1 JOHN CHAPTER 1

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The Word of Life

What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we looked upon and touched with our hands is the Word of life

the life was made visible; we have seen it and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life that was with the Fathe and was made visible to us—

what we have seen and heard we proclaim now to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; for our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.  We are writing this so that our joy may be complete.

REFLECTION

Before we were was the Word and the Word was made flesh!  We are to PROCLAIM this truth with all our minds, all our hearts, and all our souls.

It is not enough to keep the word to ourselves.  We are meant tp be in relationship in image of the Most Holy Trinity as we journey home. Leave no one behind!

Rejoice, we are Easter people!

God is Light.

Now this is the message that we have heard from him and proclaim to you: God is light,* and in him there is no darkness at all. If we say, “We have fellowship with him,” while we continue to walk in darkness, we lie and do not act in truth. 

But if we walk in the light as he is in the light, then we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of his Son Jesus cleanses us from all sin.

If we say, “We are without sin,” we deceive ourselves,* and the truth is not in us. If we acknowledge our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from every wrongdoing.  If we say, “We have not sinned,” we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

REFLECTION

To walk in light or darkness is to live according to truth or error.

Fellowship with God and with one another consists in a life according to the truth as found in God and in Christ.

Denial of the condition of sin is self-deception. Forgiveness and deliverance from sin through Christ are assured through acknowledgment of them and repentance.

Embrace the LIGHT! Sometimes it may make us uncomfortable while we are being pruned but once pruned we are acceptable for homecoming.

EASTER SUNDAY ALLELUIA!

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INTRODUCTION

The Resurrection of Jesus is the central pillar of our Faith. “If Christ did not rise, our Faith is in vain.” I Cor. 15:14. 

 In His resurrection, Jesus overcame death, the consequence of sin.  Because of Jesus, we are no longer bound to sin or death but are liberated from both sin and death through the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

In Hebrews 6:5, Paul writes, “As in Adam all die, so also, in Christ, shall all be made alive.  We live now not according to the flesh but according to the spirit.”

Christ’s resurrection takes place in history, in real time, and in real space.  This real historical event is attested to by hundreds of eye witnesses after his resurrection.  Acts 1:22

Some of the historical facts to support the resurrection are: the empty tomb and burial cloth discovered by John and Peter John 20:2, The eyewitness account of Mary Magdalene John 19:31, the eyewitness accounts of the apostles in the upper room, Easter evening John 20:19-23

HE IS RISEN ALLELUIA!

REFLECTION

 The final enemy Jesus must face down is death by His own death, a death on the cross. Oh, death, where is thy sting! 1 Corinthians 15:55

“Faith in the Resurrection is the basis of our hope in the inheritance which is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you.”  I Peter 1:4

 For those disciples who follow Jesus…the same fate awaits…a glorious resurrection of our bodies on the last day…eyes have not seen…ears have not heard what await those who love Jesus…1 Corinthians 2:9

He is risen…He is alive…He goes before us….do not be afraid… the risen Lord has not gone away…He remains with us in the sacraments…in our faith…in our praye

EYE WITNESSES TO THE EMPTY TOMB

 “On the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early in the morning, while it was still dark, and saw the stone removed from the tomb.  So she ran and went to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and told them, “They have taken the Lord from the tomb, and we don’t know where they put him.”

 Peter and John ran to the tomb and saw the burial cloths and the cloth that covered his head.  They did not yet understand the Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead and they returned home.

.But Mary stayed outside the tomb weeping. And as she wept, she bent over into the tomb and saw two angels in white sitting there, one at the head and one at the feet where the body of Jesus had been.  And they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken my Lord, and I don’t know where they laid him.”  When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus there, but did not know it was Jesus. 

 Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?” She thought it was the gardener and said to him, “Sir, if you carried him away, tell me where you laid him, and I will take him.”  Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni,” which means Teacher. 

MARY!

She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni,”

 Jesus said to her, “Stop holding on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am going to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.'” Mary of Magdala went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord,” and what he told her.”  John 20:1-18

REFLECTION

Mary was weeping because she could not find her Lord…

Do we weep when we feel the Lord is not near?

Jesus appears to Mary, Mary did not recognize Him until He addressed her by name…

Listen for when Jesus calls me by name because He does…sometimes a whisper

Rejoice and be glad, for Jesus died and rose for me personally!

CHRIST VICTORIOUS

 

HOLY SATURDAY

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BEYOND THE CROSS

INTRODUCTION

Jesus did not go to sleep from Good Friday until Easter Sunday.  He has a mission from the Father to announce his victory over sin and death to those in the abode of the dead, Sheol in Hebrew, Hades in Greek and Hell in English.

Today there is great silence upon the earth, great silence and solitude. Great silence because the King sleeps … God died in the flesh… God, made man, entered into the extreme and absolute solitude of man, where no ray of love enters, where there is total abandonment without any word of comfort: “hell”.

According to Church Tradition, after dying on Good Friday, Jesus descended to the depths of the dead to preach His message to them, liberating all holy men and women held captive in past centuries.

 The People in the abode of the dead are deprived of the vision of God. The experiences of those in the abode of the dead are different, some await the bosom of Abraham; some await damnation eternal separation from God. CCC 631-637

THE LORD’S DESCENT INTO HELL

ANCIENT HOMILY FOR HOLY SATURDAY

“What is happening? Today there is a great silence over the earth, a great silence, and stillness, a great silence because the King sleeps; the earth was in terror and was still, because God slept in the flesh and raised up those who were sleeping from the ages.

He wishes to visit those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death. He goes to free the prisoner Adam and his fellow-prisoner Eve from their pains…

When Adam, the first created man, sees him, he strikes his breast in terror and calls out to all: ‘My Lord be with you all.’ And Christ in reply says to Adam: And with your spirit.

And grasping his hand he raises him up, saying: Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead,… I am your God, Come forth, those in darkness: Have light, and those who sleep: Rise.

I command you: Awake, sleeper, I have not made you to be held a prisoner in the underworld. Arise from the dead; I am the life of the dead. Arise, O man, work of my hands, arise, you who were fashioned in my image. Rise, let us go hence; for you in me and I in you, together we are one undivided person….

Look at the spittle on my face, which I received because of you, in order to restore you to that first divine inbreathing at creation. See the blows on my cheeks, which I accepted in order to refashion your distorted form to my own image.

‘See the scourging of my back, which I accepted in order to disperse the load of your sins which was laid upon your back.  My side healed the pain of your side; my sleep will release you from your sleep in Hades…arise, let us go hence.

The enemy brought you out of the land of paradise; I will reinstate you, no longer in paradise, but on the throne of heaven.

“The cherubim throne has been prepared, the bearers are ready and waiting, the bridal chamber is in order, the food is provided, the everlasting houses and rooms are in readiness; the treasures of good things have been opened; the kingdom of heaven has been prepared before the ages.”

JESUS WELCOMES HIS BRIDE, THE CHURCH

 

 

 

GOOD FRIDAY

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BETRAYAL ON THE MOUNT OF OLIVES

 They came out to arrest Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane like he was a robber, led by Judas his betrayer who betrayed him with a kiss.  Jesus, showing no animosity to Judas called him friend.

In chains they brought Jesus before the high priest where he was mocked, struck and spat upon.  The chief priests and elders condemned Jesus to death.   Meanwhile in the high priest’s court yard Peter denied he knew Jesus three times before the cock crowed.

Peter repented and wept bitterly.

REFLECTION

How often do I betray Jesus and turn my back on him?    

 Do I repent and ask for forgiveness, return to Jesus like Peter or like Judas stay away and separate myself from Jesus?

The Jewish leaders took Jesus before Pilate the Roman Governor, because under Roman law the Jews had no right to carry out the death penalty.  Pilate found no guilt in Jesus and tried to trade Jesus for a horrific revolutionary and murderer, Barabbas, but incited by the chief priests, the crowd cried out for Barabbas.

Pilate feared the crowds, so he had Jesus scourged.  Once more, Pilate went out and said to them, “Look, I am bringing him out to you, so that you may know that I find no guilt in him.”

 BEHOLD THE MAN!

JOHN 19:1-6

The chief priests and the guards cried out, “Crucify him, crucify him!” When Pilate saw that he was accomplishing nothing, but rather that a riot was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this Man’s blood….”They cried out “let his blood be on us and our children”!

THE CRUCIFIXION

 Jesus is led out to be crucified, carrying the crossbeam of the cross himself.  Because of the severe scourging at the pillar, Jesus soon falters and the soldiers force Simon of Cyrene to assist in carrying the cross..  .

At the place of the skulls, Golgotha, the soldiers nailed his hands to the cross beam, attached the cross beam to the vertical beam already in place then nailed his precious feet. The soldiers then cast lots for His discarded garments.

REFLECTION

 What a difference a few days make.  Today Jesus’ precious feet are nailed to a cross.  A few days ago in Bethany in the home of Lazarus, they were anointed by Mary and embraced with love and kisses. 

Do I embrace my Savior or nail him to the cross again? 

Jesus overcame hate with love, death with his own life.  “Father forgive them for they know not what they do.” Luke 23:31. 

Do I forgive others, even unpleasant ones?

 Jesus looked on His mother and the disciple He loved and said, “Woman, behold, your son.” Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother.” John 19:25

From the cross Jesus gives us one of our greatest gifts, His Mother Mary.  Mary is the finest intercessor with her Son, Jesus.  Don’t forget Mother Mary when you need something from the Son.!

 Do I ask Mary to intercede?

Bowing His head Jesus expired. “it is finished, and giving a loud cry, Father into your hands, I commend my spirit.” When the centurion who stood facing him saw how Jesus breathed his last, he said, “Truly this man was the Son of God!” Mark 15:37-39.

 

“They will look upon whom they have pierced…when I am lifted up,

I will draw all things to me…who ever looks upon me and believes will be saved”

John 12:32

The pagan centurion gave witness, “Truly this was the Son of God!”  What prompts me to recognize God in my life? Do we ever bear witness to these God events to others? 

The veil in the temple that divided the holy of holies from the people was torn from top to bottom in two. No longer is God separated from his people by some veil, Jesus is the New Temple. Jesus is available now to everyone who seeks Him.

Seek the LORD while he may be found, Call upon him while he is near. Isaiah 55:6

BURIAL OF JESUS

 Joseph of Arimathea, a distinguished member of the Sanhedrin council, went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus.  Having brought a linen cloth, Joseph took Jesus down, wrapped him in the linen cloth and laid him in a tomb that had been hewn out of the rock. Then he rolled a stone against the entrance to the tomb.

Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses watched where he was laid.

 CONCLUSION

 The burial of Jesus is not the end of the story.  Jesus descended to the abode of the dead to announce the good news…that soon those in Sheol will join Him in the exodus to eternal life…neither the tomb nor death will hold Jesus… Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ!

 

 

 

 

 

 

HOLY THURSDAY

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When the hour came, he took his place at table with the apostles. He said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover* with you before I suffer… Then he took a cup,* gave thanks, and said, “Take this and share it among yourselves; ….Then he took the bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them, saying,

“This is my body, which will be given for you; do this in memory of me.” And likewise, the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which will be shed for you. LUKE 22:14-20

 INTRODUCTION

 Two of our seven sacraments, Holy Eucharist and Holy Orders, were instituted on Holy Thursday.  Jesus at the Passover meal took bread and wine and told his disciples to eat and drink, for this was his body and blood, given for the forgiveness of sins,

“Do this in remembrance of me” Luke 22:19

These words, “Do this in remembrance of me” are the foundation for our belief in the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist today and establishes the ministerial priesthood (Holy Orders) whereby this command will be carried out through the successors of the apostles until the end of time.

TAKE AND EAT; THIS IS MY BODY

MATTHEW 26:26-30

 In St. John’s Gospel we don’t find the institution of the Eucharist but we find Jesus, Servant of servants, washing the feet of His disciples and telling them to do likewise.

Jesus washing the feet of his disciples represents the service and charity of Christ, who came ‘not to be served, but to serve.’ Matthew 20:28

 And at supper, Jesus—although knowing that the Father had put everything into his hands, and that he had come from God, and was to return to God— Jesus rose from his place, and, taking off his upper garments, tied a towel round his waist. He then poured some water into the basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel tied round him…..

 Do you understand what I have been doing to you?” he asked. “You yourselves call me ‘the Teacher’ and ‘the Master’, and you are right, for I am both. If I, then—’the Master’ and ‘the Teacher’—have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet;  For I have given you an example, so that you may do just as I have done to you.” .

“In truth I tell you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor a messenger than the man who sends him. JOHN 13:1-1-26

A SERVANT IS NO GREATER THAN HIS MASTER

 REFLECTION

Jesus Christ, is the fullest revelation of God that we can possess on earth. The Eucharist is the sacramental means to abide in Jesus. “”He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him.” John 6:54  Abide in me, and I in you” John 15:4. 

When I receive the Eucharist in Holy Communion, Do I truly believe I am  receiving Jesus body and blood or do I think I am just receiving a symbolic remembrance?

The washing of the feet of His disciples including Judas who betrays Him demonstrates God’s unconditional love for us.

God loves us with an everlasting love. Jeremiah 31:

What does God’s unconditional love of me say to me?

No one gets to heaven by their self. What am I doing to help others?

 How do I love others? Do I have stipulations or conditions? Like what?

PALM SUNDAY

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JESUS TRIUMPHANT ENTRANCE INTO JERUSALEM

“….the great crowd that had come to the festival heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, shouting, “Hosanna! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord— the King of Israel!” Jesus sat upon a young donkey; as it is written: “Do not be afraid, daughter of Zion. Look, your king is coming, sitting on a donkey’s colt!” John 12:12-16

INTRODUCTION

Palm Sunday begins Holy Week… So many mysteries to ponder.  From the triumphant entrance into Jerusalem to the Last Supper, the Eucharist, Good Friday, Christ Crucified, and then Easter Sunday, new beginnings… new life free from mortality of the body and soul.

 “Exult greatly, O daughter Zion! Shout for joy, O daughter Jerusalem! Behold: your king* is coming to you, a just savior is he, Humble, and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey” Zachariah 9:9

REFLECTION

WHO IS THE KING OF GLORY?

Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty
Lift up your heads, O you gates; lift them up, you ancient doors,
that the King of glory may come in. Who is he, this King of glory?
The Lord Almighty—he is the King of glory PSALM 24

Jesus makes His triumphal entry into the city of Jerusalem. It is a remarkable event recorded by all four Gospels. Now is His hour.  He is in full command of fulfilling His Father’s will.  He allows people to praise Him even if that devotion may fade and evolve into condemnation.

 Jesus is King of Glory. Mankind could not do it on their own.  Abraham couldn’t do it.  Moses couldn’t do it.  David couldn’t do it. It took the Word Incarnate, son of God, son of Mary to open the gates of heaven to all of us so we too may walk the path of GLORY!

If Jesus is the king, then all his loyal subjects must recognize his kingship. The Jews recognized Jesus’ sovereignty by calling him the Son of David, and by spreading their cloaks before him. In this ancient custom; people threw down their garments to make a carpet for the royal procession.

We recognize his sovereignty by laying our hearts before him, throwing down our wills in absolute surrender, and asking Jesus to govern everything we think and say and do. Give praise to Him, our rightful King!

CONCLUSION

Palm Sunday is sometimes called Passion Sunday for good reason. While Jesus is King of Glory and our Savior and Redeemer we get a glimpse in the Mass readings of today… the Passion of Christ in the Gospel of Matthew.

FROM HOSANNA TO CRUCIFY HIM

They stripped off his clothes and threw a scarlet military cloak about him.

Weaving a crown out of thorns, they placed it on his head, and a reed in his right hand.

And kneeling before him, they mocked him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!”

They spat upon him* and took the reed and kept striking him on the head.

And when they had mocked him,

they stripped him of the cloak, dressed him in his own clothes,

and led him off to crucify him.

Matthew 27:28-31

A week from now Jesus will make another triumphant entrance and deliverance on Easter Sunday. Jesus will rise triumphant over sin and death.  HOPE SPRINGS ETERNA!

How great a Savior we have!

 Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ!

 

 

 

 

SACRAMENT OF MERCY

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For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son,

INTRODUCTION

For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish

but might have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. JOHN 3:16-17

 We begin our discussion of conversion, repentance, confession and absolution with a God who loves us, a God who seeks us, a God who wants us to be part of His family, the Most Holy Trinity.

We must never forget that God always wills our good that we may bear good fruit. Some pruning may be necessary.

Today, Sin is often downplayed as character flaws genetic makeup or personality disorders. Sin first of all is an offense against an omnipotent divine God who made us in His image and likeness to know, love and serve Him in this world and be happy with Him in the next..

Baptism forgives original sin inherited from our first parents Adam and Eve and any other personal sin prior to Baptism, but something more is needed after Baptism. Original Sin left us with a clouded mind, unfriendly natural environment, division between people, and a weak will when it comes to facing temptations of the flesh.

Whether we like it are not the Spiritual Warfare begun in Genesis continues.  The same Satan and his minions go about the world looking for the ruin of souls.  We need spiritual medicine for our eternal souls the same as we need physical medicine for our bodies here on earth.

On the first Easter Jesus gave us the Sacrament of /Reconciliation to absolve sins committed after Baptism.

RECEIVE THE HOLY SPIRIT

WHOSE SINS YOU FORGIVE ARE FORGIVEN

“In the evening of the same day…Jesus came and stood among them…Peace be with you.  He showed them his hands and side…Peace be with you.  As the Father sent me…so I am sending you…After saying this, Jesus breathed on them and said, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit for those whose sins you forgive, they are forgiven.  For those whose sins you retain, they are retained.'” John 20:19-35

Today God the Father awaits us like the prodigal son to return home, confess our sins, and be reconciled to God and his Church.  The Church is the custodian today of conversion, forgiveness of sins, absolution and reconciliation.

JESUS SEEKS US OUT; WON’T YOU LET HIM IN!

“…When you give Me your sins, you give Me the joy of being your Savior.  There is nothing I cannot forgive and heal…Come to Me with your misery and your sins, with your troubles and needs…I stand at the door of your heart and knock… won’t you let me in!

 POSTSCRIPT

 PREPARE FOR CONFESSION? WHAT DO I SAY AND DO?

We begin with prayer, placing ourselves in the presence of God, our loving Father. We review our lives since our last confession, our thoughts, words and actions that did not conform to God’s love, to his law or to the laws of the Church.

 BRIEF EXAMINATION OF CONSCIENCE

Do I attend Mass on Sundays and holy days of obligation?

Do I take God’s name lightly or in anger or in blasphemy?

Am I envious, hot-tempered, impatient?

Do I forgive others?   Do I judge others?

Do I entertain thoughts of revenge, hold grudges?

Do I tell lies? Steal property or reputations?

In my marital relationships do I respect my spouse by faithfulness in words and actions?

If I am single, am I living a chaste life?

Do I use artificial contraception to thwart God the giver of life?

Have I ever had an abortion or encouraged one

Do I provide good examples to my children?

Do I honor and respect my parents?

Do I care and give to the poor and needy

Do I respect the environment?

Do I overdo eating, drinking, smoking and amusements?

The Priest receives the penitent with a greeting, a sign of the cross and invitation to trust in God’s mercy

 Confession of sins

Through the admission of our sins, we look squarely at our relationship with God and our neighbor and open ourselves to be reconciled with God and full communion with His Church.  We accept our Penance as satisfaction for the offense to God and the harm to His Church.

 Our act of contrition

Our act of contrition expresses our sorrow for offending God and our detestation of sin.  We are sorry that we offended God and our neighbor and intend to amend our lives and avoid these sins in the future.

SAMPLE ACT OF CONTRITION

 O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee.   I detest all my sins, because I dread the loss of Heaven, and the pains of Hell; but most of all because I love Thee, my God, Who art all good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of Thy grace, to confess my sins, to do penance, and to amend my life.

Amen

 Prayer of absolution

The words of absolution by the priest, “I absolve you from your sins in the name of the Father and of the Son, and the Holy Spirit” and the reply by the penitent, “Amen” restores the penitent to God’s grace, reconciles him with God, with His Church, with himself, and with his brothers and sisters.

 

 

PARABLE THE PHARISEE AND PUBLICAN

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THE PHARISEE AND PUBLICAN

PRAY IN THE TEMPLE

LUKE 18:10-14

Two people went up to the temple area to pray; one was a Pharisee and the other was a tax collector. The Pharisee took up his position and spoke this prayer to himself,

‘O God, I thank you that I am not like the rest of humanity–greedy, dishonest, adulterous–or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week, and I pay tithes on my whole income.’

But the tax collector stood off at a distance and would not even raise his eyes to heaven but beat his breast and prayed, ‘O God, be merciful to me a sinner.’

I tell you, the latter went home justified, not the former; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

 REFLECTION:

The Pharisee boasted to God how good he was…

only God is good… Think about that for awhile…

the only thing I own are my sins God be merciful to me, a sinner

if I do good deeds it is because of God’s grace…

I have one Savior, Our Lord, Jesus Christ…by whose merits, my sins are forgiven..

PARABLE OF UNFORGIVING SERVANT

MATTHEW 18:23-35

Peter asked Jesus, “Lord, if my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive him?  As many as seven times?” Jesus answered, “I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times.

That is why the kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king who decided to settle accounts with his servants. When he began the accounting, a debtor was brought before him who owed him a huge amount.

Since he had no way of paying it back, his master ordered him to be sold, along with his wife, his children, and all his property, in payment of the debt.  At that, the servant fell down, did him homage, and said, ‘

Be patient with me, and I will pay you back in full.’  Moved with compassion the master of that servant let him go and forgave him the loan.

When that servant had left, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a much smaller amount.  He seized him and started to choke him, demanding, ‘Pay back what you owe.’

Falling to his knees, his fellow servant begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back. But he refused. Instead, he had him put in prison until he paid back the debt.

Now when his fellow servants saw what had happened, they were deeply disturbed, and went to their master and reported the whole affair.

His master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you your entire debt because you begged me to. Should you not have had pity on your fellow servant, as I had pity on you?’

Then in anger his master handed him over to the torturers until he should pay back the whole debt. So will my heavenly Father do to you, unless each of you forgives his brother from his heart.”

REFLECTION:

there are no limits on God’s mercy and forgiveness

There are no limits on the times I should forgive another…

 …we are told to be perfect as our heavenly Father is perfect…one way we achieve this is through forgiving others…

we live now in time of mercy…later there will be judgment… on judgment day the measure we measure will be measured out to us…

 

FEAST OF ANNUNCIATION MARCH 25

CATHOLIC FEAST DAYS

“Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you”

In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin’s name was Mary And coming to her, he said, “Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you”

 But she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.  Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. 

 He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High,* and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father, and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”

 But Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?” And the angel said to her in reply, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God

 And behold, Elizabeth, your relative, has also conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren; for nothing will be impossible for God” Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord, May it be done to me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her. Luke 1:16-36

COMMENTARY

 The plan for our salvation originates with God. “….the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David.”

The angel Gabriel addresses Mary, Hail, full of grace, identifying her and unveiling her hidden most being.  Mary is not becoming full of grace; Mary is full of grace now!  Mary was preserved from Original Sin from her conception through the anticipated merits of Jesus’ Passion and death.

Mary questioned the angel, “How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?” Mary would not have asked such a question unless she had made a vow of perpetual virginity which Joseph was willing to accept as conditions of their marriage.

Immediately, the angel calms the Virgin, solving her dilemma, by revealing to her the virginal conception will be accomplished in her by the work of the Holy Spirit, “The Holy Spirit shall come upon thee, and the power of the Most High shall overshadow thee”

Mary’s virginal conception by the power of the Holy Spirit assures us that our Savior will have both a Divine Nature and a Human nature, Only God can make adequate atonement for our offenses against God. And only a Human nature may atone on behalf of humanity.

REFLECTIONS

 The Angel Gabriel tries to calm Mary with the words Jesus used so often, Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.  Do I live my life in fear or do I trust Jesus?

God has a mission for me like He did for Mary. I may not understand God’s plan but do I accept it? If not, why not? God loved me into existence for a reason Do I say to God be it done according to your will as Mary did?

As encouragement to Mary, the Angel Gabriel, gave Mary a sign of God’s omnipotence by announcing Mary’s elderly cousin, Elizabeth, afflicted with sterility all her life is now six months pregnant.

“And behold, Elizabeth, your relative, has also conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren; for nothing will be impossible for God.”

Nothing is impossible for God! How does that affect my relationship with God. How do I interact with God and my neighbor?

MARIAN PRAYER

MEMORARE

REMEMBER, O most gracious Virgin Mary,

 that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection,

implored thy help, or sought thy intercession, was left unaided.

Inspired with this confidence, I fly to thee, O Virgin of virgins, my Mother;

to thee do I come; before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful.

O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions,

 but in thy mercy hear and answer me. Amen.

LENTEN PRACTICE OF FASTING

LENTEN REFLECTIONS

JESUS PRAYS AND FASTS

40 DAYS IN THE WILDERNESS

INTRODUCTION

In our modern self-centered, self-indulgent, all-about-me world, the concept of fasting is very foreign and many Christians resist it. But according to Scripture and historic Christian writings (Tradition), fasting is supposed to be a ordinary part of our spiritual life here on earth….

We must deny ourselves if we are to choose God above all.

 BACKGROUND

 The Bible has a great deal to say about fasting and praying. Many of the Old Testament heroes and heroines of the faith, fasted and prayed. Prayer and fasting are combined in the Old Testament in times of mourning, repentance, and deep spiritual need.

           DAVID FASTED AND PRAYED OVER HIS SICK CHILD     

     2 SAMUEL                           .

Early on in the New Testament of the Gospel of Luke we see the Presentation of Our Lord in the temple.  In Luke’s account, Jesus was welcomed in the temple by two elderly people, Simeon and the widow Anna.

They embody Israel in their patient expectation; they acknowledge the infant Jesus as the long-awaited Messiah, Throughout the New Testament fasting and prayer are often mentioned together as with the widow, Anna, who worshiped day and night fasting and praying.”

PRESENTATION OF OUR LORD IN THE TEMPLE

There was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived seven years with her husband after her marriage, and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple, but worshiped night and day with fasting and prayer. And coming forward at that very time, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were awaiting the redemption of Jerusalem. Luke 2:36-38

Fasting, joined together with fervent prayer from the heart, demonstrates just how serious our prayer is. When a Christian practices the sacrifice of self-denial, he is joining himself to the sacrifice of the Cross. The power for good is unleashed and miracles are allowed to happen.

 REFLECTION

It was our appetite of the flesh that got us into mess we are in. “The woman saw that the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eyes, and the tree was desirable for gaining wisdom. So she took some of its fruit and ate it; and she also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.  Genesis 3:6

God created us for a mission, Let’s not get in the way of that mission by putting our own desires and wants before God’s will.

Fasting, self-denial may include more than food and drink.  There are many things we may deny ourselves from, for example, talking bad about someone, not watching your favorite TV shows, not gossiping on social media, etc.

 Pray for the grace to fast. Pray that your fast will move mountains in your life and the lives of others.  Pray in words of Scripture, pray from prayer books,…PRAY!PRAY!PRAY!

Watch and pray that you may not undergo the test. 

The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.

MATTHEW 26:41