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RESURRECTION OF THE BODY AND LIFE EVERLASTING

OPENING PRAYER (WELCOME GOD INTO OUR STUDY)

Heavenly Father, Eyes have not seen, Ears have not heard what you have prepared for those who love you. We pray Father, that our bodies will rise in glory on the last day through the merits of your only begotten Son, Jesus, who goes before us to prepare for us a place in His Heavenly Mansion and who reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, now and forever.

CATECHESIS (STUDY THE FAITH)

REFERENCES FROM CATECHISM OF CATHOLIC CHURCH 2ND EDITION

CCC 992 -1001 Christ’s Resurrection and Ours;

CCC 1002 -1004 What does it mean to rise and die in Christ

CCC 1006 -1014 The meaning of Christian Death;

CCC 1021 -1022 Particular Judgement;

CCC 1023 -1029 Heaven;

CCC 1030 -1032 Purgatory;

CCC 1033 -1037 Hell;

CCC 1038 – 1041 Last Judgement

CCC 1020 I believe in Life Everlasting

CCC 1042 – 1050 New Heavenly Jerusalem.

HE IS RISEN!

St. Paul preaches in his first letter to the Corinthians, “How can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead then Christ has not been raised and if Christ has not been raised then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain.” Corinthians 15:12-14

Death is a consequence of Original Sin. After death, each person faces a particular judgment before God. After the particular judgment, the person will either immediately enter into the blessedness of heaven, purification in purgatory, or eternal damnation in hell.

To die in grave sin, without repenting and accepting God’s merciful love, means remaining separate from God for all eternity. The state of definitive self-exclusion from communion with God and his blessed is called hell. . Only a free will choice on our part and a persistent state of unrepentance leads one to hell. Hell is the bitter fruit of a final no to God.

Those who die in the grace and friendship with God and perfectly purified from sinfulness will see God face to face as He really is and live with Christ forever. This perfect life with the Blessed Trinity, Mary, and all the saints is called heaven, a state of supreme and definitive happiness forever.

The resurrection of all the dead, the just and unjust, will occur just before the Last Judgment when all who died hear the Son of Man’s command to come forth. Then the bodies will reunite with their souls.

LAST JUDGMENT

In the resurrection we will have spiritual bodies. Our natural bodies came from Adam, our spiritual bodies come from Christ. St. Paul says: “as we have borne the likeness of the earthly man [Adam], so we shall bear the likeness of the heavenly one [Christ]” 1 Corinthians 15:49

St. Paul says: “What is sown is perishable, but what is raised is imperishable; what is sown is contemptible but what is raised is glorious; what is sown is weak, but what is raised is powerful; what is sown is a natural body, and what is raised is a spiritual body” 1 Corinthians 15:42-44

Everlasting Life refers to the perpetuity of happiness, blessedness, wholeness, and union with the Most Blessed Trinity in heaven.

“They shall no more hunger and thirst. Neither shall the sun fall on them nor any heat. God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes and death shall be no more. Nor mourning, nor crying, nor sorrow shall be any more for the former things are passed away.” Revelation 21:4

Our essential happiness in heaven will be the Beatific Vision, to see God as He is, God who is the source of all goodness and perfection.

“Dearly beloved we are now the sons and daughters of God and it hath not yet appeared what we shall be. We know when He shall appear we shall be like Him because we shall see Him as He is.” I John 3:2

When the Church is present to a dying person, they absolve them from their sins, anoint their bodies, sealing them in holy oil for Christ, and give them Jesus in the Eucharist (Viaticum) for their journey home. The Church sends them home with sweet assurance in the following prayer:

“Go forth Christian soul from this world in the name of God, the Almighty Father who created you. In the name of Jesus, the Son of the Living God who suffered for you. In the name of the Holy Spirit who was poured out upon you.

Go forth faithful Christian. May you live in peace this day. May your home be with God, with Mary, the Virgin Mother of God, with Joseph and all the angels and saints. May you return to your Creator who formed you from the dust of the earth. May Holy Mary, the angels and all the saints come to meet you as you go forth from this life. May you see your Redeemer face to face.” (CCC #1020)

CLOSING PRAYER (PRAY THE FAITH)

Heavenly Father, You sent your only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, not to condemn us but to save us. Do not look upon our sinfulness and what we truly deserve, but in your mercy, forgive us. In Jesus’ name, we pray.

LIFE APPLICATION (LIVE THE FAITH)

What experiences have I had that have strengthened my belief in the immortality of the soul and life after death?
Am I frightened of death? Why? If I knew I was going to die soon, would I make changes in my behavior? If so, what?
Since the body will rise on the last day, why do you think God would have such a plan that body and soul would live for all eternity together.

LENTEN PRACTICES

1 Comment / LENTEN REFLECTIONS

JESUS PRAYS AND FASTS 40 DAYS IN THE WILDERNESS

BACKGROUND

The Bible has a great deal to say about both fasting and praying, including commands to fast and pray. Prayer and fasting are combined in the Old Testament in times of mourning, repentance, and deep spiritual need

The followers of John the Baptist fasted and prayed. Jesus fasted and prayed in the wilderness. Jesus’ disciples fasted and prayed after the Resurrection.

Biblical fasting is the voluntary abstinence from food. The literal Hebrew translation would be “not to eat.” The literal Greek nesteia means “no food.”.

David prayed and fasted over his sick child 2 Samuel 12:16. Queen Esther used her position as queen to urge Mordecai and the Jews to fast for her as she planned to appear before her husband the king to rescue the Jewish people from destruction. Esther 4:16

Prayer goes hand in glove with fasting. You may recall the disciples who were given power over demons came back to Jesus and admitted they could not cast out this one malicious stubborn demon. They asked Jesus why they couldn’t do this because He had sent them out earlier to do that very thing. Jesus said this kind can only be cast out with prayer. Mark 9:9

REFLECTIONS

Fasting may include other things than food and drink. There are other things you may refrain from, for example, talking bad about someone, not watching your favorite TV shows, not dwelling on your real or perceived wounds….

Fasting may lead to generosity. For example, selfless acts of charity, Food banks, clothing drives, visit the sick, talk or call someone you haven’t contacted in a while, work on reconciling family disputes,…

Fasting to focus on God matters greatly. I was created by God to know, love, and serve Him in this world and be happy for all eternity with Him in the next. Well, I better stop being a stranger. I certainly don’t want to have to introduce myself to God when I pass on from this life….or hear Him say,

AMEN, I DON’T KNOW YOU. MATTHEW 25:12

In today’s self-centered, self-indulgent, all-about-me world, the concept of fasting is very foreign and many Christians resist it. But according to Scripture fasting is supposed to be a normal part of our spiritual life here on earth.

Fasting gives strength against sin, represses evil desires, repels temptation, humbles pride, cools anger, and fosters all the inclinations of a good will Pope St. Leo the Great …..”

It was food the devil used to entice Adam and Eve to sin. Food, appetite of the flesh, got us into this mess, Adam and Eve, although given dominion over every other animal and vegetation, chose their will, to eat of the fruit of the Tree of Life, over God’s will. Like Adam and Eve, we too try all kinds of attractive goods that will fill our emptiness.

“MY HEART IS RESTLESS UNTIL IT RESTS IN THEE.”

ST AUGUSTINE

Jesus’ 40 day retreat in the wilderness, facing temptation shows His human side. Jesus was tempted by Satan with the usual temptations that we all face, to choose riches, power, our self over God and others. Jesus rejected Satan on all counts and sent him fleeing back to where he came from!

Fasting brings spiritual strength to combat temptations that will arise. Fasting enables a person to refocus their attention back to the things of God. Jesus, himself, said that man does not live by bread alone but every word that comes from the mouth of God” Matthew 4:4.

Prayer must always accompany fasting. Pray for the grace to fast. Pray that your fast will move mountains in your life and the lives of others. Pray the Scriptures! PRAY!PRAY!PRAY!

Watch and pray that you may not undergo the test.
The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.
MATTHEW 26:41

ASH WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 14, 2024

LENTEN REFLECTIONS

REMEMBER THAT YOU ARE DUST,
AND TO DUST YOU SHALL RETURN”

On Ash Wednesday when ashes are placed on our forehead, we might hear either “Remember” that you are dust and to dust you shall return or “Repent and believe in the Gospel.”

You are dust and to dust you shall return reminds me everything I have I owe to God, I am nothing without God, my life and its gifts are all due to God’s generosity.

You have anointed my head with oil; my cup overflows. Psalm 23:5

“Repent and believe in the Gospel” Mark 1:15 means that I must give up many of my self-serving ways to follow and preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Not my will be done but thy will!

Acknowledging God’s existence is sometimes hard because we have to accept the consequences of believing in a God who loved us into existence. He made us with a purpose. The full revelation of the Father is Jesus Christ, the only begotten son of the Father, the Word Incarnate.

Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. Mark 16:24

What profit would there be for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? Or what can one give in exchange for his life? For the Son of Man will come with his angels in his Father’s glory, and then he will repay everyone according to his conduct. Matthew 16:24-27

God calls us out into the desert of Lent like Moses to test us to see where our hearts are.

“You shall remember the way which the Lord your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, that he might humble you, testing you to know what was in your heart. Deut. 8:2

God speaks to us in the silence of our hearts. But our world is afraid of silence and full of noise and spectacle. Lent is a time to return to God from the snares of this world. Lent offers more time each day for quiet. In solitude we will hear God’s whisper as Elijah did….

The LORD said: Go out and stand on the mountain before the LORD; the LORD will pass by. There was a strong and violent wind rending the mountains and crushing rocks before the LORD—but the LORD was not in the wind; after the wind, an earthquake—but the LORD was not in the earthquake; after the earthquake, fire—but the LORD was not in the fire; after the fire, a light silent sound. 1 Kings 19:12

Make space for God in your interior life; talk to him and tell him you love him. Take more time for quiet prayer each day.

Behold, now is a very acceptable time; 2 Corinthians 6:2
PRAYER

May the Holy Spirit lead us on a true journey of conversion, Almighty and ever living God,
give us hearts hungry to serve you and those who need what we have to give. Let us pray for one another that, by sharing in victory of Christ, we will share in the full joy of Easter.

ALLELUIA, HE IS RISEN!

PREPARING FOR THE HOLY SEASON OF LENT

CATHOLIC COMMENTARY

FATHER FORGIVE THEM.

THEY KNOW NOT WHAT THEY DO

Let us join the prophet Isaiah in proclaiming that Jesus, our Savior and Lord, “was pierced for our offences, crushed for our sins; and upon him was the chastisement that makes us whole. By his stripes we were healed” Isaiah 53:5

WE ARE FORGIVEN!

We need a Savior and what a great one we have, God himself. God emptied himself even to death, death on the cross, that we might have life, life everlasting!

The wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus.

Romans 6:23

REPENT AND BE SAVED
As Lent approaches, (February 14) we may examine our consciences for areas that we need to repent. Conversion, is an essential part of the Lenten rite.

We need to be forgiven and to forgive others, maybe ourselves.

Seeking forgiveness and forgiving others is impossible without God’s grace. “With man it is impossible but with God all things are possible!” Matthew 19:26

Today, the Church, Jesus founded, is the custodian of conversion, forgiveness of sins, absolution, and reconciliation. It is God’s will that none be lost. I Timothy 2:4

The evening of His Resurrection, Jesus appeared to his Apostles, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.” JOHN 20:21-23

Today, God the Father of mercy awaits our return home. Let us return in the words of the Prodigal Son. I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son… Luke 15:18-19

I WAS LOST AND NOW I AM FOUND
LUKE 15:31

Our Lord Jesus taught us to pray “forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.” Literally, I am asking God to forgive me like I forgive others? Let me ponder that for a while….

Do I forgive injuries, real or perceived??? Have I forgiven those who have hurt or offended me? Or do I hold on to old hatreds and grudges?

Forgiveness is not the same as “forgetting! There are some things that we cannot forget, but we can choose to surrender that hurt, that painful memory, over to Our Lord Jesus, to ask Him to help us to let go of that hurt, to not to let it have power over me anymore.

But what if we continue to have negative feelings toward the person who hurt us? It doesn’t matter! Feelings are just that…feelings and nothing more! Negative feelings are not sinful, unless we deliberately foster them and choose to feed them.

When our negative feelings emerge, pray for the person who hurt us, then our feelings will eventually begin to change and to heal.

Clinging to our hurt and anger, understandable though it may be, only harms us. Anger, hurt, and nursing grudges all sap us of strength. In calling us to forgive, God is offering us the gift of freedom from a costly emotional state that robs us of our joy and strength

Some may think forgiveness requires that you stay or resume a poisonous dysfunctional relationship. It does not! Sometimes relationships are poisonous for both parties involved and to be avoided.

Forgiveness is a work of God within us, whereby He acts to free us from the poisonous effects of bitterness and grief that often accompany the harm that was inflicted upon us.

Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do.
Go and learn the meaning of the words, I desire mercy, not sacrifice.
I did not come to call the righteous but sinners
Matthew 9:12-13

CHECK YOUR FAITH HERE!

CATHOLIC COMMENTARY

If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way,take up your cross, and follow me. Matthew 16:24

INTRODUCTION

CCC 143-144 By faith, man completely submits his intellect and his will to God Sacred… Scripture calls this human response to God, the author of revelation, “the obedience of faith”.

To obey (from the Latin ob-audire, to “hear or listen to”) in faith is to submit freely to the word that has been heard, because its truth is guaranteed by God, who is Truth itself….

Some say they believe in Jesus but do they believe Jesus and do as He says?

Not everyone who says to me ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. Luke 7:2i

There are many hard teachings and sayings from Jesus in Scripture such as; if anyone comes to Me and does not hate his own father, mother, wife, children, brothers, sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple. Luke 14:26

Is Jesus telling us to hate our parents? Of course not. Jesus would not break one of the Ten Commandments, Honor your Mother and Father. No, Jesus is reminding those who wish to follow him must not put anything or anybody before him.

Jesus is bold, outspoken, when teaching about morality. He expands on the Ten commandments in His Sermon on the Mount. Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. Matthew 5:17

You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment. But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment Matthew 5:21

“You have heard that it was said,^r ‘You shall not commit adultery, ’But I say to you, everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart. Matthew 5:27

Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’^[b] If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. John 15:18

They came to Capernaum, and on the Sabbath he entered the synagogue and taught.

The people were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority and not as the scribes. Mark 1:21-22 Jesus’ authority came from the Father.

“Who sees me, sees the Father.” John 14:8-9

Jesus was counter-cultural and so is His Church founded on Peter the Rock Catholicism remains the staunchest opponent to the culture of the times.

Our doctrines handed down from the Rock of Peter are stubborn things. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it Matthew 16:17

Satan is a liar a deceiver, the Father of lies, Satan spreads his lies to the world in the guise of modernity. We must not have any of it. The Truth will set us free.

We must attract people to the Catholic Faith with its authenticity to the Gospel, its sacraments, and its liturgy, the Mass.

Watering down the Catholic Church is watering down Jesus!

CATHOLIC CHURCH MUST TEACH AS JESUS TEACHES

The Bishops of the Church must give bold leadership in rejecting themes of this world that are destructive to individuals as well as families.

God says to the Church of Laodicia, “I know your works; I know that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either cold or hot. So, because you are lukewarm, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth” Revelations 3:14

If you believe in Gospels only what you like

but don’t believe what you don’t like then

you don’t believe in the gospel

but believe in yourself.

St. Augustine

REFLECTION

What does it mean to me that Jesus taught with authority?

What does it mean to me to be a disciple of Jesus?

Jesus founded a counter-cultural Church on Peter, the Rock and promised the Holy Spirit to guide it on earth from error. Catholic Church teaching condemns abortion, contraception, divorce and remarriage, same sex marriage and gender identity theory.

These are hard teachings for some. How am I doing with them.?

We must radiate holiness to be holy in all conduct the church is a sign of Jesus’ work and presence in the world. We must be that living sign.

If we are disciples we are on mission. How am I rebuilding the Church of Christ in the world today?

JESUS NOW TEACHES FROM THE BARQUE OF THE CHURCH

ANCESTRY…JESUS

1 Comment / CATHOLIC COMMENTARY

INTRODUCTION

There is so much talk today about seeking your ancestors and this made me think of Jesus’ genealogy and what it says to me. Some of Jesus’ ancestors were prostitutes, cheats, murderers and adulterers

JESUS’ GENEOLOGY

For example, there was Jacob who cheated his brother Esau out of his inheritance, Rahab, a prostitute in the city of Jericho who helped the Israelite spies. And David, adulterer and murderer who lusted after his neighbor’s wife. Bathsheba, and had her husband, Uriah, killed. JACOB GENESIS 25:23; RAHAB JOSHUA 6:23; DAVID 2 SAMUEL 11:1

Let’ stake a closer look at ISRAELITE SPIES SAVED BY RAHAB THE CAANANITE

Then Joshua, son of Nun, secretly sent out two spies saying, “Go, reconnoiter the land and Jericho.” When the two reached Jericho, they went into the house of a prostitute named Rahab, where they lodged.

But a report was brought to the king of Jericho: “Some men came here last night, Israelites, to spy out the land.” So the king of Jericho sent Rahab the order, “Bring out the men who have come to you and entered your house, for they have come to spy out the entire land.”

Now, she had led the spies to the roof, and hidden them among her stalks of flax spread out^* there….Rahab went up to them on the roof….

Rahab said to the spies:^* “I know that the LORD has given you this land…, We have heard how the LORD dried up the waters of the Red Sea before you when you came out of Egypt, …and all the inhabitants of the land tremble with fear because of you.

Now then, swear to me by the LORD that, since I am showing kindness to you, you in turn will show kindness to my family. that you will allow my father and mother, brothers and sisters, and my whole family to live, and that you will deliver us from death.”

“We pledge our lives for yours,” they answered her. “If you do not betray our mission, we will be faithful in showing kindness to you when the LORD gives us the land.”…

REFLECTION

God never gives up on us no matter what we have done or what our ancestors have done.

God can bring repentance and conversion out of our sins.. Never give up!

I myself have walked away from God but in His mercy He never gave up, sought me, and called me back into His embrace.

Can you think of a time that sins got your attention and brought you to repentance/ conversion?

God wants us to receive His mercy and let it flow through us to others. God wants us to extend love and forgiveness to others just as He does to us.

REPENT AND BELIEVE IN THE GOSPEL

MARK 1:15

FACEBOOK

CATHOLIC COMMENTARY

PLEASE DISREGARD ANY MESSAGE FROM TOM BLOCK FACEBOOK. MY FACEBOOK SITE HAS BEEN HACKED AND I NO LONGER HAVE FACEBOOK PAGE.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE AND UNDERSTANDING. TOM BLOCK

BLESSINGS FIDUCIA SUPPLICANS

CATHOLIC CHURCH TEACHING, CATHOLIC COMMENTARY

FIDUCIA SUPPLICANS (“Supplicating Trust”) is a 2023 Declaration on Catholic Doctrine that allows Catholic priests to bless couples who are not considered to be married according to church teaching, including same-sex couples.

INTRODUCTION

Let the games begin! Once again the Francis Papacy is jarred by controversy. The Church on the left believe Francis approves same sex marriages. The church on the right wants Francis charged with heresy and removed from office for blessing same sex couples.

Division is the main tool of the adversary, the Evil one. There is nothing Satan, wants more than division in God’s family the Church.

Satan is not going to bother those who have already drunk his Kool-Aid. Satan’s attacks are on those struggling to go home to Abba, Father. Satan, so envious, wants no one to have what he can never have, union with the Father.

And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world… into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. Revelation 20:10

COMMENTARY

Fiducia Supplicans

DECLARATION

On the Pastoral Meaning of Blessings

Ex Audientia Die 18 December 2023
Francis

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — A Catholic priest can bless a gay or other unmarried couple as long as it is not a formal liturgical blessing and does not give the impression that the Catholic Church is blessing the union as if it were a marriage,

Key points of Fiducia Supplicans

1. It reaffirms the traditional Catholic doctrine on marriage. It makes clear that the Church the Church does not have the power to impart blessings on unionsof persons of the same sex”

2.It clarifies the role of the Church in offering blessing.a distinction between blessing a same-sex couple and blessing their union.

3. It emphasizes Pope Francis’s focus on pastoral charity and inclusivity. Fiducia Supplicans encourages the Church to avoid being overly judgmental or exclusive in its ministry where people seek blessings in faith and sincerity, regardless of their life circumstances.

4. It makes a clear distinction between liturgical rites and blessings. The Church may not create liturgical rites for blessings of unions outside the traditional marriage definition. But the Church can still offer blessings in a pastoral context, to those who ask for a blessing that all that is true, good, and humanly valid in their lives and their relationships be enriched and healed by the presence of the Holy Spirit” FS 29

Fiducia supplicans remains firm on the traditional doctrine of the Church about marriage, but it also explores the “pastoral meaning of blessings” in a way that opens “the possibility of blessing couples in irregular situations and same-sex couples without officially validating their status or changing in any way the Church’s perennial teaching on marriage.”

The Church responds to the requests of people who are in objectively sinful and disordered situations (either same-sex relationships or other irregular situations, like those who are divorced and invalidly “remarried”) with a prayer that God may help them to overcome sin, to live holier lives, and even discern how they may be restored to full communion..

When we ask for blessing to help us along the way, we receive Actual grace, a divine assistance given to help one do the right thing, distinct from sanctifying grace which is habitual.

Sanctifying grace is the gratuitous gift of His life that God makes to us; it is infused by the Holy Spirit into the soul to heal it of sin and to sanctify it. Sanctifying grace makes us “pleasing to God Sanctifying grace is the habitual experience of God’s love.

Actual grace is God’s love at work in specific moments. An example of actual grace might be a revelatory moment of prayer. It could be a timely phone call or answer to a prayer.

REFLECTION

What blessings have I asked God for myself?

For others?

Are there times when I bless myself with sign of cross? Bless others with sign of cross?

The sign of the cross must be a prayer not a good luck charm or superstition.

The last image of Jesus on earth is that of his hands being raised in the act of blessing the Eleven, “And lifting up his hands he blessed them. While he blessed them, he parted from them and was carried up into heaven” Luke. 2450-51

WE BELIEVE IN THE COMMUNION OF SAINTS

CATECHESIS

A GREAT CLOUD OF WITNESSES ON EARTH AND IN HEAVEN

HEBREW 12:1

OPENING PRAYER (WELCOME GOD INTO OUR STUDY)

Heavenly Father, you sent us your only begotten Son, Jesus Christ to found a Church, a Communion of saints. Grant us, your Pilgrim church, perseverance in our journey that we may join the saints in heaven in praising you, forever and ever. In Jesus’ name we pray.

CATECHESIS (STUDY THE FAITH)

REFERENCES FROM CATECHISM OF CATHOLIC CHURCH 2ND EDITION

CCC 946 – 953 How are we a Communion of Saints

CCC 954 – 962The Communion of the Church of Heaven and Earth

CCC 968 – 972 Mary the mother of Christ-Church

The “Communion of Saints,” is also called the Mystical Body of Christ or the Church, We are the pilgrim Church on earth still making our way back home. We fight hard to overcome the World, the flesh, and the Devil. We are sometimes called the “Church Militant.”

Another part of the Communion of Saints are souls purgatory, not yet purified and perfected but will one day enter heaven. They are members of the Church who have died and have not yet entered into the glory of God’s presence because of some unrepentant sin or effects of sin still remaining at the time of their death.

We believe that God in his mercy purifies Souls in Purgatory and purges them of their sins and effects so they may worthily enter into the presence of the all Holy God, “before whom nothing unclean shall enter.” Revelation 21:27

We call the souls in Purgatory, the Church Suffering. It is painful in Purgatory just as it is here on earth when God breaks us from our addictions and willfulness. The souls in Purgatory also suffer because they are separated from full communion with God.

We can pray for these loved ones in purgatory that they soon may be purified and perfected. Souls in purgatory cannot pray for themselves but can pray for us. They can pray for us that we may have fortitude and perseverance in our journey home. They pray for us now and will intercede for us when they get to heaven.

The final group of saints is already in heaven, already experiencing the Beatific Vision. We call these saints, the “Church Triumphant.” We, the pilgrim church, celebrate in liturgy the “Communion of Saints” here on earth on back to back Feast Days of All Saints and All Souls.

The communion of saints, the Church, is truly God’s family. This should give us great encouragement. We are vast in numbers, too many to comprehend.

Since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight and sin which clings so closely and let us run the race, before us, with perseverance, looking to Jesus, the pioneer and perfector of faith who for the joy, set before Him, endured the cross, and is seated at the right hand of God.” Hebrews 12:1-2

CLOSING PRAYER (PRAY THE FAITH)

Lord God, you are glorified in your saints. In their lives on earth, you give us an example. In our communion with them, you give us their friendship. Around your throne, the saints, our brothers and sisters, sing your praises forever. With their great company and all the angels in heaven, we, too, praise your glory, now and forever. Amen.

LIFE APPLICATION (LIVE THE FAITH)

1.Who are my favorite saints?

What is there about them that appeal to me?

2. How often do I pray for the souls in purgatory? My deceased family members? Those who have no one to pray for them?

3. Jesus is the one mediator and our Savior. Do we still pray to saints to intercede for us?

COME FOLLOW ME

JESUS IS THE WAY THE TRUTH THE LIFE

FEAST OF EPIPHANY

CATHOLIC FEAST DAYS

IN UNITED STATES CELEBRATED ON SUNDAY AFTER CHRISTMAS JANUARY 2-8

RISE UP IN SPLENDOR, JERUSALEM YOUR LIGHT HAS COME
THE GLORY OF THE LORD SHINES UPON YOU.
ISAIAH 60:1

Star of wonder, star of light Star with royal beauty bright
Westward leading, still proceeding Guide us to Thy perfect light
Guide us to Thy perfect light

BACKGROUND

The Feast of the Epiphany of Our Lord Jesus Christ is one of the oldest Christian feasts. Throughout the centuries, it has celebrated a variety of things. The Greek word Epiphany (επιφάνεια), means appearance or manifestation. It describes Jesus’ first appearance to the Gentiles. Like many of the ancient Christian feasts, Epiphany was first celebrated in the East.

The feast of the Epiphany in the East celebrated four different events, the Nativity of Christ; the visitation of the Wise Men, the Baptism of the Lord; and Christ’s first miracle, at the wedding in Cana. Each of these events are a theophany or revelation of God to man.

At the Nativity, the angels bear witness to Christ. At the visitation of the Magi, Christ’s divinity is revealed to the Gentiles—the other nations of the earth. At Christ’s Baptism, the Holy Spirit descends and the voice of God the Father is heard, declaring that Jesus is His Son. At the wedding in Cana, the miracle reveals Christ’s divinity;

Eventually, the celebration of the Feast of the Epiphany was separated out in the West, into separate feasts of Christmas, Epiphany, Baptism of Jesus, and Marriage feast at Cana.

In 1991 the United States Bishops reduced the number of non-Sunday Holy Days to six. One of those Holy Days, the Epiphany, was transferred to the Sunday between January 2 and January 8.

COMMENTARY

“Arise! Shine, for your light has come, the glory of the LORD has dawned upon you. Though darkness covers the earth, and thick clouds, the peoples. upon you the LORD will dawn, and over you his glory will be seen. Isaiah 60:1-6

Today’s Old Testament reading in the liturgy of the Mass, Isaiah 60:1-6, is chosen partly because it mentions non-Jews bringing gifts in homage to the God of Israel. The passage also celebrates the Divine Light emanating from Jerusalem and foresees all the nations acknowledging and enjoying that Light and walking by it.

The Magi were most likely a caste of Persian priests who served Kings using their skills in interpreting dreams and watching movements of stars. Stars were believed to be signs from God, announcing important events. .

“…and on entering the house they saw the child with Mary his mother. They prostrated themselves and did him homage… they opened their treasures and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh” Matthew 2:11

COME LET US ADORE HIM, CHRIST THE LORD!

Gold was a gift for Kings; frankincense was offered to God in Temple worship. Myrrh was used by the High Priest as an anointing oil. Exodus 30:23. It was also the Jewish custom of anointing, preparing a dead body for burial, a foreshadowing Jesus’ death and burial.

REFLECTION

What Mary and Joseph must have thought with all this attention! Some came in worship, some hunted their son in hatred and some like today, were indifferent.

There are those who seek God, find God, and serve Him, (Mary and Joseph), and those who seek God but haven’t found Him yet (the Magi). Which am I? Or am I indifferent?

“Galilee of the Gentiles. The people who walk in darkness will see a great light; Isaiah 9:2Do I seek the Light? Do I radiate that light to the rest of the world?

Are my eyes open to the many Epiphanies in my own life? Do I look each day for His manifestation? How does God manifest Himself to me today?

I think about the guidance of the Holy Spirit, leading the wise man back another route. Do I call on the Holy Spirit for GPS assistance as I make my way home to the Father?

Let us walk in the LIGHT, radiating Jesus’ love by selfless service, unconditional forgiveness and compassionate care