GAUDETE ET EXSULTATE CHAPTER 5 SPIRITUAL COMBAT, VIGILANCE AND DISCERNMENT

CATHOLIC CHURCH TEACHING, GAUDETE ET EXSULTATE

INTRODUCTION
Today’s blog brings us to the conclusion of my summary/commentary on Pope Francis’ Apostolic Exhortation, Gaudete Et Exsultate. There are five chapters and five posts in month of April which can be reviewed on left hand side of blog in archives. In this final chapter Pope Francis warns that Satan is a strong adversary to our path to holiness and we should make sure we are prepared to defend ourselves. Direct quotes of Pope Francis are italicized and in quotation marks.
CHAPTER FIVE
SPIRITUAL COMBAT, VIGILANCE AND DISCERNMENT
The Christian life is a constant battle. We need strength and courage to withstand the temptations of the devil and to proclaim the Gospel. This battle is sweet, for it allows us to rejoice each time the Lord triumphs in our lives.
COMBAT AND VIGILANCE
This battle cannot be reduced to the struggle against our human weaknesses and proclivities, be they laziness, lust, envy, jealousy or any others. It is also a constant struggle against the devil, the prince of evil. Jesus himself celebrates our victories over Satan. “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven” (Lk 10:18).

The devil is more than a myth. He is present in the very first pages of the Scriptures, which end with God’s victory over the devil. Indeed, in leaving us the Our Father, Jesus wanted us to conclude by asking the Father to “deliver us from evil”. That final word does not refer to evil in the abstract; a more exact translation would be “the evil one”. It indicates a personal being who assails us. Jesus taught us to ask daily for deliverance from him, lest his power prevail over us.

It would be a mistake to view the devil as some kind of symbol or figure of speech. That mistake would allow us to let down our guard against a very tough adversary, smarter than us. The devil does not need to possess us. He poisons us with the venom of hatred, desolation, envy and vice. When we let down our guard, he takes advantage of it to destroy our lives, our families and our communities. “Like a roaring lion, he prowls around, looking for someone to devour” (1 Pet 5:8).

Along this journey, the cultivation of all that is good, progress in the spiritual life and growth in love are the best counterbalance to evil. Those who choose to remain neutral, who are satisfied with little, who renounce the ideal of giving themselves generously to the Lord, will never hold out. If we become careless, the false promises of evil will easily seduce us.

The path of holiness is a source of peace and joy, given to us by the Spirit. At the same time, it demands that we keep “our lamps lit” (Lk 12:35) and be attentive. “Abstain from every form of evil” (1 Thess 5:22). “Keep awake” (Mt 24:42; Mk 13:35). “Let us not fall asleep” (1 Thess 5:6).

Beware of Spiritual corruption where we become so complacent and not acknowledging any sin on our behalf that our conscience is frayed and distorted. Spiritual corruption can be worse than the fall of a sinner. Everything then appears acceptable: deception, slander, egotism and other subtle forms of self-centredness, for “even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light” (2 Cor 11:14).

DISCERNMENT

How can we know if something comes from the Holy Spirit or if it stems from the spirit of the world or the spirit of the devil? The only way is through discernment, which calls for something more than intelligence or common sense. It is a gift which we must implore. If we ask with confidence that the Holy Spirit grant us this gift, and then seek to develop it through prayer, reflection, reading and good counsel, then surely we will grow in this spiritual endowment.

The gift of discernment has become all the more necessary today, since contemporary life offers immense possibilities for action and distraction, and the world presents all of them as valid and good. This is all the more important when some novelty presents itself in our lives. Then we have to decide whether it is new wine brought by God or an illusion created by the spirit of this world or the spirit of the devil.

We must examine ourselves closely….what is within us…our desires, anxieties, fears….what takes place around us….the signs of the times. Test everything, hold fast to what is good. (I Thess 5:21) Always in the light of the Lord!

Discernment is necessary not only at extraordinary times, when we need to resolve grave problems and make crucial decisions…We need it at all times, to help us recognize God’s timetable, lest we fail to heed the promptings of his grace. For this reason, I ask all Christians not to omit, in dialogue with the Lord, a sincere daily “examination of conscience”.

Discernment leads us to knowledge of the purpose of our life. Nobody knows that purpose better than God who knows me and loves me. The Lord speaks to us in a variety of ways, at work, through others and at every moment. Speak Lord, your servant listens!

We must remember that prayerful discernment must be born of a readiness to listen: to the Lord and to others, and to reality itself, which always challenges us in new ways. Only if we are prepared to listen, do we have the freedom to set aside our own partial or insufficient ideas, our usual habits and ways of seeing things.

In this way, we become truly open to accepting a call that can shatter our security, but lead us to a better life. It is not enough that everything be calm and peaceful. God may be offering us something more, but in our comfortable inadvertence, we do not recognize it.

We are blessed in our discernment with guides like Holy Scriptures, the Church, Jesus founded that protects and preserves Jesus’ teachings. The Holy Spirit is not to be forgotten either. The Spirit alone can penetrate what is obscure and hidden in every situation and grasp every nuance so the newness of the Gospel is always relevant to us even today.

Discernment is not about discovering what more we can get out of this life, but about recognizing how we can better accomplish the mission entrusted to us at our baptism according to God’s time-table. This entails a readiness to make sacrifices, even to sacrificing everything. 

When, in God’s presence, we examine our life’s journey, no areas can be off limits. In all aspects of life we can continue to grow and offer something greater to God, even in those areas we find most difficult. We need to ask the Holy Spirit to liberate us and to expel the fear that makes us ban him from certain parts of our lives.

God asks everything of us, yet he also gives everything to us. He does not want to enter our lives to diminish them, but to bring them to fulfillment. Discernment leaves ourselves behind as we rush into the loving arms of God in order to approach the mystery of God and his benevolence to us and our neighbor. Our mission is not for ourselves alone but also for all those, a loving God has placed in our path.

I would like these reflections to be crowned by Mary because She is that woman who treasured everything in her heart, and who let herself be pierced by the sword. Mary is the saint among the saints. She lived the Beatitudes of Jesus as none other. She teaches us the way of holiness and she walks ever at our side…Mary our Mother does not need a flood of words. She does not need us to tell her what is happening in our lives. All we need do is whisper, time and time again: “Hail Mary…”

It is my hope that these pages will prove helpful by enabling the whole Church to devote herself anew to promoting the desire for holiness. Let us ask the Holy Spirit to pour out upon us a fervent longing to be saints for God’s greater glory, and let us encourage one another in this effort. In this way, we will share a happiness that the world will not be able to take from us.

(Given in Rome, at Saint Peter’s, on 19 March, the Solemnity of Saint Joseph, in the year 2018, the sixth of my Pontificate.)

 

Francis

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JESUS IN SCRIPTURE MY PEACE I GIVE TO YOU

SCRIPTURE

JOHN 14:1-6 IN MY FATHER’S HOUSE THERE ARE MANY DWELLING PLACES

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You have faith in God; have faith also in me. In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places.

If there were not, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you?

And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back again and take you to myself, so that where I am you also may be. Where (I) am going you know the way.”

Thomas said to him, “Master, we do not know where you are going; how can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

MEDITATION
As we approach Holy Week, the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ our Redeemer and Lord, let us spend a little time in pondering the promises of Jesus. Jesus tells us we know the way to the Father’s house because they know Jesus…who sees Jesus sees the Father…do we believe Jesus…Jesus says, I am the way, the truth, and the life…no one comes to the Father except through me…Jesus is necessary for my salvation…only through Jesus…Jesus is my model…can I conform to His mindset…first and foremost submitting to the will of the Father… Jesus has already prepared a place for me…am I ready to take my place…what more must I do to prepare my wedding garment… to sit at the banquet with all the angels and saints…I need not worry what my place will look like because Jesus knows the perfect fit….prepared from the foundation of the world…will I be prepared when Jesus comes for me…

SILENT PRAYER

 

JOHN 14:18-27 PEACE, I LEAVE WITH YOU; MY PEACE I GIVE TO YOU


I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you. In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me, because I live and you will live. On that day you will realize that I am in my Father and you are in me and I in you.

Whoever observes my commandments is the one who loves me. And whoever loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and reveal myself to him…” “Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him…

The Advocate, the holy Spirit that the Father will send in my name–he will teach you everything and remind you of all that (I) told you. Peace, I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid.

MEDITATION
Jesus promises not to leave us orphans…Jesus will never abandon us…there is nowhere to hide from the Good Shepherd….thanks be to God…Jesus says to his disciples us included…Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid… I will not leave you an orphan… I am with you…Whoever keeps my word, My Father will love him, and we will come and dwell with him…God dwells in us…God’s love is written on our hearts…not only the Father and the Son but Jesus has sent the Holy Spirit to continue to inspire us to good works in imitation of Him and the Father…the Father and I are one…

I will send you the Holy Spirit…The Spirit will teach you…inspire you…remind you of my word…and call to mind your sins that you may be reconciled and live…My peace, I leave with you….not as the world gives…but the peace I give you will make you whole…make us one … Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid…the peace Jesus gives makes me whole…(holy)

SILENT PRAYER

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JESUS IN SCRIPTURE I AM THE RESURRECTION AND THE LIFE

SCRIPTURE

JOHN 6:5-15 MULTIPLICATION OF THE LOAVES AND FISHES (LECTIO)

When Jesus raised his eyes and saw that a large crowd was coming to him, he said to Philip, “Where can we buy enough food for them to eat?” He said this to test him, because he himself knew what he was going to do.

Philip answered him, “Two hundred days’ wages worth of food would not be enough for each of them to have a little (bit).” One of his disciples, Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, said to him, “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish; but what good are these for so many?” Jesus said, “Have the people recline.”

Now there was a great deal of grass in that place. So the men reclined, about five thousand in number. Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed them to those who were reclining, and also as much of the fish as they wanted. When they had had their fill, he said to his disciples, “Gather the fragments left over, so that nothing will be wasted.” So they collected them, and filled twelve wicker baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves that had been more than they could eat.
REFLECTION: (MEDITATIO)
Jesus saw the needs of the people without being told…Jesus knows our needs before we bring them to Him in prayer…prayer is not to change Jesus’ mind but to remind us of who is in charge…trust in Jesus…

his disciples try to help by telling Jesus of the few loaves and fishes….We are instruments in God’s hand…make ourselves available for when He calls..eyes and ears open each day for opportunities to serve…

Jesus has the people recline…Jesus is very aware of other people needs as well as their need for nourishment physically and spiritually….Jesus took the loaves and gave thanks…Jesus is always thankful to the Father…do we give thanks to the Father for everyday blessings..Jesus trusts the Father…

those in the crowd had their fill…Our God is a God of abundance, never stingy…there was much left over,… “Gather the fragments left over, so that nothing will be wasted…Jesus shows us how to be good stewards of the gifts of God….what kind of stewards are we…give thanks to God for He is good…His mercy endures forever

SILENT PRAYER (ORATIO)
JOHN 11:11-27,39-54 I AM THE RESURRECTION AND LIFE (LECTIO)


Jesus said to his disciples,”Our friend Lazarus is asleep, but I am going to awaken him.” The disciples didn’t understand so then Jesus said,”Lazarus has died. And I am glad for you that I was not there, that you may believe. Let us go to him.”…

Martha ran to meet Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. (But) even now I know that whatever you ask of God, God will give you.” Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise.” Martha said to him, “I know he will rise, in the resurrection on the last day.”
Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” She said to him, “Yes, Lord. I have come to believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one who is coming into the world.”

Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha said to him, “Lord, by now there will be a stench; he has been dead for four days.” Jesus said to her, “Did I not tell you that if you believe you will see the glory of God?” Jesus raised his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you for hearing me. I know that you always hear me; but because of the crowd here I have said this, that they may believe that you sent me.”

Jesus cried out in a loud voice,”Lazarus, come out!” The dead man came out, tied with burial bands, So Jesus said to them, “Untie him and let him go.” Now many of the Jews who had come to Mary and Martha and seen what he had done began to believe in him.

REFLECTION: (MEDITATIO)
Jesus’ friend Lazarus has died….death is no obstacle to Jesus…Jesus is glad he was not there so that he can perform this miracle before witnesses that they might believe in him and him who sent him…miracles help reveal Jesus’ divinity but some miracles are not that dramatic…look for them in your own life…sin and death are vanquished by Jesus, Our Lord and Savior…Alleluia!

Martha believes if Jesus had been there her brother would not have died because God grants whatever Jesus requests…Martha believes in Jesus’ influence with the Father…He pleads at the right hand for us always…do we trust Jesus….Jesus tells Martha, I am the resurrection and life, whoever believes me will never die…Do we believe this as well…Martha professes her faith in Jesus…You are the Messiah, the Son of God…who do you believe Jesus to be…Jesus calls Lazarus out of the tomb…Lazarus comes out…and many began this day to believe in him…

SILENT PRAYER (ORATIO)

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FRUITS OF CONTRACEPTION CATHOLIC CHURCH TEACHING

1 Comment / CATHOLIC CHURCH TEACHING, CATHOLIC COMMENTARY

 


“You will know them by their fruits. Matthew 7:16

COMMENTARY
July 25, 2018 is 5Y0th anniversary of Blessed Paul VI encyclical Humanae Vitae. Recently one of our prominent Catholic Colleges, Notre Dame, made a decision to include contraceptives in their health insurance packages to be more in keeping with diversity. It used to be tolerance but now the latest word is DIVERSITY to bash those that hold on to God made laws over man-made laws.

Two generations have passed since the publication of the boldly pastoral and prophetic encyclical Humanae Vitae, which upheld the ancient ban on the use of artificial contraception. Perhaps no teaching of the Church causes more scoffing (even from Catholics) than our teaching against artificial contraception

Bishop Kevin Rhoades of Fort Wayne-South Bend, Indiana, the diocese where Notre Dame resides, condemned Notre Dame’s decision by citing Catechism of the Catholic Church (#2370),  “every action which intends to render procreation impossible” is intrinsically evil”

Nowhere in Scripture will you find a teaching of Jesus that says sexual activity is recreational outside the marriage covenant. Did Jesus ever recommend to a prostitute she continue in her occupation? NO! Did Jesus ever encourage marriage and divorce? No! Did Jesus ever find children bothersome or inconvenient? No!

In fact, in Matthew 19, Jesus welcomes children. After His discourse on marriage and divorce, Jesus told his disciples not everyone may accept his teaching on marriage, “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.” Then children were brought to him that he might lay his hands on them and pray. Matthew 19:12

HUMANAE VITAE BLESSED POPE PAUL VI
“Each and every marriage act must remain open to the transmission of life (No. 11). The Holy Father continued, “This particular doctrine, expounded on numerous occasions by the Magisterium, is based on the inseparable connection, established by God, which man on his own initiative may not break, between the unitive significance and the procreative significance which are both inherent to the marriage pact” (“Humanae Vitae,” No. 12). We acknowledge God’s design by “respecting the laws of conception…,”Therefore, artificial birth control, sterilization, and abortion “are to be absolutely excluded as lawful means of regulating the number of children.” NOTE: Pope Francis has announced Pope Paul VI will be canonized a saint this year.
PROMISES BIRTH CONTROL  ADVOCATES MADE:
Happier marriages and a lower divorce rates, because couples will be able to have all the sex they wanted without the “fear” of pregnancy. Lower abortion rates because there will be far fewer “unwanted” children.
Greater dignity for women because they will no longer be “bound” by their reproductive system. .Reduction in sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and AIDS.

PREDICTIONS OF POPE PAUL VI (HUMANAE VITAE)
AN INCREASE IN MARITAL INFIDELITY AND A GENERAL LOWERING OF MORALITY
The Pope first noted that the widespread use of contraception would “lead to conjugal infidelity and the general lowering of morality.”
OBJECTIFICATION OF WOMEN
a man who grows accustomed to the use of contraceptive methods may forget the reverence due to a woman, and, reduce her to being a mere instrument for the satisfaction of his own desires, no longer considering her as his partner whom he should surround with care and affection. (HV # 17)
GOVERNMENTS WOULD  IMPOSE CONTRACEPTION ON THEIR POPULATIONS
Who will prevent public authorities from imposing their use on everyone. (HV # 17)
PEOPLE WOULD BEGIN THINKING THEY HAVE TOTAL DOMINION OVER THEIR BODIES
Contraception would lead man to think that he had unlimited dominion over his own body; test tube babies and the like…Individuals convinced they can alter their own physical make-up and gender.
COMMENTARY  “FRUITS” OF CONTRACEPTION
Since the birth control was introduced, legalized divorce has sky rocketed, almost half of marriages now end in divorce. Abortion rates did not decline; they skyrocketed as well. It has been well argued that far from decreasing the abortion rate, contraception actually increased it. Because contraception routinely fails, especially in the hands of the youth, abortion has become the contraception of last resort.

Goverments, like China, have imposed contraception on their citizens. In Obama care there was a mandate that insisted that every insurance plan cover contraception. Our country as well as others insist contraception be part of any aid to poorer third world countries.. “Pale” countries are insisting people of color limit their population. Talk about genocide!

Objectification of women has run rampant as seen in charges against well known celebrities like Harvey Weinstein, Matt Lauer, and Bill O’Reilly. A woman’s dignity as wives, mothers, and daughters is ignored and spoiled by men who take what they want for their own sexual perversity. Pornography is rampant on the internet available even to children, objectifying women in the most disgusting manner..

Sexual immorality has become widespread; huge increases in promiscuity, cohabitation, pornography, child abuse, human trafficking and the like. Youthful pregnancy often leads to single motherhood (absent fathers). Single motherhood often leads to welfare dependence and poverty.

As for preventing/reducing STDs and AIDS: again, big failure. STDs were not prevented, nor did they decrease. Infection rates skyrocketed through the 1970s and 1980s. AIDS, which appeared on the scene in the 1980s continues to show terribly high rates. It seems that contraceptives do not prevent anything. Rather, they encourage the spread of these diseases by encouraging the bad behavior that causes them.

Have women really benefited under this new morality, which contraception helped to usher in? I think NOT! We have learned artificial contraception is a huge failure in meeting its promises; Marriage, families, and children have all taken a huge hit. Bad behavior has been encouraged and all the bad consequences that flow from it are flourishing.

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THE STATE OF SOCIAL JUSTICE IN THE ERA OF TRUMP

1 Comment / CATHOLIC CHURCH TEACHING, SOCIAL JUSTICE

Last night, President Trump gave his State of the Union address. I thought it only appropriate to follow up with a blog on the State of Catholic Social Justice issues that the Church of Jesus teaches and people of God care about and bear witness to. 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.

“If a brother or sister is in need of food or shelter and you say to them I wish you well, good luck, keep yourself warm and eat plenty without giving them the necessities of life, how is your faith going to save you or your hungry neighbor. Faith without works is dead” James 2:14-17

THE RIGHT TO LIFE IS THE FUNDAMENTAL SOCIAL JUSTICE ISSUE

The fundamental human right is right to life—from the moment of conception until death. It is the source of all other rights…Those who defend the right to life of the weakest among us must be equally visible in support of the quality of life of the powerless among us: the old and the young, the hungry and the homeless, the undocumented immigrant and the unemployed worker…When human life is considered easily expendable or dismissed in one area, eventually no human life is held sacred and all lives are in jeopardy.

I grant you that President Trump has done more than most politicians who claim to be pro life. I know, like me, you have been disappointed in supporting a candidate in the past who says he/she is pro life and has done nothing to further the cause and in fact cooperates in the culture of death with their support of Planned Parenthood the greatest supporter of abortion on demand.

President Trump has supported the cause of those who are anti abortion in so far as he has appointed a conservative Supreme Court Judge, supports overturning Roe V Wade, supports the defunding of Planned parenthood, and supports limits to late term abortions.

I had my concerns about President Trump who claimed to be Pro Life in his campaign because of past statements of President Trump. In October 1999 he told Tim Russert, Meet the Press, I’m very pro-choice. I hate the concept of abortion… I am strongly for choice and, yet, I hate the concept of abortion. Then in 2011 when considering a run for President, Trump told the Des Moines Register, “abortion should only be legal in the very rare cases when a woman is pregnant by rape or incest or when the life of the mother is jeopardized by the pregnancy.”

For Mr. Trump, it was a late term “conversion;” but of course conversion is welcome any time. Still, President Trump continues to demean and dismiss people who are not like him. He seems to think he decides on which human life is worthy or not.

Trump spent his whole life prior to presidency creating a culture that encourages irresponsible and recreational sex which supports the culture of abortion He has profited off the exploitation of women and brags about his own sexual assault in the Access Hollywood tape. Trump is accused by at least 19 women of sexual assault.

The reason I bring this to your attention is to caution the Pro Life movement not to wrap their arms too closely around President Trump. President Trump should be given credit where credit is due but do not elevate him to Pro Life spokesperson or Pro Life advocate in chief…..a bridge too far
The late Cardinal Bernardin of Chicago said Pro Life was a “seamless garment” and includes more than abortion and should also cover the already born.
HOW IS PRESIDENT TRUMP DOING IN REGARDS SOCIAL JUSTIC FOR THE ALREADY BORN

A few of the Social Justice issues prioritized by the US Conference of Catholic Bishops are: Immigration Refugees; Civil Rights; Racism; ; Affordable Health Care; Affordable Housing; Living Wage for Work, Criminal Reform; Death Penalty; Stewardship of Creation; Promotion of Peace….

You can look up President Trump positions but many are already well known. I will comment on a few. Trump favors deportation, separating families, and limiting immigration; Trump makes racist statements and was sued in the 70’s for racial discrimination in Trump housing, renting to whites not blacks; Trump led the fight to repeal Affordable Health Care Act and has replaced it with nothing; Trump supports states setting minimum wage without any Federal Minimum wage change as bottom line.

In Central Park 5 when 5 black teenagers were exhonerated by DNA evidence Trump called for restoration of Death Penalty in New York and to execute the Central Park 5; (Stewardship)Trump has withdrawn from Paris accords on global warming and opened Federal Lands to more mineral exploration and exploitation. Trump has repealed regulations that protect our health and safety Trump supports “clean coal”, an oxymoron.  Promotion of Peace Trump renewed the continued use of Guantanomo, a symbol of torture and indefinite detentions throughout the world; Trump likes to rattle sabres, has threatened preemptive strikes on our adversaries and even nuclear annihilation of total country. Trump in violation of Nuclear Treaty signed by President Reagan and Russia wants to up our nuclear missile capability. (some peacemaker)

Social Justice always has the common good at its core as found in Scriptures and in the teachings of the Catholic Church. Common Good is understood as the sum total of social conditions which allow people as groups or individuals to reach their ultimate fulfillment more fully and more easily.

What is a human being? What is his role in the world? Where is he headed? How does he get there? If a human being is not yet perfected, what will perfect him? How does he become whole without division or estrangement?

The fundamental principles of Catholic Social Teaching focus on the dignity and sacredness of each human life, the promotion of the common good and the proper use and distribution of the goods of this world. (CCC 1928-1942, 2419-2449)

Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC #1907) states that the Common Good requires the social well being and development of everyone, including food, clothing, shelter, health care, work, education etc. It requires peace and justice for security of a just order.

CCC #1936 On coming into this world, a person is not equipped with everything he/she needs for developing their bodily and spiritual life. They need others. Talents and gifts are not distributed equally.

CCC #1937 These differences belong to God’s divine plan which 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.

As a practicing Catholic, we must not be assimilated into a society that promotes the “culture of death” and worship pagan idols of sex, wealth, and power. But rather be “leaven” for the world.

We must minister to others especially those in need. Our blessings are not just for ourselves but to share with the Body of Christ. There is one Body but many members. All our talents and treasure must be compassionately shared with our neighbors just as Jesus did moving from village to village to teach and heal. We must pick up where Jesus left off in building the kingdom of God.

“WHATEVER YOU DO TO THE LEAST OF MY BRETHREN,
YOU DO TO ME”
JESUS
Matthew 25:31 Last Judgment Discourse

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JESUS IN SCRIPTURE PUBLIC LIFE MIRACLE WORKER

SCRIPTURE

 

JOHN 2:1-11 THE WEDDING AT CANA
There was a wedding in Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus and his disciples were also invited to the wedding. When the wine ran short, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” Jesus said to her, “Woman, how does your concern affect me? My hour has not yet come.” His mother said to the servers, “Do whatever he tells you.” Now there were six stone water jars there for Jewish ceremonial washings, each holding twenty to thirty gallons.

Jesus told them, “Fill the jars with water.” So they filled them to the brim. Then he told them, “Draw some out now and take it to the headwaiter.” So they took it. And when the headwaiter tasted the water that had become wine, without knowing where it came from (although the servers who had drawn the water knew).
The headwaiter called the bridegroom and said to him, “Everyone serves good wine first, and then when people have drunk freely, an inferior one; but you have kept the good wine until now.” Jesus did this as the beginning of his signs in Cana in Galilee and so revealed his glory, and his disciples began to believe in him.

REFLECTION:
Mary, Jesus, and his disciples were invited to this wedding banquet. Must have been a pretty big affair to run out of wine…wedding celebrations lasted days back then and preparations were made…Could it be that it was not an accident but Divine Providence…Jesus addresses his mother as Women. Is He insulting her of course not! Could it be the title Women represented all mankind in need….Seek and you will find…Mary had no doubt her request would be answered; she told the servants, “Do whatever He tells you.”.Mary did not know what her Son would do, but she trusted Him. Do we trust Jesus to answer our prayers…

“My hour has not yet come“…God’s time is not our time…Jesus had not yet begun his public ministry…but then who can turn down a mother’s request….Jesus discerned this as a sign from his Father that it was time to let the rest of us in on the Good News..Jesus performed this first of His signs and revealed His glory… and so the disciples began to believe in Him…the kingdom of heaven is at hand…what are our expectations,,..what are the signs of Jesus’ intervention in my life…look closely… give thanks…

 

SILENT PRAYER


MARK 4:35-41 JESUS REBUKES THE SEA

On that day, as evening drew on, he said to them, “Let us cross to the other side of the lake.”

Leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat just as he was. And other boats were with him. A violent squall came up and waves were breaking over the boat, so that it was already filling up. Jesus was in the stern, asleep on a cushion.

They woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” He woke up, rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Quiet! Be still!”

The wind ceased and there was great calm. Then he asked them, “Why are you terrified? Do you not yet have faith?”

They were filled with great awe and said to one another, “Who then is this whom even wind and sea obey?”

REFLECTION:

Jesus was crossing the Sea of Galilee with his disciple…He was exhausted from all the teaching He had done to the multitudes, worn out emotionally too with the needs of the people and demands placed on him for healing…. Jesus fell asleep in the back of the creaky old fisherman boat. Afierce storm came up that terrified his disciples. Jesus must have really been tired since it didn’t awaken him or else He wasn’t worried by nature’s unpredictability.

So often storms come into our lives…We feel all alone…frightened…how long do I thrash about in the storm by myself…am I able to make the storm go away by myself…do I invite Jesus into the eye of the storm…He is my refuge, my only refuge…his disciples (fishermen) were afraid in the boat and woke Jesus..Jesus saw and heard their fear…He rebuked the wind and told the sea to Be still…the wind ceased and the sea became calm…Why child are you so terrified…I am with you…Be still and know that I am God….can we respond Yes, Lord, I trust you!

SILENT PRAYER

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