ADVENT
Week
I: Jesus came at a specific time in history
Day
1:
born under the law…” (Galatians 4:4)
The fullness of time was when there was peace and order in
Judea and
Galilee under the Roman occupation. At this time and place decreed by
God
He sent his only Begotten Son. “And the Word became flesh and made his
dwelling among us, and we saw his
glory, the glory as of the Father’s only
Son, full of grace and truth.” (John
1:14)
He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit, born of a
woman. She
was not just any woman, but one chosen and graced by God to be
worthy
of bearing and giving birth to the Son of God, the Messiah.
He was born
under the law and covenant of Moses. “When eight days
were completed for his circumcision, he was named Jesus, the name given
him by the angel before he
was conceived in the womb. When the days
were completed for their purification according to the law of
Moses,
written in the law of the Lord, ‘Every male that
opens the womb shall
turtledoves or two
young pigeons,’ in accordance with the dictate in the
law of the Lord.” (Luke 2:21-24)
Thought of the Day November 30, 2018 Eucharist as a sacrifice
By spiritaflame 9:58 AM Thought of the Day
The Eucharist is a sacrifice!
In the Eucharist, Christ makes present to us anew the sacrifice offered once
for all on Golgotha. “In instituting it, he did not merely say: “This is my body”, “this
is my blood”, but went on to add: “which is given for you”, “which is poured out for
you” (Lk 22:19-20). Jesus did not simply state that what he was giving them to eat
and drink was his body and his blood; he also expressed its sacrificial meaning and
made sacramentally present his sacrifice which would soon be offered on the Cross
for the salvation of all.”
“The Eucharist thus applies to men and women today the reconciliation won once
for all by Christ for mankind in every age. “The sacrifice of Christ and the sacrifice of
the Eucharist are one single sacrifice”. Saint John Chrysostom put it well: “We always
offer the same Lamb, not one today and another tomorrow, but always the same one.
For this reason the sacrifice is always only one... Even now we offer that victim who
was once offered and who will never be consumed”.
The Mass makes present the sacrifice of the Cross...makes Christ's one, definitive
redemptive sacrifice always present in time. The sacrificial nature of the Eucharistic
mystery cannot therefore be understood as something separate, independent of the Cross
or only indirectly referring to the sacrifice of Calvary.”
The Sacrifice of Christ on the Cross is a gift of love and obedience to the Father.
In and through this sacrifice Christ glorifies the Father by giving his life for our life, by
becoming the expiation of all sin, by reconciling us to the Father through the shedding
of his blood. For this gift of perfect love, the Father in turn raised Jesus up and exalted
him at his right hand, giving him the name Lord. In the Eucharist Jesus unites us to his
sacrificial gift to the Father so that we too can give ourselves in union with him to the Father.
In the Eucharist, Christ makes present to us anew the sacrifice offered once
for all on Golgotha. “In instituting it, he did not merely say: “This is my body”, “this
is my blood”, but went on to add: “which is given for you”, “which is poured out for
you” (Lk 22:19-20). Jesus did not simply state that what he was giving them to eat
and drink was his body and his blood; he also expressed its sacrificial meaning and
made sacramentally present his sacrifice which would soon be offered on the Cross
for the salvation of all.”
“The Eucharist thus applies to men and women today the reconciliation won once
for all by Christ for mankind in every age. “The sacrifice of Christ and the sacrifice of
the Eucharist are one single sacrifice”. Saint John Chrysostom put it well: “We always
offer the same Lamb, not one today and another tomorrow, but always the same one.
For this reason the sacrifice is always only one... Even now we offer that victim who
was once offered and who will never be consumed”.
The Mass makes present the sacrifice of the Cross...makes Christ's one, definitive
redemptive sacrifice always present in time. The sacrificial nature of the Eucharistic
mystery cannot therefore be understood as something separate, independent of the Cross
or only indirectly referring to the sacrifice of Calvary.”
The Sacrifice of Christ on the Cross is a gift of love and obedience to the Father.
In and through this sacrifice Christ glorifies the Father by giving his life for our life, by
becoming the expiation of all sin, by reconciling us to the Father through the shedding
of his blood. For this gift of perfect love, the Father in turn raised Jesus up and exalted
him at his right hand, giving him the name Lord. In the Eucharist Jesus unites us to his
sacrificial gift to the Father so that we too can give ourselves in union with him to the Father.
The Eucharist is a meal! A paschal banquet.
It was in the context of the Passover meal that the Eucharist was instituted. The elements of the Eucharist are meal elements: bread and wine; food and drink. As a meal, “it expresses the fellowship which God wishes to establish with us and which we ourselves must build with one another.” At the Last Supper Jesus specifically said, "take and eat" and "take and drink".
We can say not only that each of us receives Christ, but also that Christ receives each of us. He enters into friendship with us: “You are my friends” (Jn 15:14). Indeed, it is because of him that we have life: “He who eats me will live because of me”(Jn 6:57). Eucharistic communion brings about in a sublime way the mutual “abiding” of Christ and each of his followers: “Abide in me, and I in you” (Jn 15:4).
As a meal it anticipates our participation in the eternal, wedding banquet prepared for us with God in glory.
It was in the context of the Passover meal that the Eucharist was instituted. The elements of the Eucharist are meal elements: bread and wine; food and drink. As a meal, “it expresses the fellowship which God wishes to establish with us and which we ourselves must build with one another.” At the Last Supper Jesus specifically said, "take and eat" and "take and drink".
We can say not only that each of us receives Christ, but also that Christ receives each of us. He enters into friendship with us: “You are my friends” (Jn 15:14). Indeed, it is because of him that we have life: “He who eats me will live because of me”(Jn 6:57). Eucharistic communion brings about in a sublime way the mutual “abiding” of Christ and each of his followers: “Abide in me, and I in you” (Jn 15:4).
As a meal it anticipates our participation in the eternal, wedding banquet prepared for us with God in glory.
Novena to the Immaculate Conception
November 29 and ending on December 7
Hail Mary, full of Grace, the Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death.
Immaculate Virgin! Mary, conceived without sin! Remember, you were miraculously preserved from even the shadow of sin, because you were destined to become not only the Mother of God, but also the mother, the refuge, and the advocate of man; penetrated therefore, with the most lively confidence in your never-failing intercession, we most humbly implore you to look with favor upon the intentions of this novena, and to obtain for us the graces and the favors we request. You know, O Mary, how often our hearts are the sanctuaries of God, Who abhors iniquity. Obtain for us, then, your angelic purity which was your favorite virtue, that purity of heart which will attach us to God alone, and that purity of intention which will consecrate every thought, word, and action to His greater glory. Obtain also for us a constant spirit of prayer and self-denial, that we may recover by penance that innocence which we have lost by sin, and at length attain safety to that blessed abode of the saints, where nothing defiled can enter.
O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee.
You are all fair, O Mary.
And the original stain is not in you.
You are the glory of Jerusalem.
You are the joy of Israel.
You are the honor of our people.
You are the advocate of sinners.
O Mary. Virgin, most prudent.
Mother, most tender.
Pray for us.
Intercede for us with Jesus our Lord. (Mention your request)
In your conception, Holy Virgin, you were immaculate.
Pray for us to the Father Whose Son you did bring forth.
O Lady! Hear my prayer.
And let my cry come to you.
Let us pray
Holy Mary, Queen of Heaven, Mother of Our Lord Jesus Christ, and mistress of the world, who forsakes no one, and despises no one, look upon me, O Lady! with an eye of pity, and entreat for me from your beloved Son the forgiveness of all my sins; that, as I now celebrate, with devout affection, your holy and immaculate conception, so, hereafter I may receive the prize of eternal blessedness, by the grace of Him whom you, in virginity, did bring forth, Jesus Christ Our Lord: Who, with the Father and the Holy Ghost, lives and reigns, in perfect Trinity, God, world without end. Amen.
November 29 and ending on December 7
Hail Mary, full of Grace, the Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death.
Immaculate Virgin! Mary, conceived without sin! Remember, you were miraculously preserved from even the shadow of sin, because you were destined to become not only the Mother of God, but also the mother, the refuge, and the advocate of man; penetrated therefore, with the most lively confidence in your never-failing intercession, we most humbly implore you to look with favor upon the intentions of this novena, and to obtain for us the graces and the favors we request. You know, O Mary, how often our hearts are the sanctuaries of God, Who abhors iniquity. Obtain for us, then, your angelic purity which was your favorite virtue, that purity of heart which will attach us to God alone, and that purity of intention which will consecrate every thought, word, and action to His greater glory. Obtain also for us a constant spirit of prayer and self-denial, that we may recover by penance that innocence which we have lost by sin, and at length attain safety to that blessed abode of the saints, where nothing defiled can enter.
O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee.
You are all fair, O Mary.
And the original stain is not in you.
You are the glory of Jerusalem.
You are the joy of Israel.
You are the honor of our people.
You are the advocate of sinners.
O Mary. Virgin, most prudent.
Mother, most tender.
Pray for us.
Intercede for us with Jesus our Lord. (Mention your request)
In your conception, Holy Virgin, you were immaculate.
Pray for us to the Father Whose Son you did bring forth.
O Lady! Hear my prayer.
And let my cry come to you.
Let us pray
Holy Mary, Queen of Heaven, Mother of Our Lord Jesus Christ, and mistress of the world, who forsakes no one, and despises no one, look upon me, O Lady! with an eye of pity, and entreat for me from your beloved Son the forgiveness of all my sins; that, as I now celebrate, with devout affection, your holy and immaculate conception, so, hereafter I may receive the prize of eternal blessedness, by the grace of Him whom you, in virginity, did bring forth, Jesus Christ Our Lord: Who, with the Father and the Holy Ghost, lives and reigns, in perfect Trinity, God, world without end. Amen.
Homily
First Sunday of Advent Year C
Reading
1: The prophet Jeremiah speaks a word of hope and anticipated joy to a people
in desolation. The people of Israel have been exiled from Judea because they
had not heeded the word of God to remain faithful to their covenant with God.
Thus, the prophetic word they did not heed became a reality, namely exile from
Jerusalem and specifically from the Temple, symbol of God’s presence.
Now,
God speaks a new word and this promise of God will be fulfilled. What is that
word of hope? God will raise up a descendant of David the King, who will
deliver the people. He will do what is right and just. Where those in the past
were not faithful to the covenant, this savior will be, teaching us how to
likewise be faithful.
When
will this happen? There will be a time of security and peace in Judea. Jeremiah
was urging the people to once more look forward to the fulfillment of God’s
promise. Jeremiah himself was looking forward to the coming of the Christ in
time.
Just
as that promise of God has been fulfilled in the coming of Jesus, we are called
to look forward to the fulfillment of God’s promises in our life time. To do
this we need to put our trust and hope and life in God. What we are called to
be attentive to is Jesus’ coming in the present moment, which is his coming in
mystery. In this way we will be prepared for his second coming either at the
end of our personal life or the end of the world. This will be his coming in
majesty.
Reading
2: Our response to the prophetic promise of God fulfilled in the person of Jesus
is twofold. First we are called to increase and abound in love for one another
so that we may be blameless in holiness before God. Secondly, we are called to
conduct ourselves in a way that pleases God. In both we are told never to be
satisfied that we have done enough but ask God for the grace to do more.
Why? Our focus is to be ready for the coming of Jesus
in the present moment and in the end. For what we do in our relatively short
life-time will impact our eternity. To love one another even more and to do what
pleases God the more are really complimentary.
Gospel:
Last Sunday we read the vision of Daniel in the Old Testament and the vision of
John the Apostle in the Book of Revelation. Both saw the Son of Man coming on
clouds with power and authority. In today’s Gospel, Jesus speaks of the same
image: the Son of Man coming on a cloud with power and glory.
Jesus
has come in time and he will come again. When he comes again, will we be
frightened or will we be joyful? When he comes in the present moment or in a
future time will we be expectant or caught off guard? What is the attitude that
Jesus urges us to have? “But when these signs begin to happen, stand erect and
raise your heads because your redemption is at hand.” That is the first. The
second is: “Be vigilant at all times and pray that you have the strength to
escape the tribulations that are imminent and to stand before the Son of Man.”
The
best way to prepare for that moment is to learn from the past and live in
relationship to God in the present moment. For if I am in union with God in the
present moment, then, when that future moment comes, it will find me ready and
not afraid.
We
are called to live each moment as if it is our last moment, so that, when that
last moment of earthly life comes, we are in union with God.
Advent
means “coming”. Each year we are given a new opportunity to make a new
beginning. It is a grace time. As we prepare to celebrate his first coming in
time, we need to be attentive to his coming in the present moment, so that when
he comes in majesty we are prepared to receive him and he us.
Thought of the Day November 28, 2018 Eucharist: a mystery of light
By spiritaflame 11:46 AM Thought of the Day
The Eucharist is a mystery of light! In Jesus’ encounter of the two disciples on the
road to Emmaus, he first broke open the revealed word about the Messiah and then
he revealed himself in the breaking of the bread. The light of one gave clarity in faith
to the reality of the other. The disciples’ response to the revelation of the Scriptures
to the true understanding of the Messiah was “Stay with us, Lord.” He acknowledged
and responded to this desire for it is his desire as well. For he said: “I will be with you
to the end of time.” He revealed that he will fulfill this desire in the same way that he came.
For in the mystery of the breaking of the bread and in the mystery of his revealed word
he will remain with them.
road to Emmaus, he first broke open the revealed word about the Messiah and then
he revealed himself in the breaking of the bread. The light of one gave clarity in faith
to the reality of the other. The disciples’ response to the revelation of the Scriptures
to the true understanding of the Messiah was “Stay with us, Lord.” He acknowledged
and responded to this desire for it is his desire as well. For he said: “I will be with you
to the end of time.” He revealed that he will fulfill this desire in the same way that he came.
For in the mystery of the breaking of the bread and in the mystery of his revealed word
he will remain with them.
FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT
(Advent Wreath)
The First Candle is purple...it is the candle of prophesy:
it symbolizes hope and expectation.
It reminds us of the 400 years of silence that Israel
endured while awaiting all that the prophets proclaimed...and we wait also.
As our nights grow longer and our days grow shorter, we look
on these earthly signsBlight
and green branchesBwe
remember God=s
promises to our world: Christ, our light and our hope will come!
Hear the words of the prophet Isaiah:
AThe
people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; Upon those who dwelt in
the land of gloom a light has shone.You have brought them abundant joy and
great rejoicing, as they rejoice before you as at the harvest.@ Is 9:1-2
(Light the Candle)
Let us pray: Oh God, rejoicing, we remember the promises of
your Son! Shine your blessings upon us. May Christ shine one us and brighten
our way by guiding us in his truth. Amen.
As we begin this Advent season, we remember the hope we have
in Jesus. The prophets of Israel all spoke of the coming of the Christ...of how
a Savior would be born...that he would be king of the line of David. They spoke
of how he would rule the world wisely and bless all nations. As the followers
of Jesus we await his return. We light this candle to remember that as he came
to us humbly in a manger at Bethlehem and gave light to the world...so he is
coming again in power to deliver his people. We light this candle to remind us
to be alert and watch for his return.
Let us pray: Lord, thank you for coming. As we wait for
you...as we celebrate this Holy Season, let us not lose our focus. Help us to
keep our eyes on you. Help us to see you in your present coming. Amen.
First Sunday of Advent Gospel Reflections C
Jesus said to his disciples:
· Jesus is prophesizing about his Second Coming. At the end and beginning of the Liturgical season the Church helps us to keep this perspective as we go through the whole season.
· Jesus doesn’t say things to frighten us but to prepare us.
“There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on earth nations will be in dismay, perplexed by the roaring of the sea and the waves. People will die of fright in anticipation of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
· The people who die of fright will be those who are not prepared to receive the Lord in his Second Coming.
· At another time, Jesus asked a haunting question: “When the Son of Man comes in glory, will he find faith on the earth?” A person of faith is not frighten.
· Are we prepared, even if he comes to us at our own personal end of life?
But when these signs begin to happen, stand erect and raise your heads because your redemption is at hand.
· Our response is to be different. We know that he is coming and we have been longing for it to some extent. For us this will be the completion of a long journey begun at the moment of our baptism.
· We are called to be a people of expectation, of waiting, of longing. Are we?
Beware that your hearts do not become drowsy from carousing and drunkenness and the anxieties of daily life, and that day catch you by surprise like a trap.
· Jesus identifies a couple of attitudes to be vigilant against during the waiting time. It is easy for us to become distracted and inattentive on the journey of our life. We should not allow the worries of daily life to consume us so that we forget that the most important thing is to remember our destiny is heaven.
· If we keep our eyes fixed on the Lord, we will not be caught off guard.
For that day will assault everyone who lives on the face of the earth. Be vigilant at all times and pray that you have the strength to escape the tribulations that are imminent and to stand before the Son of Man.”
· Prayer helps us to keep our relationship with God at the forefront of our life. This time of intimacy with the Lord allows us to yield our concerns and worries to the Lord and seek his guidance and strength.
· How conscious are we that we are preparing for something greater than this present life?
· How vigilant are we of our decisions to insure that they are in right order with our relationship with God?
· How central is prayer in our daily life?
· If we spend so much time and energy in things that are here today and gone tomorrow, do we do the same with that which will last forever?
· Advent is the time to renew our decision to be vigilant for and with the Lord as we wait his future coming with certainty.
Jesus said to his disciples:
· Jesus is prophesizing about his Second Coming. At the end and beginning of the Liturgical season the Church helps us to keep this perspective as we go through the whole season.
· Jesus doesn’t say things to frighten us but to prepare us.
“There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on earth nations will be in dismay, perplexed by the roaring of the sea and the waves. People will die of fright in anticipation of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
· The people who die of fright will be those who are not prepared to receive the Lord in his Second Coming.
· At another time, Jesus asked a haunting question: “When the Son of Man comes in glory, will he find faith on the earth?” A person of faith is not frighten.
· Are we prepared, even if he comes to us at our own personal end of life?
But when these signs begin to happen, stand erect and raise your heads because your redemption is at hand.
· Our response is to be different. We know that he is coming and we have been longing for it to some extent. For us this will be the completion of a long journey begun at the moment of our baptism.
· We are called to be a people of expectation, of waiting, of longing. Are we?
Beware that your hearts do not become drowsy from carousing and drunkenness and the anxieties of daily life, and that day catch you by surprise like a trap.
· Jesus identifies a couple of attitudes to be vigilant against during the waiting time. It is easy for us to become distracted and inattentive on the journey of our life. We should not allow the worries of daily life to consume us so that we forget that the most important thing is to remember our destiny is heaven.
· If we keep our eyes fixed on the Lord, we will not be caught off guard.
For that day will assault everyone who lives on the face of the earth. Be vigilant at all times and pray that you have the strength to escape the tribulations that are imminent and to stand before the Son of Man.”
· Prayer helps us to keep our relationship with God at the forefront of our life. This time of intimacy with the Lord allows us to yield our concerns and worries to the Lord and seek his guidance and strength.
· How conscious are we that we are preparing for something greater than this present life?
· How vigilant are we of our decisions to insure that they are in right order with our relationship with God?
· How central is prayer in our daily life?
· If we spend so much time and energy in things that are here today and gone tomorrow, do we do the same with that which will last forever?
· Advent is the time to renew our decision to be vigilant for and with the Lord as we wait his future coming with certainty.
Thought of the Day November 27, 2018 Eucharist: Mystery of faith
By spiritaflame 9:25 AM Thought of the Day
The Eucharist is a mystery of faith!
It is a mystery which surpasses our understanding and can only be received
in faith.
Let us proclaim the mystery of faith! Reflect on John 6 where Jesus asked the
disciples: “Does this shake your faith?” And then the attitude of the disciples at the
Last Supper. As a mystery of faith, it is beyond the rational and logical realms of
human experience and knowledge.
Mystery—that which has been revealed by God. God’s plan for our salvation
through the person of Jesus and how that gift of life is to be sustained through the gift
of his Body and Blood. Can only be known through the revelation of God to us in
the person of Jesus. Jesus revealed that he was the Bread come down from heaven.
"We see one thing and understand another. We see a man (Jesus), but we make an
act of faith in God." (Origen, Epistle to Romans 4,2
"This is the food that appeases the hunger of the devoted heart. Faith is its seasoning,
and devotion and fraternal charity its relish." (Thomas Aquinas)
It is a mystery which surpasses our understanding and can only be received
in faith.
Let us proclaim the mystery of faith! Reflect on John 6 where Jesus asked the
disciples: “Does this shake your faith?” And then the attitude of the disciples at the
Last Supper. As a mystery of faith, it is beyond the rational and logical realms of
human experience and knowledge.
Mystery—that which has been revealed by God. God’s plan for our salvation
through the person of Jesus and how that gift of life is to be sustained through the gift
of his Body and Blood. Can only be known through the revelation of God to us in
the person of Jesus. Jesus revealed that he was the Bread come down from heaven.
"We see one thing and understand another. We see a man (Jesus), but we make an
act of faith in God." (Origen, Epistle to Romans 4,2
"This is the food that appeases the hunger of the devoted heart. Faith is its seasoning,
and devotion and fraternal charity its relish." (Thomas Aquinas)
What
does the Catholic Church Stand for?
The
easiest way to answer this question is to say it stands for the truth revealed
by God under the guidance of the Holy Spirit both in the Scriptures and in its
authentic teachings. What are some of these? (This is not meant to be
comprehensive)
The
revealed truth as found in the Sacred Scriptures. Not everything written in the
Scriptures has the same weight. The revelation of God is greater than the means
used by the human author to convey this revelation. This revelation is not subject
to human interpretation. In the Book of Genesis, for instance, the revelation
is this: a) There is a God; b) God created all things out of nothing and good;
c) God created man and woman in his own image and likeness at the height of
earthly creation; d) God shared his own divine life with man and woman as his
adopted son and daughter; e) man and woman sinned; f) God promised a future
Messiah.
Whether
this took place in six days or over a period of time does not contradict the
revelation. What is true in faith will also be true in science, since truth
cannot contradict itself. We must remember that the human author is not a
scientist, but a man of faith.
In
the Book of John when Jesus said at the Last Supper over the unleavened bread “this
is my body,” and over the cup of win “this is my blood,” the bread was
transformed into his body and the wine into his blood. This is not subject to
interpretation. It is the revealed Word and action of the God-Man, who is the
truth (John 6:35-69).
The Apostles’
Creed and the Nicene Creed contain
the core, basic truths revealed by God and taught by the Catholic Church.
· God is one and
triune in persons: The I Am Who Am who is Father, Son and Holy Spirit. This is
the central and foundational mystery of our faith.
· Though creation is
attributed to the Father, the Son and Holy Spirit are creative with the Father.
· God the Son became
Incarnate by the power of the Holy Spirit. Out of love of the Father and of us
he came to save us and reconcile us back to God. True God and True Man, he
suffered death on the cross, rose from the dead and is exalted at the right
hand of the Father in his glorified body. He will come again to judge the
living and the dead.
· God the Holy
Spirit, the Lord and giver of life and all gifts, is the sanctifier and
anointer, sent by the Father and Son to complete the Paschal Mystery.
· The Church,
founded by Jesus and animated by the Holy Spirit, is one, holy, catholic and
apostolic:
a.
The
Church is one: The one people of God profess one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one hope, one Spirit and one
worship under the one supreme pontiff (Ephesians 4:4-6).
b.
The
Church is holy: Called to holiness in Baptism and Confirmation, strengthened in
holiness through the Eucharist, Marriage and Orders, restored in holiness in
Reconciliation and Anointing of the sick.
c.
The
Church is catholic: Following the mandate of Jesus (Matthew 28:18-20) the Church
from the beginning has gone to all nations, cultures, languages and peoples,
preaching all that Jesus taught and will do so till the end of time.
d.
The
Church is apostolic: The Church is built on the foundation of the apostles (Ephesians
2:20), teaches the “deposit of faith,” given by the Spirit and handed down from
the apostles and their successors through the ages (Galatians 1:8-9).
· As Jesus rose from
the dead, one day, at the end of time, there will be the resurrection of our
bodies by the power of God, either to eternal glory with God or to eternal
alienation from God.
The
Ten Commandments are as relevant today as when first given by God. Over the
years, the Church has further specified what is contained in each of the
Commandments, always summing them up as Jesus did: Love God with your whole
heart, mind and strength and love your neighbor as you have been loved by
Jesus.
First Commandment: There is only one
uncreated God who is Other.
Second Commandment: God and all that
is God is holy, deserving of reverential respect.
Third Commandment: Man’s response to
God is love and worship in spirit and truth. The Mass is the perfect sacrifice
of thanksgiving acceptable and pleasing to God.
Fourth Commandment: Love of others
begins with the love, honor and respect we are to show to those who parent us
into existence and nurture us. In extension, we are to honor and respect all
those in legitimate authority.
Fifth Commandment: Love of neighbor
is expressed in respecting the sacredness of the lives of others as well as my
own life, from conception to natural death as gifts from God.
Sixth Commandment: Love of others
and myself includes mutual respect for each other’s body, using the sexual gift
for the purpose for which it is designed, namely in marriage for love leading
to union and openness to life.
Seventh Commandment: Love of others
compels me to respect the rights of others to their property and to act justly
toward all.
Eight Commandment: Love of others involves
speaking the truth and upholding the right of each person to their good
reputation.
Ninth Commandment: Love of neighbor extends to my thoughts and
desires concerning them, not as objects for my satisfaction.
Tenth Commandment: Love of neighbor
extends to my thought and desires concerning their goods.
The
seven Sacraments: Baptism, Penance, Eucharist, Confirmation, Anointing of the
sick, Marriage and Holy Orders. I cover these in the tract entitled “The Seven
Sacraments of the Catholic Church.”
The
Church honors Mary as the Mother of God, giving her the same recognition that
God himself has given her. (“Blessed are you among women.”)
· The Immaculate
Conception: Mary, by God’s grace and in anticipation of Jesus’ gift of
salvation, was conceived free from sin in her mother’s womb by the grace of God
and remained so throughout her life.
· Ever Virgin: Mary
was a virgin before, during and after the conception and birth of Jesus.
· The Assumption:
Because Mary was sinless by God’s grace and her cooperation, she was taken into
heaven body and soul at the time of her transition from this life to the next.
· Queen of heaven
and earth by God’s providence.
· By God’s design
Mary is both the mother of Jesus and our mother. As such she intercedes for us
and serves as a role model.
· We pray to Mary
and the saints, asking them to intercede before the throne of God for us, while
at the same time we go to God directly.
We
believe in heaven, purgatory and hell.
· Heaven, the “dwelling
of God,” where the created angels and saints share in the eternal life of glory
of the uncreated God (Revelation 21:3-4).
· Purgatory is the
stage of purification of the saved so that they can be full of love and enabled
to share in the full life of God (1 Corinthians 3:12-15. This will not last
forever.
· Hell is the
eternal punishment of the devil and those alienated from God by their choices
in life (Revelation 20:13-15.) This is eternal.
To choose to accept the freedom which comes from God and to act on that
freedom demands risking.
To laugh is to risk appearing the fool
To weep is to risk appearing sentimental
To reach out for another is to risk involvement
To expose feelings is to risk exposing your true self
To place your ideas and dreams before the crowd is to risk their loss
To love is to risk not being loved in return
To live is to risk dying
To hope is to risk despair
To try is to risk failure
But risk must be taken, because .... the greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing.
The person who risks nothing, does nothing, has nothing and is nothing.
One may avoid suffering and sorrow, but one simply cannot learn, feel ... change ...
grow ... love ... live. Chained by one's certitudes, one is a slave, that person
has forfeited life.
Only a person who risks ... is free.
It is a risk to embrace the freedom given to us by Jesus. It is a risk to embrace the
cross. It is a risk to choose the way of the Lord and not the way of the world. It
is a risk to be a disciple of Jesus. (To be continued)
freedom demands risking.
To laugh is to risk appearing the fool
To weep is to risk appearing sentimental
To reach out for another is to risk involvement
To expose feelings is to risk exposing your true self
To place your ideas and dreams before the crowd is to risk their loss
To love is to risk not being loved in return
To live is to risk dying
To hope is to risk despair
To try is to risk failure
But risk must be taken, because .... the greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing.
The person who risks nothing, does nothing, has nothing and is nothing.
One may avoid suffering and sorrow, but one simply cannot learn, feel ... change ...
grow ... love ... live. Chained by one's certitudes, one is a slave, that person
has forfeited life.
Only a person who risks ... is free.
It is a risk to embrace the freedom given to us by Jesus. It is a risk to embrace the
cross. It is a risk to choose the way of the Lord and not the way of the world. It
is a risk to be a disciple of Jesus. (To be continued)
.
Jesus sets us free by this death on the cross.
a) freedom to know the truth: God; God’s love; God’s plan for us; our own
self-worth and purpose in life; the freedom of love
b) freedom to choose to be faithful disciples of Jesus
c) freedom to stand firm by remaining true to the word of God as revealed to us
by Jesus and not to put on the yoke of slavery again.
d) freedom to serve the Lord, to be slaves of God
e) freedom to lead a life of holiness
f) freedom to share eternal life now and forever.
g) freedom to live in the Spirit and follow the lead of the Spirit
h) freedom to become transformed and to reflect the glory of God.
i) freedom to serve one another through love.
j) freedom to set others free through forgiveness and love.
Jesus sets us free by this death on the cross.
a) freedom to know the truth: God; God’s love; God’s plan for us; our own
self-worth and purpose in life; the freedom of love
b) freedom to choose to be faithful disciples of Jesus
c) freedom to stand firm by remaining true to the word of God as revealed to us
by Jesus and not to put on the yoke of slavery again.
d) freedom to serve the Lord, to be slaves of God
e) freedom to lead a life of holiness
f) freedom to share eternal life now and forever.
g) freedom to live in the Spirit and follow the lead of the Spirit
h) freedom to become transformed and to reflect the glory of God.
i) freedom to serve one another through love.
j) freedom to set others free through forgiveness and love.
Homily
Solemnity of Christ the King Year B
Reading
1: Daniel in a vision sees what is to take place centuries after him. In
effect, Daniel sees One like the Son of Man ascending to the Ancient One, where
he receives in his glorified humanity glory, dominion and kingship. Jesus is the Son of Man and the Ancient One is
the Father. This prophetic vision was fulfilled in the person of Jesus at the
time of his Ascension to the Father.
Paul
attested to this fact of revelation in his Letter to the Philippians where he
says: “God raised the Son up and exalted him at his right hand and gave a name
above all other names—at this name every knee shall bend on earth, in the heavens
and under the earth acclaiming Jesus as Lord to the glory of the Father.”
Daniel
prophesied that the Son of Man received dominion, glory and kingship and all
peoples served him. What does this indicate? It says that Jesus’s kingship is
1) supreme, extending to all peoples. It is a 2) universal kingship, covering
all nations and places. Finally, 3) it is an eternal kingship, lasting forever.
At
the time, Daniel does not know the full ramifications of his vision. But when
Jesus was questioned by the Sanhedran during his trial, he predicted that the
Son of Man will be seen coming upon the clouds.
Reading
2: The reading from the Book of Revelation picks this theme up. “Behold, he is
coming amid the clouds, and ever eye will see him, even those who pierced him.”
This connects us to last Sunday’s reading, namely that Jesus will come again in
glory to judge the living and the dead. Jesus, the God/Man is king because of
his death on the cross by which he freed us from our sins by his blood. He is
the “faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead and the ruler of the kings of
the earth.”
To
him belongs the glory and power because of who he is and what he has done. He
not only created us but, when we chose to alienate ourselves through sin, he chose
to give his life for our redemption from the kingdom of death.
Gospel:
The Jewish leaders tried to juxtaposition Jesus in opposition to the Roman
Emperor. Their desire to have Jesus put to death was so intense that they were
willing to align themselves with Caesar, which was contrary to their deepest
beliefs. This prompted Pilate to ask Jesus
about
his kingdom. “Are you a king?” Jesus emphasized that his kingdom was a
spiritual kingdom, not limited to time and space.
Pilate
missed the point. The fact is Jesus is Lord and King, not because we made him
so, but because he is by virtue of his role as God and Savior.
The
question for us to answer is this. Is Jesus our Lord and King? Do we not only say
this but live it as fully as possible. Even though the Jewish leaders said that
Caesar was their king, they were giving lip service. Is ours lip service or do
we consciously submit ourselves and everything we have to the Lord. He is the
Lord of my life, all I am and all I have.
Jesus
is the Lord of my life because he created me in his own image and likeness and
sustains me every second of my life. I belong to him by virtue of my creation.
Jesus is the Lord of my life because I came into life alienated from God
because of Original sin and to which I added my personal sins as well. Jesus redeemed
me by his death on the cross. I belong to him. He is Lord of my life because he
has adopted me as his son or daughter, sharing his own divine life with me.
Even
though all this is factually true, I may still not acknowledge and accept him
as such; I still may not surrender my life into his hands as my Lord and King.
I may still be seeking to have full control, not trusting him. To this extent
we can give him lip service on this day but withhold our heart, mind and will
from him. Or I can embrace the mystery of his love and plan for me, giving him
glory and honor, praise and love now in preparation for what awaits me in glory
with him.
Jesus has given us freedom from sin and its consequences.
Revelation 1:5-6 "Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead and ruler
of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his
blood, who has made us into a kingdom, priests for his God and Father, to him be
glory and power forever (and ever). Amen."
It is not that we will never sin again once we taste the freedom of Jesus Christ. It is
that we will choose not to stay in sin, not to let the web of sin become a chain
bringing us further away from the truth of who we are.
Romans 8:1-2 "Hence, now there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ
Jesus. For the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus has freed you from the law
of sin and death."
a) Jesus freed us from the law of sin and death by his blood.
b) He has freed us from the slavery of sin with its eternal consequences
Romans 8:19-21 "Indeed, the whole created world eagerly awaits the revelation
of the sons of God. Creation was made subject to futility, not of its own accord
but by him who once subjected it; yet not without hope, because creation itself
would be set free from slavery to corruption and share in the glorious freedom
of the children of God."
c) not only have we been set free from sin but all of creation is destined to be
freed from the slavery of corruption and share with us. There will be a new
heaven and a new earth. (To be continued)
Revelation 1:5-6 "Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead and ruler
of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his
blood, who has made us into a kingdom, priests for his God and Father, to him be
glory and power forever (and ever). Amen."
It is not that we will never sin again once we taste the freedom of Jesus Christ. It is
that we will choose not to stay in sin, not to let the web of sin become a chain
bringing us further away from the truth of who we are.
Romans 8:1-2 "Hence, now there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ
Jesus. For the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus has freed you from the law
of sin and death."
a) Jesus freed us from the law of sin and death by his blood.
b) He has freed us from the slavery of sin with its eternal consequences
Romans 8:19-21 "Indeed, the whole created world eagerly awaits the revelation
of the sons of God. Creation was made subject to futility, not of its own accord
but by him who once subjected it; yet not without hope, because creation itself
would be set free from slavery to corruption and share in the glorious freedom
of the children of God."
c) not only have we been set free from sin but all of creation is destined to be
freed from the slavery of corruption and share with us. There will be a new
heaven and a new earth. (To be continued)
Thought of the Day November 20, 2018 Be who you are meant to be
By spiritaflame 10:10 AM Thought of the Day
Jesus through his death and resurrection freed us from sin because he loves us so much.
As Paul tells us he didn’t lay down his life when we were friends and deserving of this act.
He chose to give his life, to die in our place when we were his enemies. He loved us that
much. As a result we are not slaves any longer.
He calls us to be who we are meant to be: Adopted sons and daughters of a Father who
loves us and desires us to live in the freedom of his love. For it is real, authentic, selfless
love that sets us free. Jesus manifested this love on the cross. It is love that will enable
and empower us to remain free in him. And it is our response to love with love that
guarantees that this gift of freedom will last.
The story of the eagle who grew up as a chick with chickens. Like the chickens it pecked
and pecked on the ground for food. It never went further than the environment it was
accustomed to and it flew only for a few feet like the other chickens. One day as it
looked up, it saw an eagle soaring high above. As it gaze at the sight, it said aloud:
I wish I could fly like that, but I can’t because I am a chicken.” It never knew it was
an eagle and could soar. All the other chickens laughed at the eagle and said you can
never do that. You are a chicken like us.” Full freedom comes from true self-identity
and accepting and acting on that true self-identity. Be who you are in fact. Don’t accept
the lie which limits you. Don’t buy into the lie that keeps you from being fully who you
are and are meant to be and who you can become.(To be continued)
As Paul tells us he didn’t lay down his life when we were friends and deserving of this act.
He chose to give his life, to die in our place when we were his enemies. He loved us that
much. As a result we are not slaves any longer.
He calls us to be who we are meant to be: Adopted sons and daughters of a Father who
loves us and desires us to live in the freedom of his love. For it is real, authentic, selfless
love that sets us free. Jesus manifested this love on the cross. It is love that will enable
and empower us to remain free in him. And it is our response to love with love that
guarantees that this gift of freedom will last.
The story of the eagle who grew up as a chick with chickens. Like the chickens it pecked
and pecked on the ground for food. It never went further than the environment it was
accustomed to and it flew only for a few feet like the other chickens. One day as it
looked up, it saw an eagle soaring high above. As it gaze at the sight, it said aloud:
I wish I could fly like that, but I can’t because I am a chicken.” It never knew it was
an eagle and could soar. All the other chickens laughed at the eagle and said you can
never do that. You are a chicken like us.” Full freedom comes from true self-identity
and accepting and acting on that true self-identity. Be who you are in fact. Don’t accept
the lie which limits you. Don’t buy into the lie that keeps you from being fully who you
are and are meant to be and who you can become.(To be continued)
ARE MORMONS CHRISTIANS?
From the perspective of Mormons, they profess not only to be Christian but the only true Christian Church. From the perspective of the Catholic Church and some Protestant communities, the Latter Day Saints, or Mormons, are more of a cult or sect than a Christian Church. The basis for this conclusion comes from their tenets. Let me try to explain some of the basic beliefs of the Mormons.
Authority
They believe that the Mormon Church is the only true Christian Church. They state that after the death of the Apostles, the Church fell into error and has remained in this state until the true authority was restored in the 1800’s. This happened when the apostles Peter, James and John appeared as heavenly messengers sent by Jesus and conferred the restored authority on Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowley. These two men, in turn, have restored the Church with its original mandate upon the earth. Accordingly, all churches except the Mormon Church are abominations in the sight of God.
As Catholics, we believe that there has been an unbroken apostolic authority from Jesus through Peter to the present Holy Father. Yes, there have been difficult periods over that time frame, but the promise of Jesus to be with the Church until the end of time and to send the Holy Spirit to be with the Church as its guide to the end of the ages has not been broken. The basic apostolic teachings, the Scriptures and worship of God in Spirit and truth are the same today as it was in apostolic times. That is why we profess: “We believe in One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church.” The Church believes it is the true Church founded by Jesus Christ upon the foundation of the Apostles. However, it does not see others who hold some of the same teachings as abominations, but as separated brothers.
God
The Mormons speak about the Father, Son and Holy Ghost as three separate beings who are “one in purpose.” But they do not believe in the Trinity as we do. They see God as the Heavenly Father who has a physical body. Jesus Christ is called Son of God and Savior. But Jesus was originally one of the spirit beings that all humans used to be and who became God. For Mormons, Jesus is not the eternal Word of God (Jn 1:1) or God Himself. He is a spiritual being who won a contest over Satan to be the redeemer. It was then he was given a body through the Virgin birth to Mary.
As far as the Holy Ghost, he too is a separate being from God and Jesus but not co-eternal with God and thus not God.
Baptism
Mormons do not believe in original sin. There is only personal sin. Once Jesus died for sin, children come into the world without sin. Therefore, according to the Mormons, there is no need for infant baptism.
After a month of the birth of a child to a Mormon parent (one sealed in the Temple), the child is blessed and given a name and is known as a “child of record.” Once this child reaches the age of 8, the child is invited to be baptized and confirmed. It is at this point the child becomes a member of the Church.
For Catholics, we believe in original sin and that everyone, except Jesus and Mary, is born separated from God. It is in the Sacrament of Baptism that a person is freed from all sin (original and personal) and adopted as a son or daughter of God, incorporated as a member of the Church, and share in God’s life through the presence of the Holy Spirit.
For Mormons, Baptism is done by a member who belongs to the Melchizedeck Priesthood (see below). Baptism is by immersion only. This Baptism takes away any sin the child may have committed once the person comes to know the difference between right and wrong. Through Baptism a person enters into a covenant with God. The person promises to take on the name of Christ and to follow his commandments. In turn God promises to provide the companionship of the Holy Spirit as a help to the person. The person is, at the same time, confirmed.
Because of the views of Mormons about God and Jesus, as Catholics, we believe that Mormons converting to the Catholic Church must be re-baptized. Their baptism is not the same as that intended by Christ and taught by the Church since apostolic times. In other words, we do not accept their baptism as valid.
The Sacrament
What we refer to as Eucharist or Communion, Mormons use the term the Sacrament. They believe that, if they sin after baptism, those sins are taken away by partaking in the Sacrament each week. What is the Sacrament? During their weekly service, bread and water (not wine) are blessed by one in authority and distributed to the congregation, who eat and drink. The bread and water stand for symbols or reminders of Jesus’ body and blood. Where, as Catholics, we believe that this is the real Body and Blood of Jesus, not a symbol or reminder. We adhere to what is in the Scriptures and use bread and wine.
Scriptures
Mormons believe God’s revelation has been given to the world through the Bible (King James OT and NT) but that the revelation of God did not end with the Bible. They teach that the Bible contains many errors and mistranslations and thus it is of lesser authority than the Book of Mormons. They hold that the Book of Mormons, translated by Joseph Smith (Founder of Mormonism), is the continuation of God’s revelation. Thus, they hold the Book of Mormons to be of greater importance than the Bible.
According to the Mormons, the Book of Mormons contains the writings of ancient prophets, compiled by one of the last prophets, Mormon. These were written on gold plates and buried around 421 A.D. in New York State. According to Joseph Smith, the angel Moroni appeared to him in 1823 and told him where the gold plates were. According to Smith, he was inspired by God to translate them.
Priesthood
There are two levels of priesthood in the Mormon sect: the Aaronic priesthood and the Melchizedeck priesthood.
The Aaronic priesthood is the lower order of the two. Those who belong to this group take care of the temporal affairs of the community. It includes deacon, teacher, priest, bishops. At the age of 12, boys enter this order as deacons.
The Melchizedeck priesthood includes every practicing Mormon male who has reached the age of 18 and adheres to the teachings of the Church. They are divided into elders, seventy, high priest, patriarch, apostle and president. The young men evangelizing two by two on bicycles are elders.
After Life On Earth
Mormon belief states that after death all spirits go to the spiritual world where they undergo instructions and purification, waiting for the restoration of their bodies in the resurrection.
Only Satan and the other fallen angels are condemned to hell forever. Other spirits are not. Instead, they will share some form of heavenly glory in one of the three heavens. The telestial kingdom is the lowest of the three and it is reserved for adulterers, murderers, thieves, liars and other evil doers. Though their sins are forgiven, they can only enjoy the eternal presence of the Holy Ghost because of their deeds.
The middle heaven or terrestrial kingdom is reserved for the souls and bodies of good non-Mormons and those Mormons who were not in full compliance with the Mormon Church. These will enjoy the presence of Jesus Christ.
The highest heaven or celestial kingdom is the place where devout Mormons, who go on to become gods and rulers of different universes, reside. If their wives and children are sealed with them during a temple ceremony, their families will also be with them.
Mormons believe in multiple universes and multiple gods. While there are other universes and may be other living creatures than human beings, we believe there is still only one God who created all out of nothing.
Sealing of the Dead
A person can be saved even after death, so Mormons teach, if someone stands in proxy for them and they are sealed by one in authority. They believe that life does not begin at birth nor end at death but that each person pre-existed. If a person has died, that person can still repent of past sins and still be saved. Or others can have them sealed and thus they will experience salvation, even after death.
As Catholics, we believe that life begins in conception and continues after death. But we believe that one’s final state of existence is determined at the time of death. There is no further chance for that person to gain salvation.
From the perspective of Mormons, they profess not only to be Christian but the only true Christian Church. From the perspective of the Catholic Church and some Protestant communities, the Latter Day Saints, or Mormons, are more of a cult or sect than a Christian Church. The basis for this conclusion comes from their tenets. Let me try to explain some of the basic beliefs of the Mormons.
Authority
They believe that the Mormon Church is the only true Christian Church. They state that after the death of the Apostles, the Church fell into error and has remained in this state until the true authority was restored in the 1800’s. This happened when the apostles Peter, James and John appeared as heavenly messengers sent by Jesus and conferred the restored authority on Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowley. These two men, in turn, have restored the Church with its original mandate upon the earth. Accordingly, all churches except the Mormon Church are abominations in the sight of God.
As Catholics, we believe that there has been an unbroken apostolic authority from Jesus through Peter to the present Holy Father. Yes, there have been difficult periods over that time frame, but the promise of Jesus to be with the Church until the end of time and to send the Holy Spirit to be with the Church as its guide to the end of the ages has not been broken. The basic apostolic teachings, the Scriptures and worship of God in Spirit and truth are the same today as it was in apostolic times. That is why we profess: “We believe in One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church.” The Church believes it is the true Church founded by Jesus Christ upon the foundation of the Apostles. However, it does not see others who hold some of the same teachings as abominations, but as separated brothers.
God
The Mormons speak about the Father, Son and Holy Ghost as three separate beings who are “one in purpose.” But they do not believe in the Trinity as we do. They see God as the Heavenly Father who has a physical body. Jesus Christ is called Son of God and Savior. But Jesus was originally one of the spirit beings that all humans used to be and who became God. For Mormons, Jesus is not the eternal Word of God (Jn 1:1) or God Himself. He is a spiritual being who won a contest over Satan to be the redeemer. It was then he was given a body through the Virgin birth to Mary.
As far as the Holy Ghost, he too is a separate being from God and Jesus but not co-eternal with God and thus not God.
Baptism
Mormons do not believe in original sin. There is only personal sin. Once Jesus died for sin, children come into the world without sin. Therefore, according to the Mormons, there is no need for infant baptism.
After a month of the birth of a child to a Mormon parent (one sealed in the Temple), the child is blessed and given a name and is known as a “child of record.” Once this child reaches the age of 8, the child is invited to be baptized and confirmed. It is at this point the child becomes a member of the Church.
For Catholics, we believe in original sin and that everyone, except Jesus and Mary, is born separated from God. It is in the Sacrament of Baptism that a person is freed from all sin (original and personal) and adopted as a son or daughter of God, incorporated as a member of the Church, and share in God’s life through the presence of the Holy Spirit.
For Mormons, Baptism is done by a member who belongs to the Melchizedeck Priesthood (see below). Baptism is by immersion only. This Baptism takes away any sin the child may have committed once the person comes to know the difference between right and wrong. Through Baptism a person enters into a covenant with God. The person promises to take on the name of Christ and to follow his commandments. In turn God promises to provide the companionship of the Holy Spirit as a help to the person. The person is, at the same time, confirmed.
Because of the views of Mormons about God and Jesus, as Catholics, we believe that Mormons converting to the Catholic Church must be re-baptized. Their baptism is not the same as that intended by Christ and taught by the Church since apostolic times. In other words, we do not accept their baptism as valid.
The Sacrament
What we refer to as Eucharist or Communion, Mormons use the term the Sacrament. They believe that, if they sin after baptism, those sins are taken away by partaking in the Sacrament each week. What is the Sacrament? During their weekly service, bread and water (not wine) are blessed by one in authority and distributed to the congregation, who eat and drink. The bread and water stand for symbols or reminders of Jesus’ body and blood. Where, as Catholics, we believe that this is the real Body and Blood of Jesus, not a symbol or reminder. We adhere to what is in the Scriptures and use bread and wine.
Scriptures
Mormons believe God’s revelation has been given to the world through the Bible (King James OT and NT) but that the revelation of God did not end with the Bible. They teach that the Bible contains many errors and mistranslations and thus it is of lesser authority than the Book of Mormons. They hold that the Book of Mormons, translated by Joseph Smith (Founder of Mormonism), is the continuation of God’s revelation. Thus, they hold the Book of Mormons to be of greater importance than the Bible.
According to the Mormons, the Book of Mormons contains the writings of ancient prophets, compiled by one of the last prophets, Mormon. These were written on gold plates and buried around 421 A.D. in New York State. According to Joseph Smith, the angel Moroni appeared to him in 1823 and told him where the gold plates were. According to Smith, he was inspired by God to translate them.
Priesthood
There are two levels of priesthood in the Mormon sect: the Aaronic priesthood and the Melchizedeck priesthood.
The Aaronic priesthood is the lower order of the two. Those who belong to this group take care of the temporal affairs of the community. It includes deacon, teacher, priest, bishops. At the age of 12, boys enter this order as deacons.
The Melchizedeck priesthood includes every practicing Mormon male who has reached the age of 18 and adheres to the teachings of the Church. They are divided into elders, seventy, high priest, patriarch, apostle and president. The young men evangelizing two by two on bicycles are elders.
After Life On Earth
Mormon belief states that after death all spirits go to the spiritual world where they undergo instructions and purification, waiting for the restoration of their bodies in the resurrection.
Only Satan and the other fallen angels are condemned to hell forever. Other spirits are not. Instead, they will share some form of heavenly glory in one of the three heavens. The telestial kingdom is the lowest of the three and it is reserved for adulterers, murderers, thieves, liars and other evil doers. Though their sins are forgiven, they can only enjoy the eternal presence of the Holy Ghost because of their deeds.
The middle heaven or terrestrial kingdom is reserved for the souls and bodies of good non-Mormons and those Mormons who were not in full compliance with the Mormon Church. These will enjoy the presence of Jesus Christ.
The highest heaven or celestial kingdom is the place where devout Mormons, who go on to become gods and rulers of different universes, reside. If their wives and children are sealed with them during a temple ceremony, their families will also be with them.
Mormons believe in multiple universes and multiple gods. While there are other universes and may be other living creatures than human beings, we believe there is still only one God who created all out of nothing.
Sealing of the Dead
A person can be saved even after death, so Mormons teach, if someone stands in proxy for them and they are sealed by one in authority. They believe that life does not begin at birth nor end at death but that each person pre-existed. If a person has died, that person can still repent of past sins and still be saved. Or others can have them sealed and thus they will experience salvation, even after death.
As Catholics, we believe that life begins in conception and continues after death. But we believe that one’s final state of existence is determined at the time of death. There is no further chance for that person to gain salvation.
What are we looking for? What is the desire in the deep recess of our being? What
do we want as we see the different chains, shackling us in the darkness of a dungeon
prison of our own making? What is the cry of our hearts that we are afraid to shout
because there may not be anyone listening or caring?
You remember that famous line from Braveheart uttered courageously by Mel Gibson
in the role of Bruce Wallace: FREEDOM! That’s what Jesus has come to give us:
FREEDOM! Can you make that your own personal cry? FREEDOM! Again!
FREEDOM! Can you cry out: JESUS? The two are synonymous. When Jesus
is in our life, there is freedom. Where there is true freedom, there is Jesus, the source
and summit of all freedom.
This freedom was promised by God to his chosen people enslaved in Egypt for 400
years. This freedom was his gift to them. But first they had to get rid of their gods.
They had to leave behind in the desert all that was sinful and embrace the covenant of
freedom with him. They did and they did not. Their history is like our history. We want
to be free but are not sure if we will be able to pay the cost of freedom. The truth is:
we can’t pay the cost and we don’t have to pay the cost. It has been paid for by Jesus
on the cross through the shedding of his blood and the gift of his own life for our lives.
do we want as we see the different chains, shackling us in the darkness of a dungeon
prison of our own making? What is the cry of our hearts that we are afraid to shout
because there may not be anyone listening or caring?
You remember that famous line from Braveheart uttered courageously by Mel Gibson
in the role of Bruce Wallace: FREEDOM! That’s what Jesus has come to give us:
FREEDOM! Can you make that your own personal cry? FREEDOM! Again!
FREEDOM! Can you cry out: JESUS? The two are synonymous. When Jesus
is in our life, there is freedom. Where there is true freedom, there is Jesus, the source
and summit of all freedom.
This freedom was promised by God to his chosen people enslaved in Egypt for 400
years. This freedom was his gift to them. But first they had to get rid of their gods.
They had to leave behind in the desert all that was sinful and embrace the covenant of
freedom with him. They did and they did not. Their history is like our history. We want
to be free but are not sure if we will be able to pay the cost of freedom. The truth is:
we can’t pay the cost and we don’t have to pay the cost. It has been paid for by Jesus
on the cross through the shedding of his blood and the gift of his own life for our lives.
(To be continued)
The ransom has been paid! That’s the reality! That’s the truth! That’s the Good News!
“For there is one God. There is also one mediator between God and the human race,
Christ Jesus, Himself, human, who gave Himself as ransom for all.” (1 Tim 2:5-6)
But there is another reality! In spite of this undeniable truth, we are still bound by sin of
choice and we are still bound by the lies around us. We are bound by our guilt and shame,
our fears from the past and for the future and we are bound by our insecurities. We are
bound by the perceived or real hurts and scared memories from the past. We are bound
by the isolation from peers. We are bound by additions–sexual, alcohol, drug, overeating.
We are bound by the demands and fads of our environment and society. We are bound
by the music we listen to, the TV programs we watch, the movies and Dvd’s we view,
by the conversations we have.
Who is setting the standards of our lives? Who is setting the moral agenda of right and
wrong? Who tells us that there is nothing wrong with premarital sex, with pornography,
with over drinking? Who encourages us to abuse our bodies to look more sexy, more
attractive, more acceptable, more in? Who tells us if it feels good it is alright; if everybody
is doing it, it is cool? Who feeds our darkest feelings and sinful desires for their own profit?
Who tells us there is no hell, no consequences for our actions? (To be continued)
“For there is one God. There is also one mediator between God and the human race,
Christ Jesus, Himself, human, who gave Himself as ransom for all.” (1 Tim 2:5-6)
But there is another reality! In spite of this undeniable truth, we are still bound by sin of
choice and we are still bound by the lies around us. We are bound by our guilt and shame,
our fears from the past and for the future and we are bound by our insecurities. We are
bound by the perceived or real hurts and scared memories from the past. We are bound
by the isolation from peers. We are bound by additions–sexual, alcohol, drug, overeating.
We are bound by the demands and fads of our environment and society. We are bound
by the music we listen to, the TV programs we watch, the movies and Dvd’s we view,
by the conversations we have.
Who is setting the standards of our lives? Who is setting the moral agenda of right and
wrong? Who tells us that there is nothing wrong with premarital sex, with pornography,
with over drinking? Who encourages us to abuse our bodies to look more sexy, more
attractive, more acceptable, more in? Who tells us if it feels good it is alright; if everybody
is doing it, it is cool? Who feeds our darkest feelings and sinful desires for their own profit?
Who tells us there is no hell, no consequences for our actions? (To be continued)
INFORMATION:
CORRECTION
WOMEN'S NOVEMBER MASS
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2018
8:00 AM
BISHOP'S HOUSE
BRING A FRIEND
FELLOWSHIP AFTERWARDS
CORRECTION
WOMEN'S NOVEMBER MASS
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2018
8:00 AM
BISHOP'S HOUSE
BRING A FRIEND
FELLOWSHIP AFTERWARDS
Thought of the Day November 15, 2018 Freedom is a choice
By spiritaflame 10:07 AM Thought of the Day
Someone had an image of four birds in a large enclosure, like in a bird sanctuary. Two are flying from one side to the other seemingly trying to get free of the enclosure. One is sitting in a melancholic state on a perch, neither flying, nor singing, nor eating–almost in a cationic state. A fourth bird is eating and eating and getting fatter and fatter, flying less and less because it is becoming more difficult to do.
One day someone comes and makes a gaping hole in the enclosure. One bird sees the hole and escapes, flying freely away; another bird continues to fly from one side of the enclosure to the other, never accepting nor acting on the opportunity given for true, full freedom. The bird on the perch is so full of fears that even though it sees the opening it is afraid to leave the enclosure for fear of failure, guilt, shame, self-condemnation, etc. It shivers on the perch, neither eating nor flying, just slowly dying. The fourth bird just keep enjoying the limited food of its captivity, getting fatter and fatter, until it cannot fly if it wanted to. Thus it remains in the self-contained bondage of its addiction.
One day someone comes and makes a gaping hole in the enclosure. One bird sees the hole and escapes, flying freely away; another bird continues to fly from one side of the enclosure to the other, never accepting nor acting on the opportunity given for true, full freedom. The bird on the perch is so full of fears that even though it sees the opening it is afraid to leave the enclosure for fear of failure, guilt, shame, self-condemnation, etc. It shivers on the perch, neither eating nor flying, just slowly dying. The fourth bird just keep enjoying the limited food of its captivity, getting fatter and fatter, until it cannot fly if it wanted to. Thus it remains in the self-contained bondage of its addiction.
Which bird are we? Have we embraced the gift of salvation given to us by Jesus? Or in spite of what Jesus has done for us, we remain in captivity of our sinful nature? (To be continued)
Homily:
Thirty-third Sunday Year B
Reading
1: There has always been an interest in the end times. The Old Testament
reading from the Book of Daniel written over 2000 years ago reflects on that
very question. The prophet Daniel is in exile. He was pondering on how long the
exile from Jerusalem would continue. In a vision he is given insight into God’s
plan. It is important that one’s name is found written in the Book of life.
Both
the just and the wicked will die; both will rise from the dead. There are two
destinations for all human beings. 1. Those who will live forever in the glory
of God. 2. Those who will suffer forever in everlasting horror and disgrace.
One is heaven; the other is hell. Who are those who will live forever in glory
with God? The wise—those who heard the word of God and acted on it; those who
led many to justice or the truth or to the truth of God’s Word.
What
is the question for us? Is heaven or hell a reality for us, even though it is a
reality in fact? What wise decisions are we making to be judged worthy by God’s
grace and mercy to share in his glory forever? Are we leading others to the
truth of God’s word?
Reading
2: The author of Hebrews shows the difference between the priests of the Old
Testament and Jesus, the High Priest of the New Testament. The former offered
sacrifice to God but their sacrifice did not take away sins. Jesus offered the
perfect sacrifice of himself once and sins have been forgiven. Today, we
participate in Jesus’ one sacrifice in thanksgiving and praise to God.
What
is the connection with the first reading? We can’t earn heaven, but we can earn
hell. It was the offering of Jesus, who gave his life as a sacrifice once for
all, that has forgiven all sins and reconciled us to God and to one another.
For
by one offering he has made perfect forever those who have been consecrated. It
is only because of his sacrifice that we can respond to his gift of eternal
life or reject the gift of eternal life. The choice between heaven and hell.
Gospel:
Jesus speaks of an end time, but says only God knows when and how it will
happen. Our focus is not to be the end time of all things as we know them, but
a specific end time: the time when death will come to me. It is then that I
must face the final consequences of my relation or non-relationship with God.
We
are called to be wise as we read the signs of the times, namely, human beings
die every day, some suddenly; some after lengthy illness. But death is
inevitable. Knowing this we need always to be prepared, not out of fear or
anxiety but out of knowing that I have been given the grace of salvation in
Baptism, the forgiveness of my sins, the food of eternal life. I have heard the
truth of justice, the Word of God. What have I done in response to the
countless blessings of God, beginning with Jesus’ death on the cross, his
promises and gifts?
Even
though I know that death is certain, the time is not. Even though I know that
death is final and life after death follows, am I living in a way that I will
be with God in glory or living in a way that I will experience, because of my
choices, the everlasting horror and disgrace?
Let
the hearing of this sacred revelation today become a reality check for us. If I
died tonight, what will my eternity be: life with God or life alienated from
God?
It is said that demons were sent to win souls away from God. One by one they were questioned by the demon-in-chief on the strategy each would use. One said that he would convince the world that there is no hell--and he is successful in his missionary work. Many souls are lost. A second demon said that he would convince the world that there is no heaven. Again, he is successful in winning souls away from God. A third said that he would convince the world that there is no hurry. And he is the most successful of all in winning souls away from God.
Who can deliver me from this bondage when we pray, “Deliver us from evil?”: “Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Rom 7:25). Paul came to this realization after much struggle with a particular situation in his life, which he identified as a thorn in his side.
Having acknowledged the spiritual revelations he had been given by God, he also admitted his struggles. “Although if I should wish to boast, I would not be foolish, for I would be telling the truth. But I refrain, so that no one may think more of me than what he sees in me or hears from me because of the abundance of the revelations. Therefore, that I might not become too elated, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, an angel of Satan, to beat me, to keep me from being too elated. Three times * I begged the Lord about this, that it might leave me, but he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness." I will rather boast most gladly of my weaknesses, in order that the power of Christ may dwell with me. Therefore, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and constraints, for the sake of Christ; for when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Cor 126-10).
No matter the thorn in our side, there is still only one who can save us and that is Jesus! (To be continued)
Who can deliver me from this bondage when we pray, “Deliver us from evil?”: “Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Rom 7:25). Paul came to this realization after much struggle with a particular situation in his life, which he identified as a thorn in his side.
Having acknowledged the spiritual revelations he had been given by God, he also admitted his struggles. “Although if I should wish to boast, I would not be foolish, for I would be telling the truth. But I refrain, so that no one may think more of me than what he sees in me or hears from me because of the abundance of the revelations. Therefore, that I might not become too elated, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, an angel of Satan, to beat me, to keep me from being too elated. Three times * I begged the Lord about this, that it might leave me, but he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness." I will rather boast most gladly of my weaknesses, in order that the power of Christ may dwell with me. Therefore, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and constraints, for the sake of Christ; for when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Cor 126-10).
No matter the thorn in our side, there is still only one who can save us and that is Jesus! (To be continued)
Thirty-Third Sunday Ordinary Gospel Reflections B
· As we come to the end of the Liturgical Year, the Church begins to reflect
on the end-times statements of Jesus in the Gospel, of which this is one.
Jesus said: "But in those days after that tribulation
· Before this Jesus mentioned things pertaining to earthly events such as wars,
earthquakes, famines. Now he mentions cosmic events.
the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will
be falling from the sky, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.
· Much of what Jesus is referring to is found referenced in the Old Testament in
the writings of the prophets: Is 13:10;34:4; Joel 2:10, 31; 3:15.
And then they will see 'the Son of Man coming in the clouds' with great power
and glory, and then he will send out the angels and gather (his) elect from the
four winds, from the end of the earth to the end of the sky.
· What is your feeling when you read this? Humanly, it may be of fear. But what
do you think Jesus’ intention is for us when we hear this and other similar statements?
· The real key is whether we will be among the elect or not?
"Learn a lesson from the fig tree. When its branch becomes tender and sprouts
leaves, you know that summer is near. In the same way, when you see these things
happening, know that he is near, at the gates.
· What is the message Jesus wants us to hear and act on? Live in the present moment
as if it was your last. Always be ready, not in fear, but in true relationship with God.
Is this your attitude?
Amen, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have
taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
"But of that day or hour, no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the
Son, but only the Father.
· This last statement is very key. No matter how often people try to read the
“signs” of the time and predict the future, especially the end of the world, only the
Father, Son, and Spirit know as God. Jesus is saying that in his humanity he does
not have this knowledge. At the moment he is speaking from his humanity, not
out of his divinity.
· How should this whole passage impact your life today?
· As we come to the end of the Liturgical Year, the Church begins to reflect
on the end-times statements of Jesus in the Gospel, of which this is one.
Jesus said: "But in those days after that tribulation
· Before this Jesus mentioned things pertaining to earthly events such as wars,
earthquakes, famines. Now he mentions cosmic events.
the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will
be falling from the sky, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.
· Much of what Jesus is referring to is found referenced in the Old Testament in
the writings of the prophets: Is 13:10;34:4; Joel 2:10, 31; 3:15.
And then they will see 'the Son of Man coming in the clouds' with great power
and glory, and then he will send out the angels and gather (his) elect from the
four winds, from the end of the earth to the end of the sky.
· What is your feeling when you read this? Humanly, it may be of fear. But what
do you think Jesus’ intention is for us when we hear this and other similar statements?
· The real key is whether we will be among the elect or not?
"Learn a lesson from the fig tree. When its branch becomes tender and sprouts
leaves, you know that summer is near. In the same way, when you see these things
happening, know that he is near, at the gates.
· What is the message Jesus wants us to hear and act on? Live in the present moment
as if it was your last. Always be ready, not in fear, but in true relationship with God.
Is this your attitude?
Amen, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have
taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
"But of that day or hour, no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the
Son, but only the Father.
· This last statement is very key. No matter how often people try to read the
“signs” of the time and predict the future, especially the end of the world, only the
Father, Son, and Spirit know as God. Jesus is saying that in his humanity he does
not have this knowledge. At the moment he is speaking from his humanity, not
out of his divinity.
· How should this whole passage impact your life today?
Thought of the Day November 13, 2018 The deception of the devil
By spiritaflame 9:18 AM Thought of the Day
Each of us in our own life can easily relate to this petition: “Deliver us from evil”.
We may have many areas of spiritual bondage which may have occurred over the
years, some of which we may not have yet identified as such. One of the deceptions
of the evil one is to enslave us while at the same time convincing us that we don’t
have a problem. An addicted alcoholic or gambler, drug user or extremely
overweight person may seek to rationalize the situation rather than admit it. We may
have deep resentments, unforgiveness and unresolved anger and hate, which have
festered in our hearts for a long period of time. We may feel inadequate, insecure;
our self-esteem may be very low. We may have some deep fears, which control our
life and limit our ability to cope with aspects of reality. We may find that depression is
more the norm than the exception. In all of these, no matter how hard we seem to try
on the human level, we can’t seem to overcome the effects they have in our lives.
There is a story I would like share dealing with the effect of evil in our lives. It was
advertised that the devil was going to put his tools up for sale. On the date of the sale,
the tools were placed for public inspection; each tool being marked with its sale price.
They were a treacherous lot of implements...Hatred, Envy, Jealousy, Deceit, Lying,
Pride, and so on. Laid apart from the rest was a harmless looking tool, well worn and
priced very high. "What is the name of this tool?" asked one of the purchasers, pointing
to it. That is Discouragement", replied the devil. "Why have you priced it so high?"
"Because it is more useful to me than the others. I can pry open and get inside a man's
heart with that when I cannot get near him with my other tools. Once I get inside, I
can make him do what I choose. It is badly worn because I use it on almost everyone,
since very few people know that it belongs to me." (To be continued)
We may have many areas of spiritual bondage which may have occurred over the
years, some of which we may not have yet identified as such. One of the deceptions
of the evil one is to enslave us while at the same time convincing us that we don’t
have a problem. An addicted alcoholic or gambler, drug user or extremely
overweight person may seek to rationalize the situation rather than admit it. We may
have deep resentments, unforgiveness and unresolved anger and hate, which have
festered in our hearts for a long period of time. We may feel inadequate, insecure;
our self-esteem may be very low. We may have some deep fears, which control our
life and limit our ability to cope with aspects of reality. We may find that depression is
more the norm than the exception. In all of these, no matter how hard we seem to try
on the human level, we can’t seem to overcome the effects they have in our lives.
There is a story I would like share dealing with the effect of evil in our lives. It was
advertised that the devil was going to put his tools up for sale. On the date of the sale,
the tools were placed for public inspection; each tool being marked with its sale price.
They were a treacherous lot of implements...Hatred, Envy, Jealousy, Deceit, Lying,
Pride, and so on. Laid apart from the rest was a harmless looking tool, well worn and
priced very high. "What is the name of this tool?" asked one of the purchasers, pointing
to it. That is Discouragement", replied the devil. "Why have you priced it so high?"
"Because it is more useful to me than the others. I can pry open and get inside a man's
heart with that when I cannot get near him with my other tools. Once I get inside, I
can make him do what I choose. It is badly worn because I use it on almost everyone,
since very few people know that it belongs to me." (To be continued)
Thought of the Day November 12, 2018 Jesus, our deliverer
By spiritaflame 10:19 AM Thought of the Day
The temptation in the desert was not the only test of Jesus in his humanity.
The scriptures conclude this section by saying as a matter of reality “(The tempter)
departed from him for a time”(Lk 4:15). Recall two other times Jesus is tested.
One was through the intervention of Peter, who didn’t want to accept that for
Jesus to be Messiah he had to suffer and die. “Then Peter took him aside and
began to rebuke him, ‘God forbid, Lord! No such thing shall ever happen to
you.’ (Jesus) turned and said to Peter, ‘Get behind me, Satan! You are an
obstacle to me. You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do’"(Mt 16:22-23)
Another time was in the Garden of Gethsemani when the reality of his immanent
passion and death became so overwhelming for Jesus. He cried out three different
times: “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; yet, not as I will, but
as you will”(Mt 26:39). From all the test Jesus endured, the author of Hebrews
gives us this faith assurance: “Because he himself was tested through what he suffered,
he is able to help those who are being tested” (Heb 2:18).
Paul himself witnessed the faith awareness that Jesus is the one who will deliver us
at the time of test by the evil one. “We do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of
the affliction that came to us in the province of Asia; we were utterly weighed down
beyond our strength, so that we despaired even of life. Indeed, we had accepted
within ourselves the sentence of death, that we might trust not in ourselves but in
God who raises the dead. He rescued us from such great danger of death, and he
will continue to rescue us; in him we have put our hope (that) he will also rescue us
again”(2 Cor 1:8-10). (To be continued)
The scriptures conclude this section by saying as a matter of reality “(The tempter)
departed from him for a time”(Lk 4:15). Recall two other times Jesus is tested.
One was through the intervention of Peter, who didn’t want to accept that for
Jesus to be Messiah he had to suffer and die. “Then Peter took him aside and
began to rebuke him, ‘God forbid, Lord! No such thing shall ever happen to
you.’ (Jesus) turned and said to Peter, ‘Get behind me, Satan! You are an
obstacle to me. You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do’"(Mt 16:22-23)
Another time was in the Garden of Gethsemani when the reality of his immanent
passion and death became so overwhelming for Jesus. He cried out three different
times: “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; yet, not as I will, but
as you will”(Mt 26:39). From all the test Jesus endured, the author of Hebrews
gives us this faith assurance: “Because he himself was tested through what he suffered,
he is able to help those who are being tested” (Heb 2:18).
Paul himself witnessed the faith awareness that Jesus is the one who will deliver us
at the time of test by the evil one. “We do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of
the affliction that came to us in the province of Asia; we were utterly weighed down
beyond our strength, so that we despaired even of life. Indeed, we had accepted
within ourselves the sentence of death, that we might trust not in ourselves but in
God who raises the dead. He rescued us from such great danger of death, and he
will continue to rescue us; in him we have put our hope (that) he will also rescue us
again”(2 Cor 1:8-10). (To be continued)
Thought of the Day November 9, 2018 Jesus confronted the evil one.
By spiritaflame 9:23 AM Thought of the Day
Jesus confronted the temptations of the evil one in his own humanity. We know the sequence of events well. Jesus, in his humanity, came to the realization of his dignity, his destiny and his mission. In response to the call of the Father he went down into the waters of the Jordan to be baptized by his cousin John as a way of publicly committing his life to do the will of the Father. Upon coming out of the water Jesus clearly experienced the affirmation of the Father who called him the Beloved Son in whom he was well pleased. He was the new Adam. And with this affirmation came the empowerment in his humanity of the gifts of the Spirit for the work ahead. Afterwards, Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert where he prayed and fasted to ready himself for the work of the Father.
Having heard and seen what the Father said and did, the evil one sought to intervene and perhaps thwart once more the plan of God by putting the new Adam to the test. But in this beloved Son he met his match. No matter the test--from personal satisfaction, to questioning the trustworthiness of God, to the drive for power and importance--Jesus never took his eyes off the Father. He returned love for love. His responses were precise and committed, reflecting his true relationship to God. “One does not live by bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God....You shall worship the Lord, your God, and him alone shall you serve....You shall not put the Lord, your God, to the test” (Lk 4:4,8,12). (To be continued)
Having heard and seen what the Father said and did, the evil one sought to intervene and perhaps thwart once more the plan of God by putting the new Adam to the test. But in this beloved Son he met his match. No matter the test--from personal satisfaction, to questioning the trustworthiness of God, to the drive for power and importance--Jesus never took his eyes off the Father. He returned love for love. His responses were precise and committed, reflecting his true relationship to God. “One does not live by bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God....You shall worship the Lord, your God, and him alone shall you serve....You shall not put the Lord, your God, to the test” (Lk 4:4,8,12). (To be continued)
The reality of evil is seen as prevalent throughout the OT and the NT. It was part and parcel of the journey of the chosen people, who struggled with their relationship with Yahweh, the Covenant-Maker. Even with the Resurrection and the coming of the Spirit, the people of the New Covenant also had to face the reality of evil in their relationship to the Triune God.
But the saving grace of the revealed Word of God gives us God’s answer to evil. For immediately after the sin of Adam and Eve God revealed his plan from all eternity. He would deliver them from the power of evil through and in the person of a redeemer: Speaking to the evil one in the guise of the serpent, God promises: “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; He will strike at your head, while you strike at his heel" (Gen 3:15). This redeemer is the Word made Flesh, the Word of God who became one like us in all things but sin.
In spite of the fact of Paul’s admission of not being able on his own to be freed from the bondage of sin, from the slavery which sin brings about in all human beings--”Miserable one that I am! Who will deliver me from this mortal body?” the apostle of the Gentiles came to the faith conviction of the role of Jesus the Messiah. Without missing a beat he responds with joyful acclamation: “Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Rom 7:25). Yes, only Jesus has won the power to deliver us. For this we praise and thank him. (To be continued)
But the saving grace of the revealed Word of God gives us God’s answer to evil. For immediately after the sin of Adam and Eve God revealed his plan from all eternity. He would deliver them from the power of evil through and in the person of a redeemer: Speaking to the evil one in the guise of the serpent, God promises: “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; He will strike at your head, while you strike at his heel" (Gen 3:15). This redeemer is the Word made Flesh, the Word of God who became one like us in all things but sin.
In spite of the fact of Paul’s admission of not being able on his own to be freed from the bondage of sin, from the slavery which sin brings about in all human beings--”Miserable one that I am! Who will deliver me from this mortal body?” the apostle of the Gentiles came to the faith conviction of the role of Jesus the Messiah. Without missing a beat he responds with joyful acclamation: “Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Rom 7:25). Yes, only Jesus has won the power to deliver us. For this we praise and thank him. (To be continued)
Homily
Thirty-second Sunday Year B
Reading
1: Elijah has prophesied earlier that God would cause a drought over Israel for
three years because of the sins of the leaders and people. The prophet is led
by the Spirit to Zarephath, a pagan town. There a divine encounter takes place:
two desperate people, himself and a widow with a son. He is thirsty and hungry
and she and her son are hungry and about to eat their last meal before the oil
and flour run out.
Elijah
first says to her: “Do not be afraid.” Elijah then asks her for a cup of water
and then for something to eat. Remember she is a pagan, not an Israelite. The
widow responds in truth, acknowledging the little she has just for herself and
her son. Elijah speaks a word of prophecy, calling her to trust in God’s
providential care for her and her son. “If
you make me a cake first, then the oil and flour will not run out until the
drought is over.”
A
desperate woman could have taken care of herself and her son first, but a woman
of faith trusted in the word of the Lord to her and her child accordingly. She
responded in compassion and trust. As a result, over a year the prophetic word
was fulfilled. In choosing to be generous and to make a life-threatening
sacrifice she was blessed.
It
is easier to trust in God in good times; it is harder to do so in difficult and
desperate times.
Reading
2: The author gives us the ultimate reason we can trust God. Through Jesus’
death and resurrection, not only have my sins been forgiven, but I share in God’s
life and in eternal salvation.
Jesus’
one offering of himself on the cross for my sake out of love and in total
surrender to the will of the Father has given life its true meaning. Now, we
await for the second coming with eagerness. The completion of Jesus’ gift of
salvation will only be experienced by those who eagerly away him. We are saved
but our salvation doesn’t come to perfection until we respond to Jesus and at
the moment of our death are still responding to him.
Gospel:
Again, we have the witness of a widow given to us. In the Gospel we are given
the contrast between the widow and the others making their offerings in the
Temple. Like the widow in the first reading, she gave everything, trusting in
the providential care of the Lord. She gave from her need, quietly and
unnoticed.
On
the other hand, the crowd gave from their surplus and maybe out of obligation
to the law of tithe. But what they gave did not make them any more dependent on
the Lord. The trust of the widow is the trust God is looking for from each of
us—not that we give everything as much as we, in our giving, express our trust
and dependency upon God. This is in response to the awareness that God has
provided what we have.
The
widow was not only materially poor—because she was a widow with no one to care
for her—but also she was poor in spirit. She reflected the first Beatitude. True
disciples of Jesus are able to make themselves vulnerable in front of God, able
to give the best part of themselves. If we are humble like the poor widow, whose
name no one knows, then we will be noticed by God, who will raise us and reward
us according to our sacrifice.
How
often are we afraid to truly trust God completely? What is it that I am still holding
on to that prevents me from totally surrendering myself to God? How dependent are we on the Lord? Do we give
to him first or afterwards? Is God the recognized and acknowledged source of
all that we have? Can I be as stalwart as the first widow and generous as the
second? We can’t on our own but in him, who strengthens us, we can.
