7th Sunday, Reconciled to God and Father (Jeff Cavins)

In the first reading, Abishai proposed keeping with the ordinary notions of retributive justice (he asked David if he could kill Saul by nailing him to ground and thrusting his spear into him). But David knew that the Lord shows himself merciful with the merciful – that is to say, he understood that a compassionate and generous God wants his servants to be like him in returning good for evil.

What we see in David, however, is only a foreshadowing of what we find in Jesus of Nazareth, who revealed the full measure of God’s love for all humanity. Throughout the course of His earthly life Jesus was entirely devoted to the work of reconciliation that had been entrusted to him by his Heavenly Father. And his mission as Mediator between God and man was fully accomplished when He died upon the cross. As Saint Paul puts it: when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son. Indeed, when Jesus Christ laid down his life for our salvation, He not only restored our friendship with the Creator of world – as the last Adam, who came from Heaven – but even made us partakers of his own divine son-ship – as the true Son of the living God.

We can only be acknowledged as sons and daughters of the Most High if we in our turn are willing to reconcile ourselves with one another. How? – we might ask.

In today’s Gospel we are told that the only way to make our peace with all our brothers and sisters – with friend and foe alike – is to take God Himself and His only-begotten Son as the model for our dealings with others. In fact what Jesus really means when He exhorts us to do to others as we would have them do to us is that we should follow his example in imitating his Heavenly Father, who is kind even to the ungrateful and the wicked.

So we are asked to do good to those who hate us, because our Creator showed His love for us when were we were still his enemies. We are asked not to resist an evil person, because Christ was delivered into the hands of sinful men to be crucified. We are asked to lend and give freely, because God the Father did not spare his own Son but delivered him up for us all.

Jeff Cavins, was the former host of Life on the Rock on EWTN. He tells the story of his reconciliation with the Church and with his father. At the age of 18, he left the Catholic Church due to his rebellion against his father.

When he was 18, his father struck him in the face and he fell to the ground. While lying on the floor, he pointed to his father, and said, “I am no son of yours.”

When that happened he left home and also left the Catholic Church. He rebelled against the authority of his father and rebelled against the authority of the Church. He had poor Catechesis as a child. He never read the bible much as a Catholic.

He began to study the bible and eventually became a Protestant pastor. But, the more he studied scripture, the more he began to understand the Catholic faith in the bible. He saw scripture and tradition together, whereas non-Catholics only believed in the bible. The Jews believed in tradition and also scripture. He realized scripture alone was a problem. He saw how the Eucharist in the bible was Catholic. He came to understand the Jews would bring a lamb or buy a lamb and they had to be be sacrificed in the temple.

In the Old Testament Jews ate the lamb on Passover and he came to understand how we need to eat the lamb today, and that lamb is the Eucharist in the Passover of the Mass. He began to study more and more and was convinced that the Catholic Church was right, but one one of his issues was the papacy, and so began to study the papacy.

He discovered there are 28,000 denominations in the USA alone and each had their own authority. He realized as a non-Catholic pastor, he had the Word of God, but anyone could interpret the Bible to their own liking and each denomination and each person was their own authority.

He watched a video of Pope John Paul II at World Youth Day in Denver, and he said to his wife, “That is the vicar of Christ.” “That is my father”.

He realized he was being his own “pope” with his own authority, but that there was a real pope, who had authority given to Him by Christ. He realized he had to be reconciled with his father, who he had rebelled against.

A non-Catholic Lutheran pastor revealed to him he had a rebellious heart against his father and the Church. He thought he could prove it that he didn’t need a father.

After Jeff was convinced of his calling back to the Church, there were a series of events that happened. One day, when he was going out of town, his mother came to watch his daughter. But, that night his father had a heart attack. When went to see his father, his father said to him, “I am sorry for hitting you. But, one thing really bothers me. You said, “I am no son of yours.” In response, Jeff embraced his father saying, “I am sorry. I am your son. I love you. You are my father.” He said when this event happened, there was a tremendous healing and reconciliation not only with the Catholic Church, but a healing with his father.

Over the years, he was running from his father. He was running from authority of the Church. But, once, he reconciled with his father, he was able to fully embrace the Church and saw the need for a spiritual father, the pope. He realized the Church was built on Peter, the rock. He recalled that Jesus said, “Peter, you are rock and on this rock, I will build my Church”. Jeff said, the keys were given to Peter, who was then given the authority of Jesus to lead the Church.

Jesus is our shepherd. He loves us. As a shepherd He made sure you would be taken care of by giving us a shepherd of the Church. He has a responsibility to feed us. Jesus feeds us with His body and blood. He feeds us with the teachings of the Church. Jesus established His Church and He established His authority in Rome.

He said, at times, what comes out of Rome can be confusing. There has been a lot of goofy things over the years. But, it’s beautiful how Christ communicates to us, even through the goofy times. He said, “Look at Moses and David who were leaders of the Jewish people, and yet they were both murderers. But, God still worked through them”.

Jeff reverted to the Catholic Church because he needed a father. When he saw Pope John Paul II, he knew he had come home back to the Catholic Church. He said the Catholic faith is there from the beginning of our life (through baptism) and to the end with the sacrament of the sick, Confession and the Eucharist for the Journey Home to heaven. He said in the Catholic Church there is certitude because of apostolic succession, the handing on of the deposit of faith (Scripture and Tradition). He said there is certitude because of the Pope, who is the vicar of Christ, whose job it is to lead the Church.

We see in this story how precious and beautiful our Catholic faith is. We see the importance of being reconciled with God and with others. We see Jesus as the example and hope for all of us. Today, let us resolve to be reconciled with God often through the sacrament of Confession and rejoice in God’s unfathomable mercy.

Seven Servites, Feb 17th

 

Today, we celebrate the commemoration of the Seven Servites, a confraternity of religious men.

On the Feast of the Assumption, August, 15th 1233, these seven young men, with other members of the Laudesi, having confessed and received Holy Communion, were each and all making their thanksgiving after Mass. Each, unknown to those about them, fell into an ecstasy. Each seemed to himself surrounded by supernatural light, in the midst of which Our Lady appeared to them accompanied by angels, who spoke to each of them the words; “Leave the world, retire together into solitude, that you may fight against yourselves, and live wholly for God. You will thus experience heavenly consolations. My protection and assistance will never fail you.”

The vision faded, the congregation dispersed, only the Seven remained, each meditating what the vision might mean. Bonfilius Monaldi, as the eldest, broke the silence, telling what had befallen him, saying he was ready to obey Our Lady’s call.

Some of these men were engaged in business, some in offices of state, four had family ties, which it was not easy to break, especially since the Church suffers no married man or woman to enter into religion unless the other party to the marriage contract does so too. It is believed all social and worldly arrangements were made; and by the eighth of September, the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin, they were free to obey, they had stripped themselves of all that bound them to the world.

The director sketched out a plan of community life. They adopted a habit of gray wool, with a leather cincture, and found a house just outside the city walls, where they might pass much of their time in solitude and prayer, yet near enough to the city to give an example to those they had so lately left. All this was done with the approval of the Bishop; it was merely a question of certain men living a mortified life in community; the bishop granted permission to James to live with them as their chaplain, to celebrate Mass in their oratory, and to reserve the Blessed Sacrament.

Their appearance drew a crowd of sympathizers, who, recognizing their great renunciation and sanctity, pressed to touch their garments, to kiss their hands and entreat their blessing. Suddenly, from the midst of the crowd, were heard the voices of children who cried: “See, the Servants of Mary.” The same exclamation was made still more wonderfully on the following thirteenth of January, when a child only five months old, spoke for the first time in crying said, “Mother, those are Mary’s Servants, give them an alms.” The child’s name was Philip Benizi, who afterwards became one of the greatest Saints of the Order and its superior general.

The community became instrument in helping the Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows to be added to the Church calendar as they prayed often the 7 Sorrows of Mary.

The seven sorrows are as follows: 1 The presentation of Jesus in the temple (when Mary was told a sword would pierce Her Heart); 2 the Flight into Egypt; 3 the Loss of Jesus for three days; 4 Mary meets Jesus on the way of the Cross; 5 Mary stands at the Foot of the Cross; 6 Jesus is taken down from the Cross and placed in Mary’s arms and 7 Jesus is placed into the tomb.

Today, I would like to encourage you to learn and pray the 7 Sorrows of Mary, also called the Servite Rosary. Many special graces are given to those who pray it.

6th Sunday, Beatitudes

 

Today the Church gives us the Beatitudes from the Gospel of Luke. The Beatitudes help us to have a positive view of life and seek the life to come.

As we now examine each Beatitude, think about how these words help us to accept life’s difficulties today and are means to seek heaven.

“Blessed are you, who are poor.” Some view being poor as though it were a curse or something to avoid for the sake of a better life. However, to be poor in spirit means that we come to understand and accept-- we truly own nothing because all we have is a gift from God. This beatitude reminds us to follow the stewardship way of life. As a steward of God’s gifts, we should use our time, talent and treasure as God desires. Am I giving my time, talent and treasure as well as I ought? When I become aware of my intelligence, wealth, success, gifts and talents-- do I give God the credit. If I have a financial hardship do I trust God to take care of all my needs and abandon myself to His care?

“Blessed are those who are hungry, for you will be satisfied.” Some are able to eat what they want, when the want it. As a child, I believed only rich people ate steaks or rich people went out to eat, because my family rarely went to a restaurant and if we did, our parents would order for us. We didn’t have a choice as to the foods, we could eat. But, we didn’t care, because we were just happy to eat out.

This beatitude also refers to those who hunger for righteousness. We hunger to be holy. How many of us wake up in the morning and pray to Jesus, “I want to become a saint!” “I desire to be holy and virtuous!” We can grow in holiness by coming to daily Mass, going to confession weekly or monthly, praying the Rosary everyday, daily reading a paragraph from one of the Gospels and meditating on the life of Jesus and spending an hour with Jesus in Eucharistic Adoration. If you want to hunger and thirst for righteousness, wake up every morning and pray, “Jesus, help me to become a saint!”

“Blessed are those who are now weeping, for you will laugh”— As Christians we are to comfort those who suffer, especially the loss of a loved one. We should attend funerals and comfort those who mourn. We should pray for those who have died and offer Masses for the repose of their soul. We should also comfort those who go through difficult situations, such as illness, tragedies, divorce or family hardship. If we are parents with teens—we should listen to them—and support them during their difficult time as they mature into adulthood. In heaven, we will rejoice and laugh looking back at how we endured sadness in this life. We will laugh because it will make us smile, because the crosses we embraced at the time seemed so big, but were in fact, much smaller than we thought and the Lord helped us to carry the Cross, when we thought we were carrying it alone.

“Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude and insult you, and denounce your name as evil on account of the Son of Man. Rejoice and leap for joy on that day. Behold your reward will be great in heaven.”

Not many of us are insulted for our faith, primarily because we don’t express it to others. Catholics suffer persecution when we express our faith among family and co-workers, and talk about topics such as abortion, contraception, the Blessed Virgin Mary or the true presence of Jesus in the Eucharist.

Our Lord was spurned and avoided by men, we say that we want to follow Jesus and be like Him, but are we ready to embrace the difficult truth that imitating Christ means being acquainted with suffering?

If Jesus suffered, was rejected and persecuted, who are we to think, we are better than Him and can escape them? Rather, we should rejoice in sharing in Christ’s sufferings and be glad for we are more conformed to Christ, when we endure a small portion of His rejection and pain.

Jesus then give us the woes. “But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation. Woe to you who are filled now, for you will be hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you will grieve and weep. Woe to you when all speak well of you, for their ancestors treated the false prophets in this way.”

There is nothing wrong, with being rich, with being filled, with laughing, or when others speak well of us. Rather, we see these as warning signs.

The proclamations of woes are not condemnations; they are not an expression of hatred, or envy or of hostility. The point is not condemnation, but a warning that is intended to save.

They are warnings signs that if we are not living the beatitudes, we risk the loss of the deepest happiness found in God alone and in heaven.

It’s not that we should avoid hunger, poverty, tears and rejection. But, as Pope St. Gregory the Great warned, “Rather there is a danger that if the prosperous are not careful, they may love their pilgrimage more than their homeland and transform the supplies for their journey into an impediment for their arrival.”

Suffering, borne well, on the other hand, can increase our desire for heaven and help prepare us to receive the joy that is to come.

If we life our life, based upon the Beatitudes, God will give us a grace of true conversion of heart, by turning away from sin, turning toward God and opening our heart to our neighbor and we will remember, that we are on a journey, through a place that is not our home. But rather we heading toward our final destination of heaven, our true and lasting home.

Today, ask the Blessed Virgin Mary to help live the beatitudes. She is a good mother and will always watch over us and help us to through this valley of tears to reach the harbor of salvation.

Our Lady of Lourdes, Feb 11th

Today, we celebrate the memorial of Our Lady of Lourdes. On February 11^th, 1858, when Bernadette was 14 yrs. old, she, her sister and a friend went looking for wood-- in a meadow, near “the River Gave". While in front of the Grotto of Massibiele she heard "a noise like a gust of wind", but "none of the trees were moving". Bernadette describes what she saw: “I saw a Lady in white. I was a little frightened, and thinking I was seeing things (an illusion), I rubbed my eyes, but in vain…. The Lady took up the Rosary, She held in her hands and She made the Sign of the Cross. I tried again to make it and this time I could. My great fear went “away” as soon as I made the Sign of the Cross. I knelt down, and said the Rosary before this beautiful Lady.” This was the first apparition of the Virgin Mary in Lourdes.

The Grotto was called the "pigs' shelter" because pigs fed in the area—and took shelter there. It was here the Virgin Mary, dressed in white, appeared as a sign of total purity.

During the third apparition Feb. 18^th, the Virgin Mary spoke the first time. Bernadette held out a sheet of paper and a pencil so she might write her name, but the Lady replied: "what I have to say to you does not have to be written down". This was an extraordinary statement which meant the Virgin Mary wanted a personal relationship with Her. Mary then said, "Would you do me the kindness of coming here for 15 days?" Bernadette was overwhelmed because it was the first time anyone addressed her in a formal way.

Our Lady then said, "I do not promise to make you happy in this world but in the other.” Mary was stating we cannot find true happiness in a world of violence, lies, impurity, greed, and war. But, someday we hope to enter the heavenly world of love, peace and joy.

During the first seven apparitions of the Virgin Mary, Bernadette had a radiant face with joy and happiness. However, between the eighth and twelfth apparitions her face became sad and sorrowful. She moved on her knees to the back of the Grotto, kissed the disgusting ground used by pigs, ate the grass, and took mud in her hands and smeared her face.

At the ninth Apparition, "the Lady" asked Bernadette again to scrape the ground in the "pigs’ shelter", saying, "Go to the spring, drink of it and wash yourself there". At first the water was muddy but then it became clear. The spring of water would prove to be miraculous.

Bernadette then told those around her that Our Lady said, "Penance, penance, penance, pray for sinners". By penance we understand to offer sacrifices for the conversion of sinners. We pray for sinners that they may turn away from sin and turn toward God.

During the 13^th apparition, Our Lady said to Bernadette: "Go, tell the priests to come here in procession and build a chapel here." Processions would begin because of the miracles and many people, who would come to be healed in the water. A chapel would be built in response to Our Lady’s request and to give people confession and the Holy Eucharist.

On March 25^th, the day of the sixteenth apparition, Bernadette went again to the Grotto. The parish priest asked her to ask the Lady her name. When she had done so, Our Lady said, ("I am the Immaculate Conception"). Bernadette did not understand, but repeated the words to the astonished priest. The words were a reminder of the proclamation of the Dogma of the Immaculate Conception, proclaimed four years earlier in 1854.

Since the beginning of the apparitions until today, there have been over 7,000 miraculous recoveries attributed to Our Lady of Lourdes. However, the Church has only officially approved 70 medical miracles since 2018. The miracles have been dramatic ranging from paralytics who have walked, pilgrims cured of blindness, cancer tumors disappeared and multiple sclerosis healed.

More importantly, with the millions of pilgrims, who go there every year, there has been untold spiritual healings, which have occurred –causing deep and lasting conversions.

The apparitions of Our Lady of Lourdes are reminder for us to be pure in imitation of Mary’s Immaculate Conception. To pray the rosary everyday. To pray for the conversion of sinners and to do penance for them. To live a life of humility as St. Bernadette who ate grass, washed her face in mud, and drank dirty water. They remind us that we can only find our true happiness in heaven—not in this world.

And they also remind us that Our Lady wants a personal relationship with Her. If we don’t have a relationship with Mary,---- , we should try to speak to Mary everyday as we would speak to Our Mother. She is really with us, loves us and wants to help us to get to heaven. Our Lady of Lourdes, pray for us, who have recourse to thee!

5th Sunday, Michelle Duppong - FOCUS Missionary

 

When Jesus was teaching the people from the shore of Lake Gennesaret, the crowd kept pressing upon Him, so much so, He got into a boat, so everyone could see and hear Him. After He finished speaking, Our Lord told Peter, “Put out into the deep water and lower your nets for a catch.” Peter told Jesus they attempted to catch fish all night, but had caught nothing, yet He did as Jesus requested.

To the astonishment of the four disciples, Peter, his brother Andrew, James and his brother John, caught a great number of fish, so much so, the nets began to tear and the boats were filled and overflowing. They immediately understood Jesus placed the fish for them. He then said, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.” They immediately began to follow Jesus as His disciples. Recall after the Holy Spirit came down upon the apostles in the form of fire and wind, Peter boldly proclaimed, all needed to repent and be baptized when they had crucified Jesus. And that day, on the day of Pentecost, the apostles baptized three thousand and became fishers of men.

Our Lord used 12 apostles to establish His Church for the purpose of the salvation of souls.

At the moment of our baptism, we became a disciple of Jesus. We too are to make disciples by helping others to become followers of Jesus and to get to heaven.

When we think of missionaries, we think of Christians who go throughout the world evangelizing in places such as Africa, South America and China, where people still have not heard about Jesus.

In the United States, priest missionaries came from Ireland, to help immigrants. Spanish missionaries, such as saint Juniperra Serra came to convert American Indians in California. Saint Kateri Tekakwitha was converted by French Jesuit missionaries in New York.

Today, in the United States and in other countries, many have lost the faith and others don’t even know Jesus. Missionaries are needed to evangelize our own American citizens.

There is a young adult organization called FOCUS, which gathers students on college campuses to spread the gospel message to college students through on-campus outreach, Bible studies, discipleship, mission trips, national conferences and more. FOCUS encourages young people to pursue truth and meaning in their lives, to invest in relationships with Jesus Christ and their fellow students. They help young people to share the good news to everyone they meet, bringing Christ to the world and transforming the world through Christ. Morgan Konen from our parish is a FOCUS missionary in Pennsylvania.

Michelle Duppong a FOCUS missionary died in 2015 and may become a saint. Her childhood included farm chores such as gardening, mowing, pruning, weeding, harvesting and canning. If there were extra vegetable, she and her sisters sold them in town after Mass on Saturday mornings. They also herded sheep and bottle-fed lambs. She was happy to go with her family to Catholic conferences that included speakers, Mass and Eucharistic Adoration.

After she became the director of faith formation for the diocese of Bismark, she developed a Eucharistic Conference called “Thirst Conference.”

Prior to taking that job in 2012, she was a FOCUS missionary at four college campuses to mentor college students to draw them deeper into the faith.

It was in the fall of 2014 that Michelle began experiencing sharp pains in her abdomen. Ovarian cysts was the diagnosis. Out-patient surgery was scheduled for December 29 to remove the cysts. The surgeon opened Michelle and was shocked that her abdomen was full of cancer—stage four. The doctor just gave her two months to live. Michelle began her year-long journey, fighting for her life, with multiple surgeries, while accepting God’s will every step of the way. “Michelle was not one to blame anyone for anything,” Mary Ann, her mother, said. “Her attitude was, ‘If God wants me to go through this, I will go through this.’”

Months later, when she was finally told by the doctor, there was nothing more they could do, she paused and looked at the doctor saying, “How has your day been?” She thought of him before she thought of herself.
Not only was Michelle a great witness of her deep faith, she used that time to offer her suffering for others. Her mother shared that one of her most precious gifts from Michelle is a relic medal from the Shrine of the North American Martyrs in New York. “Michelle said that she believed a time was coming when we, too, should be ready if we would be asked by Our Lord to suffer martyrdom to pass on the faith. She told her that we need to be brave by putting on the armor of faith! This she did to her very last breath. She never talked about death or dying, just about hope of what the future might bring.”
One of the Carmelite sisters who helped during her last days, revealed that Michelle had told her that she would die on Christmas Day. Somehow, Michelle knew the date of her own death. Family members took turns gathering around her bed the evening of December 25, singing, praying and expressing their love. Michelle took her last breath at 11:23 pm on Christmas night.
Her father, Ken, said, “She gave everything...her whole year of suffering, the pain was non-stop. It was hard watching. But it wasn’t just that year. Her whole life was dedicated to whatever Jesus wanted.” When she was in the hospital, he said he would pray the rosary over the phone.
He said it was typical for hospital staff to be drawn to Michelle, sometimes sharing personal problems with her. “She would be concerned about their problems, not hers,” Someone was upset that her husband had left her. “Michelle told her, ‘Forgive him and pray for him because you maybe the only one who can help him.’”  The woman came back later with joy and shared that she had finally found peace, and could move on.
According to Ken, Michelle’s attitude was that we should do everything we can while on earth to make it to heaven. She would say to the other FOCUS missionaries, ‘Give everything you’ve got because it might be the only chance to save that person’s soul; you have to show them the way.’ Lisa Gray shared that Michelle’s example has shown her how to live an amazing life in ordinary ways. “She lived her life in conformity to Christ. When I saw her taking her last breath, I was so happy for her,” Lisa explained. “I was so proud of her. I had the feeling of her running to Jesus”.
Since then, the family has heard from many people who believe they had prayers answered through Michelle’s intercession after her death. One such person wrote a letter to the bishop of Bismark, North Dakota saying, she was healed of cancer through the prayers of Michelle. This caused the bishop of Bismark to open the cause for her canonization in 2022.

My friends, each of us are called to be holy. Holiness is for everyone and holiness is needed to get to heaven.

We should have the desire to help others to know and love Jesus and to help them to get to heaven, like Michelle, and all FOCUS missionaries, including Morgan, and all the missionaries who came to the US to help plant the faith in our hearts. May we, throw out the nets for a catch as a true disciple of Jesus making fishers of men by sharing our faith. 

For a limited time, you can watch Radiating Joy on EWTN. Click on this link: RADIATING JOY - THE MICHELLE DUPPONG STORY

5th Sunday, Year C "Fishers of Men"

In the Gospel today, Jesus got into a boat belonging to Simon Peter. And asked him to push the boat out onto the lake. Why would Jesus get into a boat and ask Peter to put out a short distance from the shore? It was a practical thing to do because of the large crowd. While on the shore, not everyone could see or hear Him, but by getting into a boat, it was much easier for all to see and hear.

Peter’s boat represents the Church, and Peter would become the head of the Church as the Vicar of Christ and helmsmen of the Church. We have heard the phrase, the bark of Peter. The bark is symbolic of the Church. After Jesus finished speaking, He asked Peter to throw out the nets into the deep water and they caught such a large number of fish the two boats were on the verge of sinking. When Peter saw this, he fell to his knees saying, “Depart from me Lord, for I am a sinful man.” Jesus then told Peter, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.” When they brought their boats to the shore, they left everything and followed Jesus. Our Lord’s words that Peter would be catching men, would come to fruition especially on Pentecost.

Recall after the Holy Spirit came down upon the apostles in the form of fire and wind, Peter boldly proclaimed, all needed to repent and be baptized, whom they had crucified. And that day, on the day of Pentecost, the apostles baptized three thousand souls. Through Peter many would be caught for the kingdom and become members of the church and so now the Church, the boat, is filled with men, women and children (the fish). The early Christians used the sign of a fish, as a secret way people new they were Christian.

Every priest is a sinner, who is trying to be a saint. Peter denied Jesus three times in the courtyard. Peter lacked courage to take a stand in public, which is why St. Paul corrected him for separating himself from the Gentiles.

Jesus chose Andrew, Peter’s brother. Before the multiplication of the loaves and fish, Andrew said to Jesus, “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish; but what good are these for so many?” Andrew would still have much to learn about Jesus.

James and John wanted to call down fire and destroy those who rejected Jesus and they wanted to sit at the right hand of Jesus and the other apostles became jealous of them.

St. Matthew was a tax collector, and most likely cheated people out of their money before Jesus called him.

Jesus called Thomas, who doubted Jesus rose from the dead. He said “Unless I shall see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into His side, I will not believe.” That’s where the expression “doubting Thomas” comes from.

Jesus called Simon the Zealot. Zealots wanted to achieve Palestinian independence from Roman occupation using military means. Simon did not know that violence achieves nothing but only encourages more violence. He would have much to learn.

Jesus called Judas Iscariot. He later plotted behind Jesus’ back. He wanted to force Jesus to bring about his kingdom. He wanted the kingdom on his terms instead of Jesus’ terms. He complained when Jesus’ feet were anointed not because he wanted to give that money to the poor, but so that he could steal it for himself.

Today Jesus calls us. He chooses human beings with faults and failings to do His divine work among us today. Like Peter we lack faith. Like Andrew we have much to learn. Like James and John we are selfish sometimes. Like Thomas we doubt sometimes. Seeing that the apostles of limited competence did so much for the Church gives confidence to us. If Jesus could use them, he can certainly use us. With the intercession of Jesus for us at the right hand of the Father and by our spending time in prayer with the Lord, we too can grow from strength to strength and accomplish great things for God and His kingdom.

A priest makes a difference in the world by helping people to get to heaven. The priesthood...what a beautiful and grace filled life of giving oneself in the service of God and His people. God continues to call young men to the priesthood. Jesus is saying to young boys, “Don’t be afraid! Come follow me and I will make you a fisher of men.” We have very outstanding and fine boys in our parish. Very virtuous. There are two boys from our parish who have told me they thought about becoming a priest. Pray for them, that they may discover God’s will for them.

Today, let us pray for vocations to the priesthood and to religious life, especially from our parish. Jesus is calling some young men and boys to be become fisher’s of men. Let us ask the Virgin Mary, the Mother of Jesus, the eternal high priest and mother of priests, to open the hearts and minds of boys and young men to follow Jesus as one of His disciples.

Presentation of the Lord in the Temple, Feb 2nd

 

“And the Lord you are seeking will suddenly enter His Temple; and the angel of the covenant whom you are longing for, yes He is coming, says the Lord of hosts.”

Today Holy Mother Church celebrates the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord. Jesus, “the light to the nations and the glory of Israel” arrives in the Temple in the arms of His Mother Mary. According to Jewish law, the first-born male had to be presented to the Lord forty days after his birth.

It was also the rite of purification for mothers who had just given birth. After giving birth, women were considered unclean and could not worship in the temple or touch sacred objects until they were first purified by having a lamb or a pair of turtle doves or pigeons sacrificed. Since Mary and Joseph were poor they offered pigeons or turtle doves.

The circumstances of Mary’s Immaculate Conception and the miraculous birth of Jesus did not render Her impure, it would not have been necessary for Her to follow the purification law, but She obediently followed the law out of humility, waiting 40 days before She could go to the temple.

The presentation of Jesus in the temple was public redemption for any first born son of any other tribe other than the tribe of Levi. The parents would symbolically give their son to God and buy him back by a small monetary offering.

Due to action of the Holy Spirit, Simeon and Anna are the only people who recognize the Messiah in what appeared to be an ordinary Infant.

Simeon prophesied Jesus would be a sign of contradiction and that now was the time for Simeon to die, since he finally saw his salvation in the form of child who would someday bring about the salvation of all those who were longing for it. He sees Jesus as the light to the nations for the glory of the people Israel.

But with His glorious entry into the Temple, the sword of sorrow predicted for Mary announces Christ’s perfect and unique oblation on the Cross, which will impart the salvation God has “prepared in the presence of all peoples”. And so, as the Light came in the world, and departed the world, the tears of His Mother fell upon the ground in sorrow. The result of the sword piercing the Virgin Mary, would be the cause of the thoughts of many hearts to be revealed.

In today’s responsorial psalm the Church recalls, how the Jewish people celebrated the entrance of the Ark of the Covenant, and these words fitting apply to Jesus the New and Everlasting Covenant entering the Temple, “O gates lift up your heads; grow higher ancient doors. Let him enter, the king of glory.”

Today is also commonly called “Candle Mass Day” in which is customary to bless candles for the church and also for the faithful. Lit candles represent Jesus, the light of the world and light to the nations entering the temple for the first time in His sacred humanity as a child. The candles of wax remind us of Mary, whose spotless virginity gave forth to the world, the everlasting Light, Our Lord Jesus Christ. The flame from the candles therefore symbolizes Christ, who said, “I am the Light of the world. He who follows Me walks not in darkness.” The lighted candles are a sign of the divine splendor, of the one who comes to expel the dark shadows of evil, and to make the whole universe, radiant with the brilliance of His eternal light. Our candles also show how bright our souls should be when we go to meet Christ. The Mother of God, the most Pure Virgin, carried the true light in Her arms and brought Him to those who lay in darkness.

As Holy Mother Church blesses the candles today, She prays that the Holy Spirit may enlighten all of us, and so inflamed with His charity, we may truly recognize, faithfully love, and courageously serve God.

Through Mary, the Mother of the Light, may we bring the light of Christ to the world, by all we meet and may the action of the sword that pierced Her soul reveal the thoughts of the hearts of many.

3rd Sunday, The Power of the Word of God

 

This weekend’s readings speak about the power of the Word of God and its importance.

The first reading of today’s Mass is from the book of Nehemiah in the Old Testament. The Jewish people were taken into captivity in the year 721 BC by the King of Assyria. When taken into captivity-- their temple in Jerusalem was destroyed. And now, about 230 years later in 450 BC their captivity is over, and they are returning to Israel. Once the Jewish people reach their Jewish soil, the priest Ezra explains to the people the content of the Law, that they had forgotten during the years they were held captive in the foreign land. He read to them from the Sacred Book (the Holy Scriptures) from early morning until midday. His audience stood and followed the teaching attentively and all the people wept. Their response is sorrow and joy. Sorrow for not having been able to hear the Word of God for so long. That was the reason they were taken into captivity, because even though they heard the Word of God, they failed to follow it--- as it was explained to them by the prophets. Now they are filled with joy, because they once again hear God’s word and now have the opportunity to follow it.

When we come to Mass we stand in an attitude of watchfulness to hear the Good News the Gospel always brings us. We have to listen to the readings with attentiveness in a humble and grateful way---because we know that God is speaking to each one of us in particular. St. Augustine said, “We should hear the Gospel as if Our Lord were present and speaking to us.” And if we realize what St. Augustine says is true, then we come to understand Our Lord longs to speak to our hearts and convince us of His love.

The Word of God can bring us wisdom and direction, healing and freedom. There have been many instances of people at Mass, who had a change of heart due to the scriptures being proclaimed.

St. Anthony of the desert, heard the words at Mass, “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor,” which inspired him to give away all his vast possessions. He kept a few of his possessions only to see that his sister’s education was completed — and then he began to live in the desert. He then begged an elderly hermit to teach him about the spiritual life. His admirers became so many and so insistent, that he was eventually persuaded to found two monasteries for them-- and to give them a rule of life. These were the first monasteries ever to be founded, and Saint Anthony is considered the father of monasticism. All because he was touched by grace when he heard God’s Word at Mass.

At other times, people had inspirations from the Word of God to follow Him more closely. For example, when Mother Teresa of Calcutta meditated on the words of Jesus on the Cross, “I thirst.” she knew Our Lord wanted her to help the poorest of the poor because Jesus was thirsting for souls. St. Francis of Assisi changed His life from the words of the Gospel, which said, “If you want to be my disciple, give everything you have to the poor and come and follow me.”

God’s Word is different than other words, first and foremost because God Himself is the author of Sacred Scripture. He used humans to convey in written form, His Word to us. And He speaks to us when we proclaim the Sacred Scriptures. A parishioner once told me after Mass, “Father, the first reading and the responsorial psalm was meant for me.”

We have an opportunity to hear the Word of God each time we come to Mass. But, before we hear the readings from Scripture proclaimed and explained, we ask our self, “What is the Lord saying to me?” Then we can try to go home after each Mass with some idea from the Scripture readings or their explanation in the homily in our mind.

We also can hear the Word of God by reading the Bible in our own homes. We can try to nourish our mind every day by feeding it with Sacred Scripture for at least a few minutes. As part of family prayer together every evening why not read a short passage from the Gospels and think about it means for us today. Open your Bible and light a candle beside it as a sign of the presence of Jesus in the Scriptures. Keep your Bible in a prominent place in your home so that you will see it every day and be reminded to read it. It’s always best to pray to the Holy Spirit, asking Him to open our mind and to receive God’s message before we read from the bible.

During Eucharistic Adoration or at home, it’s efficacious for us to meditate on Scripture, and we place our self in the story, such that we see and hear the event as it unfolds and experience Jesus in a personal way.

St. Gregory wrote, “The Bible is a love letter sent by God to his people in which we can perceive the heart of God.” We should therefore, read and listen to God’s love letter every day. St. Jerome said, “Ignorance of the Scriptures is ignorance of Christ.”

The Word of God in the Bible brings us healing and helps us cope with life’s problems. We may not find an answer to every problem but it will certainly broaden our vision. Psalm 119:105 says, “Your word is a lamp for my steps and a light for my path.”

Finally, we can ask the Virgin Mary to remind us to read from the bible every day and help us to understand what it means for us. Her Son is the Eternal Word. She knew Him better than anyone and She will help us to receive God’s love letters with openness and joy.

2nd Sunday, Wedding Feast (Fires and Miracles)

 

Today’s Gospel of the wedding Feast of Cana gives us inspiration with regard to Mary’s Motherly intercession. As Catholics, we have the Virgin Mary as our Mother. She interceded for the wedding couple at the Wedding feast of Cana. When Mary discovered the wine ran out, She wanted to save the couple from embarrassment, and so She asked Her Son Jesus to perform His first public miracle, when He changed water into wine.

Was the fire in Los Angeles, the worst in American history. No. The fire killed 27 people, but there was a much worse fire.

In 1871 a fire killed 2000 in Wisconsin. 12 years years earlier the Virgin Mary began to appear to a young girl on October 9th of 1859. Adele describes what happened. She said, “I saw a beautiful lady, clothed in dazzling white, with a yellow sash around her waist. Her dress fell to her feet in graceful folds. She had a crown of stars around her head, and her long, golden, wavy hair fell loosely around her shoulders.”

Such a heavenly light shone around her that Adele could hardly look back at her sweet face. Overcome by this heavenly light and the beauty of her amiable visitor, Adele fell on her knees. Adele said to the woman, “‘In God’s name, who are you and what do you want of me?’ Mary said, “I am the Queen of Heaven, who prays for the conversion of sinners, and I wish you to do the same. You received Holy Communion this morning, and that is well. But you must do more. Make a general confession, and offer Communion for the conversion of sinners. If they do not convert and do penance, my Son will be obliged to punish them”.

'Adele, who is it?'' said one of the women, who was with Adele at the time of the apparitions. 'O why can't we see her as you do?' said another weeping. “‘Kneel,’ said Adele, ‘the Lady says she is the Queen of Heaven.’

Our Blessed Lady turned, looked kindly at them, and said, ‘Blessed are they that believe without seeing. What are you doing here in idleness…while your companions are working in the vineyard of my Son?’

“‘What more can I do, dear Lady?’ said Adele, weeping. “Gather the children in this wild country and teach them what they should know for salvation’ “‘But how shall I teach them who know so little myself?’ replied Adele. “Teach them, ‘their catechism, how to sign themselves with the sign of the Cross, and how to approach the sacraments; that is what I wish you to do. Go and fear nothing. I will help you.’ "

Adele’s mission was to pray for the conversion of sinners and to instruct the children. She would begin a religious order of Franciscan Sisters, who would do as Mary asked, to pray for the conversion of sinners and to instruct children. At the site of the apparitions, a chapel was built as well as a school and other buildings.

A miracle occurred on Oct. 8th, 1871, when an enormous fire began throughout the region killing more than 2000 people, which was worse than the great fire of Chicago, which occurred on the same day.

According to the Shrine of Our Lady of Good Help, here is what happened, “When the tornado of fire approached Robinsonville, Sister Adele and her companions were determined not to abandon the Chapel. Encircled by the inferno, the Sisters, the children, area farmers and their families fled to the Shrine for protection. The statue of Mary was raised reverently and was processed around the sanctuary. When wind and fire threatened suffocation, they turned in another direction to hope and saying the rosary. Hours later, (after praying the Rosary) rains came in a downpour, extinguishing the fiery fury outside the Chapel. The Robinsonville area was destroyed and desolate…except for the convent, the school, the Chapel, and the five acres of land consecrated to the Virgin Mary. Though the fire singed the Chapel fence, it had not entered the Chapel grounds. Those assembled at the Chapel, realizing that they had witnessed a miracle, were asked by Sister Adele to retire to the Convent, where they were made as comfortable as possible for the rest of the night.”

Many miracles have since occurred at the shrine, mostly involving children. A mother brought her blind child to the Chapel for a novena. During the praying of that novena’s rosary, the blind child shouted his mother’s name, pointed in several directions, and cried out “Mama, look! Mama, look, look!” The child could see.

Another example: a five-year-old child, niece of Sister Marguerite and Sister Addie at the Chapel, was kicked in the face by a horse. When the mother saw the limp, bleeding body of her little daughter, she promised to make a 12-mile pilgrimage on foot to the Chapel. Immediately afterward, the bleeding stopped. And, after examination, the child suffered no internal injuries or physical aftereffects. That girl became a religious for many years in Wisconsin, and her family has always been grateful for Mary’s special protection.

Nine-year-old Michael LaFond fell from a barn leaving him crippled. Four years later, nine women made a novena at the Chapel with Michael. After the third visit, Michael was cured, leaving his crutches behind at the Chapel.

A little girl of three had a (open) sore that received medical care for a long time. After making a novena at the Chapel, the wound closed.

A five-year-old boy could not walk. His mother promised to visit the Chapel, which was 16 miles from her home. She made the pilgrimage on foot. Feeling confident that her prayer would be heard, she took the boy by the hand upon her return and told him to walk. The boy, who had never walked before, could walk from that moment.

A possible miracle happened in our own parish due to a couple who prayed the Rosary for their daughter.

A newborn baby, Molly Leonard, who was just 5 days old, contracted the flu and got an infection. She was in Pediatric ICU at St. Francis hospital in Wichita. The baby wouldn’t wake up and consequently was not eating. The parents, Dave and Emily went to the chapel at the hospital and prayed a Rosary before the Eucharistic Jesus in the tabernacle. By praying the Rosary, they were asking the Virgin Mary to help their daughter get better. After praying the Rosary, they returned to the baby’s ICU room Molly was awake and starting eating again. From the time they prayed the Rosary together, Molly got better. The parents call it a miracle, thanks to the Rosary.

Today, let us rejoice and give thanks to God for Mary, who He has chosen to appear to a humble young girl, who cared about the conversion of sinners, religious education of the children, in what She called, “This wild country.” Just as She interceded for the wedding couple asking Her Son to perform His first public miracle, Mary wants to intercede for us, especially if we pray Her Rosary.

May all Americans keep us close to Mary’s Immaculate Heart, and may we call upon Her as, Our Lady of Good Help! And may we do penance, pray for the conversion of sinners and educate our children in what Our Lady called “this wild country.”

2nd Sunday, Wedding Feast of Cana

 

Today’s Gospel of the wedding Feast of Cana gives us inspiration with regard to Mary’s Motherly intercession, but also has deep meanings behind the event.

It was Jewish custom that wedding celebrations last quite a while. Relatives and friends would greet the newlyweds, even people passing through would join in the celebration. Wine was regarded as an indispensable element in meals and also helped create a festive atmosphere. The women looked after the catering and Our Lady most likely would have helped. The wedding couple was obviously poor because they ran out of wine. Mary realized wine was running out and in order to prevent the couple embarrassment, the Mother of Jesus interceded on their behalf, even without their requesting it of Her. Mary-- knowing Jesus can do something about the crisis of not having any more wine, said to Her Divine Son, “They have no wine.” Jesus replied in a way that seems strange and harsh to us. He said, “Woman, how does your concern affect me?”

Today, if we were to call our mother “woman” she would be offended. Can you imagine if a boy said to his mother, “Hey, woman, what’s for supper?” What does an Irish mother, a German mother and an Italian mother all have in common? If their son would call her “Woman” she most likely would slap him in the face. However, that was not the case in the time of Jesus. The Jewish people during the time of Jesus used the word “Woman” as a title of respect and endearment. It was a formal way of speaking at the time, such as calling her ‘madam” or lady.

Furthermore, when Jesus used the word, “Woman”, it also had theological meanings in reference to the future “woman”, in Genesis, who would crush the head of the serpent. It later be in reference to the book of Revelation, Chapter 12, as the “woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and on her head a crown of twelve stars”. These references clearly point to the fact, Mary is the new Eve, who would help the Savior in the order of redemption. This is also seen at the foot of the Cross, when Jesus asked Her to take John- as Her son, when said, “Woman, behold thy, Son.”

So, when Jesus said, “How does your concern affect me?”, He was letting Her know, that once He works His first miracle, through Her intercession, their relationship would take on something new. When He works His first miracle of changing water into wine, Our Lord will manifest His divinity and strengthen the faith of the Apostles in Him, and from now on Mary will play an important role in the future and be instrumental in assisting Jesus in the order of redemption, seen most clearly at the foot of the Cross, when we stand in the place of John and so become Her spiritual children. Her role as our spiritual m other will become more evident after the resurrection in helping Jesus bring about the redemption of souls, as She will pray for the Apostles and the early Christians in the early Church and when assumed into heaven She will pray for us, as the Queen of Heaven and Earth.

Our Lord then says something to Mary that is again curious. He said, “My hour has not yet come.” What is “the hour” in which Jesus is speaking? It is the hour of His death. Our Lord wanted Mary to understand that by working His first miracle, it will lead to His suffering and death on the Cross and then His resurrection and ascension into heaven.

The Virgin Mary is confident Her Son will work His first miracle and so She told the waiters, “Do whatever He tells you.” A commentary on this sentence makes it clear when Mary said these words to the waiters, they would have understood Her to say, “Even if you do not understand now, do what He asks of you.” In another words, “You will question what He tells you”, but go ahead and do it anyway. The Virgin Mary pointed out to the stewards the importance of obeying Her Son. By obedience, Jesus uses the men as instruments in which He will work a miracle. Mary always points to Her Son and wants us to do His will at all times, because by doing so, we allow Him to reign over us and help Him to accomplish His will in our lives.

The jars used for ceremonial washings were used to wash hands before eating and also wash the feet of travelers from wearing sandals from a journey. The stewards must have been perplexed as to why Jesus would want them to fill the jars with water and bring them to the steward. Each jar held about 9 gallons and so 6 jars would have been more than 50 gallons. They probably would have thought, “Why does this man want us to get all this water?”

When the chief steward told the groom, “Everyone serves good wine first, then when people have drunk freely, an inferior one; but you have kept the good wine until now.” The groom would have tasted it and responded saying it’s not the wine he had brought for the feast. The stewards would have then told the chief steward Jesus had them fill the jars with water and this revealed to all Jesus changed the water into wine. Perhaps, at wedding feasts, they served the good tasting wine first, because after the night had gone on, those who would drink more than their share-- wouldn’t know the difference.

Most likely, there was a large amount of wine left over. Later when Jesus would multiply the loaves, there would be a large amount of bread left over. Both would foreshadow Jesus changing bread into His body and wine into His blood on the altar.

The wedding banquet of the Mass is a reminder to us-- we share in a nuptial relationship with God, especially when we receive Our Lord in Holy Communion. The Mass is the new and everlasting covenant and just as the people of Israel were to be faithful to the covenant as a bride is faithful to her husband, so we are to be faithful to the New Covenant-- we share in the body and blood of Jesus especially at Sunday Mass. So if we were to miss Mass on Sunday, we are not being faithful to the New Covenant.

By being faithful to attending Mass on the weekend, we give our self to Our Lord with the bread and wine at the offertory, and so Jesus faithfully gives Himself to us in Holy Communion. As a husband gives himself to his bride and the bride gives herself to her husband, there is a mutual exchange of persons, a mutual exchange of love in Holy Communion.

Today’s Gospel is a reminder Jesus wants us to rejoice and celebrate occasions of joy with ordinary means of pleasures. He wants us to beseech His Mother’s intercession for our every need, including material needs, but especially our spiritual needs. As a good Mother, She will present our request to Her Son, who will look with great love upon His Mother and answer our prayers. Let us pray for all married couples, may they receive the sacramental grace to be faithful to their matrimonial covenant elevated to a sacrament by the presence of Jesus at the wedding at Cana.

And finally let us pray for all Catholics, may we be faithful to the New and Everlasting Covenant, by regular Sunday Mass attendance knowing the union between our heart and the Heart of Jesus in Holy Communion is the unfathomable and the greatest of all treasures, wrought by the intercession of Our Lady, our Mother and Advocate, the “Woman” of faith and Mother of all us children, whom She intercedes for us before the throne of Her Son, in heaven.