ARE YOU SAVED? WHAT IS SALVATION?

GOD THE CREATOR OF ALL THINGS  VISIBLE AND INVISIBLE

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavens, as he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and without blemish before him. In love God destined us for adoption to himself through Jesus Christ, in accord with the favor of his will, for the praise of the glory of his grace that he granted us in the beloved. EPHESIANS 1:3-10

INTRODUCTION

No one saves himself.  Only by the mercy of God are we saved.  Grace is a gift from God to the sinner and the righteous, earned for us by our Savior, Jesus Christ. “What is impossible for human beings is possible for God.Luke 18:27 

 CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH

 1989 The first work of the grace of the Holy Spirit is conversion…Moved by grace, man turns toward God and away from sin, thus accepting forgiveness and righteousness from on high.

 1996 Grace is favor, the free and undeserved help that God gives us to respond to his call to become children of God, partakers of the divine nature and of eternal life.

 Jesus is our Savior, revealed by the Father and foretold by the Prophets. “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.” GENESIS 3:15

The Law and Old Testament covenants are specifically fulfilled in Christ, Christ fulfills the law by offering himself in love for us. At his Last Supper, Jesus says, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; even as I have loved you, that you also love one anotherJohn 13:34 

While Jesus is Savior of all, does that mean that all will be saved?  Of course not! What if I refuse and reject Jesus and His commandments?   Many Christians believe that they are saved by making one single act of faith at one single point in time in their lives.  Nowhere does Scripture say such a thing. As Catholic Christians, we believe that salvation is a process which begins with our Baptism and continues throughout our lifetimes,

Jesus warns us,Enter through the narrow gate;* for the gate is wide and the road broad that leads to destruction, and those who enter through it are many How narrow the gate and constricted the road that leads to life. And those who find it are few.” Matthew 7:13

Jesus is asked directly what one must do to have eternal life. “…young man asked, “Teacher, what good must I do to gain eternal life?”  MATTHEW 19:16-17

Did Jesus say, accept me into your heart once and that’s it? No! Jesus said, “If you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments.”

COMMENTARY

For by grace you have been saved through gift of faith; and this is not your own doing, it is the gift of God—not because of works, lest any man should boast.Ephesians 2:8-9.   Since the initiative belongs to God in the order of grace, no one can merit the initial grace of forgiveness and justification.

Sin is a debt.  Jesus’s death dissolves the “debt” humanity owed to God.   Atonement refers to “delivering a person from death by means of a payment, that is, a ransom.” Hebrews 8:5.  Jesus pays the price.  Jesus not only frees us from the debt of sin but also its consequences: “slavery to sinRomans 6:6-7.

Salvation is not simply about being forgiven of our sins or escaping the fires of eternal damnation.  It is, also about being united to God. To be saved is to be united to God in Christ and to be “conformed to the image of his Son” Romans 8:29

Salvation involves even more than just communion with God, in Christ. It also means union with all others who are united to Christ. Christ is now acting in the Mystical Body, the Church. What Jesus did in his personal body, he now does in his mystical body. “Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to meMatthew 25:40.

“What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister has nothing to wear and has no food for the day, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, keep warm, and eat well,” but you do not give them the necessities of the body, what good is it?  So also faith of itself, if it does not have works, is dead.  For, just as a body without a spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.” James 2:14-26

To be in Christ is to be more than “forgiven;” it is to be elevated and transformed. Being saved means not living in sin; it means living as Jesus told us, “be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfectMatthew 5:48.

According to the biblical authors, saving faith also entails participation in Christ’s own suffering.  Faith involves submitting to God’s will. Christ himself is the model of this; he was “obedient unto death” (Philippians 2:8).

St. Paul writes, “Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I complete what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the churchColossians 1:24.  St. Thomas Aquinas explains, this writing of St. Paul should not be misinterpreted that Christ’s passion was not sufficient for our redemption.

Instead, the passage indicates that Christ’s body, the Church, must participate in the work of her head, Christ himself. What is “lacking” according to Colossians 1:24 is not Christ’s sufferings on the cross, but the Church’s full participation in his redemptive work.

CONCLUSION

Then we will say with St. Paul,I have competed well; I have finished the race;  I have kept the faith. From now on the crown of righteousness awaits me,  Which the Lord, the just judge, will award to me on that day  And not only to me, but to all who have longed for his appearance. and persevered to the very end” 2 Timothy 4:7-9

 KEEP OUR EYES ON THE PRIZE!

JESUS CHRIST!

THOUGT FOR THE DAY

 HOW DO WE SPEND ALL ETERNITY FOREVER AND EVER WITH GOD IF WE DON’T SPEND TIME WITH GOD ON EARTH!

 

ARCHANGELS FEAST DAY ST. MICHAEL ST. GABRIEL ST, RAPHAEL

HAPPY FEAST DAY!

INTRODUCTION

Three Archangels are identified by name in Scripture, Saints Michael (Who is like God), Gabriel (The Power of God), and Raphael (God Heals.) Today, September 29 is their feast day.  Angels are pure spirits, but sometimes may appear in human form to talk to us who are in human in nature of body and spirit.

MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL

Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back, but he was defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven.  And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. Revelation 12:7-9

GABRIEL THE ARCHANGEL

The angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city in Galilee called Nazareth,  to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the descendants of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. And coming in, he said to her, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.” But she was very perplexed at this statement, and kept pondering what kind of salutation this was. 

The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; for you have found favor with God.  And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David; and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end.”…  Luke 1:26-33

RAPHAEL THE ARCHANGEL

Tobit the father of Tobias was blinded by the droppings of a bird. Tobit and his son were righteous men in God’s eyes. Tobit wanted his son to marry Sarah.  Tobias was hesitant because Sarah had already married seven husbands and they all died.

But Tobit and his son both trusted in God.  Tobit because he was blind  instructed Tobias to hire a guide to accompany him on the journey; so Tobias enlisted the assistance of Azariah, who was really the archangel Raphael in disguise

When Tobias and Azariah reached the Tigris River, Tobias stopped to wash.  As he knelt on the bank, a great fish leapt out of the water and frightened him. Raphael instructed Tobias to seize the fish by the fins, kill it, and remove its heart, liver and gallbladder.

He revealed to Tobias that burning the heart and liver would drive away evil spirits, that possessed Sarah and that the gallbladder could cure blindness. So Tobias salted the organs to preserve them, and wrapped them safely for their journey.

“When the wedding celebration came to an end, Tobit called his son Tobiah and said to him, “Son, see to it that you pay his wages to the man who made the journey with you and give him a bonus too.” Tobiah said: “Father, how much shall I pay him? …He led me back safe and sound, healed my wife, brought the money back with me, and healed you. How much should I pay him?”….Raphael called the two of them aside privately and said to them: “Bless God and give him thanks before all the living for the good things he has done for you, by blessing and extolling his name. Proclaim before all with due honor the deeds of God, do not be slack in thanking him. Tobit 12:1-6

 CONCLUSION

Raphael has been called the Patron of Healing. also the patron of the blind, of nurses, of physicians and of travelers.  Read the Book of Tobit.  I believe you will enjoy another deliverance story of God’s people.

PRAYER TO THE ARCHANGELS

Heavenly King, You have given us archangels to assist us during our pilgrimage on earth. Saint Michael is our protector; I ask him to come to my aid, fight for all my loved ones, and protect us from danger.

Saint Gabriel is a messenger of the Good News; I ask him to help me clearly hear Your voice and to teach me the truth.

Saint Raphael is the healing angel; I ask him to take my need for healing and that of everyone I know, lift it up to Your throne of grace and deliver back to us the gift of recovery.

Help us, O Lord, to realize more fully the reality of the archangel and their desire to serve us. Holy angels, pray for us. Amen.

 

 

 

 

 

 

HELL EXISTS, THIS I KNOW, BECAUSE THE BIBLE TELLS ME SO

YOUR CHOICE

I did not come to condemn the world but to save the world.

John 12:47

 INTRODUCTION

Every Saturday morning a few of my friends meet to pray and talk about God.  It is our own small group of faith formation.  No one gets to heaven alone.  We are made for community, the mystical body of Christ.

One day the subject of hell came up and we all remarked how little we hear about hell in our homilies at Mass. We range in age of 30s, 50s, 70s, and 80s. At any rate, a friend who grew up in the 50s like I did proclaimed how the preaching and teaching about hell by the good sisters kept him on the straight and narrow regards chastity through his teens and dating years.and still today thankful for that guard rail that kept him pure and connected to Jesus. “Blessed are the pure of heart for they shall see God.”

A mortal sin separates us from God and there is nothing worse that can happen to any of us.  Just imagine separated from our maker and creator, the one who loved us into existence for all eternity. The pain of permanent estrangement, alone, is worse than any bodily punishment. The thirst of longing for God that is implanted in our hearts never to be satisfied.

At Fatima, the Blessed Virgin Mary reminded the three children that many souls go to hell because they have no one to pray or make sacrifices for them. Sister Lucy later described this vision of hell in her memoirs. “We saw a vast sea of fire. Plunged in this fire, we saw the demons and the souls of the damned. The demons were distinguished from the souls of the damned by their terrifying and repellent likeness to frightful and unknown animals…

Mary told the children of Fatima they must add this prayer to the saying of the rosary for so many souls are in danger of going to hell.  These souls must repent and turn their lives around before it is too late.

O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, Save us from the fire of hell. Take all souls to heaven, especially those  Who are most in need of thy mercy.

 CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH 

 1033 We cannot be united with God unless we freely choose to love him. We cannot love God if we sin gravely against him, against our neighbor or against ourselves…This state of definitive self-exclusion from communion with God and the blessed is called “hell.”

 1035  Immediately after death the souls of those who die in a state of mortal sin descend into hell, where they suffer the punishments of hell, “eternal fire.” The chief punishment of hell is eternal separation from God, in whom alone man can possess the life and happiness for which he was created and for which he longs.

 1037 God predestines no one to go to hell…this, is our choice, a willful turning away from God (a mortal sin) is necessary, and persistence in it until the end.

SACRED HEART OF JESUS HAVE MERCY ON ME

 WHAT SCRIPTURE HAS TO SAY ABOUT HELL

 OLD TESTAMENT

The doctrine of hell is suggested in the Old Testament, but it is much more clearly revealed in the New Testament.  Hell is not specifically stated in Old Testament but Judgment certainly is.

They shall go out and see the corpses of the people who rebelled against me; For there worm shall not die, their fire shall not be extinguished; and they shall be an abhorrence to all flesh. Isaiah 66:24

Many of those who sleep in the dust of the ground will awake, these to everlasting life, but the others to disgrace and everlasting contempt. Daniel 12:2

 NEW TESTAMENT

Our Lord Jesus Christ made frequent references to the activity and influence of Satan throughout His ministry, Jesus, himself, underwent the temptations and wiles of the devil in the desert after His Baptism in the Jordon.

Jesus says it is a place of eternal torment Luke 16:23, of unquenchable fire Mark 9:43, where the worm does not die Mark 9:48, where people will gnash their teeth in anguish and regret Matthew 13:42 and from which there is no return, even to warn loved ones Luke 16:19–31.

Matthew 7:13

Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it.

John 15:6 

If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.

CONCLUSION

God gave us free will but that does not mean we are free to sin.  While human freedom is a good, human freedom is not in itself an absolute.  We are not free to do evil.  “The more one does what is good, the freer one becomes. There is no true freedom except in the service of what is good and just. The choice to disobey and do evil is an abuse of freedom and leads to “the slavery of sin.” (CCC 1733)

 Deny the Devil and Hell at your own risk!  The devil loves denial of his existence.  A vast majority of Catholics in America reject the Church teaching on the devil and hell.  This is just fine with the devil!  If the devil is rejected then it is easy to reject Jesus, our Savior, as well and His Father! Who needs a Savior or the Father who sent Him?  If no Satan, who needs God! Let’s call a spade a spade, stop calling darkness light. “The devil is a liar and father of all lies.John 8:44

If you feel that things are spinning out of control in our world and in our Church today, you’re right.  Be assured, we have not arrived at this place in history by accident.  There is an intelligent evil being behind all of this work.  He is sometimes called Satan, bent on our destruction and the destruction of Jesus’ Church, the Mystical Body of Christ.

This evil has gone unchecked by faithful Catholics as well as the Church’s hierarchy for too long.  When was the last time you heard a homily on Satan or hell?  Why have most parishes dropped the prayer to St. Michael at the end of Mass as we prayed in the 50s and 60s?  Are we not in danger anymore?  Satan is laughing his fool head off at our stupidity.  What a great con job.  Are we suckers too?

We need to get on our knees and beg God to deliver us from the sinful evil of this current generation, and protect the Church Jesus founded, from infiltration of the devil!  As Catholic Christians who are blessed with faith, sacraments, and Church teaching, we must lead the way by bearing witness to the truth every day, every place.   “Much will be required of the person entrusted with much, and still more will be demanded of the person entrusted with more.” Luke 12:47-48

Stay sober and alert. Your opponent the devil is prowling like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Resist him, solid in your faith.” 1 Peter 5:8

Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle,  Be our defense against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him we humbly pray,  And do thou, O heavenly hosts, By the power of God, Thrust into hell Satan and all the evil spirits  Who prowl about the world for the ruin of souls.  Amen.

FEAST OF SAINT BARTHOLOMEW

INTRODUCTION

Today, the Feast of St. Bartholomew is my 80th birthday, so much to be thankful, so many blessings.  I thought about writing about my story but that would be a book and not a blog so I decided to blog about the Feast Day I was born on, Saint Bartholomew, Martyr, and Apostle.

 BACKGROUND

Saint Bartholomew lived in the first century AD. His name means “son of Tolomai” Bartholomew is mentioned in the synoptic gospels and Acts as one of the twelve apostles. He was sometimes called Nathanael which is a Hebrew name meaning “God has given” Philipp was the one who introduced Nathaniel to Jesus John 1:43-51.

Bartholomew was born in Cana in Galilee. In each of the listings of the disciples, the names of Philip and Bartholomew are linked, which could mean they were good friends or even related. St. Bartholomew preached in India and Greater Armenia. He was martyred in Armenia where he was flayed and beheaded.

In art Bartholomew is most commonly depicted with a beard and curly hair at the time of his martyrdom. According to legends he was skinned alive and beheaded so is often depicted holding his flayed skin or the curved flensing knife with which he was skinned.

JOHN 1:44-51

The next day Jesus went into Galilee, and He found Philip. And Jesus said to him, “Follow Me.”  Now Philip was from Bethsaida, of the city of Andrew and Peter. 

 Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found Him of whom Moses in the Law and also the Prophets wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”  Nathanael said to him, “Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.” 

 Jesus saw Nathanael coming to Him, and said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!”  Nathanael said to Him, “How do you know me?” Jesus answered and said to him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” 

 Nathanael answered Him, “Rabbi, You are the Son of God; You are the King of Israel.”  Jesus answered and said to him, “Because I said to you that I saw you under the fig tree, do you believe? You will see greater things than these.”  And He said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see the heavens opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”

 

Scriptural References

After Jesus called Philip to follow Him, Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph” John 1:45

The names of the twelve apostles* are these: first, Simon called Peter, and his brother Andrew; James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John; Philip and Bartholomew, Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James, the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddeus;….Matthew 10:2

After the Resurrection-Jesus revealed himself again to his disciples at the Sea of Tiberias. He revealed himself in this way.  Together were Simon Peter, Thomas called Didymus, Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, Zebedee’s sons,* and two others of his disciples. John 21:2

 After the Ascension  When they entered the city they went to the upper room where they were staying, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. Acts 1:13

REFLECTION

Come and see!  This was Phillip’s call to his friend Nathanael.  We too should reach out to bring others to Jesus and Jesus will do the rest. Jesus points out to the others that Nathanael is without deceit.  He is who he is.  He worships the true and living God without the duplicity and hypocrisy of the religious leaders of his time.

Jesus saw Nathanael under a fig tree before he met him in person.  What is that about?  Jesus is God, omniscient.  He knows Nathanael through and through.  This is a righteous man, clearly a son of Abraham probably reading Scriptures under the fig tree.

Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” Nathanael/Bartholomew saw the attributes of divine omniscience and calls out, ““Rabbi, You are the Son of God; You are the King of Israel.”  I am struck that  Nathanael is the first of the Apostles to call out Jesus’ Divinity!

 EPILOGUE

 A group of us have been meeting every Saturday for several years to share our faith and explore more deeply what it means to be a disciple of Christ.  We call ourselves Pilgrims on the Way.

Here is a prayer we say: Dear Jesus, we are pilgrims on the way, you are the way, the truth, and Life. Help us to persevere on our journey home and bear witness to others so that all will be saved.  In Jesus’ name we pray.

We pretty well have every generation covered.  We are in our 30s, 50s, 70s, and 80s.  I will share just a few of the topics we have covered lately that includes Church teaching, Modern Prophecy, Vatican II, and Scripture.

CHURCH TEACHING

 BURIAL VS CREMATION

During the many long centuries when Christians buried their dead, most saw the world through a sacramental lens. They recognized that everything in creation was made by God, loved by God, and had something to tell us about God. They knew that what God made was holy!

Today we live in a world that primarily sees the body as one of two things: a burden or a barrier. People, today,  see the body as a burden because it grows sick, it grows old, it dies.  What did the body really matter, once it had outlived its usefulness?

The Church considers the burial of the dead one of the “corporal works of mercy,” and that burial both encourages prayers for the dead and is a perpetual reminder of the communion of the saints. Cremation is permitted by the Church but burial is the preferred way for Christians to care for their bodies after death,

Cremation may falsely teach people lessons about the body that are directly contrary to what the Church actually believes. Cremation may teach that the body is disposable– not an integral part of the human person; that the body has no value once the soul is gone; that body has run its course, and there will be nothing more No resurrection. No transformation. No glorification.

A REMARKABLE PROPHECY THAT RINGS TRUE TODAY

 FRANCISCAN FATHER MICHAEL SCANLAN’S 1976 PROPHECY

Son of man, do you see that city going bankrupt? Are you willing to see all your cities going bankrupt? Are you willing to see the bankruptcy of the whole economic system you rely on now…?

Son of man, do you see the crime and lawlessness in your city streets, and towns, and institutions? Are you willing to see no law, no order, no protection for you except that which I myself will give you?

 The Lord God says, “Hear My Word: What I have not accomplished by blessings and gifts, I will accomplish by judgment and purification.  My people, My Church is desperately in need of this judgment. They have continued in an adulterous relationship with the spirit of the world.

They are not only infected with sin, but they teach sin, embrace sin, dismiss sin….Satan goes where he will and infects whom he will. He has free access throughout my people—and I will not stand for this….

So this time is now come upon all of you: a time of judgment and of purification. What has not been accomplished in the baptism and the flooding of gifts of my Spirit will be accomplished in a baptism of fire. The fire will move among you and it will burn out what is chaff….

SOUND FAMILIAR….GOD HAS TRIED TO GET OUR ATTENTION IN POSITIVE WAYS NOW MAYBE MOTHER NATURE WILL GET OUR ATTENTION BUT MAYBE NOT……

VATICAN II

DID VATICAN II FORBID LATIN, GREGORIAN CHANT, PIPE ORGANS, AND AD ORIENTEM WORSHIP IN THE MASS?

 No, the Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, did not forbid any of these things. .On the contrary, it preserved Latin as the official language of the Latin rite.

The Church acknowledges Gregorian chant as specially suited to the Roman liturgy: therefore, other things being equal, it should be given pride of place in liturgical services.

In the Latin Church the pipe organ is to be held in high esteem, it is the traditional musical instrument which adds a wonderful splendor and powerfully lifts up man’s mind to God and to higher things.

It said nothing about liturgical orientation—that is, whether the priest celebrates the Mass ad orientem (facing the altar) or versus populum (facing the people).

 SACRAMENTAL ABUSES DURING THE PANDEMIC

 

A woman takes pre-packaged Holy Communion out of Pax Christi parish

and consumes it in her car

 INSTRUCTIONS AT PAX CHRISTI PARISH To minimize points of contact the ushers will dismiss you to receive Holy Communion at the rear of the worship space starting from the back of the church. In each section you will be directed to leave through the closest exit. The consecrated Communion hosts will be in individual packets on tables at the exit points. Take only one packet per person “

As you leave the worship space please do not linger around. Proceed directly to your vehicle and maintain a safe social distance of 6 to 10 feet keeping your mask on until you are in your car. Once you’re in your vehicle you may consume the host,”

SCRIPTURE REFLECTION

 

FEAST OF THE TRANSFIGURATION OF OUR LORD

 St. Paul views the transfiguration of Moses’ face and the trans figuration of Christ’s face as a sign of the transformation God wants to bring about in all our lives.

And we all with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord are being changed into his likeness from one degree of glory to another2 Corinthians 3:18

Through Christ’s transforming grace, we are called to live in a way that reflects the glory of God here on earth.

 

 

 

 

  

 

GOSPEL OF MARK CHAPTER 1-2

GOSPEL OF MARK

 Mark is one of the three Synoptic Gospels. Matthew and Luke are the other two.  They are called Synoptic because they mirror one another with similar narratives. The Gospel of Mark was probably the first Gospel to be written around AD 55-65. John Mark is the author of this Gospel. It is believed that he was the attendant and writer for the Apostle Peter.

An extremely important theme in Mark’s gospel is discipleship.  Disciples in the ancient world would seek out a teacher or rabbi and “follow” or “come after” him.  Discipleship involved not only learning from the teacher, but developing a personal relationship with him.

Mark records more miracles of Christ than any of the other Gospels. Jesus proves his divinity in Mark by the demonstration of miracles. An overriding theme of the Gospel of Mark is that Jesus came to serve. Jesus gave his life in service to mankind. And Jesus expects the same from His disciples.

SCRIPTURE

 MARK 1:4-11

The Preaching of John the Baptist.

John the Baptist appeared in the desert proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. People of the whole Judean countryside and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the Jordan River as they acknowledged their sins. John was clothed in camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist.  He fed on locusts and wild honey.

 And this is what he proclaimed: “One mightier than I is coming after me. I am not worthy to stoop and loosen the thongs of his sandals. I have baptized you with water; he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” It happened in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized in the Jordan by John. On coming up out of the water he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit, like a dove, descending upon him. And a voice came from the heavens, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”

“You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”

 REFLECTION

John was out in the desert, a voice crying in the wilderness, repent, be baptized for the forgiveness of sins. While John’s baptism could not literally forgive sins it called attention to the need for repentance and change of life style.  John foretold the one who would come after him, Jesus.  “This one is mightier and will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.”

It is amazing to me that people came from all over to repent of their sins even into the wilderness. Way back when they recognized the burden their sins carried.   Today sin is almost ignored entirely, placed aside, excused and not called sin at all.

Do we carry a heavy burden of sin? Are we reconciled with God and our neighbor?  We don’t have to go into the wilderness to repent of our sins and have them forgiven.   Our parish priest sits mostly alone in the confessional waiting to absolve us of our sins in the name of Jesus. “I absolve you from your sins, in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” WOW!  Sins forgiven, burden lifted, free at last!

Jesus asked John to baptize Him, what is that about?  Jesus has no sins to be forgiven.  Jesus, human and Divine, was setting an example for us.  We are in need of repentance and forgiveness of sins.  Jesus came to serve humanity and show us the Way.  How is he rewarded by His Father?

The heavens opened, the Holy Spirit that convicts us of our sins appears and a voice from the Father in heaven proclaims, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”   It reminds me of a time in visiting Rome, I went to confession at St. Paul Outside the Walls Basilica and when leaving the confessional I heard the most beautiful singing and I looked around and there was no choir or anyone else singing….

SCRIPTURE

MARK 1:40-45

The Cleansing of a Leper

 A leper came to him [and kneeling down] begged him and said, “If you wish, you can make me clean.” Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand, touched him, and said to him, “I do will it. Be made clean.”  The leprosy left him immediately, and he was made clean.  Then, warning him sternly, he dismissed him at once. Then he said to him, “See that you tell no one anything, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses prescribed; that will be proof for them.”

 The man went away and began to publicize the whole matter. He spread the report abroad so that it was impossible for Jesus to enter a town openly. He remained outside in deserted places, and people kept coming to him from everywhere.

“I do will it. Be made clean”

REFLECTION

A leper came to him and kneeling down begged him and said, “If you wish, you can make me clean.”

This leper shows both reverence and faith.  Do we approach Jesus humbly, acknowledging He is God and anything is possible with God?  Do we accept that it is up to God to grant our request, not my will, but His?

It took a lot of courage for that leper to approach Jesus.  Lepers were outcasts, unclean, separated from society as a whole, even from worshiping God in the temple.

Jesus does not stop with appearances but sees a man who believes in God, is dependent on God, and not afraid to make requests of God, a loving Father.  Do we sometimes fear God and thus separate ourselves even further away.  Stupid, isn’t it!  God is both the reason for our being and the one who perfects us to be the man or woman He has created that we may be reunited with Him in heaven forever and ever.  Fear is the devil’s tool to separate us from our heavenly Father who loves us more than we can know but the crucifix gives us an idea.

Jesus replied to the leper, “I do will it. Be made clean.”  Jesus has cleansed the leper physically and spiritually but then warns the leper not to tell anyone.  What is that all about?  Most of us boast of our talents or remarkable deeds.  Of course Jesus has no reason to boast.  He is God after all.   Jesus’ public ministry has not been fulfilled yet. He doesn’t want to stir up his religious opponents too soon.  His hour had not yet come.

Of course the leper was a blabber mouth and told everyone the marvelous deed that Jesus had done for him. Jesus remained outside the cities in deserted places but people came to him there.  Makes me wonder why we don’t flock to our parish churches.  Jesus is truly present in the Blessed Sacrament.  We don’t have travel into a wilderness to find Jesus.  Think about it!

SCRIPTURE

 MARK 2:1-12
The Healing of a Paralytic

When Jesus returned to Capernaum after some days, it became known that he was at home.* Many gathered together so that there was no longer room for them, not even around the door, and he preached the word to them. They came bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men. Unable to get near Jesus because of the crowd, they opened up the roof above him. After they had broken through, they let down the mat on which the paralytic was lying. 

When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Child, your sins are forgiven.”  Now some of the scribes were sitting there asking themselves, “Why does this man speak that way?* He is blaspheming. Who but God alone can forgive sins? 

 Jesus immediately knew in his mind what they were thinking to themselves, so he said, “Why are you thinking such things in your hearts?  Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise, pick up your mat and walk’? 

 But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority to forgive sins on earth”—he said to the paralytic, “I say to you, rise, pick up your mat, and go home.”  He rose, picked up his mat at once, and went away in the sight of everyone. They were all astounded and glorified God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this.”

Child, your sins are forgiven

 REFLECTION

When Jesus returned to his home in Capernaum, the crowd was so great that no more could fit inside or even get close to Jesus.  Some enterprising friends of a paralytic were undaunted though, and cut a hole in the roof of the house.

As far as I know Jesus lived with Peter in Capernaum.  I have always wondered about Peter’s expression and reaction to this intrusion.  But I guess Peter’s faith in Jesus extended to any set of circumstances

I marvel too at the faith and persistence of these friends that knew if they could get this paralytic to Jesus all would be well.  Do we have that kind of faith and persistence?  “Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete” John 16:24.

When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Child, your sins are forgiven” I find it interesting that Mark says when Jesus saw their faith.  The paralytic may have requested to be brought to Jesus, or maybe his friends did it on their own.  We don’t know. But the use of “their” reminds me how interconnected the Mystical Body of Christ and what we can do for one another.

Who but God can forgive sins?” The scribes got that part right but then accused the Son of God, the Messiah, right in front of them of blaspheming! Do we ever miss God as badly as these scribes in daily encounters and experiences?  Are we too quick to judge others? or write others off…through what lens do we see others?

 SCRIPTURE

MARK 2:13-17

 The Call of Levi (Matthew)

Once again he went out along the sea. All the crowd came to him and he taught them.  As he passed by,* he saw Levi, son of Alpheus, sitting at the customs post. He said to him, “Follow me.” And he got up and followed him.

While Jesus was at table in Levi’s (Matthew) house, many tax collectors and sinners sat with Jesus and his disciples; for there were many who followed him.  Some scribes who were Pharisees saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors and said to his disciples, “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?

Jesus heard this and said to them [that], “Those who are well do not need a physician,* but the sick do. I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.”

“Follow me.”

 REFLECTION

First let me settle some confusion that may arise.  Is this tax collector Levi or Matthew?  Matthew and Levi are the same person. Matthew is the Greek name and Levi was the Hebrew name. As a tax collector, Matthew worked for Greek-speaking Romans. He gathered taxes from Hebrew-speaking Jews.

I love this painting above by Caravaggio, so much in fact that I have it hanging in my office.  Jesus has called me along with the rest of us to service and to spread the Good News.  It reminds me each evening to check, have I been doing my discipleship this day.

It also reminds me of the Prophet Isaiah, Isaiah heard the voice of the Lord, saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?  Then Isaiah said, “Here am I. Send me!” Isaiah 6:8  Am I really ready to volunteer for anything God asks of me.???

Many all called but few are chosen.” Matthew 22:14 Many people hear the call of God through His revelation in creation, through the conscience, and the preaching of the Word. But only the “few” will respond. Jesus said many times, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear”  Matthew 11:15 The point is that everyone has ears, but only a few are listening and responding. The “many” hear, but there is no interest or there is outright antagonism toward God.

“Follow me!”  And he got up and followed him. Now I like the touch in Caravaggio’s painting, where it looks like Matthew is saying who me or are you pointing to me, Lord, don’t you know who I am, a tax collector, a cheat, betrayer of my people.  Jesus can use anything and anybody for the good.

“Those who are well do not need a physician,* but the sick do. I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.”  How lucky are we because we are all sinners.  Jesus came for us that we may know the love and mercy of the Father.  No one forces us to accept the love of the Father. But let us respond with a resounding YES!

PLEASE CHECK OUT MY FRIEND MICHAEL HORN BLOG

Atop Tabor: A Short Piece on The Transfiguration of the Lord – Echoes in Eternity

 

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GOSPEL OF MARK CHAPTERS 3-4

SCRIPTURE

 MARK 3:23-30

the unpardonable sin

The scribes who had come from Jerusalem said, “He is possessed by Beelzebul,”* and “By the prince of demons he drives out demons

 Summoning them, he began to speak to them in parables, “How can Satan drive out Satan? If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.  And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand.

 And if Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand; that is the end of him. But no one can enter a strong man’s house to plunder his property unless he first ties up the strong man. Then he can plunder his house.  Amen, I say to you, all sins and all blasphemies that people utter will be forgiven them. But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit* will never have forgiveness, but is guilty of an everlasting sin. ”For they had said, “He has an unclean spirit.”

WHOEVER BLASPHEMES AGAINST THE HOLY SPIRIT

WILL NEVER RECEIVE FORGIVENESS

REFLECTION

This Scripture reading begins with Jesus being falsely accused then he summons them which means for me he told these misguided leaders to pay attention.  Jesus teaches with authority, remember, and sometimes like with students it is hard for a Teacher to get across to students what they need to know. Jesus points out in parable it makes no sense if I was the devil casting out devils.

This makes me think of division in our Church and in our Country.  A tool of the devil is division, generate fear of other, separate us from each other, and separate us from God.  When we have “fear” and “doubt” be wary of the devil.  God is a God of Peace.  Be Not Afraid.  God is a God of unity.  That all may be one.

Because these scribes accused Jesus of having an unclean spirit they have committed the unpardonable sin.  They have blasphemed against the Holy Spirit.  These scribes rejected the inspiration of the Holy Spirit to acknowledge Jesus as God.

Jesus stood right before them and they accused Him of being the devil instead of the Son of God. “Whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; they are guilty of an eternal sin” Mark 3:29

The only unpardonable sin for us too, today is that of continued unbelief. There is no pardon for a person who dies in his rejection of Christ. The Holy Spirit is at work in the world, convicting the unsaved of sin, righteousness, and judgment John 16:8

 SCRIPTURE

 MARK 3:31-34

who are my brothers and sisters?

His mother and his brothers arrived. Standing outside they sent word to him and called him. A crowd seated around him told him, “Your mother and your brothers* and your sisters are outside asking for you.” But he said to them in reply, “Who are my mother and my brothers?” And looking around at those seated in the circle he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.”

HERE ARE MY MOTHER AND BROTHERS

REFLECTION

We don’t know for sure why his mother and other relatives) came to see him.  Jesus had no brothers or sisters, a common term for any relative.  Maybe they missed him.  Maybe they were worried about him.  Maybe they just liked to hear him preach.  At any rate the crowd wanted to call attention to his Mother and relatives that were seeking him, acceptable hospitality on the part of the crowd, but Jesus had a response no one anticipated.

Jesus said to those seated around Him that they were His mother and brothers!  Why because they were doing the will of God in choosing Jesus, the Word of God.  Nothing is more important than the will of God including family members. Yes we must choose God over family members, if necessary, and that may complicate things but is a family member worth separating from God.

Reminds me of the Martha and Mary story.  Jesus was not criticizing Martha when she asked him to tell her sister to help with preparations for the meal.  The Lord said in gentle manner, Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” So many things we obsess about but only one necessary thing, How are we and God doing?

 SCRIPTURE

MARK 4:26-34

Jesus describes kingdom of heaven in a parable

He said, “This is how it is with the kingdom of God; it is as if a man were to scatter seedj on the land

and would sleep and rise night and day and the seed would sprout and grow, he knows not how

Of its own accord the land yields fruit, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear.

And when the grain is ripe, he wields the sickle at once, for the harvest has come.”

THE SPIRIT BLOWS WHERE IT WILLS

REFLECTION

We don’t have to wait for the next life to share in the kingdom of heaven.  The kingdom grows here on earth by the seeds that are sown by the Holy Spirit and the faith we share with others. It grows and grows into a great Mystical Body of Christ.  Christ is the head and we are the body.  Heaven is a sharing in the divine life of the Father, the Son and Holy Spirit.  Why wait!  Begin now to share in the Divine Life through faith in Jesus.

The Sower that sows the seed knows not how it grows and comes to harvest. Just like we don’t know how our prayers and good deeds affect others. So let’s get busy and flinging those good seeds about and where they land nobody knows but God knows.  The Spirit moves where it wills. “The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit.” John 3:8

SCRIPTURE

 MARK 4:35-41

 be still and know I am God

 On that day, as evening drew on, he said to them, “Let us cross to the other side.” Leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat just as he was. And other boats were with him. A violent squall came up and waves were breaking over the boat, so that it was already filling up.

 Jesus was in the stern, asleep on a cushion. They woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” He woke up, rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Quiet! Be still!”* The wind ceased and there was great calm.

 Then he asked them, “Why are you terrified? Do you not yet have faith?” They were filled with great awe and said to one another, “Who then is this whom even wind and sea obey?”

BE STILL AND KNOW I AM GOD

REFLECTION

Jesus was in the stern, asleep on a cushion “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” Did Jesus care, of course He did but he knew they weren’t going to perish.  Isn’t it something how God knows more than we do.  Jesus spent a good amount of time with his disciples, telling them not to be afraid.  Why was that?  Because the only thing to fear is separation from God. To demonstrate that, Jesus performed another miracle hoping they would get it this time. Jesus stood His ground, ““Quiet! Be still!” The wind ceased and there was great calm.

Just to check out whether his apostles got it yet, He asked, “Why are you terrified? Do you not yet have faith? I put emphasis on the word yet.  How long is it going to take?  How long is it going to take for us?

How is going on our own,  depending just on yourself?  We know we are going to suffer.  Is it better to complain and shake our fists at the world or to welcome Jesus into our every experience?  God never gives us more than we can handle if we are united to Him.  Go it alone?  Go with God?

They were filled with great awe and said to one another, “Who then is this whom even wind and sea obey?”Do we know the answer?  Are we still filled with awe like children when God intercedes in our experiences!

I deliberately chose a modern version of a picture of Jesus calming the sea to remind us that same Jesus, that same God today, will calm our turbulence if we only ask as we make our way to the safe harbor of heaven.

 

 

 

 

 

 

GOSPEL OF MARK CHAPTERS 5-6

SCRIPTURE

Mark 5:26-34

daughter your faith has saved you
There was a woman afflicted with hemorrhages for twelve years. She had suffered greatly at the hands of many doctors and had spent all that she had. Yet she was not helped but only grew worse.

 She had heard about Jesus and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak. She said, “If I but touch his clothes, I shall be cured.” Immediately her flow of blood dried up. She felt in her body that she was healed of her affliction.

 Jesus, aware at once that power had gone out from him, turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who has touched my clothes?” But his disciples said to him, “You see how the crowd is pressing upon you, and yet you ask, ‘Who touched me?’

 And he looked around to see who had done it. The woman, realizing what had happened to her, approached in fear and trembling. She fell down before Jesus and told him the whole truth. He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has saved you. Go in peace and be cured of your affliction.”

DAUGHTER, YOUR FAITH HAS SAVED YOU, GO IN PEACE

REFLECTION

 This woman has been afflicted for years like so many of us.  We try doctors, therapies, medicines and our affliction remains.  We may also pray often an fervently for relief.  And yet it is not God’s hour.  But we trust that God is with us in our affliction and that our suffering is making a difference for the good of others.

This woman did not know Jesus but heard about Jesus from others, other evangelizers, like you and me. Her faith is remarkable, she believed if she just the touch the hem of His garment, salvation would come.

She quietly approached Jesus from a crowd but Jesus felt something go out from Him.  What was it that Jesus felt?  Jesus cries out, Who touched me!  His disciples were dumbfounded, everyone is touching you but Jesus knew that He had been touched by one in need.

The woman realizes she is found out and knows Jesus knows who touched Him, approaches Jesus in fear and trembling.  Do we ever approach Jesus Savior of the world in the Blessed Sacrament in fear and trembling?

Daughter your faith has saved you!  There we have it again Faith saves.  Why is that?  Aren’t we already saved?  Well, yes and know.  Jesus died to save us from our sins.  But the story doesn’t end there. While the door to heaven is unlocked, it is a narrow path for those who believe, follow the Gospel, and repent of their sins.

Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road broad that leads to destruction, and those who enter through it are many. How narrow the gate and constricted the road that leads to life. And those who find it are few.” Matthew 7:14

 SCRIPTURE

Mark 6:1-6

Jesus is amazed at lack of faith in his hometown

Jesus came to his native place,* accompanied by his disciples. When the Sabbath came he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astonished. They said, “Where did this man get all this? What kind of wisdom has been given him? What mighty deeds are wrought by his hands!

 Is he not the carpenter,* the son of Mary, and the brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us?”  And they took offense at him.

 Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his native place and among his own kin and in his own house.” So he was not able to perform any mighty deed there,* apart from curing a few sick people by laying his hands on them.  He was amazed at their lack of faith.

JESUS PREACHES IN SYNAGOGUE IN NAZARETH

REFLECTION

 Jesus preached in His native place, Nazareth.  People were amazed at what they heard. Now why was that, because they could not get beyond the judgment they already had formed about him.  “They took offense at him.

Do we do that, dismiss some real opportunities for grace because we disregard or prejudge the source? Let us be aware that God can tap us on the shoulder anytime anywhere, pay attention. The Spirit of the Lord moves where he wills. Don’t miss God moments!

Jesus’ neighbors had heard about Jesus’ mighty deeds but Jesus wasn’t able to work any in his hometown. Why was that? Lack of FAITH!

“A prophet is not without honor except in his native place and among his own kin and in his own house.” Maybe you feel that way in your own family as you profess your faith. Well, don’t be surprised, it happened to Jesus. We certainly are no better or immune from critics than Jesus.

SCRIPTURE

Mark 6:7-12

the sending of the twelve

 Jesus summoned the Twelve and began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over unclean spirits. He instructed them to take nothing for the journey but a walking stick—no food, no sack, no money in their belts. They were, however, to wear sandals but not a second tunic.  

 He said to them, “Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you leave from there. Whatever place does not welcome you or listen to you, leave there and shake the dust off your feet in testimony against them.” So they went off and preached repentance. They drove out many demons, and they anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them.

JESUS SENDS THEM TWO BY TWO TO PREACH REPENTANCE

REFLECTION

What do we see and hear in this Scripture reading?  Jesus summoned the apostles.  He was going to give them an important command, pay attention, do as I say.  Jesus knew it was a tough job to go out and evangelize those who haven’t yet heard the word or maybe did, and was hostile to it.

So Jesus wants his apostles to be fortified with prayer and fasting to depend on God for this important mission not themselves, no food, no money, no extra clothes…God will provide.  How strong do we believe in God’s providence?

Jesus gave the apostles authority over unclean spirits whether that be disease or demonic possession.  Jesus can  give someone else the power in His name to remove unclean spirits like in the Sacrament of Baptism and Sacrament of Reconciliation.

“Whatever place does not welcome you or listen to you, leave there and shake the dust off your feet in testimony against them” Jesus is telling his apostles time is short, so great the harvest, so few laborers, use your time wisely.  Some people will reject Jesus to the very end.  Pray for those hardened of heart that they may repent.

I don’t know about you but over the years I have shaken the dust from many jobs and positions when it just became brutally apparent I could no longer be an influence for the good.  It is better to have a clean heart than stubbornly push ahead with only prideful motives in  pursuing your agenda.

SCRIPTURE

Mark 6:30-33

the return of the twelve.

The apostles* gathered together with Jesus and reported all they had done and taught. He said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.”

 People were coming and going in great numbers, and they had no opportunity even to eat. So they went off in the boat by themselves to a deserted place.  People saw them leaving and many came to know about it. They hastened there on foot from all the towns and arrived at the place before them.

COME AWAY AND REST AWHILE

 REFLECTION

 Mark does not tell us how long the apostles were gone or their accomplishments or failures.  We have to imagine that for ourselves.  But Jesus must have felt they needed a break to refresh and move forward.  Jesus said, “Come away and rest awhile.” I don’t think Jesus meant to hit the golf links.

We, too, need to rest in Christ. Welcome the Spirit of Christ into our hearts and ask for discernment of what our mission is all about. Ask for grace of perseverance that we may run the good race and finish the race in heaven.

Sometimes that is difficult with all the noise of the world. But we must set time aside for rest, reflection, and prayer. What is God calling us to do today? For sure, He is asking that we give glory and praise to Him in our thoughts, words, and deeds.

 Crowds that had heard or witnessed the might deeds of Jesus and His disciples were pursuing them even to the point of beating Jesus and His apostles to their deserted place.  That is some pursuit.  Do we pursue Jesus?  Do we persevere to the point of finding Him?  He is right there next to you, you know.

 SCRIPTURE

Mark 6:24-44

feeding of the five thousand.

When Jesus disembarked and saw the vast crowd, his heart was moved with pity for them, for they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things. By now it was already late and his disciples approached him and said, “This is a deserted place and it is already very late. Dismiss them so that they can go to the surrounding farms and villages and buy themselves something to eat.”

 He said to them in reply, “Give them some food yourselves.” But they said to him, “Are we to buy two hundred days wages worth of food and give it to them to eat?” He asked them, “How many loaves do you have? Go and see.” And when they had found out they said, “Five loaves and two fish.” So he gave orders to have them sit down in groups on the green grass. The people took their places in rows by hundreds and by fifties.

 Then, taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he said the blessing, broke the loaves, and gave them to [his] disciples to set before the people; he also divided the two fish among them all.* They all ate and were satisfied. And they picked up twelve wicker baskets full of fragments and what was left of the fish.  Those who ate were five thousand men.

JESUS FEEDS FIVE THOUSAND

 REFLECTION

 The apostles were thinking in practical terms and showing compassion to the hungry people when asking Jesus to dismiss them so they could take care of their human needs.  But Jesus must have wondered how long have these fellows been with me. I never disappoint.  “taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he said the blessing” Jesus gave them to his disciples to distribute. They all ate and were satisfied. We don’t always see the way God sees but let’s try!

In the Old Testament God provided his people with Bread from Heaven. Then the LORD said to Moses:a I am going to rain down bread from heaven Exodus 16:4

In the morning there was a layer of dew all about the camp, and when the layer of dew evaporated, fine flakes w like hoarfrost lay on the ground. On seeing it, the Israelites asked one another, “What is this?”  (the people of Israel asked in Hebrew “Ma’n Hu?” {?מן הוא} – translates into English for “what is it?) But Moses told them, “It is the bread which the LORD has given you to eat. Exodus 16:14-16

Now in the New Testament we have Jesus’ miracle of loaves and fishes, more food from heaven.  Many will pursue Jesus for this food and miss the point of a God that provides all good things to His people.  Jesus continually tries to tell the people how God will provide.

Look at the birds of the [a]air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? 27 And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life?…Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?…for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.  But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Matthew 6:26-35

 BREAD OF LIFE DISCOURSE JOHN 26-57

  “Amen, amen, I say to you, you are looking for me not because you saw signs but because you ate the loaves and were filled. Do not work for food that perishes but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you….

 Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst….I am the bread of life. Your ancestors ate the manna in the desert, but they died;…Unlike your ancestors who ate and still died, whoever eats this bread will live forever.”

I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever…Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you.  Whoever eats* my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink…Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him.

INSTITUTION OF THE EUCHARIST

 At the Last Supper Jesus gives himself to the Apostles and to us for all times.  

Then he took the bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which will be given for you; do this in memory of me.” And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which will be shed for you. Luke 22:19-20

 Jesus is truly the life of the world and whoever receives him into their heart will live forever.  Lord I am not worthy to receive you but say the word and my soul will be healed!

 

 

 

 

 

FAITH IS FREE GIFT FROM GOD PRAY FOR IT! ACCEPT IT! PROTECT IT!

 “O YOU OF LITTLE FAITH, WHY DID YOU DOUBT?” MATTHEW 14:31

 INTRODUCTION

Peter and the other disciples were in the boat when they saw Jesus walking on water.  They were terrified even though they had seen many miraculous things He had done.  They thought it was a ghost and we know how superstitious fishermen are.  Peter cries out, if it is you Lord, tell me to come on the water.  Jesus says, “Come!” Jesus confirms for Peter; He, indeed is the Lord!

Peter began to fear outside the boat and cries out, “Lord Save Me!”  Jesus reaches out and takes him by the hand. “You of little faith why did you doubt?” I begin this blog with this Scripture story because it contains many of the points I want to call attention to.

There are different kinds of “faith” There is an everyday kind where you believe when you get out of bed you won’t fall down, your breakfast won’t make you sick, and you will safely drive to work. and you won’t catch Covid 19 today.

There is another kind of FAITH that is related to a heavenly Father that wants a relationship with us and provide for our physical and spiritual well-being. I will be talking about the Theological virtue of FAITH in today’s blog.  Faith is a gift of the Father.  We need to pray for it.  We can lose it altogether or it can become weak and leads to falling and stumbling, and sometimes even separation from our Father in heaven.

The Disciples became afraid seeing Jesus walking on water and lost sight of who Jesus was, who He said He was, and the many proofs He was who He says He is.

Peter plays the game of testing God, okay Lord I am testing you if you are Lord tell me to come to you.  It is sort of what Satan did in temptations of Jesus in desert.  “If you are the Son of God, turn these stones into bread.”  Maybe we play that game too, God if you do this, I will believe, Hmmm, how does that work out for us?

BACKGROUND

 WHAT THE CHURCH TEACHES

 CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH

 CCC 814  Faith is the theological virtue by which we believe in God and believe all that he has said and revealed to us…  By faith “man freely commits his entire self to God.”

CCC 1816 The disciple of Christ must not only keep the faith and live it, but also profess it, confidently bear witness to it, and spread it: “All must be prepared to confess Christ before men and to follow him amidst the persecutions which the Church never lacks.

CCC 154-155 Faith is human. Believing is possible only by grace and the interior helps of the Holy Spirit….”In faith, the human intellect and will co-operate with divine grace: Believing is an act of the intellect assenting to the divine truth by command of the will moved by God through grace.

CCC 160 Faith is an act of freedom. To be human, man’s response to God by faith must be free and… therefore nobody is to be forced to embrace the faith against his will. The act of faith is of its very nature a free act. God calls men to serve him in spirit and in truth… but not coerced…”

SCRIPTURE

 THE POWER OF FAITH

Mark 9:23– And Jesus said to him, “‘If you can! All things are possible for one who believes.”

Matthew 21:21– And Jesus answered, “Truly, I say to you, if you have FAITH  and do not doubt and say to this mountain,  “Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ it will happen..” ‘

Matthew 8:10 A Roman centurion, a pagan and Gentile, approached Jesus and told him his servant was paralyzed at home in great pain and Jesus agreed to come heal him.

The Centurion replied, “Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed…Jesus responded; “I tell you the truth, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith.’” Jesus said to the centurion, “You may go; as you have believed, let it be done for you.” And at that very hour [his] servant was healed.

Matthew 15:22 One more story of incredible faith outside the chosen people, A Canaanite woman, a pagan also, begged Jesus to cure her demon-possessed daughter.  At first Jesus rebuffs her, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel but the woman persisted in her faith in Jesus. Jesus was moved by that faith and said to her, “O woman, your faith is great; it shall be done for you as you wish.” And her daughter was healed at once.

SEE WHAT GREAT FAITH THIS WOMAN WHO PERSEVERES

COMMENTARY

In the letter to the Hebrews, chapter 11, we find this definition of faith given by St. Paul, “Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”

Faith is a gift from God, animated by the Holy Spirit, who creates in our hearts a desire for God.  God never ceases to draw us to Himself.  Although we can forget God or reject God, God never ceases to call everyone to seek Him and to find eternal life.

The Holy Spirit animates our minds and hearts so that we may recognize Jesus for who He is.  “For no one can say Jesus is Lord except the Holy Spirit and who He has revealed him.”

I Cor. 12:13

There are many ways to know or approach God.  Beginning with Creation, its beauty, and order, we can come to the knowledge of an intelligent First Cause.  The world and the human person both attest to the fact that they are not their own origins.  Our holy Mother the Church holds and teaches us that God is the first principle and last end of all things and can be known with certainty from the created world by the natural light of human reason.  The human person’s faculties, mind, intellect, and memory, welcome the revelation of a personal God.

Faith is a dialogue of love with God.  In His revelation, God says, “I love you.”  In Faith we say, “We gratefully accept your love and return it to you, Father.” I Corinthians 3:11   It is not so much about our love for God that is so very crucial in the beginning but an acknowledgement and an acceptance of God’s love for us.

By the gift of faith, the Holy Spirit enables us to enter into relationship with God.  After death we call that relationship, eternal life.  But right now, this life in Jesus begins through the “obedience of faith.”  With his whole being man gives his assent to God the revealer.

This obedience of faith can most perfectly be seen in the exemplar of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God.  By faith Mary welcomes the tidings and promise brought by the angel Gabriel, believing that “with God nothing will be impossible.” Mary is the Mother of God and our Mother too.  Mary will always lead us to her son, Jesus.

CONCLUSION

Faith is an entirely free gift that God makes to man. We must pray steadfastly for this gift. Faith is a priceless gift, a pearl of great price.  To love, grow, and persevere in our Faith, we must nourish it with the Word of God and practice it through works of charity.  We must persevere in faith until we enter eternal life.

We must pray never to lose FAITH and ask the Holy Spirit for His guidance and protection against onslaughts and attacks by a faithless world.   Paul said to his disciple, Timothy, “By rejecting conscience, certain persons have made a shipwreck of their Faith.” I Tim.1:18-19

Faith makes us taste in advance the light of the beatific vision.  “Then we shall see God, face to face, as He is.”

I Cor. 13:12 The Theological virtue of Faith right now, is the beginning of eternal life.  Pray that the Holy Spirit inspires our minds and hearts and strengthens our wills to say YES to God as Mother Mary did.

PRAYER

Heavenly Father, you have in your love given us your precious gift of faith.  May all you wished to reveal to us be opened in our hearts. Send your Spirit to protect and guide this most precious gift.  Thank you for loving us and revealing that love in your only-begotten Son, Jesus, through the inspiration of the Most Holy Spirit. Amen.

 

 

 

 

 

 

GOSPEL OF MARK CHAPTER 7

SCRIPTURE

Mark 7:1-23

 Man-made traditions vs God’s law

Now when the Pharisees with some scribes who had come from Jerusalem gathered around him, they observed that some of his disciples ate their meals with unwashed, hands. For the Pharisees and, in fact, all Jews, do not eat without carefully washing their hands,* keeping the tradition of the elders….

 So the Pharisees and scribes questioned him, “Why do your disciples not follow the tradition of the elders* but instead eat a meal with unclean hands?”  

 He responded, “Well did Isaiah prophesy about you hypocrites, as it is written:  This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me; In vain, do they worship me, teaching human precepts.as doctrines.

You disregard God’s commandment but cling to human tradition.” He went on to say, “How well you have set aside the commandment of God in order to uphold your tradition!

For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and ‘Whoever curses father or mother shall die. Yet you say, “If a person says to father or mother, “Any support you may have had from me is Corban, meaning it is dedicated to God.

You allow him to do nothing more for his father and mother.  You nullify the word of God in favor of your tradition that you have handed on….

He summoned the crowd and said to them, “Hear me, all of you, and understand. Nothing that enters one from outside can defile that person; but the things that come out from within are what defile.” When he got home away from the crowd his disciples questioned him about this.

He said to them, “Are even you likewise without understanding? Do you not realize that everything that goes into a person from outside cannot defile, since it enters not the heart but the stomach and passes out into the latrine?” (Thus he declared all foods clean.)

“But what comes out of a person, is what defiles. From within people, from their hearts, come evil thoughts, un-chastity, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, envy, blasphemy, arrogance, folly. All these evils come from within and they defile.”

YOU NULLIFY THE LAW OF GOD IN FAVOR OF HUMAN TRADITIONS

 REFLECTION

There are man-made laws and God’s law.  Which are better for us to obey?  Is it worth getting the praise of our friends and society for following the trends of today?  Is popularity going to get us into heaven where we want to go?

Do we hedge our bets?  Maybe I can get away with this but not that? Will God overlook this and that on judgment day? Or will we hear, ““How well you have set aside the commandment of God in order to uphold your tradition!

Traditions are nice.  They can bring families together at Thanksgiving and Christmas time.  But traditions are generally humanly sourced.  A man once asked his wife at Thanksgiving why she cut both ends of the ham off before cooking.  She said her mother always had.  Of course the context is her mother back in her day did it to fit into the cooking pan she had available.

Washing our hands is important especially now in this pandemic.  But we don’t know what the circumstance was when Jesus’ disciples, without washing their hands, were eating.  Maybe there was no water available.  I am sure they didn’t do it just to aggravate the Pharisees.

Jesus points out to the Scribes and Pharisees they are nit picking by selectively supporting human tradition while disregarding God’s law to honor their parents.  Aging Parents were heavily dependent on support of their children.  Corban, a man-made tradition, “I would like to help but I have dedicated everything to God,” gave these hypocrites an out, an excuse, not to spend their money in support of their parents.

Jesus, also, takes this opportunity to teach a lesson on the source of evil in this world.  It is not something we take in but is already present in our hearts. “From within people, from their hearts, come evil thoughts, un-chastity, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, envy, blasphemy, arrogance, folly. If our hearts are separated from God so will our actions be.

MAY OUR HEARTS BE IN UNION

WITH THE SACRED HEART OF JESUS

SCRIPTURE

Mark 7:31-37

He has done all things well

Jesus left the district of Tyre and went by way of Sidon to the Sea of Galilee, into the district of the Decapolis.

People brought to him a deaf man who had a speech impediment and begged him to lay his hand on him. Jesus took him off by himself away from the crowd.

 He put his finger into the man’s ears and, spitting, touched his tongue then he looked up to heaven and groaned, and said to him, “Ephphatha!” (that is, “Be opened!”)

 And [immediately] the man’s ears were opened, his speech impediment was removed, and he spoke plainly.

Jesus ordered them not to tell anyone. But the more he ordered them not to, the more they proclaimed it. They were exceedingly astonished and they said, “He has done all things well. He makes the deaf hear and [the] mute speak.

HE HAS DONE ALL THINGS WELL.

HE MAKES THE DEAF HEAR AND [THE] MUTE SPEAK.”

REFLECTION

Jesus is foretold as the Messiah, the anointed one by God in the book of the prophet Isaiah, “Be strong, do not fear!… your God, he comes with vindication; With divine recompense he comes to save you. Then the eyes of the blind shall see, and the ears of the deaf be opened; Then the lame shall leap like a stag, and the mute tongue sing for joy.” Isaiah 35:4-6

In the New Testament, Jesus confirms that He is the one the nation of Israel have been waiting for.  John the Baptist, while in prison, sends his disciples to Jesus, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?….Go tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind regain their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have the good news proclaimed to them, blessed is the one who takes no offense at me.” Luke 7:19-23

Jesus arrives in this world not with fan-fare but born in a stable attended by shepherds and their sheep.

So it is not surprising that Jesus took the deaf mute aside from the crowd.  Jesus has no need to boast or show off.  Do we boast of our good deeds?  Only God is good.  Only the grace of God results in good actions on our part. Remember what St. Paul said in 2nd Corinthians, “Whoever boasts should boast in the Lord.”

What has always surprised me about this miracle is Jesus touching the ears and rubbing spittle on the tongue of the deaf mute.  I like to think Jesus who is human and divine knows how important sense experience is to the human being, hearing, seeing, touching etc Jesus uses human touch to reveal Divine mystery.

Praise be Jesus Christ, Our Lord and Savior!

 

 

GOSPEL OF MARK CHAPTER 8

SCRIPTURE

MARK 8:27-30
Peter’s Confession about Jesus

Now Jesus and his disciples set out for the villages of Caesarea Philippi. Along the way he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” They said in reply, “John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others one of the prophets.” And he asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter said to him in reply, “You are the Christ” Then he warned them not to tell anyone about him.

YOU ARE THE CHRIST

REFLECTION

You are the Christ.” Some Scriptures have Peter saying, “You are the Messiah.” What is the difference?  There is no difference.  Messiah is a word of Hebrew origin; Christ is a word of Greek origin.

Both titles mean “anointed one.” And by the way Jesus’ last name is NOT Christ.

Many of the prophecies concerning the Messiah included promises that the Messiah would have a kingdom that would never end. (Isa 9:7, Dan 7:14, 2 Sam 7:13).  Jesus is the promised one, the anointed one, the Messiah because He rose from the dead on Easter Sunday and His kingdom is everlasting.

“I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.” Daniel 7:13-14

When Jesus asked his disciples, who do people say I am, he wasn’t looking for a survey of public opinion.  Jesus knew he had followers and critics and some followers looking for a free meal or spectacular miracle.

No, Jesus was testing his closest disciples.  He was also looking for who the Spirit of God inspired.  After all Peter a mere human could not come up with this on his own.  Peter spoke for all, no one countered with another opinion.  Then Jesus warned to keep it to themselves; His hour had not yet come.  He had more teaching to do.

Who do we say Jesus is?  Do we say it to others?  Are we still striving to get our arms around Jesus literally and figuratively?  St. Jerome said, “Ignorance of Scripture, is ignorance of Jesus.”  When was the last time we cracked open that bible gathering dust on the night stand?  We are commissioned at our Baptism to be disciples of Christ to go out, bear witness.  How can we bear witness to what we don’t know?

SCRIPTURE

 MARK 8:31-33

The First Prediction of the Passion.

He began to teach them that the Son of Man* must suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and rise after three days. He spoke this openly.

 Then Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. At this he turned around and, looking at his disciples, rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan. You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do.”

GET BEHIND ME SATAN

REFLECTION

Now, that Jesus has confirmed who He is, the Messiah He continues teaching what that means from Scripture.

The “Suffering Servant,” has been long understood by the historical Rabbis of Judaism to speak of the Redeemer (Messiah) who will one day come to Zion. a man of suffering, knowing pain.

Like one from whom you turn your face, spurned, and we held him in no esteem. Yet it was our pain that he bore, our sufferings he endured….He bore the punishment that makes us whole, by his wounds we were healed.

 Though harshly treated, he submitted and did not open his mouth; Like a lamb led to slaughter…Seized and condemned, he was taken away….struck for the sins of his people….Though he had done no wrong…

By making his life as a reparation offering and the LORD’s will shall be accomplished through him. Because he surrendered himself to death, was counted among the transgressors, Bore the sins of many and interceded for the transgressors”. Isaiah 53

Jesus did not mean Peter was Satan, just acting like Satan, the tempter in the dessert.  “The tempter approached and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command that these stones become loaves of bread.” He said in reply, “It is written One does not live by bread alone,  but by every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.” Matthew 4:3-4

Jesus rebuked Peter for thinking as human beings think and not as God thinks, wills.  How many times do we impulsively speak and act without ever checking what God may think? Do we really have a God filter on our tongue before we speak?

When we speak is our focus on us and what we say or what the other person may or may not hear?  An appropriate prayer before we speak to someone, especially a difficult person, may be God help the person I am speaking with hear what You want them to hear.

As Peter was a stumbling block to Jesus fulfilling the will of the Father, are we ever a stumbling blocks to others by our indifference, our pride, our argumentative nature?

 SCRIPTURE

 MARK 8:34-38

The Conditions of Discipleship.

He summoned the crowd with his disciples and said to them, “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 and that of the gospel* will save it.  What profit is there for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? What could one give in exchange for his life? Whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this faithless and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.

TAKE UP YOUR CROSS AND FOLLOW ME

 REFLECTION

 Jesus summoned the crowd. Whenever Jesus summons a crowd in Scripture you know He has some very important information to share. Jesus will lay out what it means to be a disciple.  When one is asked are you are a Christian, a person  may answer yes I believe in Jesus the Savior who died for my sins and rose again from the dead.  But are they are a disciple like we are called to be at our Baptism and confirmed at Confirmation.

What it means to be a disciple is to conform to Jesus, to be Jesus in this world to others.

For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and that of the gospel* will save it.” What is that all about?  We all have a strong sense of self preservation and that is a gift from God.  So what life is Jesus talking about here.  He is talking about how we live our lives, the choices we make, what is most important to us, where our treasure is.  Is God number 1 in our life choices, is our primary goal to give glory and praise to God each and every day?

“What profit is there for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life?” Now here, Jesus is talking about end times, for some of us sooner than later.  You can’t take anything material with you.  All you take is spirit and truth.

How have I loved?  Am I thankful for the life God has gifted me with?  Have I borne witness to Christ or have I been ashamed, embarrassed, fearful, to bear witness to Jesus Christ and the Gospel. Is life eternal with God something I will be compatible with or have I been estranged in my life on earth?