30th Sunday, Spiritually Blind & Abortion

 

The message for today is that spiritual blindness can be overcome, if we come to the Lord seeking to be healed.

A little background as to what happened in the first reading. Originally, the people of Israel rejected Jeremiah’s plea to follow the ways of the Lord, resulting in being taken captive into Babylon for 70 years.

When the time of their punishment concluded and when the people had finally repented, the Lord told the people, “Shout for joy for Jacob, exalt at the head of the nations; proclaim your praise and say: The Lord has delivered His people, the remnant of Israel. Behold, I will bring them back from the land of the north; I will gather them from the ends of the world, with the blind and lame in their midst. They departed with tears, but I will lead them to the brooks of water.”

They were spiritually blind, but after their punishment and exile, they finally were able to see the error of their ways and the Lord welcomes them back and allows them to return to the land of Israel.

The Gospel tells the story of Jesus curing the blind beggar. Bartimaeus was cured because of his faith and his willingness to come to Jesus. However, the question is, “who in the Gospel was spiritually blind?” Weren’t those who rebuked the blind man, actually blind?

Physical blindness is terrible, but spiritual blindness is worse! In the Gospel, Jesus is on his way to Jerusalem where he will be rejected by those who are spiritually blind. He will die because of them. The last stop before Jerusalem was Jericho, where He encounters the blind beggar and cures him. Jesus could cure physical blindness, but He cannot cure spiritual blindness unless a person wants to be cured! 

A few weeks ago, a candidate running for office sent out a mailer, characterizing Christians as being mean and judgmental towards those in favor of abortion. The mailer said, “You are not being asked to change your beliefs. You religion is not under attack. You are simply being asked to let people make their own decisions about their body, their religion, their love and so on. It doesn’t affect you. If you truly believe it is wrong then let God judge them and worry about your own sins instead. The good Lord didn’t send His Son into this world to condemn it. I certainly doubt He sent you to do it.”

On the mailer, there were two caricatures one with Jesus standing with a family with the words, Peace, Love, Tolerance. Another caricature showed an angry man holding a bible that said, “Believe like I do, or burn in hell!”

In response to the mailer, a non-Catholic pastor in Little River wrote an open letter in the Monitor Journal saying, “You write, “It doesn’t affect you.” That’s simply not true. You are advocating for public policies and public policies affects us all. Abortion denigrates our humanity. Marriage re-defined destroys the family. LGBTQ books in public and school libraries affect us all. Males pretending to be females playing women sports cheats ladies out of athletic opportunities. These kinds of leftist policies affect us all.”

The pastor made many other good points and then invited the candidate to visit with him and attend his church to get to know what Christians believe.

I would like to point out additional problems with what the candidate said. She said, “You are simply being asked to let people make their own decisions about their body, their religion, their love and so on.” But, by these words, she is not taking into consideration, the life and choices of the unborn child, with regard to his or her own body, his or her future, his or her religion and his or her love.

Another problem is that candidate doesn’t understand we may judge the words and actions of another, but we cannot judge their hearts. Christians aren’t judging the hearts of others by calling out actions or words not in accord with the common good of our human family and with God’s laws, such as “Thou shall not kill”. Everyone knows it’s wrong to kill an innocent person (unborn baby). We all know homosexual actions are unnatural and are not God’s will. The rejection of homosexual behavior is found in the Old and New Testament. In the Old Testament God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah due to the sin of homosexual actions. (Genesis 19:13)

In the New Testament, St. Paul said, “For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. Their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural, and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in their own persons the due penalty for their error. And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a base mind and to improper conduct. . . .” (Rom. 1:26–28, 32).

A Christian wants to help everyone to come to know and love Jesus and help them to avoid sin, because we desire everyone to go to heaven.

When Americans vote for a candidate, we should vote for the one who will do the least harm to our human family, our nation, and our community. We should vote for only those who by their words and actions will love, care for, and defend us and especially the most vulnerable. One who desires to kill a baby or who will promote sin, certainly isn’t encouraging love of neighbor and love of God. Abortion is the greatest issue in an election, because it is the greatest evil and harms our human family the most. Life is the foundation of all gifts given to us by God.

The Declaration of Independence states, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed, by their Creator, with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness; that, to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed; that whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new government, laying its foundation on such principles, and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety and happiness.”

Right there in the Declaration of Independence it states, “All men are created equal.” Where are created equal?

We are all created equal in our mother’s womb.

It also states we can alter or abolish laws that effect our safety and happiness with regard to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. It is destructive to kill innocent children and support sins against true marriage (between a man and woman). Abortion is not safe for the unborn. Every woman who has had an abortion and every man who has helped participate in it, are not happy because it deeply harms them spiritually and emotionally.

But, God is infinitely merciful and will always forgive those who ask Him. God’s mercy is for everyone. Sometimes, we can make choices and not fully understand what we are doing or the consequences to our choices. But, God can work through our mistakes and He can overcome our sins. He loves us even when we sin. But, He hates sin because sin hurts Him and hurts us

The idea of rightly judging the behavior of others can be found throughout the New Testament. Jesus told the Jews, “Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment” (John 7:24).

To avoid rash judgment, everyone should be careful to interpret insofar as possible his neighbor’s thoughts, words, and deeds in a favorable way. So, when faced with the immoral behavior of others, how can we be sure to rightly judge behavior? In Jesus’ own words, we must start by taking the logs out of our own eyes—by making sure we are doing the best we can to live lives of good example. We must also strive to form our consciences correctly, so we know sin when we see it. Finally, we must not jump to conclusions about another person’s culpability in sin. Doing all this will help to ensure that our admonitions are seen as the loving actions we intend them to be—meant to help others live their lives in ways that are pleasing to God.

Those who advocate for sin, which harms the community, our nation, and the world, are spiritually blind. However, once they realize they are being held captive by sin, they will seek a Savior to free them.

Bartimaeus said, “Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me.” Jesus asked him, “What do you want me to do for you.” The man replied, “Master, I want to see.” Jesus said, “Go your way, your faith has saved you.” Let us pray God will open eyes and hearts to help us see our sins and discover what is true, beautiful, and good, most especially life.

29th Sunday, Medjugorje

 

What is heaven like?

When I was newly ordained and serving at St. Elizabeth Anne Seton in Wichita, I stopped by the 4^th grade classroom at their Catholic school and asked the children, if they have any questions. One boy raised his hand and said, “I have a question. Is there any sin in heaven?” I said, “No there is no sin in heaven.” He said, “Are you sure, there is no sin in heaven?” I said, “Yes, there is no sin in heaven.” He then said, “But didn’t the angels sin in heaven?” I was shocked at the depth of his question and replied, ‘Well, you are right, there was sin in heaven, when a 1/3 of the angels disobeyed God and were cast out. But, that was a one time event. Now there is no sin in heaven.”

He was a very good and smart kid. He was doing something most of us rarely do. He was wondering what heaven is like. Heaven is different then we think.

In the Gospel today, James and John wanted to sit and the right and left hand of Jesus in heaven. By asking that question, we can see they really love Jesus and want to be with Him in heaven. And this what we should all do. But, their motive for asking the question was most likely not as good as they thought and Jesus knowing their hearts would have saw right through why they asked the question. James & John were two the three Apostles with Peter, who were the most intimate friends of Jesus. They were with Jesus at the transfiguration and the raising of the little girl from the dead. But, perhaps their motive was they wanted the glory because they were His close friends. The other apostles became indignant, that they asked the question, because they were envious of them.

In the first reading, it explains how Jesus would give His life to justify many. “The Lord was pleased to crush him in infirmity.” Jesus helps the apostles to know those next to Him in heaven, would have to also be crushed and give their life out love. He said, “Can you drink the cup I will drink or be baptized with the baptism I am to be baptized?” He was referring to the cup of His suffering and the baptism of blood speaking of His crucifixion where He would die and rise. He said, “Whoever wishes to be great, must be a servant of all”.

Have you heard of the movie Heaven is for Real? Its about an 8 year old boy, Colton Burpo, who had a near death experience and went to heaven. While in heaven he saw Jesus and he met his sister, who died by miscarriage, and who he never knew he had in heaven.

Don’t we all wish we could see heaven and see who is there and what goes on in heaven?

On June 24, 1981, two young girls were walking in the hamlet of Bijakovici in the parish of Medjugorje when a woman holding an infant appeared high on a hill among the boulders and brambles of Mount Podbrdo. Instinctively, they knew it was the Virgin Mary, but they did not approach Her. They and four other children felt called to return the next day, and Our Blessed Mother drew them to her, effortlessly transporting them up the mountain, over boulders and thorny bushes. The Blessed Mother introduced herself as the Queen of Peace. They fell to their knees and began to pray. She prayed with them and promised to return the next day.

The following day the 6 children Vicka who was 16, Ivanka 10, Maria 16, Ivan 15, Mirjana 15, Jokav 8, saw the Virgin Mary.

The first message of Mary was "Peace, peace, peace and only peace, peace must reign between God and man and between all people."

One of visionaries said that when they see the Virgin Mary, they don’t have any desire to be on earth, they just want to stay with Mary and be in heaven with Her.

On All Soul’s Day, Nov. 2^nd, 1981, the Seers – were gathered together except Ivan, and the Virgin Mary showed them heaven. Ivan would later have a vision of heaven.

They all have said that there are no words to describe the beauty of Heaven and if we knew what awaits us in Heaven, there are no difficulties or trials that we experience that won’t be worth eternal life in Heaven.

A reporter from Radio Maria, asked Vicka to describe heaven and she said, “It can’t be described. That is something beyond description. It is filled with some sort of beautiful light…people…flowers…angels…All is filled with some indescribable joy. Your heart stands still when you look at it.” She said, “Heaven is a vast space, and it has a brilliant light which does not leave it. It is a life which we do not know here on earth. We saw people dressed in gray, pink, and yellow robes. They were walking, praying, and singing. Small angels were flying above them. The Blessed Mother showed us how happy these people are.” Question: “How could you tell they were happy? Vicka: “You can see it on their faces. But it is impossible to describe with words the great happiness I saw in Heaven…In Paradise, when the Blessed Mother passed, everybody responded to Her, and She to them. There was a recognition between them…They were standing there communicating with Her, like in a tunnel, only it wasn’t exactly like a tunnel, but a tunnel is the closest comparison. People were praying, they were singing, they were looking…People in Heaven know the absolute fullness of a created being.” Question: “How long were you there? Vicka: “Maybe twenty minutes”. Question: “…Did the people talk to you?” Vicka: “It was very unusual. They were speaking, but I could not understand them…The people were in small groups. I was with Jakov and the Blessed Mother. We spoke to each other, but there was no communication with anyone else.” About the people there, the Blessed Mother only said to us, ‘You see how people who are in Heaven are happy?’”

When the reporter asked Marijana, what heaven was like, she said, “They were different from what we are like now. Perhaps they were all around 30 years of age…They were walking in a beautiful park. They have everything. They need or want nothing. They are totally full…They were dressed in the types of clothing that Jesus wore.”

All six children originally had daily apparitions and Mary is giving each of them 10 secrets, but at different times. Once they receive all secrets, the Virgin Mary discontinues seeing them daily, but will see them once or twice a year.

Vicka, Ivan, and Maria have received 9 secrets and continue to receive daily apparitions.

The other three received all 10 secrets and no longer see Mary daily.

Mirjana receives apparitions on March 18 each year. Ivanka, every year on June 25, the anniversary of the Medjugorje apparitions, and to Jakov, once a year on Christmas Day.

Our Lady told the seers that one day God would place a permanent indestructible “sign” on Apparition Hill to prove to non-believers that the apparitions took place.

The messages that our Blessed Mother has shared with the visionaries are messages of peace and love. Our Lady says God sent her to Medjugorje as an act of grace to remind us God exists, and He loves us. She comes as the Queen of Peace to bring the world back to her Son. She has given us five “stones”, or weapons, to combat evil and bring us closer to Jesus.

1. Pray with the heart. Pray Rosary every day with the family 2. Fast on Wed and Friday on bread and water. 3. Read scripture daily. 4. Eucharist -attend Mass daily and adore Jesus in Adoration. 5. Go to Confession monthly.

Through her miraculous works and messages, she longs to open our hearts to God and help us to reorient our lives towards His Church and the Sacraments. She said the time is short and soon God will punish the world through chastisements and Her call is urgent for people to return to God before its too late.

On Sept 19^th, 2024, this year, the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, with the assent of Pope Francis, granted approval for devotion linked to Medjugorje, recognizing the abundant spiritual fruits received at the Sanctuary of the Queen of Peace without making a declaration on the supernatural character of the Marian apparitions. The DDF explained that “through the ‘nihil obstat’ (there is no obstacle to the faith) about a spiritual event, the faithful ‘are authorized to give it their adherence in a prudent manner.’

On the 25^th of every month the Virgin Mary gives a message to the world. Since the Vatican ruling, now when the messages are given, on the bottom of the message it states, “with ecclesiastical approval.”

The last message on Sept 25th, 2024, said, “Dear children, God has sent me among you, to love you and encourage you to prayer and conversion, for peace in you and in your families and in the world. Little children, do not forget that true peace comes only through prayer, from God Who is your peace. Thank you for having responded to my call.”

Our Lady of Good Help, Oct 8th

Today is the feast of Our Lady of Good Help. The only officially approved apparition in the United States.

On Oct. 8^th of 1871, was the great Peshtigo fire in Wisconsin and Michigan. It was the greatest fire tragedy in the history of the United States killing between 1,200-2,400 people and burning 1.2 million acres. Due to the high winds and dry grounds, the fire quickly became a storm of fire and roared towards the convent and school established by Sister Adele Brise.

Desperate for help, people from the surrounding countryside fled to the Chapel where Sister Adele Brise and her companions were praying for Mary’s protection. Lifting the statue of Mary, they processed around the sanctuary, praying the rosary and singing hymns to Jesus and the Blessed Mother. Early the next morning, a steady rain came and extinguished the flames of the fire. Everything around the property was completely charred. But the fire came only to the fence of the land consecrated to the Blessed Virgin Mary, containing the chapel, school and convent, where they were praying. 12 years earlier on that exact date, Oct. 8th, the Virgin Mary appeared to Sr. Adele Brise, and said if the people do not convert from their sins, Her Son would punish them.

Another miracle was associated with the Peshtigo Fire.

St. Mary Church was destroyed in the fire. However, before it was destroyed, Father Pernin was able to carry the church’s wooden Tabernacle, containing the Blessed Sacrament, to the river on his wagon. He pushed the wagon partially into the river and abandoned it to save his own life. The next day, a parishioner who had also survived found Father Pernin and asked if he knew what had happened to the Tabernacle. The priest said, “This wagon had been blown over on its side by the storm; whilst the Tabernacle itself had been caught up by the wind and cast on one of the logs floating on the water. Everything in the immediate vicinity of this spot had been blackened or charred by the flames. But, the Tabernacle was saved when the wind tossed it on a log floating on water.

Today, let us turn to the Virgin Mary, praying Her Rosary for the conversion of our country and for protection against natural disasters.

St. Denis, Martyr, October 9th

 

Today, we celebrate the memorial of Saint Denis, who was born in Italy and would become the first bishop of Paris. The year of his birth is unknown. While still very young, he was known for his virtuous life, knowledge of sacred things, and firm faith.

Denis was sent by Pope Fabian with some other missionary bishops to Gaul (modern day France) on a difficult mission. The Church of Gaul having suffered terribly under the persecution of the Emperor Decius, the new messengers of Faith were to try to restore it to its former flourishing condition.

Denis and his companions, the priest Rusticus and the deacon Eleutherius, arrived in the neighborhood of the present city of Paris and settled on an island in the Seine. On this island Denis built a church and provided for regular divine services. His fearless and tireless preaching of the Gospel led to countless conversions. This aroused the envy, anger and hatred of the pagan priests, so they incited the populace against the strangers and persuaded the governor, Fescininus Sisinus to put a stop by force to the new teaching. About the year 250, Denis and his two companions were seized and, as they persevered in their Faith, were scourged, imprisoned, racked, thrown to wild beasts, burnt at the stake and finally beheaded.
Their bodies were then thrown in the Seine River, but were recovered by their disciples. Through the efforts of a pious matron named Catulla, the bodies of the three holy martyrs received an honorable burial and a small shrine was erected over their graves.

St. Denis is usually represented in art with his head in his hands, because, according to the legend, after his execution the corpse rose again and carried the head for some distance.

26th Sunday, Pluck Out Eye, Cut off Hand

 

When our Lord tells us in the Gospel, that if a particular part of the body causes us to sin, we are to cut it off or pluck it out. Obviously, Jesus does not mean this literally, but it is better, Jesus says, to enter life with something missing than to be condemned with everything intact.

Jesus is saying sometimes, we need to take drastic measures our self to turn away from sin. Here are some examples:

About 15 years ago, I knew of a man who was struggling with pornography and became so upset with himself, he took his computer and threw it in the trash. Since, then he never did it again.

Another drastic measure to cut our self-off from the serious sin of pornography is to use a flip phone, or install Covenant eyes, on the computer and phone which blocks images.

If we are in high school and have a friend that is constantly tempting us to take drugs, or do something that is sinful, even after we told them we are not interested, sometimes, we need to cut off our relationship with them.

The year after I graduated from high school, a friend tempted me to take drugs. And I told him, that if I find out that he keeps taking them, he will no longer be my friend, because I don’t have any friends that are druggees.

The result of that conversation, was that he never took drugs after that, and we remained friends. So, if we stand up for our self and for our friend, we can help them.

Or if we have job and the boss wants us to do something unethical, we may be forced to quit our job, even if it means we will have a less paying job.

Or if a man has a female friend constantly trying to get him to be unfaithful to his wife, he may need to make the resolution, he cannot have this woman as his friend.

You may have heard how Israel placed an explosive in about 4000 pagers of Hezbollah terrorists. When the pagers when off, it caused many of them to lose a hand and eye. There seems to be symbolism with regard to today’s Gospel.

Israel did this action, to prevent the Hezbollah terrorists from doing a similar attack like Hamas, another terrorist group, did last year on Oct 7^th. God does not want war. He does not want terrorists. God wants us to live in peace and harmony.

Perhaps, the losing of one’s hand and eye would cause the terrorist to give up terrorism. It is better to lose an eye and a hand, then to go into Ghena (Hell), after one dies.

The fault does not lie with the hand, the foot or the eye. The problem is in the will.

We have to choose to do what is good and right. We have to choose to cut off our pride and pluck out our selfishness.

We have to remember that as members of the body of Christ we are not living for this world. Instead, we have to live in the world for a time, but our focus needs to be on the next world. Recall that the decision of where we will spend eternity is made in this life and it is demonstrated in our choices.

We need to cut off our pride and selfishness and pray for charity and humility.

And we turn to the Blessed Virgin Mary and ask Her to help us to do everything possible, even drastic measures to cut off serious sins from our life. By daily praying Her Rosaries, She will give the grace to be detached from sin and attached to Jesus, Her Son.

25th Sunday, Which Religion is the Greatest?

 

In the Gospel, Jesus told His apostles, “The Son of Man is to be handed over to men and they will kill Him, and three days after His death the Son of Man will rise.” Our Lord just told them He was going to suffer and die, and now they are discussing among themselves who was the greatest.

Can you imagine the apostles standing around talking to one other saying, “I am greater than you.” Another one says, “No, I’m the greatest.” So that Jesus would end their one up-man-ship, He said, “...the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Matt. 20:28)

He wanted them to know the one who serves the most is the greatest. Our Lord was willing to suffer and die for all of us, and by doing so, He serves us and can save us.

There are some who are objectively greater than others. Jesus, is greater than all of us, because He is God and He serves us, by giving His life to save us. I suppose we could make the argument that Peter was the greatest of the 12 because He was the leader of the apostles, and also the leader of the Church. Peter, as the first pope, was the servant of the apostles and the whole Church. Pope Gregory, the great referred to himself as the servant of servants.

Is one religion greater than all other religions? Are all religions the same? Are all religions pathways to God?

Pope Leo XIII said “…. the great error of this age-that a regard for religion should be held as an indifferent matter, and that all religions are alike. This manner of reasoning is calculated to bring about the ruin of all forms of religion, and especially of the Catholic religion, which, as it is the only one that is true, cannot, without great injustice, be regarded as merely equal to other religions.” Humanum Genus #16

To say all religions are the same and all religions are pathways to God, denies Jesus and the need for Him to save us to get to heaven.

Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth and the life, no one comes to me, except the Father.”

All religions are not a pathway to God, because some religions do not have Jesus as the pathway to the Father and not all Christian religions have the same beliefs about Jesus.

Judaism, Buddhism, Islam and Hinduism can’t save anyone. Buddha, Confucius, Mohammad aren’t gods and they can’t bring others to the Father, like Jesus. They are not pathways to God. They didn’t die for anyone and even if they would have died for others, they still could not have saved anyone from their sins because only God can do that. Only Jesus, who is both God and man, can reconcile us to the Father.

Mormons, Jehovah Witnesses and Muslims don’t believe Jesus is God. All religions other than the Catholic religion are false religions.

Every religion cannot be a pathway to God if they differ on who God is and how God can save us.

St. Paul said,...”(God wills) all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus. Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.” (1 Timothy 2:4-6)

Only Jesus, as God, could offer Himself as a ransom for all by His suffering and death on the Cross. That is why He is the only mediator between God and man. Jesus' mediation as God and man, ransoms us from our sins.

Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through me.” (John 14:6)

The pagan religion worshiped idols and those in Judaism, who did not accept Jesus, are not pathways to the Father, because only Jesus came to save us and reconcile us to the Father by His suffering, death, resurrection and ascension into heaven. Only Jesus is the Savior. Only Jesus is the way to the Father.

Two Christians (one Catholic and one Protestant) were discussing among themselves each saying their religion is greater than the other. There is one religion everything God has given to mankind to be saved. And that religion is the Catholic religion.

There are many different Christian religions such as Lutherans, Methodists, Baptists, Episcopalians, Catholic, Christian, Congregationalists, etc…. Most believe Jesus is God and Savior. But, all don’t have the same beliefs. If all don’t have the same beliefs, all religions can’t be the same.

The Methodist church was founded by Charles Wesley. Lutherans were founded by Martin Luther. Baptists were founded by John Smyth. The Catholic faith is greater than all other religions because Jesus Himself founded our Church. He gave our Church all 7 sacraments and our Church has the fullness of revelation (God’s truth) revealed through Jesus Christ.

The Catholic Church’s mission is to bring all mankind into salvation through Jesus Christ. And because the Catholic Church was given everything by God to bring men to salvation, our Church serves everyone and therefore, our Church is the greatest.

We come to know who God is and how He can save us by Sacred Scripture and Tradition only found in the Catholic Church. Non-Catholic Christians don’t have Sacred Tradition, so they are missing a lot of what God revealed.

Church councils and popes through the centuries clarified who God is and how God can save us. Councils proclaimed Jesus has two natures, human and divine. And there are three persons in the Trinity and they are equal and have the same substance. God uses Church councils to help us to resolve questions about God and what God desires of us.

The very first Church council is Council of Jerusalem found in the bible in Acts 15. Back then Christians wondered if they can eat meat sacrificed to idols. They also wondered if new Gentile (non-Jew) converts to Christianity were obligated to be circumcised, a Jewish tradition. How would they resolve these issues?

The 12 apostles gathered together in Jerusalem to discuss the controversy. Scripture tells us that once Peter spoke, all fell silent. By Peter leading the first Church Council, it was decided Christians should not eat meat sacrificed to idols, so as to not appear that they believe in false idols. And it was decided non-Jewish converts were not required to be circumcised, but the Jewish converts could. It was through Church authority by way of the Councils all came to know the truth.

Jesus left us 7 sacraments (outward signs that bestow grace). Most Christian religions have 2 sacraments Baptism and the Eucharist. But they don’t believe the same things Catholics believe about Baptism and the Eucharist.

For example, Baptists don’t believe original sin and personal sins are washed away through baptism. Lutherans believe baptism forgives the guilt of original sin, but the sinful nature that remains is real sin.

However, Catholics believe original sin, personal sin and the punishment due to sin is washed away at baptism. We believe God comes to dwell within the temple of heart, we become children of God, we enter into the very mystery of God’s divine life and baptism opens the gates of heaven.

Non-Catholic religions believe the Eucharist is only a symbol. They don’t believe the Mass is a sacrifice. They don’t believe the Eucharist is the real and true flesh of Jesus.

But, Catholics believe the sacrifice of Calvary becomes present on the altar at Mass. We believe the bread is totally and completely changed into the resurrected person of Jesus. We believe that we eat the true flesh and blood of Jesus.

Most Christian religions reject Church authority. But, Catholics have always accepted Church authority.

Jesus promised to protect the teaching of the Church, He told the Apostles: "He who hears you, hears me; he who rejects you rejects me, he who rejects me, rejects Him who sent me" (Luke 10:16)

Catholics believe Church Councils and Popes have the gift of infallibility when proclaiming a specific doctrine on faith and morals binding all the faithful to believe it.

We Catholics believe Jesus gave us 7 sacraments (Baptism, Confession, Eucharist, Confirmation, Anointing of the Sick, Marriage and Priesthood). Through sacraments Jesus bestows grace to sanctify us and help us to obtain heaven.

Most every Christian religion has different teachings and morals. So all religions are not the same, especially if they contradict each other.

If one so called “Christian” religion believes abortion, homosexual marriage, and euthanasia is okay and another Christian religion believes these are wrong, which religion is right?

The Catholic Church is right- because only our Church has the authority by God for all of humanity.

We don’t follow a religion that makes us feel good or one that has the least rules and obligations. Rather, we take up our cross and follow Jesus, because we love Him, want to please Him and be with Him in heaven.

There were many martyrs in the first three centuries and through all the centuries up to today. They died for Jesus and their belief that He is the way, the truth and the life.

Many Gentiles gave up their pagan practices and many Jews gave up their religion to become Christian. But, they knew they would die because they were followers of Jesus.

St. Paul said, “I consider the sufferings of the present to be nothing compared with the glory to be revealed in us.” “Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will anguish, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or the sword? As it is written: For thy sake, we are put to death all the day long. We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. But in all these things we overcome, because of him that hath loved us.… For I am certain that neither death nor life, neither angels or principalities, neither the present nor the future, nor powers, neither height nor depth nor any other creature, will be able to separate us from the love of God that comes to us in Christ Jesus, our Lord.” (Romans 8:18-39)

There is a wide path and narrow path to heaven. The narrow path is full of sufferings, persecutions, pain and crosses. While the wide path is easy. All other religions don’t fully embrace the Cross. They don’t have the full deposit of faith handed down to us from Jesus and the Apostles. They are not true pathways to God. It is our duty as Christians to proclaim Jesus is Savior and help as many as possible come to the fullness of truth found in the Catholic Church, because those who accept it find the most sure pathway to heaven.

We want everyone to come to know and love Him. He died for us on the Cross, that we may have life abundantly with Him in heaven. Today, and every day, make Jesus, the Lord of your life. Give yourself to Him and allow Him to lead you. Confess your sins to our Savior, so He can save you from them. Though you may fall on that narrow hard and arduous road, Jesus will be there to pick you up, encourage you, help you to carry your cross and give you peace.

If we love our family and friends, we will help them to become Catholic, the best and greatest religion, because it is the only religion with the fullness of truth.

And let us pray the Holy Rosary for fallen away Catholics and non-Catholics, that Our Lady will touch their hearts and bring them to Jesus Christ, Her Son, Our Lord and Savior in the one, holy, Catholic and apostolic Church founded by Jesus Christ, who is the way, the truth and the life and no one comes to the Father, except through Him.

St. Joseph of Cupertino, Sept 18th

 

Today, we offer a votive Mass in honor of St. Joseph of Cupertino, a Franciscan saint. Perhaps some of you may be familiar with the excellent movie about him called the Reluctant Saint. His father was a humble carpenter, who had contracted very heavy debts and so the family lived in great poverty. His mother was very strict, so much so that he would tell people years later, that he had his novitiate when he was a child. Despite the way his mother treated him, he did additional penances and mortifications.

He attempted to learn a trade, but later discovered it wasn’t his vocation. He was invested with the Franciscan habit among the Capuchin Franciscans, but was dismissed due to his awkwardness. Because of his dismissal from the Franciscans, his relatives considered him a disgrace to the family, and was turned away.

The Conventual Franciscans took pity on his humble pleading and admitted him into their order and asking him to care for the convent mule. His virtues, especially his humility, obedience, and piety, shone forth with such brilliance, that his superiors received him among the clerics, and within three years was ordained a priest. His efforts to study were never successful, but soon people became aware that he possessed infused knowledge.

His life was an uninterrupted union with God. Everything seemed to lift his mind to heaven, such that his body was frequently raised above the earth and remained in the air for such a long time, that his biographer declared he spent more than half of his religious life above the earth.

On a hill near the convent were three crosses. Repeatedly when he looked at them, he would rise in the air with a cry, and flee to the cross in the center embracing it. On another occasion, when he visited the Basilica of St. Francis in Assisi, he saw a painting of the Mother of God high in the vault of the church, at once his body rose into the air, and he kissed the image with tender devotion. At the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, he was usually lifted in the air and remained there swaying over the altar for hours at a time. For that reason, he usually said Mass in the convent chapel rather than in the church.

Once a Duke from Brunswick was so impressed with by St. Joseph’s ecstasy, that he was convinced of the truth of the Catholic faith and two years later became Catholic.

Because of these visions and ecstasies, he was also severely tested by the devil. In addition to this, he suffered from dryness of heart and felt completely forsaken by God. Despite all of this, he continued to have peace of mind and had no other wish than to do the will of God.

He died in a convent on Sept. 18^th, 1663 and many miracles occurred at his grave. He was canonized in 1753 and would later be known as a patron saint of those who travel by air.

Today, let us pray that we may have the humility of heart of St. Joseph of Cupertino. May we show our devotion for the sacrifice of the Mass by our reverence and may we gaze upon holy images with the love.

24th Sunday - Accept Sufferings

 

 In the Gospel today, Our Lord first told His disciples, He must go to Jerusalem to suffer greatly, be killed and on the third day rise.

Peter rebuked Jesus because He didn’t want Him to suffer and die. At first, this sounds very noble. Nobody would want someone they love to suffer and die. However, Jesus said to Peter, “Get behind me Satan. You are an obstacle to me. You are thinking not as God, but as human beings do.” He wanted Peter to know that to run from suffering, is the way of the world, not the way of God. Jesus called Peter, Satan, because only Satan would want Our Lord and us to avoid the Cross.

The Crucifixion was necessary to defeat the devil, to reveal God’s sacrificial love for us and to teach us to love. This is why Jesus said, “Whoever wishes to come after me, must deny Himself, take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and that of the gospel will save it.”

Our Lord wanted to teach His apostles and His followers to not reject the cross, but embrace it. And they did. All but John were martyred, but they tried to kill him too.

The shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes in France has 70 officially approved medical miracles. But there has been thousands of unapproved miracles. Those who go to Lourdes, will bathe in the miraculous waters and ask the Virgin Mary for a physical healing.

But most of them receive a healing they don’t expect. They obtain a spiritual healing, by receiving the grace to carry the Cross of their illness, and they will peace in their hearts.

Millions of people go there every year for healing. It seems like most often, once people accept the cross of their suffering, it is then the Lord heals them.

When we accept sufferings, they can be used to atone for our sins and reduce our purgatory time. Sufferings when united to the Cross of Jesus can be offered up for the conversion of sinners and help bring about the salvation of souls. Sufferings keep us close to Jesus, because we become more dependent upon Him.

The Virgin Mary told the children of Fatima to embrace their crosses, She said, “Make sacrifices for sinners, and say often, especially while making a sacrifice: ‘O Jesus, this is for love of thee, for the conversion of sinners, and in reparation for offenses committed against the Immaculate Heart of Mary.’”

When we deny our self and carry our crosses, we sacrifice our self for love of Jesus, for the conversion of sinners and to console the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

Saint Faustina in her diary (Diary #1804), wrote, “If the angels were capable of envy, they would envy us for two things: one is the receiving of Holy Communion, and the other is suffering.” And she said, “I united my sufferings with the sufferings of Jesus and offered them for myself and for the conversion of souls who do not trust in God...“ (Diary #323)

We should cherish our crosses because through them we gain eternal life. As St. Rose of Lima said, “Apart from the cross there is no other ladder by which we may get to heaven.”

St. Teresa of Avila said, “I would always choose the path of suffering, if only to imitate Our Lord Jesus Christ, if there were no other gain. In order to bear our afflictions with patience it is very useful to read the lives of the saints who endured great torments for Jesus Christ.”

St Padre Pio said, “I do not love suffering itself; I ask it of God because I desire its fruits: it gives glory to God, saves my brothers in exile, and frees souls from the fires of purgatory. God neither wants, nor is able, to save and sanctify us without the Cross. The more He calls a soul to Himself, the more He sanctifies it by means of the Cross. By suffering we are able to give something to God. The gift of pain, of suffering is a big thing and cannot be accomplished in Paradise. Lean on the Cross as Mary did. She was as if paralyzed before Her crucified Son, but was not abandoned by Him.”

St. Louis de Montfort said, “To suffer is not enough: the evil one and the world have their martyrs. We must suffer and carry our cross in the footsteps of Christ. Take advantage of little sufferings even more than great ones. God considers not so much what we suffer as how we suffer…”

St. Margaret Mary said, “The Heart of Jesus is closer to you when you suffer than when you are full of joy.”

St. Anthony Mary Claret said, “To suffer contempt in silence is the key to Jesus’ Heart and the means of uniting with Him.”

Saint Madeline Sophie Barat said, “Let us go to the foot of the Cross, and there complain—if we have the courage.”

Saint John Vianney said, “You must either suffer in this life or give up the hope of seeing God in heaven. Sufferings and persecutions are of the greatest avail to us, because we can find therein a very efficient means to make atonement for our sins, since we are bound to suffer for them either in this world or in the next.”

Saint John Bosco said, “Accept afflictions with patience. Silently endure cold and heat, wind and rain, fatigue and all other discomforts that God may deign to send to you.”

Several weeks ago, the Faith Formation Class on Wednesday watched a documentary on Servant of God Rhoda Wise from Canton, Ohio at our parish hall.

She was born in 1888 and died in 1948. She was a Protestant, who converted to the Catholic faith. She had severe health problems, but the Lord miraculously healed her. Not much later, after she was healed, the Lord gave Rhoda the stigmata, the wounds of Christ.

Rhoda would suffer the Passion of Jesus including her head bleeding as though a crown of thorns was placed on her head.

The evening we watched the video on Rhoda Wise, I had a migraine caused by arthritis in my neck. That night, when I went to bed, my head was throbbing terribly and I prayed to Rhoda Wise. I said, “Rhoda, please help me to accept my suffering.” When I said that prayer, the migraine immediately disappeared and I fell asleep. The Lord just wanted me to embrace the sufferings of it and then He took it away. I didn’t ask Jesus to take it away, He just did, because I accepted it.

Let us ask the Virgin Mary to help us to carry our crosses manfully, keeping our eyes on Jesus, embrace them with love, uniting them to the sufferings of Jesus on the Cross, to make atonement for our sins and the sins of others, and offer them for the conversion of sinners. And in this way, we will not complain and will see them as precious gems to help us and others obtain heaven.