Jul 31 - Homily: Soldier of God

Gospel Mt 13:54-58

Today we read and we have here our Lord Jesus Christ in His own country. He went about doing good, yet left not any place till He had finished His testimony there at that time. His own countrymen had rejected Him once, yet He came to them again .
They upbraid Him with His father. Is not this the carpenter's son? Yes, it is true He was reputed so: and what harm in that? No disparagement to Him to be the son of an honest tradesman. They remember not (though they might have known it) that this carpenter was of the house of David (Lu. 1:27), a son of David (ch. 1:20); though a carpenter, yet a person of honour . They upbraid Him with His mother , they were offended in Him: they stumbled at these stumbling-stones, for He was set for a sign that should be spoken against, Lu. 2:34; Isa. 8:14.
Our Lord answered to their affront by saying : "Only in his hometown and in his own house is a prophet without honor." And He did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith .
Unbelief is the great obstruction to Christ's Grace and Mercy . The gospel is the power of God unto salvation, but then it is to every one that believes, Rom. 1:16. So that if Mighty works be not wrought in us, it is not for want of power or grace in Christ, but for want of faith in us.
By grace ye are saved, and that is a mighty work, but it is through faith, Eph. 2:8.

Jul 30 - Homily: Parable of the Net

Gospel Mt 13:47-53

Jesus said to the disciples:
"The Kingdom of heaven is like a net thrown into the sea,
which collects fish of every kind.
When it is full they haul it ashore
and sit down to put what is good into buckets.
What is bad they throw away.
Thus it will be at the end of the age.
The angels will go out and separate the wicked from the righteous
and throw them into the fiery furnace,
where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth."

"Do you understand all these things?"
They answered, "Yes."
And he replied,
"Then every scribe who has been instructed in the Kingdom of heaven
is like the head of a household who brings from his storeroom
both the new and the old."When Jesus finished these parables, he went away from there.

Jul 29 - Homily: Busy Martha

Although being overly busy lead Martha to be distracted from listening to the Lord on one occasion, in today's Gospel Martha's action in going out to meet our Lord was an act of faith which brought her closer to Him and shows that we must be both active and prayerful.

Jul 26 - Homily: Bread from Heaven - Video - Catholic Online

Jul 26 - Homily: Bread from Heaven - Video - Catholic Online

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Saturday of the Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time ( July 18 )

Exodus 12:37-42
Psalm 136:1 and 23-24, 10-12, 13-15
Matthew 12:14-21

"He will not break a bruised reed until he brings justice to victory"

Matthew quotes from the "Suffering Servant" prophecies of Isaiah to explain how Jesus the Messiah would accomplish his mission – not through crushing power – but through love and sacrificial service (Isaiah 42:1-4).
In place of a throne Jesus chose to mount the cross and wear a crown of thorns. He was crucified as our Lord and King (John 19:19; Philippians 2:11)
There is no greater proof of God's love for us than the sacrificial death of his only begotten Son for our sake and our salvation (John 3:16).
Jesus died not only for the Jews but for all the Gentile nations as well.
Isaiah had prophesied centuries before, that the Messiah would bring justice to the Gentiles. To the Greek mind, justice involved giving to God and to one's fellow citizen that which is their due (whatever is owed to them).
Jesus taught his disciples to give God not only his due, but to love him without measure just as he loves us unconditionally – without limits or reservations.
Jesus brings the justice of God's kingdom tempered with divine Love and Mercy. He does not bruise the weak or treat them with contempt, but rather shows understanding and compassion. He does not discourage the fainthearted but gives hope, courage, and the strength to persevere through trying circumstances.
No trials, failings, and weaknesses can keep us from the mercy and help which Jesus offers to everyone who asks.
His grace is sufficient for every moment, every situation, and every challenge we face. When we meet trials and difficulties, we must rely on God's help and grace.
Let us pray and meditate :
Lord Jesus, Your Love and Mercy knows no bounds.
Give me strength when I am weak, hope when I am discourged, peace when I am troubled, consolation when I am sad, and understanding when I am perplexed.
Make me an instrument of Your Love and Peace to those who are troubled and without hope.
Amen

Friday of the Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time

Exodus 11:10—12:14

Psalm 116:12-13, 15 and 16bc, 17-18

Matthew 12:1-8

In our first bible text from the Old Testament Exodus 11:10—12:14 we can understand that warning is here given to Pharaoh of the last and conquering plague which was now to be inflicted. This was the death of all the first-born in Egypt at once, which had been first threatened (ch. 4:23, I will slay thy son, thy first-born), but is last executed; less judgments were tried, which, if they had done the work would have prevented this. See how slow God is to wrath, and how willing to be met with in the way of his judgments, and to have his anger turned away, and particularly how precious the lives of men are in his eyes: if the death of their cattle had humbled and reformed them, their children would have been spared; but, if men will not improve the gradual advances of divine judgments, they must thank themselves if they find, in the issue, that the worst was reserved for the last.

It's so awesome relevant connection between the Old and New Testament , the Lord's Passover - A sign of His passing over you, when he destroyed the Egyptians , to memorize and remember that day . Without remembering God’s saving deeds, we easily forget that we belong to God , without keeping the active memory of God’s saving deeds dear to us , we won’t really understand what Jesus means by I desire mercy, not sacrifice.

God bless and be you all passing through !

Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time : July 12 - 18

This is a great week to grow in a sense of not being alone. It is so difficult to find intimacy with God in the midst of our everyday lives if we go through our lives, either trying to do it alone or simply not acknowledging the fact that God is always with us. We could make this the special gift we ask for each week: “Lord, let me know and experience that you are with me, every day, all the time.”
If we walk through each day this week with a little more confidence in God’s presence, God’s merciful love for us, God’s protection and care for us, then the Gospel message of Jesus can find a way into our hearts much more freely. Imagine, if with this confidence, we could start asking Jesus:
Lord, I don’t want to keep seeking myself this week. I don’t want to be so absorbed in my needs , I want to find myself, the life you offer me, by surrendering more, by letting go of what I cling to. Help me be freer this afternoon and when I get home from work.”
We could make this prayer, have this conversation with Jesus, while walking from one place to another, while shopping, over a lunch break, while doing laundry, sitting at an airport or driving to a meeting . This week, we can find concrete times in our week, in real encounters and responsibilities of our very busy lives to say these or similar words:
“Lord, help me to be more childlike today. Help me simply come to you when I’m burdened or just tired, rather than all the other places I tend to go for relief. Let me be yoked to you as I carry out the promises of my life today. Free me from my impatience and tendency to judge others. Teach me how showing others the mercy you have showed me is more important that my hard driving sacrifice.”
May Lord Jesus be with each one of us today , this week and to the eand of times . Amen

Friday in the Octave of Easter

Acts 4:1-12Ps 118:1-2 and 4, 22-24, 25-27aJn 21:1-14
One week ago we're suffering together with our Lord Jesus , we were waiting and expecting for the great moment of Light of Resurrection . For me all days in the Octave of Easter are joyful , through the great gift of eternal life and victory over sins and evil . We are so blessed and loved like children of God , in His glorious Trinity .
In this Octave we celebrate Jesus conquering sin and death, and in the Gospel he is appearing to the Apostles for the third time since his Resurrection from the dead. So, I’m reminded today of the One we are following, the One who conquered sin and death, and we are reminded that that early Church, which was established by Jesus was put here to help us follow our Faith.
Like the apostles who were a little fuzzy the day Jesus showed up while they were fishing, we too get a little fuzzy from time to time. Our Church is here to help clarify, shine light into the darkness, when the issues become bigger than us. In our Psalm reading, we hear “the stone rejected by the builders has become the cornerstone.” Jesus was rejected too, and we know we can expect a similar treatment, but not alone. So, I am consoled to stand firm with the Church on all the Pro-Life issues; because we know we are standing with Truth
During this beginning of the Easter season it is important that we remember to recognize our lowliness and let the Holy Spirit work through us to give glory to God. Let us ask the intercession of our mother, Mary, who perfectly recognized herself as the handmaid of the Lord. It is only by giving God the glory and recognizing his ultimate authority, that the Holy Spirit will fill us with courage, zeal, and love as we continue to proclaim as Saint Peter did that: “there [is no] other name under heaven given to the human race by which we are to be saved” except that of “Jesus Christ the Nazorean.” May the Holy Spirit work within to bring us to a greater zeal for and love of Christ.
God bless and be with all of you !

Thursday in the Octave of Easter

Today is Thursday within the Octave of Easter .
Acts 3:11-26
Psalm 8:2ab and 5, 6-7, 8-9
Luke 24:35-48
In this day Psalm we can read and meditate upon these verses :
O LORD, our Lord,
how glorious is your name over all the earth!
What is man that you should be mindful of him,
or the son of man that you should care for him?
The psalmist seems thoroughly amazed that God cares so much about humans. Why is it, O Lord, considering how glorious You are, that You are mindful of us?

How much God , in His Holy Trinity is caring for us .. Then, as if that were not enough, He has made us just a little less than the angels, crowned us with glory and honor and made us like Him: rulers over everything He has made.
The psalmist can think of only one explanation for this: “O Lord, our God, how wonderful Your name in all the earth!”
This is a message that disciples of Jesus have been commissioned to take to the ends of the earth. How do we do it? Luke tells us how the earliest disciples did it. Like us, they had troubles, questions, doubts, and, on occasion, were even terrified. How then did they take the good news of Jesus to their world?
First, Jesus opened their minds to understand the Scriptures. They had power to share their faith because Jesus was in their minds.
Second, in the breaking of the bread, they recognized Jesus. They saw him in the most mundane of things.
Finally, in the midst of their greatest doubts, they remembered the words of Jesus: “Peace be with you.”

Understanding – recognition – memory; blessings to cherish during the Octave of Easter and beyond.