Dreaming a New Future:

God dreamt of a new future for humanity and paid the price for it by taking on himself the debt we owed. We can create a new future by dreaming of the Kingdom, by imagining new ways to overcome hatred and violence with the tenderness of love.

“Joys of Faith”:

In today’s Gospel, the bridesmaids were genuinely looking forward to meet their bridegroom. They waited with great joy for his arrival. Are we genuinely interested and “joyful” in wanting to meet the Lord of our lives who is waiting for us in heaven? How are we preparing ourselves to meet Him?

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Whatever a man prefers to God, that he makes a god to himself.

- Saint Cyprian of Carthage (190-258)

Giving the Gift of the Son:

God’s posture toward us is always a giving posture; it never changes. We may accept or refuse what he offers, but that doesn’t change God’s desire to bestow on us his Son.

Vigilance – Faith:

In today’s Gospel, Jesus urged His disciples to be vigilant in their faith. This is not easy. It requires a lot of discipline, sacrifice, focus and most of all the deep desire to deepen my relationship with the Lord. Vigilance is putting God at the centre and in all our decisions.

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Take good care for the aged, for in them you are caring for Christ Himself.

- Blessed Jeanne Jugan (1792-1879)

Renewed Faith:

Lord, you don’t ask me to do my “best”—just what is my own good, what I can do with my talents and my limitations. You know my heart and my intentions. Let me do my good and be satisfied, as you are. Amen.

Ongoing Conversion:

While I draw breath, Lord, I pray that I will ever be open to change. Awaken me to what I need to release within myself to become who you would have me be. You are the potter. Keep me as supple clay so that I may continually be formed into the image you have for me. Sculpt from my being what is not of you. Mold me, change me, make me yours. Amen.


“Hypocrisy- Faith”:

In tuesday's Gospel, Jesus reprimanded the hypocrites who deceived people into believing that they were good, when in fact they were not. Hypocrisy is bragging about doing small deeds and avoiding the essential and serious deeds that should be done for the greater good of others.

Decisions – Impulsive:

In today’s Gospel, King Herod made an impulsive decision which he deeply regretted later. Have we made similar decisions which we also regretted much later? One good way to help us make good decisions is to ask ourselves, “Would my decision bring joy and peace to the Lord?”

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Let us understand that God is a physician, and that suffering is a medicine for salvation, not a punishment for damnation.

- Saint Augustine of Hippo (354-430)

Too late have I loved you, O Beauty of ancient days, yet ever new! Too late I loved you! And behold, you were within, and I abroad, and there I searched for you; I was deformed, plunging amid those fair forms, which you had made. You were with me, but I was not with you. Things held me far from you—things which, if they were not in you, were not at all. You called, and shouted, and burst my deafness. You flashed and shone, and scattered my blindness. You breathed odors and I drew in breath—and I pant for you. I tasted, and I hunger and thirst. You touched me, and I burned for your peace.

- Saint Augustine of Hippo (354-430), Confessions

It is necessary before all things to obtain tranquility, not because it is the mother of contentment, but because it is the daughter of the love of God and of the resignation of our own will.

- Saint Francis de Sales

Letting Go:

I cling to so much, Lord—to people and things, attitudes and ideas,habits and desires. Some are good, some not so good. I cling because they seem part of me— guideposts of myself. When I look upon your cross and see your outstretched arms, I realize you did not cling to anything except to God. I want to be like you, Lord, clinging to nothing but God.

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A living faith consists of thinking little of self and showing consideration for others.

- Saint Poemen (d. 450)

Admiring Others:

God, help me, I pray, to admire what is fine in other people and to make my admiration known. Keep me aware that human hearts are ever hungry for encouragement. I know that even people who seem so confident can be strengthened in their work. May I develop the art of searching out kindness, generosity and courage, and then, by word or letter, show my admiration. Amen.

Heaven – “Narrow Door”:

In today’s Gospel, Jesus tells us that the door to eternal life is narrow and is not easy to enter. Such truth reminds us notto be easily discouraged, but be more vigilant in the practice of our faith. Do we face our problems with courage, faith and trust in our Lord?
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The way to Heaven is strait and narrow: They who wish to arrive at that place of bliss by walking in the paths of pleasure shall be disappointed; and therefore few reach it.

- Saint Alphonsus de Liguori

21st Sunday in Ordinary Time (C)

Is 66:18-21
Ps 117:1-2
Heb 12:5-7, 11-13
Lk 13:22-30

This is Franciscan Father Greg Friedman with the "Sunday Soundbite" for the Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time.

I've been lucky enough to travel overseas, and visit in Europe, especially my family's ancestral region of Italy. I like planning for travel and reading guidebooks. Some of the advice you'll find in those travel planners encourages you to prepare well, but then to take a risk and go off the beaten path, to sample local cuisine and customs and to be flexible and open to a change in your plans if something interesting presents itself.

That's a good summary of the advice for disciples which Jesus gives in today's Gospel. You've heard these "travel hints" for the discipleship road before: Enter by the narrow gate; be prepared for the Master's coming; be open and flexible. Why? Because the Kingdom of God will include unexpected challenges. The people who will be welcomed to the table in the kingdom might surprise you, especially if you're on the outside, looking in!

As we listen to these Sunday selections from Luke's Gospel, we're encouraged to examine our own "travel plans" as Christ's disciples. How inclusive is our parish community? How have we prepared by study and prayer to speak up for Christian values? Are we making choices for the Gospel, even if they're unpopular with the prevailing cultural values of our society? The Gospel road may be off the beaten path, but following it is the road to salvation.

Scripture:

•I know their works and their thoughts, (Isaiah 66:17b)

•the fidelity of the LORD endures forever. (Psalm 117:2)

•At the time, all discipline seems a cause not for joy but for pain, yet later it brings the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who are trained by it. (Hebrews 12:11)

•…For behold, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last. (Luke 13:30)

Reflection:

•Can you hide the contents of your heart (your true intentions) from God?

•Does God measure worthiness in the same way that the world measures worth?

•Is there anything that is not forgiven by God?

•Would you act differently if you measured all your actions as seen from God’s vantage?

Grant us Prudence in proportion to our power, Wisdom in proportion to our science and Humaneness in proportion to our wealth and might. Bless our earnest will to help all races and people to travel in friendship on the road to justice, liberty and lasting peace.

Grant us above all to see that our ways are not necessarily your ways, that we cannot fully penetrate the mystery of your designs and that the very storm of power now waging on this earth reveals your hidden will and inscrutible decision. Grant us to see your face in the lightning of this cosmic storm, O God of holiness, merciful to all. Grant us to seek peace where it is truly to be found!

In your will, O God is our peace! Amen.

Prayer for a Peaceful Heart:

When difficulties confront me, Lord, give me the will to release the issues that lie beyond my control, the strength to work diligently to effect change where I am able, and the directon of your Holy Spirit to determine which path to choose. I trust a peaceful heart will follow. Amen.
Words, Action – Faith:

In today’s Gospel, Jesus teaches us to live the Gospel that we profess and proclaim. We are all sinners with our faults and weaknesses. However, we should constantly challenge ourselves to build our lives on God who is our ultimate foundation, meaning and hope.

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In order to avoid discord, never contradict anyone except in case of sin or some danger to a neighbor; and when necessary to contradict others, do it with tact and not with temper.

- Saint Louis IX (1214-1270)

Lord, Make Me Real:

Lord, make me real.Create in me the person I was born to be, free of falsehood and self-deception. Show me—gently, if you please—what is counterfeit within my being. Uproot what is not of you so that seeds of faith may be nurtured within me and I may become really, really real. Amen.

Recreation:

Praise you, Lord, for the blessing of free time today for play. I invite you to join us in our sport. May you be the unseen teammate, the referee of each point scored, the coach who directs our efforts. Let my goal be to be the best I can be as I use abilities which are gifts you endow. If I should win, thanks be to you. If I should lose, make me gracious and humble in defeat.

Complacency – Faith:

In Thursday's Gospel, Jesus explains through the parable of the “Wedding Feast,” our tendency of becoming complacent in our faith and taking God for granted. Ponder on your life and ask yourself, “Do I take the Eucharist, the Sacraments of Reconciliation and other divine gifts for granted?

Integrity – Faith:

In today’s Gospel, Jesus praised Nathanael for being a man of “no deception” and that he would see more divine Truths. If our hearts and minds are open and sincere towards God, we will be more enlightened in the way we think and live by God’s Spirit. Deception can only destroy us.

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Apart from the cross there is no other ladder by which we may get to heaven.

- Saint Rose of Lima (1586-1614)

Queenship of Mary

Pius XII established this feast in 1954. But Mary’s queenship has roots in Scripture. At the Annunciation Gabriel announced that Mary’s Son would receive the throne of David and rule forever. At the Visitation, Elizabeth calls Mary “mother of my Lord.” As in all the mysteries of Mary’s life, Mary is closely associated with Jesus: Her queenship is a share in Jesus’ kingship. We can also recall that in the Old Testament the mother of the king has great influence in court.

In the fourth century St. Ephrem called Mary “Lady” and “Queen” and Church Fathers and Doctors continued to use the title. Hymns of the eleventh to thirteenth centuries address Mary as queen: “Hail, Holy Queen,” “Hail, Queen of Heaven,” “Queen of Heaven.” The Dominican rosary and the Franciscan crown as well as numerous invocations in Mary’s litany celebrate her queenship.

The feast is a logical follow-up to the Assumption and is now celebrated on the octave day of that feast. In his encyclical To the Queen of Heaven, Pius XII points out that Mary deserves the title because she is Mother of God, because she is closely associated as the New Eve with Jesus’ redemptive work, because of her preeminent perfection and because of her intercessory power.

Comment:

As St. Paul suggests in Romans 8:28�30, God has predestined human beings from all eternity to share the image of his Son. All the more was Mary predestined to be the mother of Jesus. As Jesus was to be king of all creation, Mary, in dependence on Jesus, was to be queen. All other titles to queenship derive from this eternal intention of God. As Jesus exercised his kingship on earth by serving his Father and his fellow human beings, so did Mary exercise her queenship. As the glorified Jesus remains with us as our king till the end of time (Matthew 28:20), so does Mary, who was assumed into heaven and crowned queen of heaven and earth.

Quote:

“Let the entire body of the faithful pour forth persevering prayer to the Mother of God and Mother of men. Let them implore that she who aided the beginnings of the Church by her prayers may now, exalted as she is in heaven above all the saints and angels, intercede with her Son in the fellowship of all the saints. May she do so until all the peoples of the human family, whether they are honored with the name of Christian or whether they still do not know their Savior, are happily gathered together in peace and harmony into the one People of God, for the glory of the Most Holy and Undivided Trinity” (Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, 69).

A Simple Choice:

Make a choice to be a disciple, to be a student of Jesus Christ. This is a simple choice, a concrete choice. It is not difficult, nor does it cost you anything to pick up the Bible and start reading it. But here is the question: What do you believe you might get out of it? The Scriptures are the word of God. Does that anwer the question?



“Queenship of Mary”:

In today’s Gospel of the Annunciation, we can see why Mary is given the title of “Queen”. Mary is truly selfless and totally committed to living out the Father’s Will. Mary’s commitment entailed much sorrow and suffering, yet she remained faithful at all times. We have much to learn from Mary.

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It would not be fitting to probe God's judgment with one's [own] hands.

- Saint Anastasius of Sinai

A Simple Choice:

Make a choice to be a disciple, to be a student of Jesus Christ. This is a simple choice, a concrete choice. It is not difficult, nor does it cost you anything to pick up the Bible and start reading it. But here is the question: What do you believe you might get out of it? The Scriptures are the word of God. Does that anwer the question?

“Queenship of Mary”:

In today’s Gospel of the Annunciation, we can see why Mary is given the title of “Queen”. Mary is truly selfless and totally committed to living out the Father’s Will. Mary’s commitment entailed much sorrow and suffering, yet she remained faithful at all times. We have much to learn from Mary.

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It would not be fitting to probe God's judgment with one's [own] hands.

- Saint Anastasius of Sinai

Jesus Inside Us:

The first step along the path to the fullness of life is to make a conscious act of faith that Jesus Christ is living within us, and to invite him to take part in every thought, word, action and decision of our life.

Loving Jesus:

In today’s Gospel, Jesus asked Peter three times, “Do you love me?” It is a good habit for us to tell Jesus during the day, “Jesus I love You.” The more often we say this, the more we will become conscious of living our daily lives out of love for Him, who is our Lord and Saviour.

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My hope is in Christ, who strengthens the weakest by His Divine help. I can do all in Him who strengthens me. His Power is infinite, and if I lean on him, it will be mine. His Wisdom is infinite, and if I look to Him for counsel, I shall not be deceived. His Goodness is infinite, and if my trust is stayed in Him, I shall not be abandoned.

- Pope Saint Pius X (1835-1914)

Interacting with Jesus:

Relationship means interaction. In practice, then, this means that we decide and choose to interact with Jesus Christ in every area of our life—in family and social life, in business and politics; in short, we make Jesus Christ an active participant in everything we do.

God’s Protective Love:

In today’s Gospel, Jesus prays to His Father to keep all believers united in His Love. Jesus showers us with abundant graces and also protects us from being harmed by the evils of the Spiritual and material world. We should never live in fear, but trust God more fully.

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Love is sufficient of itself; it gives pleasure by itself and because of itself. It is its own merit, its own reward. Love looks for no cause outside itself, no effect beyond itself. Its profit lies in the practice.

- Saint Bernard of Clairvaux (1090-1153)

In dangers, in doubts, in difficulties, think of Mary, call upon Mary. Let not her name depart from your lips, never suffer it to leave your heart. And that you may more surely obtain the assistance of her prayer, neglect not to walk in her footsteps. With her for guide, you shall never go astray; while invoking her, you shall never lose heart; so long as she is in your mind, you are safe from deception; while she holds your hand, you cannot fall; under her protection you have nothing to fear; if she walks before you, you shall not grow weary; if she shows you favor, you shall reach the goal.

- Saint Bernard of Clairvaux (1090-1153)

Jesus as Friend:

To treat Jesus as a friend instead of just as God is to let him be a friend—and this is one way to grow in awareness of him as a friend.

Christian Challenges:

In today’s Gospel, Jesus asserts that His Good News will be constantly challenging us to change our lives for the better. Christianity is not about a God who merely solve all our problems and heal our illnesses. Christ was first Crucified on the Cross, before His Resurrection for our salvation.

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The air that we breathe, the bread that we eat, the heart which throbs in our bosoms, are no more necessary for man that he may live as a human being, than is prayer for the Christian that he may live as a Christian.

- Saint John Eudes (1601-1680)

Our wish, our object, our chief preoccupation must be to form Jesus in ourselves, to make his spirit, his devotion, his affections, his desires and his disposition live and reign there. All our religious exercises should be directed to this end. It is the work which God has given us to do unceasingly.

- Saint John Eudes (1601-1680), The Life and Reign of Jesus in Christian Souls

20th Sunday in Ordinary Time (C)

Jer 38:4-6, 8-10
Ps 40:2, 3, 4, 18
Heb 12:1-4
Lk 12:49-53

Have you seen those “photomosaic” pictures of Christ? Hundreds of small pictures of different people making up the face of Christ. Today’s Gospel is much like those contemporary, high-tech portraits; as we listen to Jesus describe the difficult consequences of preaching the Kingdom. He’s come, he says, to set a fire on the earth, to receive a painful baptism, to create division among family members. As the message is preached, those who cannot accept it will find themselves in opposition to Christ.

So how are these troubling words from Jesus like those multi-faceted portraits? Well, as we listen and look to Jesus in today’s Gospel, I believe we’re also seeing the many faces of the early Christians for whom Saint Luke preached and wrote the Gospel. They must have faced persecution from outside—a harsh baptism of fire—and divisions internally, as these first-century followers of Christ tried to put into practice his message.

Can we find our own faces there as well? To preach the Gospel will sometimes mean placing ourselves in opposition to prevailing opinion, and even in opposition to values held by our families and friends. We can take some consolation in knowing that other Christians have endured it before us; and, more importantly, Jesus himself.

Scripture:

•So they took Jeremiah and threw him into the cistern.…There was no water in the cistern, only mud, and Jeremiah sank into the mud. (Jeremiah 38:6)

•He drew me out of the pit of destruction, out of the mud of the swamp; he set my feet upon a crag; he made firm my steps. (Psalm 40:3)

•Let us rid ourselves of every burden and sin that clings to us and persevere in running the race that lies before us, while keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the leader and perfecter of faith. (Hebrews 12:1,2)

•Jesus said to his disciples, “I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already blazing!” (Luke 12:49)

Reflection:

•Do you feel trapped or stuck in some situation or lifestyle that you would like to be freed from?

•Do you feel trapped be expectations or demands of others that are not completely consistent with how you feel that you should live your faith in Jesus?

•Do you believe that your faith in Jesus and prayer is the first step towards changing a life circumstance?

•Are you willing to begin changing your life through prayer, sacraments and listening to God’s Word?

Adult faith is clearly and explicitly rooted in a personal relationship with Jesus Christ in the Christian community. “The Christian faith is above all, conversion to Jesus Christ, full and sincere adherence to his person and the decision to walk in his footsteps.” Our understanding of the person and the way of Jesus continues to grow by our meditation on the word of God, by prayer and sacrament, by our efforts to follow Jesus’ example, and the sure guidance of the Church’s teaching.

3 years ago today...I become soldier for 2 years 2 months.....memories.....

Christian Life:

The Christian life, the life of grace, is meant to be an ongoing experience of passionate living on every level: body, emotions, mind and will. The Christian life, passionately lived in love, is meant to give us life to the full, joy to the full.

Children – Faith:

In today’s Gospel, Jesus affirms that a child is very precious in God’s eyes yet so vulnerable in our hands. We can nurture them to be “saints” or “destroy” them through our non-Christ like upbringing. How well do we fulfil our great responsibilities as adults and parents?

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Hold your eyes on God and leave the doing to him. That is all the doing you have to worry about.

- Saint Jeanne de Chantal (1572-1641)

She was full of faith, yet all her life had been tormented by thoughts against it. While apparently enjoying the peace and easiness of mind of souls who have reached a high state of virtue, she suffered such interior trials that she often told me her mind was so filled with all sorts of temptations and abominations that she had to strive not to look within herself...But for all that suffering her face never lost its serenity, nor did she once relax in the fidelity God asked of her. And so I regard her as one of the holiest souls I have ever met on this earth.

- St. Vincent de Paul comments on Saint Jeanne de Chantal adapted from Butler’s Lives of the Saints

Shaping Our Souls:

Our commitments—the truths we choose to believe, the ideals we choose to embrace, the directions we choose to take, the goals we choose to pursue, the hopes we choose to live by—these are the enduring choices that shape our souls, make us the persons we are and determine the true meaning of our names. Jesus Christ invites us to create ourselves, to shape our souls, by the response we make to him.

“Marriage – Faith”:

In today’s Gospel, Jesus affirms the indissolubility of the Marriage bond. In affirming this, Jesus wants to preserve the sacred promises that a couple made to live with one another for life as husband and wife. Marriage is both a Sacrament and a vocation. We all need God’s graces to live its challenges to grow in holiness.

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Whatever I shall have to do or suffer in this miserable life, I intend that it be proof of love for my God, so that living, I shall live only to love, and dying, I may die in order to love still more.

- Saint Joseph Catasso

An Example for Our Lives:

If we really believe that the fullness of life we long for is found in union with Jesus, we will direct our whole lives toward acquiring that union. If we really believe Jesus is the way to the fullness of life, we will follow him; we will base everything we do on his words and example.

God’s Compassion – Our Compassion:

In today’s Gospel, Jesus urges us to be more compassionate and forgiving towards others because God has shown us infinitely more compassion. Is it difficult for us to forgive others? Be more aware of how much Mercy and Compassion God has shown you.

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Be merciful to all who are suffering violence, keeping always in your heart the example of the Lord who said, "I desire mercy and not sacrifice." Be patient with everyone, not only with the powerful, but also with the weak. Be strong lest prosperity lift you up too much or adversity cast you down. Be humble in this life, that God may raise you up in the next. Be truly moderate and do not punish or condemn anyone immoderately. Be gentle so that you may never oppose justice. Be honorable so that you may never voluntarily bring disgrace upon anyone. Be chaste so that you may avoid all the foulness of lust like the pangs of death.

- Saint Stephen of Hungary (969-1038)


Although the Church has contributed much to the development of culture, experience shows that, because of circumstances, it is sometimes difficult to harmonize culture with Christian teaching.

These difficulties do not necessarily harm the life of faith. Indeed they can stimulate the mind to a more accurate and penetrating grasp of the faith. For recent studies and findings of science, history and philosophy raise new questions which influence life and demand new theological investigations.

- Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World, 62

Assumption of Mary

On November 1, 1950, Pius XII defined the Assumption of Mary to be a dogma of faith: “We pronounce, declare and define it to be a divinely revealed dogma that the immaculate Mother of God, the ever Virgin Mary, having completed the course of her earthly life, was assumed body and soul to heavenly glory.” The pope proclaimed this dogma only after a broad consultation of bishops, theologians and laity. There were few dissenting voices. What the pope solemnly declared was already a common belief in the Catholic Church.

We find homilies on the Assumption going back to the sixth century. In following centuries the Eastern Churches held steadily to the doctrine, but some authors in the West were hesitant. However, by the thirteenth century there was universal agreement. The feast was celebrated under various names (Commemoration, Dormition, Passing, Assumption) from at least the fifth or sixth century.

Scripture does not give an account of Mary’s Assumption into heaven. Nevertheless, Revelation 12 speaks of a woman who is caught up in the battle between good and evil. Many see this woman as God’s people. Since Mary best embodies the people of both Old and New Testament, her Assumption can be seen as an exemplification of the woman’s victory.

Furthermore, in 1 Corinthians 15:20 Paul speaks of Christ’s resurrection as the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.

Since Mary is closely associated with all the mysteries of Jesus’ life, it is not surprising that the Holy Spirit has led the Church to belief in Mary’s share in his glorification. So close was she to Jesus on earth, she must be with him body and soul in heaven.

Comment:

In the light of the Assumption of Mary, it is easy to pray her Magnificat (Luke 1:46�55) with new meaning. In her glory she proclaims the greatness of the Lord and finds joy in God her savior. God has done marvels to her and she leads others to recognize God’s holiness. She is the lowly handmaid who deeply reverenced her God and has been raised to the heights. From her position of strength she will help the lowly and the poor find justice on earth and she will challenge the rich and powerful to distrust wealth and power as a source of happiness.

Quote:

“In the bodily and spiritual glory which she possesses in heaven, the Mother of Jesus continues in this present world as the image and first flowering of the Church as she is to be perfected in the world to come. Likewise, Mary shines forth on earth, until the day of the Lord shall come (cf. 2 Peter 3:10), as a sign of certain hope and comfort for the pilgrim People of God” (Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, 68).

Wonderful Thoughts:

What a wonderful thought, dear Lord! No suffering that we will endure, no pain that we must face, will even begin to compare in magnitude to the glory that you have planned for us.…Help me, dear Lord, to hold onto that thought the next time adversity comes knocking at my door.

The Feast of the Assumption of Mary:

Today’s Feast celebrates the great joy of Mary’s body and soul being taken up into heaven. Mary, the Mother of Jesus and Model of all disciples is the greatest of all the saints. Pray to her and thank her for all the graces she has and will continue to intercede for the needs of the Church, the world and for ourselves.

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The feast of the Assumption is a day of joy. God has won. Love has won. It has won life. Love has shown that it is stronger than death, that God possesses the true strength and that his strength is goodness and love.

- Pope Benedict XVI (August, 2005)


Dormition of the Mother of God:

She died as she had lived, entirely detached from the things of the world; she died in the most perfect peace; she died in the certainty of eternal glory.

- St. Alphonsus de Liguori

Angels Sent for Us:

Thank you, God, for your messengers that you send to us. Thank you for your angels that show us your mercy, power and judgement. Help me to remember that you are with me in many ways. Make it part of my mission today, dear Lord, to seek the angels that you have sent just for me.

“Purity in a Child” – Faith:

In today’s Gospel, Jesus holds up a child as being the “greatest in God’s Kingdom.” A child has the purity of heart and potential to grow in deep intimacy and love for God – i.e. to be what Jesus calls the “greatest.” Do we nurture our children’s faith and love for God?

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No one in the world can change Truth. What we can do and should do is to seek truth and to serve it when we have found it. The real conflict is the inner conflict. Beyond armies of occupation and the hecatombs of extermination camps, there are two irreconcilable enemies in the depth of every soul: good and evil, sin and love. And what use are the victories on the battlefield if we ourselves are defeated in our innermost personal selves?

- Saint Maximilian Kolbe (1894-1941)

Courage, my sons. Don’t you see that we are leaving on a mission? They pay our fare in the bargain. What a piece of good luck! The thing to do now is to pray well in order to win as many souls as possible. Let us, then, tell the Blessed Virgin that we are content, and that she can do with us anything she wishes.

- Saint Maximilian Kolbe (1894-1941), when first arrested

The Place of my Soul:

Help me today, dear Lord, to concentrate on my soul. Help me to know where it is in me—and where it is going in the future. Allow me to find my soul and lift it up to you.

“Paying Taxes”:

In today’s Gospel, Jesus paid His taxes “readily.” As Christians we are called to contribute to our country’s welfare through taxes and to help nurture the values of unity, justice and human flourishing. But, if we also help people to love God, then all these values will become virtues.

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To harbor no envy, no anger, no resentment against an offender is still not to have charity for him. It is possible, without any charity, to avoid rendering evil for evil. But to render, spontaneously, good for evil — such belongs to a perfect spiritual love.

- Saint Maximus the Confessor (580-662)

Christ, like a skillful physician, understands the weakness of men. He loves to teach the ignorant and the erring he turns again to his own true way. He is easily found by those who live by faith; and to those of pure eye and holy heart, who desire to knock at the door, he opens immediately. He does not disdain the barbarian, nor does he set the eunuch aside as no man. He does not hate the female on account of the woman’s act of disobedience in the beginning, nor does he reject the male on account of the man’s transgression. But he seeks all, and desires to save all, wishing to make all the children of God, and calling all the saints unto one perfect man.

- Hippolytus, Treatise on Christ and Antichrist

Bless the Name of the Lord:

Lord, help us to understand that there will always be some things we just won’t understand. But regardless of our ability to comprehend, enable us to always bless your name.

“Real Treasures”:

In today’s Gospel, Jesus reminds us that the “real treasures” of our life are those that do not perish in this world, but last forever. Our family and friendships will “last forever” if we relate and value them in the light of our love for God. Self-centered relationships will perish with us when we leave this world.

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We must suffer our imperfections in order to have perfection. I say suffer, not love or pet; humility feeds on this suffering.

- Saint Francis de Sales

19th Sunday in Ordinary Time (C)

Wis 18:6-9
Ps 33:1, 12, 18-19, 20-22
Heb 11:1-2, 8-19 or Heb 11:1-2, 8-12
Lk 12:32-48

This is Franciscan Father Greg Friedman with the "Sunday Soundbite" for the Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time.

In my hometown of Cincinnati we have an unfinished subway. Begun early in the twentieth century, it consists of a couple of stations, and some miles of tunnels. It was abandoned before train tracks were even installed, and probably will never be used for its original purpose. We Cincinnatians like to joke about it, but in the late 1950's and '60's the unfinished subway did serve an unexpected purpose. For a time, during those years when we all feared that an atomic war might break out, part of the abandoned subway tunnels were outfitted to be a fallout shelter, complete with beds and supplies of food and water. It was an attempt at preparedness that, fortunately, was never tested.

Today's Gospel is about preparedness, and having our priorities straight. It's a message Saint Luke intended for his community to hear. They lived some thirty or forty years after the time of Jesus. Perhaps they were becoming complacent. Luke wanted them to hear Jesus' stern words about being prepared for the Master's return. He also wanted them to hear Christ's admonition about priorities. The leaders in Luke's community were especially to pay attention: When more is entrusted to you, more will be expected.

These Gospel truths shouldn't be buried away like Cincinnati's unfinished subway. Let's allow them to live in our hearts every day.

Scripture:

•That night was known beforehand to our fathers, that, with sure knowledge of the oaths in which they put their faith, they might have courage. (Wisdom 18:6)

•Our soul waits for the LORD, who is our help and our shield. May your kindness, O LORD, be upon us who have put our hope in you. (Palm 33:20-22)

•So it was that there came forth from one man, himself as good as dead, descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sands on the seashore. (Hebrews 11:12)

•You also must be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come. (Luke 12:40)

Reflection:

•How is your faith like Abraham’s faith?

•How are you prepared for the advice from Luke’s Gospel?

•How was the Passover evidence of the gift of faith bestowed on the Israelites?

•Have you ever prayed Psalm 33?

God takes care of the affairs of those who truly love him without their having to be anxious about them. Let your soul cling to nothing, and if you continue to pray God will take care of your other concerns. This I find to be true of myself, for the more things I have, and the more I put my heart and soul into them, the more anxious I find myself over them. O Great God of love! How wonderfully you give your riches to him who loves you and takes pleasure in nothing apart from you. You give yourself to him and make him one with you through love. (St. John of the Cross)

Putting You First:

I spend so much of my day striving for material things—all the things the world tells me I need. And too many times, I leave my thoughts of you as an afterthought. Help me today to seek you first in my life. May you be my first thought in the morning, Lord, and my last one at night.

My Redeemer Lives:

You saved me. You delivered me. You rescued me. Thank you, Lord. Help me today to tell the world that I live only because my redeemer lives.

Selflessness – Faith:

In the Gospel of the “Grain of Wheat”, Jesus is urging us to be more selfless so that we can become more God-Centered in the way we live. Secular society tries to equate “happiness” with material riches and power. These qualities will never give us the peace and happiness that Jesus offers.

“Following Jesus”:

In today’s Gospel, Jesus affirmed that those who “left everything to follow Him and be His disciples, will receive a hundredfold reward. This “reward” is peace amidst persecution, joy in service and love for all peoples especially the poor and the needy. Do we want to receive such a “reward”?

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I tell you again and again, my brethren, that on no account may any class of people despair, thinking that God has not called them. Christ suffered for all. What the Scriptures say of him is true: "He desires everyone to be saved and to come to knowledge of the truth."

- Saint Augustine

Go forth in peace, for you have followed the good road. Go forth without fear, for he who created you has made you holy, has always protected you, and loves you as a mother. Blessed be you, my God, for having created me.

- Saint Clare of Assisi (1194-1253)

Happy 42nd Birthday Singapore!!

From Him and Through Him:

Today, dear Jesus, when my thoughts get complicated and I start to think too many things, whisper to me the simple truth that it is all from you…through you…to you.
Insights – Faith:

In today’s Gospel, Peter received the divine insight that Jesus is “the Son of the living God.” Peter was a man with an open mind towards God’s Truths and a generous heart to do God’s Will. Ego-centeredness is one of the main obstacles to receiving divine insights. How true is this of us?

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Whatever did not fit in with my plan did lie within the plan of God. I have an ever deeper and firmer belief that nothing is merely an accident when seen in the light of God, that my whole life down to the smallest details has been marked out for me in the plan of Divine Providence and has a completely coherent meaning in God's all-seeing eyes. And so I am beginning to rejoice in the light of glory wherein this meaning will be unveiled to me.

- Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (1891-1942)

True Bravery:

Courage comes in big bites and little bites, whatever we need to overcome our personal obstacles. But first we have to be hungry enough to ask for it.

Love for Jesus – How Deep?:

In today’s Gospel, Jesus urges us to love Him fully and unconditionally. The depth of our love for Jesus is shown when our commitment through our faith and love for Him are being tested. Are we selfless enough to put Jesus before our own needs and pains?

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You are my companion and must walk with me. If we hold together, no earthly power can withstand us.

- Saint Dominic de Guzman (1170-1221)

Enduring Lessons:

One of the most important lessons of life is about death. Like the wooden hoop around an embroidery project, our allotted number of years provides the frame of life. Death puts our pilgrimage on this earth into perspective, makes it measurable, comprehensible, even endurable.

Personal Prayer Life:

In today’s Gospel, Jesus goes off into the hills to pray by Himself. If we seriously set aside time, space and attention to nurture our prayer life e.g. 30 minutes every night just to be with the Lord, our lives will be totally transformed. We will then be deepening our personal relationship with the Lord.

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Faith is easy when we meet with no difficulty and walk in a way of light and consolation. But when we are struggling with temptation, with suffering and trial, when we are in a dryness of heart and spiritual darkness, then it needs a strong faith to abandon ourselves to God and remain entirely united to his holy will.

- Blessed Columba Marmion (1858-1923)

He Leads, We Follow:

The spiritual life is not our enterprise. It is the work of God. He calls us forward by grace and leads us, one step at a time.

Life – Essentials:

In today’s Gospel, the “Transfiguration” scene reveals Jesus’ divinity and the Father’s Will that we should “listen to Him.” Do we take the Gospel message seriously? How much of our attention, energy and money are spent on things that we do not need nor bring lasting fulfillment? What are the non-essentials of my life?

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The common saying, expressed in various ways and attributed to various authors, must be recalled with approval: in essentials, unity; in doubtful matters, liberty; in all things, charity.

- Blessed Pope John XXIII (1881-1963)

18th Sunday in Ordinary Time (C)

Eccl 1:2; 2:21-23
Ps 90:3-4, 5-6, 12-13, 14, 17
Col 3:1-5, 9-11
Lk 12:13-21

A favorite contemporary singer-songwriter of mine is Greg Brown. His blues and folk tunes tell down-to-earth stories. In one of his songs, entitled "The Cheapest Kind," Brown sings a first-person account of a man who grew up as the son of a preacher. The family was poor, and they traveled about the country preaching the Good News. Their poverty led the parents to reluctantly settle for always buying the "cheapest kind" of food or clothing. But Brown sings that the love in that family wasn't cheap: It was, rather, what made them truly rich.

His song comes to mind as I reflect on today's Gospel. Jesus invites us to ponder what are the true riches in human life. In the story Jesus tells, the man whose barn is bursting with an abundant harvest, plans on building bigger barns. He believes he's totally self-sufficient with all that stored-up wealth.

Jesus teaches that those who rely solely on material goods, and allow them to control their existence to the point of greed and possessiveness are storing up treasures that will not last. It's being "rich in what matters to God" that is true wealth in the Kingdom. Examine your heart this Sunday. Have you focused on material goods, treasures that will not last? Or have you allowed God to fill you with love—with wealth of the "richest kind?"

Scripture:

•All his days sorrow and grief are their occupation; even at night his mind is not at rest. This also is vanity. (Ecclesiastes 2:23)

•Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain wisdom of heart. (Psalm 90:12)

•For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ your life appears, then you too will appear with him in glory. (Colossians 3:3)

•“Take care to guard against all greed, for though one may be rich, one's life does not consist of possessions.” … ‘You fool, this night your life will be demanded of you; and the things you have prepared, to whom will they belong?’ (Luke 12:15,20)

Reflection:

•Give some examples of vanity described in Ecclesiastes 2:23.

•What is wisdom of the heart? How do you count your days?

•How do you die and hide your life in Christ?

•Describe 21st-century greed. Give examples.

Wherever the soul of man turns, unless it turns to you it clasps sorrow to its heart. Even if it clings to what is lovely, if this loveliness is outside of God, it has clung to sorrow, for these beautiful things would not exist without you. Like the sun, they rise and they set: they have their beginning and then they grow old and die.

Let me praise you for these things, my God who made them all, but do not let the love of them to be like glue to fix them to my soul.

In these things there is nowhere to rest, because they do not last, they pass away from the reach of our senses. Indeed we cannot lay firm hold on them even when they are with us.

In this world one thing passes away, and another takes its place. But does the Word of God pass away? Make your dwelling in him. Entrust to him whatever you have, for all you possess is from him. In him is the peace that cannot be disturbed and he will not withhold himself your love if you do not withhold your love from him. (St Augustine)

On the Road:

Where are you in the spiritual journey? Wherever you may be, keep pressing on. God is bringing you closer to himself. Remember, we do not travel alone.

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I tell you that you have less to suffer in following the Cross than in serving the world and its pleasures.

- Saint John Vianney (1786-1859)

Private prayer is like straw scattered here and there: If you set it on fire it makes a lot of little flames. But gather these straws into a bundle and light them, and you get a mighty fire, rising like a column into the sky; public prayer is like that.

- Saint John Vianney (1786-1859) on recommending liturgical prayer

Then and Now:

Only in the hereafter will heaven truly be in our hands. Meanwhile, we have to work for it here on earth.

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Know that the virtue of patience is the one that most assures us of perfection; and if we must have patience with others, so we must with ourselves. Those who aspire to the pure love of God have not so much need of patience with others as with themselves.

- Saint Francis de Sales

The Eucharist is the life of the people. The Eucharist gives them a center of life. All can come together without the barriers of race or language in order to celebrate the feast days of the Church. It gives them a law of life, that of charity, of which it is the source; thus it forges between them a common bond, a Christian kinship.

- Saint Peter Julian Eymard (1811-1868)

Divine Power:

Truly living as a Christian is not some sort of righteousness that we slip on like an overcoat, nor some ideal we arrive at by means of our own efforts. The life of Christ is a vibrant, powerful, inner force that bubbles up out of the very depths of our being and enables us to do otherwise impossible things, blessed things. This divine grace gradually helps us to overcome sin, temptations, weaknesses. We are able to rise above our human limitations and receive a glimpse of our heavenly inheritance.

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We believe in the love of God for us. To believe in love is everything. It is not enough to believe in the truth. We must believe in love and Love is our Lord.

- Saint Peter Julian Eymund (1811-1868)

The God of Our Hearts:

The heart centered in God loves without counting the cost; it loves like Jesus. God comes to us to set our hearts free, to enkindle in us the fire of love.

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We must show charity towards the sick, who are in greater need of help. Let us take them some small gift if they are poor, or, at least, let us go and wait on them and comfort them.

- Saint Alphonsus Liguori (1696-1787)

Transformed in the Love of God:

Giving ourselves to the cause of Christ is not to lose the world but to find the world in its truest reality, in its deepest relation to God. We are the body of Christ and each day we are called to live in the body to its fullest, not only for our own healing and wholeness, but for the transformation of the universe.

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If God causes you to suffer much, it is a sign that He has great designs for you, and that He certainly intends to make you a saint. And if you wish to become a great saint, entreat Him yourself to give you much opportunity for suffering; for there is no wood better to kindle the fire of holy love than the wood of the cross, which Christ used for His own great sacrifice of boundless charity.

- Saint Ignatius Loyola (1491-1556)

“Receive, Lord, all my liberty, my memory, my understanding and my whole will. You have given me all that I have, all that I am, and I surrender all to your divine will, that you dispose of me. Give me only your love and your grace. With this I am rich enough, and I have no more to ask.”

- Saint Ignatius Loyola (1491-1556) (Ignatius recommended this prayer to penitents)