7th Sunday - Retaliation, Body is Temple of the Holy Spirit

 

Today’s homily I will focus on the law of forgiveness also called the law of retaliation which was before the time of Jesus and how Jesus elevated the law of forgiveness. I will also speak about how we are to treat our body and the bodies of others, as temples of the Holy Spirit.

In the Gospel, Jesus teaches us to forgive. Before the time of Jesus, the Israelites were given what was called the law of retaliation. Jesus refers to this law in today’s Gospel, when He said, “An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth”. What does eye for an eye and tooth for a tooth mean?

Before the law of retaliation was given to the Israelites, when someone was injured or offended, they would return the injustice by vengeance, which was often time, worse than the original offense. But the law of retaliation prevented this.

Rather, for example, if you punched someone in the face and it caused him to go blind in one eye, he could legally hit you in your eye to cause you to go blind in one eye. Or if you were hit in the mouth, and a tooth broke off, you could hit him in the mouth and cause one tooth to break off. Without the law of retaliation, one would break more than one tooth or cause both eyes to go blind through returning an injury. Because of the law of retaliation, the dispute was supposed to be taken to a judge, who would be sure that no one would respond in a way that did more harm-- than the harm that was done to them.

In the New Testament, Jesus established an even greater advance with regard to forgiveness and mercy. He said, “If someone strikes you on your right cheek, turn the other to him as well”. “If someone presses you into service for one mile, go with him for two miles.”

The Christian is to submit to an injustice, rather than retaliating in a spirit of anger. The Christian should therefore, prepare to bear injuries for the glory and honor of God and the salvation of souls, rather than to return punishment to the one who hurt us.

Yet, this does not mean we should always patiently submit to personal injuries. For example, when Jesus was struck on the face by the servant of the high priest, Our Lord said, “If I have spoken wrongly, bear witness to the wrong, but I have spoken rightly, why do you strike me?’ In another words, because Jesus didn’t submit to the injustice, it prevented the servant from doing it again, and therefore, prevented the man from committing an additional sin.

Jesus wants to help us to understand--at times, it is better to virtuously, put up with injustice, and at other times---it is better to defend oneself, with the goal of helping to bring someone to repentance.

When I was in 6^th grade, I had an 8^th grade friend, who I will call Billy the bully. Billy is not his real name. In 6^th grade, I weighed maybe 90 pounds. Two years older than I, Billy was tall, weighed 180 pounds and was very strong.

He used to pick me up over his head and threaten to throw me across the yard, but he never did. When we wrestled, he would pin me down for a long time, which greatly angered me. He would pick me up and squeeze me with a bear hug for about 10 minutes, which caused me to be angry at him because I felt helpless. He wanted to prove how strong he was. He would tighten his stomach muscles and tell me to hit him in the gut, as hard as I could. Out of obedience, I threw my hardest punch in his gut, but he would just laugh and tell me to do it again. He never once flinched.

One day, when he wasn’t looking, I landed the hardest punch I could, in his very soft gut. I was shocked. It didn’t seem to bother him at all. However, he returned the punch in my gut and I doubled over and fell to the ground. I couldn’t breathe. I had the wind knocked out of me. Once I was able to breathe, I went home crying. Seeing my pain, he kept apologizing, “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have hit you that hard.” I was angry at him for a long time. I should have forgiven him, especially since he made it known he was sorry, but I didn't.

So now let’s remember, the Old testament rule, an eye for an eye and tooth for a tooth. According to the law of retaliation, he had a right to hit me, as hard as I hit him. But, we were just kids and goofing around, we had no idea about the law of retaliation.

However, based upon the new law, given by Jesus, it would have best if Billy turned the other cheek and perhaps warned me not hit him without his permission, and if I would do it again the future, he may retaliate. But as young kids, neither of us had that in mind and we were just playing around.

The next question is, if someone gives you permission to hit him, is it okay? When I was in high school, I took a summer Karate boxing class. I was a very small young man, maybe weighed 120 at the most. But I was absolutely vicious when boxing. In fact, I never lost a match. No matter, the size of my opponent, all were afraid of me. I had absolutely no empathy towards my opponents. I could care less if I caused them pain. It was understood we each had each other’s permission to hit each other because that was part of the game.

We wore different color belts (white, yellow, brown, the coach wore a black belt). We would get a certain number of points if we kicked or punched our opponent depending on if we hit them in the head or the torso, or if it was our foot or our boxing glove etc..

One day, I punched a kid and he flew back and landed on his back. The coach blew his whistle, got into my face and said, “What are you doing! Your not supposed to hit your opponent as hard as you can, your only supposed to make contact!” 

It was at that moment, I realized there was something wrong with me, that I wanted to hit someone as hard as I could, and not care if it caused him pain. After that, I lost all matches. I was afraid to hit my opponents.

What was beneath, that rage, that viciousness, that lack of caring for another human being? I will give you a hint, in the first reading, it said, “Take no revenge and cherish no grudge against any of your people. You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

It took me years to understand why I did, what I did. Beneath that rage, that viciousness, that lack of caring for others, was a grudge and a desire for revenge, that I didn’t even know I had. Guess, where it came from? It came from Billy, the bully. I saw Billy in my opponents. I wanted to get even with Billy. And saw my opponents as though they were him.

What I really needed to do was to forgive him. And once I forgave, the anger and desire for revenge went away. As it said in the first reading, “Take no revenge and cherish no grudge against any of your people. You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

Is there anyone, you need to forgive? Its as simple, as saying, “Jesus, I forgive Billy”. Or I forgive my mother or my father, or my sister or my friend or the bully at school. With forgiveness comes peace in our heart and we should confess our unforgiveness or a grudge in confession too.

But, if you have someone’s permission, is it okay, to hit them, even if they might get injured?

In the second reading St. Paul said, “Brothers and sisters: Do you not know that you are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If one destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person; for the temple of God, which you are, is holy.”

Why do you think St. Paul made this statement? What was going on during his time? There were large amphitheaters, where thousands of people would watch gladiators fight to death. Or gladiators would fight wild animals. The people would cheer when another gladiator struck his opponent severing his arm or if he loped off his head. Don’t you think it would be seriously sinful to take pleasure in watching another person get seriously wounded or to be killed?

Perhaps that is why St. Paul wanted to remind the people of Corinth, our body is temple of the Holy Spirit.

When I was in 7^th grade, I went out for football. I was the smallest kid on the team and very skinny. One day, during practice, the coach told me to put my head down and hit the other kid as hard as I could in his waist. So when the ball was snapped, I ran across the line and hit other kid to make room for the running back. The other kid, whose name was Jeff, was knocked to the ground and the coach hollered, “That’s it, you did great. That’s exactly what you were supposed to do.” But Jeff, just laid there groaning. He couldn’t get up. His mother happened to be at the practice and helped him up. She took him to the hospital and Jeff had to have emergency surgery. When I hit him, his appendix ruptured. I felt awful. He could have died. Back then, I was not religious. I didn’t visit him in the hospital and didn’t even pray for him. I no longer liked football and didn’t want to play anymore. And Jeff ended up a big scar from surgery.

“Brothers and sisters: Do you not know that you are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If one destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person; for the temple of God, which you are, is holy.”

Have you ever watched UFC fighting? Years ago, before I was a priest, I used to watch it. Both men, have each other’s permission to hit and kick and even to knock the other out. But, does that make it right? Did you know when someone is knocked out, it’s actually a concussion that causes swelling of the brain? Broken teeth, cuts on the face and hands, damage caused to the brain happens at these fights. Even if someone allows another person to hurt them, for the sake of seeing who is stronger, does that make it right? It seems to me, it would be seriously sinful to take pleasure in watching another person get injured. It is also sinful to allow someone to physically injure us.

We should treat each other as a temple of the Holy Spirit. As Jesus said, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” So, if you don’t love yourself enough to care for your own body, is that a good thing? We need to love our self, we need to care for and protect our body. We are created in God’s image and likeness. As human beings we have dignity and should treat our self and others with dignity. That dignity comes from God, who dwells in each of us through baptism.

When I was pastor in Halstead, I had four altar servers who were severely injured in football. A 6^th grade boy got a concussion. One altar server got a broken arm. A former altar server played college football and shattered a bone in his leg and tore ligaments. He had to wear a cast for almost 6 months and then needed physical therapy so he could walk normally. He walked with a limp for almost a year.

A junior in high school got a concussion. The brain injury cause him to have problems with his mind. His brain injury was bad, he became paranoid and tried to burn down is own home.

Often times, people with concussions are unable to control their emotions and have extreme anger outbursts. The doctor told his parents, if he gets another concussion, it could have severe consequences. The boy slowly got better and despite the doctors recommendation, they let him play again, because they said, “He likes to play.” Thanks be to God, he didn’t get another concussion and his paranoia went away. But, he was put in a very dangerous situation, that could have affected him for the rest of his life.

“Brothers and sisters: Do you not know that you are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If one destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person; for the temple of God, which you are, is holy.”

We have an obligation to care for our self and our body. To care for our children, not only physically, but especially spiritually.

I believe we need to re-evaluate what is most important in our life. God must be first. Our children’s religious education must come before any school activity that prevents our children from growing in their faith. If we fail to do that, we are failing to help our children to get to heaven. It’s great to win a championship, but its infinitely greater to win glory in heaven. When it’s all said and done, only faith in Jesus helps us to get to heaven. Every other worldly pursuit, no matter how good is straw compared to our eternal life in heaven.

Listen to the words of St. Paul, “Do you not know that in a race all the runners compete, but only one receives the prize? So run so that you may attain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. Well, I do not run aimlessly, I do not box as one beating the air; but I pommel my body and subdue it, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.” (1 Corinthians 9:24-27)

St. Paul pommeled his body by fasting, overcoming temptations, denying himself and striving for virtue.

Listen to the words of St. John Chrysostom. He said, “We bloodied no weapons, nor stood on the battle line, nor bore any wounds, nor saw any fighting, and yet we won the victory. All this was the glorious result of the Cross….The cross is our trophy raised against the demons, our sword against sin, and the sword Christ used to pierce the serpent. The cross is the Father’s will, the glory of the only-begotten, the joy of the spirit, the pride of angels, the guarantee of the Church, Paul’s boast, the bulwark of the saints, the light to the entire world.”

My friends, let us look to receive the crown of glory that never fades, by practicing our faith, learning our faith, making sure our children have the opportunity to learn their faith, and by sharing our faith with others. May, the Virgin Mary, whose body was a temple, when She carried Her unborn Infant Son, who is God, in Her womb, help us to love and care for our own temples and the temples of each other, with love.

6th Thursday - Peter & Infallibility

 

Jesus asked His disciples, “Who do you say that I am?” The disciples did not directly answer the question, bur referred, to what others say who Jesus is. They said, “Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others one of the prophets.” And so, Jesus asked them point blank, “But who do you, say that I am?” There most likely would have been a bit of silence, as most were afraid to say anything.

But Peter boldly proclaims, “You are the Christ.” Here Peter, the first Pope, spoke on faith and morals. The Church declares that popes have the gift of never erring in their proclamation of faith and morals, when binding all the faithful of the universal Church to believe it. This gift is called papal infallibility.

However, popes can make errors in faith and morals when they say things in homilies or in Church documents, encyclicals personal conversations or interviews, that contradict the faith, because they are human. But a pope can never bind all the faithful to believe a doctrine that contradicts Church teaching on faith or morals.

Today’s Gospel ends with Jesus rebuking Peter. Our Blessed Lord told His disciples that He would suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and scribes and then be killed, and rise on the third day. Not wanting Jesus to go to Jerusalem to be crucified, Peter rebukes Jesus. Our Divine Lord returns the rebuke, with His own rebuke, and states, “Get behind me Satan. You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do.”

Peter rebuked Jesus, because He didn’t want Him to go to Jerusalem. He wanted to prevent Jesus from suffering and dying, which is a noble thing to do. However, Our Lord wanted Peter to know, he was thinking in an earthly way, not a heavenly way. Back then and even today, people view suffering and pain and death as a terrible misery to avoid.

But Jesus wanted to teach Peter and us a lesson that when suffering and pain is united to the suffering and death of Jesus on the Cross, and when we embrace pain and suffering its precious and valuable and good for our salvation and the salvation of souls.

Peter would eventually embrace pain, suffering and death because he would later be martyred for Jesus, by crucifixion, upside down.

Today, let us give thanks to God for the gift, He has given us, through the popes, which is the gift of the office of St. Peter, to always, without fail, guide and lead, the Church on faith and morals, despite their human weakness.

6th Sunday - Heaven, Hell, Purgatory

Today’s readings speak of heaven, hell and purgatory.

The book of Sirach, mentions both heaven and hell. It said, “If you keep the commandments, they will save you.” For what are the commandments saving you? Hell. The reading goes on to say, “Before man are life and death, good and evil, whichever he chooses shall be given him.” Life refers to eternal life, which is heaven. Death refers to eternal death, which is hell. Whatever he chooses, will be given him.

In the second reading, Paul mentions heaven, he said, “What eye has not seen, and ear has not heard, and what has not entered the human heart, what God has prepared for those who love Him.” There is nothing on earth that we see or hear compared to heaven. We can’t imagine the joy, the love, the peace, the beauty, the wonder and awe of heaven. I gave a homily on heaven about three months ago.

In the Gospel today, Jesus mentions, heaven, purgatory and hell. With regard to heaven, Our Lord speaks about those who obey and teach the commandments, will be called greatest in the kingdom of heaven and one must be more righteous than the Pharisees to enter the kingdom of heaven.

In speaking of purgatory, Our Lord said, “Settle with your opponent quickly while on the way to court. Otherwise your opponent will hand you over to the judge, and the judge will hand you over to the guard, and you will be thrown into prison. Amen, I say to you, you will not be released until you paid the last penny.” Jesus makes it clear the offender must pay for his sins. He is referring to a temporary prison (purgatory) and will then be released once he paid the price for what he has done. The court refers to our personal judgment at death. The judge refers to Jesus, who is our eternal judge. We should daily pray for the poor souls in purgatory to relieve them of their suffering and help their soul to be purified for heaven. I preached on purgatory in the past.

This weekend, I thought I would focus on hell. I have actually rarely preaching on it during a Sunday Mass. The Gospel mentions hell three times.“Whoever says, ‘You fool’ will be liable to fiery Gehenna.” During the time of Jesus, if a person would call someone a fool, it would be the same as if they would disown the person and would never have anything to do with them. Because to call someone a fool back then was a very serious offense, that’s why Jesus said the person would be liable to Gehenna. Today, when we call someone a fool, it takes on a different meaning, and more likely mean to be imprudent.

Jesus also said twice, “It is better if you lose one of your members than to have your whole body go into Gehenna.” The Catechism states, “Jesus often speaks of “Gehenna” or “the unquenchable fire” reserved for those who to the end of their lives refuse to believe and be converted, where both soul and body can be lost. Jesus solemnly proclaims that he “will send his angels, and they will gather . . . all evil doers, and throw them into the furnace of fire,” and that he will pronounce the condemnation: “Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire!” CCC #1034

Some may think it would be cruel to speak about hell in the presence of children, yet the Virgin Mary, showed hell to the three children of Fatima, ages 10, 8, and 7. Lucia describes their vision of hell. She said, "(Mary) opened Her hands once more, as She had done the two previous months. The rays [of light] appeared to penetrate the earth, and we saw, as it were, a vast sea of fire. Plunged in this fire, we saw the demons and the souls [of the damned]. The latter were like transparent burning embers, all blackened or burnished bronze, having human forms. They were floating about in that conflagration, now raised into the air by the flames which issued from within themselves, together with great clouds of smoke. Now they fell back on every side like sparks in huge fires, without weight or equilibrium, amid shrieks and groans of pain and despair, which horrified us and made us tremble with fright (it must have been this sight which caused me to cry out, as people say they heard me). The demons were distinguished [from the souls of the damned] by their terrifying and repellent likeness to frightful and unknown animals, black and transparent like burning coals. That vision only lasted for a moment, thanks to our good Heavenly Mother, Who at the first apparition had promised to take us to Heaven. Without that, I think that we would have died of terror and fear." Our Lady told the children, "Each time you say the Rosary, My children, say after each decade, 'O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fire of Hell, lead all souls to heaven, especially those most in need of thy mercy." Because of that vision, every time we pray the Rosary, we pray 5 times Jesus will save souls from the fires of hell.

Our Lady of Mount Carmel, promises, those who wear the scapular and live out their Christian faith, will not suffer eternal fire.

St. Jean Marie Vianney used to preach the greatest act of charity towards our neighbor is to save their soul from Hell. He said, the second act of charity is to deliver souls from Purgatory.

The souls in hell hear curses, complaints, accusations, weeping and gnashing of teeth. No kind or friendly word will ever fall on their ear, nothing but groans and shrieks to which they add to their own lamentations and unavailing regrets. There is no love in hell. There is only hate and despair. Since, hell is everlasting, that it means it lasts forever and ever. Torture, pain and suffering forever.

Today many think God is too merciful to send anyone to hell. Some say there is no hell or that its empty. Others believe everyone goes straight to heaven, as though no one goes to purgatory or to hell. But all of this contradicts the words of Jesus who said hell is everlasting. God is not only infinitely merciful, He is also infinitely just. But His greatest attribute, is His mercy.

The Church teaches that every sin has punishment due to it, and that is why we are supposed to do penance for our sins. If justice is expected in this life through civil laws wouldn’t God expect justice in the life to come? Whether its purgatory or hell.

How does someone go to hell? By committing one mortal sin, and then dying without being repentant of it. Mother Angelica told the story, that a priest told her. The priest went to visit a dying man in the hospital and the man was very angry. He ordered the priest to leave his room. But the priest took out a crucifix and handed it to the man and said, “See how much Jesus loves you. He died for you, that your sins be forgiven. Please tell Jesus you’re sorry for your sins.” But the man took the crucifix and threw it against the wall causing it to get broken into pieces and said, “I don’t want to go to heaven. I want to go to hell.” And at that moment, sadly to say, the man died. How terrible!

The vision of hell caused the children of Fatima, to not be afraid of God, but rather, it caused their hearts to expand with great love for sinners. This is why the children offered their sacrifices and did penance for the conversion of sinners. This is why the children of Fatima wore a rope around their waist as a penance and why they fasted often and gave away their food to other poor children, why they themselves went hungry. Although they never had a vision of heaven, they wanted all souls to go there because of love.

To see the Virgin Mary in a way that was so full of splendor caused them to want to go to heaven to be with God, with Mary and the angels and saints.

The Baltimore Catechism states committing a mortal sin is like renewing the passion of Jesus. Its like crucifying Jesus. Some will say, I love Jesus, but yet they commit a mortal sin. If we love Jesus, we would do everything we can to not hurt Him. Every sin wounds Jesus, but mortal sin, cuts off our relationship with God and wounds our soul mortally.

We shouldn’t only avoid mortal sin out of the fear of hell, but, especially out fear of offending and hurting the good God, whom we love because He loves us so much He died for us, that we may be with Him forever in heaven.

Today, let us seek the kingdom of heaven and do everything we can to keep it. May come to Jesus, the merciful shepherd in confession often, especially if we committed a mortal sin, to come quickly to Him to receive His infinite mercy. As soon as we commit any sin, we should immediately ask the Lord to forgive us.

Finally, let us do penance, offer up our sufferings, make sacrifices and pray the rosary daily for the conversion of sinners, so that as we help many souls to go to heaven, by the grace of God, we will save our own soul and go to our eternal home where there is no pain, no suffering and no tears, where there is nothing but love, peace and joy in heaven forever and ever and ever.

May the Virgin Mary, Mother of Mercy, and refuge of sinners, help to trust Jesus and believe that no matter how many or how big sins we commit, God will always forgive us, if we humbly ask pardon for them.

Our Lady of Lourdes - Feb. 11th

 

Today, we celebrate the memorial of Our Lady of Lourdes. At the time of Bernadette, the Grotto was a dirty, hidden, damp and cold place. The Grotto was called the "pigs' shelter" because that was where the pigs feeding in the area usually took shelter. It was there the Virgin Mary, dressed in white appeared.

During one of the apparitions, Bernadette moved on her knees to the back of the Grotto. She kisses the dirty disgusting ground of the Grotto. She eats some bitter grass. She scrapes the ground three times trying to drink the muddy water, at the back of the Grotto, she tries sucking in a little and then throwing it away, she takes mud in her hands and she smears her face.

Then the young girl turns to the crowd with her hands apart. They all say: "She's mad!" During four Apparitions, she carried out the same actions. What is happening? Nobody understands! Yet, Our Lady asked this of Bernadette to reveal the young girls humility and obedience.

At the ninth Apparition, "the Lady" asked Bernadette to scrape the ground, at the back of this "pigs’ shelter", saying to her: "Go to the spring, drink of it and wash yourself there". There is only a little muddy water to begin with, enough for Bernadette to drink. At first this water is muddy and dirty then, little by little, it becomes clear.

During one of the apparitions, Bernadette was asked: 'Did the Lady say something to you?' She replied: 'Yes, now and again she would say: "Penance, penance, penance, pray for sinners". During the thirteenth Apparition Our Lady said to Bernadette: "Go, tell the priests to come here in procession and build a chapel here."

On the 25^th of March 1858, the day of the sixteenth Apparition, Bernadette went to the Grotto, and on the instigation of the Parish Priest, she asked the Lady her name. Three times Bernadette asked the question. On the fourth request, the Lady responds in the French dialect ("I am the Immaculate Conception"). Bernadette does not understand immediately the meaning of these words. The Immaculate Conception is, as the Church teaches, "Mary, conceived without sin, thanks to the merits of the Cross of Christ".

She then went to the Parish Priest and told him the Lady's name. He understands that it is the Mother of God who has appeared at the Grotto of Massabielle. And later the Bishop of Tarbes, confirmed this.

The Catholic Church has officially declared 70 miraculous cures at Lourdes, many of which occurred by the miraculous spring of water. One example is Jean-Pierre Bely, who was stricken with multiple sclerosis in 1972. In 1987, he came to Lourdes and bathed in the waters. The next day, after attending Mass, he experienced a high fever, causing him severe pain. Suddenly, he woke, able to move is arms and legs and sensed feeling. The following night, Bely awoke abruptly and could walk. Within 12 hours, he regained his physical abilities and showed no further symptoms of illness.

Recently in the news, Fr. John Hollowell, a priest from Indiana, with brain cancer went to Lourdes, bathed in the water and was miraculously healed.

In 2018, when the priest abuse scandal came out, he told Jesus he wanted to offer up any sufferings he would have for the victims of clerical abuse. He was a very popular you-tube priest, whose homilies were very well liked. He was diagnosed with brain cancer in Feb of 2020 and began to offer up his sufferings for the victims.

He had brain surgery, chemo and radiation, but the tumor started growing back. The MRI had also showed a tumor on his pituitary gland. But, when he got back from Lourdes he felt stronger and no longer needed to have prepared texts when preaching. He said when they did an MRI the tumors were gone, and nothing was there except scar tissue. He said, "I want to thank Jesus for the gift not just of my healing but also the gift of the tumor surgeries, radiation and chemo as well."

There are thousands of alleged miracles that have never been investigated. The most common occurrence at Lourdes, is those who come hoping for a miracle, though the return home without it, they have a conversion and are able to accept and embrace their suffering.

Today, may we turn to Our Lady of Lourdes and ask Her to help us to do as She asked, to pray the Rosary for the conversion of sinner, to do penance, and turn to Her as the Immaculate Conception, knowing through Her intercession She can ask Jesus to heal us, so that our body and soul make be like Mary’s-- pure and spotless-- when the day comes for us to enter eternal life.

St. Paul Miki & St. Peter Baptist Feb. 6th

 

Today, the church celebrates the memorial of St. Paul Miki, Peter Baptist and Companions. In 1592, the military dictator of Japan planned to invade the Philippine Islands. To negotiate, King Philip of Spain sent Fr. Peter Baptist, as his ambassador. He succeeded in preventing the dictator from invading, and even got permission to spread Christianity in Japan. However, a group of Japanese later convinced the dictator, that Fr. Peter wanted to dethrone him, and so he ordered the Franciscans, and Jesuits to be imprisoned and put to death.

St. Peter Baptist, six Franciscan Friars, and three Japanese Jesuits, including Paul Miki were arrested. There were also twenty laymen arrested as well.

Several accounts of the martyrdom tell us what happened. The martyrdom of the Jesuits, is recorded as follows, and includes the words of Paul Miki, who boldly proclaimed: “As I come to this supreme of my life, I am sure none of you would suppose I want to deceive you. And so I tell you plainly: there is no way to be saved except the Christian way. My religion teaches me to pardon my enemies and all who have offended me. I do gladly pardon the Emperor and all who have sought my death. I beg them to seek baptism and be Christians themselves.” And all kept repeating the words, “Jesus, Mary!” while their faces looked serene. The executioners took out their spears and killed them one by one.

The Franciscan account of the martyrdom states, “On still another day they brought us to prison again, mounted us on horses, and conducted us through the streets of the city. We were also taken to Sakai, where they did the same thing. On each occasion there was a public proclamation by the town crier. We knew we had been condemned to death. From what I have heard, I think we will be crucified this coming Friday, because it was on Friday, that they cut off a part of each one’s ear at Miyako, an event we accepted as a gift from God. We all ask you then with great fervor to pray for us for the love of God.

Dearest brothers, help us with your prayers, that our death may be acceptable to the majesty of God in heaven, where God willing, we hope to go. Farwell, dearest brothers, because there is no longer any time to speak to you. Till we meet in heaven. Remember me.”

On Jan. 4^th 1597, the Franciscans were again bound, and thrown on hurdles to be taken to Nagasaki for execution. The journey lasted four weeks arriving on Feb. 5^th. They were taken to the crosses on the top of a hill. With loud voices they thanked God for the grace of being permitted to die by crucifixion like Jesus. As they hung crucified, the executioners took two spears and thrusted the spears through their bodies. The executioners were astounded upon seeing their joy at being martyred in a manner following Christ’s Passion.

In imitation of Jesus, they were crucified and pierced, because they offered their bodies as living and acceptable sacrifice to God, their spiritual worship. In a unique way, they lived out what they would do at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, which they attended often.

Today, these martyrs give us great courage in facing the ordinary challenges of daily life. Let us seek their prayers, and ask them to help us to be courageous in our difficulties, and that we too may keep the sacred words, Jesus! Mary!, on our lips, and be grateful to God for our daily sufferings and to offer our future death to God the Father, that it may be a pleasing and acceptable sacrifice to Him, our spiritual worship.

5th Sunday - Garabandal "Do You Know Jesus, and Him Crucified?"

 

In St. Paul’s letter to the Corinthians, he said, “For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified....”

Do you know Jesus and Him crucified? We come to know Jesus, through the sacraments, scripture and prayer and by reflecting upon His Passion.

Through Confession, we come to know His mercy and forgiveness. By receiving His mercy, we learn to more merciful to others and to do works of mercy.

Through the Eucharist, we come to know His love when He comes to dwell within our heart at Holy Communion. We get to know Jesus when we spend time adoring Jesus in Eucharistic Adoration.

We come to know Jesus through Sacred Scripture, especially through the Gospels, where we can read and meditate on how Jesus interacted with His disciples, His followers and with His enemies.

Through personal prayer, talking to Him from the heart and listening to His subtle inspirations, we come know what He asks of us.

When we gaze upon a crucifix we come to know the depths of His love, by His laying down His life for us. By looking at a crucifix we can see the pain and suffering He went through. We come to know Jesus crucified, by making the Stations of the Cross, by praying the 5 sorrowful mysteries of the Rosary (His agony in the Garden, His scourging at the pillar, His crowning with thorns, His carrying of His Cross and His Crucifixion).

When we come to really know Jesus and Him crucified, we make sacrifices and do penance, because by these, it reveals our love for Him and for others and we live a good and virtuous life, as a light in the world doing good deeds.

We are very proud of our young people who win basketball, football, volleyball, tournaments and state championships, and excel in wrestling, cross country, FFA, and academics. Sometimes, I wonder if its due to the water!

Athletic abilities, intelligence, a good work ethic, and desire to persevere are all gifts from God. We give God the credit. We should place the same energy that we give to activities, in trying to be holy, and excel in virtue and holiness. Young people, Jesus wants you to be saints.

When a young person plays sports, many sacrifices are needed. The sacrifice of working out, memorizing plays, going to practice every day. You sacrifice your time, because then you are unable to other things, you would like. It may be better for the team, if others play before us, and so we sacrifice not playing as much as we want.

Young people, you can offer all these sacrifices to God. If you play sports, play for Jesus. Our end goal should not be to win a game or a tournament.

Rather, our end goal is do our best for Jesus. If we play out of love for Jesus, you will happy if you win or lose. Playing as a team builds friendships because we sacrifice our desires for the sake of others. It teaches us obedience to the coach, and to rules, and therefore it teaches us to obedient to Christ and His Church. It teaches us self-discipline, which can help us to control our passions and be virtuous by fighting against temptations.

We practice virtue, when we avoid being a bad sport, when we don’t argue with the coach, when we are not jealous of other players.

If we keep in mind, Jesus Crucified, and our love for Him, whether we win or lose, we will be happy. Sacrifices become easy, if we do them out of love for Jesus.

Sometimes, when we lose, we feel sad. When Jesus was nailed to the Cross, it appeared as though He was defeated. When He was crucified, did He whine or pout, or complain? No. He looked with love at those who crucified Him. In the end, by His resurrection, He conquered death. He won, though, He appeared as though He lost. He won by His laying down His life for us.

Venerable Terisita Quvedo (1930-50) was the captain of her high school basketball team and a tennis star. Though tremendously talented on the tennis court, she never managed to win a championship. In her senior year, she was favored to win; worried that a victory would inflate her pride, Teresita asked the Blessed Mother not for a victory, but for whatever would be most pleasing to Jesus. When she lost, Teresita was able to accept the outcome with such joy that her mother, on seeing Teresita’s face, assumed her daughter must have won.

God wants all of us young and old, to make sacrifices and do penance. Penance is when we do something to make amends for our sins. We get a penance in confession to make up, in a small way for our sins. But we need do more penance, other than just the few Hails Mary when we receive penance in confession.

Out of penance, people who live in Medjugorje and pilgrims who go there walk barefoot up a rugged mountain, where the Virgin Mary appeared.

In many apparitions of the Virgin Mary, She asks us to do penance for our sins. For example, in Garabandal, Spain, the Virgin Mary allegedly appeared to four young girls. On Oct. 18^th, 1961 Conchita described what we must do. She said, “We must make many sacrifices, do much penance, and visit the Blessed Sacrament. But first, we must be very good. Otherwise, a chastisement will befall us.” On June 18^th, 1965, She said, “You must turn the wrath of God away from you by your efforts. You must make more sacrifices. Reflect on the Passion of Jesus.”

These alleged apparitions have never been condemned nor approved. Mary asked more importance to be given to the Eucharist. That we sincerely ask God to forgive us and amend our life. To make sacrifices, to do penance, and reflect on the Passion of Jesus.

The Virgin Mary told Conchita Gonzalez, one of the visionaries, in the 1960’s, there will be an important synod. There is currently a synod going on in Rome. She said there would be three popes and then when the last pope dies, it would begin the end of times (not end of time, but end of times, meaning a new era). When Pope Benedict died, he was the last of the three popes (Pope Paul VI, Pope John Paul II, Pope Benedict XVI) and so now the end of times will begin. This did not mean there would never be more popes, it just means after the death of those popes it will be the end of our current way of living our life. Our Lady of Good Success, an approved apparition in Ecuador, promises the restoration of the Church and a new era of peace.

Mary told Conchita, a pope will visit Moscow, but when he returns to the Vatican, immediately hostilities will break out in Europe. But God would intervene in a miraculous way and put an end to them. Pope Francis plans to go to Moscow soon. Will this cause the prophecies to be fulfilled?

Mary said there would be a great warning, then the great miracle. The great warning is believed to be an illumination of conscience. It will be seen and felt by everyone on earth. It will be terrifying. It will be supernatural. It will be of short duration. It will be a correction of the conscience of the world. It will help people to repent and follow God.

If these things are true, then in a short time after the warning, perhaps, in a month or so, there would be a miracle in the location, Mary appeared, and then a permanent sign will be left there.

Based upon these events, the illumination of conscience may happen soon. Hostilities will break out in Europe. The great miracle is about to take place and a permanent sign is about to occur. But, if people do not return to God, don’t make sacrifices or do penance a great chastisement will occur.

To hear about hostilities breaking out in Europe and a chastisement, can sound frightening, but that’s because they are. Due to all the terrible sins going on the world, God wants to stop murders, the drugs, abortion, transgender confusion, homosexual actions, pornography, war, contraception, a man-made virus etc.... As a loving Father, all He wants is mankind to turn back to Him, to love Him in return, to respect and worship Him, who created us and He wants us to love each other.

Today, as a parish, we can walk with Jesus during a Eucharistic procession, for about 10 minutes, because its chilly, it will be a little sacrifice, we can offer as a penance for our sins. We will do it for Jesus, because we love Him and believe He is really present in the Sacred Host.

We can offer up the sacrifice of being a little chilly as penance for our sins.

In conclusion, our Lady said, God wants us to reflect on the Passion of Jesus and be very good. To pray the Rosary every day, go to Confession often and come to daily Mass. Young people can come to Mass before school. Make sacrifices, do penance for Jesus. Never stay in the state of mortal sin.

Brothers and sisters, let us get to know Jesus and Him crucified by responding to Our Lady’s requests. We need to do our part. If we are very good, our good works will be a light for others. Jesus, the light of the world, will shine through us. He said, “Your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.”

St. Agatha - Feb. 4th

 

Today is the memorial of St. Agatha. As a young girl, Agatha dedicated herself to God. At a time in the early Church, when many people did not like Christians, she was killed for being a good Catholic. She lived in Sicily, Italy and after her martyrdom, was buried near a local church.

About a year after her death, a miracle was reported due to her prayers from heaven. As a young girl she used to wear a veil. After her death, people would go to the church to see her veil, which was kept in the church.

A nearby Volcano began to erupt causing red hot lava to flow. The lava headed toward the city and threatened to destroy all the homes by fire. The people believed Agatha was a saint and was in heaven with Jesus. So they took her veil and marched in procession toward the lava. They held the veil near the lava and a miracle happened. The lava suddenly stopped flowing and the city was saved. The people believed it was a miracle and understood it was because Agatha, asked Jesus in heaven to spare the city.

Today, pray to St. Agatha, whose name means “good” and ask her to help you to be good everyday.

Today, is also the first Saturday of the month. May we offer our Holy Communion in reparation for sins committed against Mary’s Immaculate Heart and console Her by meditating on the mysteries of the Rosary for 15 minutes.