Jan 23 - St Maryanne Cope OSF

Today we celebrate the feast of St Marianne Cope, whose life was called “a wonderful work of divine grace” by Cardinal Jose Martins at her beatification in Rome in 2005. And a life filled with God’s grace it was.

 

Born on January 23, 1838 in Germany, the girl was named after her mother. The Cope family emigrated to the United States and settled in Utica, New York. Young Barbara began working in a factory, until she went to join the Sisters of the Third Order of St France is Syracuse, New York. After profession she was assigned teaching posts throughout the region. She was later elected provincial of the Order twice.

 

In 1883 the Hawaiian government was searching for someone to work with those suspected of having leprosy. 50 orders throughout the country responded to the call, and 35 sisters from Syracuse volunteered immediately. When they arrived they opened a hospital and a school for girls.

 

She and her sisters later went to work with Fr. Damien de Veuster in his leper colony for men and boys. Never once in all their years working there did any of the sisters ever contract the disease. The sisters of her order still work on Molokai.

 

Mother Marianne died on August 9, 1918, was beatified in 2005 and canonized in 2012. She will be remembered most for her willingness to sacrifice everything for those she was caring for, with unflinching courage, “smiling sweetly through it all.”

 

The readings today tell us of the fuel of her fire to love souls, and sick bodies for love of God – it was her life as a religious, whose entire focus was on Christ, always. She was a bride of Christ, serving her Bridegroom in his weakest members – and now she reigns with Christ to intercede for us and our needs.

 

St. Marianne Cope, pray for us.

Jan 15 - 2nd Sunday of 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 this one sentence!

 

To help us in that meditation, the Church sets forth in the “green” (vestmented)  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, and where is it all leading to. 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: open 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 9 - The Baptism of Jesus

+ The Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, tells us two astounding facts: that Jesus is the Beloved Son of the Father – and that we had better listen to him; and that after we listen, we are invited to respond to what we have heard by becoming incorporated into his very life, by our own baptism, into the Church that he set up for that very purpose, which makes us astoundingly enough, not only members of his very own Body, but also adopted children of the same Father, with Jesus as our elder brother, and each other as brothers and sisters. Yes, we, the baptized, are God’s children – for real and for sure! There is enough there to meditate on for the rest of our lives!

 

Our readings today tell us how Jesus’ baptism was not for the repentance of his sin because Jesus never had any sin; Jesus was baptized for us, demonstrating himself the way in which we are to be incorporated into himself. But God the Father used the occasion for a great show light and power when he thundered: THIS IS MY BELOVED SON! LISTEN TO HIM! This is my beloved Son, listen to him! Listen to him and respond to what you hear and you will have everything you need for life here and hereafter: you will be able to have your sins forgiven – when you ask for them to be; and you will be welcomed into eternal life in the Father’s house and the end of your days on earth! All this: for listening and responding: listening to the Scriptures, listening to the homilies, listening to the teachings of the Church which are there for our guidance and our growth and then responding in love!

 

And it is not to his own people alone that Jesus offers such salvation; but to the whole world – all the nations, everywhere. This is very good news!

 

May we recall also that the baptized one, whom we recall today, is also the Suffering Servant, the kind, gentle, loving, shepherd of the sheep: who would change everything forever – but at the cost of his own life! Is that even possible for God to die?

 

Thank you God, for being an amazing elder brother – come to save us; may we be true, authentic, genuine and real adopted sons and daughters of the Father, and brothers and sisters of you to whom we look for help, mercy and forgiveness but most of all: lasting and permanent friendship and peace in your Kingdom!

 

The Lord will bless his people with peace!