FREE WILL, FREE TO DO ANYTHING WE WANT?

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JESUS IS TEMPTED IN WILDERNESS

AS HE EXERCISES HIS FREE WILL

Jesus answered, “It is written in the Scriptures:

‘You must worship the Lord your God. Serve only him!

MATTHEW 4:18

God created us and endowed us with free will in his image.  God never forces his will on us.  The Angels had free will. Some Angels chose to reject God. We have free will.  Some humans choose to reject God. Mary had free will and could have said No to the Angel’s request that she be the Mother of our Savior.

God while transcendent, that is way beyond our understanding, is also immanent, that is with us, and interacts in the world He created. God does try to get our attention, sometimes dramatically as in the case of Saul of Tarsus.  But even Saul in his free will could have rejected Jesus.

Free Will, for psychologists out there, may have mitigating circumstance like in cases of mental illness and addictions but this does not mean we were not born with Free Will to the extant it is available to us. The addict or alcoholic may have repressed his ability to choose but has not eliminated the gift of free will.

While human freedom is a good, human freedom is not in itself an absolute.  Remember we are made in the image and likeness of God, that is an intellect and will in conformity with the image and likeness of God.

We are not free to do “evil. The Catechism of the Catholic Church reminds us, “The more one does what is good, the freer one becomes. There is no true freedom except in the service of what is good and just. The choice to disobey and do evil is an abuse of freedom and leads to “the slavery of sin.” (CCC 1733)

This world is unkind and threatening not because God made it so but because of our first parents choosing to disobey God and choosing their will over His. God wills our happiness and salvation.  Adam and Eve’s fall from grace left all their descendants with a darkened intellect, a weakened will, and disordered affections and appetites.

We live in the world man has made for himself.  This is not the world God created. But God respects our free will and allows through His permissive will evil actions to take place.  But there are consequences, just ask Israelites of the Old Testament as they wandered in the desert and led into exile to Assyrian and Babylon

What are some obvious consequences of sin today: drug addiction, sex trafficking, clergy abuse, broken homes, wars, racism, violence in our streets, pornography readily available to our children, greed, exploitation of others, sexual diseases, same sex marriage against natural law, legalized abortion, killing of the innocent, sacrificed on the altar of convenience, calling evil good, and placing God Almighty out of sight and out of mind, to name a few!

ADAM AND EVE DRIVE OUT OF PARADISE.

OH, THAT IT WASN’T SO!

In the beginning, God created Adam and Eve. In His image and likeness, He gave them the grace of “original holiness.”  Man and the world began in grace, not sin. The inner harmony of the human person, between man and woman, and the harmony between man and all of creation comprised the state of “original justice.”

“Original justice,” God’s original plan for man, will be lost by the sin of our first parents. The union of man and woman became subject to tensions, lust, and domination.  The rest of creation became hostile and alien to man.  We, the descendants, now struggle with disordered desires and passions (concupiscence.)

Adam and Eve were driven out of the Garden, out of Paradise, away from the Tree of Life.  But before they were sent forth, God promises he will save them. The Second Eve [Mary] will be obedient, undoing Eve’s disobedience; Genesis 3:15.  Her seed, Jesus Christ, .will crush the head of the serpent. Man will receive a greater Tree of Life with greater gifts flowing from it.

Descendants of Adam and Eve, us included, inherited Concupiscence. Because of concupiscence we are inclined towards anything our imagination paints as pleasurable without regards for what is good for us by God’s design.

Saint Paul states very well the conditions of Concupiscence,” I do not understand. For I do not do what I want, but I do what I hate….now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me….The willing is ready at hand, but doing the good is not….For I do not do the good I want, but I do the evil I do not want….Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me…. ROMANS 7:15-20

DEVELOPMENT OF CONSCIENCE

The exercise of freedom does not imply a right to say or do everything.” CCC 2740 By deviating from the moral law (God’s Law) man violates his own freedom, becomes imprisoned within himself, disrupts neighborly fellowship, and rebels against divine truth.

What, then, is to guide the children of God in the use of their freedom?  Jesus promised through prophet Ezekiel 36:26, “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.

Deep within his conscience (heart) man discovers a law which he has not laid upon himself but which he must obey. Conscience, then, is the judgment of reason whereby the human person, guided by God’s grace, recognizes the moral quality of a concrete act. In all we say and do, we are obliged to follow faithfully what we know to be just and right.

Catholics believe that “the education of conscience is a lifelong task.” (CCC, No. 1784) Where do we go for this education of our consciences? In the formation of conscience the Word of God is the light for our path; we must assimilate it in faith and prayer and put it into practice. Also the Magisterium of Jesus Church guided by the Holy Spirit assists us in forming our consciences..

GOD IS GOD AND WE ARE NOT

AMAZING GRACE

Grace is a supernatural gift of God to intellectual creatures (men, angels) for their eternal salvation. The vocation to eternal life is supernatural. It depends entirely on God’s gratuitous initiative, for he alone can reveal and give himself. It surpasses the power of human intellect and will.

Grace plays the indispensable part, divinely ordained, to effect redemption through Christ and lead to eternal destiny in heaven. Grace is favor, the free and undeserved help that God gives us to respond to his call to become children of God, adoptive sons and daughters, partakers of the divine nature and of eternal life

Everyone receives the grace he needs.  “Every man has his proper gift of God; one after this manner, and another after that.”1 Corinthians 7:

SANCTIFYING GRACE

The supernatural state of being infused by God, which permanently inheres in the soul. It is a vital principle of the supernatural life. It is called sanctifying grace because it makes holy those who possess the gift by giving them a participation in the divine life.

ACTUAL GRACE

Temporary supernatural intervention by God to enlighten the mind or strengthen the will to perform supernatural actions that lead to heaven. Actual grace is therefore a transient divine assistance to enable man to obtain, retain, or grow in supernatural grace and the life of God.

CONCLUSION

To help us exercise our free will properly, we have a conscience, Scriptures, Church teaching and God’s grace.  Pray for that grace to exercise our wills in accordance with the will of our Creator and maker, the source of our being and the end of our being.  Let’s all meet up together in heaven!

Salvation flows from the New Tree of Life, the Cross! From the new Tree of Life will come the Eucharist, the Eternal Bread from Heaven. Jesus promises, ‘If you eat this Bread and drink my Blood you have Eternal life.’ This is the new spiritual food flowing from Christ’s pierced side, blood and water, great symbols of the Eucharist and Baptism.  Eternal life is once again available from the pierced side of Christ.

GRACE POURS FORTH FROM JESUS’ PIERCED SIDE

 

 

 

CATHOLIC CHURCH TEACHING SOCIAL JUSTICE

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PROLOGUE

 The Catholic Church from the time of Jesus has a long history of promoting social justice. The early Christians took care of one another in community, looked after the common good, loved and prayed together.

 “All who believed were together and had all things in common they would sell their property and possessions and divide them among all according to each one’s need. Every day they devoted themselves to meeting together in the temple area and to breaking bread in their homes… praising God and enjoying favor with all the people. And every day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.” Book of Acts 2:42-45

CATHOLIC TEACHING ON SOCIAL JUSTICE

 CATHECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH

 CCC #1934 Created in the image of the one God and equally endowed with rational souls, all men have the same nature and the same origin. Redeemed by the sacrifice of Christ, all are called to participate in the same divine beatitude: all therefore enjoy an equal dignity.

CCC #1936 On coming into this world man is not equipped with everything he needs for developing his bodily and spiritual life.  He needs others.  Talents and gifts are not distributed equally, “There are different kinds of spiritual gifts but the same Spirit; there are different forms of service but the same Lord; there are different workings but the same God who produces all of them in everyone. To each individual the manifestation of the Spirit is given for some benefit”. Corinthians chapter 12:4-7

CCC #1937 These differences belong to God’s divine plan who wills that each receives what he needs from others and those endowed with particular talents share them with those who need them.  These differences encourage and sometimes oblige persons to practice generosity, kindness, and sharing of goods.

No one person receives the same talents and gifts but all talents and gifts are present in the body of Christ so that no one is left behind materially or spiritually. In other words, Catholic Social Justice teaching calls on us the “people of God” to minister to our neighbor’s needs, to speak out against injustice, and to work for peace.

SCRIPTURE

“Anyone who says I love God and hates his neighbor is a liar; for whoever does not love a brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen.” I John 4:20

 What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works?…If a brother or sister has nothing to wear and has no food for the day, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, keep warm, and eat well,” but you do not give them the necessities of the body, what good is it? Faith without works is dead.” James 2:14-17

“I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you also should love one another.  This is how all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”  John 13:34-35

 INTRODUCTION

 In these turbulent times I am going to focus on the subject of Racism.  Along with the Pandemic, Racism dominates the news and social media.  Black lives matter is a fact from Jesus and the Church he founded.

Now this fact does not mean I agree or should you with every body’s use of this term.  The mantra Black Lives Matter was a natural after many acts of police brutality towards black victims.

Some enterprising revolutionaries took that expression and incorporated themselves into BLACK LIVES MATTER ORGANIZATION INCORPORATED. This organization is not to be supported as it’s aims and platform is directly opposed to much of Catholic Church teaching.

Black lives matter does not mean violence, arson, vandalism, looting is an appropriate response.  There will always be those who take advantage of chaotic situations to benefit themselves.  They were selfish before incidents, during incidents, and will remain destructive and divisive after incidents waiting their next opportunity to plunder.

I have been a social justice advocate all my adult life.  Matthew 25:40, “Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me” compels me to witness the faith in deeds not just words.  I marched with Martin Luther King, Selma to Montgomery 1965, protested Vietnam War, an activist in prison reform and abolition of the Death Penalty.  I was blessed as a boy growing up Catholic to be in an archdiocese led by Cardinal Joseph Ritter.

 Joseph Elmer Ritter was born on July 20, 1892—the dawn of the industrial age—in New Albany, Indiana, a small city on the Ohio River across from Louisville, Kentucky. The son of working-class parents, His life was marked by his deep concern for the poor and working-class people. In 1938 as bishop of Indianapolis, he took a brave, bold, and controversial act, ordering the desegregation of all of the Catholic schools in the Indianapolis diocese. This groundbreaking act of Ritter’s stemmed from Ritter’s deep belief that all people are created equal in the eyes of God.

In 1946 Cardinal Ritter was named Archbishop of the Archdiocese of St. Louis. One year later he ordered the St. Louis Catholic schools to integrate. Some Catholics became upset at his order, which was in opposition to existing Missouri state laws.  Ritter, a man who understood well the obligations of leadership, used the office of archbishop to remind Catholics of the equality of all people under God.   It would be seven more years before the U.S. Supreme Court would order public schools to integrate with its landmark decision in Brown v. Board of Education. In 1960 Pope John XXIII elevated Archbishop Ritter to Cardinal

 RACISM

 COMMENTARY

Racism is not merely one sin among many.  It is the Original Sin of our Country.  Our country was built on slave labor and the genocide of Native Americans. That is a fact whether we like it or not.

Racism is a radical evil that divides the human family blots out the image of God among specific members of that family, and violates the fundamental human dignity of those called to be children of the same Father.

We are entering an era characterized by limited resources, restricted job markets and dwindling revenues. In this atmosphere, the poor and racial minorities are being asked to bear the heaviest burden of the new economic pressures. As economic pressures tighten, those people who are often black, Hispanic, Native American and Asian, the marginalized poor, slip further into the unending cycle of poverty, deprivation, and disease, .

CONCLUSION

In Christ Jesus “there does not exist among you Jew or Greek, slave or freedom, male or female. All are one in Christ Jesus.” Galatians 3:28 It is in Christ, then, that the Church finds the central cause for its commitment to justice, and to the struggle for the human rights and dignity of all persons.

No one wants to think of themselves as a racist and most people are not.  But an examination of conscience might be in order to see the extent that racial bias affects our personal attitudes and judgments.  To the extent that we allow another’s race to influence our relationship and limit our openness to those who might not look like us we may be infected.

I know over the years if I had an unpleasant experience with a person of color, I might be inclined to let that “color” my opinions leading to prejudging and perhaps avoiding such a person in the future.  Racism is insidious as it might sneak up on us before we are aware and take steps to mitigate any generalization about a race.

As evangelizers and disciples of Jesus we do our best to influence the attitudes of others by expressly rejecting racial stereotypes, racial slurs and racial jokes. We should influence members of our families, especially our children, to be sensitive to authentic human values and cultural contributions of each racial grouping in our country.

If we want peace, we must work for justice – here at home and around the world. Lasting peace is the effect of charity. There is no real peace without forgiveness… If we want peace, we must let go of our desire for revenge, we must be willing to let old wounds heal through the saving grace of God’s love. Our secular world views peace as the product of human effort. Our faith teaches us that peace is a gift from God.

 BLESSED ARE THE PEACEMAKERS FOR THEY SHALL BE CALLED CHILDREN OF GOD

MATTHEW 5:9

Prayer to Overcome Racism

Mary, through your Son, Jesus, God has found a way to unite himself to every human being, We are called to be one people, sisters and brothers to each other.

Mother Mary we ask for your help in obtaining the grace we need to overcome the evil of racism and to build a just society.

We seek the forgiveness of your Son for times when we have failed to love and respect one another.

We pray  prejudice will no longer infect our minds or hearts but be replaced with a love that respects the dignity of each person.

Mary Mother of us all, pray for us. Amen

 

FIFTH ANNIVERSARY STILL ROMAN CATHOLIC AFTER ALL THESE YEARS

CATHOLIC COMMENTARY

Tom and Jeanette on Sea of Galilee 2010

 STILL ROMAN CATHOLIC AFTER ALL THESE YEARS

As a lifelong Catholic, enjoying his golden years, I will be commenting on what it is like being Roman Catholic in the 21st century in the U S of A.  I am a Parish Catechist and Marian Catechist in a small mid-west Catholic parish.  I am married 50+ years with adult children and grandchildren.   As a boy I gave Latin replies as a server at Mass, then experienced Vatican II changes and persevered in the church Christ founded.

This blog includes commentary on current issues that involve trends in secular culture, man-made laws vs. God made laws This Catholic Blog will also express Roman Catholic Church Teaching, including Sacred Scripture and the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

Some may wonder why the adjective “Roman” in the blog name.  It is for specificity, because anyone who wishes today, whether they are followers of Jesus and His Church or not, may call themselves “catholic” while promoting behavior morally abhorrent to the very Church Jesus founded.

For example, there are even groups out there that call themselves “Catholics for Choice”. This is not a Catholic organization but a pro-abortion advocacy group.  Jesus founded His (Holy Roman Catholic) Church and sent the Holy Spirit to guide it in truth, to the end of times.

God, of course wills the salvation of all.  Nothing is impossible with God. I have found the best aids for happiness and excellence of living on my journey home to God, are within the Roman Catholic Church.  I searched but never found any Truth out there that would better serve me in becoming the best man I could be. Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life and His Church shows the way!  Tom Block TCB

INTRODUCTION

 July 2020 marks the fifth anniversary of my blog and almost 40,000 views.  I want to thank all my readers and tweeters.  I thought I would go back to that first month July 2015 and repost a blog from then.  The more things seem to change the more they remain the same.  When I look back to July 2015 posts I find the topics of Same Sex Marriage and Gender Identity.  This controversy is not going away any time soon.

SAME SEX MARRIAGE   (2015 POST)

Today, Same Sex marriage is the tip of the spear in the “Gay” agenda.  I use their term “gay” regrettably because it used to be a perfectly good descriptive word in our literature to describe “gay old times;”  “there was much gaiety at the ball;”  “what a gay time does summer bring.”

The “Gay” agenda is to establish a new “norm,”… that there is no difference between  heterosexual and homosexual behavior as far as acceptable behavior.  In their attempts to brainwash the public they have invaded our TV shows be it comedy or drama with their “token gay” couple whether it adds anything to the plot or makes any sense. I am not saying all gay couples ought to be banned from movies and TV but please have a reason beyond they are gay.

 (NOTE: IN 2016 US SUPREME COURT MADE SAME SEX MARRIAGE LEGAL NATIONWIDE)

 GENDER IDENTITY (2015 POST)

“Gender identity” really hit social media in a big way when North Carolina passed a bill, addressing the issue of transgender and bathroom facilities. The Governor signed a bill, a bill that restricts bathroom and showers to use by gender determined at birth. Gay rights advocates filed a lawsuit challenging the law’s legality, the Federal Government is suing the state for discrimination in violation of Title IX of the Civil Rights Act.

The Merriam Dictionary updated their definition of Gender Identity: your identity as it is experienced with regard to your individuality as male or female; an awareness normally begin in infancy and is reinforced during adolescence,  a person’s internal sense of being male, female, some combination of male and female, or neither male or female.

AND NOW 2020

US SUPREME COURT SAYS NO DISCRIMINATION ON GENDER IDENTITY

The Supreme Court ruled June 15, 2020 that employers cannot fire workers because of their sexual orientation or self-determined gender identity, even while dissenting justices opined the Court was legislating from the bench. The question at issue was whether or not protections against sex discrimination in Title VII of the Civil Rights Act also applied to discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.

The president of the U.S. bishops’ conference on Monday lamented the U.S. Supreme Court’s considers sexual identity and gender identity to be covered by laws prohibiting employment discrimination based upon sex.

“Words matter,” the statement from leading U.S. bishops said. “‘Sex’ should not be redefined to include sexual inclinations or conduct, nor to promulgate the view that sexual identity is solely a social construct rather than a natural or biological fact.” “By erasing the beautiful differences and complementary relationship between man and woman, we ignore the glory of God’s creation and harm the human family, the first building block of society. Our sex, whether we are male or female, is part of God’s plan for creation and for our lives.

The logic of the decision makes it very difficult to understand how you could have separate men’s and women’s sports,” he explained. “The same for locker rooms and shower rooms and secular activities, swimming pools, gyms. The same for women’s shelters, for example, where already traumatized women are cared for where now they’re likely to be forced to be housed at close quarters with males.”

GENDER IDENTITY 2020

Transgender activists have a “plan to use the government to force parents to affirm a false sex for their child, agree to hormone blockers, and accept a transition to their son or daughter’s preferred gender.  “If parents refuse? Removal of the child from the family, due to alleged medical neglect.”

For example, a recent news story from Canada, The Supreme Court of British Columbia, Canada, ordered that a 14-year-old girl receive testosterone injections without parental consent. The court also declared that if either of her parents referred to her using female pronouns or addressed her by her birth name, they would be considered guilty of family violence.

Next, on transgender activists agenda is to require schools to report parents of children that resist the child’s request to be treated different than their birth gender to Child Protective Services. “There are many dangers to these puberty blockers, such as infertility and restricting bone growth.

GOD CREATES ADAM AND EVE, MAN AND WOMAN AND SAW THAT IT WAS GOOD

MARRIAGE BETWEEN A MAN AND A WOMAN

THEN AND NOW

Let’s return to our main topic, Marriage. We begin in the beginning in the book of Genesis. Genesis 1:27-28, “God created man in his image; in the divine image he created him; male and female he created them. God blessed them, saying: “Be fertile and multiply”

In Matthew 19 when Jesus is challenged over the question of divorce and remarriage, Jesus reinforces what is already in Hebrew Scripture.  “Have you not read that from the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female’  ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’?  So they are no longer two, but one flesh. 

JESUS TEACHING ON MARRIAGE

 Therefore, what God has joined together, no human being must separate.  His disciples said to him, “If that is the case of a man with his wife, it is better not to marry.” He answered, “Not all can accept this word, but only those to whom that is granted. Some are incapable of marriage because they were born so; some, because they were made so by others; some, because they have renounced marriage for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. Whoever can accept this ought to accept it.”

Jesus says marriage is not for everyone, some may even be born not able to fulfill the procreative and unitive requirements of marriage. The Catechism of the Catholic Church continues to expound on God’s awesome plan for mankind with emphasis on the unitive and procreative role of Marriage, neither of which can be fulfilled by a homosexual couple.

CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH (CCC) THE GOODS OF MARRIAGE

 CCC 1643 Marital love involves a totality, in which all the elements of the person enter… It aims at a deeply personal unity, a unity that, beyond union in one flesh. Unitive and procreative are the goods of marriage.

It demands indissolubility and faithfulness in definitive mutual giving; and it is open to fertility.

HOMOSEXUAL COUPLES CANNOT FULFILL THESE GOODS OF MARRIAGE.

 CCC 1601“The matrimonial covenant… is by its nature ordered toward the good of the spouses and the procreation and education of offspring; this covenant between baptized persons has been raised by Christ the Lord to the dignity of a sacrament.”

COMMENTARY

Marriage existed many, many centuries before Government got involved.  In fact, the state did not even begin to issue marriage licenses until after the Civil War.  The state has an interest in marriage and marital norms because they serve the public good; marriage between a man and woman provides for the Common Good of society providing it with its very core, the family, mother, father and children

SAME SEX MARRIAGE ELIMINATES MOTHERS OR FATHERS BY ITS VERY NAME

Now it is not surprising that the Government over time, valuing the traditional family and wanting to encourage people to marry, .provided some benefits or relief in terms of taxes and other social benefits.  It was in society’s best interest to have a strong society that would continue for ages to come.

Same Sex marriage is driven by a desire to receive supplemental benefits from the Government for which heterosexual couples get.  The problem is homosexual couples want “equal rights” to the benefits aimed at the Common Good without adding anything to the Common Good.  In fact, if you take it to the extreme conclusion of only same sex couples marrying that would be the extinction of human kind.

In closing, let’s take a closer look on how our Church teaches us to treat homosexuals. The Church teaches that homogenital behavior is objectively immoral, while making the important distinction between this behavior and a homosexual orientation, which is not immoral in itself.

Homosexual persons “must be accepted with respect, compassion and sensitivity” These persons are called to fulfill God’s will in their lives and, if they are Christians, to unite to the sacrifice of the Lord’s Cross the difficulties they may encounter from their condition.(CCC 2358)

SEEK GOOD AND NOT EVIL,

THAT YOU MAY LIVE;

MAY THE LORD GOD OF HOSTS

BE WITH YOU.

AMOS 5:14

JULY 1, 2020 MASS READING

PRAYING THE PSALMS

PRAYER

KING DAVID, SONG WRITER, SINGER,

AUTHOR OF PSALMS

 INTRODUCTION

 The book of the Psalms is not a single book, in and of itself, but a collection of many poems and other similar works composed mostly by King David but include many other authors such as Moses and Solomon.  In the Psalms, joy, suffering, the desire and fear of death are all interwoven and expressed.

You can easily find them on the internet, in your Bible, or at a Catholic bookstore. Psalms were the most common prayer of Jesus in the New Testament and loved singing them with his disciples.  As they left the Last Supper they sang psalms on their way to Gethsemane.  (Matthew 26:30)

 The Psalms are given to us as the inspired word of God.  Though God used human instruments, God is the true author of the Bible. Since they are the Word of God, the pray-er who prays the Psalms speaks to God with the very words that God has given to us. They are a school of prayer.

The Psalms teach us that, even in the midst of desolation, God’s presence remains and is the source of wonder and of consolation; we can cry, beg, intercede, lament, but we do so in the knowledge that we are walking toward the light.   

I WILL BLESS THE LORD AT ALL TIMES!

PSALM 8

 O LORD, our Lord, how awesome is your name through all the earth! You have set your majesty above the heavens!   Out of the mouths of babes and infants you have drawn a defense against your foes, to silence enemy and avenger.  When I see your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and stars that you set in place–

What are humans that you are mindful of them, mere mortals that you care for them?   Yet you have made them little less than a god, crowned them with glory and honor.  You have given them rule over the works of your hands, put all things at their feet:  All sheep and oxen, even the beasts of the field, the birds of the air, the fish of the sea, and whatever swims the paths of the seas.   O LORD, our Lord, how awesome is your name through all the earth!

REFLECTION

God is good all the time!  All the time God is good! When I sit out in my meditation garden I give thanks to God for the sky, the birds that fly, the flowers that grow, the sun that lights my way and the moon and stars that accompany my night.  Nothing as eloquent as St. Francis Assisi Canticle of Creation.  Enjoy!

O Most High, all-powerful, good Lord God, to you belong praise, glory, honour and all blessing. Be praised, my Lord, for all your creation and especially for our Brother Sun, who brings us the day and the light; he is strong and shines magnificently. O Lord, we think of you when we look at him.

 Be praised, my Lord, for Sister Moon, and for the stars which you have set shining and lovely in the heavens. Be praised, my Lord, for our Brothers Wind and Air and every kind of weather by which you, Lord, uphold life in all your creatures. Be praised, my Lord, for Sister Water, who is very useful to us, and humble and precious and pure.

Be praised, my Lord, for Brother Fire, through whom you give us light in the darkness: he is bright and lively and strong. Be praised, my Lord, for Sister Earth, our Mother, who nourishes us and sustains us, bringing forth fruits and vegetables of many kinds and flowers of many colours……I praise and bless you, Lord, and I give thanks to you, and I will serve you in all humility.

PSALM 13

How long, LORD? Will you utterly forget me? How long will you hide your face from me?  How long must I carry sorrow in my soul, grief in my heart day after day? How long will my enemy triumph over me? Look upon me, answer me, LORD, my God! Give light to my eyes lest I sleep in death,  lest my enemy say, “I have prevailed,” lest my foes rejoice at my downfall.  I trust in your faithfulness. Grant my heart joy in your help, that I may sing of the LORD, “How good our God has been to me!”

REFLECTION

Troubles will come.  After-all this is not Paradise yet.  But we do better by trusting in God, staying connected to God.  All we have to do is read Scriptures in the Old Testament to see how the Hebrews did when they went on their own and worshiped pagan gods who couldn’t see, couldn’t hear, couldn’t speak.  Our God is a living God!

Besides all that God is present in our sufferings, frustrations, disappointments.  Why because God became the Word Incarnate, Jesus Christ!  Totally Human and Totally Divine!  Jesus lived the human experience.  Jesus has taken in on himself to turn human suffering into something salvific.  Praise God!  We are never alone with God!

PSALM 17

Hear, LORD, my plea for justice; pay heed to my cry; Listen to my prayer spoken without guile. From you let my vindication come; your eyes see what is right.  You have tested my heart, searched it in the night. You have tried me by fire, but find no malice in me.

My mouth has not transgressed as humans often do. As your lips have instructed me, I have kept the way of the law.  My steps have kept to your paths; my feet have not faltered.  I call upon you; answer me, O God.

Turn your ear to me; hear my prayer.  Show your wonderful love, you who deliver with your right arm those who seek refuge from their foes.  Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings… My ravenous enemies press upon me…Rise, O LORD, confront and cast them down; rescue me so from the wicked.  I am just–let me see your face; when I awake, let me be filled with your presence.

REFLECTION

 “Keep me as the apple of your eye, hide me in the shadow of your wings.” We all want to be the apple of God’s eye.  We want that special attention.  Well we have it.  God loved us into existence.  God is love. God wills that everyone be saved.  Sometimes we feel afraid of the wickedness of this world and that’s when we really want God’s wings to cover us.  But sometimes we want to call down God’s wrath on the wicked (excuse our sinning for the moment).

I am reminded of the parable of the weeds. Matthew 13:24 The master tells his servants not to pull up the weeds till harvest time less you pull up the wheat by mistake.  God is the best judge.  Judge not lest you be judged accordingly.  After-all Jesus came to save sinners.  There are no saints but Mary without sin.  Be patient and trust in Jesus and be sure you are keeping the faith, witnessing that faith to others that they might be saved!

PSALM 22

 My God, my God, why have you abandoned me? Why so far from my call for help, from my cries of anguish?  My God, I call by day, but you do not answer; by night, but I have no relief… In you our ancestors trusted; they trusted and you rescued them. To you they cried out and they escaped; in you they trusted and were not disappointed.

 But I am a worm, hardly human, scorned by everyone, despised by the people.  All who see me mock me; they curl their lips and jeer; they shake their heads at me:  “You relied on the LORD–let him deliver you; if he loves you, let him rescue you.”

 Do not stay far from me, for trouble is near, and there is no one to help…So wasted are my hands and feet that I can count all my bones. They stare at me and gloat; they divide my garments among them; for my clothing they cast lots. But you, LORD, do not stay far off; you my strength, come quickly to help me….

 All the ends of the earth will worship and turn to the LORD; For kingship belongs to the LORD, the ruler over the nations.  I will live for the LORD; my descendants will serve you.  The generation to come will be told of the Lord, that they may proclaim to a people yet unborn the deliverance you have brought.

‘MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME?’

 REFLECTION

When Jesus hangs on the cross, despised, suffering, and dying, he has taken upon himself the entirety of all sin. God cannot look upon sin, so he turns his back. The burden is now fully upon his Son.  In this moment there is the human despair of death, but in the words of the Psalm 22 there is also hope for deliverance.

Jesus still has trust in the God of the Universe. He has submitted to God’s will to that very last moment. God so loved the world as to giving His only begotten Son in atonement for our sins. God loves us by taking our place on  the cross and dying in our stead. Thanks be to God!  His mercy endures forever!

SOLEMNITY OF THE MOST HOLY BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST

CATHOLIC FEAST DAYS

CORPUS CHRISTI THE BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST

BACKGROUND

The Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ is also known as the Solemnity of Corpus Christi, which translates from Latin to “Body of Christ.”  This feast originated in France in the mid-thirteenth century. and was extended to the whole Church by Pope Urban IV in 1264 as a universal feast of the Church, to be celebrated on the Thursday following Trinity Sunday.  Today in the United States the feast is celebrated on following Sunday.

The Eucharist is foretold in many ways in Scripture.  In the Old Testament it is the chosen people fed in the desert with manna from heaven.  “Remember how for these forty years the LORD, your God, has directed all your journeying in the wilderness, so as to test you by affliction, to know what was in your heart…: He therefore let you be afflicted with hunger, and then fed you with manna a food unknown to you and your ancestors, so you might know that it is not by bread alone that people live, but by all that comes forth from the mouth of the LORD” Deuteronomy 8:2-3

In the New Testament we have two miracles of multiplication of loaves and fishes to physically feed the people and the announcement of Jesus to the Samaritan woman at the well that He is the living water that gives life.  In John’s Gospel, chapter 6, we have the Bread of Life discourse.

BREAD OF LIFE DISCOURSE

 It was not Moses who gave the bread from heaven; My Father gives you the true bread from heaven. 

For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world…..

I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst

Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life and I will raise him up on the last day

Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him”  JOHN 6:31-34, 48

The Eucharist is one of seven Sacraments.  “The sacraments are efficacious signs of grace, instituted by Christ and entrusted to the Church, by which divine life is dispensed to us. They bear fruit in those who receive them with the required dispositions.

 At the Last Supper, on the night he was betrayed, our Savior instituted the Eucharistic sacrifice of his Body and Blood. This he did in order to perpetuate the sacrifice of the cross throughout the ages until he should come again…to entrust to his beloved Spouse, the Church, a memorial of his death and resurrection…a sacrament of love, a sign of unity, and a bond of charity.

COMMENTARY

A new Pew Research survey finds that most self-described Catholics don’t believe in the Real Presence in the Eucharist. In fact, seven-in-ten Catholics (70%) say they personally believe that during Catholic Mass, the bread and wine used in Communion “are symbols of the body and blood of Jesus Christ.” Just one-third of U.S. Catholics (30%) say they believe that “during Catholic Mass, the bread and wine actually become the body and blood of Jesus.” What a shame, so many missing Jesus’ own words.  In Jesus we trust!

The Priest, acting in the Person of Christ, and speaking Christ’s words at the consecration, transmits Christ’s words to make His presence real in the Eucharist. We call this transubstantiation.  Transubstantiation does no violence to the appearances of the bread and wine, but on the deepest level of their reality, they have been changed, becoming the Body and Blood of Christ.

The incarnate Logos (Word of God), Christ, is the fullest revelation of God that we can possess on earth. The Eucharist is the sacramental extension of the Incarnation. “Abide in me, and I in you” John 15:4. . . . I am the vine, you are the branches.” John 15:5   “He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him.” John 6:54

Inasmuch as we participate in the Eucharist, we participate in Christ’s sacrifice. This communion with Christ in His sacrifice enables us to share communion with one another. This communion is the foundation and condition for the unity of the Church, the Mystical Body of Christ.

 CONCLUSION

  Just as we need to nourish our physical bodies in order to have strength to work and to live well, so too we need to nourish our souls to have spiritual strength, the ability to learn and understand the ways of the Lord, and work for the building up of the Kingdom, to live well spiritually now and for eternity.  Nourished by this heavenly food we carry on the work of Christ and His Church.

“Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him. John 6:56   Jesus gave himself for you on Calvary and gives himself for you again in Holy Communion. It is the one sacrifice on Calvary extended through time to us at Mass. Some misunderstand and think Catholics say Jesus is sacrificed again during every Mass. No, it is the one sacrifice of Jesus on Calvary which is extended through time to us in every Mass

Jesus took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and giving it to his disciples said, “Take and eat; this is my body.” Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you; for this is my blood of the new covenant, which will be shed on behalf of many for the forgiveness of sins.” Matthew 26:26-28

JESUS INSTITUTES THE SACRAMENT OF THE EUCHARIST AT THE LAST SUPPER

When we receive the Eucharist in Holy Communion, the Priest says, “the Body of Christ” and we say “Amen.”

Our “Amen” means we recognize and acknowledge the real presence, body and blood, soul and divinity of Jesus Christ, and by mystery we are part of that Mystical Body of Christ.

When we consume the Eucharist it is not us changing Jesus but Jesus changing us by sharing His divinity with us!

Though ascending into heaven after His resurrection, Jesus wanted us to have the memorial of the love with which he loved us “to the end,” even to the giving of his life. In his Eucharistic presence he remains mysteriously in our midst as the one who loved us and gave himself up for us

The Church and the world have a great need for Eucharistic worship. Jesus awaits us in this sacrament of love. Let us not refuse the time to go to meet him in adoration, in contemplation full of faith, and open to making amends for the serious offenses and crimes of the world. Let our adoration never cease!

 THIS IS THE BREAD COME DOWN FROM HEAVEN

TAKE AND RECEIVE, THIS IS MY BODY

SPIRITUAL COMMUNION

My Jesus,
I believe that You are present in the Most Holy Sacrament.
I love You above all things,
and I desire to receive You into my soul.
Since I cannot at this moment receive You sacramentally,
come at least spiritually into my heart.
I embrace You as if You were already there
and unite myself wholly to You.
Never permit me to be separated from You.

Amen.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WHY I AM STILL ROMAN CATHOLIC AFTER ALL THESE YEARS

2 Comments / CATHOLIC CHURCH TEACHING, CATHOLIC COMMENTARY

PETER’S BASILICA ROME ITALY

As Jesus’ vicar/prime minister, St. Peter established the Mother Church in Rome in 42 A.D. All other Christian denominations over the centuries have their roots in the Church Jesus founded. Just as Bishops today are successors to the Apostles, the Pope is successor to Peter.

 INTRODUCTION

A friend of mine who lives out of town that I have known for 50+ years called on Mother’s Day to wish my wife Happy Mother’s Day.  During the course of our conversation he wanted me to know he believes in God just not the Church.  Gene and I have discussed religion forever.  He is a good man who reaches out in service to others especially the elderly

I reminded Gene that while the Church was divinely instituted, it is humanly constituted made up of saints and sinners.  There is no greater target of Satan then the Church of Christ.  Since their Intellect is darkened and their Will is weakened as a consequence of Original Sin the clergy of the Church are just as susceptible to the “dark” side as the laity.

Of course, it is not just clergy abuse that caused so many to leave the “church.”  Most reply they just don’t believe what the Church teaches.  Well, this is not so surprising since for the last several decades our Catholic faithful, the young and old, have been so poorly served in the area of Catechesis.  It seems when the nuns left the building so did a lot of  strong true Catholic teaching. So we now have generations of the under Catechized who are not able to teach their children about God as well.

Some have asked me why I have the adjective, Roman, before Catholic in my website stillromancatholicafteralltheseyears.com. There are several rites in communion with Rome (Latin Rite) such as Maronites, that never separated and others that did, but have reunited with Rome such as Byzantine, Copts, and Chaldeans. I want readers to know my blog is orthodox and in full communion with the Church of St. Peter.

There are so many denominations out there that have catholic in their names that it is confusing.  There are even groups out there that call themselves Catholics for Choice. This is not a Catholic organization but a pro- abortion advocacy group. There are “cafeteria catholics” who pick and chooses what Catholic teaching they want to follow. Catholics are not free to choose which teachings on faith and morals to obey.

I love my Church warts and all and so grateful to Jesus giving us this guide.  It isn’t perfect.  But Jesus is!,  Jesus founded His Church on  the Apostle Peter.” And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” Matthew 16:18-19

FEED MY SHEEP

“JESUS SAID TO SIMON PETER, SIMON, SON OF JOHN, DO YOU LOVE ME MORE THAN THESE?

Peter said to him, ‘Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.

Jesus said to him, ‘Feed my Lambs

 “Jesus said to him a second time, ‘Simon, son of John, do you love me?’

Peter said to him, ‘Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.’  

He said to him, ‘Tend my sheep’

 .Jesus said to Peter the third time, ‘Simon, son of John, do you love me?’

Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, and he said to him, ‘Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.’  Jesus said to him, ‘Feed my sheep’”

John 21:17,

Not all are Good Shepherds all the time!  Remember Peter denied Jesus three times but Peter repented and wept bitterly for his sins but returned to Jesus.  Jesus returns the favor by entrusting His Church to Peter and his successors. As far as the Church of Christ goes our trust is not in the human constituency but in the Third person of the Blessed Trinity, the Holy Spirit.

The Father, indeed, revealed the fullness of Truth in His Son but the Church in its early days could not take it all in. It needed inspiration, guidance, the breath of the Spirit.  What was (and still is) required is the ongoing influence of the Spirit, the divine interpreter of the Word, who does his work gradually and powerfully as the Church journeys across space and time.

“When the Advocate comes whom I will send you from the Father, the Spirit of truth that proceeds from the Father, he will testify to me.” John 15:26 “The Holy Spirit teaches the Church “all things,” bringing to mind everything that Christ first taught His apostles” John 14:26.

The Holy Spirit came on Pentecost Sunday and a Church was born. After the descent of the Holy Spirit the disciples were filled with courage and faith. They went out into the streets and proclaimed the Good News of Jesus Christ fearlessly in Truth and the Holy Spirit

PENTECOST SUNDAY

With the Holy Spirit, Jesus sends His apostles and their successors as the Father sent Him “with “all authority in heaven and on earth” (Mt. 28:18).  The apostles, the first bishops, chosen by Christ, exercise the Church’s Magisterium or teaching office of His Church.

It is the Holy Spirit who comes into this world to convict Satan and Sin.  The battle is joined.  Do you know who wins:  Check out the Book of Revelation, the last book of the Bible..  My trust is in the Holy Spirit not man!

THE BIBLE

Sometimes Catholics are criticized by other denominations as not knowing the Bible or down playing Scriptures.  That is ridiculous.  If you were to attend Sunday Mass regularly in a three year cycle and daily Mass in 2 year cycle you would hear read at Mass from Old and New Testament well over 80% of Scriptures.

There was no Bible in the early Church.  It was the Church–her leadership, faithful people–guided by the authority of the Spirit of Truth which discovered the books inspired by God in their writing.

The canon of the Bible was established by the Roman Catholic Church definitively at the Council of Trent in 1556.  Canon means keeping something “straight” by rule of faith.

A canon distinguishes what is revealed and divine from what is not revealed and human. Some criteria used to determine canonicity were: special relation to God, i.e., inspiration; apostolic origin; used by the community of believers in Church services guided by the Holy Spirit.

If God has revealed Himself to man and He has, man must be able to know with assurance where that revelation lies.  In other words, man needs to know without error what the books of the Bible are. There must be an authority which will make that decision.  That authority is the Magisterium of the Church founded by Jesus Christ.

Is the Bible enough? Jesus told his apostles in His Last Supper discourse, “I have much more to tell you, but you cannot bear it now.  But when he comes, the Spirit of truth, he will guide you to all truth. He will not speak on his own, but he will speak what he hears, and will declare to you the things that are coming.”  John 16:12-13

CATHOLIC CHURCH TEACHING ON MORALITY

The Church doesn’t make this stuff up. God the Father himself in the Old Testament gave the 10 Commandments to Moses. These commandments were written on stone to symbolize that they could not be changed. Human laws change from time to time, but God’s word never changes.

MOSES RECEIVES GOD’S LAW FOR US

 While I was growing up, I questioned the Commandments and other Church Teaching but that was because I had the notion these were restrictions and I resisted like any “red blooded American“.

As I matured in my faith development I realized the commandments were not prohibitions at all but the best self-help book on the market for living well and happy.  God was not asking me to give up anything that was good for me.

Let’s just take a few examples from the Commandments,, How about worshipping God our Creator on the Sabbath.  What’s nuts about that? All that I am; All that I have; I have received from God.  If I throw that out it isn’t long before I think I am in charge and I am not.

Here’s another one, Do not kill or do violence in actions or words.  Who am I to harm someone?  I don’t want anyone to harm me! And do not commit adultery nor covet your neighbor’s wife.  Well how is that working out for the sexually active outside of marriage crowd? Divorce, fractured families, abandoned children, single parent families, sexually transmitted diseases, abortion etc. Sin has consequences. To deny this is to deny reality!

“See, I am setting before you today a blessing and a curse: the blessing, if you listen to the commandments of the LORD your God, which I am commanding you today; and the curse, if you do not listen to the commandments of the LORD your God… Deuteronomy 11:26

 SACRAMENTS

God’s plan includes sacraments dispensed by His Church.  Sacraments are an outward sign instituted by Christ to give grace. Sacraments are the means by which God “resurrects us” in this life. Jesus expresses Himself on earth today through His Sacraments.  Not every denomination has the seven sacraments that Jesus instituted, but the Roman Catholic Church does.

Baptism restores divine life to our souls. Confirmation strengthens our faith and assist us in being faithful witnesses. Eucharist nourishes that life. Sacrament of Reconciliation heals our soul when we have sinned against God and neighbor. Matrimony: the sacramental binding covenant between a baptized man and woman in which they agree to eternal fidelity and commit to being God’s partners in the creation of new life.

Holy Orders continues Jesus’ Apostolic Mission today. This sacrament confers on a man the power of consecrating the offering of the Body and Blood of Christ and of remitting and retaining sin. Pray for vocations to the Priesthood.  They administer the Sacraments in Jesus’ name. Anointing of the Sick stirs up the divine life within us to heal our bodies and prepare our souls for eternal life.

 REAL PRESENCE IN EUCHARIST

Many other religious denominations claim the Sacrament of the Eucharist but do not believe as I do or other practicing Catholics in the Real Presence.  Some denominations say it is a symbol.  Some say it is something we do in memory of Jesus.  Some say it is a fellowship meal.

As Roman Catholic, I believe in the Real Presence of Jesus in the Sacrament.  I believe that when a priest at consecration says the words, “Take this, all of you, and eat of it, for this is my Body, which will be given up for you. Take this, all of you, and drink from it for this is the chalice of my Blood, the Blood of the new and eternal covenant, which will be poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Do this in memory of me”.

I believe Jesus, body and blood, soul and divinity is reserved in the tabernacles of Catholic Churches around the world. Outside of Masses, Jesus may be brought to the sick and home bound.

The body and blood that we eat is the same body that hung on the cross, lay in the tomb, and then rose from the dead. That body is also the same body that passed through walls, that could be in Emmaus one minute, and Jerusalem the next, and then ascended into heaven to sit at the right hand of the Father.

When we eat hamburger or pizza etc. we are physically nourished and it becomes part of our body. But when we consume the Body and Blood of Jesus in Holy Communion, the exact opposite happens. Instead of us assimilating Jesus into our bodies, he assimilates us into his body. He doesn’t become part of our body. We become part of his body, a share in the Divine life!

“I am the living bread which came down from heaven; if any one eats of this bread, he will live  forever” (John 6:51).

“The bread which I shall give for the life of the world is my flesh” (John 6:51). He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.

For my flesh is food indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him. (John 6:53–56)  He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is food indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him. (John 6:53–56)

 CONCLUSION

I love my Church founded on Saint Peter.  God can save whoever He wills but there are tremendous, superlative aids within the Roman Catholic Church for happiness and excellence of living in this world and to complete our journey home to Jesus. There are no restrictions harmful to mankind in Roman Catholic Church teaching. I thank God for my faith and my Church that have been there for me throughout my life of joy and suffering, let me persevere, keep my eyes on the prize and finish the race.

 

 

 

 

 

RANDOM REFLECTIONS FROM MY LENTEN JOURNAL

LENTEN REFLECTIONS

FOLLOWING JESUS IS AN ADVENTURE IT IS NOT JUST CARRYING MY CROSS BUT LIGHTENING THE CROSSES OF OTHERS LIKE SIMON OF CYRENE DID.

TO LOVE MY NEIGHBOR IS TO LOVE GOD I CANNOT LOVE GOD AND HATE MY NEIGHBOR

IF I DON’T FORGIVE ANOTHER WILL I BE FORGIVEN BY GOD?  WHY TAKE THE CHANCE? HELP ME TO SHOW MERCY OVER JUDGMENT.

A RECONCILED SOUL IS A PEACEFUL SOUL, NO ADVERSARIES TO SHADOW BOX WITH, NO CLINCHING AND GRITTING OUR TEETH, LOWER BLOOD PRESSURE.  SHARE THE PEACE OF CHRIST THAT IS BEYOND ALL UNDERSTANDING, FORGIVE AND BE SAVED

AS I MEASURE SO WILL IT BE MEASURED TO ME.  GOD BE MERCIFUL TO ME A SINNER

GOD IS GOD AND WE ARE NOT.  WHAT DO I HAVE TO BOAST OF?  MY SINS???  WE MAY GIVE UP ON JESUS BUT HE NEVER GIVES UP ON US.

IN THE PRODIGAL SON STORY THERE IS THE PRODIGAL WHO REPENTS AND RETURNS TO HIS FATHER’S HOUSE AND THE FATHER THAT RUNS TO GREET HIM.  THEN THERE IS THE OLDER BROTHER WHO RESENTS BOTH THE SON SEEKING FORGIVENESS AND THE FATHER OFFERING FORGIVENESS.  PLEASE GOD, LET ME NOT BE LIKE THE OLDER SON STANDING IN JUDGMENT BUT RATHER OFFER MERCY TO ALL I MEET.

IS MY PRAYER SELF CENTERED LIKE THE PHARISEE IN THE TEMPLE OR GOD CENTERED LIKE THE TAX COLLECTOR, O GOD BE MERCIFUL TO ME A SINNER?  IS GOD THE PRINCIPLE ACTOR IN MY PRAYER?

LORD THAT I MIGHT SEE!  YOU ARE THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD.  LIFT THE DARKNESS OF SELF-SERVING. SHED LIGHT ON MY SINFULNESS AND REMOVE WHAT YOUR LIGHT HAS REVEALED.

JESUS THE HEALER,. HEAL ME FROM MY PHYSICAL AND SPIRITUAL INFIRMITIES  JESUS MAKE ME WHOLE AGAIN AS THE FATHER INTENDED!

HIS HOUR HAD NOT YET COME.  WHAT IS MY HOUR?  HAS IT ALREADY PASSED OR STILL TO COME?   DON’T LET ME MISS IT….THY WILL BE DONE!

CHRISTIANITY IS A SALVATION RELIGION.  IF YOU ARE NOT A SINNER YOU JUST DON’T GET IT.  IT’S NOT FOR YOU.  CHRISTIANITY IS MADE UP OF SINNERS IN NEED OF A SAVIOR.  JESUS HAVE MERCY ON ME!

“I AM THE RESURRECTION AND LIFE.”  NO MATTER HOW DEAD YOU ARE IN SIN, JESUS CAN CALL YOU BACK TO LIFE!  LISTEN FOR HIS CALL!

JESUS CHRIST CRUCIFIED.  GOD LOVES US FULLY, COMPLETELY, UNCONDITIONALLY EVEN TO DEATH.  DO NOT FEAR THE CROSS, EMBRACE IT BECAUSE IT IS AN ICON OF GOD’S LOVE.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LENTEN PRACTICES STATIONS OF THE CROSS

LENTEN REFLECTIONS

FIRST STATION JESUS IS CONDEMNED TO DEATHWe adore Thee, O Christ, and bless Thee.

Because by Thy holy cross Thou hast redeemed the world.

REFLECTION

Jesus, you stand all alone before Pilate. Nobody speaks up for you. How alone you must feel…You devoted your entire life to helping others, where are they now…Help me to be grateful for what you did for me and never abandon you…when I am falsely accused help me to love my enemies and pray for those who hurt me.

SECOND STATION JESUS CARRIES HIS CROSS

We adore Thee, O Christ, and bless Thee.

Because by Thy holy cross Thou hast redeemed the world.

REFLECTION

Jesus you accepted your cross  made up of my sins.  It wasn’t easy but you carried it just the same. Sometimes I feel my cross is too big.  I complain and look to others who I believe have lesser crosses. I feel sorry for myself.  Oh My Jesus, help me to bear my cross patiently and generously for love of you.

 THIRD STATION JESUS FALLS THE FIRST TIME

We adore Thee, O Christ, and bless Thee.

Because by Thy holy cross Thou hast redeemed the world.

REFLECTION

Jesus, the cross you carry is very heavy. You are becoming weak and almost ready to faint, and you fall down. Nobody seems to want to help you.  The heavy burden of my sins weigh Thee down beneath the cross. I detest them; I beg you to pardon them.  May your grace help me never to commit them again.

FOURTH STATION JESUS MEETS HIS AFFLICTED MOTHER

 

We adore Thee, O Christ, and bless Thee.

Because by Thy holy cross Thou hast redeemed the world.

REFLECTION

Oh My Jesus, it is with great sorrow that I see the pain you share with your Mother Mary. What gave you both the courage to carry on?   As my Redeemer, it seems you and your Mother were teaching me how to suffer and give this suffering to the Father for the salvation of souls. Help me to offer up my suffering for others.

FIFTH STATION SIMON OF CYRENE HELPS JESUS CARRY HIS CROSS

We adore Thee, O Christ, and bless Thee.

Because by Thy holy cross Thou hast redeemed the world.

REFLECTION

Oh My Jesus, Simon of Cyrene was enlisted by the soldiers to help you carry your cross less you die before crucifixion.  You, who hold up the whole universe, allowed a creature to help you.  What an example of humility to allow others to attend to you.  I don’t have to always be on the giving side; help me to accept offers of help from others.  In so doing, I will be blessed and so will they.

SIXTH STATION VERONICA WIPES

THE FACE OF JESUS

We adore Thee, O Christ, and bless Thee.

Because by Thy holy cross Thou hast redeemed the world.

REFLECTION

 My Jesus, where were all the hundreds of peoples whose bodies and souls were healed by you? Why only one woman? Veronica, setting aside fear and human respect offers you the comfort of her veil.  My sweet Jesus, imprint your Divine Image upon my soul…that I may attend to the needs of others on your behalf despite the situation or circumstances.

SEVENTH STATION JESUS FALLS A SECOND TIME

We adore Thee, O Christ, and bless Thee.

Because by Thy holy cross Thou hast redeemed the world.

REFLECTION

On My Jesus, You fall a second time under the pain of the Cross.You rise from this fall.  What looked like weakness is unparalleled strength. The world often looks down upon the poor as failures, the sick as useless and the aged as a burden. There is a vast difference between the way the world sees and the way God sees. Weak and powerful Jesus, give comfort of your presence to the aged, sick, and handicapped.  Let the infirm glory in their weakness.

EIGHTH STATION JESUS SPEAKS

TO THE HOLY WOMEN

We adore Thee, O Christ, and bless Thee.

Because by Thy holy cross Thou hast redeemed the world.

REFLECTION

My Jesus, I am amazed at your compassion for others in your time of need. When I suffer, I have a tendency to think only of myself but when you saw the holy women weeping over your torments, you consoled them and taught them to look deeper into Your Passion.  Help all those who are discouraged, sick, lonely and old to recognize Your Presence in their midst. No one suffers alone.  Easter is coming!

NINTH STATION JESUS FALLS THIRD TIME

We adore Thee, O Christ, and bless Thee.

Because by Thy holy cross Thou hast redeemed the world.

REFLECTION

My Jesus, even with the help of Simon You fell a third time. Were you telling me that there may be times in my life that I will fall again and again despite the help of friends and loved ones?  When I cry out from the depths of my soul, “This suffering is more than I can bear,” You whisper, to my innermost being, “Yes, I know, Keep going, I know how hard it is to rise”? Easter is coming, rejoice!

TENTH STATION JESUS IS STRIPPED

OF HIS GARMENTS

We adore Thee, O Christ, and bless Thee.

Because by Thy holy cross Thou hast redeemed the world.

REFLECTION

My sweet Jesus, it seems that every step to Calvary brought you fresh shame and humiliation. How your sensitive nature must have recoiled at being stripped before a crowd of people. Have mercy on us who would violate the virtue of chastity.  Sins of the flesh run rampant.  Grant us the courage of conversion of our ways.

 ELEVENTH STATION JESUS IS NAILED

TO THE CROSS

We adore Thee, O Christ, and bless Thee.

Because by Thy holy cross Thou hast redeemed the world.

REFLECTION

It is hard to imagine God being nailed to a cross by His own creatures. It is even more difficult for my mind to understand a love that permitted such a thing to happen! As those men drove heavy nails into your hands and feet, dear Jesus, you were stretching out your arms to show us how much you love us?  Teach me to keep my arms ever open to love, to forgive and to render service.

TWELFTH STATION JESUS DIES ON THE CROSS

We adore Thee, O Christ, and bless Thee.

Because by Thy holy cross Thou hast redeemed the world.

REFLECTION

God is dead! No wonder the earth quaked, the sun hid, the dead rose and Mary stood by in horror. All creation rebelled as the Word made Flesh departed from this world.  A common thief responded to your love with deep Faith, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.” Dear Jesus, help us to humbly reach out to you, especially when we need forgiveness of our sins.

 THIRTEENTH STATION JESUS IS TAKEN DOWN FROM THE CROSS

We adore Thee, O Christ, and bless Thee.

Because by Thy holy cross Thou hast redeemed the world.

REFLECTION

My Jesus, it was with deep grief that Mother Mary finally took you into her arms. You are once more surrounded by only a few followers.   The greatest act of love was given mostly in isolation with little notice. Give to all men the grace to see that doing your will is more important than success.  Let me accept praise or blame, success or failure with equal serenity.

FOURTEENTH STATION JESUS IS LAID IN THE TOMB

We adore Thee, O Christ, and bless Thee.

Because by Thy holy cross Thou hast redeemed the world.

REFLECTIONS

My Jesus, You were laid to rest in a stranger’s tomb. You were born with nothing in a stable.  Most of us live and die knowing and known by only a few. Will we ever learn the lesson of humility that makes us content with who we are, where we are and what we are?  Dear Jesus, grant me the grace of acceptance and let me rejoice on Resurrection day with all the Angels in a hymn of praise and thanksgiving for so great a love- so great a God!

CLOSING PRAYER

My Jesus, I have traveled Your Way of the cross. It seems so real. I feel so ashamed that I complain of my sufferings.  Help me to see the Father’s will in every incident of my daily life.

Help me to trust the Father and to realize that there is something great behind the most insignificant suffering.

Teach me the lessons contained in my Cross, the wisdom of its necessity, the beauty of its variety, and the fortitude that accompanies even the smallest cross.

 

 

 

 

 

 

PROMISES OF A MESSIAH

CATHOLIC COMMENTARY, LENTEN REFLECTIONS

We are less than two weeks away from Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent.  My thoughts today are on all the times we have failed God and suffered the consequences of our sinfullness.

I thought also of how many centuries people had to wait for the promised Messiah. Ancient Israel often failed in her ordained commission to be a beacon of spiritual light to all other nations.

God made many covenants with His people through mediators such as Abraham, Moses, and David. His people broke the covenants and suffered the consequences just as we suffer the consequences today of our own sinfulness.

Today, we are fortunate the Messiah has arrived and completed His mission.  Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ now and forever!

Our Lent is modeled after the 40 days Jesus spent in fasting and praying in the dessert before He took on His public ministry that would end in His death and Resurrection and victory over sin and death. We must fortify ourselves like Jesus for the continued onslaught of the world, the devil, and the flesh.

Deny ourselves, take up our crosses and follow Jesus.  There is no Easter without Good Friday. Fast from worldly things that we might focus on the spiritual; Listen to the word of God in Scripture; Pray before the blessed Sacrament that we might not succumb to the evil one.

In this blog I will focus on last two prophets of the Old and New Testament, Malachi and John the Baptist.

The last prophet of the Old Testament, Malachi, was sent by God to instruct the Jews resettling in Judea after the Babylonian captivity.  Malachi revealed the spiritual and moral shortcomings of the priests and common people alike.

Tithing was being neglected; divorce had become commonplace; and there were mixed marriages with pagan peoples.  Moral and spiritual laxity, pride, indifference, permissiveness and skepticism were growing. Their sins were the reason that God was once again stripping away their physical prosperity and position of influence in the region.  Malachi pleaded with his countrymen to humble themselves in prayer (Malachi 1:9).

Malachi 3:1 states, “Behold, I send My messenger, and he will prepare the way before Me. And the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to His temple, even the Messenger of the covenant.”  This passage predicts the coming of John the Baptist, “My messenger” and Jesus Christ, “the Messenger of the covenant”.

In the Daily Office of prayers we read the prayer of Zechariah to his son, John the Baptist, “You, My child shall be called The prophet of the Most High, For you will go before the Lord to prepare His way, To give his people knowledge of salvation By the forgiveness of their sins.”

When John began his ministry dressed with Elijah-styled camel’s hair and leather girdle, this signaled to the Jews that he was playing the part of the returned Elijah. John and Elijah had much more in common than clothing.   Both John and Elijah were great prophets. Both challenged evil kings to change their wicked ways, and both were persecuted for doing so.

Both John and Elijah prepared the way for prophets with even greater ministries than their own. Before Elijah was taken up to heaven, he gave his successor, Elisha, a double portion of his spirit (2 Kings 2:9, 15).  Elisha then went on to do even greater things than his predecessor Elijah had done. For example, Elisha miraculously raised a child from the dead (2 Kings 4:32–37), and multiplied barley loaves to feed a crowd (2 Kings 4:42–44).

As Jesus approached, John pointed out to his disciples, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! When John baptized Jesus, the Spirit descended upon Jesus like a dove, and this event served as the foundation for his public ministry.  Jesus then went on to do even greater works than John the Baptist. Like Elisha, Jesus also raised a child from the dead (Mt. 9:23–25), and multiplied barley loaves to feed the multitudes (Jn. 6:9–14).

At the Jordan River, Elijah transferred his prophetic mission to his successor, Elisha. (2 Kings 2:6–14). It was also there that the new Elijah—John the Baptist—passed the baton to Jesus, who then began his public ministry as the new Elisha. (Luke 3:11)

Jesus is that faithful “son of Abraham” (Mt. 1:1), that faithful Israelite, through whom a broken human family would find healing and reunion with its heavenly Father. Through Jesus, God’s blessing went out from Israel to embrace the whole world. Through Israel’s royal representative—Jesus—God’s people finally became what they were always meant to be: light to the world.

Lent is the favorable season for renewing our encounter with Christ, living in His word, in His sacraments, and in our neighbor. May the Holy Spirit lead us on a true journey of conversion, so that we can rediscover the gift of God’s word, be purified of  sin that blinds us, and serve Christ present in our brothers and sisters in need.

REFLECTION

Do I fortify myself like Jesus with prayer and fasting…fasting means much more than not eating food…do I fast from making judgments…do I fast from anger, from unkind thoughts and words…. do I deny myself and choose God’s holy will over mine… do I seek power and glory for myself…or give all glory to God…All we are and all we have is a gift from God….how do we show our gratitude…are we passing God’s gifts to others….

 PRAYER

Lord God, Almighty have mercy on me, a sinner.

Teach me to be humble,

and receive your gifts with gratitude

and share with others.

I know your gifts are not meant for me alone

and no one gets to heaven by themselves.

Let me be an instrument of yours

by proclaiming the Gospel, when it is easy and when it is hard.

In Jesus’ name, I pray!

 

 

FEAST OF OUR LADY OF LOURDES

CATHOLIC FEAST DAYS, MARY MOTHER OF GOD

I AM THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION

O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee.

PROLOGUE

Today, February 11, we celebrate another Marian Feast Day, Our Lady of Lourdes. In 1858, Mary appeared to Bernadette Soubirous. 14 years old, in Lourdes, France.  Bernadette was doing her family chore of collecting fire wood near a cave.

Near the opening of the grotto, Bernadette glanced and noticed the cave was suddenly filled with golden light. Lifting up her eyes, she saw a lady of great beauty, dressed in a pure white robe with a blue sash, a veil over her head, a rosary clasped in her hands and yellow roses at her feet.  Bernadette rubbed her eyes.   What a beautiful lady!  But where did she come from?  And what was she doing here?  The Lady looked at Bernadette and immediately smiled and signaled her to advance, in a way that a mother motions her child to come near.

Bernadette took out her rosary and knelt before the Lady, who also had a rosary on her right arm. As Bernadette prayed the rosary, the Lady passed the beads of her rosary between her fingers.  When the recitation of the rosary was finished, the Lady returned to the interior of the rock and the golden cloud disappeared with her.

BERNADETTE SOUBIROUS

Our Blessed Mother appeared eighteen times to Bernadette Soubirous in 1858. Her messages to Bernadette are ageless and apply to all of us today…. A call to conversion, praying for sinners, acts of reparations for our sins and the sins of others.  Penance, Penance, Penance, pray, pray, pray for sinners

The third time Bernadette went to the grotto, the lady spoke to her.  The beautiful lady asked Bernadette to come here every day for fifteen days.  The Lady instructed Bernadette to scrape the mud of the Grotto until a stream appeared.  She said that she wanted Bernadette to tell the priests to build a chapel here.

Bernadette’s parish priest asked her to ask the Lady’s name. On March 25, 1858, the day of the sixteenth Apparition, Bernadette went to the Grotto, and asked the Lady for her name.  Three times Bernadette asked the question. On the fourth request, the Lady responds, “I Am the Immaculate Conception.”

Pretty amazing that only four years after Pius IX (1854) declared the Immaculate Conception of Mary a dogma of the Church, Mary herself confirmed the dogma to Bernadette at Lourdes. The Immaculate Conception means that Mary, whose conception was brought about the normal way, was conceived without original sin.

From the first instant of her existence Mary was in the state of sanctifying grace and free from the corrupt nature original sin brings.  Mary was redeemed by the grace of Christ, but in a special way—by anticipation.  Mary received grace merited by her Son’s death and resurrection applied to her before she was able to become mired in original sin and its stain.

Mary is our model of faith and commitment.  The Blessed Virgin Mary is also our greatest intercessor with God.  At Cana, the Queen Mother asked her Son, Jesus, the King of Kings, to perform His first public miracle.  Who can say no to their Mother?  Go to Mary, ask her to intercede with her Son, but be patient, God is in a different time zone (eternity)

EPILOGUE

Bernadette, at the age of 22, entered the convent of the Sisters of Notre Dame in Nevers, France, serving our Lord with dignity, grace, and love, praying for the conversion of sinners and to the service of God.  She passed away from tuberculosis on April 16, 1879 at 34 years of age and was canonized as a saint in 1933.

Bernadette was buried on the convent grounds.  Her body was exhumed thirty years later on September 22, 1909, in the presence of two doctors, several appointed officials, and nuns from the local convent. When Bernadette’s coffin was opened, there was no odor, and her body was completely untouched by the laws of nature.

To this day her body remains incorruptible (that is to say, it shows no signs of decomposition or decay), another sign of the miracles associated with her.  The sacred relic (Bernadette’s body) was placed in a coffin of gold and glass and can be viewed to this very day in the Chapel of Saint Bernadette at the motherhouse in Nevers, France.

Lourdes has become a place of pilgrimage and healing, but even more of faith. Church authorities have recognized over 60 miraculous cures, although there have probably been many more. To people of faith this is  a continuation of Jesus’ healing miracles—now performed at the intercession of his mother. Lourdes water is brought home by pilgrims and shared with thousands in need. Would you believe this spring still provides 27,000 gallons of water every day!

Many of the sick and afflicted who go to Lourdes and are not healed but leave there stronger spiritually. They know that their various ailments still have a redemptive character, much like our Lord’s did at Calvary in His Passion and, as long as they do not lose faith in Him, their sufferings will not be in vain!

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.