Aug 13 - 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time

+ This gospel passage always seems to surprise us: why would God-shalom, the God of Peace, say he has come not for peace but rather for division – to “stir things up,” using the language of Pope Francis. Well, that is exactly the point: in order for the people of God to break away from the mold of slavery that they insist on keeping themselves entrapped in, Jesus says: “Come on, let’s get with it! I wish that the purifying and purging power and fire of the Holy Spirit were blazing all over the earth. But I know that this cannot happen until I experience the fire of my Passion and Death for you people who are so loved by God.”

 

And so in the passage he is just inferring that there will be a lot of “stirring up” among family, friends, and co-workers, and school-mates!” Those who allow themselves to be “touched by God’s Spirit” – to be “set on fire” with Truth, and Love, and a Desire to Serve People – for no other reason than because they love God - will distance themselves from everyone else – and then the conflicts will begin. But it at this point that we must recall the other side of the coin: that the end result will be peace, real peace, the peace that Christ alone can bring and the world cannot give. If we keep our sights on that fact: then all the bickering and arguing and debating that will ensue will all be worth it!

 

In the second reading St Paul calls the goal-focusing: “keeping our eyes on the finishing line of the race of faith that we are running” – where Jesus is waiting to welcome us and reward us with a crown of glory!

 We are fortunate in our country that not many of us have to pay the ultimate price for witnessing to this faith, (but might I add “yet” – but a time of great spiritual turmoil and witness will be forthcoming),  but we are called upon to do it in maybe lesser but just as significant ways on a smaller scale: staying in there and rubbing shoulders with the ignorant and the overly educated, and poor and the reprobates who “just don’t seem to appreciate that we are trying to keep them on the One True Path, when they are obviously going astray),” is a martyrdom all its own.

 

God saved Jeremiah (of the first reading) from his narrow escapes with death many times – he will do the same for us: if we trust – and just do what he says, when he says it!

 

Amen! 

Aug 7 - 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time

+ Our gospel passage today is a continuation of last week’s passage about “storing up treasure!” The man in last week’s story that Jesus told, piled up his treasure in earthly storage bins, very large ones – thus thinking himself well-off, safe and “in good shape” for years to come. But God demanded his life that very night, asking – so now, you foolish man, who is all of this stored up wealth going to go to? The point was that we need to make our treasure where it matters most to God – and that is with him!

 

Today the theme continues: do not be afraid little flock, for your Father is pleased to give you the kingdom – what an amazing treasure that is! Place your heart here, in mine, he says and your treasure will be secure not only through this life, but well into the next! No thief can reach it here, or moth destroy; the storage containers cannot wear out here!

 

“The one condition, however, to place your treasure here, in my heart, is complete and total detachment from the things of the world, so that you will have to live on complete and total trust in me: this trust is called faith: the faith of Abraham (of the second reading today). Abraham lives in my heart, and so can you!” [This does not mean that you cannot own things, but they must not own you, and you must be ready to give them up at a moment’s notice – to drop it all when the Lord calls you – (which as our gospel passage tells us can be any time at all) - so that you can reach out for your treasure with open hands and hearts in heaven! Closed fists clawing on material goods will not get anyone anywhere when the Bridegroom comes knocking on the door!]

 

God, you have chosen us to be your own possession, your own people, your own children! We are fortunate beyond all imagining having you as our Father! May we this day, and the days of the coming week: open our hands and our hearts and set our goal on seeing your Face one day, fix it there, keep it there – keep this desire above all other desires – so that we may not have anything at all to fear – in this life - or when the next one begins! And it would be remiss not to relate what the latest and current legitimate prophets and prophecies are telling – the time for the unveiling of the new creation, the new heavens and the new earth may be soon indeed!

 

I would also be remiss if I did not mention the very latest Eucharistic Miracle – a miracle regarding the Consecrated Host at Mass – on July 24, in Guadalajara Mexico, a large consecrated host display in a monstrance during Eucharistic Adoration began to visibly beat and show itself as a regular cardiac event of the left ventricle of the heart pumping blood out to the rest of a Body, His Bruised, Beaten and Traumatized heart as He hung from the Cross FOR US, AND FOR OUR SALVATION! And when we see Jesus we see the Father, and so if we see the living bread come down from heaven with a visibly beating heart, then we are also seeing the Father’s heart that was mentioned our readings today! And as we begin a 3 year study of what the Eucharist is all about, in all our Catholic churches throughout the world – perhaps, just perhaps, God set this dramatic and sublime miracle in play to GET OUR ATTENTION, TO TURN US AWAY FROM OURSELVES, WITH ALL OUR PREOCCUPATIONS WITH SELF, and TO TURN TO HIM – WHO IS OUR SALVATION – what would profit a person to be a self-centered, big-deal in this life, if he forfeits eternal life and happiness just because he did not activate the gift of faith that is given to everyone.

 

So when receiving the Eucharist today know exactly who, and what it is you are receiving and how much he loves YOU!! YOU!! YOU!! And wants his heart to literally beat inches from his, when you eat and when you swallow!

 

Praised be JESUS CHRIST, NOW AND FOREVER!

 

May your kindness, O Lord, be upon us who have put our hope in you!

Aug 1 - St. Alphonsus Liguori

+ One of the most holy bishops and doctors of the Western Church, St Alphonsus Liguori was born to nobility and its capricious lifestyle, but early in his adulthood he turned away from it and to religious life. A child prodigy, Alphonsus was extremely well educated, receiving doctorates in canon and civil law from the University of Naples by age 16. He had his own legal practice by age 21. He loved music and could play the harpsichord. He declined an arranged marriage, studied theology and was ordained a priest at age 29.

 

 Father Alphonsus was preacher and a home missioner around Naples, noted for his simple, clear, direct style of preaching and his gentle, understanding way in the confessional. He wrote on asceticism, theology and history; he was a master theologian. In 1732, Fr. Alphonsus founded the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer (Liguorians; Redemptorists) at Scala, Italy. (This, two years after founding a similar order for women).

 

It is no surprise that he was appointed bishop (diocese of Sant’Agata de’ Goti, Italy), by Pope Clement XIII in 1762. He worked there to reform the clergy and revitalize the faithful in a diocese with a bad reputation. He was afflicted with severe rheumatism, and often could barely move or raise his chin from his chest. In 1775 he resigned his see due to ill health, and went into what he thought would be a prayerful retirement. But there was a political issue with the royal government which claimed that the Redemptorists were covertly carrying on the work of the Jesuits who had been suppressed in 1773. Calling on his knowledge of the Congregation, his background in theology, and his skills as a lawyer, Alphonsus defended the Redemptorists so well that they obtained the king’s approval. Bishop Alphonsus lived to be 90 years old and now nearly blind knew that he had done what he vowed to do – never to waste a moment in working for God and his Church.

 

The gospel passage today talks about what happens to salt when it loses it flavor, it is good for nothing but to be trampled underfoot: St. Alphonsus in a way used this imagery to deal with a worldly minded priest, who resisted all attempts to change: ‘he summoned the priest to his study, and when the priest arrived he found a large crucifix laid on the threshold. When the priest hesitated to step in, Alphonsus quietly said “Come along, and be sure to trample it underfoot. It would not be the first time you have placed Our Lord beneath your feet.”

 

It seems at this day in our age of human history that many of the faithful who live and work in the social systems, societies of our day, in the secular realms, including the political and governing associations and the spiritual, the bishops, priests and other ministers have likewise, most in their extreme lackadaisical attitude – turn their backs on their consciences, thereby, disgracing their baptisms, confirmations and ordinations, thus trampling underfoot all the Christ Jesus did for our salvation – denying ordinary folks across the globe of the hope and daily sustenance that they need in mind, body, spirit.

 

Through the intercession of St. Alphonsus Liguori, let us pick up a copy of his stations of the cross – google it – and let us marvel at the love that God and Jesus had for us when we were yet still his enemies, and who are still his enemies on many fronts.

 

Dear friends, the world order is collapsing, the effectiveness of the One Church of God is disintegrating, we ourselves faces losses and changes that are irreversible – where is our hope, where is our refuge, where is our peace. IT IS IN THE IMAGE AND REALITY OF CHRIST CRUCIFIED! For God’s sake, for the sake of others, for our own sakes LET US LOOK UP TO IT AND LIVE!!!

 

St. Alphonsus Liguori died on August 1, 1787 at Norcera, Italy of natural causes and for his many writings and great spiritual classics (including his Stations of the Cross that became popular to Catholics everywhere in the 20^th century) he was declared Doctor of the Church by Pope Pius IX in 1871.

 

Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.