Saint Paul was a teacher of the Gentiles. He asked them: What can separate you from God? The answer is not “what” but “who.” We are the only thing that can take us away from God. We choose to turn ourselves away from Him. We choose whether or not to honor Christ.
My grandfather was a police officer, but he never missed Mass…he went every Sunday. We can make up all kinds of excuses for not participating in Mass. A few examples I’ve heard are I’m busy on Sunday mornings, I have a family function to attend, I cannot find a Catholic Church, or my child has soccer practice. If you can find a Walmart, you can certainly find a Catholic Church. And, why would you risk your child’s soul for a soccer game? A soccer game is more important than Jesus Christ dying on the cross for our sins? Really? The truth is that we choose not to participate in Mass. It is offered on Saturday evenings and twice on Sundays…so there’s no good excuse.
If we are less fixated on ourselves, it will make more room for God, and we can be more in love with Him. God understands our human weakness, but He still holds us accountable. He will judge us on how we returned His Love.
How will you apply this message to your life? Will you be less fixated on self and make more room for God?
27) But I say this to you who are listening: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28) Bless those who curse you, pray for those who treat you badly. 29) To anyone who slaps you on one cheek, present the other cheek as well; to anyone who takes your cloak from you, do not refuse your tunic. 30) Give to everyone who asks you, and do not ask for your property back from someone who takes it. 31) Treat others as you would like people to treat you. 32) If you love those who love you, what credit can you expect? Even sinners love those who love them. 33) And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit can you expect? For even sinners do that much. 34) And if you lend to those from whom you hope to get money back, what credit can you expect? Even sinners lend to sinners to get back the same amount. 35) Instead, love your enemies and do good to them, and lend without any hope of return. You will have a great reward, and you will be children of the Most High, for he himself is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. 36) Be compassionate just as your Father is compassionate. 37) Do not judge, and you will not be judged; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven. 38) Give, and there will be gifts for you: a full measure, pressed down, shaken together, and overflowing, will be poured into your lap; because the standard you use will be the standard used for you.
I work at the Veterans’ Administration (VA) Hospital in Salisbury one or two days a week. A VA hospital is different from a civilian one. Unlike at civilian hospitals, these patients were in the military and have been trained to kill.
I have access to patient records so that before I go into a patient’s room for a visit, I can review them and be aware of any behavioral issues that could pose a risk to my safety and to others. Some of the patients are just plain bad people…but, some have had bad breaks in life and are hurting….others suffer from cancer or alcoholism….and still others suffer from some sort of trauma like Military Sexual Trauma (MST) or Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). I approach patients differently depending on their background and diagnoses. We cannot judge people on how they look or how they act. Were their actions evil? Perhaps. Are they sick? Yes. But, nobody is beyond God’s love and mercy.
A hospital is not exactly a happy place to be. It is very likely that patients and their families are dealing with a fair amount of stress. One time, a social worker was talking to a Marine…a big guy. I could tell that the Social Worker was getting nervous and that the guy was becoming increasingly agitated. It was apparent that the patient was not getting the answers he wanted to hear. So, to calm the situation, I stepped between them and asked the Marine what was going on. By simply talking to him, one soldier to another, he was able to regain his composure. Treating him with compassion relieved his stress.
On another occasion, the nurses told me I needed to visit a Hospice patient who had a statue of Buddha in his room. It took several visits for this man to finally open up to me. When he did, he told me that the silver band he wore had 29 notches on it which represented the 29 Japanese soldiers he had killed. This patient, who was brilliant, was suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Syndrome (PTSD). But, he was able to deal with the horror he had seen by finding peace in Buddha.
We were at a local restaurant last week after Mass when I noticed a disheveled man who looked as if he was down on his luck and suffering from addiction. I could tell he didn’t have much money. So, I told the waitress that I would pay for his breakfast and asked her to please tell the man that God loves him. A kind gesture can reach a wound that only compassion can heal. Compassion is a verb…an action word. It is not enough to feel compassion. We are called to both pray for others and to take physical actions to help them. Too often, we underestimate the power of the smallest act of caring which has the potential to turn a life around.
You have heard me say that I’m not much, but I’m all I think about. We all tend to think about ourselves incessantly, and it can be tough to think about others. For example, it can be very frustrating to be stuck in traffic behind a slow driver. After all, we have very important things to accomplish and places to be, so why is the person in front of me driving so slowly, or why did they cut me off in traffic!! In these cases, we need to step out of our shoes and walk a mile in theirs. Instead of honking our horns, we need to be kind…to have compassion, because we don’t know what they might be dealing with in their lives.
How will you apply this message to your life? Will you pray for those who are hurting? Will you show compassion by taking action and trying to help them?
Everybody wants to be happy, and we all know those things that will help us achieve it. Eating right, sleeping well, exercising regularly, and praying without end are essential. But we don’t do those things. Why? Simple. We are too busy. Too busy doing what? Too busy trying to be happy…and that is the paradox of happiness that has bewitched our age.
God created us to know, serve, and love Him. He also wants us to be joyful. But, happiness can be a fleeting thing unless we seek it in Him. Only in God can we find eternal happiness. The Beatitudes are a guide on how to practice the highest Christian virtues. They are at the heart of Jesus’ teachings, and respond to our natural desire to lead happy lives. It teaches us that true happiness is not found in riches, fame, or personal achievements. That kind of happiness can be found in God alone.
The Beatitudes (from the Baltimore Catechism, p. 151-152):
1. Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. The poor in spirit are those who humbly submit to the condition of their lives
2. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Mourners are those who endure all trials for His sake.
3. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. The meek suppress all feelings of anger and humbly submit to whatever befalls them by the Will of God never desiring to do evil for evil.
4. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. Those who earnestly desire and seek justice will find it.
5. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. The merciful help those who need help for their soul or body.
6. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. The pure in heart are those whose thoughts, desires, words, and works are pure and modest.
7. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. Peacemakers avoid/prevent quarrels and reconcile with enemies.
8. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Those persecuted for righteousness’ sake will not abandon their faith or virtue for any cause.
Our Lord lived the Beatitudes. During His life on Earth, Christ experienced poverty in His birth, life, and death; meekness in His teaching; and sorrow at all times. He sought to do good, showed mercy to all, recommended chastity, brought peace, and patiently endured suffering. We are called to do the same.
How will you apply this message to your life? Will you use the Beatitudes as a guide for living your life? Will you seek happiness from God alone…the one true source for eternal happiness?
The Gospel tells us many things, particularly about the power of God’s words. Priests are required to preach from the pulpit and not from the center aisle. We do not need props, or use theatrics and special microphones as if we were Engelbert Humperdinck. Jesus didn’t yell as He preached; there was no show or tricks….the power was in His words.
When Christ asked Peter to put his boat further out into the water and to cast his nets, Peter thought it was a waste of time. After all, he had been fishing all day with no luck, and who was this carpenter to tell him how to fish! But, he did as Jesus instructed and caught so many fish that his boat almost sank. After this miracle, Peter was humbled and immediately fell to his knees calling Jesus his Lord.
Disobedience was, and is, the first sin. The Lords asks us to, “Do it for love of Me.” These are acts of love and trust. But…we want what we want when we want it. We want immediate gratification. Sometimes, we say, “but Lord, you don’t understand…you aren’t in my situation…you don’t have the temptations that I have”, and the Lord says “just do as I say.” If we follow His Commandments and the teachings of the Church, it will always work out well for us. He created us so that we can have eternal happiness and share eternity with Him in heaven. It boils down to one question…..Do you love Him?
How will you apply this message to your life? Will you do as He says because you love Him?
1) Since many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the events that have been fulfilled among us, 2) just as those who were eyewitnesses from the beginning and ministers of the word have handed them down to us, 3) I too have decided, after investigating everything accurately anew, to write it down in an orderly sequence for you, most excellent Theophilus, 4) so that you may realize the certainty of the teachings you have received. 14)Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news of him spread throughout the whole region. 15) He taught in their synagogues and was praised by all. 16) He came to Nazareth, where he had grown up, and went according to his custom into the synagogue on the sabbath day. He stood up to read 17) and was handed a scroll of where it was written: 18) The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, 19) and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord.” 20) Rolling up the scroll, he handed it back to the attendant and sat down, and the eyes of all in the synagogue looked intently at him. 21) He said to them, “Today this scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing.”
The Sacrament of Baptism is a gift from God. It signifies our entry into Christian life and provides us access to true freedom. After baptism, we are cleansed of original sin, and our souls are transformed profoundly. However, with the gift of baptism comes the responsibility to become His disciple and to share the Gospel. God’s love is not a treasure to be hidden away behind lock and key. We are called to share it with others. St. Francis of Assisi said we should proclaim the faith day in and day out and to use words if necessary. In other words, our deeds must match what we say.
The truly poor are those who do not know God and who are enslaved by sin. My godmother grew up very poor; in fact, the only toys she had as a child were sticks. But, she had a strong faith in God, so she was rich and she was free, because true freedom is found in bondage to Christ. We need to teach liberty to those who are held captive by sin. Jesus said: “If you remain in my word, you will truly be my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free…I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave of sin.” (John 8: 31-34). Before his conversion, Paul hated everything that Jesus represented. But, once the scales had fallen from his eyes and he suddenly realized the truth, Paul began at once to “proclaim Jesus in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.” (Acts 9:20).
Tell people the good news. They love to hear stories…so, tell them yours! Let people know what God has done for you and how He has released you from being a slave to sin. Tell them about your hopes, joys, and peace because you dwell in His love. Let people know how He gives you peace when you are troubled, courage when you are frightened, hope when you are suffering, patience with which to carry your crosses, and trust because He always keeps His promises. We experience His love in countless ways. Share it with others so that the scales can fall from their eyes and they, too, may experience the love and mercy of our Lord.
How will you apply this message to your life? Will you let your light shine so that others can see His love in you? Will you tell people what God has done for you so that the scales fall from their eyes and they can experience His love?
1) On the third day there was a wedding in Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. 2) Jesus and his disciples were also invited to the wedding. 3) When the wine ran short, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” 4) [And] Jesus said to her, “Woman, how does your concern affect me? My hour has not yet come.” 5) His mother said to the servers, “Do whatever he tells you.” 6) Now there were six stone water jars there for Jewish ceremonial washings, each holding twenty to thirty gallons. 7) Jesus told them, “Fill the jars with water.” So they filled them to the brim. 8) Then he told them, “Draw some out now and take it to the headwaiter. So they took it. 9) And when the headwaiter tasted the water that had become wine, without knowing where it came from (although the servers who had drawn the water knew), the headwaiter called the bridegroom 10) and said to him, “Everyone serves good wine first, and then when people have drunk freely, an inferior one; but you have kept the good wine until now.” 11) Jesus did this as the beginning of his signs* in Cana in Galilee and so revealed his glory, and his disciples began to believe in him.
Jesus performed His first miracle at the wedding in Cana where He, Mary, and the apostles were among the guests. When Mary noticed that the wine was running low, she interceded by approaching Jesus and saying “They have no wine.” The proper translation of His response is; “Woman, what is thee to me?”
Now, this statement may sound as if Jesus was rebuking His mother, but, in His native language, He was not being disrespectful. Today, many mothers would respond to that statement with “You talking to me??” However, Mary, with perfect faith, told the servants to “Do whatever He tells you.” These are the last words of Mary recorded in the Bible, and is the greatest spiritual advice ever given.
In response to Mary’s intercession, Jesus performed His first miracle by turning six stone jars each containing 20-30 gallons of water into wine. That is more than 120 gallons of wine, and this wasn’t just any wine…it was the best that could be had. That is what happens when we ask for Mary’s intercession…Christ gives over and beyond what we ask for in our prayers, and He doesn’t ask if we deserve it.
People often ask me to remember them in my prayers, and I’m happy to do it. In fact, I take all of your prayers with me to the altar. The cross on the back of my chasuble (outer garment) symbolizes the yoke of Christ, and the cross on the front symbolizes yours. But, just think how much better it would be to have Mary intercede for you and take your prayers directly to Him. After all, she is His beloved mother and has direct communication with Him. When it comes to our own mothers, we aren’t so different. For example, I once knew a man back in Rhode Island who was my mother’s friend; however, he was not mine. But, when this man asked me for a favor, I was much more inclined to help him after my mother interceded on his behalf and encouraged me to do so.
Mary is the mother of us all. She knows our needs before we do and, although she doesn’t take them away, she makes our crosses sweeter and easier to bear. So, to grow spiritually, we need to become a child of Mary. No one has run so far from Christ or fallen so low that Mary is unwilling or unable to hear them. Remember…You cannot outrun God. He is an Olympic runner. He pursues us and will be waiting for us at the finish line. Always.
Our mothers give us the advice of our lives. Dr. Mom….we go to her when we are sick, sad, afraid, needy, and thankful. We ask for her help, and she gives us the advice of our lives…Say please, thank you, apologize, wash your hands, wear a coat, etc. If we are sick, we may need to make an appointment with our doctor. Either way, we must take the medication prescribed by the doctor even if it tastes bad and follow our mother’s advice even if we don’t like it. For example: Want to stop drinking? Stay away from bars and from people who drink in bars. Want to be more holy? Stay away from pornography and people who are unholy. Want to grow closer to God? Do whatever He tells you.
St. Bernard’s Memorare (Remembrance) Prayer:
Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, and sought thy intercession, was left unaided. Inspired with this confidence, I fly unto thee, O Virgin of Virgins, my Mother, to thee I come, before thee I stand sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate! Despise not my petitions, but, in thy mercy hear and answer me. Amen
How will you apply this message to your life? Will you take Mary’s advice and “Do whatever He tells you?” Will you ask her to intercede on your behalf by taking your prayers directly to God?
1) After Jesus had been born at Bethlehem in Judaea during the reign of King Herod, suddenly some wise men came to Jerusalem from the east 2) asking, ‘Where is the infant king of the Jews? We saw his star as it rose and have come to do him homage.’ 3) When King Herod heard this he was perturbed, and so was the whole of Jerusalem. 4) He called together all the chief priests and the scribes of the people, and enquired of them where the Christ was to be born. 5) They told him, ‘At Bethlehem in Judaea, for this is what the prophet wrote: 6) And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, you are by no means the least among the leaders of Judah, for from you will come a leader who will shepherd my people Israel.’ 7) Then Herod summoned the wise men to see him privately. He asked them the exact date on which the star had appeared 8) and sent them on to Bethlehem with the words, ‘Go and find out all about the child, and when you have found him, let me know, so that I too may go and do him homage.’ 9) Having listened to what the king had to say, they set out. And suddenly the star they had seen rising went forward and halted over the place where the child was. 10) The sight of the star filled them with delight, 11) and going into the house they saw the child with his mother Mary, and falling to their knees they did him homage. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts of gold and frankincense and myrrh. 12) But they were given a warning in a dream not to go back to Herod, and returned to their own country by a different way.
Today is the Epiphany of the Lord. The definition of epiphany is a sudden understanding about the nature or meaning of something. The Epiphany of the Lord is a manifestation of God becoming visible to the world. For the first time, man encountered God face-to-face.
I like to drive around town to look at Christmas lights. Sometimes, people will have a nativity scene and a cross as part of their display. But, this is redundant. Christ was born in a wooden manger and died on a wooden cross. The manger and cross are both revelations of His love. He was born as man so that He could die for our salvation.
The wise men came from the East. They had great faith, but no bibles. Very few people could read which is why the Church used visual scripture in the form of statues and stained glass windows to tell the bible story. The wise men brought the baby Jesus gifts of:
Gold – for His divine kingship
Frankincense – for His divine nature
Myrrh – for His human nature and death
The nativity scene represents the three types of people found in the Church:
1. Wisemen – They achieved the goal of their education; they learned that they didn’t know everything. However, they were willing to learn.
2. Shepherds – They knew how ignorant they were. They were humble and found the truth in Christ.
3. Pure – Mary and Joseph
Just as the wise men and shepherds came together for the birth of the Lord, we come together to worship that same Lord when we celebrate the Mass. Bishop Sheen said we do not need to look up to heaven to see Him; instead we can look down. We can see Him at Church in the tabernacle. Everybody will see God at their death….some for just a few minutes before being turned away; but those who love and follow Him will stay with Him for eternity.
Some people memorize scripture; but do they understand what it means? If not, they are learning words and little else. Catalog of Theology:
Christology – the study of who Christ is…the true God and true man.
Sacramentology – the study of biblical sacraments, particularly Holy Communion during which He becomes the body and blood.
Eclesiology – a study of What and Who the Church is…we become a member of the Church through faith. This gift is for the whole world, and we are called to share it with others.
Mariology – the study of Mary, mother of Jesus, and her role in the salvation of souls
How will you apply this message to your life? Will you seek Him with the faith of the wise men? Will you share your faith with others as we have been called to do?
When I reflect upon my life, I realize that I have been blessed with family and friends…more than I probably deserve. My mother has been gone now for over 20 years, but she taught me well. She gave me great gifts of love that I could never repay. My mother always strove to care for her husband and children.
At the wedding in Cana, Mary approached her son with a simple statement: “They have no wine” (John 2:3). So, in response to Mary’s intercession, He performed His first miracle by turning 60 gallons of water into wine. Now, this wasn’t just any wine; it was the best that could be had anywhere.
Mary is both our heavenly mother and that of the Church. She loves us and is watching over us, ready to intercede on our behalf…not because we deserve it, but because she wants us to be with God forever and to have everlasting life. We need to meditate on her love and thank her for her intercessions for us. Are we worthy? No. But, the Lord never asks what we have done for Him or how much we tithe, because He loves us unconditionally.
How will you apply this message to your life? Will you meditate on Mary’s love for you and thank her for her intercessions on your behalf?
41) Each year his parents went to Jerusalem for the feast of Passover, 42) and when he was twelve years old, they went up according to festival custom. 43) After they had completed its days, as they were returning, the boy Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem, but his parents did not know it. 44) Thinking that he was in the caravan, they journeyed for a day and looked for him among their relatives and acquaintances, 45) but not finding him, they returned to Jerusalem to look for him. 46) After three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions, 47) and all who heard him were astounded at his understanding and his answers. 48) When his parents saw him, they were astonished, and his mother said to him, “Son, why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been looking for you with great anxiety.” 49) And he said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” 50) But they did not understand what he said to them. 51) He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them; and his mother kept all these things in her heart. 52) And Jesus advanced [in] wisdom and age and favor before God and man.
I grew up in a parish in Warwick, Rhode Island. At most, there were 600 families, including survivors of the Great Depression and World War II, however, this small parish produced five priests. Jesus said, “You will know them by their fruits… every good tree bears good fruit; but the bad tree bears bad fruit” (Matthew 7:15-17). The parish members in my boyhood church were happy and had a common mission…to be holy. Through the gift of faith, we can all be holy. However, to be holy, you must be willing to give up the high cost of low living. Is it hard? Yes. Is it as hard as the devil tells us it is? No. Do people fall short? Yes.
My family is no different than yours. Some of my cousins do not go to church, even though their families made sacrifices to send them to Catholic school. So, what can we do? As a family and as a church, we can pray and sacrifice for them. For example, in the military, if fellow soldiers are struggling with their 60 lb. backpacks during a 12 mile nature walk, we don’t ask if we can help….we take their burdens onto our own backs and go. If someone falls, we pick them up and carry them. In the same way, we can help each other, and all of God’s children, by shouldering their crosses, just as Christ did for us.
How will you apply this message to your life? Will you strive to be holy? Will you help others who are struggling by shouldering their crosses?
39 During those days Mary set out and traveled to the hill country in haste to a town of Judah, 40 where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. 41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the holy Spirit, 42 cried out in a loud voice and said, “Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. 43 And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord* should come to me? 44 For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy. 45 Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled.
The New Testament is the beginning of our salvation. It was provided by Mary who is the Ark of the Covenant, and recorded by Luke. He took it all down. Mary was filled with love and was the epitome of obedience. Even though she didn’t understand when the angel Gabriel told her that she would bear a son, she said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be done to me according to your word.” (Luke 1:26-38). She didn’t ask for proof, and she didn’t make excuses. She simply obeyed.
When the angel, Gabriel, told Zecharia that he and his wife, Elizabeth, would have a son, he did not believe. Instead, Zecharia said, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.”(Luke 1:18). As a result, he was struck mute until the birth of his son, John. When Mary was told that her relative, Elizabeth, had conceived a son, unlike Zecharia, she believed and immediately went to visit Elizabeth. Love is in immediate action. Once we say yes to Jesus, we can bring Him to others.
We study translated and retranslated scripture. Many of the expressions are those not used in our culture, so you have to read scripture in the context and period in which it was written. Once at Fort Bragg, I was sitting next to a friend of mine, a Rabbi, during mandatory chaplain training being taught by a minister. The topic was the Old Testament. I noticed that my friend was getting very red in the face…he was quite angry about the misinformation being provided. The Rabbi corrected the minister, and justified his explanation by saying that his peeps, the Jews, actually wrote the Old Testament.
Nobody wants to play the role of innkeeper in reenactments of the Christmas story. But, they didn’t know Joseph, Mary, or Jesus. There is a picture of Christ knocking on the door of a house; however, the picture is wrong, because the doorknob is on the wrong side. Only we can let Jesus in. In a way, we are our own innkeeper, and the doorknob is inside us. How do we let Him in? By going to confession and by taking Holy Communion.
How will you apply this message to your life? He is knocking….will you let Him in?
