus tells us that the culture in which the Church resides must be taken into account in the Proclamation of the Good News, and its understanding of how the same people who live in the world, are the ones who sit in the pews!

Regarding this Jesus tells the disciples that “new wine must be poured into fresh skins, or else the new wine will burst the skins, and it will be spilled, and the skins will be ruined.”

If the Catholic Church in America and all over the world is to survive it needs a makeover of the elements in it that can be made over – not the Doctrine and Dogma – but the systemic organization of its offices and bureaucracies and its procedures and policies. And in the light of the current raging maelstrom that is going on regarding the infiltration of a homosexual agenda into the fabric of the Church with the sole purpose to destroy her from within – unless the new truths of a more enlightened understanding of human psychology and biology are integrated into the recruiting and vocational operations of the Church – including a revamping of the entire seminary system – the Church will become all but destroyed – with only a small remnant left to carry on.

St. Paul tells the Corinthians in the first reading that the hierarchy are meant to be servants of Christ and stewards of his mysteries – and that they are to be trustworthy. The good and holy and faithful majority of priests and bishops in the country and the world fit into this category. They are trustworthy servants of their Lord and Savior, their Rock and their Fortress. We thank them and pray for their welfare in these dark days of suspicion, and the beginnings of paranoia. For many, at all levels are not trustworthy, not really interested in preserving the Church’s dignity, and ought to resign their position and take their place with the “bad shepherds” spoken of in the Scriptures.  

And so, may the Holy Angels of God, ranks upon ranks, led by Michael, Archangel and Defender of Truth fill us all today with the weapons of faith, and hope and love – prayer, worship and action – so that we can be warriors for Christ – in a scenario that we cannot avoid – but which will be resolved soon – with the help of God and the Mother of Jesus!

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


Wednesday, September 5, 2018

Sep 5 - Wednesday 22nd Week in OT


+ Today we have two magnificent readings in their simplicity, clarity and “do-ability”! In the first reading St. Paul prays that the Corinthians get it into their minds and hearts “what is what” and “what really matters” – and the what and the what are GOD: Three in One – a living dynamo of LOVE and LIGHT who shares his Love and Light with those who are being human.

When we see the baptized Christian life as God’s investment in his own grand scheme of building a magnificent Kingdom of Love, Light, Justice, Peace, Wholeness, Well-being, Joy and Bliss – then we ought to be able to see our own privileged, special and unworthy participation in it as something that requires duties and responsibilities on our part.

The Church – the Sacramental and Teaching Authority – given by Christ Jesus Himself to his Apostles and their successors is to be the vehicle and the one vehicle only of GOD’S SALVIFIC AND REDEMPTIVE WORK among his people and in the world he invites to become his people. The ministers of God – any ministers of God – are exactly that “useless slaves” to his will and way!

It is all about God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit – for us and for our salvation!

The administration and current slate of Apostolic descendants and their helpers – need to take a long serious look at their motivations, their agendas and their plans – for if they are not entirely GOD’S – then they are in error. This goes without says to all of the bad shepherds who took advantage of their Sacred Roles and squandered the precious gift of trust and childlike confidence that God’s flock placed in them. Shame on them.

The time is now for accountability, visibility and change. Something is radically wrong in the entire “vocation recruitment system.” This is entirely where the fault lies. If this cancer infects the entire church universal in some way shape or form – then it is the recruitment and seminary system that begets this abomination and proclamation of a homosexual agenda – and then it is more silenced and sadly permeates every echelon of the operational hierarchy. And so it’s time to clean house – Rosary in hand – to clean house – with prayers to the warrior angels and saints – to clean house – with love in our hearts for the Church – with prayers to St. Joseph. Guardian and Protector of the Church – to clean house until it shines anew!

As Jesus proclaims in the gospel passage – “I must go to other cities and nations too – I must announce the arrival of the Kingdom in their midst – and that would be me! And now he calls true and faithful disciples and ministers to help him with a pure and giving heart! That includes us!

Happy the people the Lord has chosen to be his own!  


Tuesday, September 4, 2018

Sep 4 - Tuesday 22nd Week in OT


+ We have a wonderful first reading today from the First Letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians. It reveals a lot of truths that are essential to us being human as we are. Truth: the Holy Spirit of God scrutinizes everything – even the depths of God the Father! And participating in the life of God – as each person does – his inner spirit tells him what is what, too – on the natural level. But for those who receive the gift of God in Baptism the Spirit of God rebirths the person and flood his soul with the life of Grace, the life of Light, the life of Love – and the person knows his life is no longer his own: but that he is here to build up, care for, interact constructively with all those who enter his path each day!

So while the natural man has a natural conscience, the supernatural man has a supernatural conscience. The natural man – the worldly man – can only make sense of what is natural and cannot understand the supernatural man – the baptized supernatural man, woman, child can understand and judge the natural and the supernatural: he can plummet into the very heart of God – and find everything, everything worthwhile.

And so, we need to pray for an increase in understanding of the supernatural powers, duties and responsibilities that come with our baptisms and confirmations – especially when things start to go haywire, both internally and externally. We need to stay tuned into the authoritative voice of Jesus each and every day through some kind of spiritual reading or study – especially with online books, and audio formats – there is no excuse not to delve deeply into a factual study about what we think we know – perhaps we don’t know as much as we thought we knew – or our perspective has been outdated and upgraded and we didn’t even know it!

Jesus is still the great prophet who has arisen in our midst – and he can steer us through ANY DIFFICULTY no matter the size or shape, both personally, and in our families, and in our society in which we live. We just have to stay connected with him.

Let you faithful ones discourse of the glory of your Kingdom and speak of your might!


Monday, September 3, 2018

Sep 3 - St. Gregory the Great


+ Gregory the Great born in 540 was son of Gordianus, a Roman officer, and was related to three saints and a Pope who was also a saint. He was educated by the finest teachers in Rome, and then became prefect of Rome for a year, but then he sold his possessions, turned his home into a Benedictine monastery and used his money to build six monasteries in Sicily and one in Rome. He himself became a Benedictine monk. Upon seeing English children being sold in the Roman Forum, he became a missionary to England. On this date, September 3, 590, he became the first monk to be chosen Pope. This was done by unanimous acclamation.

He then sent a monk named Augustine and others to evangelize England; he also sent other missionaries to France, Spain and Africa. He had a love of sacred music and collected the melodies and plain chant so associated with him that they are now known as Gregorian chants. He did extensive writing on the Mass and the Divine Office; he wrote especially about the role of the bishop as a servant; he is the first to use the term for the pope being called “the servant of the servants of God.” He died March 12, 604 at Rome of natural causes. He is one of the four original Doctors of the Latin Church, and the first Pope to be named “Great.”

If you asked Gregory his motivation for all his works he would tell you that it was love of God and of his people; he would tell you that any success he had as preacher, teacher, writer was the work of God and not his own; he would tell you that he was but an “instrument of light,” the light of Christ shining on the world so desperately in need of it. And of course, he would tell you that, just as Jesus came to serve, to be a slave of all for their salvation – so should be our role with one another, but especially those who seek roles of greatness as leaders in the Christian community: success here means, self-abnegating, self-sacrificial service for the sake of God and his kingdom. It is not what the world would consider fashionable; but it is what God would consider praiseworthy – and that which really counts?

May we pray today that so many of our own errant, negligent and criminally accountable clergy, in both the ranks of bishops, priests and the pope himself – might examine their consciences today in the life, love and legacy of St. Gregory the Great! and then do the right thing!

Proclaim God’s marvelous deeds to all the nations.


Sunday, September 2, 2018

Sep 2 - Sunday 22nd Week in OT


+ Our readings today have to do with “being smart!” In our world, in our day, in our age there seems to be no shortage of “smarts!” Now, probably more than ever, so many people are virtually and remarkably “expert” in a wide variety of topics. No doubt the “search engine of the ages: Google” has contributed to this glut of information. To some degree it is very handy and comforting to know that all kinds of facts and figures, definitions and recommendations are only a click away!

But, at the same time that this torrent of information is now available, there is a very unsettling prospect that incomplete and inaccurate information may abound, and information about what really counts, what really matters, what really is going to contribute to our eternal salvation (which ought to be the first priority of every one of us) is sliding down the priority ladder to a dangerously low level. And even the information that we can get about “eternal salvation” by “Googling it” could have very little real accuracy to it, proper context, or spiritual healthy recommendations from it!

And so the vague idea that “God has something important to tell us” gets drowned out by a great load of pointless, useless and even harmful information. But isn’t that really one of the main reasons we come to church: to hear something different, something more on-track, something more truth-sounding!  In fact, if we take a look at our readings today, we see that people have been scanning the news for what they want to hear, rejecting what they don’t like and filing the remainder in a cabinet in the back of the room for ages unending! The people of Israel, for example, knew very well what God expected of them – he was very explicit in dictating his commandments on stone – “the latest form of email” that he could employ at the time; and he told them “do not edit this text at all” – leave it “as is” and you will enjoy my favor, my help and my protection. But as we will see, the people thought they were “smarter than God,” and they edited the text quite a bit, they added a few things here and there, and finally by the time Jesus arrived – the law was so modified and edited that it was hardly recognizable!

 In the gospel passage Jesus –bringing up the whole matter in the context of simple discussion about table ablutions – makes clear how far off the mark the people of God had gotten – thinking that impurity comes into a man from the outside – he tells them emphatically that what defiles comes from within a man, from his heart, such as evil thoughts, unchastity, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, licentiousness, envy, blasphemy, arrogance and folly! No question about it! Jesus hits the nail on the head! And the Jews are put in their place! And he also puts our day and age in our place as well – especially as all kind of truths and untruths swirl regarding the hard to fathom in any case goings on in the government of our country and the leadership of the church.

What is critically important at this juncture of fact and fiction is to SEEK THE TRUTH! SEEK THE AUTHENTIC! SEEK THE GENUINE! SEEK THE REAL: and that would be JESUS CHRIST. Through, with and in Him, we shall arrive at conclusions and solutions as to what needs to be done to regain, restrengthen and renew these critically damaged institutions and anchors of our life.

For us Catholics we have been torpedoed on the two very foundational securities and mainstays.

PRAYER FIRST! Prayer of worship, prayer of Liturgy of the Hours, and LET US TAKE IT UP AGAIN: PRAYER OF THE ROSARY! this will keep our focus exactly where it needs to be – and there will be a happy ending for all the willing to participate in.

We are called upon today by St. James to be, then, as Mary was called, to be doers of God’s word and will – just as he gave it, initially in the commandments, expanding it in the Sermon on the Mount and the Golden Rule – leaving it alone after that - and then all will be well – truth, justice and charity will abide in the land and in our hearts and we will really be smart people in the way that counts: the spiritual way that affects everything we do in the material world!

Such is your life, such is your vocation, O child of God! You are called today to be co-creator and co-redeemer with Christ – of the very world in which you live!


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...