Friday, October 12, 2012
October 12, 2012. Homily Blessed Virgin Mary, Saturday, October 13, 2012
Blessed Virgin Mary
Lk 11:27-28
While he was saying this, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said to him, ‘Blessed is the womb that bore you and the breasts that nursed you!’ But he said, ‘Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it!’
Lectio divini.
The human being is both flesh and spirit. When the woman in today's Gospel called out to Jesus "Blessed is the womb that bore you and the breasts that nursed you", she was emphasizing the physical aspect of the human being. The word "Hebrew" as in "the Hebrew people" is derived from the Hebrew word "hebiru" meaning "wind" or "spirit". Jesus in responding to His Hebrew audience "Blessed rather are the those who hear the word of God and obey it", emphasizes the spiritual aspect of the human being. Jesus came to heal the sinful, nourish the spirit, and show the way to eternal life. His Passion was His crucifixion, death and resurrection. He stayed on earth after His Resurrection for forty days and then ascended into Heaven. His Ascension made room for the Paraclete, the Holy Spirit who came and abides with us to help us understand that the life, death and resurrection of Jesus shows us the way to eternal life.
Meister Eckhart said, "The whole of Christendom pays our Lady great honour and respect because she is the bodily mother of Christ, and that is right and proper…. And if Christendom pays her such honour, as indeed is fitting, nevertheless Christendom should pay even greater honour and glory to that person who hears God's word and keeps it…. All that honour, and immeasurably more, is accorded to that person who hears God's word and keeps it…. The Father of heaven gives you His eternal Word, and in that same Word He gives you at once His own life, His own being and His Godhead: for the Father and the Word are two Persons but one life and one being undivided…. In this light…the Father knows no difference between you and Him and no precedence, any more or any less than between Him and His Word. For the Father and yourself and all things and the Word itself are one in this light.”
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
October 10, 2012. Homily, Thursday, October 11, 2012
Luke 11: 5-13
And he said to his disciples, "Suppose one of you has a friend to whom he goes at midnight and says, 'Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, for a friend of mine has arrived at my house from a journey and I have nothing to offer him,' and he says in reply from within, 'Do not bother me; the door had already been locked and my children and I are already in bed. I cannot get up to give your anything.' I tell you, if he does not get up to give the visitor the loaves because of their friendship, he will get up to give him whatever he needs because of his persistence.
"And I tell you, ask and your will receive; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you, For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. What father among you would hand his son a snake when he asks for a fish? Or hand him a scorpion when he asks for an egg? If you then, who are wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?"
The Gospel of the Lord.
Jesus gives two parables that instruct us how we may expect God will respond to our prayers.
New translation of the word translated as "persistence": the man aroused himself not because of his neighbor's persistence but rather to save face for it was the duty of the whole village to welcome strangers.
God hears each petition and answers each in the form that does us the greatest good in terms of our salvation.
And he said to his disciples, "Suppose one of you has a friend to whom he goes at midnight and says, 'Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, for a friend of mine has arrived at my house from a journey and I have nothing to offer him,' and he says in reply from within, 'Do not bother me; the door had already been locked and my children and I are already in bed. I cannot get up to give your anything.' I tell you, if he does not get up to give the visitor the loaves because of their friendship, he will get up to give him whatever he needs because of his persistence.
"And I tell you, ask and your will receive; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you, For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. What father among you would hand his son a snake when he asks for a fish? Or hand him a scorpion when he asks for an egg? If you then, who are wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?"
The Gospel of the Lord.
Jesus gives two parables that instruct us how we may expect God will respond to our prayers.
New translation of the word translated as "persistence": the man aroused himself not because of his neighbor's persistence but rather to save face for it was the duty of the whole village to welcome strangers.
God hears each petition and answers each in the form that does us the greatest good in terms of our salvation.
Saturday, October 6, 2012
October 6, 2012. Homily, Tuesday, October 9, 2012
St, Denis and companions (optional memorial)
Luke 10: 38-42
Jesus entered a village where a woman whose name was Martha welcomed him. She had a sister named Mary who sat beside the Lord at his feet listening to him speak. Martha, burdened with much serving, came to him and said, "Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me by myself to do the serving? Tell her to help me." The Lord said to her in reply, "Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things. There is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part and it will not be taken from her."
The Gospel of the Lord.
These past four days my wife Deann and I have been babysitting our four grandchildren in New Jersey. The youngest is our grandson Tucker five years old. Tucker asked Deann, "Grandma Dee, why am I a boy?" Deann just looked at him speechless, and Tucker added, "I know that you are going to tell me that 'I am a boy, because God decided to make me a boy.' But why does God make all the big decisions?"
This Gospel answers that question. Martha asks, "Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me by myself to do the serving?" And Jesus by His answer show that He does care. First, He addresses her by her name "Martha" and again "Martha". To address a person by their name show that one cares. And then Jesus shows that He has observed Martha: "you are anxious and worried about many things". And to observe a person shows that one cares.
Then Jesus says,
"There is need of only one thing." What is that "one thing". the lead-in to the Gospel says "Blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it." That suggests the answer.
Then Jesus says, "Mary has chosen the better part and it will not be taken away from her. "[t]the "better part of what"? "[T]he better part of what [whole}." The whole is to hear the word of God and to observe it. When we hear the Word of God we inhale, and when we observe the Word we exhale. We inhale the Word and exhale the works. Benedict's "Laborare es orare". Work is prayer.
Thursday, October 4, 2012
October 4, 2012. Homily, Saturday, October 6, 2012
Luke 10:17-24
The seventy-two disciples returned rejoicing and said to Jesus, "Lord, even the demons are subject to us because of your name." Jesus said, "I have observed Satan fall like lightning from the sky. Behold,
I have given you the power 'to tread upon serpents' and scorpions and upon the full force of the enemy and nothing will harm you. Nevertheless, do rejoice because the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice because your names are written in heaven."
At that very moment he rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, "I give you praise, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to the childlike. Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father. No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is, except the Son and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him.'
Turning to the disciples in private he said, "Blessed are the eyes that see what you see. For I say to you, many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, but did not see it, and to hear what you hear, but did not hear it."
The Gospel of the Lord.
Jesus is exultant on the successful return of the seventy who had been sent out two by two as missionaries. They were sent out as emissaries of the Lord, to witness to the Lord, to cure the sick, to be worthy of their role, and to preach what John the Baptist had preached - repent and repentance. Later, after the Passion, death and resurrection of the Lord, they will preach His way and anchor their preaching with the fact, that He had died for our sins and then rose again and ascended into heaven where He sits at the right hand of the Father as mediator for us.
I am reminded of my own ordination as deacon when Cardinal Egan sent me and the other ordinandi, my class-mates, out with the words, "Read the Gospel, believe what you read, preach what you believe, and practice what you preach."
And the instruction of St. Francis Assisi on how to preach. Preach the Gospel. Use words only if necessary.
The seventy-two disciples returned rejoicing and said to Jesus, "Lord, even the demons are subject to us because of your name." Jesus said, "I have observed Satan fall like lightning from the sky. Behold,
I have given you the power 'to tread upon serpents' and scorpions and upon the full force of the enemy and nothing will harm you. Nevertheless, do rejoice because the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice because your names are written in heaven."
At that very moment he rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, "I give you praise, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to the childlike. Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father. No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is, except the Son and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him.'
Turning to the disciples in private he said, "Blessed are the eyes that see what you see. For I say to you, many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, but did not see it, and to hear what you hear, but did not hear it."
The Gospel of the Lord.
Jesus is exultant on the successful return of the seventy who had been sent out two by two as missionaries. They were sent out as emissaries of the Lord, to witness to the Lord, to cure the sick, to be worthy of their role, and to preach what John the Baptist had preached - repent and repentance. Later, after the Passion, death and resurrection of the Lord, they will preach His way and anchor their preaching with the fact, that He had died for our sins and then rose again and ascended into heaven where He sits at the right hand of the Father as mediator for us.
I am reminded of my own ordination as deacon when Cardinal Egan sent me and the other ordinandi, my class-mates, out with the words, "Read the Gospel, believe what you read, preach what you believe, and practice what you preach."
And the instruction of St. Francis Assisi on how to preach. Preach the Gospel. Use words only if necessary.
October 4, 2012. Feast of St. Francis. October 4, 2012
Feast of St. Francis of Assisi
Luke 10:1-12
The Lord Jesus appointed seventy-two disciples whom he sent ahead of him in pairs to every town and village he intended to visit. He said to them, "The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest. Go on your way; behold, I am sending you like lambs among wolves. Carry no money bag, no sack, no sandals, and greet no one along the way. Into whatever house you enter, first say, 'Peace to this household.' If a peaceful person lives there, your peace will rest on him, but if not, it will return to you. Stay in the same house and eat and drink what is offered to you, for the laborer deserve payment. Do not move from one house to another. Whatever town you enter and they welcome you, eat what is set before you, cure the sick in it and say to them, 'The Kingdom of God is at hand for you.' Whatever town you enter, and they do not receive you, go out into the streets and say, 'The dust of your town that clings to our feet, even that we shake off against you.' Yet know this: the Kingdom of God is at hand. I tell you it will be more tolerable for Sodom on that day than for that town."
The Gospel of the Lord.
Prayer of Saint Francis of Assisi
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury,pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seekto be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen
The Gospel excerpt today (Luke 10:1-12), Jesus sending out the seventy-two is found only in Luke’s Gospel. We have a problem with this particular text because about half the manuscripts say Jesus sent out seventy and the other half say Jesus sent out seventy-two. Which is it? What symbolism did Luke have in mind? If we take it to be seventy we could see it reflecting the seventy nations in Gen 10, thus symbolizing all the nations of the world. If we take it be seventy-two we could see it reflecting the seventy-two nations in the Greek Septuagint (LXX) translation of Gen 10. Thus whether we take it be seventy or seventy-two, it is another indication, among many others in the Gospel, of Luke’s Gospel being directed in a special way to the Gentiles. Luke is saying that it was not the Church which began the mission to the Gentiles, the foundation for this mission was laid in the very ministry of Jesus himself. We are all privileged to have been called by the Lord to participate in this ministry either in the ordained ministerial priesthood or the priesthood of the faithful.
After John had been arrested, Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the Gospel of God: This is the Time of fulfillment, The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent and believe in the Gospel. Mark 1:14-15.
Mark and Luke accompanied Paul, so that Paul takes this Gospel fragment from his experience with Paul, on how Paul went forth and preached the good news of Jesus.
Luke is The Dear and Glorious Physician from Taylor Caldwell. Luke was close to Mary, the mother of Jesus, and from Mary Luke got the Annunciation of Mary by the Angel Gabriel (the strength of God), the visitation, the Birth of the Lord, in fact the entirety of the Joyful Mysteries. Luke also painted a picture of Mary. We have if there in our Church, the Signpost. Luke is the patron saint of Artists. The symbol of Luke is the Ox.
Tuesday, October 2, 2012
October 2, 2012. Prayer Service, October 3, 2012
Luke 9: 57-62
As Jesus and his disciples were proceeding on their journey, someone said to him, "I will follow you wherever your go." Jesus answered him, "Foxes have dens and birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to rest his head." And to another he said, "Follow me." But he replied, "Lord, let me go first and bury my father." But he answered him, "Let the dead bury their dead. But you go and proclaim the Kingdom of God." And another said, "I will follow you, Lord, but first let me say farewell to my family at home." Jesus answered him, "No one who sets a hand to the plow and looks to what was left behind is fit for the Kingdom of God."
The Gospel of the Lord.
Luke 9:57-62
TRUE DISCIPLESHIP
A TRUE DISCIPLE HAS NO (PERMANENT) HOME - Vss. 57-58
By this we mean that a true disciple of Christ will consider his true home to be in Heaven. Earthly accommodations mean nothing compared to the importance of following Christ wherever. See 1 Timothy 6:6-8, Hebrews 13:14 and Luke 9:23-24.
A TRUE DISCIPLE HAS NO HINDRANCE - Vss. 59-60
When this man requested a delay in following, the father was probably not even dead yet.
He was using family as an excuse, a hindrance for not doing what he was told.
A TRUE DISCIPLE HAS NO HESITATION - Vss. 61-62
There is no unnecessary delay on our part when we are truly following the Lord.
*********************************************************************
Luke 9:57-63
WILLING?
Many people who say that are willing to follow Jesus really aren’t. Here are three people who claimed they would follow Jesus but weren’t as willing as they sounded.
SOME ARE “WILLING” BUT DISILLUSIONED – Vss. 57-58
Evidently this man thought that following Jesus would mean prosperity. Jesus told the disillusioned man that it meant sacrifice.
SOME ARE “WILLING” BUT DISORIENTED – Vss. 60-61
This man would follow Jesus when he thought the time was right, after he buried his father.
Jesus told him that following Jesus meant preaching now.
SOME ARE “WILLING” BUT DISTRACTED – Vss. 62-63
This man was more interested in family and friends than following Jesus.
Jesus told him that the one who began a task and looked back wasn’t fit for God’s kingdom.
As Jesus and his disciples were proceeding on their journey, someone said to him, "I will follow you wherever your go." Jesus answered him, "Foxes have dens and birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to rest his head." And to another he said, "Follow me." But he replied, "Lord, let me go first and bury my father." But he answered him, "Let the dead bury their dead. But you go and proclaim the Kingdom of God." And another said, "I will follow you, Lord, but first let me say farewell to my family at home." Jesus answered him, "No one who sets a hand to the plow and looks to what was left behind is fit for the Kingdom of God."
The Gospel of the Lord.
Luke 9:57-62
TRUE DISCIPLESHIP
A TRUE DISCIPLE HAS NO (PERMANENT) HOME - Vss. 57-58
By this we mean that a true disciple of Christ will consider his true home to be in Heaven. Earthly accommodations mean nothing compared to the importance of following Christ wherever. See 1 Timothy 6:6-8, Hebrews 13:14 and Luke 9:23-24.
A TRUE DISCIPLE HAS NO HINDRANCE - Vss. 59-60
When this man requested a delay in following, the father was probably not even dead yet.
He was using family as an excuse, a hindrance for not doing what he was told.
A TRUE DISCIPLE HAS NO HESITATION - Vss. 61-62
There is no unnecessary delay on our part when we are truly following the Lord.
*********************************************************************
Luke 9:57-63
WILLING?
Many people who say that are willing to follow Jesus really aren’t. Here are three people who claimed they would follow Jesus but weren’t as willing as they sounded.
SOME ARE “WILLING” BUT DISILLUSIONED – Vss. 57-58
Evidently this man thought that following Jesus would mean prosperity. Jesus told the disillusioned man that it meant sacrifice.
SOME ARE “WILLING” BUT DISORIENTED – Vss. 60-61
This man would follow Jesus when he thought the time was right, after he buried his father.
Jesus told him that following Jesus meant preaching now.
SOME ARE “WILLING” BUT DISTRACTED – Vss. 62-63
This man was more interested in family and friends than following Jesus.
Jesus told him that the one who began a task and looked back wasn’t fit for God’s kingdom.
Monday, October 1, 2012
October 2, 2012. Homily, October 2, 2101
Memorial of The Holy Guardian Angels
Matthew 18:1-5, 10, 12-14,
The Disciples approached Jesus and said, "Who is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven?" He called a child over, placed it in their midst, and said, "Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the Kingdom of heaven. Whoever becomes humble like this child is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven. And whoever receives one child such as this receives me.
"See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that their angels in heaven always look upon the face of my heavenly Father.
The Gospel of the Lord.
Yesterday's Gospel reading stops with the phrase "as this receives me." Today's Gospel continues with reference to "their angels in heaven" meaning each of us has an angel in heaven.
Angel of God, my guardian dear, to whom God's love commits me here.
Every day [night], be at my side, to light, to guard, to rule, to guide.
It is interesting what is left out of the Gospel reading. The quotations are the Word of Jesus Christ and yet some of that Word is omitted:
"Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the Kingdom of heaven. Whoever becomes humble like this child is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven. And whoever receives one child such as this receives me.
[But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea. Woe into the world because of 'offenses' for it must need be that offenses come, but woe to that man by whom the offense cometh! Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off and cast them from thee; it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed' rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire. And if thy eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee. It is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire.]
"See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that their angels in heaven always look upon the face of my heavenly Father. [For the Son of man is come to save that which is lost.]
Pope John Paul II said, "There is no place in the clergy for one who has abused a child in his care." And yet the Bishops' Council meeting in Texas considered whether the words of John Paul II meant one strike and you are out, two strikes and you are out or three or more strikes and you are out.
I remember seeing Archbishop Dolan meeting some elderly nuns, and him opening his arms, this great bear of a man, and enfolding them in his embrace and his love. How much I loved him, and love him now thinking about it, for that demonstration, for that innocent public witness, of the love of the Church.
[David's great] Psalm 139 [on the everlasting presence and power of God].
in four parts: You [the Lord] know me (vv. 1-6), You are with me (vv. 7-12), You created me (vv. 13-18 [13, You formed my inmost being; you knit me in my mother's womb. {KJ 14, I will praise thee for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are thy works}; my very self you knew; 15, my bones were not hidden from you. When I was being made in secret, fashioned as in the depths of the earth. 16, Your eyes foresaw my actions; in your book all are written down; my days were shaped before one came to be.), You are with me (vv. 19-24).
Matthew 18:1-5, 10, 12-14,
The Disciples approached Jesus and said, "Who is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven?" He called a child over, placed it in their midst, and said, "Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the Kingdom of heaven. Whoever becomes humble like this child is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven. And whoever receives one child such as this receives me.
"See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that their angels in heaven always look upon the face of my heavenly Father.
The Gospel of the Lord.
Yesterday's Gospel reading stops with the phrase "as this receives me." Today's Gospel continues with reference to "their angels in heaven" meaning each of us has an angel in heaven.
Angel of God, my guardian dear, to whom God's love commits me here.
Every day [night], be at my side, to light, to guard, to rule, to guide.
It is interesting what is left out of the Gospel reading. The quotations are the Word of Jesus Christ and yet some of that Word is omitted:
"Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the Kingdom of heaven. Whoever becomes humble like this child is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven. And whoever receives one child such as this receives me.
[But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea. Woe into the world because of 'offenses' for it must need be that offenses come, but woe to that man by whom the offense cometh! Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off and cast them from thee; it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed' rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire. And if thy eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee. It is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire.]
"See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that their angels in heaven always look upon the face of my heavenly Father. [For the Son of man is come to save that which is lost.]
Pope John Paul II said, "There is no place in the clergy for one who has abused a child in his care." And yet the Bishops' Council meeting in Texas considered whether the words of John Paul II meant one strike and you are out, two strikes and you are out or three or more strikes and you are out.
I remember seeing Archbishop Dolan meeting some elderly nuns, and him opening his arms, this great bear of a man, and enfolding them in his embrace and his love. How much I loved him, and love him now thinking about it, for that demonstration, for that innocent public witness, of the love of the Church.
[David's great] Psalm 139 [on the everlasting presence and power of God].
in four parts: You [the Lord] know me (vv. 1-6), You are with me (vv. 7-12), You created me (vv. 13-18 [13, You formed my inmost being; you knit me in my mother's womb. {KJ 14, I will praise thee for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are thy works}; my very self you knew; 15, my bones were not hidden from you. When I was being made in secret, fashioned as in the depths of the earth. 16, Your eyes foresaw my actions; in your book all are written down; my days were shaped before one came to be.), You are with me (vv. 19-24).
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