Bartolome de las Casas said “… the way that wins the mind with reason, that wins the will with gentleness, with invitation” is the best way to teach the faith. Our Baptism makes us evangelists, chosen to share the Way, the Truth and the Life with those we meet.
Fall in love with God and your life will be fruitful and blessed. Love God and you will teach the faith by your actions.
May God Be Praised.
We need to nourish the Gift of Faith that we have been given; nourish it the way St. Thomas the Apostle did, St. Theresa of Calcutta did, St. Padre Pio did; which means live it each day, each moment - for God.
Nourish our Faith through spiritual exercise: prayer, the sacraments, and offering each action to God!
God’s way will rule the Heavens and Earth; the entire Cosmos; all of creation. St. Francis de Sales wrote, “Great occasions for serving God come seldom, but little ones surround us daily.” (Sermon in a Sentence, p. 49)
We are not in charge, we are not God, but we are empowered as disciples of Jesus Christ – to live lives that shines Christ’s Light and Christ’s Love on our world.
As we pray for our world, our nation, our neighborhood, our families – let’s not harden our hearts to the Lord’s voice, let’s us not harden our hearts to the Lord’s call, to the Lord’s message.
For a few minutes, in silence, reflect on your heart, your will and God’s will, God’s heart for you.
May God Be Praised.
The Pope Francis urged us, to “… promote the Catholic way of life which is increasingly alien in the secular world, where our concern about the unborn children or the sacredness of marriage makes us appear quaint and even nettlesome….” We are called by God “… to pass on the faith.”
For men and women of faith, GRATITUDE is the characteristic that reminds that God is in our midst. GRATITUDE for the gift of life, for the gift of faith, for the gift of the Word made flesh.
For a few minutes, in silence, reflect on the depth of your GRATITUDE?
May God Be Praised.
May God Be Praised.
St. Thomas Aquinas wrote, "To one who has faith, no explanation is necessary. To one without faith, no explanation is possible."
The theologian Paul Tillich said, “Faith is a state of being ultimately concerned about something unconditionally.”
The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches, “In faith, the human intellect and will co-operate with divine grace: Believing is an act of the intellect assenting to the divine truth by command of the will moved by God through grace .”
Reflect on your gift of faith and thank God for it.
May God Be Praised.
St. Margaret Mary said, "The sacred heart of Christ is an inexhaustible fountain, and its sole desire is to pour itself out into the hearts of the humble so as to free them and prepare them to lead lives according to his good pleasure."
Jesus revealed his Sacred Heart devotion to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque in several mystical visions between 1673-1675.
St. Margaret Mary Alacoque was a French nun of the Order of the Visitation of Our Lady. Jesus appeared to her four times in Paral-le-Monial, France, revealing His love for humankind through His Sacred Heart.
Reflect on the Sacred Heart today.
May God Be Praised.
In the Psalms we pray, “… the Lord is full of grace and mercy … kind … good in every way and full of compassion.” St. Paul in his letter to the believers in Thessalonia, reminds them to focus on living a life of faith and not to worry about when the Lord returns, that will take care of itself.
An elderly man was walking on the beach where he finds a magic lamp. He immediately rubs it and a genie appears. The genie says, “I shall grant you one wish!” The man thought for a moment and said, “My brother and I had a fight 30 years ago and he hasn’t spoken to me since. I wish he would finally forgive me.”
The genie deeply moved and said, “Your wish has been granted!’ Then the genie said I’ve been around a long time and most people ask for riches or wealth, but you have asked for the love of your brother. Is that because you are old and don’t have much time left? “Heaven’s no” the old man replied, my brother doesn’t have much time left and he is worth 60 million dollars.
That story had an unexpected twist, remember Zacchaeus his story, also, had unexpected twist, Zacchaeus was a well-known sinner who was gouging his own people for the Romans. Zacchaeus admitted he needed God’s help and Jesus offered Zacchaeus an invitation to change and improve his life.
God’s mercy is at work in the Gospel story of Zacchaeus and in today’s world.Let me share with you a story about a teenage daughter who had been in a foul mood for what seemed like an eternity to her family. Her wise and patient mother finally had had enough of her daughter’s sulking and rudeness. Mom sent the rest of the family off to the movies. Then loading up with her daughter’s favorite ice cream, Mom called her into the kitchen and asked her to have a seat. Mom scooped two big bowls. Nothing was said for a long time.
But by the second scoop things changed …. God’s mercy is offered in many ways, sometimes even with scoops of ice cream.
May God Be Blessed!
Praying should be profoundly joyous and enriching, but sometimes seems like a burden; something else I need to do! Author Kelly Adkins wrote about Kevin, her 30 yr. old 6’ 2’’ brother in an article entitled, “God Lives Under the Bed”
“I envy Kevin. (He) thinks God lives under his bed. At least that is what I heard him say one night. He was praying out loud in his … bedroom, and I stopped to listen, ‘Are you there God?’ he said. ‘Where are you? Oh, I see. Under the bed ….’ (Kevin is) mentally disabled as a result of difficulties during labor. Apart from being 6’ 2’’, there are few ways in which he is an adult. He reasons and communicates with the capabilities of a 7-year-old.
Up before dawn each day, off to work … home to walk our dog, return for his favorite macaroni and cheese dinner and later bed. The only variation in the entire scheme is laundry day … twice a week he stays up late to gather dirty laundry for his next day’s chore. And Saturday’s … my Dad takes him to the airport for a soft drink and to watch the planes land.
His life is simple. He will never know the entanglements of wealth, power; he doesn’t care what brand of clothes he wears. His heart is pure …he trusts God.
It is then I realize that perhaps he is not the one with the handicap. I am. My obligations, my fear, my pride, my circumstances - they all become disabilities when I do not trust them to God’s care … And one day, when the mysteries of heaven are opened, and we are all amazed at how close God really is to our hearts, I’ll realize that God heard the simple prayers of a boy who believed that God lived under his bed. Kevin won’t be surprised at all! Prayer is one of the best free gifts we receive.
There is no cost, but a lot of rewards.” Kevin knows how to pray and how to live.
God’s presence is enduring, with each thought pray, “we remember God”
In the rising and the setting of the sun, we remember God.
In howling of the winter wind, we remember God.
In the blueness of the sky, we remember God.
In the rustling of leaves and in the beauty of autumn, we remember God.
When we are weary and in need of strength, we remember God.
When we come to the table of the Lord, we remember God.
When we leave the Eucharistic celebration, we remember God.
(Adaptation of a Jewish Prayer from the Rabbi Manual 1998)
Spend a few moments in silence remembering God and pray with the psalmist:
“My heart is ready, O God.”
May God Be Praised!
Readings: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/102322.cfm
St. Francis de Sales said, “ He who stays not in his littleness loses his greatness.”
This story can shed light on today’s Gospel. “A newly commissioned colonel had just moved into his office. A private entered with a tool box. To impress the private, the colonel said, “Be with you in a minute soldier! I got a phone call as you were knocking. Picking up his phone, the colonel said, “General it’s you! How can I help you?”
After a dramatic pause the colonel said, “No problem. I’ll phone Washington & talk to the president about it.” Putting down the phone the colonel said to the private, “Now, what can I do for you?” The private said, “I am here to hook up your phone.” [Action: Praying Scripture in a Contemporary Way, Year C, Fr. Mark Link]
The private and the tax collector were “lowly”. In our psalm we prayed “I will bless the Lord at all times ….” Do we live our lives blessing the Lord at all times, the good days as well as the bad days? We are called to be saints, people who live ordinary lives extraordinarily, because they live them for the Lord. Living humbly, C. S. Lewis observed, “Humility is not thinking less of yourself, but thinking of yourself less.”
Being “extraordinary” means being “lowly” and it is hard work, demanding work and many times menial work; work that often receives no notice or reward. St. Teresa of Calcutta, a.k.a. Mother Teresa became famous caring for and loving the dying in Calcutta.
A less famous Saint who did menial work with great love, whose prayers are credited for hundreds of miracles is St. Andre Bessette. Brother Andre scrubbed floors and was the doormen for his religious order for nearly 40 years in Montreal and became known as the Doorman of Montreal & Montreal’s Miracle Worker. Thousands of people came to him and asked for prayers - in 1937 over a million people attended his funeral. [Google him to read more about his life]
Today’s Gospel calls us to live our lives entirely for God, everything we do and everything we say. Our life is to become a prayer faithfully attentive to God’s movements in our lives.
Like St. Paul we are called “to finish the race and keep the faith”. We are called to be light for the world, a world increasing in darkness. We are reminded that we don’t want to live a false or pride filled life, but a life nourished by the richness of the Sacraments of our Church.
The humble people among are often invisible as they go about their day. They walk with God each day and focus their lives on living God’s Will. No matter what scientific or technological discoveries or breakthroughs occur – God is still God and we are still human beings created by Him in His image.
God’s presence is enduring, so join with me and pray:
[R] “we remember God.”
In the rising and the setting of the sun,
[R] “we remember God.”
In howling of the winter wind,
[R] “we remember God”.
In the blueness of the sky,
[R] “we remember God.”
In the rustling of leaves and in the beauty of autumn,
[R] “we remember God.”
When we are weary and in need of strength,
[R] “we remember God”.
When we come to the table of the Lord,
[R] "we remember God.”
When we leave the Eucharistic celebration,
[R] “we remember God”. [Adaptation of a Jewish Prayer from the Rabbi Manual 1998]
The Pharisee in today’s Gospel prayed to let God know about the Pharisee’s goodness, while the tax collector was asking for God’s grace so God’s goodness could shine through his life. For a few moments in silence remember God and think about how you will remember God each day.
May God Be Praised!
“They shall see the Lord face to face and bear his name on their foreheads. The night shall be no more. They will need no light from lamps or the sun, for the Lord God shall give them light, and they shall reign forever.” [Revelation 22:4-5]
One day the “night shall be no more”, there will be no more tears or suffering and the Lord will reign forever. We will walk in the “land of the living”.
May God Be Praised.
Today we pray, “Awake, lyre and harp, with praise let us awake the dawn.”
And we read in Isaiah, “All you who are thirsty, come to the water! You who have no money, come, receive grain and eat: Come, without paying and without cost, drink wine and milk!” [55:1]
Lord hear our plea and come to our rescue. We trust in your promise to us.
May God Be Praised.
Do not become upset or feel guilty because you interrupted your prayer to serve the poor. God is not neglected if you leave him for such service. One of God’s works is merely interrupted so that another can be carried out.
So, when you leave prayer to serve some poor person, remember that this very service is performed for God. Charity is certainly greater than any rule. Moreover, all rules must lead to charity. Since she is a noble mistress, we must do whatever she commands. With renewed devotion, then, we must serve the poor, especially outcasts and beggars. They have been given to us as our masters and patrons.”
Spend a few minutes on reviewing your prayer life.
May God Be Praised.
Listen and then spend some time reflecting on the Beauty of the Earth.
For the beauty of the earth,
For the beauty of the skies,
For the love which from our birth
Over and around us lies,
Lord of all, to thee we raise
This our hymn of grateful praise.
For each perfect gift of Thine,
to our race so freely given,
graces human and divine,
flowers of earth and buds of heaven.
Lord of all, to thee we raise
This our hymn of grateful praise.
"For The Beauty Of The Earth" by Rebecca Hincke
May God Be Praised.
Jesus took bread, gave thanks, and broke the
bread. Then he gave it to his disciples
and said: This is my body which is given up for you.
Do this in memory of me.
This is the bread come down from heaven;
anyone who eats this bread will live for ever.
This is my body which is given up for you.
Do this in memory of me.
Meditate on the gift of the Eucharist today.
May God Be Praised.
Fr. Brisson wrote, "It is never what we do that obtains grace, it is the disposition with which we do it." [Founder of the Oblates of Saint Francis de Sales]
Today work on the proper disposition of your heart and your soul, allow God to mold them.
May God Be Praised.
Readings: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/101622.cfm
Recently I received an e-mail message that entitled “Things I Really Don’t Understand.”
It had a list of questions for which there seems to be no clear-cut answer.
Here are a few of them:
· Why do doctors and lawyers call what they do practice?
· Why is abbreviation such a long word?
· Why is a boxing ring square?
· What was the best thing before sliced bread?
· How do they get the deer to cross the highway at those yellow signs?
These questions represent a humorous reminder that there are indeed a lot of things in this life that we really don’t understand. For example, we don’t really understand disease.
Why is a youngster perfectly healthy for 14 years of his life… and then suddenly a germ or bacteria invades his body and destroys it?
We don’t understand accidents, so random and indiscriminate. You start out a day that is like any other day… and then something happens in a matter of seconds … and life is forever different. You can never go back beyond that accident. [Adopted from Sermons.com 10/16/2022]
You can make your own list… of things you don’t really understand.
We often say “I love someone or something” when we really mean “We like someone or something” but we are being sloppy with our words. We cannot love something, and we can only love someone and then only when we want for them the grace of God and are willing to be a conduit for that grace no matter the burden it is for us. So, we should use I love you very infrequently and only when we are willing to pay the price.
“Like the persistent widow, we come before God with our prayers of petition and pleas for help….” Sometimes the answer is not what we hope for or prayed for.
The Judge in this parable does not represent God but gives us a glimpse into how we sometimes behave, placing ourselves and our interests first; finding justice and compassion inconvenient to offer or to pursue. Today’s parable challenges us on we approach God in prayer, do we approach God trying to influence God or change God’s mind? Do we pray to God to build or strengthen our relationship with the Lord? Do we pray to allow God’s answer to guide our response and our life, according to God’s will? Do we pray to learn to hear God speaking to us in the people and world around us, where God’s wisdom is often revealed?
Many times, that wisdom is revealed to us in the people who bless our lives, in the Scriptures we read, the songs we sing, the homilies we hear, the books or articles we read.
1. God hears our prayers and knows are needs.
2. God answers our prayers.
3. God loves each of us and wants us to love Him for our good.
4. God sometimes send angles to help us, sometimes God sends a stranger or a friend, occasionally God comes directly to help us.
5. That’s what Jesus did when He came to show us the Way, the Truth and the Life.
The widow in today’s parable persisted until justice was served. We are called to do the same, to follow Jesus with justice, compassion and peace even though the world does not understand. [Emeritus] Pope Benedict XVI wrote, “The Fathers of the Church say that prayer, properly understood, is nothing other than becoming a longing for God.” [Word Made Flesh, Cycle C, p. 101]
For a few minutes reflect on how you experience prayer; on where you place prayer in your daily life; what role does Scripture [the Word of God] play in your life, do you long for God?
May God Be Blessed.
