Jan 28 - St. Thomas Aquinas

+ Today we celebrate the feast of St. Thomas Aquinas, “The Angelic Doctor,” one of the most influential theologians in all of Church history. He was born, son of the Count of Aquino, near Naples, Italy. He was educated by Benedictine monks at Monte Cassino and at the University of Naples. He secretly joined the mendicant Dominican friars in 1244. His family kidnapped and imprisoned him for a year to keep him out of sight, and to de-program him, but he escaped imprisonment and rejoined his order in 1245. He then studied in Paris under St. Albert the Great, who sang the praises of his bright, young student: the lowing of this dumb ox would be heard all over the world.

Thomas was ordained a priest in 1250, and then returned to Paris to teach theology at the University of Paris. He wrote defenses of the mendicant orders, commentaries on Aristotle and some bible-related works, usually by dictating to secretaries. He won his doctorate and taught in several Italian cities. He was always in demand for his intellectual prowess, and spiritual insight which he combined in his most classic and famous work: The Synthesis of Theology, or as we know it: The Summa Theologica. In all of his research, writing and teaching, however, Thomas was one of the first to show how faith and reason could be complementary to one another, and how anyone at all – Christian, Jewish, or pagan – could contribute in the final analysis of a given topic so long as they were authentically searching for and in touch with truth in its objective state. 

On the 6^th of December 1273, Thomas experienced a divine revelation which so enraptured him that he abandoned the Summa (before finishing it), saying that it and his other writing were so much straw in the wind compared to the reality of the divine glory. He died four months later while en route to the Council of Lyons, overweight and with his health broken by overwork.

Because of his penchant to include all sources – sacred and profane – in the search for truth – several bishops condemned some of Thomas’s works shortly after his death, but Pope John XXII, who must have had a deep appreciation for them, canonized Thomas less than fifty years after his death in 1274. Pope Leo VIII commanded that his teaching be studied by all theology students from then on. He was proclaimed a Doctor of the Church in 1567.

St. Thomas Aquinas understood the readings for Mass today: wisdom is an enormously valuable treasure that must be prayed for and then protected and guarded at all costs: the secrets of God lie in wisdom; the gospel passage reflects, no doubt, Thomas’s humility in knowing that even though he was regarded as a teacher extraordinaire, he paled in comparison with the glory of Christ the Teacher and Master of which his light was but a flicker!

May we never tire of praying for wisdom, and then working to preserve its fruit once it arrives. May study of the things of God be part of our daily routine, our daily bread.

Lord, teach me your statutes for I am open of mind and generous of heart, and ready to be taught.

Jan 27 - St. Angela Merici

+ Today we celebrate the venerated foundress of the Ursuline Sisters, St Angela Merici, born March 21, 1474 at Lake Garda, Italy. Angela was a Franciscan tertiary at age 15, and at that time she received a vision telling her she would inspire devout women in their vocation. In Crete, during a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, she was struck blind. Her friends wanted to return home, but she insisted on going on, visiting the shrines with as much devotion and enthusiasm as if she had her sight. On the way home, while praying before a crucifix, her sight was restored at the same place where it had been lost.

In 1535 she gathered a group of girl students and began what would become the Institute of Saint Ursula (to whom she had great devotion – Ursula being a 5^th century virgin martyr), founded to teach children, beginning with religion and later expanding into secular topics. Angela died January 24, 1540 at Brescia, Italy, her relics are in the church of Saint Afra, in Brescia and her body is incorrupt. She was canonized May 24, 1807 by Pope Pius VII.

Though associated strongly with education, her patronage is against bodily ills, illness, sickness, death of parents, and disabled, handicapped and physically challenged people: sick people in general. Thus, through her intercessory power she can still be an “Angel of Mercy” to a great many people!

Our readings today fit the feast: St Peter reminds us to love one another intensely, and show great hospitality, giving to one another because we ourselves have been gifted with heavenly gifts: may all our work be of service to the Lord in building up his people, each according to his or her talent and ability; the gospel passage reminds us that children are not just to be taught with great loving care and devotion, but that they also have something very valuable to teach us: the innocence, the trust, and the total abandon that we each must have in our relationship with God our Father in heaven who has so many things to give us if we just approach him as a true child.

And so we pray today for all of those who bear the name Angela and who are “angelic in their demeanor”, and for the Ursuline Sisters who still in many parts of the world, including our own country, teach the young, and model the virtues of life as a religious whose founder’s motto was always to do in life what you would have wanted to do in death.

Young men and women, praise the name of the Lord.

Jan 25 - The Conversion of St. Paul

+ St. Paul, who was named Saul at his circumcision, was born at Tarsus, the capital of Cilicia, and was by privilege a Roman citizen, making him eligible for great distinction and several exemptions granted by the laws of the empire. At a young age he was instructed in the strict observance of the Mosaic Law and lived up to it in the most scrupulous manner. In his zeal for the Jewish law, he became an aggressive persecutor of the Christians.

Saul was involved in the martyrdom of St. Stephen, by his presence at the scene and his unwillingness to intervene to stop it, this was the beginning of the persecution of Christians. By virtue of the power he had received from the high priest, he dragged the Christians out of their houses, loaded them down with chains and threw them into prison. On his way to Damascus to seize Christians and bring them bound to Jerusalem he and his party were surrounded by a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, and suddenly struck to the ground.

And then a voice was heard saying:” Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” He replied: “Who are you, Lord?” and the voice replied, “I am Jesus whom you are persecuting.” This comparatively mild reprimand by Jesus, along with a powerful flood of interior grace, transformed Saul’s pride, curtailed his rage, and brought about a total change in him. Saul then cried out: “Lord, what will You have me do?” Our Lord ordered him to arise and to proceed on his way to the city, where he should be informed of what was expected from him.

What happened after that we all know about: he was cured of his physical blindness by a holy man named Ananias: who laid his hands on him and said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on your journey, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” Saul then arose and was baptized; he stayed a few days at Damascus and began immediately to preach in the synagogues that Jesus was the Son of God. Thus a blasphemer and a persecutor was made an apostle, and chosen as one of God’s principal instruments in the conversion of the whole world.

This feast is all about the truly awesome power of God’s grace to bring about what he Himself ordains: it tells us as well that it is our part simply to cooperate with the movement of God, be filled with his Spirit and willing to proclaim this Good News everywhere and at all times.

Then Paul said: God was merciful to me, because in my unbelief I acted in ignorance. The abundant grace of our Lord was poured out on me, and gave me the faith and love which are ours through union with Christ Jesus.

Praise the Lord, all you nations.

Jan 23 - 2nd Week in OT - Thursday

+ Our readings today have to do with the nature of human relationships on the one hand and God’s power over the kind of relationship posed by a sick relative.

In the first instance we see young David returning to his hometown after killing the Philistine with his sling shot! Saul, the king is furious with him, because David did what Saul was unable to do: everyone was singing David’s praises and Saul didn’t like that one bit. So we have the emotions of envy and anger, rage really. Then, as a subplot we have Saul’s son Jonathan becoming very fond of David, in a relationship of true admiration, loyalty and friendship: in fact a model relationship between two men that must not be misconstrued as a homosexual relationship, but a homosocial relationship YES, very much so. This type of friendship between two men or two women for that matter is in a sense modeled after Jesus’ own relationship of friendship that he wants to have with everyone: men or women!

And so, Jonathan tips David off that Saul wants to kill him and being a good friend who would do anything for David, even going up against his own father, he arranges for David to escape and hide! Sounds familiar in so many ways, sounds like the plot of countless television shows and movies – but real life is always better than Hollywood!

In the gospel passage, I would like to focus in a not so often chosen direction and talk a bit about the relatives of a sick person: a sick person who presents himself, herself to Jesus when he enters a town – after word spreads that he heals diseases and conditions of every kind. The relationship of compassion is of course extended to the sick person, but how about the presenter, in many of these cases, the caregiver, the husband, the wife, the mother, the father who have been under a great deal of stress in their own lives dealing with a person who in many cases just doesn’t seem to get any better, and in many cases, simply dies. So, we must remember that Jesus is also healing the stressed relationship that exists always in the family of a person who is sick! All are healed when the sick are cured, and the dead are raised!

Just think of the how it is when we care for a loved one who is ill or hospitalized, and how relieved we are when they get better!

Today would be a good day then to pray for the healing of all kinds of relationships: the invisible kind: like in the first reading, the jealousies, envy, anger, rage, intimacy and love of friendship that affect the course of lives; and in the gospel passage, the visible and invisible healings of emotions of worry, care, hope and love of family and friends.

In God we trust, we shall not fear that everything will not turn out well in the long run, and many times in the short run!

Jan 20 - 2nd Week in OT - Monday

+ In our first reading series, we see today from the Book of Samuel, that newly installed King Saul has already fallen out of favor with God; he defeated the Amalekites, but then his men stole the spoil of sheep and oxen, the best of what had been banned, with the excuse of wanting to offer them in sacrifice to the Lord in Gilgal. God, through Samuel, told this errant people that he desires obedience rather than sacrifice, obedience to his will in all things, even the small details.

In the gospel passage we see another example of obedience to a law: this time the law of fasting. It seems that John the Baptist’s and the Pharisees’ disciples did the accustomed ritual fasting, while Jesus’ disciples did not do this on a regular basis. Jesus intervenes in this case however, being the law, and does in fact excuse his disciples from the ordinary discipline because they are in the presence of greatness, the bounty of the Lord – and they need to be able to take in as much of him as they can, in newer and deeper ways daily, so that one day his example of self-sacrifice would make better sense to them, and be an example to them afterwards, that to really be in touch with him from then on, periods of fasting would definitely then be expected.

May we today receive newer and deeper understandings of God’s will and ways – obediently -- the ways of self-giving and sacrifice – so that we may be pleasing to the Lord when the gates of the great heavenly hall are opened and the wedding feast of the Lamb begins, and all fasting and preliminary disciplining shall have ended.

To the upright I will show the saving power of God.

Jan 19 - 2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

+ The Christmas Season has come and gone, and now we summarize in one thought what has happened: an amazingly “wondrous exchange” has occurred: the Word of God (existing forever with God) takes on our sinful nature, so that he can redeem us and make us divine and sharers in his life forever! We could spend the rest of our lives meditating on that one sentence!

To help us in that meditation, the Church sets forth in the “green” Sundays of the year, the entire story of that exchange: what it cost, who it affected, how it was accomplished and how we can get plugged into it. This we will do in succeeding Sundays this coming liturgical year, no less than any other. But maybe this year: asking now God’s grace and blessings, we can come into a deeper insight of what is going on here: maybe we can open ourselves more, to receive more: our minds and our hearts: rid them from obstacles of sin and worldly distractions: and allow ourselves to be ministered to by Jesus, chosen to be the Light not only of our world, but of the whole world, to all nations everywhere.

May the Blessed Trinity bless you now with a deep desire to know each Person of Itself more clearly, so you can love them more dearly and serve them more generously – and one day find your reward with all the holy ones who have gone before you.

The Word of God became flesh and dwelt among us. To those who accepted him, he gave power to become children of God – forever!

God bless you

Jan 16 - 1st Week in OT - Thursday

+ We must note – in the first reading today from the Letter to the Hebrews - that it is the Holy Spirit speaking who says: “Oh, that today you would hear his voice – harden not your hearts as in the past – or bad consequences will follow for you.” The warning from God is true, this warning from God is real. We must untangle ourselves from an evil past, to whatever extent we may have wittingly or unwittingly taken part it it, and live honorably, live justly, live uprightly, live lovingly in daylight now – this day!- for “this day” is all we’ve got!  An evil, sinful heart has no place with us on any day!

The gospel passage shows Jesus dealing with physical leprosy – which he easily cures – while inferring that there might be a spiritual kind of leprosy – brought on by a sinful heart (a heart that seeks to pamper and nurture itself, a heart that has lost or is losing the ability to truly reach out and care for another) – the same remedy recommended as in the first reading: “encourage yourselves to living in God’s Presence each day, while it is day” – harden not your hearts to the good things that God wishes to do for you – including healings of many kinds and sorts. You are called to be his instrument for the recreation of others – let is be so for you.

And more than this, we must remember that we are so very precious to God, each and every one of us – we must not forget this, even for a single instant.

Jesus preached the Gospel of the Kingdom and cured every disease among the people.

Jan 15 - 1st Week in OT - Wednesday

­­+ Today we continue the important reading about Samuel, the son of Hannah’s old age – in it we see set up the grand paradigm of right relation to God as his instrument, as his ambassador. The right relation in question is the attitude and active intent of “listening to the voice of God speaking, listening as his servant” – him who is the Master Artist, Designer and Architect of, well, everything, and everyone. Wouldn’t you rather respond to the promptings of one who has implanted in you a “listening device,” much like TV anchor persons has the ear piece connecting them to their control room producers and directors, advising them of what’s next on the agenda of the show.

The device is really there, it is called “conscience” – it is called the “seat of wisdom” – it is called right reasoning – it is called humility – knowing that we do not know where we are going, really, and so we need someone in the control room providing boundaries and encouragements so that we go the way he intends, so that all works out well for all involved in the day he has planned for you and the others involved in your life in some way.

And so we have Samuel asleep who hears the voice of God calling him: “Samuel, Samuel!” Samuel does not know what is going on, so he goes and asks his mentor: the first two times Eli the mentor, just tells him to go back to sleep – but the third time – there is always a third, confirming, time, he tells Samuel to say the classic words: “Speak, Lord, your servant is listening!” And the rest, as they say is history. Samuel is launched into the best and greatest adventure of his life, by giving up the driver’s seat of the vehicle of his life; and God now has a truly willing collaborator, friend and servant to do his bidding so that a great many people can be put on the right track to heaven.

Needless to say, “Speak, Lord, your servant is listening!” is a great way to launch yourself into your day, as soon as you become conscious in your bed – a great way indeed. What an adventure you will be a part of in the next 18 hours.

The gospel passage is related to all this in some way: Jesus is seen moving and not lingering, from one town to another – “speaking loudly to people of God’s compassionate and forgiving love and care.” He speaks both using words, and the actions of miracles. To those who “LISTEN and RESPOND” great things begin happening in their lives, to those who don’t, can’t or won’t – well, it will take a bit longer to get their attention. But we pray, that one day all will be stung by the words, works, of Jesus – and begin freely to take in what he says, and does, and allow it to make a critical, real and awesome difference in their lives, and the lives of those who touch theirs.

My sheep hear my voice, says the Lord. I know them, and they follow me.   

Jan 13 - St. Hilary of Poitiers

+ Our first reading today reminds us that we ought not speak on our own as Catholic Christians – but as called by God to speak, as Samuel was. We, of ourselves, have nothing to say that would truly benefit anyone in the long run, if it were not from God. And who is there who would not want to be listening to the voice of God speaking, if there was a choice.

St, Hilary of Poitiers knew the great value of this lesson in that speaking of Jesus as anything other than what the Church proclaimed him to be was both nonsense and heresy. The Arian heresy was rampant at this 4^th century time, which was pointless, senseless and heretical to the core.

In the gospel passage, we see Jesus – who was truly divine and human at the same time - indeed as the great healer and restorer to a greater abundance of life than can be imagined (not just to the way things were before) – and eternal life to boot! Amazing! and contrary to any Arian teaching!

St. Hilary the Great wrote a great doctrinal work On the Trinity and governed his diocese with great wisdom. And so today, may we, like him, speak and write as prompted by God - believing in his healing power for all who need it, and look forward to an ever-better life ahead in this New Year.

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

Jan 8 - Wednesday after Epiphany

+ There are a couple of interesting highlights from the readings today. In the first reading, St. John continues his “discourse on LOVE!” He is saying that anyone operating the love dynamic (whose origin IS God), experiences God. This is enormous! But a corollary is also true, once we come to our senses and know this by experience to be true, then two things automatically must follow: we pause if only for a moment, to give thanks to God as a grateful child of his, and then we operate the love dynamic with  as many as we can – by helping them, understanding them listening to them, encouraging them, standing by them in their need, and even just having fun with them – thus making new friends and acquaintances wherever you go – which will prove that the Jesus-love-dynamic works and that to be a member of God’s family we simply have to believe it and use it often.

The gospel passage is a classic: after showing the disciples that he can do anything at all required to help people and to be compassionate to them by feeding 5000 of them with 5 loaves and 2 fish: now the wind was strong that night as the disciples were in the boat going to the other shore – and when Jesus comes walking towards them in the water they proved that they just did not get the magnitude of Jesus / God’s presence that would be available to them from now on – they were fearful and cried out: “It’s a ghost” – to which Jesus replies in so many words: “Relax guys, it’s just me, Jesus”  When he got into the boat the wind died down – and they were just astounded.

The question for us is this: do we “get” the enormity of Jesus’ reality and presence that is available to us in so very many forms each day? especially  when we with his help operate the true and authentic love-dynamic? We have so much more experience with him then the disciples had at this stage in their walk with him. All we need do is simply to pause often during the day – and experience Jesus really and truly present deep within our souls, our hearts, our bodies – the wind and waves of the day will calm down every time – Jesus will get into our boat and we can sail into smoother waters for the rest of the hour or the day!

Glory to you, O Christ, proclaimed to the Gentiles. Glory to you, O Christ, believed in throughout the world. Amen.

Jan 2 - Sts Basil and Gregory

+ This taken from the Office of Readings for the Feast of Sts. Basil and Gregory.

A sermon by St Gregory Nazianzen

Two bodies, but a single spirit

Basil and I were both in Athens. We had come, like streams of a river, from the same source in our native land, had separated from each other in pursuit of learning, and were now united again as if by plan, for God so arranged it.

  I was not alone at that time in my regard for my friend, the great Basil. I knew his irreproachable conduct, and the maturity and wisdom of his conversation. I sought to persuade others, to whom he was less well known, to have the same regard for him. Many fell immediately under his spell, for they had already heard of him by reputation and hearsay.

  What was the outcome? Almost alone of those who had come to Athens to study he was exempted from the customary ceremonies of initiation for he was held in higher honour than his status as a first-year student seemed to warrant.

  Such was the prelude to our friendship, the kindling of that flame that was to bind us together. In this way we began to feel affection for each other. When, in the course of time, we acknowledged our friendship and recognised that our ambition was a life of true wisdom, we became everything to each other: we shared the same lodging, the same table, the same desires the same goal. Our love for each other grew daily warmer and deeper.

  The same hope inspired us: the pursuit of learning. This is an ambition especially subject to envy. Yet between us there was no envy. On the contrary, we made capital out of our rivalry. Our rivalry consisted, not in seeking the first place for oneself but in yielding it to the other, for we each looked on the other’s success as his own.

  We seemed to be two bodies with a single spirit. Though we cannot believe those who claim that everything is contained in everything, yet you must believe that in our case each of us was in the other and with the other.

  Our single object and ambition was virtue, and a life of hope in the blessings that are to come; we wanted to withdraw from this world before we departed from it. With this end in view we ordered our lives and all our actions. We followed the guidance of God’s law and spurred each other on to virtue. If it is not too boastful to say, we found in each other a standard and rule for discerning right from wrong.

  Different men have different names, which they owe to their parents or to themselves, that is, to their own pursuits and achievements. But our great pursuit, the great name we wanted, was to be Christians, to be called Christians.