Holy Name of Mary - Sept. 12th

 

Today we celebrate a feast that was originally celebrated in Spain in 1513, though honor for the holy name of Mary extends to the early church, and to the angels themselves.  The feast of the holy name of Mary was dropped from the liturgical calendar in 1969, but was reestablished by Pope John Paul II.

The Church celebrates the memorial of the Holy Name of Mary shortly after her birthday on September 8, just like we celebrate the Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus shortly after Christmas.

In accordance with Jewish custom Our Lady’s parents named her eight days after her birth.

In the litany of the divine praises, which we pray at benediction, the church proclaims, “Blessed be the name of Mary, Virgin and Mother”. 

We show honor to the name of Mary, because no doubt, Our Lord himself honored his mother.  And so we honor the name of our mother, Mary, mother of all Christians, holiest of creatures, the queen of heaven earth.

When we pronounce her name, we affirm her power, we implore her aid, and place ourselves under her protection.  And we should pronounce her name, often: in times of temptation to seek her aid in confronting sin; in times of trial and difficulty to seek her help and prayers in bearing our cross; and like a child pointing out something delightful or beautiful to his mother, pronouncing her name in times of joy and thanksgiving throughout the day.  When we speak her name with love, we imitate our Lord Jesus.

The directives for the liturgy instruct us to bow our heads in reverence at the name of Jesus, at the name of Mary, and at the name of the Saint of the Day when they are mentioned in the prayers of the liturgy.

It is a privilege to know and to be able to call upon with Love the name of Mary.  At her name demons flee and angels rejoice.

When Jesus was dying on the cross, he gave Mary to us to be our mother.  May all who call upon the holy name of Mary, our mother, have confidence in her protection and receive comfort and strength for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

There is a hymn called Mary the Dawn, in the Office of Readings, which priests, religious and some laypeople sing. In every line, is the name of Mary. I will close with the words from the hymn.

Mary the Dawn, Christ the Perfect Day;

Mary the Gate, Christ the Heav’nly Way!

Mary the Root, Christ the Mystic Vine;

Mary the Grape, Christ the Sacred Wine!

Mary the Wheat, Christ the Living Bread;

Mary the Rose, Christ the Rose Blood-red!

Mary the Font, Christ the Cleansing Flood;

Mary the Chalice, Christ the Saving Blood!

Mary the Temple, Christ the Temple’s Lord;

Mary the Shrine, Christ the God adored!

Mary the Beacon, Christ the Haven’s Rest;

Mary the Mirror, Christ the Vision Blest!

Mary the Mother, Christ the Mother’s Son.

Both ever blest while endless ages run.

24th Sunday, God's Infinite Mercy

 

All of the readings today speak of God’s mercy. In the first reading, God threatens to destroy the Hebrew people because they created a molten calf and began to worship it. But Moses implored God’s mercy, sparing their destruction.

The responsorial psalm asks for God’s mercy and reveals His compassion by washing away sin and guilt.

The second reading from St. Paul’s letter to Timothy, Paul states Jesus came to the world to save sinners and Paul considers himself the worst of sinners, but was mercifully treated so in him, Jesus might display His patience as an example for those who come to believe in Him.

In the Gospel, tax collectors and sinners were drawing near to listen to Jesus, when the Pharisees and scribes began to complain, saying, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” Jesus responded by telling them the parable of the prodigal son.

After spending years away from his family and spending half of his family’s inheritance, and sleeping with prostitutes, he finally realizes his sinfulness, and decided to come home, and say to his father, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I no longer deserve to be called your son, treat me as you would treat one of your hired workers.” And so, he decided to return home to be with his father.

What would was he thinking on his way back home? He must have thought his father would be angry, as well as his brother. Perhaps, he thought his father would give him a good scolding. Maybe his father would turn him away, and tell him to fend for himself; after all, he had enough money to live on, for the rest of his life. Maybe he thought his father might disown him, after all, the property had been in the family for generations. He must have slowly walked back, with his head hanging down, and in fear and trembling, not knowing what to expect.

But, Jesus reveals God the Father’s mercy is infinite. In the great distance, as the son was coming home, the father caught a glimpse of him, coming over the horizon. The father wipes his tear filled eyes, perhaps thinking in the distance, it was a mirage, or a stranger. But no--, he recognizes his son,-- his heart leaps, and he is moved with compassion. Years of worry and sorrow, turn into joy and excitement. The elderly father runs, in flight,--- dashing with all his might-- for the darkened figure. From the depth of his heart, he cries, out, “My son, My son”, “It is I your father!”

When they meet, the son confesses saying, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I no longer deserve to be called your son, treat me as one of your workers.” The father’s heart is touched by his plea for mercy. He embraced him, because “he who was lost has now been found”.

As tears of the father fall from his cheeks, he embraces his son, and kisses him. He puts a ring on his finger, sandals on his feet and a robe. When they return to the house, he threw a great feast to celebrate the return of his son, who was lost, and now has been found.

Jesus told the parable to the scribes and Pharisees, so they may see, God’s infinite mercy and love toward sinners. And that God Himself rejoices over one repentant sinner. He wanted them to understand sinners are not be scorned, or avoided, but rather loved and forgiven. Our Blessed Lord wanted them to understand God, the Father, is filled with joy, as He runs toward the repentant sinner. As Father, God is loving, and merciful, slow to anger, full of love, kind and compassionate, and rich in mercy. God’s forgiveness towards sinners is unfathomable.

What would you do, to the person, who captured your son, tortured him, killed him, and then, after he was dead, stabbed his heart with a spear? How would feel? Could you forgive? Would you want revenge?

If God was going to destroy the Hebrew people for worshiping a calf, how much more would God want to destroy those who crucified and killed His Son? By our sins, we all participated in the killing of Jesus, the Son of the Eternal Father.

In the movie the Passion of Christ, there is a scene after Jesus died, a teardrop from God the Father, falls from heaven. And when it hits the ground, there was a great earthquake? The hand of the Father was stayed, as a great act of mercy.

The saints and ordinary people show us the beauty and power of mercy in forgiving others. St. Maria Goretti, a 12 year old girl, forgave Alessandro who stabbed her 14 times. Maria’s mother forgave him and even went to Midnight Mass with him after he was released from prison. St. Pope John Paul II went to the prison cell to forgive Ali Agca who shot him. Immaculee Ibbgaza forgave the man who killed her parents and brothers and many from her tribe during the Rwanda genocide. Americans had to forgive the terrorists of 911, who killed over 2000 innocent people. If these people, by the grace of God, can forgive each other, how much more abundant is God’s infinite and endless mercy?

Bernard Nathanson, a Jewish man, and former abortionist, was responsible for the deaths of 60,000 unborn infants, repented of all of his sins, and became Catholic. Through the waters of baptism, God not only forgave his original sin, but forgave all of his personal sins and the punishment due to his sins. So if he would have died immediately after baptism, he would have went straight to heaven. How incredible is God’s mercy!

Abby Johnson, a baptized Christian, was the director of Planned Parenthood, an abortion clinic in Texas. She had two abortions and was responsible for helping many obtain abortions. But, when she became Catholic, confessed her sins, and received Holy Communion on Divine Mercy Sunday, God not only forgave all her sins, but all the punishment due to them. All washed away in the ocean of God’s mercy.

Jesus told St. Faustina, the greater the sinner, the greater the right one has to God’s mercy. In a vision, she saw an angel coming down from heaven to destroy a city in Poland, due to the sin of abortion. However, when she prayed, “Eternal Father, I offer you the body, blood soul and divinity of Jesus Christ, in atonement for our sins and those of the whole world.”, the angel lost its power, and returned back to heaven. With this prayer from the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, Jesus gave to her and us, it prevented God from destroying the city in Poland. She pleaded for God’s mercy offering the suffering and death of Jesus in atonement, and obtained mercy, for the people of her country.

God’s mercy is for everyone. We need to have confidence in God’s mercy, that no matter how many sins or how grievous they are, God will forgive.

The image of Jesus, the Good Shepherd who finds the lost sheep and carries it home rejoicing, touches our heart, because we experience God’s infinite mercy in confession. When we make the effort to go to confession, God the Father runs with all His might to embrace us. And once we confessed our sins, He wants us to celebrate with a feast, because, we who were lost in sin, have now been found and forgiven.

We should go to confession monthly or if we committed a mortal sin, we should confess as soon as possible, by running to Jesus to receive His mercy. We should bring our children to confession regularly. Many children won’t go to confession on their own, because they need the example and encouragement of their parents.

We teach our young children how to clean their room, how to do homework, how to play games and sports, but especially need to teach them how to practice their Catholic faith, so they will have all the help the need to get to heaven later in life.

The greatest task of parents is to help their children to get to heaven. We need to take seriously our obligation to help them receive God’s loving and tender mercy.

It is wonderful so many families come to Mass regularly, but we need to also bring them to confession. Put it on your calendar. Then once a month, the family goes to confession together. We put school activities on our schedules, and family activities, but our spiritual activities are more important. Put God’s unfathomable mercy on your schedule. As Jesus said, “What profit would it be to win the whole world, and lose our soul in the process?”

It is difficult for some to confess their sins. Its embarrassing. And it takes humility. But, this is what Jesus asked of Christians from the beginning of the Church unto today. We have physical strength to do well in sports and mental strength to get good grades. We also need courage to have spiritual strength to come to Jesus in Confession. What good is it if we are strong in the secular life, but weak as wimps in our spiritual life.

In Confession, not only do we receive forgiveness for our sins, but God heals our soul, and we receive grace to overcome sins. The more often we go to Confession, the happier we become. The more peace we have. The closer we stay to Jesus. Confession prevents us from falling into mortal sin. Every sin, no matter how small hurts Jesus. Every sin weakens our relationship with God. Mortal sin destroys our relationship with God, and if we die unrepentant, with a mortal sin on our soul, we choose to go to hell for all eternity.

We cannot understand how merciful God is unless we know what God is saving us from, which is hell. Committing just one mortal sin (missing Mass on Sunday, pornography, adultery, etc..) and dying unrepentant, the person will go to hell forever. This is what Jesus is saving us from. This is what those two brown doors do, they save souls from going to hell and help them to go to heaven.

Jesus described hell as a place where the wicked will be cast into an eternal fire, that burns and punishes eternally. He said in hell there is wailing and grinding of teeth. When we commit just one mortal sin, we risk losing heaven forever.

But, God’s mercy is available in Confession before every Mass during the week and on weekends. Don’t let pride keep you and your children from coming to the font of mercy. Come to confession often and tell Jesus you are sorry for hurting Him by your sins.

Here in our church, we have this beautiful divine mercy image and we pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy either before or after every Mass, but what good are these things, if our soul and the souls of our children do not receive God’s mercy in confession regularly? We pray for mercy, but we are refusing to receive it. Open your heart to God’s mercy. Come and experience the love and compassion of Jesus.

Today, let us ask Mary, the Mother of Mercy, who stood at the foot of the Cross, to pray for the lost sheep to come to their senses-- by running to Confession, and may all of us go to confession regularly, and, say to God our loving and merciful Father, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and earth, I do not deserve to be your child, but only your servant.”

In response, the Father will give us His infinite mercy and from His cheeks will fall tears of joy. And all of heaven will rejoice, as Jesus said, “the angels in heaven rejoice over one repentant sinner.”

St. Peter Claver - Sept. 9th

 

 Today, we celebrate the memorial of St. Peter Claver, a Spanish Jesuit, who followed his call to the missions. He was born in 1580 and was ordained a priest in 1616 in Columbia, which was the center of the slave trade in South America. He worked among the African slaves brought there, which was as many as 10,000 a year.

St. Peter devoted his life to relieving their misery, with medicine and food, and was zealously concerned for their spiritual welfare. He offered them an authentic Christian witness, teaching them religious and moral truths. It is said that over a period of 40 years, he instructed and baptized over 30,000 slaves. He was sick and exhausted during the last four years of his life.

From one of his letters, he wrote the following. “Yesterday, May 30, 1627, on the feast of the Most Holy Trinity, numerous blacks, brought from the rivers of Africa, disembarked from a large ship. We had to force our way through the crowd until we reached the sick. Large numbers of the sick were lying on the wet ground, or rather in puddles of mud. To prevent excessive dampness, someone had thought of building up a mound with a mixture of tiles and broken pieces of bricks. This, then was their couch, a very uncomfortable one, not only for that reason, but especially because they were naked, without any clothing to protect them. The joy in their eyes as they looked at us was something to see. After this, we began an elementary instruction about baptism, that is, the wonderful effects of the sacrament on body and soul. When by their answers to our questions, they showed they had sufficiently understood this, we went on to a more extensive instruction, namely about one God… Finally, when they appeared sufficiently prepared, we declared the mysteries of the Trinity, the Incarnation, and the Passion. Showing them Christ fastened to the Cross, as He is depicted on the baptismal font.. we led them in reciting an act of contrition in their own language.”

Do you know what Peter Claver gave to every person he baptized? A scapular of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

As we prepare to receive the Eucharist, we pray through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary: “God of mercy and love, you offer all peoples the dignity of sharing in your life. By the example and prayers of Saint Peter Claver, strengthen us to overcome all racial hatreds, and to love each other as brothers and sisters.”

Birth of the Virgin Mary - Sept. 8th

 

 Today, there are parents in heaven who are celebrating the Birth of their daughter, the Blessed Virgin Mary. Sts. Joachim and Anne, the parents of Mary were righteous. Her father was from the royal house of David, her mother, St. Anne came from the priestly class of Aaron. However, the holy couple’s one great sorrow was that they had no children.

Blessed Virgin Mary Herself was foretold by the prophet Isaiah: “Behold a Virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and He shall be called Emmanuel, meaning God with us.” And also by the prophet Micah, who states, “Therefore the Lord will give them up, until the time when She who is to give birth has borne.”

The source of the birth of the Blessed Virgin Mary is the Protoevangelium of James, an apocryphal gospel written about A.D. 150. According to this account, Anne and Joachim are infertile but prayed for a child. The tradition is that the couple was childless until an angel appeared to Anne and told her that she would conceive. They receive the promise of a child that will advance God's plan of salvation for the world.

Its also believed an angel appeared to Joachim. The angel may have said, “Joachim, rejoice! God has heard your prayer and your wife Anne, shall conceive and give birth to a daughter, whose nativity will become joy for the entire world.”

When the Jews were not be able to have a child, it was considered a sign of God’s rejection; a public disgrace. However, in the Old Testament there are many cases God intervened to show His favor. Isaac was born from the childless Sarah. Samuel from the childless Hannah. John the Baptist from the barren Elizabeth. And so God, blessed Joachim and Anne in their old age with a providential daughter destined to become the Mother of God. Only in the womb of St. Anne, did God create a human being without original sin.

St. Anthony of Padua in one of his sermons speaks eloquently of the birth of the Blessed Virgin Mary. He said, “There is a legend that a certain holy man, while devoutly praying, heard the angels in heaven singing a sweet melody. When a year had passed, he heard the angels [once again], on the same day. He asked the Lord to show him the meaning of this; and received the reply, that on that day, blessed Mary was born, and for Her Nativity the angels in heaven gave praise to God. That is why the birthday of the glorious Virgin is celebrated on this day. The purity of her birth is expressed by ‘the glory of the stars’.

Liturgically Mary’s birth is celebrated 9 months after we celebrate Her Immaculate Conception.

Today, let us celebrate the feast of birthday of Mary. May we sing and rejoice with the angels and be glad because God, who is almighty, has done great things for Her and through Her-- for us!

St. Joseph Sorrows - First Wednesday

 

 On this first Wednesday of the month, we honor St. Joseph. Did you know he has 7 joys and 7 sorrows? The tradition stems from a popular story about two Franciscans who were caught in a storm, as narrated in the 19th-century book Annals of Saint Joseph. Two Fathers of the Franciscan order were sailing along the coast of Flanders, when a terrible tempest arose, which sank the vessel, with its three hundred passengers. The two Fathers had sufficient presence of mind to seize hold of a plank, upon which they were tossed to and fro upon the waves, for three days and nights. In their danger and affliction, their whole recourse was to St. Joseph, begging his assistance in their sad condition. St. Joseph appeared to them and helped them all reach a safe harbor. Then the saint “advised them daily to recite the Our Father and Hail Mary seven times, in memory of his seven dolors or griefs, and of his seven joys, and then disappeared.”

Today, I will speak about the 7 sorrows of St. Joseph. Here they are as recorded in the 19th-century devotional book The Glories of the Catholic Church and also in Sacred Scripture.

First Sorrow: The Doubt of St. Joseph. But Joseph, her husband, being a just man, and not wishing to expose her to reproach, was minded to put her away privately. (Matt. 1:19) at finding that his honored Lady and amiable spouse had conceived, and at the idea of being obliged by the law to forsake her.
Second Sorrow: The Poverty of Jesus’s birth. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
(Luke 2:7) at not being able to find lodging in the city of Bethlehem for the King and Queen of heaven, and at seeing Jesus lying shivering on a little straw in a manger, between two animals—His only shelter from the cold, there being no room for Him in the inn.
Third Sorrow: The Circumcision And when eight days were fulfilled for his circumcision, his name was called Jesus, the name given to him by the angel before he was conceived in the womb. (Luke 2:21) at seeing the divine infant suffer and shed so much of His precious blood in the painful ceremony of His circumcision, when he was but eight days old.
Fourth Sorrow: The Prophecy of Simeon And Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary his mother, “Behold this child is destined for the fall and the rise of many in Israel, and for a sign that shall be contradicted. And your own soul a sword shall pierce. (Luke 2:34) at hearing, on the day of the purification, the prophecy of holy Simeon, that the child should be an object of contradiction and persecution, and that a sword of sorrow should pierce Mary’s heart.
Fifth Sorrow: The Flight into Egypt. So he arose and took the child and his mother by night and withdrew into Egypt. (Matt. 2:14) his flight into Egypt with the child and His Mother, in the darkness of the night, and in the depth of winter, to escape the persecution raised by Herod against the adorable infant.
Sixth Sorrow: The Return from Egypt. But hearing that Archelaus was reigning in Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there; and being warned in a dream, he withdrew into the region of Galilee. (Matt. 2:22) on his return from Egypt, hearing that Archelaus, more cruel still, reigned in Judea in the room of Herod his father, he was afraid to go thither, and being warned in sleep retired into Galilee.
Seventh Sorrow: The Loss of the Child Jesus. And not finding him, they returned to Jerusalem in search of him. (Luke 2:45) in the celebrated pilgrimage to Jerusalem, not finding the child Jesus, his only solace, among his acquaintance, he sought Him three days, sorrowing for His loss.
V. Pray for us, O holy Joseph.
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Let Us Pray.
O God, Who in Your ineffable Providence did vouchsafe to choose Blessed Joseph to be the spouse of Your most holy Mother, grant, we beseech You, that he whom we venerate as our protector on earth may be our intercessor in Heaven. Who lives and reigns forever and ever. Amen.

Today, may we regularly pray to St. Joseph, spouse of the Virgin Mary, trusting as the foster father of Jesus, he will present our petitions to Our Divine Savior, asking Jesus on our behalf to hear and answer our prayers.

23rd Tuesday - Prayer

 

 In today’s Gospel, we read that Jesus went up to the mountain to pray, and spent all night in prayer to God. On the following day, He chose the twelve Apostles.

With His example, the Master taught us the need for prayer. He repeated over and over again that is necessary to pray and not lose heart. When we recollect ourselves for prayer, we place ourselves at the source of living waters. There we find peace and strength necessary to continue, with joy and optimism along our path of life.

We do much good for the Church and for the world by our prayer. It is has been said that those who truly pray are like columns of the world, the props and supports without which everything would collapse. St. John of the Cross taught, “…even if it seems that nothing is happening, a little of this pure love is more precious before God and the soul, and does greater good for the Church, than all other works put together.”

Precisely, because prayer makes us strong in the face of difficulties, it helps us to sanctify our work, to give good example in our deeds, and to deal cordially and appreciate those whom live and work with us.

In prayer, we discover the urgency that is all the more pressing the further from God many in the world have become. St. Teresa of Avila echoed the words of a very learned man, who said, “the souls who do not have a life of prayer are like a ‘paralyzed’ or crippled body, which although it has feet and hands, cannot use them.”

Prayer is necessary to love the Lord more and more, so as to never to be separated from Him, without it, the soul falls into lukewarmness, loses its joy and the strength to do good. St. John Vianney used to say that all the evils that oppress us on earth come precisely from not praying, or from not praying well.

Today, let us resolve to imitate the woman of prayer, the Blessed Virgin Mary. May we resolve to turn to God with love and trust through our mental prayer, through our vocal prayers, and through those brief aspirations that come to mind, and let us have the joy of living our life close to Jesus, truly present here in the tabernacle, and whom we adore in Adoration, who enjoys our every thought and our ever sigh to be with Him, who loves us so much!

Mother Teresa of Calcutta - Sept. 5th

 

Pope Francis canonized Mother Teresa of Calcutta making her a saint of the Catholic Church in Sept 2016.  Her birth name was Agnes Bojaxhiu. She born on Aug. 26^th in 1910, in Skopje, Macedonia, of Albanian heritage. Her father, a local businessman died when she was eight years old, leaving her with her mother, a devoutly religious woman. At the age of 18, Agnes left home in 1928, for the Loreto Convent in Dublin, Ireland, where she was admitted as a postulant, and received the name of Teresa, after St. Thérèse of Lisieux.

Agnes was sent by the Loreto order to India and arrived in Calcutta in 1929. Upon her arrival, she joined the Loreto novitiate in Darjeeling. She made her final profession as a sister of Loreto on May 24^th, 1937. While living in Calcutta during the 1930s and '40s, she taught in St. Mary's Bengali Medium School.

On Sept. 11^th of 1946, on a train journey from Calcutta, Mother Teresa received what she termed the "call within a call," which was to give rise to the Missionaries of Charity Sisters, Brothers, Fathers, and Co-Workers. The content of the inspiration is revealed in the aim and mission she would give to her new institute: "to quench the infinite thirst of Jesus on the cross for love and souls" by "laboring at the salvation and sanctification of the poorest of the poor." The sisters would later receive permission to take a fourth vow of serving the poorest of the poor.

On October 7, 1950, the new congregation of the Missionaries of Charity was officially established. When she was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979, there were 158 foundations. From the late 1980s through the 1990s, despite increasing health problems, Mother Teresa traveled across the world for the profession of novices, opening new houses, and service to the poor and disaster-stricken. New communities were founded in South Africa, Albania, Cuba, and Iraq. By 1997, the Sisters numbered nearly 4,000 members, and were established in almost 600 foundations in 123 countries of the world.

After traveling to Rome, New York, and Washington, in a weak state of health, Mother Teresa returned to Calcutta in July of 1997. At 9:30 PM, Sept. 5^th, Mother Teresa died at the Motherhouse. Her dear friend, Pope Saint John Paul II would later beatify her.

The Gospel of Matthew, Chapter 25 give us 6 out of 7 of the Corporal Works of Mercy, which we will be judged at the moment of our death. Jesus said, “When I was hungry, you gave me food, when I was thirsty, you gave me drink. When I was naked you clothed me. When I was ill or in prison you visited me.” The 7^th Work of Mercy is found in the Book of Tobit, to bury the dead. Jesus also said, “What you do to the least of my brothers and sisters, you do unto me.”

Mother Teresa discovered God’s call to quench the thirst of Jesus on the Cross, by serving the poorest of the poor. Her mission began when she took the first dying man off the street to help him die a peaceful death. She couldn’t help but see Jesus dying within the poor and wanted the dying man to know he is loved. Throughout her life, she opened houses for the many ways in which people suffer: houses for the handicapped, houses for the homeless, houses for the dying, houses for AIDS Victims, houses for abandoned children.

When I was a seminarian I went to Calcutta during the summer to work with Mother Teresa’s sisters. I saw a building three times the size of the parish center completely full of cribs with abandoned babies in every crib. As I walked by each crib, the children would cry because they wanted affection. They wanted a mother and a father to hold them. I went to Kalighat, the house of dying, and saw how the sisters heroically remove maggots from the flesh of dying people. I worked in the house for handicapped and saw people of all ages rejected by society because they were missing an arm or a leg or had Down syndrome. Mother Teresa’s sisters were there to show every person that their life has meaning, that they have dignity and that they are loved.

Today, let us pray to St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta, that we may grow in our love of the poor and see Jesus in the disguise of the poorest of the poor and be willing to open our heart to help them in any way we can.

23rd Sunday - Count the Cost of Discipleship

 

 How much does it cost to be a disciple of Jesus?

When our Lord said to count the cost before building a tower before its completion, He was using it as an example to help His disciples and us, know there is a cost associated with being His Disciple and that we should count the cost before choosing to be one of His followers.

In Scotland, they have a national monument of a replica of a large pagan building in Athens. The project to build the replica turned out to be a disaster because they ran out of funds. Today, there is a six ton foundation of stone that was laid with unfinished stone pillars standing as a tribute to poor planning. Today, its known as the “Edinburgh’s Disgrace.” Who would build a tower without first calculating the money needed to build it? Not very smart.

Jesus wants His disciples to count the cost to be one of His followers, so they know for sure what is expected of them and what they are to do. He uses family and possessions as examples of what it means to be a follower of His.

He said there is the cost of renouncing father, mother, spouse, children, brothers and sisters; There is also the cost of renouncing all of one’s possessions; And the cost of carrying one’s own cross. He even tells them, there is the greatest cost of being a disciple, which is the cost of one’s own life. Our Blessed Lord gave them these examples, to help His followers understand, there are many costs required be a true disciple.

The disciples had to give up being with their family so that they could be free to go out into the world to preach the Gospel. Jesus knew that if one chooses to be His disciple, there will be family division because of their faith in Him. Not everyone would accept Him and all of His teachings.

Today, some have the cost of scorn and ridicule when a non-Catholic chooses to become Catholic. Their non-catholic parents, brothers and sisters ridicule and mock their faith believing false things such as Catholics worship Mary. They can’t stand Catholic teachings such as all Catholics are to be pro-life and not use contraception or are obligated to attend Mass every weekend. To be a disciple of Jesus requires the cross. There is pain and anguish when family members disagree over issues of faith.

Jesus also said the cost to be a disciple is to give up possessions. All Christians are to be detached from material things and be willing to use our material possessions for others. And for some, to be a follower of Jesus may cost one’s job.

For example, a pharmacist told his employer, he can't fill prescriptions such as the morning after pill or give out contraceptives, because it goes against my conscience. A stewardess a few years ago, who was fired for wearing a necklace with a crucifix on it. A Catholic professor teaching at a university was fired for teaching-- what the Church teaches, that abortion and homosexual relations are seriously sinful. A Catholic teacher in a public high school was fired for calling a child only by her legal name. The child wanted to switch genders and go by a different name. Amazingly, the judge ruled in favor of the teacher.

The greatest cost to be a disciple is to give up one’s life. All of His apostles would be martyred, but John. How many of the early Christians were thrown to the lions, or crucified, or beheaded, or burned alive because they were disciples of Jesus. ----Christians today, continue to lose their life because they are disciples of Jesus.

Muslims who convert to Christianity in countries like India are killed--- or their family members are killed--- to prevent them from becoming Christian.

When we gaze upon a crucifix, it helps them to understand what it means to carry one’s cross as a disciple of Jesus because we see with their own eyes Jesus carried His Cross. We understand what it means give up one’s life to be a disciple of Jesus, because they see that Jesus died on the cross for us.

Once I entered a patient’s room, and when she saw me, she began to cry. She said, “Just before you walked in, I looked at the blood dripping from the IV and flowing down into my veins, I thought of Jesus on the Cross, who shed His blood for me, and I said to myself, “What have to complain about? Surely I can accept my pain and suffering out love for Him, who died for love of me.”

Many of us have heard the words, “Offer it up!” Why are we told to offer up our pain and suffering? And how do we offer up our pain and suffering?

When Jesus died on the cross, He offered up His suffering to save us, so that our sins can be forgiven, and so that we can go to heaven. The reason why we offer up our pain and suffering and give it to Jesus on the Cross, is because He has chosen to allow us to participate in obtaining the salvation of others, precisely because we are His disciples, who are willing to embrace and carry our cross out of love for Him. And how we offer up our suffering is simply by choosing to do it--- and for those who are able to come to the Sacrifice of the Mass, we offer up our pain and our suffering and our very self on the altar with the bread and wine.

Remember what the Mass is? It’s the re-presentation of Calvary. On the altar Calvary becomes present. At that moment--- we unite our self and our gifts, our pain and suffering with Jesus on the Cross--- as He offers Himself to the Father, for the salvation of souls. When the bread and wine are transformed into His body and blood-- our sacrifices and gifts are also transformed to be used for the salvation of souls. That’s why suffering is precious and valuable when united to the sufferings of Jesus because we are permitted to participate in bringing about the salvation of souls.

When we receive Holy Communion, we too can be transformed by the resurrected Jesus, who comes into our heart and gives us the grace to be one of His disciples, the grace to embrace our crosses and to carry our crosses.

Very few people want to carry the crosses of disease, or illness or misunderstandings, or difficulty with relationships and have pain and suffering. But when we embrace these crosses, and offer up these crosses, we are truly one of His disciples, and are willing to give our life for others, as Jesus gave His life for us on the Cross.

The cost to be a disciple of Jesus is great, but the reward is eternal. Are we willing to pay the price, so that we can live with Him forever in Heaven, who paid the price of our salvation when He died on the Cross and rose from the dead, that we may have eternal life?

Today, and at every Mass, offer yourself, your sufferings and your gifts on the altar with the bread and wine as the priest offers them to God the Father, through Jesus in union with the Holy Spirit. For by doing so, graces will flow throughout the world and help innumerable souls to go to heaven. And may the Virgin Mary pray for us and helps to live out our discipleship, as She did, who was the first and most perfect disciple.

22nd Thursday - Catching Fish "Men"

 

 St. Peter is someone, who tried real hard to catch fish, but didn’t succeed, until Jesus came and sat in his boat. He and his fishing buddies owned a fishing business, and worked hard all night on their boat trying to catch fish. But, they didn’t catch a single fish.

Jesus came and sat in one of the boats so the crowd would hear Him preach. When He finished preaching, He told Peter, “Put out into the deep and lower your nets for a catch.”

Peter didn’t think they would catch anything, because they had worked hard fishing all night long and had caught nothing. Peter said, “Master, we have worked hard all night and have caught nothing, but at your command, I will lower the nets.”

But, when he lowered the nets, they caught such a large number of fish, that the nets began to break. The boats were so full they nearly sank.

Peter replied, “Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man.” Because Jesus worked the miracle, Peter was humbled because he realized it really wasn’t he or the other disciples, who caught the fish, but rather he clearly understood Jesus was responsible for it, and he also recognized his own lack of faith. But Jesus encouraged him, when he said, “Do not be afraid, from now on, you will be catching men.”

In the future the Lord would certainly use Peter to catch many men. For example, on the day of Pentecost, after the apostles were filled with the Holy Spirit, and after Peter gave his speech, some three thousand were baptized and became Christians. The lowering of the nets would be symbolic of what would become of the Church, as many would be brought to salvation in Jesus Christ. The apostles would go out into the world to spread the nets of the Gospel, and many would be gathered into the boat of the Church.

Perhaps, when we too struggle hard trying to bring many to Christ, and work so hard at it, with seemingly little, or no success, we should invite the Lord into the boat of our lives. And perhaps He will tell us, to once again throw out the nets.

If we see our self as successful in winning souls for Christ, we like Peter, will realize it was not we who brought them to Christ, but it will be the Lord. And with Peter, we will cry out, “Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man.”

22nd Wednesday - Healing Peter's Mother-in-Law

 

 The Gospel today tells us--- how at sunset people began to bring many sick people to Jesus for Him to cure them. It was most likely a Sabbath day, because the Sabbath observance was scrupulously enforced by the scribes and Pharisees and would have ended at sunset. There were many sick people.

St. Mark states the whole city was gathered together about the door. St. Luke tells how Jesus laid hands on each one. He looks carefully at them and gives each one his full attention, because for Him each person is unique.

Everybody is always received well by Jesus, and is treated by Him with incomparable dignity that the human person always deserves. In particular we can this with the healing of Peter’s mother-in-law, who was afflicted with a severe fever. Our Lord must have come up to her bed, stood over her and then made the fever immediately go away.

How many of us wish that when we were sick, Jesus would come to us, stand at our bedside and make our fever go away. Jesus still does this today. We can see this in the life of St. Therese of Lisieux. When she was a child and very sick with a fever, she turned and looked at a statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary. She said that Mary smiled at her and Therese was immediately healed. Through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Jesus healed St. Therese at her bed side.

When we are sick, there is nothing wrong with asking Jesus to heal us. Jesus always gives us His personal and full attention, especially if we are sick and suffering.

I believe Jesus wants to do heal us in whatever ways we need to be healed, but in particular, He wants us to come to Him through His Mother Mary, so that we can love Her and honor Her as He desires.

Today, may we remember that Jesus personally cares about each of us and desires us to turn to Him for help. And may we be like the apostles and intercede for those who are sick and suffering.

The Passion of St. John the Baptist - August 29th

  

Today we celebrate the memorial of the beheading of John the Baptist. Recall that John had been arrested and put into prison because he boldly denounced the adulterous and incestuous marriage of Herod. Herod married the wife of his own brother Phillip, whose name was Herodias. She harbored a grudge against John the Baptist because of his truthful denunciation of the marriage. The daughter of Herodias pleased Herod, by seductively dancing for him. Because of his shameful lust, he told her that she could have whatever she wanted, even half of the kingdom.

The daughter asked her mother what she should request. Out of revenge and hatred, Herodias told her to ask for the head of John the Baptist. When the young girl asked Herod for the head of John the Baptist, he didn’t want to do as she asked because he believed John was a holy and righteous man. Out of fear of what others would think, especially since he had given his word in front of everyone present, he relented and gave the order for John the Baptist to be beheaded.

This event shows how human respect can be result of such a terrible evil. Rather, than choosing to do the right thing, which would have been to deny the wicked request, he chose rather to do something evil. He chose to please his wife and the young girl, rather than to spare the life of a man. He chose to abuse his power, rather than to humble himself and admit he could not do anything the young girl requested which was immoral.

Behind human respect is pride and the fear of losing the friendship of others. It’s a betrayal on one’s own convictions, a betrayal of one’s neighbor and more importantly it’s a betrayal of God.

How often have we given in to human respect? Every time, we choose to please others, rather than to do what God wants us to do. It’s a failure to spread the Gospel with those we live. It’s a failure to truly love our neighbor by telling them the truth, especially if they don’t want to hear it.

John the Baptist shed his blood for the truth and the sanctity of marriage. John could have been silent out of human respect, and not said anything, but he spoke the truth instead, even to giving up his life. He was not afraid of what others think. And that’s because he was willing to suffer for them. He was concerned about their salvation and was ready to do all that he could to show them the truth, that they may come to know the truth and love the truth, who is Jesus Christ, the way, the truth and the life.

Today, let us pray that John the Baptist will help priests and all Catholics to speak out against the sins, which he so valiantly defended. That all of us may not give into human respect.

And so we pray: “O John the Baptist, you who suffered and died for the institution of marriage, we ask that you pray for priests, and help them to defend marriage today, so threatened by divorce, by same-sex marriage, and by cohabitation. Grant that priests may be authentic witnesses, and to even lay down their lives for Jesus, as you laid down your life for Him, who died for you.”

22nd Sunday - Humility

In the Gospel, Jesus speaks about the pride of the Scribes and Pharisees. They are concerned about receiving honor at banquets and want to be noticed in public. They prefer their own glory, rather than to give glory to God.

Pride causes us to want to be noticed by others for who we are and for what we do. Pride can give us an unhealthy attitude of wanting others to serve us, rather than we serve them. Pride keeps us from admitting our mistakes for fear of others thinking negatively of us. Pride causes us to take credit for our achievements and be proud of our accomplishments, and want to receive a pat on the back. Pride demands that others serve us, rather than we serve them.

In the flint hills every year near Council Grove, there is an outdoor under the starts concert that is popular. One year, about 10 years ago, the local people were parking cars out in a pasture, when a limousine pulls up. The man parking cars said, “I’m sorry, ma'am, but you can’t park here.” The woman inside the car said, “Don’t you know who I am. I am the governor of the state of Kansas.” The man replied, “I don’t care who you are, you can’t park here. In about 10 minuets, there’s going to be about 200 head of cattle come through here.” The demanding attitude of wanting special treatment and others to serve us is a form of pride. All of us can be prideful at times, we are all human.

We need to remember all we have and all we do are graces and gifts from God. He is the one who gives us the desire to succeed, the intelligence to know things, the wisdom to choose rightly. We need to give Him the credit. The saints tell us, all that we can claim for our self is our sins. Humility is the virtue that conquers the vice of pride.

Humility helps us to admit our sins to God. In confession, we kneel before Him, asking Him to save us from our sins and to help us to get to heaven.

Humility helps us to not judge others. Rather, we say, “If that was me, I would be doing worse than they.”

With humility, we admit our mistakes, rather than always winning an argument or proving we are always right.

Humility causes us to submit to others. Even if we know a better way of doing something, we will do what our boss or our spouse wants us to do.

Humility also helps us to know we need to depend upon God for everything and see His hand in giving us all that we need. We should humbly ask God for help in our decisions and give us the temporal or spiritual things we need.

Humility helps us to hide the good things we do, rather than reveal them to others. We hide our fasting, alms giving, or our charitable deeds--- so that our motivation becomes pure, because we do it please God, rather than to be recognized by others.

If we are praised by others, we should praise God, rather than keep the compliment for our self. For example, if someone tells us we did something well, we should say something like, “Thanks be to God” or “Thank you Jesus!” We also shouldn’t say, “I did a terrible job”, when in fact we did well. Rather, we admit the truth--- and thank God for working through us.

If we are humble, when someone criticizes us, we won't get upset or if we are praised, we won't act as though we didn't do well. As Saint Mother Teresa of Calcutta said, "If you are humble nothing will touch you, neither praise nor disgrace, because you know what you are."

Humility is revealed by the way we respect others, especially the sick, the poor and the mentally ill. Are we condescending? Do we interrupt their speech, don’t pay attention to them, or look down upon them? All of these are forms of pride.

To have humility, we don’t brag about our abilities or our accomplishments. We don’t put others down to make our self look good. We aren’t rude and don’t insult others. To be humble is to compliment others and encourage them. To be humble, we come to know our own strengths and weaknesses. Humility is to help others and serve them, rather than want to be served. We start to focus more on others, rather than our self. To be humble we are not conceited and don’t want to draw attention to our self. We will not pretend to be someone were are not. Humility is asking others for help when we need it. When we think we are better than others, then we are losing humility and becoming prideful.

As an example of humility for children is captains of a team such as basketball chooses players who most of the time would chose the best players to be on your team. But out of humility, one captain chooses a player who doesn’t know how to play the game well, so he can help teach the person to learn as the game is played, even if it means losing to the other team.

Our humility is revealed by how we humble our self before those who are greater than us, especially Jesus, who is God. How do we approach God in prayer, or how do we genuflect to Our Lord in the tabernacle, or receive Him in Holy Communion.

Today, let us all desire to grow in humility, pray for it, practice it, and contemplate it. Meditate on the perfect act of humility of Our Lord’s Crucifixion and gaze upon the humility of God, as He humbles Himself to look like bread, but, is not bread, and is truly God, on the altar.

May we imitate the humility of Our Blessed Mother, who was exalted above all creatures, because She humbled Herself and knew, that “Whoever exalts himself, will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself, will be exalted.”

St. Monica - August 27th

 

 Today, we celebrate the memorial of St. Monica, the mother of the great St. Augustine. Monica was born about the year 332 in North Africa, of a Christian family. In her childhood, she sometimes fell into the habit of taking secret great droughts of wine in the cellar. One day a servant spied on the little girl and denounced her as a drunkard, and Monica, covered with shame, gave up the habit. Soon afterwards she was baptized, and thenceforth led a life of irreproachable virtue.

As soon as Monica had reached marriageable age, she married Patricius, who had a violent temper. Monica endured his outbursts with the utmost patience, although he was critical of Christians and their practices. The daily example of her gentleness and kindness finally had its rewards. A year before his death, he became a Christian.

Her son, Augustine, spent time in youthful carousing, which caused his mother great anguish. She disapproved so strongly both of his loose living and of his acceptance of the popular heresy of Manichaeism. Augustine tried to convince her to give up her Christian faith, which he said was the main obstacle keeping them apart.

But Monica did not lose faith. She continually fasted, prayed, and wept on his behalf. She implored the local bishop for help to win him over. But he counseled her to be patient, saying, "God's time will come." Monica persisted until the bishop uttered the words which have often been quoted: "Go now, I beg you; it is not possible that the son of so many tears should perish."

The joyous day of Augustine's conversion finally came after she followed her son to Milan where they met Saint Ambrose. At Easter, when Bishop Ambrose baptized Augustine, his mother's cup was full to overflowing.

The prayers of Monica have been invoked by generations of the faithful who honor her as a special patroness of married women and as an example for Christian motherhood. She is also the patron of alcoholics. May her example and prayers help all parents with children who no longer practice their faith. St. Monica, pray for us!

St. Louis - August 25th

 

Today, we celebrate the memorial of St. Louis King of France. He was born in 1215. His mother was a very good Catholic, and so, taught him the Catholic faith, and all about God’s heavenly kingdom. Louis often times would say “Death rather than mortal sin.” which is what his mother taught him.

His mother prepared him to be truly a holy king. He was crowned king when he was only 12 years old. Can you imagine a 6^th grader being made king of France? Even though he became king of France at the age of 12 years old, his mother ran the actual ran the government until Louis was old enough.

He was taught by Franciscan Friars, and later became a Third Order Franciscan. As king, he became very sick, and made a promise to the Lord that if his health would improve, he would lead a crusade to free the Holy Land from Muslims, because they had taken control and pushed out the Christians.

When he went with his army to fight the Muslims in the Holy Land, he was captured and taken prisoner. While in prison, the Muslims said they would release him from prison, but only, if he denied Jesus. He refused to deny Jesus, our Blessed Lord, because He loved Him with all his heart, mind and soul. Sometime later, he was freed from prison.

Louis was a very good king. He would not tolerate those who spoke filthy words, or spoke bad things of others. Even though, he had lots of money, as king, he used it wisely by taking care of the poor. He was able to get the actual Crown of Thorns of Jesus, and built a Catholic Church in Paris, which he placed the Thorns.

Due to Muslims again taking over the Holy Land, he decided to start another Crusade to battle against them. While on the journey, some of his soldiers became ill. Because he visited them, he got the illness himself, and died, before he could go to the Holy Land. St. Louis and his wife had 12 children, whom he daily prayed with. Before his death he wrote a beautiful letter to one of his sons, who would take over his throne upon his death.

In the letter, he states, “My dearest son, I exhort you above all else to love the Lord your God with your whole heart and with all your strength; there is no salvation apart from this. Keep yourself free from everything you know to be displeasing to God, that is, from every mortal sin. You must be willing to suffer any kind of martyrdom rather than commit a grievous sin. Be kindly disposed toward the poor, the wretched and afflicted; help them as much as you can and console them. Be just towards your subjects. Incline to the poor man’s side rather than to the rich man until you are certain where the truth lies. Be devoted and obedient to our mother, the Church of Rome, and to the supreme pontiff as your spiritual father. Work to eradicate all sin from your country, especially blasphemy and heresy. May the Blessed Trinity and all the saints protect you from all evil. May the Lord grant you the grace to do His will in such a way as to serve him and honor him; and after this life may we both meet to see, love and praise Him without end. Amen.”

St. Bartholomew - August 24th

 

 

One of the apostles, whose name is inscribed on the foundation of the Church, is St. Bartholomew, whose feast we celebrate today.

His call as an apostle, came through the intercession of his friend, St. Philip. When Philip finds Bartholomew he said, “We have found the one about whom Moses wrote in the law, and also the prophets.” Even though Bartholomew said, “Can any good come from Nazareth?” Philip said, ‘come and see’. When he finally found Jesus, Our Lord looked at him and said, “Here is a true child of Israel. There is no duplicity in him.” Jesus highlighted Bartholomew’s guileless virtue. He was not duplicit. In other words, he was frank and honest and his motives were pure. He was truthful. He was not deceitful. Bartholomew wondered how Jesus had known him, after all, he did not recall speaking with Him before. Realizing Our Divine Lord could read his heart, he makes a remarkable act of faith, he said, “..you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel”.

St. Bartholomew lived in the city of Cana. He preached in India and Armenia. While in Armenia, in the city of Albanopolis, it is believed he suffered martyrdom by being flayed alive, and then beheaded by the order of the king of Armenia. He is often pictured in art with flayed skin and a knife in his hand. In the Gospels, he is known by two names (Nathaniel and Bartholomew).

Today, let us imitate St. Bartholomew’s truthfulness and strive to life a life without guile, so that at the end of our life, when we stand at the gates of heaven, Jesus will say to us, Here is a true child of Israel. There is no duplicity in him.”, come enter into my kingdom.

St. Rose of Lima - August 23rd

 

 Today is the memorial of St. Rose of Lima, the patron of Peru, South America, and the Philippines. Her birth name was Isabel de Flores. She was born in Lima, Peru on April 20, 1586 and was the 11^th of 13 children.

Her father was a Puerto Rican, who had come to Peru in 1548 with the Spanish conquistadors. She received the name Rose when a housemaid, gazing upon her when she was still an infant, remarked: “She’s as lovely as a rose.” She was given that name at the time of confirmation. Her mother used to place a crown of roses on her head and had hoped her daughter would someday get married, but Rose had other plans.

She had a great devotion to St. Catherine of Sienna and a very special love of the Child Jesus. When she was 5 yrs. old she had asked the Child Jesus to teach her to read and write, which He did. She obtained cures from the Child Jesus for the sick.

Since she was beautiful, she didn’t want to tempt anyone by her beauty so she cut her hair and rubbed red pepper on her skin to make it appear blotchy.

She lived a life of penance, frequently fasted, didn’t eat meat, spent hours in prayer, mortified herself, flogged herself, wore a hair shirt, and served the poor. She offered up her suffering as a way of atoning for the idolatry of her country, for the conversion of sinners, and for the souls in purgatory.

When Rose was 20 years old, her mother encouraged her to get married and became extremely angry when Rose told her she made a vow of chastity at the age of 5.

She became a third order Dominican and built a cell in a remote corner of the garden and after a period of trial and desolation, received the joy of spiritual espousal to Christ. Jesus said to her, “Rose of my heart, be thou My bride.”

She died at the young age of 31 and is often pictured holding the Child Jesus and wearing a crown of roses.

As we prepare to receive Holy Communion, let us humble our self before the Lord in a spirit of devotion and prayer in imitation of St. Rose of Lima and the Blessed Virgin Mary.