Father Michael

December 19th, 2021 Fourth Sunday of Advent A Message from Father †Michael Today’s Theme: “ Faith and Obedience of Mary” Reflections on Today’s Scripture Writing in late eighth century B.C., when Jerusalem was under siege and David’s dynasty was in jeopardy, Micah denounced the hypocrisy of a flourishing religious cult that did not translate its piety into an ethical code of social justice. In today’s First Reading (Micah 5:1-4,) he announces that salvation would come from a comparatively insignificant place: Bethlehem. From there, a new Leader would come to gather together the scattered exiles and unite the nation once more. Fully equipped by God for His mission, such a Leader will bring security and the Messianic blessing to His people. ~~~ The whole letter to the Hebrews is a combination of doctrinal exposition and parentheses (admonition, exhortation,) in alternating passages. Today’s Second Reading is part of a doctrinal passage (Hebrews 10:5-10,) that presents Jesus as High Priest, the source of external salvation. The author asserts that the Mosaic Law can never perfect those who seek to draw near to God, by constant repetition of the same sacrifices year after year. He contends such ceremonials to be but a “shadow” of future benefits, and not purification from sin; for it was impossible for the blood of animals to take away human guilt. Christ, has undone the old order and brought in the new, by expressing His willingness to bring about the reconciliation between God and His people. ~~~ Much of the rich symbolism and tradition with which each feast of Christ’s nativity is remembered and celebrated is due to the infancy narratives of †Matthew and †Luke. These stories have provided the reader with a type of “imitative historiography,” in the literary style of classical historians. In today’s Gospel selection, both †Elizabeth and †Mary learned of each other’s pregnancies through a divine intermediary—the angel, Gabriel (Luke1:39-45.) †Mary’s acquiescence to the angel in accepting her motherhood, her “fiat,” is key to our understanding of her role in the salvation story of Jesus as human. †Elizabeth is portrayed as blessing †Mary for her faith, and both women can be seen as models of true Advent spirituality. The Grace of Visitation Often times in our busy world, we substitute interactions via social media for “in-person” visits to friends and relatives. This “impersonal” method, which first began with phone calls, today has become “text messages,” “Instagrams,” “Tweets,” “Facebook posts,” and the like. As physical distance between one other has dramatically increased over the years, we are left with few options, short of the above-mentioned methods, along with traditional Christmas cards, and “Holiday Letters,” to substitute for visits. In the old days, with closer proximity, life was simpler and people were able to visit often. But then, sometimes, people who have had the same neighbors for years, many times only know them from brief, passing encounters, smiles and nods. It is rather sad, and there is a loss…. When we pay a visit to someone, we see ourselves as doing good for that person. But we also can be enriched, if only to see how others cope with challenges, and even difficult or nearly impossible situations in their lives. Even when visiting the sick we can find shining souls. We may come to them to “give,” only to find that we are also “receiving.” We go away “buoyed up,” and to some extent, that happens in every visitation. One is blessed by receiving—the other is blessed by giving. In our Gospel story of †Mary’s visitation with her cousin, †Elizabeth, she had just been visited by the angel, Gabriel, who had brought her Good News—that she was to become the mother of Jesus. However, instead of going off and concentrating on herself, †Mary went in haste to visit †Elizabeth, who was also expecting a child. Our first and holiest duty is kindness toward our own family. But this doesn’t mean it’s always easy—one’s kin sometimes can be very demanding. †Mary’s visit meant a great deal to †Elizabeth. But †Mary also benefited. †Elizabeth spoke some lovely words of affirmation and confirmation to her: “Blessed is she who believed that the promise made to her by the Lord would be fulfilled.” As the elder, and more experienced of the two, †Elizabeth was able to help and comfort †Mary, as they shared the same condition. Following their examples, we might consider visiting people we may have neglected throughout the year. The Blessedness of Those Who Believe The Gospels are replete with examples of blessedness of those who believe—wonderful things happened for them: Jesus said to the centurion: “Go, be it done for you as you have believed,” and his servant was cured (Matthew 8:13.) To the woman with the hemorrhages, He said: “Take heart, daughter, your faith has made you well,” and her bleeding stopped (Matthew 9:22.) To the two blind men, He said: “According to your faith, be it done to you,” and they got their sight back (Matthew 9:29.) One could say the central theme of the Gospel is the blessedness of those who believe. All of Jesus’ preaching had as its aim to elicit faith in people’s hearts. However, it is not simply a matter of believing, but of believing and acting on that belief. It is a question of hearing the Word and doing it—taking risks on it, and making sacrifices because of it. It’s hardly worth proclaiming your belief, if you don’t intend to emulate it with your deeds. Sometimes, people say, “It’s easy for you; you have great faith.” Faith doesn’t always make things easy. In fact, the opposite is more likely to be the case. It’s because we have faith that we refuse to give up. Faith impels us to persevere, to struggle on, often with no guarantee of a happy outcome. A person with faith never gives up. †Mary is blessed because she not only believed, but also acted on her belief. Immediately after her visit from the angel, Gabriel, she went to visit †Elizabeth—showing us that, to her, religion was not mere sentimentality, but was converted into action. She was the first, and most perfect of Jesus’ disciples. That is why the Church proposes her as our model. We also will be blessed if we hear the Word and act on it. The essence of the Good News is that God made Himself present to us, in the life of His only Son, Jesus, Who walked upon the earth. Because He was a human being like us, through Him, we can enter into an intimate relationship with God. He calls us to open our hearts to one another, and in so doing, we are opening ourselves to the “great joy” announced to the shepherds by the angel. May God Richly Bless You! "Mary, who conceived the Incarnate Word by the power of the Holy Spirit, and then in the whole of her life allowed herself to be guided by His interior activity, will be contemplated and imitated above all, as the woman who was docile to the voice of the Spirit--a woman of silence and attentiveness; a woman of hope." ~~†John Paul II-"Tertio Millennio Adveniente, p.48~~ Come Down, Lord.docx To view a live stream of today's Holy Mass, Click here: https://share.icloud.com/photos/094F91wkV0wT6JzTpRWk1-upw

December 12th, 2021 Third Sunday of Advent A Message from Father †Michael Today’s Theme: “God, Indeed, is my Savior; I am Confident and Unafraid Reflections on Today’s Scripture The oracles of Zephaniah date from the second half of the seventh century B.C., just prior to the ministry of Jeremiah. Our First Reading (Zephaniah 3:14-18,)warns of the “Day of Yahweh,” a universal catastrophe that will sweep away Judah and the nations. It should be a warning to Judah, yet the “shameless nation” will not take heed. He then cites a remnant of the faithful who will inherit the kingdom of God. Our passage contains part of the prophet’s promises to them, and bids them to rejoice because their salvation is at hand. Under the leadership of Yahweh, the nation will suffer no evil within, nor enemy without. The King is a victorious Warrior, the bridegroom of the people, Who tempers the awful majesty of God. The presence of God is emphasized by the recurrence of “in your midst,” and Zephaniah’s passage undoubtedly influenced Luke’s Gospel, especially in his account of Mary’s bidding—“Do not fear,” and “You will conceive in your womb.” We too should take heart in this message of hope. ~~~ †Paul concludes the letter we began last Sunday, in our Second Reading (Philippians 4:4-7.) Here, he addresses an appeal to the people of Philippi, calling them to rejoice in the Lord and be free from anxiety, as they live in a spirit of prayer and thanksgiving. The joy to which he refers is “in the Lord,” a basic condition of Christian life. Though we cannot share the tremendous expectancy of our earliest brothers and sisters, we can be assured as they were, that the Lord is our present support, and our secure future. He gives us peace “beyond all understanding,”—which cannot be attained by human efforts—as a sterling benefit for our prayerful meditation. ~~~ Our Gospel warns of God’s judgment, if there is no change of heart in those who repent (Luke 3:10-18.) The call to repentance—an across-the-board review our resources against injustice, prejudice and indifference to the needs of human beings—is what set apart the true prophets of the Old Testament from the bogus ones. The subordinate role of †John the Baptist is further emphasized by †Luke, (as it is in †John-the-evangelist’s Gospel.) We see †JTB stating how unworthy he is to even be a slave of the coming Messiah. His baptism with water is to be seen only a precursor of one brought by the Messiah—“a Baptism of the Spirit.” Practical Christianity Life could be compared with a doctor’s waiting room where people tell one another about their ailments. Or, it could be the emergency room of a hospital where a mother waits with a sick child. She shares her anxiety with others whom, perhaps, she does not even know. This is the instinctive need for concern. Everyone hopes that the doctor can help and take away fear and anxiety. Life is a waiting room, of sorts, and Christians make themselves more aware of this during the time of Advent. All of us have our ailments and anxieties. We wait for Christ’s coming into our lives. Hope for salvation is an integral part of the Christian lifestyle. And this hope is founded on our firm faith that somebody is concerned! Christianity is a very practical and social religion—not just a matter of “God and me,” but of “God, me, and others.” We are preparing for the Lord’s coming at Christmas, and we have no doubt that He will come and bring “gifts” to us. But He doesn’t only come at Christmas—He comes to us always, occasionally at the oddest times and places, wearing different disguises. Then, He comes in the guise of a person in need. Advent urges us to “Prepare a way for the Lord,” as we contemplated last week. There is no better way to prepare than to be welcoming towards those in need. The way to find peace and happiness and goodness is to forget oneself and love others. When we make way, or even just make room for another person, we utilize humility and generosity of spirit. Indeed, such acts calls for a sort of “dying to self.” Parents spend the best years of their lives preparing the way for their children, in the sense of opening them to life. But there comes a time when they have to withdraw so that their children can come into their own. Having given life to their children, parents must allow them to live their lives. All of us must resist the temptation to “hug the limelight,” by dominating and relegating others to the shadows. Further, we must be conscious of the debt we owe to others who prepared the way for us. No one ever came to prominence or fame on one’s own. There is always some facilitator in the background whose task it was to help, guide and encourage. In other words, someone was there to “prepare the way.” When one achieves fame, the facilitator drops out of sight and frequently is forgotten. The Secret of Happiness It’s easy to be happy when we only do what we want. But to find happiness in what we have to do, not simply in those things required of us, is a blessing from God. Happiness is not a shallow self-satisfaction. There can be no happiness for us as long as the things we do are different from the things we believe. Nor can there be happiness without love. A sadness falls upon us when we say “no,” to love. Also, we must not equate “joy” with “pleasure:” Pleasure is of the body; joy is of the spirit. You can quickly tire of pleasures, but you will never grow tired of joy. In the end, only God can fulfill our dreams, and happiness is the best sign of His presence. I have always considered myself a happy person, even though I may not always look it, thanks to inheriting my father’s furrowed brow. And sometimes, of course, I am not happy. Sometimes I wish I could be happier more frequently. While it seems, everyone is looking for the secret to happiness, the better question may be, “Is it even possible to be happier?” Experts tell us that about half of our level of happiness is based on genes. Some people are just more predisposed to be happier and upbeat than others. But that does not mean a person cannot increase their level of happiness if it does not come naturally. A large portion of people’s happiness comes from the choices they make—particularly as regards with the relationships with others that people cultivate in their lives. If we were to pour through the accumulated data, including vast medical records, and accounts of hundreds of personal interviews and questionnaires, we would discover a strong correlation between flourishing lives and the relationships with family, friends and community. In fact, studies have shown people’s level of satisfaction with their relationships at age 50 to be a better predictor of physical health than were their cholesterol levels. People who were most satisfied with their relationships in their 50s were healthier, and happier in their 80s. Happy marriages seem to be predictor of happiness in old age. Even when physical health deteriorated, moods didn’t suffer even on days when they had more physical pain in those people with loving marriages. (Harvard Study of Adult Development, 1938-present day.) To be happy, we must emphasize the spiritual over the physical; and the authentic over the egotistical. This might mean foregoing things that give us status and ego satisfaction, in order to concentrate on things that truly feed our souls. It means facing who we were in the past, even if it is painful or embarrassing; taking responsibility for letting people treat us badly; and not wallowing in the comfort of victimhood. Happiness is being a functioning adult who has something to offer others—not in living in a perfect house or having a perfect “social media documented” life. Sometimes it can come from just sitting at home and talking to people you love. Other times, if we are able, we might find ways to volunteer our time for the benefit of someone else. In the final analysis, true happiness comes from living lives that are examples of giving, rather than receiving. May God Richly Bless You! "I slept and dreamt that life was joy; I awoke and saw that life was service. I acted, and behold, service was joy." ~~Rabindranath Tagore--Bengali poet and philosopher~~ To view a live stream of today's Holy Mass, click here: https://share.icloud.com/photos/0qLYfbYQfjHky0sS9Eg3P8T9Q Break Forth Into Song.docx

December 5th, 2021 Second Sunday of Advent A Message from Father †Michael Today’s Theme: “All Mankind Shall See the Salvation by Our God” Reflections on Today’s Scripture As a conclusion to a comforting oration, our First Reading (Baruch 5:1-9,)comes to us from the beginning of the second century B.C. This discourse is one of exhortation and consolation to the people of Israel. In poetic language, Baruch reminds them that the affliction of the exile had come upon them because they had provoked the eternal God, Who had made them; and because they had grieved Jerusalem, their mother. The Everlasting One makes known to them that their sorrows have ended, and their children will be restored to Zion. ~~~ †Paul opens one of three Pauline letters in today’s Second Reading (Philippians 1:3-11.) His central message is a call for unity, perseverance, and unwavering witness to the truth. The Philippians have not only received the Good News but have played their part in preaching the Gospel. He prays that their growth in union with Christ will bring them an increased personal knowledge of the Christian reality. This is not to be seen as blind or “wooden” adherence to a set of morals, but a mature and responsible acceptance, and a keen awareness of righteousness, through Christ. ~~~ Our Gospel outlines the role played in Jesus’ ministry by †John the Baptist (Luke 3:1-6.) †Luke strives to synchronize †John’s activities as a herald for the Messiah, while illustrating the political situation in Palestine, and thus setting the events in the framework of world history. “The fifteenth year of Tiberius’ reign” places it at 27-28 A.D., (during the time Pontius Pilate was procurator: 26-36 A.D.) †John is presented as an itinerant preacher whose message was repentance, with a view to forgiveness of sins in anticipation of the Christian message. †John is the link between the Old and the New Covenants, but he, himself, belongs to the former. This reminds us that Christianity is an historical religion, an affair of people who live in a real world of political structures and religious institutions, with roots in Israel; and one ` that can never, with impunity, ignore its heritage. Once again, we are reminded that the message of Christ is a call of comforting assurance of the forgiveness of sins and a promise of eternal salvation. God has not Forgotten His People No one likes to be forgotten. Yet most of us have had some experience of what that’s like, even if it was occasionally. Perhaps we weren’t invited to some event, or our contribution to some work wasn’t recognized or our birthday was forgotten. Here, I’m talking about just being omitted or “passed over.” But even that can be very painful, for it means to be ignored, or be treated as if you were of no significance. There is another type of “forgetting.” When people forget all about us, this is a far deeper and more painful thing. We feel we don’t matter to them; that no one cares about us; as if we didn’t exist. We feel not just forgotten, but abandoned! It’s worse if we are victims of false promises: “I’ll be in touch; I’ll write; I’ll call again, soon;” or the like. Sometimes we may feel that way about God, too. Something bad happens to us, so we think, “God has forgotten me.” This leads to the feeling that God doesn’t care about us; that He doesn’t love us any longer. But we can take heart…. Even though we may forget God, He does not forget us. Advent reminds us of the wonderful promises God made to us, and shows how they are fulfilled in Jesus. The great sign we have that God loves us is the fact that He sent His Son to us. †John the Baptist was the one who announced the Good News of His coming. We must always remember…even if everyone else were to forget us, God will not. Since we are likely to be remembered by others, we have a duty to remember them, especially those who have been good to us, and who have sacrificed themselves for us. Christmas is a great time for remembering people. One small way we can to it is by the time-honored tradition of sending a simple card with a few words from our hearts. It’s lovely to be remembered, even if only in a small way. It’s a sign that someone cares. Prepare the Way for the Lord When we listen to the words of Today’s Gospel we hear Isaiah’s cry: “Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight His paths.” But we should quickly realize that it’s not the Lord’s paths that need to be straightened, but ours! • Perhaps we let misunderstandings run on from year to year, meaning to clear them up some day. We keep quarrels alive because we cannot quite make up our minds to sacrifice our pride and end them. • Or, we might let our neighbor starve, until we hear that that he is dying of starvation; or we let our friend’s heart “ache” for a word of appreciation, which we mean to give them some day. • Other times, we may pass people by, sullenly, not speaking to them out of some belief they are a “bother,” or even “beneath us,” or because of some silly spite. At the same time, we know that we would be filled with shame and remorse if we heard that one of them had died, suddenly. We should always remember that “our time is short,” and perhaps that would break the spell. Perhaps then we might instantly go and do the thing that we may never have another chance to do. Let me repeat, “It’s not the Lord’s paths that have to be straightened, but ours….” If there is some crooked attitude, or some crooked way of behaving, or some crooked relationship that needs straightening, let’s do it! Then we will truly be preparing a way for the Lord to come to us. How difficult are things for one who walks a crooked path. But how easy are the things for one who walks a straight path—the path of truth, honesty and goodness. But to walk a straight path, one needs strength, wisdom and single-mindedness. God doesn’t abandon us when we stray from the straight path, however. He keeps calling us back from our crooked ways. That is the mantra for the Advent Season: “come back to the right direction in our lives.” Sometimes our lack of compassion for others is the result of our own insecurities and weakness. There are those who say we shouldn’t display our weaknesses, but rather, bear our burdens in secret for fear of losing respect. Such people don’t understand this simple perspective: Our Blessed Lord comes to us in our weakness. Consider this: if we were perfect, we wouldn’t need His assistance…. But with an understanding of our own pain, it is possible for us to offer our own experiences as sources of healing to others. Those who don’t disguise their struggles, but who live through them, give help to those around them. We must make a commitment to walk the “right path,” every day of our lives. The temptations and distractions of the world are incessant and they are “loud!” But if we ask the Holy Spirit, in prayerful meditation, to grant us the strength to unveil the blindness in our eyes, the weakness from our wills, and the hardness from our hearts, our lives will be flooded with the grace of the Lord’s coming. May God Richly Bless You! "Preparation time is necessary for your growth. Trust and believe everything you are going through is preparing you for eternity." ~~Germany Kent, Author~~ To view a live stream of today's Holy Mass, click here: https://share.icloud.com/photos/0Dy-OctISHodcukmZcVWt92Uw Recollection of Joy.docx

November 28th, 2021 First Sunday of Advent A Message from Father †Michael Today’s Theme: “Patient Endurance” Reflections on Today’s Scripture Our First Reading (Jeremiah 25:14-16,) echoes an earlier exhortation from the prophet, who takes his stand on God’s Word: a time must and will come when His promise to His people will be accomplished. The day will dawn when the Son of David will stand among His people and when the New Jerusalem will stand forth as the true city of God. This fittingly introduces the season of Advent, our “preparation,” for the coming of our Messiah. Jesus is the “root of David” (Revelation 5:5,) Who will inaugurate the New Jerusalem, the veritable Kingdom of God. ~~~ †Paul visited Thessalonica for the first time in the course of his second missionary journey, probably in the year, 50 A.D. Jewish opposition forced his departure after a stay of no more than a few months. He sent †Timothy to visit, who reported on his mission. Today’s First Reading highlights †Paul’s heartfelt prayer for the future progress of his converts (Thessalonians 3:12-4:2.)—one, in which he hopes to bring these Christians to a deepening of love within their community (a love that will then reach out to all people.) Such “brotherly/sisterly” love is offered in, and through, our Blessed Lord, Jesus, as expressed in their Godly way of living—with an authority expressed by †Paul’s authentic life. In our day, we begin to understand very well that pastoral authority is only effective—indeed, is only acknowledged—if the pastor is sincere, with concern that rings true. ~~~ Each of the three “synoptic” Gospels, (Mark, Matthew and Luke) has an “eschatological” or “apocalyptic” discourse. Today’s selection (Luke 21:25-36,) makes a clear distinction between the destruction of Jerusalem and the End Time—two distinctive themes. The first is historical (70 A.D.,) whereas the other is “eschatological”—the end of the age and the coming of the Son of Man. Because of this he is convinced that Christians must adjust to a long period of waiting and persecution, and make up his concern about the coming of the Son of Man and to the theme of “watchfulness,” pervading all of Advent. Luke writes of the cosmic signs and distress on earth that will foreshadow the divine judgment of mankind. Then, Christians who witness the apocalypse will rejoice that their suffering and persecution will soon end, and their redemption is drawing near. This “parousia” will be delayed, but will eventually involve all of mankind. Since we know that “trials” may strike us, suddenly, we are remanded to be prayerful, and always prepared. Advent The whole of the Advent Liturgy is one of pressing appeal for the coming of the Savior. The cries of ardent longing, which went up to the Messiah throughout Old Testament times, are taken up again by the Church, which puts them on our lips, and causes us to repeat them ever more urgently, as Christmas draws near. Advent opens up before us immense perspectives. The Church sets before us the whole work of redemption. As one human generation follows upon another, the kingdom of God must expand until the day when Christ, gathering together His elect from the four corners of the earth, will bring them before His Father a His triumphant conquest to be led by Him into His kingdom. To that end, the virtue of patience is not, as a rule, one of the strongest aspects of most people today. Usually, we want things to be done quickly and efficiently. Promises and appointments should be kept as accurately as they were made; otherwise, an outburst of “impatience” may follow…. We have all experienced the impatient and compulsive driver behind us who, anxious to pass, takes unreasonable chances and occasionally causes disaster. Patients in hospitals obviously must practice the virtue of patience, waiting for recovery with patience, especially when they are old or sick for a long time, waiting for visits from friends and family, which requires even more patience. An example of classic impatience is that of the Jews at Mount Sinai waiting for Moses’ return from the mountain, who lost patience and constructed the golden calf: Imploring Aaron to, “Come, make us a god who will be our leader” (Exodus 32: 1.) Advent is a time of waiting for the coming of Christ. Promises have been made to us about a way out of our distress. We have faith that salvation will come, but when? We pray, but does God listen? The Advent Bible Readings deal with this problem. Waiting for somebody to come, i.e., Jesus Christ, presupposes patience. We must accept the human condition of “not yet” with the patient hope for better things to come. Setting Out Again This Sunday, each year, the Church invites us to embark on a great journey—that of the Liturgical Year. (For those who think that Catholics don’t read the Bible, it would behoove them to trace the development of the Biblical story, as presented in each Sunday’s Bible Readings. Over the course of three years, “Cycles A, B and C, the familiar Biblical stories are presented and reviewed, and are the themes of homilies, and this very “Pastor’s Letter.”) As we begin, we set out to follow in the footsteps of the prophets of old, the lovely and poignant lessons of the “Wisdom Literature” (the Books of Wisdom, the Psalms and Proverbs,) and then proceeds through the New Testament, comprised of the Life and Times of Christ and His apostles. As we relive the whole story—which we have heard many times—there is a danger we may see it as “old and stale,” perhaps like replaying an old video. With minimal attentiveness, however, the celebration of each feast brings back the event in its original clarity and vitality, never allowing it to grow cold and lifeless, or fade into oblivion. Besides, we are not “spectators” but “actors” in all of this! The mysteries of Christ’s life are represented in such a way that we are drawing into them, and become participants. That makes it more demanding, of course, but also more enriching and exciting, as well. Our stories merge with those of Jesus’ and His disciples, and are illuminated by them. They enable us to live our own story more fully, and more joyfully. God is not just a God of the past, but of the present…and the future. Even though we have made this journey before, we must strive to make it today, as if for the very first time. Each week affords an opportunity to make a “new beginning” in our personal journey with our Blessed Lord. The Early Christians believed the Second Coming was “near,” and would be preceded by spectacular “signs,” but “false prophets” have spoken of these through the ages, as portents of “doom and gloom.” But Jesus spoke it as a day of liberation and salvation for His followers. The world is not headed for catastrophe or mere ending. God’s goal for the world is the coming of the Kingdom, in all its glory! Therefore, we should not be fearful of our Lord’s Coming, but await it with confidence, vigilance and prayer…. More importantly, however, we should be concerned about the end of our own individual “world,” our death. That is certain, whereas, the end of the whole world is out of our hands…. May God Richly Bless You! "For this time it will be God without disguise; something so overwhelming, that it will strike either irresistible love, or irresistible horror into every creature. It will be too late, then, to choose your side." ~~C.S. Lewis~~ To view a live stream of today's Holy Mass, click here: https://www.facebook.com/michael.schamp.9/videos/199426545610443/?d=n My Soul Waits for the Lord.docx

November 21st, 2021 Feast of Christ the King A Message from Father †Michael Today’s Theme: “God’s Kingdom in the Process of Being Established” Reflections on Today’s Scripture For those unfamiliar with the literary form of “apocalyptic,” the book of Daniel may seem very much like “science fiction.” With symbolic monsters and numbers, bizarre visions and other-worldly experiences, apocalyptic literature departs from the traditional and familiar to take the reader beyond the suffering and seeming inanity of time and space to a dimension of hope and peace. Borne of time of crisis and persecutions, our First Reading’s purpose was to encourage and support those who were struggling to survive bother spiritually and politically (Daniel7:13-14.) In Judaism, the concept of Daniel’s apocalyptic Son of Man developed to include notions of a heavenly Man, hidden, but Who would appear at the end of time to judge and save—in fact, a heavenly “ideal” Man, in harsh contrast to Isaiah’s “Suffering Servant.” ~~~ Next, we turn to +John’s “Apocalypse,” the book of Revelation. When an earthly king dies, his power and title are relinquished in the act of death. Immediately, the king’s heir is recognized, and begins to rule. Christ’s reign stands in stark contrast to this image, as well. In the cruel and tragic irony of the thorny crown and on the gruesome throne of the cross, Our Blessed Lord, Jesus, began His rule. Precisely in the act of dying, the true nature of His Kingship was made known. Today’s Second Reading is composed of a triple “doxology,” praising Jesus in His passion, resurrection and exaltation, as well as a proclamation of the “end times,” which the author believed would erupt at any moment. +John thus wove a “saving net” of hope for his contemporaries (Revelation 1:5-8.) ~~~ It’s interesting to note that while Pontius Pilate is looked upon in the western world as an accomplice in the plot that led to Jesus’ death on the cross, he (and his wife) are revered as saint(s) in the Ethiopian Christian Church (due to his declaring himself “innocent” of Jesus’ blood.) In our Gospel, today, the dialogue between Jesus and Pilate clarifies the non-political, non-partisan and non-parochial character of Jesus’ kingship (John 18:33-37.) Jesus is heard to correct the Roman governor’s charge by reinterpreting what kingship and kingdom truly implied—calling them both to be “not of this world.” (We should recall the distinction in +John’s Gospel between world as the created universe and world as the element hostile to truth and light.) Jesus’ statement, “Not of this world,” was meant as “not created,” and “divine” in origin. As King, Jesus exercises a supra-political and life-giving authority over human destiny. Unlike the result of an earthly king’s death, without Jesus, there would be no kingdom…. But with Him, and in Him, and because of Him, there is a kingship, and a kingdom, whose realities are recognized and experienced by believers in the truth. Weighty Questions More than ever before in recent memory, people are asking themselves, “Am I satisfied with the achievements of my church? In order to adequately address this question, we must first make a distinction between Jesus’ personal movement to establish God’s Kingdom of justice, love and peace on earth, and the Church, as it has been “institutionalized” over the centuries. Perhaps it would be better to ask: “Has the Church achieved its goal of establishing God’s kingdom on earth during the nearly 2,000 years of its existence?” At best, one might answer: “It has achieved only partial success!” With so much evil around the world, it would be naïve to state that God’s kingdom of love, justice and peace has been fully realized on planet earth. But we might ask if the Christian movement was designed to be one hundred percent successful? It was left to human beings, who are possessed of “free will,” after all, and subject to all the vagaries that entails. We also judge ourselves—we don’t have to wait for the Last Judgment. It happens NOW—in little ways, every day. Long before “the end,” people will have already judged themselves. Whether we decide for, or against, ourselves, our thoughts and our actions; for, or against, our brothers and sisters; for, or against, the truth—God’s judgment will not accomplish anything new. It will merely show that which has already has come to pass. We must bear in mind that our Father’s love and mercy are at the heart of His judgment. Our faith teaches that the final victory over all the peoples of the earth will only be achieved at the end of time, when Christ will present to His Father an eternal and universal Kingdom; a Kingdom of truth and life; a Kingdom of holiness and grace; a Kingdom of justice, love and peace. We pray that we may be made part of it! We have no need to fear the “last day,” as Jesus taught us—we must only be ready for it, in order that our lives may be a joyful experience of belonging to God’s Kingdom! Allegiance to Christ We might think that idolatry belongs to primitive peoples and to the past. However, modern people have their idols, too. Money appears to be the most common idol, but there are others such as: possessions, pleasure, success, fame, power, etc. Idolatry leads at best to a superficial life, and at worst to a debased life. But the greatest harm idolatry causes is reflected in people forgetting the true God. People can also make idols of themselves. Communist leaders did this—in the “cult of personalities,” leaders literally put themselves on pedestals. Everywhere you looked, in that society, you would see pictures and statues of them on display. When communism collapsed, many statues were pulled down and smashed. These self-serving idols stood for oppression and terror. Idols command; Christ invites. Idols rule through fear. Christ brings freedom and life. No wonder we give Him our allegiance, our loyalty, that we give to no other person or institution! Political power has the capacity to coerce others to subservience by means of force. This resides with kings, and dictators. It does not dwell in the person who occupies the position, however. Political power is unrelated to goodness or wisdom. We can cite many stupid and evil people who have exercised this power. It is important to distinguish between authority and influence on the one hand, and power and control on the other. Some people with great moral authority are quite powerless, while those who are most influential have no need to control those whom they influence. So, it was with Jesus. The Romans had power over people; Jesus had influence on them. Jesus made His presence felt simply by the kind of person He was. His was the quiet authority in the case of everything He said and did. Christ is the hope of the human race, showing us Who God is, and how we can keep God at the center of our lives. God is not some remote and uncaring figure. He is our heavenly Father, Who is close to us, and to Whom we are important and precious. We should always remember: By the way we live, especially by our attitude to truth and justice, we declare whether we are on the side of Christ and His Kingdom, or whether we take the way of evasion and cowardice. It is not possible to remain neutral…. May God Richly Bless You! "Christ did not come to establish a political sovereignty; but to bear witness to the truth of God's eternal and universal sovereignty. ~~Flor McCarthy+ SBD~~ Christ is King!.docx To view a live stream of today's Holy Mass, click here: https://www.facebook.com/michael.schamp.9/videos/4589167411176489/?d=n

November 14th, 2021 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time A Message from Father †Michael Today’s Theme: “Hope for A Brighter Future” Reflections on Today’s Scripture As a literary genre, apocalyptic literature has acquired the onerous reputation among some Christians of being—at its best—generally misunderstood; and—at its worst—misinterpreted and grossly misrepresented. (Born of crisis, it flourished during the last two centuries B.C., and the first two centuries A.D.) Today’s First Reading attempts to encourage his fellow Jews to remain loyal to their religion, at a time when it was more advantageous, and perhaps more alluring, to ascribe to the philosophies and beliefs of a hostile and alien cultural system (Daniel 12: 1-3.) This selection is part of the second portion of the book—a series of visions—and looks beyond history, promising justice and eternal reward for the faithful. ~~~ Our Second Reading continues the basic theological premise that Christ’s sacrifice and His priesthood are superior to the sacrificial system and priesthood of the Old Testament cult (Hebrews 10:11-18.) This seventh part of the series brings to light the inadequacy of the daily, repeated sacrifices offered by the Levitical priesthood, including: holocaust, offered as an act of praise and atonement; cereal or grain offerings; peace offerings in thanksgiving to God, obligatory votive offerings and free will offerings; and a sin offering, prescribed for the expiation of uncleanness. The point of the author concerns the overall obsolescence and inadequacy of the old ways. ~~~ Today’s Gospel comes from what has been called the “little,” or “Marcan apocalypse,” ascribed by some historians to be a separate entity from the remainder of the book. Nonetheless, other theologians see it as the key to understanding it (Mark 13:24-32.) Chapter 13 underscores the central position of Christ, the reality and imminence of His second coming, and the necessary posture of the persecuted faithful, who would be vindicated at His appearance. It is clear the evangelist believed the death of Jesus had ushered in a period of the end or the last “age.” The persecution of his contemporaries was seen as part of the “great tribulation.” (The destruction of Jerusalem (70 A.D.)did not portend the “end times,” as expected, and that caused such opinions to be reevaluated.) Jesus’ actions on earth, i.e., forgiving sins, proclaiming His teaching authority, His suffering, death and resurrection, had won the conflict over evil and defeated sin and death. For Mark’s persecuted contemporaries and their descendants, the vision of the glorious, powerful Son of Man was a source of strength and hope. The fall of the year prepares us for the great death of nature about to come. It is the time of “the Last Rose of Summer left blooming alone. All of its lovely companions are faded and gone.” During this nostalgic season, the Church invites us for several Sundays to meditate on the great themes of the end times. Death will come for all of us; there will be a final judgment. Is this a message that shocks us? Is reminding us of the end also Gospel, good tidings? Yes, since we Christians know that whatever happens, no destruction is final. New roses will bloom on the same apparently dead bush. The seed dies in the soil in order to bear new life. Timeless Words During the course of my theology studies, I heard many things—sadly, most of which, I probably have forgotten. But one thing Fr. Columban, one of my favorite professors once said, I will never forget: “Love keeps a low profile.” I know it sounds like a simple thing, but somehow, it went straight to my heart and has stayed there, ever since… “Love keeps a low profile….” Once uttered, words take on a powerful life of their own, for good, or ill. They can bring a blessing or a curse, healing or wounding, life or death. Words can continue to harm us, or help us for many years after they have been spoken. We should be cautious to use words very carefully. When we are angry, it is better to remain silent. Words spoken in anger can cause deep hurt and make reconciliation very difficult. Choosing life instead of death, a blessing instead of a curse, often starts by choosing to remain silent, or being careful to choose words that open the way to healing. As I’ve heard my own mother tell me, “Sometimes loving others means keeping quiet and letting them be.” Jesus’ words remain with us to this very day, offering comfort, guidance and challenge. They may “upend” our values, but once heard, they can never be forgotten. But for all that, they benefit us very little unless we act on them. Like precious seeds, if they remain in a jar, they remain just so many seeds. But if they are taken out and planted, they can produce a rich harvest. In comparison with faith, there is nothing sure or lasting in the world. Human opinions are rooted in appearances, and change from day to day. But Jesus’ words do not change or pass away. We would do well to build the “house of our life” on His words…. Resisting “Familiarity” We all know the Gospel stories, which we have heard or read numerous times over the years. They coalesce into one great story—the story of Jesus. Except for very young children, we may grow tired of hearing the same stories over and over again, and “switch off.” They may come across as lifeless, old or stale, after so many tellings. If we are to hear the story “afresh,” we need to recapture the “wonder” of it, and release the energy contained in it. This will enable us to experience the power, charm, surprise, shock, challenge and inspiration it contains. We need to hear it in such a way as to be “drawn” into it, and hear our own stories as we listen. When that happens, our stories will merge with the Gospel and we will become illuminated. Everything we need to know about life is contained in the Gospel. These are the related words of Jesus, after all! If we make this book our teacher, we will never go astray. But it’s not enough to return to the Gospel only in times of misfortune. Nor is it enough to turn it into an object of veneration. We have to examine our own lives against the words of “the book.” These words should kindle a “fire” in our hearts, and others should feel the warmth in us. The Gospel contains only those things that are the best and deepest in life. Mark Twain once said, “Others are bothered by the part of the Bible they can’t understand. I’m bothered by the parts I can understand….” The Gospel should become the handbook for every Christian. Our faith should be buoyed by Jesus’ words. We should have conviction that the world is not heading toward final, irreversible catastrophe. Nor is it heading towards merely ending. It is heading towards fulfillment. By His Easter victory, Jesus has triumphed over evil and death. We should worry more about the end of our own individual world, at death—which is certain—than about the end of the whole world—which is out of our hands…. When I am troubled, I take comfort in the words of Psalm 16: Preserve me, God, I take refuge in You. My happiness lies in You, alone. You are my portion and my cup, You Yourself are my Prize. I keep You ever in my sight, even at night you direct my heart. With You at my right hand, I shall stand firm. And so, my heart rejoices; my soul is glad. For You will not leave my soul among the dead, nor let Your beloved know decay. You will show me the path of life, the fullness of joy in Your presence. At Your right-hand is my happiness forever. May God Richly Bless You! "God knows when the end of time will come, not some fanatic.... The world will end someday, but the end of the world and the end of time are two different things." ~~Dolly Parton~~ To view a live stream of this week's Holy Mass, click here: https://www.facebook.com/michael.schamp.9/videos/605986597488418/?d=n All the Praise of a Lifetime.docx

November 7th, 2021 32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time The widow gave her “all.” A Message from Father †Michael Today’s Theme: “Self-Giving to God” Reflections on Today’s Scripture Today’s Scriptures revolve around the act of “giving.” Our First Reading (1 Kings 17:10-16,) conveys the experience of Elijah and a widow. In commanding her to provide him with sustenance, which she does, because of her faith, she receives a life of abundance. Her humble service teaches us a powerful lesson of absolute trust and confidence in God. It’s possible to give without losing. In fact, by “giving away” we can sometimes “gain.” Whereas, not to give can be a sure way of loving what we have. In a sense, we can share what we have, no matter how little, without becoming impoverished. We are more likely to become enriched by so doing. In the word and works of Elijah, the widow recognized the power of Yahweh to save, even amid the bungling of His people and their leaders. ~~~ Our Second Reading continues the lesson given to early Christians that Christ is our New High Priest (Hebrews 9:24-28.) The author refers to the temple, its ancient priesthood and the religious observances of Israel to explain the analogous superiority of the “heavenly sanctuary” of Jesus’ priesthood and His ultimate sacrifice as compared with the earthly temple and earthly high priests. Whereas they entered a “manmade sanctuary,” “a mere copy of the true one,” Jesus entered the true and lasting sanctuary in the heavenly and real presence of God. Just as the earthly high priest’s work and yearly term of office culminated on the Day of Atonement, so too, Jesus perfect sacrifice will be crowned with all glory at His “second advent”—when He appears at the end of time. For each of us, this will occur at the moment of our death. ~~~ Today’s Gospel selection highlights the ultimate value of sincere giving of ourselves to God (Mark 12:38-44.) Having exposed the teaching of the Scribes for its shallow nature and inadequacy, Jesus proceeded to castigate them for their behavior. (This can be ascribed to all religious “elitists,” no matter in which era they may have lived.) The Scribes, of Jesus’ day, flaunted their positions with elaborate clothing and behavior, that was, in large measure, meant to condescend over lesser people. While the wealthy people and been generous in their giving, the widow wen beyond generosity and gave all that she had. The Scribes may have performed great and good deeds, but without a heart conformed to God’s truth, their deeds remained a performance. Although the widow’s offering was observably insignificant, the true value of her gift was of immeasurable worth and known only to God. It was this last lesson in discipleship that would help us to understand the value of the cross and the worth of giving of oneself, as Jesus demonstrated on the Cross. When Giving Becomes a Sacrifice The test of a gift is not its intrinsic worth, but what its loss would mean to the one who gives it. When we offer a gift, it must have some value to us—some “cost—perhaps even as much as it “hurts” us when we part with it. It’s not truly a gift if it is something without which we are unaffected, or is something that we may not even “want.” This is what is meant by “love in action.” If the gift is desperately needed by the giver, or the receiver, it constitutes “true giving.” Then our gift becomes a sacrifice. Mother Teresa relates that sometimes she was offered a gift from someone who was, in fact, destitute, themselves. On occasion, a beggar would offer a mere pittance, in real terms—perhaps something worth a few cents—but it would mean that person would be left with nothing. Accepting such a gift, she was left with accepting it, in the spirit given, and giving the poor person satisfaction and joy, or refusing it, and risking hurt feelings. Mother said, “It was a big sacrifice for that poor person, who having sat in the sun all day, only received a few coins. But that small amount was like thousands in importance, because it was given with so much love. God looks at the love with which giving is done, not at the greatness of the deed.” Like a candle can light to many other candles without diminishing its own, or a teacher can enrich the lives of countless students without reducing their own wealth of knowledge, or a mother can share her love with all her children with unlimited supply, humble giving can enrich the giver in unfathomable ways. If one occupies a high station in life, they may have a reputation that must be maintained, as they are in the “public eye.” If such a person does a good deed, it may be done to impress others, rather than out of the goodness of the heart. This introduces an element of performance for an audience. However, one who occupies a low station in life, like the widow in today’s Gospel, can have an advantage, in that their gift won’t garner much attention. If we offer our gifts in such a spirit, they will likely remain anonymous, and come from “the heart.” We should ask ourselves how good we are at recognizing what others do, and affirming them. Sadly, the truth may be that we are so self-absorbed that we don’t notice…or we don’t care…. Giving—an Historical Perspective Each year, merchants generate untold profits, realized as a result of people’s spending money on gifts. Such occasions are prompted by our desire to express affections for loved ones to recognize birthdays, anniversaries, promotions and holidays, etc. Giving is a beautiful, symbolic way of saying, “Congratulations!” “I love you,” or, “I am grateful.” Other times it perhaps might mean, “I’m sorry—please forget what has happened!” Gifts can express the whole gamut of feelings, including all those times “in between” special events. (It’s interesting that some businesses, like jewelers, for example, rely on sales during the last quarter to sustain them throughout the year!) In many primitive cultures, we find people using the symbolism of giving to placate and gain the “favor of the gods”—offering sacrifices of produce, livestock or even people as a sign of their submission and atonement for sins, asking for favors, or in the mistaken notion that they might be cajoled to prevent natural disasters, like droughts, storms or volcanic eruptions. Ancient Jews offered daily sacrifices in the temple at Jerusalem to Yahweh, the God of Israel, out of a feeling of obligation, as supplication for sins or to garner favors. Not only did the high priests do this, but “common people” as well. (We recall Jesus’ anger at the “money changers” for taking advantage of them.) Jewish writers of the New Testament saw Jesus’ act of freely giving Himself in death to be similar to the function of the Jewish high priests’ offering “lambs” to God. It’s no small wonder that this well-known symbolism was understood to explain the redemptive act of Jesus’ suffering and death on the cross. Jesus was seen as our high priest and, simultaneously, as the Lamb of God, “Who takes away the sins of the world.” Understanding this ancient symbolism is an important perspective to hold in order for us to intelligently read the Bible. Reflection “You give but little when you give of your possessions. It is when you give of yourself that you truly give. “There are those who give little of the much which then have, and they give it for recognition, and their hidden desire makes their gifts unwholesome. “And there are those who have little and give it all. These are the believers in life and the bounty of life, and their coffer is never empty. “Through the hands of such as these God speaks, and from behind their eyes, He smiles upon the earth.” ~~Kahlil Gabran~~ To View a Live Stream of today's Holy Mass, Click Here: https://www.facebook.com/michael.schamp.9/videos/1829759447216851/?d=n May God Richly Bless You!

October 31st, 2021 31st Sunday in Ordinary Time Jesus addresses the Scribe A Message from Father †Michael Today’s Theme: “Two loves that cannot be separated” Reflections on Today’s Scripture Prayed morning and evening by devout Jews, the Sh’ma Yisrael (Hear, O Israel) is a profound expression of faith and an imperative of morality. In a few brief verses, it embodies the religious tenets of Judaism: absolute monotheism; the absolute personal and sustained involvement of the “one God” with His people; and the quality of the response offered to such a Reality. Our First Reading sets forth the covenant and its obligations necessary for fulfillment of God’s promise of a land “flowing with milk and honey”(Deuteronomy 6:2-6.) It further designates the Lord as Yahweh, the One, True God. ~~~ Continuing the comparison of Christ’s perfect priesthood to the imperfect priesthood exercised by priests of the Old Covenant, our Second Reading describes Jesus’ death as the offering of Himself, “once, for all,” for the atonement for sin (Hebrews 7:23-28.) This put an end to the necessity or validity of animal sacrifices, heretofore common. Those Jewish Christians who grew up immersed in a cult which expressed its thanks, sorrow, petitions and praise with the help of animal, grain and other sacrifices, may have found it difficult to surrender these external acts to the one, great non-repeatable sacrifice of Jesus. We see remnants of this today in the nostalgia expressed by Christians for the “old ways” of worship—such as we see in some parishes for the Latin Mass, with the priest facing away from the people, replete with the pageantry associated with it. Most important for us all is how we approach God, Who is made available to us in the saving act of Jesus Christ. ~~~ Throughout His public ministry, Jesus was set upon by Pharisees, Sadducees, Scribes, Chief Priests and the Herodians, who, each in their turn, questioned His motives, methods and authority. Today’s Gospel relates the meeting of Jesus and a Scribe, and stands out as a quite amicable encounter, amid a series of more fiery controversies (Mark 12:28-34.) In those times a rabbi’s opinion was often tested as to: the wisdom, or point of law; a question offered to mock or ridicule a foreign belief; a query as to the fundamental principles for living a good life; and a potential conflict about the meaning of certain Scriptures. In stark contrast to the 613 laws of Moses, Jesus’ concise answer as to the greatest commandment, as we know, included two—love of God and love of neighbor—put on equal footing with one another. Therein, Jesus expanded the meaning of “neighbor” to include, not just fellow countrymen, but all peoples. In the best tradition of the prophets, the scribe replied that Jesus’ “dual law” was far superior to the rituals of his sacrificial cult. Our Greatest Failure The great danger facing church-going people is that they don’t see the connection between what they do in Church on Sunday and what they do in relation to their neighbor on a weekday! In examining one’s conscience, people may leave whole fields untouched: The conscientious carrying out of one’s duty, honesty n business matters, justice, respect and cooperation among those who live under the same roof…and so on. For such people religion is divorced from life. It is a private matter between them and God. According to Biblical reference, religion like that is a distortion—worse, it is an abomination. It can be very easy, sometimes, to separate the “two great commandments.” In a sense, there is only one—the commandment to love. It is like a coin…one entity with two sides. It is impossible to have one without the other. It’s not that we “hate” our neighbors, but it’s just that we refuse to take them into our heart. If the truth were known, we are indifferent towards them. All of us have a great capacity for love, but sadly, we use it all too seldom. We leave it too late and then are full of regrets. We wait until it is too late to tell or show others that we love them. We leave it too late to mend a quarrel, too late to enjoy health or the gift of our children or our parents. No value in human history has been celebrated so much as love. Poems, songs and novels of all literatures of the globe deal with it endlessly. Countless great works of art and many great monuments have been erected in its name. Almost no motion picture leaves it unmentioned. Jokes caricature it, wise sayings try to define it, and murder/suicide many times follows its failure. And ancient Hebrew literature, specifically the Bible, is no exception—dealing often with love, but relating it constantly to its deepest root, the love of God. In the awareness of the New Testament writers, love of God and neighbor cannot be separated. “Whoever loves God must also love his brother”(John 4:21) Any attempt to separate these two loves is bound to fail in Christian experience. “If anyone says, ‘I love God,’ but hates his brother, he is a liar” (1 John 4:20.) The corollary, loving one’s brother but not paying enough attention to God in prayer and worship, results in failure as well. Many a social worker has tried to love God mainly or only “horizontally,” (i.e. in the brother or sister.) Usually this does not last long. When frustrations undo our best efforts to love others, love of God is needed to keep going. The greatest failure in a Christian is failing to love. Often, however, this is not even seen as sin. Sin is recognized when it means doing harm to a neighbor, but many times not when it means failing to love, or withholding it. While it might be very easy to separate the two great commandments, in actuality, there is only one—the commandment of love. It is like a coin—one entity with two sides. It is impossible to have one without the other. It’s not that we hate our neighbors…no, we don’t hate them…we just refuse to take them into our heart. If the truth were told, we are indifferent to them. Putting Jesus’ two most important commandments into practice is the next step, keeping in mind we are merely a heartbeat away from the kingdom…. In order to take that step we need God to touch our hearts. The Ladder of Charity We live in an age that encourages selfishness. In elections, candidates for public office often suggest that voters ask themselves, “Am I better off today than I was four years ago.” This appeal to personal selfishness is far more successful than asking them, “Is society better off today than it was then?” The Bible teaches that God is deeply concerned about the way we treat one another. Most of us are touched by the pain felt by other people. We feel “enlarged” by doing good, more so than by doing well materially or financially. Generosity brings its own rewards. Joy springs up within us when we do a good deed for someone. But when we refuse to do it, a strange sadness often descends over us. The famous 12th century Jewish teacher, Maimonides, outlined eight “rungs” on what he termed the “Ladder of Charity:” • The first degree is to give, but with reluctance or regret—a gift of the hand, but not the heart. • Second, is to give cheerfully, but not in proportion to the distress of the sufferer. • Third, is to give cheerfully, in proportion to the need, but not until we are asked. • Next, is to give cheerfully, proportionally, and even unasked, but to put it into the poor person’s hand, exciting in them the painful emotion of shame. • A better way may be that we might give in such a way that the needy may receive the gift, and know their benefactor, but without the benefactor knowing them. • Following this, the sixth is to know the recipients of our charity, while remaining unknown to them. • Seventh, we might bestow charity in such a way that we do not know the recipient, nor the recipient would know us. • Finally, the eighth and most meritorious way of all, is to anticipate charity by preventing poverty. This can be done by giving a gift that enables an indigent person to “get back on their feet,” or by teaching them a trade, or facilitating their meeting someone who can provide an opportunity for them to earn an honest livelihood, and not be forced to hold out their hand for charity. It’s a sad commentary on modern life that many of us would rather help a person who “has fallen” than to prevent them falling in the first place…. May God Richly Bless You! "One of the nicest things that can happen to a person is to do good by stealth--and be found out by accident" ~~Mark Twain~~ Prayer of Mother Teresa.docx To view a live stream of today's Holy Mass, click here: https://youtube.com/watch?v=-CaOMSwumXU&feature=share

October 24th, 2021 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time A Message from Father †Michael Today’s Theme: “Master, I want to see!” Reflections on Today’s Scripture In today’s First Reading, we read how Jeremiah shared with his people a vision of homecoming (from their exile in Babylon,) that paralleled in joy and triumph their first exodus from Egyptian slavery (Jeremiah 31:7-9.) The returning people—the blind, the lame, pregnant and nursing mothers—were those who had survived the rigors of the exile and who had been miraculously rescued. Jeremiah’s vision of the return provided hope for his people, even in the darkest days of their hopelessness and estrangement. ~~~ Among the Israelites, the entire system of sacrificial worship was illustrative of higher and more idealistic view of God and of life. Our Second Reading (Hebrews 5:1-6,)shows an appreciation of Jesus Christ as representative of all humanity, by virtue of His incarnation. He is one with us in flesh and blood, pain and suffering, with an empathy that gives Him cause to deal patiently with sinners. While the Jewish high priests were appointed from among the people, and by them, Christ’s priesthood merited a far superior status because His appointment and designation came from God, Himself! ~~~ Up to the point of today’s Gospel selection (Mark 10:46-52,)only demons and evil spirits had actually recognized Jesus and proclaimed Him for what He truly was. The apostles had been, for the most part, both blind and uncomprehending of the true meaning of Jesus’ messiahship and of His kingdom. But now, Bartimaeus, the blind son of Timaeus, recognizes, proclaims and understands Jesus’ true identity. Showing a persistency far above his station, and using deep insight, along with an act of profound faith, he acclaimed Him as “Son of David,” a title that gave Him due transcendence and power among men. Isaiah’s prophecy—that the Messiah would bring sight to the blind—was once again played out for all to see. The true nature and meaning of the event was perfectly encapsulated in Jesus’ reply: “Your faith has healed you.” Christianity is a way of life that must daily lead the believer from darkness to light, from blindness to sight and from fascination to faith! Throwing Away Our Cloak The blind man in today’s Gospel can be seen to have one kind of riches—faith in Jesus. It may have been only the faith of the desperate, as a person who was forced to live on the “fringes” of life, “at the side of the road,” but it is faith that matters. He “cried out” to Jesus, and overcame his shame and pride, and was not “put off” by the disciples’ attempts to silence him. He went on “crying out!” (This could be seen as one of the bedrock tenets of good salesmanship—persistence….) When Jesus responded to him, he jumped up, threw aside his cloak and made his way to Him. That cloak would have been the one thing of value that he possessed—it meant the “world” to him. It not only provided him warmth, but also covered his wretchedness, giving him some measure of dignity and respectability. Yet he threw it aside and came to Jesus just as he was—in all his darkness, poverty and despair. We then hear how Jesus received him and gave him back his sight. When we go to the doctor, we may be asked to take off some, or all of our clothes. It’s not something most of us find easy to do. To “strip” is to become vulnerable. But it would be difficult to have our ills diagnosed and treated if we won’t even let the doctor see them in the first place! We are also blind, in many ways. We are poor before God. Jesus calls us to come to Him, as He wants to make us well. However, like our discomfort with disrobing for the doctor, we find it difficult to throw our “cloak” away and come to Him just as we are. Pride makes us attempt to put on an outward “show.” This may stem from a mistaken belief that we must be perfect in order for Jesus to love us. We may believe that to admit our sins and weaknesses might cause Him to reject us. But if we were perfect, if we were well, we wouldn’t need Jesus in the first place! We must make a radical act of faith and trust in Jesus. We must forego pretense, covering up, hiding behind various screens and masks. We must be content to appear before Him as we really are. We have nothing to fear but His kindness and healing. A patient does not feel accepted unless the worst in him or her is also accepted. So, we will never feel accepted and loved by God unless we let Him see our worst side. Many people sit at the roadside of life begging, not for money, but for love, for attention, for a feeling that they are important and that life has meaning. Many of them are too embarrassed to ask for help. They are afraid of being silenced by the indifference of others. Bartimaeus serves as a model for others. Many people who were blind and without direction, have found purpose, energy and direction in their lives as a result of following Jesus. An enthusiastic following of Jesus results in a happy and fulfilled life—a life shared with others. “Lord that we may see”—should be our plea, so that we can see our needy brothers and sisters, and hear their silent cries, in order that we do not pass them by. For we, too, were beggars, and Jesus enriched us. We were blind and Jesus enlightened us. Vision vs Sight To a person of average height, standing on the seashore, the horizon appears to be a mere three miles away. If one stands on a point 100 feet higher, it recedes to about 13 miles. And seen from 1,000 feet up, the distance to the horizon becomes 40 miles. When meteorologists speak in terms of “visibility,” it has nothing to do with the actual or apparent distance to the horizon. Visibility is defined as, “the furthest horizontal distance at which a person can distinguish and identify an object, in normal conditions of daylight.” The air we breathe is never completely “clear.” Even if it were, our maximum visibility would still be only about 130 miles, depending upon altitude. In practice, though, it is quite unusual to be able to see clearly more than a distance of 40 miles. There is no such thing as “unlimited” visibility. In fact, the highest numerical value with which meteorologists concern themselves is typically, closer to 50 miles. Philosophically speaking, some people have very limited horizons, barely seeing beyond themselves. For them, the world is limited because of their self-preoccupation, and their vision is “darkened” by their own gloomy worldview. But other people have a wider horizon because they are able to look beyond themselves. Their outlook is brightened by their ability to see the world in a positive light. We can take a lesson from Helen Keller— blind and deaf at nineteen months of age—who once said: “One day I asked a friend of mine who had just returned from a long walk in the word what she had seen. She replied, ‘Nothing in particular.’ “ ‘How was this possible,’ I asked myself— when I who cannot hear or see, find hundreds of things to interest me through mere touch? I feel the delicate shape and design of a leaf. I pass my hands lovingly over the rough bark of a pine tree. Occasionally, I place my hand quietly on a small tree, and if I’m lucky, feel the happy quiver of a bird, in full song. “The greatest calamity that can befall people, is not that they should be born blind, but that they should have eyes, but fail to see.” It is so important that we, who are blessed with all our senses, distinguish between “sight” and “vision.” Having good eyesight doesn’t mean we have great vision. It’s not only with our eyes that we see. We also “see” with our minds, hearts and imaginations. A narrow mind, a small heart, and an impoverished imagination can lead us to loss of vision and have a “narrow” perspective on our world. To view a live stream of today's Holy Mass, click here: https://youtu.be/a2l_dZiEMws May God Richly Bless You! If Jesus heals instantly, praise Him. If Jesus heals gradually, trust Him. When Jesus heals ultimately, you will understand. ~~Max Lucado~~ Just As I Am.mp3

October 17th, 2021 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time A Message from Father †Michael Today’s Theme: “Being of Service” Reflections on Today’s Scripture The “Fourth Servant Song,” from which our First Reading is taken (Isaiah 53: 10-11,) contributed three, very important features to the primitive Church’s perception of the crucifixion: Firstly, Isaiah’s song aided Christians in their understanding of Christ’s suffering as innocent, vicarious and redemptive; Secondly, the universal scope of the servant’s mission (“for many”) was seen as a prefigurement of “cosmic dimensions” of Jesus’ saving work; and thirdly, the servant’s promised vindication (V.10,) when compared to the glorification of Jesus, offered the early community a means for understanding His resurrection in relation to the cross. Because of this, and similar texts, early Christian apologists could perceive Christ, not as a “victim of circumstances,” but as a willing and perfect gift to humanity—the crucifixion was seen not as an execution, but as a freely offered sacrifice, willed by God for the salvation of all peoples. Moreover, early believers were led to see the passion, and even their own suffering, for the sake of discipleship, not as the waste of human energies and the alienation of peoples. ~~~ Today’s Second Reading (Hebrews 4:14-16,) surrounds the realization that origins of the priesthood among the Israelites are difficult to trace with absolute certainty. However, there is sufficient evidence to indicate that the priestly office includes their acting as mediators and interpreters of oracles, having knowledge as to intricacies of the Law, through their education; and as mediators between God and the believing community. Little is known of the pre-exilic priesthood. Post exile, the priesthood flourished, and the office of high priest took on great political and religious importance. Like the high priests of Israel, Jesus was representative of the people, but unlike the high priests of Judaism, He did not approach the throne of grace (“Holy of Holies,”) alone. Because of His saving action and perfect sacrifice, humanity need no longer send one from among them to offer an animal in holocaust for sin, or ear to approach the Holy One. With Jesus, everyone has been made capable of drawing near to God to receive mercy, favor and help. ~~~ It is evident in our Gospel selection today (Mark 10: 35-45,) the disciples displayed abysmal incomprehension of Jesus’ purpose and of the quality of His Kingdom. With surety, Jesus could promise a share in His cross for all who would be His followers, but only the Father could decide to reward with glory those who persevere in faith. Jesus endowed His disciples with an authority to be exercised in service. Those who would be great in the Kingdom Jesus proclaimed, would seem to be the last of all and the least among all. They must look up into the faces of the poor, the needy and the suffering, to offer them the service they deserve as God’s precious little ones—from a position of servitude, not as lords. Role Reversal “Our business is to serve you!” is a commonly advertised slogan of various enterprises in our modern world. From local gas stations, all the way to the Congress of the United States, “service” is offered. Those who serve in government are often called, in fact, “public servants.” The PM of Great Britain is officially called the “First Servant” of the nation. It’s common to expect and accept professional services in our daily life with a bill “for services rendered,” presented shortly thereafter. Our service to one another is more clearly Christian without a “fee for services rendered.” Rendering free services to the poor or suffering persons is an example. Children should provide it for their parents, and Church workers, religious and priests should offer free service wherever it is needed. Jesus’ act of washing the feet of the apostles at the Last Supper served to emphasize a lesson He had earlier taught them. This was, namely, that for them, authority was to be a form of service. Today, there is often a gulf between those who rule and those who are ruled. Those in “low places” feel they are not appreciated by those in “high positions,” throughout society. They see the latter as remote, and uncaring. Those who have worked their way up into high positions sometimes forget what it is like to be “in the trenches.” To remember is to understand…a good parent remembers what it was like to be a child. Would that those above might follow the example Jesus gave at the Last Supper: let the policeman be arrested; the priest sit in the pew; the teacher sit at the student’s desk; the foreman do the menial tasks of the workers; the warden be locked-up; the doctor become seriously ill; the judge be put in the dock like the defendant; the general go onto the “front line” with the foot soldiers; and the man with the secure job join those waiting to be hired. Perhaps then, we may see a more caring and sensitive exercise of authority…. Of course, the opposite also happens: those above are not understood by those below, and harsh judgments are sometimes handed “up.” The primary aim of workers unions, early in the industrial age, was to improve the lot of the laborer. The extreme position of Marx was to overthrow the owners of capital and give it to those who worked to sustain it. But like all socialist-oriented solutions to the problem of economic strata, it comes with myriad difficulties—not the least of which is that receipt of “riches” for which one does no effort are often squandered, and expected, without further effort. The rampant abuses seen in many welfare systems attest to that. Most business leaders today understand that they are supported by a “working class,” without which their enterprise could not be sustained. The current pandemic is testimony to how businesses are disadvantaged when there is a shortage of labor. Coupled with government programs to “ease the burden” of the wage earner, there doesn’t seem to be any quick solution for the problem. It serves us well, as Christians, regardless of our station in life, to justly administer our “wealth” so that those in service to us are treated fairly. That wealth could be comprised of money and possessions, of course, but it also could be a “wealth of responsibility” for those over whom we exercise authority. Regularly assessing our “position” in life, to be sure we are being appreciative for the kindness of others, is a valuable habit to cultivate. May God Richly Bless You! To see a live stream of today's Mass, click here: https://youtu.be/nf23xNT8F9Y Jesus, Savior, Blessed Friend.docx

October 10th, 2021 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time The “Little door of the gate,” called the “Eye of a Needle,” allowed people to enter Jerusalem at night. A Message from Father Michael Today’s Theme: “Renunciation and Stewardship” Reflections on Today’s Scripture Despite his rather checkered reputation and questionable morals, Solomon had his priorities straight when he came to God in prayer (Wisdom 7:7-11.) Successor to his father David, though not the qualified heir, Solomon was designated Jedediah (“Beloved of Yahweh,”) by the prophet Nathan. Even with his shortcomings, when Solomon stood in truth before God, he is said to have prayed not for riches or fame or earthly power or even a long life…but for wisdom. Praying to Wisdom, personified as a woman, Solomon equates the possession of her as his most fervent quest. The “Wisdom of Solomon,” has become an oft-repeated epithet in our lexicon. As with the other “Wisdom books,” Psalms and Proverbs, much beneficial thought and philosophy is to be gained by their reading. ~~~ The book of Hebrews was destined for an audience grown lax with regard to Gospel teaching (Hebrews 4:12-13,)and today’s selection was both a powerful admonition and a challenge to renewed fervor. Christians in Rome were exposed to a variety of religious persuasions, and the threat of combination and, thereby, dilution, of these beliefs with “The Way,” abounded. Some scholars cite the presence of apostates there, whose presence eroded the zeal and faith of their fellow believers. In the face of the Word of God as a “two-edged sword,” revealing God to the believer and the believer to himself, there can be no stagnation or laxity because the Word that reveals also judges with penetrating light and truthfulness. ~~~ “The man’s face fell…and he went away sad.” With these two brief phrases, today’s Gospel selection reveals a touching and telling commentary on the cost of discipleship and the challenge of following Jesus: a total and unreserved commitment (Mark 10:17-30.) The man who approached Jesus is assumed to have been a fervent Jew, and as such, schooled in the Mosaic law and its requirements for salvation. By his question, he indicated his feeling of inadequacy of the Old Law and perhaps a sense that in keeping the Law in its entirety was somehow unfulfilling. His dilemma arose in the realization that the Christian covenant makes even more demands than his Old Covenant observance. The man was called by Jesus to surrender his traditional manner of serving God and to launch out into new, uncharted, and perhaps, insecure, waters. Modern theologians have related Jesus’ comments about wealth to responsible stewardship of the earth and its riches. In the end, Jesus affirms that discipleship, like salvation, is not a human achievement, but a God-given gift. By renunciation of earthly wealth in favor of the needy, Christians become heirs not only to earthly treasures, such as family, and love, but to eternity as well. Sacrifice If you take things away from people, they can become impoverished. But if you can get them to give them up, freely, they are enriched. In spite of the leaning of our Dutch Reformed brethren, we believe people are essentially good. However, this goodness has to be awakened and called forth, if they are to enter the Kingdom of Love. It’s not what we receive that makes us great, but what we give away. It is by giving that we grow. There is a danger that religion can become too easy. All the great religions teach that there is no reward without renunciation—without paying the price. All of us have a deep-seated desire for goodness. We long to do something really worthwhile with our lives. We know that to follow such a dream involves sacrifice, but also brings great joy. It is indigenous to our nature—given to us by our Creator—to have this longing in our hearts. The challenge Jesus gave the young man in today’s Gospel story caused a vision of true greatness to well-up within him. But its price proved to be too costly, and he went away disillusioned. Jesus allowed him to go, because He never forces anyone to give up their freedom of choice. But our Blessed Lord’s admonition doesn’t mean we should all become paupers. The life of the poor, with its hardship and suffering, is not set forth as an ideal for the Christian disciple. But neither is all-consuming desire for possessions and accumulation of wealth. Like our young man, we too sometimes dream of a more authentic Christian life. We dream…but are we prepared to act? We are no better for merely desiring things, unless we strive towards them. For those who do strive, the rewards are great, even in this life, in terms of meaning, fulfillment and joy—in spite of trials and difficulties. But Jesus will not let us settle for an answer that does not demand the best of us. True friends are people who hold us to the best dreams of our youth. They challenge us to the limit of our ability, and beyond, so that thereafter we have new standards by which to judge ourselves. Our modern world doesn’t encourage us to question ourselves—at a spiritual level. Such enquiries are seldom topics of conversation at dinner tables, let alone during typical visits among friends. Usually, we tend to focus more on work, family problems and the political/economic issues of the day. Discussions about moral values and spiritual beliefs seldom happen—and are, more or less, “taboo” in ordinary settings. That is why, during professional counseling sessions, these are the kinds of probing inquiries therapists make. (In quasi-professional groups like AA, Al-Anon, NA, and the like, these topics comprise the most beneficial introspections for successful participants.) We are practical people. We want answers, not problems. Moral and spiritual matters are difficult issues. An American psychiatrist said: “To a large extent our lives are spent avoiding confrontations with ourselves. Most of our daily activities facilitate this. They distract us from ourselves, and from reflection, so that, as a result, we are tranquillized by the trivial.” Like our young man, we stand “on the brink” of a new and exciting world. However, like him, we also know we will have to bid adieu to our “old world” in order to enter the “new world.” When we weigh the value of everything we have in the “here and now,” it becomes a struggle to contemplate divesting ourselves of the many and comforts and pleasures we enjoy. Some people are unwilling to let go of a single one of their old values in order to acquire a new one. If we fear to lose earthly pleasures, we will never taste the joys of heaven. Jesus demands the best of us, just like He did of the young man. He will not allow us to settle for anything less. The challenge—“If you wish to be perfect,”—is applied to us, as well. Of course, the thing we might be called upon to sacrifice in order to take up that challenge will vary for each of us. We have to look into our own hearts to discover what it is that we would have to sacrifice in order to respond to Jesus’ call—and then act upon it. May God Richly Bless You! O Clap Your Hands.docx To View a stream of today's Mass, click here: https://youtu.be/-ZsR5D-ddcE

October 3rd, 2021 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time The wedding feast at Cana (Tintoretto) A Message from Father †Michael Today’s Theme: “Unshakable Fidelity” Reflections on Today’s Scripture In keeping with their conviction in God’s creation of all existing species, the Genesis authors’ theological and poetic accounts of the creation of the universe and of humanity were not intended as scientific analyses of the then-known world. Our First Reading, today (Genesis 2:18-24,)spells out the manner in which woman’s equality and partnership with man comes from the same substance (or species, or nature) but defies precise definition—i.e., men and women have the same number of ribs. (There is a relationship to the ancient Sumerian, where the same word designates “rib,” and “life.”) Not legislated or revealed by God, her relationship to the man was expressed in his triple enunciation: “bone of my bone…” “flesh of my flesh…” “woman.” Becoming “one flesh” means more than physical union. The bond of marriage was thought of as one ordained by God Himself, and as such, was indissoluble. ~~~ Solidarity is the key to understanding our Second Reading (Hebrews 2:9-11.) It is one of the major themes of the letter. By virtue of His incarnation, Jesus so united Himself to the human condition that He became one with all who suffer; suffered for the sake of all; and even experienced the ultimate human crisis—death. In so doing, He became part of time and space to affect the redemption of all people, and all the redeemed are free to enter by faith into solidarity with Him, as brothers and sisters of the one Father. ~~~ As a recognized teacher, with some following, it is not surprising that Jesus was quizzed by the Pharisees on the subject of divorce (Mark 10:2-26.) But those who questioned Him were most likely concerned with His opinion on the controversy about divorce, which centered on the Mosaic law, wherein a man could divorce his wife for adultery (Deuteronomy 24:1-4.) Further, other permissible Old Testament causes could include poor cooking, or if the woman spoke to a strange man in public, griped about her in-laws in her husband’s presence, and so on. Jesus lifted the issue to a higher level, declaring the Mosaic text to be a dispensation from the law, or a concession that became acceptable in light of the “hard hearts” of the people. Jesus forced the attention of His listeners first, inward to their own insensitivity to God’s challenge to morality; and then outward, to the greater principle of God’s basic plan of creation. The Marriage Commitment Modern life, with all its complex difficulties for interpersonal relationships has had no small effect on the marital union. So many people, having been inadequately prepared for commitment to another person, enter blithely into nuptials without truly understanding its demands. Therefore, many marriages simply do not “work out.” Rather than condemn the participants to lives of mental (and sometimes physical,) misery, together; or, celibacy, after having parted; a more conciliatory view must be applied. Paramount in such cases is the presence of a loving and supportive community. In our rapidly changing world, most people question many values. It’s not surprising that one of them is commitment to a lasting marriage. Throughout history, the outlook on marriage has changed with changing cultures. The patriarchal marriage view of the Bible is no longer how most people in the modern worldview it. The point at issue becomes, “How can marriage be “changed,” and what constitutes its core? Is there some elements that cannot be called into question?” Our Lord’s statement: “What God has joined together, no human being must separate” (Matthew 19-6,) is the “rule” most Christians follow. Of course, this begs the question, in certain circumstances, when or if, “God has joined” some couples together. In those cases, where uninformed, or even malicious motives of one or both partners can be determined, provisions for separation are outlined in Church law. The New Testament gives Church officials authority to make concessions for annulment that are pastorally necessary, and address the mindset of the partners at the point of their promises. Since there is no “crystal ball” for discerning someone’s innermost thoughts, it remains to observe their behavior to determine them. One who treats marriage as a “convenience,” rather than a commitment, would be such an example. Another would be if one partner decides to be blatantly unfaithful to the marriage bond, and commits adultery, thus destroying “trust” between the partners. At such times, the question then becomes, “should the parties remain together, irreconcilable differences notwithstanding,” or should they pursue separate lives? These are not simple considerations, nor are they without their share of public stigmata and consternation. Those devout Christians who have faced such dilemmas can attest to the difficulty of such a decision, and its aftermath. If children are present, the difficulties are compounded. God made us for love—to receive it and to give it. However, the ability to love is not something that is given to a couple on their wedding day with all the other gifts! Love is an attitude that has to be learned. The real journey married couples have to make—and not just them, but single people, too—is that from selfishness to love…. Nothing is a greater challenge to love—nothing provides a greater opportunity for growth in it—than marriage. Successful marriage requires a substantial amount of maturity. Goldfish in a bowl get along rather easily. But when two human beings come together, often many problems develop. They bring their strengths, weakness, loves, hates, hurts, wounds, hopes and fears with them…. It must be said that the difficulties married couples encounter can become opportunities for growth! There is more depth to a relationship that has weathered some “storms.” In my counseling sessions with couples struggling with their problems, the most pronounced is a lack of communication. But, luckily, that can be remedied, if the partners are realistic. Oftentimes, this occurs due to immaturity, and when insecurities surface in the marriage, becoming the source of withholding deeply felt opinions, wants and desires. The fear of exposing one’s deepest feelings of inadequacy with one’s spouse prevents routine “clearing of the air” between the partners. It is so commonplace that many esteemed practitioners of marital counseling have written volumes on this aspect of interpersonal discourse, far beyond what I can express here. But perhaps the most difficult situation to overcome, and the second most oft-encountered difficulty I’ve discovered, is the breakage of the bond of trust in a marriage, due to adultery. Barring an herculean sense of forgiveness, and without basic trust, no possible reconciliation can occur, and as such, this is the number one reason for failure in most marriages. However, all that being said, when people can yield to an honest, unassuming hope in the power of love, and with strength that can be gained in prayerful meditation, the Spirit of God has promised to offer solutions to virtually all problems found in marital unions. May God Richly Bless You! To view a live stream of today's Mass, click here: https://www.facebook.com/michael.schamp.9/videos/460253388558672/ When two individuals blend in a totally complementary relationship, that union forms the nucleus of a viable society. Blessed by God, their covenant is integral to His divine creation (Genesis.) Called to respect and support that bond, Christians are challenged to a radical idealism and a seemingly “suprahuman” generosity (†Mark.) Strength, vision and grace are available to all in the caring love of our brother, Jesus (Hebrews.) Great is the Lord.mp3

September 26th, 2021 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time A Message from Father †Michael Today’s Theme: “Open-Minded Respect for All” Reflections on Today’s Scripture By the very fact of the Incarnation, the mystery whereby divinity embraced all of humanity, the Spirit of God’s loving and merciful goodness was unleased upon the earth—not as the private option of one particular group, sex, nation or religious persuasion—but for all people (†Mark.) Those called into the service of the Spirit are selected, not by human convention, but by the Lord, Himself (Numbers.) For this reason, the poor, and not the rich…the downtrodden and not their oppressors…the condemned, and not their accusers…will reap the harvest of eternal joy (†James.) Today, we might speak of our awareness of God’s presence in terms of conscience, inspiration, sacrament, conviction, or even intuition. The Israelites, however, described the reality of God among them in very tangible terms—cloud, fiery pillar, etc. Today’s First Reading (Numbers 11:25-29,) was precipitated by one of the occasions of the people “murmuring” against Moses, criticizing his leadership and the austerity of desert travel. The receipt of the “Gift of the Spirit,” herein described, was tantamount to Moses’ sharing it with “70 elders,” in order to better manage the people. Some who received “the Spirit” were thought to be unworthy by others. ~~~ John Naisbitt, in his best-seller, “Megatrends,” cautions against focus on “short term profits,” instead of “long-range plans,” with the admonition that doing so will result in a “steep decline.” This is, perhaps, the inspiration we can take away from today’s Second Reading (James 5:1-6,) wherein the subject is not economic, but refers to our salvation, instead. Nonetheless, with an eye to the imminent “end times,” †James encouraged his community to pour their energies into long-range plans— concern for “eternal realities” (salvation)—thus, replacing worry over short-term “profits,” such as social standing, material wealth, rich apparel, etc. To do otherwise would be to entertain a sure and certain demise—damnation (a la Naisbitt’s economic reference to a “steep decline.”) He understood that it is the preoccupation with riches that tended to make people less aware of others and their needs…and thus, insensitive to the values of the Gospel. Poverty, conversely, was not good in itself, but seemed to foster reliance on God and a realization of responsibility for other community and society members. ~~~ Illnesses and calamities of every sort were attributed to demons and evil spirits in the ancient world. There was a literal “catalog” of them, thought to be responsible for various afflictions (Daytime & nighttime ones, those who attacked the head, throat, chest, foot, etc; “Pazuzu” was thought to cause malaria; “Ashukku,” who brought death; “Lamashtu” was especially to be feared by pregnant women; and “Gallu” was an amorphous monster feared by all, and others….) During Jesus’ day, lacking medical/mental health sophistication, both Jewish and Gentile healers affected cures by casting out culprit demons, restoring health and wholeness those whom today may have been diagnosed as epileptic, catatonic, deaf, insane, etc. Our Gospel (Mark 9:38-48,) recounts activities of some charisms of others that were valid and valuable, about which Jesus cautions His disciples to temper their resistance. He teaches us that those who mindfully offer assistance to others, though they may arise from differing “schools of thought,” should not be shunned, but rather, regarded for the benefit of their intentions. Of paramount importance is the effectiveness of their services to those in need. Jesus recognized as genuine the witness and works of all who called upon His name (possibly including not only those non-clerical or lay workers within the community, but even those outside the recognized and orthodox fellowship of the visible Church.) Practical Advice for Discipleship Some people are threatened by the gifts or achievements of others. If only they had a more open attitude, they would find themselves enriched, rather than diminished by those gifts. The person who is “different from me,” does not diminish me, but enriches me. (This tenet has applications far beyond our lesson today: group dynamics are made more productive by inputs from various trains of thought; business decisions resulting from “groupthink” have been proven to be more applicable and rewarding; genetic diversity has been shown to make offspring heartier than purebreds….) God bestows His gifts freely. Our responsibility is to welcome those gifts from whatever source they appear. Deeds don’t have to be “substantial,” in order to be of help and comfort to the person on whose behalf they are performed. They must simply possess a certain quality—warmth. All deeds, even simple gestures, which come from the heart have this warmth. Few of us are given to chance to perform “great deeds.” But the chance to “give a cup of water” can come our way several times in the course of a single day! Small acts of kindness can “turn winter into summer,” at least briefly, for another person. When we think of the crimes committed against children, today, whether through neglect or abuse, the words of Jesus are especially poignant—“Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were put around his neck and he were thrown into the sea,”—words we should take very seriously. Occasions of sin are to be ruthlessly routed out, and Jesus’ admonition to ‘pluck out,” or “cut off” an offending body part are meant to be shocking.... They stem from powerful Semitic expressions that put forth, in graphic terms, the necessity of avoiding even the possibility of our behavior becoming a temptation for someone else. Of course, the Gospel does not suggest physical mutilation. But there can be no doubt that the avoidance of leading others into sin—those which might alienate them from God and the community—should be worth the most radical self-sacrifice. May God Richly Bless You! “Children” (Anonymous) Jesus warned those who would lead the little ones astray, but He blessed those who care for them. One of the most touching things about children is their openness. But this same openness leaves them extremely vulnerable. They may not say much but they feel everything. They are like crocuses that appear in the open in February—frail, delicate and beautiful— Innocents abroad in an unpredictable climate. If they are embraced by the sun, they will bloom to their full potential. But if they are assailed by hail, they will die a premature death. Love is to a child what sunshine is to a flower…. To view a live stream of today's Holy Mass, click here: https://youtu.be/6_SMRDWjcsQ With My Song.docx

September 19th, 2021 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time “Whoever welcomes one child such as this, in My name, receives Me.” A Message from Father †Michael Today’s Theme: “The Management of the Church” Reflections on Today’s Scripture During His life, He received little official recognition. While He lived, the only thing ever written about Him was the “criminal charge” hung above His head on the cross. Yet His life changed the world: By His innocent suffering (Wisdom.) Jesus Christ revealed to the world the mystery of God’s ways of love, ways that find greatness in smallness and humble service to the poor (†Mark.) His way of true wisdom issued forth in peace (†James.) The Book of Wisdom was the Jewish answer to a Greek philosophical system that threatened to overwhelm and dilute traditional Jewish religion and culture. For Jewish readers, the book served as an inspiration and encouragement to retain and preserve Judaism’s monotheistic concepts and traditional values in the midst of a pagan environment. Our First Reading (Wisdom 2:12, 17-20,) is an outgrown of the author’s meditation consideration of Isaiah (Ch. 52-66,) wherein he shares the prophet’s insights into justice and retribution. In it, the Just One is representative of all whose sincere search for God and for wisdom set them apart from the pleasure seekers of the ancient world. Like an external conscience, the goodness of the Just One made the depravity of His contemporaries all the more poignant by comparison. Martin Luther called the book of †James “an epistle full of straw.” (He may also have wished to be able to “huff and puff and blow it away…”, or, at least have it removed from the New Testament!) But the letter, with it’s 108 verses of practical and moral exhortation, has survived the test of time, scrutiny and continued controversy. Today’s Second Reading (James 3:16-4:3,) draws from two different exhortations: In the first paragraph, we see compared the fruits of true wisdom and the just deserts, as it were, of false wisdom; secondly, †James tried to discern the source of strife and discord within the community of believers. The two are linked by the idea that real peace comes from true wisdom and fosters communal harmony, while discord and calamity are the result of false, and empty wisdom. Such questions reflect the problems of the late first century Church, wherein some thought themselves privy to a very special wisdom, revealed only to an elite group, and withheld from others. †Mark’s portrayal of the disciples was often less than complimentary. “Warts and all,” the evangelist described their lack of understanding of Jesus’ person and mission. Without hesitation, he recounted their difficulty to comprehend, their fear and even, their ambition. By contrast, the evangelists, writing after Mark, tended to “tone down” their negative and pejorative aspects, and cast them more favorably. In today’s Gospel (Mark 9:30-37,) we hear the second of three predictions of Jesus’ passion, and the disciples’ continued lack of comprehension. Mark wished to focus on the cross as the sign and the means whereby the healing of the world of sin would be affected. With each prediction, it became clearer that to walk in Jesus’ footsteps, meant to be overshadowed by the cross and that the cost of discipleship would entail a total and unreserved commitment. True and False Ambition Not only is there nothing wrong with being ambitious, it’s good to have goals, to want to be “good” at one does and to succeed. But ambition can get “out of hand,” causing us to forget everything else in pursuit of our objectives. But, it’s paramount that we must are mindful of what we must sacrifice in order to realize our prize. It may involve sacrificing our family life, our sense of fairness, kindness, even life, itself. Drive and ambition can case a person to treat others cruelly, or unjustly. Today’s Gospel shows us how the apostles fought over who would be “first” in Jesus’ kingdom. Their selfishness and false ambition shows how little they had learned from their Master, and how poor was their understanding of His mission. Jesus did not abolish ambition. Rather, He redefined it. For the ambition to rule over others, and have them serve us, He substituted the ambition to serve others, and do things for them. In so doing, He showed them where true greatness was to be found—not by being masters, but by being servants. We all believe that really great people of our world, who are fondly remembered, are not those who seek to further themselves and their own interests, but rather those who devote themselves to furthering the interests of their community. In order to serve, one has to be very self-effacing. A servant has to be accepting of being taken for granted. The mistake the apostles made was to put the job, or the position, first. In their eyes, the greatest among them was the one who had the highest position. (They obviously thought that Jesus would set up an earthly kingdom, and so each wanted to get a top position in that kingdom.) But Jesus told them that His kingdom was not about seeking honor and glory for oneself, but about serving others. If they were prepared to do that, then by all means they could have a top place in His kingdom. He wanted to impress upon them that they would not be sitting on high, soft chairs, but would more likely be down on their knees with a basin of water in one hand and a towel in the other, washing the feet of “the little ones”—the weakest members of the community. False ambition is very damaging to the unity of any community. It springs from jealousy, and selfishness, and can result in ugly behavior. So much of today’s violence and evil results from greed and selfishness. Self-interest creates conflict and often results in painful divisions. It’s easier to serve those who are “great,” because we feel honored through our association with them, and, there is a better chance of obtaining rewards. But the real test is in serving “the least,” from whom we cannot expect any rewards. That’s how we understand Jesus saying: “Whoever welcomes one such child, welcomes Me.” “To welcome” means to give loving service. And “child” stands for the weakest members of the community, who are the neediest. Service rendered to the least is best of all. We hear the same words in the last judgment scene: “As long as you did it to one of these, the least of My brethren, you did it to Me.” Jesus set the example for us, Himself. Though He had authority from God, He never used it to dominate others. Instead, He used it to serve them. And that service was directed towards the poor, the sick, the maimed, the outcasts…. It’s not what one does but the character of the person that is important. One’s self-worth should not depend on a person’s work. It’s possible to possess an attitude of self-worth and accomplishment, regardless of what one does in this world. We hear a lot of talk these days about self-esteem, and rightly so, because it is pretty basic thing. But if we want to feel proud of ourselves, we must do those things of which we can be proud. Feelings follow actions. Jesus tells us they are deeds of love and service, setting the example Himself: He gave His life in the service of others. No one can go higher than that. He is the greatest in the kingdom. Service implies that you’re not “there” for yourself. You are “there” for others. In order to serve, one has to be very self-effacing. A servant has to get used to being taken for granted…. May God Richly Bless You! “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” (Ghandi) God is our Refuge.docx To view a live stream of today's Holy Mass, click here: https://youtu.be/LXPZIRpb-ks

September 12th, 2021 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time A Message from Father †Michael "Whoever welcomes a little child, such as this, receives Me." Today’s Theme: “Taking Up Our Cross” Reflections on Today’s Scripture Shattering preconceptions; disappointing popular expectations; shocking the orthodox; He came (†Mark.) In the mystery of innocent suffering endured for the sake of others, humanity glimpsed the loving kindness of God (Isaiah.) For those so graciously and undeservedly blessed with salvation, the only worthy response is a living (and a lived) faith (†James.) (P.D. Sanchez, “The Word We Celebrate”) Today’s First Reading is taken from the third of the four “Servant Songs” of Isaiah (42:1-4; 49:1-7; 50:4-9; and 52:13-53:12.) They were intended as a source of hope and consolation during the time of Israel’s national disgrace; to help Israel make sense of, and find purpose for, the suffering that threatened to overwhelm it during the Babylonian Captivity (586-516 B.C.) Isaiah teaches us today that the just person is sustained in all his trials by the firm belief that God is with him. The Servant of the Lord Who suffers, does so because of His innocence, not in spite of it. Early Christians ascribed these themes to Jesus, portraying Him as the Suffering Servant…par excellence. Contrary to the opinion that heated up various theological controversies during the Protestant Reformation, †James was not refuting the Pauline doctrine of salvation by faith. Rather, the late first century author geared his admonitions and exhortations toward those who had misconstrued †Paul’s thoughts. Like †Paul, †James advocated living an active faith, integral to one’s daily life, manifested in ethical and moral behavior. Those whose beliefs had been reduced to “faith alone,” without including just living and actions, are the ones to whom †James’ “faith without works is dead,” aphorism was directed (Second Reading: James 2:14-18.) Today’s Gospel selection (Mark 8;27-35,) marks a theological “turning point” for †Mark. Up to that point, Jesus’ identity was shrouded in questions and confusion. Ordinary people, hearing Him preach, realized He was unlike anyone they had ever experienced, but they were unsure as to Who He really was. Throughout His native Galilee, He had been incorrectly thought to be the mysterious figure of Elijah, the prophet-like Moses, or the reincarnations of other historic figures from Torah. Expecting a “political Messiah,” His own disciples were filled with ambivalence toward Jesus. Even Jesus’ own relatives did not perceive His true purpose or understand His methods. Only the “demons” truly recognized and identified Him: “What do you want with us…I know Who You are…the Holy One of God” (Mark 1:25; 5:7.) In the final analysis, we conclude that only a person who is prepared and willing to risk all for Jesus and for His Gospel, will attain to authentic “selfhood.” Two Kinds of Faith “Inherited” faith is that of those who believe in following the traditions of their ancestors, strongly maintaining them. Those with “inherited faith” have the advantage that they are not easily tempted. Even when confronted with philosophical arguments that might contradict their faith, it remains implacable, because of firmly rooted ancestral traditions. In addition, they have never depended on philosophical speculation. But there is a disadvantage: their faith is not “well-reasoned” or “thought out,” and not infrequently, is a faith of habit and routine. On the other hand, those who possess “personal faith” also have an advantage. They have discovered God through reasoning, and therefore, exhibit strength of mind. Their disadvantage is that they can be persuaded by logic, and, if confronted with strong contrary arguments, they can be tempted to abandon their faith. In order to withstand challenges, they must be grounded in something that goes beyond one’s own personal experience. People who gain their faith in both ways have every advantage—depending strongly on traditions, and also critically thinking for themselves. The combination of the two might be thought to be the best and most perfect form of faith. It is no longer sufficient to be “born into” faith. Inherited faith is “second-hand, and can be very “empty.” It’s not enough to say, “My parents were believers, and so am I.” Every generation must be converted anew. It’s been said that many church-goers are little better than baptized pagans. Seemingly harsh, that nevertheless is the case with many sad and tired faces in the pews—as exhibited, perhaps by those who arrive late and leave early…. It is important for each of us to arrive at our own conclusion as to Jesus’ identity. It’s important to craft our own answer; to be able to state our own values and beliefs as Christians. It is no longer adequate to merely repeat “official” answers—those we may have memorized from early catechetical studies. We have to make the faith “our own,” for it to be alive and influential in our lives. Our parents’ faith is not ours until we walk the journey for ourselves. We need to grow in our understanding of the faith. We must believe out of personal conviction. The more of such people we have in the Church, the more it is founded on “rock.” (To this end, I continue to write these letters—in the hope that within these words, my readers will find motivation to discover a deeper understanding, a more loving appreciation for The Way of our Blessed Lord, Jesus Christ.) Faith Without Good Works It’s simply not enough to “pray” for a needy person. Saying “I’ll pray for you,” we must not think that we have done “our bit” once we have “referred the matter” to God! That sounds very much like “passing the buck,” to my understanding. Rather, when we do pray for another person, we should be, in effect, saying to God: “Here I am, Lord; send me!” Our prayer should commit us to some positive action, no matter how small. Even a small act, like a visit, could prove to be a costly gesture, because it means putting ourselves alongside a suffering person. And to do that is to lay ourselves open to that person’s pain, where we will inevitably absorb some of that pain. To pray for people, or to wish them well, is a good thing! It gives them comfort knowing they are not alone. But it is not enough…it is what †James called a “dead faith.” If our faith in Christ is alive, we will also express our concern in actions! †Peter identified Jesus, absolutely. His faith was “perfect” as far as his words were concerned. But when the time came for action, he was woefully lacking. When Jesus asked him to watch with Him during His agony in the garden, he fell asleep. Later that night, He denied He had ever known Jesus. At that point, Peter’s faith was only as “thick as a coat of paint,” (a la Garrison Keillor, “A Prairie Home Companion.”) We must strive to have faith that flows into deeds. We need God’s grace, not only to profess our faith, but also to live it. And what about praying for things we think we need for ourselves? For those who have become accustomed to my penchant for referring to “prayerful meditation,” instead of simply “prayer,” this will provide a framework for that distinction. It is when we seek guidance, or some sought-after personal, beneficial outcome, that we must focus ourselves on “the Spirit within us,” the Advocate of Christ. Those are the times when we summon from our deepest soul the strength to “get up and do those things that need to be done” (ibid…Garrison Keillor, ref. “Powdermilk Biscuits.”) My belief is that God, our Creator, has given us all the “tools” we need to become wholly fulfilled individuals on earth, and, at the same time, be drawn to find Him and our salvation. Each of us has unclaimed riches within our immortal soul that stay untapped until we access them. We possess unspeakable resources of knowledge, compassion, wisdom, patience, fortitude, etc., etc., that are there, waiting for us to bring them forth. The irrepressible “noise” in our busy lives keeps us from finding them. That is why we need to focus our minds in quiet mediation, periodically, and allow the Holy Spirit to show us the path. And in praying for others, this holds as well. Our most fervent prayers should be for the Spirit within others to be summoned into action on their behalf. We all know of “miracle cures” some people have realized in spite failure of all available medical ministrations. Terminal patients, in the assessment of medical professionals, have become “well” again, from unknown causes, which had nothing to do with all their care and manipulations. Such things can only be attributed to the work of the “Spirit within,” performing on their behalf. This is the “Efficacy of Prayer,” to which I ascribe, and I urge you all to embrace. Having done so, you will find, at the very least, peace descending upon you, the likes of which you may have never known. This is that realm of “acceptance” awaiting all of us, long after denial, bargaining, depression and anger have run their course (Kubler-Ross-1969.) Whatever our path in life, what really matters is that we should be ourselves—our unique selves…the best that we can be…the kind of people God intended us to be. The only thing that matters is that we are true to ourselves. Any other path is a false trail and will not result in growth, happiness, fulfillment, or holiness. May God Richly Bless You! “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” (Ghandi) Be Ye Glad.docx To view a live stream of today's Holy Mass, click here: https://youtu.be/DDBEylmE8DU

September 5th, 2021 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time Jesus Heals the Deaf Man A Message from Father †Michael Today’s Theme: “The Healing Activity of Our Blessed Lord” Reflections on Today’s Scripture To those who could not see and to those who could not hear, the message of salvation was promised (Isaiah.) Through the mouths of those who could not speak, the Good News was proclaimed (†Mark.) Those who not possess the treasure of that News must share it indiscriminately and generously with all (†James.) (P.D. Sanchez, “The Word We Celebrate”) The liberation of the human spirit was depicted by the prophet in a series of dramatic physical healings, to which he alludes in today’s First Reading (Isaiah 35:4-7.) Blind, deaf and lame would be miraculously rehabilitated. Even the tongues of the dumb would be freed to render praise and thanks, once again, to their Redeemer/Judge—the God Jehovah. Later generations would remember this text and others similar to it, and associate these healings and this restoration with the long-awaited era of Messianic salvation. Our Second Reading (James 2:1-5,) is concerned with the distinction between persons based on their economic success in life, which the author denounces as contradictory and irreconcilable with faith in Jesus Christ. Christians are called to a magnanimity of heart that would not base their concern for another on outward appearances. Treating the “well-heeled” with respect, while denigrating those whose disadvantages were apparent, unfortunately, is not only a first-century, culture-bound tradition. It is an all-too-familiar scenario in any society where designer labels on the outside seem to speak louder and more impressively than the person who wears them. To act in this manner, in any century, is to judge wrongly, and corruptly, by false standards. The healing of the deaf man portrayed in today’s Gospel (Mark 7:31-37,) has the added symbolic intention of showing that the Gentiles, once deaf and dumb towards God, because of Jesus, have been made capable of hearing God and paying Him homage. This happened in Gentile territory, in which the faith-response contrasts sharply with that of many of His own people. In Mark’s mind, Jesus was fulfilling the prophecy of Isaiah. Jesus’ healing of the deaf-mute can be understood as a revelation of His Messiahship and of the beginning of the age of salvation. Jesus’ use of traditional gestures—touching the man’s ears and tongue with spittle—are outward, visible signs of His Messianic power. Important for us, however, they are indicative of the rituals contained in the administration of the Sacraments, which have become intrinsic to our Catholic worship. It is what happens to every Christian at Baptism—wherein Christ touches our ears so that we can hear His word; and touches our tongues so that we can profess our faith. These gestures communicate the intangible, those otherwise invisible and ineffable activities of God, in the actions of Jesus Christ (in the person of the priest.) The Gifts of Hearing and Speech We know that the gifts of hearing and speech, like all gifts, can be taken for granted or even misused. They are connected. We see this especially in the case of the elderly. When their hearing deteriorates, they often retreat into embarrassed silences and misunderstandings. People with diminished hearing many times are looked upon as “doddering,” or “eccentric.” Modern hearing aids have lessened their pain, but not removed it entirety. (From personal experience, I’ve found them less than ideal from a convenience and “fidelity” standpoint.) Even though most of us have full use of these gifts doesn’t mean we use them well. Many of us are “poor listeners” (ask most wives about their husbands!) And many people have some difficulty “expressing themselves.” The gift of speech is our chief means of communicating with others. It’s a sad fact that people with speech impediments are often subjects of ridicule and amusement, especially among children. A fate worse than being born deaf is to have ears and yet fail to hear. Worse again is to have ears and refuse to hear, or to have a tongue and refuse to speak. So, we need the Lord’s healing touch if we are to use these two precious gifts well. Our senses are precious and vital. We have to experience God with our senses too—with our eyes, our ears, our tongues and especially our hearts. The miracle is not so much about the physical healing of a man who was deaf and dumb. A person could have perfect hearing and still not hear God’s Word. Or, a person with perfect speech might be unable to make an act of faith. We need to hear God’s Word, and profess it with our lips—and finally, to put it into practice in our lives. When heard and acted upon, God’s Word is like a seed falling on good soil. It makes lives fruitful. Retelling the Story From the point of view of someone who has been unable to hear or speak, the world is altogether different than the rest of us experience. There are no shouts of children at play, no singing of birds, the sounds of wind in the trees, no words of comfort or encouragement or advice…nothing except silence. Outside of the hearing/speaking population, there is often a reticence to communicate with them. It’s an effort seen by some as “tedious.” Without the ability to speak, muted people are unable to explain themselves; unable to express their feelings; unable to contribute anything to the community. Consequently, they may sink into depression, feeling useless. Like everyone else, disadvantaged people crave compassion. This is found by some of them in association with others, similarly without ability to hear or speak. Those who are fortunate to have communities in which they can learn American Sign Language, and special schools to help them learn are indeed fortunate. Accommodations that have been made for the hearing-impaired to simultaneously translate aural presentations to “Sign” can be seen in many public venues. The reaction of the Gentile man in today’s Gospel to Jesus’ ministrations could only be assumed to be monumental! Isolated from the world-at-large for his entire life, he would finally be able to inter-relate to others with his newly-found gifts. Usually avoided by the people, the individual attention from Jesus would have made the surrounding people question this notice. Such an experience might well serve to enlighten one to certain impediments that prevent people from making full use of their gift of speech—shyness, insensitivity, apathy…. And they have impediments that similarly prevent them from hearing well—prejudice, inattention, refusal to listen…. Each of us encounters people who have ears but cannot hear, and tongues but cannot speak. One cannot teach someone who refuses to be taught, due to debilitating preconceptions and bigotry! Hearing and speech are wonderful gifts, but without a “heart” that is able to feel compassion, we will never be able to use them well. It is only with the heart that we can listen rightly, and it only with the heart that we can speak rightly. If the words and actions of Jesus can touch your ears and your tongue, they will also touch your heart. That is the true miracle! May God Richly Bless You! “Speak Lord, Your servant is listening” (1 Samuel 3:9) To view a live stream of today's Holy Mass, click here: https://youtu.be/ufrB8d8Dja4 O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing.docx

August 29th, 2021 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time A Message from Father †Michael Today’s Theme: “Human and Divine Elements of Religion” Reflections on Today’s Scripture Never meant to be an end in itself, the gift of the law was intended to express and to safeguard the relationship of Israel and Yahweh (Deuteronomy.) If perspectives become clouded, visions can be lost and the basic principle overshadowed by trivia (†Mark.) To preserve the value and meaning of a gift, especially a God-given gift, it is best to look beyond it to the giver Himself (†James.) ...from P.D. Sanchez, “The Word We Celebrate” In our First Reading (Deuteronomy 4:1-8,) we read how Israel was offered several motivating factors for faithfully observing the Law of Moses (Torah:) life, land, and wisdom. (The Torah is considered to be a "Jewish national treasure.") Israel’s law was thought to be its claim to fame and fortune, distinguishing it from all other nations. Ancestors of the Judeo-Christian faith considered it to be almost a “living entity,” not created or formulated by human hands or minds, but given by God as an act of divine favor and blessing. Torah was a source of wisdom and strength, thought to bestow upon Israel not only life but even an identity as a people. Keeping the law was considered a means of intimate union with God, in His personal involvement with His people. The prohibition from adding or subtracting from the Law was, perhaps, why the Pharisees of Jesus’ day placed such exaggerated emphasis on it—regarding it as complete and eternally valid. The controversy between the relationship between the Gospel and the Law remains a source of lively debate even today. In our Second Reading (James 1:17-27.) †James attempts to correct the misplaced emphases on †Paul’s thought and accentuates the practical and obligatory aspects of the Gospel, calling it the “perfect law of freedom.” (It is noteworthy that this is the motto for my diocese—see the Bishop’s Crest, in the masthead, above.) Unlike those who postulate “salvation by faith alone,” †James understood “works” as the “doing aspect” of a lively faith. Attributing all good gifts to God, the author described the Word spoken in truth, as God-sent and life-giving. In the Christian context, this reaches back to include the Law and the Prophets, but understands those as announcing a greater Word—that of God’s saving revelation spoken by Jesus, and the Good News about Him. Those who open themselves to receive this Word in Baptism are called to speak it forth in their lives through deeds of faith. The “Traditions of the Elders,” had become, by Jesus’ day, an overwhelming compilation of unwritten legal interpretations of the Law. Having become so “cumbersome,” due to the minutiae of interpretations, it was like a “wall,” separating and alienating people from God, and from true religion. In today's Gospel selection (Mark 7:1-23,) Jesus is heard to go beyond the oral law to challenge of the basic principles of the written Law (i.e., the notion of clean and unclean—ref. Leviticus 11-16.) Jesus brought a new light for perceiving God to His world; and a new spirit of freedom in which to love and serve Him. In that sense and in that Spirit, He defended His disciples for their “untraditional” behavior. The Primacy of the Heart Modern education attaches more importance to “the head” than to “the heart.” Indeed, “the heart” hardly gets any consideration. We make more of a “clever child” than we do of “a good child.” The world of business and politics typically rewards cleverness rather than goodness. And yet, in our everyday language, we acknowledge the primacy of the heart, to wit: • We often judge a person “by the heart.” One of the most damning things we can say about anyone is that “they have no heart…” or that they have a “cold heart;” or, even a “hard heart.” One of the best things we can say about someone is, “they are warm-hearted,” or “soft-hearted.” • We judge the degree of commitment someone displays to some goal in terms like, “their heart is not in it;” or “they are only half-hearted.” As a result, such a person most likely will quit pursuing it. Even if they continue, we expect less than their best effort toward its completion. Someone who is considered to have their “heart in it;” or who is “whole-hearted” in their effort, would be expected to persevere and put their best self forward to the task. • We describe sorrow and joy in terms of the heart: We might say someone’s “heart was broken;” or they went away “with a heavy heart.” In contrast, we expect only good things to come from a person with a heart that is “overflowing with joy;” or who has a “light heart.” • Burdens and wounds are described in terms of the heart, when we say a person has a “broken heart.” Someone with a “heavy heart” would be expected to be somewhat depressed. Our lesson in today’s Gospel, first of all, concerns our worship. Merely paying “lip-service” describes a person who simply parrots the words of worship, without any fervent meaning. Secondly, we consider a corrupt heart, meaning someone who is “bad at the core;” vs a “pure hearted” person, who exemplifies the opitomé of goodness. We refer to a person’s “heart” as the source from which all our thoughts, words and deeds flow. The Pharisees paid more attention to the “outside” of a person than to the “inside.” They were more preoccupied with having clean hands than having clean hearts…. It’s the heart that matters, but only God can see what is in ours. Only He can make it into what it should be. Jesus told us that the source of evil is within us. It has its roots in the heart. We can’t guard ourselves from it by separating ourselves from others. All those horrible things He lists, and about which we read in the media—fornication, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, indecency, envy, slander, pride—all these start inside a person. Their seeds are within all of us. Those are the things that make a person unclean in the eyes of God. This is a very disturbing truth, and one we ignore at our own peril. A great problem of our time is our failure to know ourselves, to recognize evil and deal with it within ourselves. Yet there is a kind of comfort and freedom in knowing and accepting this humbling truth. Our modern world is preoccupied with cleanness of body—as exhibited by all the ads we see for soaps, perfumes and body washes. Also, there is great concern about the environment—with the quality of the water we drink, the air we breathe, etc. Of course, our environment is, absolutely, important; but there is another environment that is even more important—our moral environment. Evil is the worst kind of pollution of all! But if the source of evil is within us, so also is the source of good. All our thoughts, words and deeds flow from our hearts like water flowing from a hidden spring. If the spring is clean, then all that flows form it will be clean. It is up to us to purify the source! May God Richly Bless You! “Keep your heart pure. A pure heart is necessary to see God in each other. If you see God in each other, and there is love for each other, then there is peace.” ~~Mother Teresa~~ That's Where the Joy Comes From.mp3 To view a live stream of today's Holy Mass, click here: https://youtu.be/x4ZdLHcBJN4

August 22nd, 2021 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time “Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life and I will raise Him up on the last day.” A Message from Father †Michael Today’s Theme: “The Risk of Faith” Reflections on Today’s Scripture Life or death? The decision seems an easy one, the choice quite obvious. But the decision to choose life in the person of the Bread of Life is made possible only by a gift of faith from above (John.) Once the challenge of faith has been met with faith, the believer is afforded the strength and support of the covenantal community (Joshua,) and the loving, reverential care of Christ, Himself (Ephesians.) …from P.D. Sanchez, “The Word We Celebrate, p.225” In today’s First Reading, we find the very real importance of the covenant renewal ceremony (Joshua 24:1-18.) This last chapter of Joshua serves as an epilogue to all that has preceded it (i.e. the Pentateuch—the first five books of the Old Testament.) One description of the value of Joshua goes: “In Joshua and Judges, we have the monuments for the most primitive faith of Israel—both in the sense that it is early, and also that it is less developed. The books should be read as the first stages in Israel’s religious adventure of faith….” (The two-edged Sword: Interpretation of the Old Testament, J.Mckenzie, 1965-2009, ibid.) Our Second Reading can be summarized as a household “code” that mirrors that in vogue during the 1st century A.D. (Ephesians 5:21-32.) Being “subject” should be heard as synonymous with “honoring,” in the case of relationships of wife/husband, child/parent, slave/master, younger/elder. These codes were changed very little when they were adopted by the early Christians. The author goes further to clarify, stating these relationships should mirror that found between Christ and the Church. Thus the covenant between Christ and His ecclesial Body should be the primary source and inspiration for all other relationships. In today’s Gospel selection, we hear Jesus telling us, firmly, that He has come from heaven to earth, and some who hear Him will not believe (John 6:60-69.) The declaration and the ultimatum of faith Jesus proffered required a decision of all who were in His company. To become disciples, they were required to make a commitment in faith and a bond of mutual trust. It is significant that same challenge, revelation and grace of spirit and faith were offered to all who witnessed Jesus’ words and works, and in turn, to all of us, today. We must have a willing mind, and faithfully hear and be committed to hear the Word and partake of the Bread of eternal life. Personal Acceptance of Faith People’s beliefs and convictions are almost always “second-hand,” in that they come from some outside authority, without examination. This is especially true for most religious beliefs. It is difficult to find a person who has acquired their beliefs by personal “proof.” For most of us, who are “cradle Catholics,” this is particularly true. For those among us who actually “think” about our beliefs, from an existential point of view, it is as if we awoke one day and were shocked to find we are not “volunteers,” but have been “drafted” into our faith. Having been baptized as infants, we have no memory of the event. All through our growing years, religion has been “imposed” upon us by parents, the Church, and for many, our Catholic School “indoctrination.” None of this has been resented or resisted in any way—it was, to put it simply, “normal life.” Some of us who have reconsidered our beliefs as adults, have made personal choices about them. Like many others, I am such a person, inasmuch as I compared many similar, but distinctly different forms of worship. I concluded there was no more “complete” faith than that of the Catholic Church. I found most Protestant creeds woefully vacant, when compared to the rich liturgy of the Holy Mass, and I dutifully continued in my role of a somewhat “devout” Catholic. For me, the majority of my adult years in the faith were intertwined with the music of the Liturgy, and for more than 50-years, I was the director of several parish choirs and community chorales. I found the depths of Scripture so beautifully expressed in the music of the great composers, and carried to the present day by creators of modern-day choral offerings. When I was exposed to the Old Catholic Church, I began to delve deeply into the roots of my faith, and concluded, happily, there was a place for me in the priesthood. My doctoral studies in theology were broadly based in both sacred and secular texts, in addition to Holy Scripture. I found, and continue to do so even today, that many commentaries not only expand my appreciation of the tenets of my beliefs, but are beautifully expressed in the lyrics of sacred choral music. That is why I continue to utilize these recordings in my celebration of the Holy Mass. The beauty and inspiration of the music reaches to my soul! It is no longer “enough” to simply be “born into” our faith. “Second-hand” faith considered “impoverished!” It will not suffice for our needs in challenging times, such as those in which we find ourselves, today. Assaults on our beliefs are brandished like weapons from all quarters and pervade social media, many presented as “truth.” Things happen to us which cause us either to make our faith our own, and try to live it with some conviction, or to drift away from it. For some the transformative experience may be quiet and undramatic. For others, their beliefs are transformed by painful experiences such as addiction, or war experiences, or the loss of a loved one, etc. We need to make the faith our own. We have to find meaning in it through personal experiences, if it is to come alive for us. But we have to be clear what that word “faith” involves. In the first place, it is not merely acceptance of a set of beliefs. It is, rather, a belief in, and commitment to, the person of Jesus Christ! When Jesus saw many of His disciples leaving Him, He turned to His apostles and asked them, “Will you also leave Me?” These words are addressed to us, too. It’s not the Lord Who leaves us, but we who may leave Him. “But why,” we may ask ourselves, “would we leave the Lord, Who alone has the words of eternal life?” We need to make †Peter’s profession of faith our own. For more and more people in the Church today, faith is no longer something they “inherited.” It is not taken for granted, but it is the fruit of a personal decision. They live as members of a community of believers whose common faith strengthens the faith of each individual. The Lord, Himself, is the One Who strengthens our faith. But we also need to confirm one another. Our regular participation in the celebration of the Holy Eucharist can make both these things a reality. May God Richly Bless You! “A firm knowledge of religion, as distinguished from experience, seems but ‘chaff’ in moments of trial.” ~~Mahatma Ghandi.~~ To see a live stream of today's Holy Mass, click here: https://youtu.be/4VINQF028ZE Blessed Is He.docx

August 15th, 2021 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time “I am the Living Bread” A Message from Father †Michael Today’s Theme: “The Eucharistic Celebration” Reflections on Today’s Scripture Today’s First Reading is an extended comparison on Wisdom, whose message and beauty become more poignant in conjunction with its counterpart, Folly—both portrayed as “women”—and offering a sumptuous banquet (Proverbs 9:1-6.) The reader is urged to seek the source of all true wisdom in God alone. The protagonist herein is given a choice between competing delicacies that each one offers. Wisdom’s banquet of meat and wine… (actually, wisdom and teaching—the flesh and blood of the Lord, Himself—) results in life for the participant, whereas, Folly’s meal of bread and water leads only to death. We continue our reading of †Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, which takes up a similar tack: the wise Christian will make the most of “the present,” remaining alert to the will of God, and shaping their conduct accordingly (Ephesians 5:15-20.) Christians, replete with the “wine of Wisdom” of Jesus’ own Spirit, are led not to acts of depravity and wanton behavior, but to righteous living, prayerful meditation and liturgical rejoicing. (This text is seen as one of the earliest references to the use of hymns in praise of God by the early community.) In today’s Gospel, Jesus, as the Bread of Life is to be understood exclusively in a “Eucharistic” sense (John 6:51-58.) †John’s long discourse, which has comprised our Gospel readings for the past several weeks, has undergone extensive analysis as to its meaning and application. Early Church scholars argued for the Eucharistic interpretation, while later pundits argued for a “spiritual” intention—suggesting it to have two themes: revelatory—the Word; and sacramental—Holy Communion. Bishop †Sheen also captures a two-fold meaning, seeing unity flowing from this Divine Sacrament—both the Church, as the unity of Christ and His Mystical Body, and the members of the Mystical Body, with each other (The Mystical Body of Christ: 1935.) In Communion with the Lord Physical presence is a great thing—but we don’t always realize this until a loved one is absent. It is brought home to us even more forcefully, as the emptiness felt when they die. But, physical presence is not everything…. It doesn’t always produce the intimacy that we long for. In fact, people can be sitting side by side without being really present to one another. We witness this daily, in the plethora of electronic devices, which are everywhere, today. There may be little communication between such people, let alone communion. For all that passes between us, we may as well be “miles away.” But then the opposite may also occur: people can be separated by a great distance, and yet be very much “present” to one another. (This is demonstrated by our being able to “pick up a conversation” from our last encounter with someone, when we are reunited after a lengthy separation.) We believe Jesus is present in the Holy Eucharist—but not physically present. Nevertheless, He is really and truly present. The mode of His presence is beyond our understanding. We call it “the real presence,” because it is presence, in the fullest sense. To receive the gift of the Eucharist is to receive the Lord, Himself. Of course, an act of faith is required. But for those who believe that God is present in all things and in all places, His unique and special presence in the Holy Eucharist ought not be a big problem. Besides, we have the words of Jesus: “This is My body…this is My Blood.” We should not hesitate to believe this is true, for our Savior cannot lie! However, the expressions, “to eat His flesh,” and “to drink His blood,” must not be taken with crude literalism. “Body” and “Blood,” stand for the whole person. When we eat the bread and drink the wine of the Holy Eucharist we are not receiving an actual “body,” and “blood.” But we are receiving a person—a living person. In the Holy Eucharist, Jesus comes to us, not under the form of something like an iPhone, or a coat or even, medicine. He comes under the form of something more basic still—something and essential for life—as food…. More specifically, He comes under the form of bread. Bread nourishes us and gives us life. But it is also something we can take into ourselves, and make part of ourselves. Through the food of the Holy Eucharist, Jesus nourishes in us the undying life of God, which we received in Baptism. This is why He said: “Anyone who eats this Bread will live forever.” When we receive the Holy Eucharist, Jesus comes to each of us, personally—as though each of us was the only person in the world at that moment. We are able to enter into a deeper intimacy with Him than if He were physically present! We are not merely in communication with Him, but in communion with Him—a holy communion. Through the Holy Eucharist, a spiritual bond is forged between us and Jesus. The Holy Eucharist enables us to grow in intimacy and friendship with the Lord. Through our shared intimacy with Jesus in Holy Communion, we are also united with one another, something we must try to live out in our ordinary lives, through mutual love, forgiveness and concern for one another. From Eucharist to Life We must never forget that the Jesus we receive in the Holy Eucharist is the same Jesus Who gave His life for us. The words of the consecration remind us of this: “This is My Body, given for you…This is My Blood, shed for you….” Therefore, Holy Communion should evoke a spirit of sacrifice in us. To receive this food is to be reminded that, like Christ, we also must be willing to give ourselves in the service of others. In her ministry to the poor people of Calcutta, Mother Teresa required each of the nuns of her order to minister, directly, to them—particularly to those in the Home of the Dying. In doing so, they got a sense of working with the very bodies of those in their charge. And encountering them so intimately, they found “Jesus’ wounded body”—as it were, they were touching the wounded body of Christ. To be able to make this kind of connection we need the help of the Lord Himself. It is above all in the Holy Eucharist that He gives us this help. The Holy Eucharist is the banquet that Jesus provides for His followers. All of us come to the banquet hungry; all of us need the bread that only Jesus can give—the bread of eternal life. And all of us come before God as paupers. But here, all of us are nourished; all of us are honored, because every place is one of honor. Furthermore, through the Holy Eucharist, a spiritual bond is forged between us. Through our shared intimacy with Jesus, each of us is united with one another. May God Richly Bless You! “By nature, each one of us is enclosed in his own personality. But supernaturally, we are all one. We are made one body in Christ because we are nourished by one flesh. As Christ is indivisible, we are all one in Him” ~~†Cyril of Alexandria ca,376-444~~ To view a live stream of today's Holy Mass, click here: https://youtu.be/14EIwc3Z71M

August 8th, 2021 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time A Message from Father †Michael Today’s Theme: “O Lord, Bread of Life" Reflections on Today’s Scripture The prophet Elijah thought his career as a prophet was at an end. He assumed the religious reform of his people—that goal to which he had pledged his life—was tumbling down in shambles around him (1 Kings 19:4-8.) Having squared off against Jezebel, the Phoenician queen of weak king Ahab, against her bringing the cult of Baal into Israel, Elijah became her nemesis and was banished. (So cunning and evil was Jezebel, that her name became synonymous with wicked and vengeful women throughout the ages.) Elijah eventually learned God’s lesson, when his human resources were wanting and his hopes dashed. An angel bearing food came and renewed him, speaking in the name of God, and working wonders as His mediary. For Christians, to be sealed with the Holy Spirit, means to be legally bound and contractually committed to Jesus. By that seal, the Christian would be identified as a believer and a child of God. Our Second Reading today (Ephesians 4:30-5:2,) incorporates the meaning of “the seal,” originating in ancient times (6th millennium B.C.,) conferring upon one sealed the duty to avoid evil, and live a life in conformity with the values made incarnate by Jesus. Mutual forgiveness required not merely the remission of debs, or faults, but the magnanimous forgiving and self-forgetful love, which was the hallmark of Jesus’ ministry. All those who had heard about the miraculous feeding of the 5,000 in the desert, did not automatically believe in Him as the Messiah, sent by God. The signs worked by Jesus were powerful challenges, accepted by some, rejected by others, as evident in the dialogue that comprises today’s Gospel (John 6:41-51.) In today’s selection, we read how the Jews grumbled, not about “the bread,” but Jesus’ claim of heavenly origin. Jesus ignored their petty objections and pressed them to focus on matters of greater concern (i.e., their acceptance, in faith, or rejection of the gift of life eternal.) When Jesus offered Himself (His teaching,) as life-giving bread, He was, in their understanding, putting himself above the Torah, which the rabbis had long considered the source of bread which feeds, gives life, reveals God, etc. Only in faith could His hearers accept the bread of His teaching as the revelation of truth…and only by faith would they be able to open themselves in hungry acceptance to the Eucharistic revelation which follows (in next week’s Gospel.) Human Limitations Many people are loathe to admit to weakness, wanting to appear strong, all the time. Their thinking is that they will lose face before others if they show weakness and fear. However, people generally are touched and moved to help us when they see we are “human” like them. In the words of Picasso: “You are overcome with compassion when you find in each person the source of tears.” Still, some may feel that such feelings aren’t worthy of someone who has faith in God. But weakness is not incompatible with faith. Besides, how can we get help if we won’t even admit our need? Modern psychology teaches us that recognition that we have a problem is the first step on the road to rehabilitation. On the strength of the food that Jesus gives us in the Holy Eucharist, we are enabled to walk all the way to God’s eternal Kingdom. Along the way, we may have the privilege of being God’s angel to another human being who is experiencing a low moment. This is the kind of love and support that you would expect from people who eat at the same table…. Recognizing God’s Help Prayers are not answered when God "does things for us," but in His helping us "do things for ourselves" and for one another. We will wait in vain for a heavenly angel, but God quite often sends us human angels. Most everyone can recall instances when the ministry of such people was meaningful in our lives. We also get opportunities to be such an angel to someone in distress. It may mean doing something, or providing some basic service such as a hot meal. Other times it may mean saying a word of encouragement. Still other times it may mean just being there beside someone, providing a comforting presence, so the person doesn’t have to suffer alone. Many people go through bad periods. It is only the care of some human angel that helps them get through it. Ultimately, the angel that God sent us is His Son, Jesus Christ. He stays by our side and gives us, not ordinary bread, but the “bread of life.” In the strength of this bread, He will walk all the way to the mountain of eternal life. Religion is not Escapism Meditative prayer is not meant to be an escape from life but rather, to help us face it. From our daily journey in search of God; in our effort to live the life of a Christian; we return again and again to prayer and the sacraments--not, however, for escape and refuge, but for rebirth and renewal of courage and energy--so we may recommit ourselves to the journey. Our religion is meant to comfort us in times of trouble and to console us in times of sorrow. But if it did not do more than that, then it would involve neither risk nor strain. It must give us something to “work us up”--to give us a good cause to energize us. It should challenge and stretch us to our limit and beyond, so that thereafter, we have new standards by which we can judge ourselves. There is a religion of devotion, and a religion of commitment. Faith can be a crutch…or a pair of wings…. The Christian life is not about evasions, escapism, soft options, or comfort. It is about the very opposite of these—the God Who loves us, and expects the best of us—nothing less. God gives us a special food to nourish us. The food that Elijah received enabled him to walk to the mountain of God. The food that Jesus gives us in the Holy Eucharist enables us to walk all the way to His eternal Kingdom. It is for this reason that we, as modern Catholic Christians, partake of the Holy Eucharist at every opportunity. That is why every Holy Mass you attend contains Holy Communion as an integral part of the celebration. Jesus comes to us in a fatherly sense of renewal to assist us against the problems of everyday life. May God Richly Bless You! “The cost of food in the Kingdom is hunger for the Bread of Life.” ~~ John Pipere~~ To view a recording of today's Mass, click here: https://youtu.be/96aHcF9pgis

August 1st, 2021 18th Sunday in Ordinary Time A Message from Father †Michael "I Am the Bread of Life" Today’s Theme: “Christ, our Viaticum— Food for the Journey” Reflections on Today’s Scripture The grumbling of Israel against Moses and against Yahweh is a consistent motif throughout the narratives of the wilderness tradition. In today’s First Reading, the complaint at the basis of the incident is a concern for food (Exodus 16:2-15.) We read that Israel’s God provided not only “bread” (manna,) but meat as well (quail.) Trusting in God to provide what they needed was a hard lesson for the wandering people. But we are given to understand that their faith was rewarded. Becoming Christian involved a departure, once and forever, from those values and attitudes called “pagan.” Our Second Reading, †Paul shows a pattern of renunciation and renewal, of divestiture and investiture, and reflects not only baptismal theology but the Baptismal Liturgy as well (Ephesians 4:17-24.) Upon emerging from the baptismal waters, catechumens would be clothed in white garments, signs of purity that the person had achieved in Baptism, as well as the victory of Christ over evil in which they had begun to share. Dialogues and discourses comprise a large bulk of the material we find in the Gospel. In †John, the evangelist has succeeded in communicating the truth of Jesus’ teaching while elucidating the meaning of that teaching for the benefit of the Church that had survived the risen Lord. Today’s reading is part of the lengthy “bread of life discourse,” which clarified the sign of the loaves and fishes; and it drew out its messianic, and Eucharistic, significance (John 6:24-35.) Jesus offered His followers non-perishable food—“that remains unto life eternal” and of real heavenly bread. Whereas, the manna of Exodus melted in the heat of the day, the food of the Son of Man and the bread the Father gives never ceases to fill us. Jesus challenged those who pursued Him to raise their attention from their stomachs to their hearts. He would have them spiritually hungry, and thereby, open to the truth of His teaching. The “work” He would have us do is to have faith in the one sent by God—Jesus, Himself. Our Many Hungers Human beings are not nourished in the same way as cattle are fattened in the feed lots. We are creatures with a hundred hungers—and not simply for physical food. Not all of our hungers should be satisfied. Some of them are appetites that could destroy us if we fed them. (The more some of those hungers are fed, the more demanding they become. We should be aware of those appetites that live within us.) But let us consider those hungers that are common to all of us: • We hunger for a feeling of importance. No one wants to be a “nobody,”—we all want to matter, if only to one person…. • We hunger for acceptance. If we are not accepted, it becomes impossible for us to fully realize our full potential. • We hunger for relationships. Without them we are the mercy of cold winds of anguish and loneliness. We are like a lone tree on a hilltop. • We hunger for motivation. Without it we are like a sailboat without the wind. • We hunger for faith—for a set of positive beliefs to guide us. Otherwise we are like a ship without chart or compass or port of destination. • We hunger for hope. To give up hope is like going on a spiritual hunger strike—full of despair and desolation. • We hunger for love. If this is fully satisfied than most of our other hungers would disappear. However, there is another hunger, a deeper one, that underlies all our other hungers, including that of love. It is the hunger for eternal life—the hunger to know our purpose for living; why we were created; and where we are going…. To experience this hunger is not a misfortune, but a blessing. It saves us from stagnation and keeps the stream of our lives moving forward “towards the eternal.” The Price of Freedom It is said that every human being longs to be truly “free.” When we think of freedom in this way, we contrast it with living under tyranny, bondage, slavery. None of us has ever felt the sting of the taskmaster’s whip, as the ancient Egyptians were wont to impose on the Hebrews, but we can think of ways we are shackled in our modern life, nonetheless. Consider that those having to daily plod through a seemingly monotonous job for meager wages, experience a kind of bondage, which doesn’t afford them personal aspirations. Or, living in congested, substandard housing in a major city, perhaps lacking opportunity for any meaningful work, could seem like a prison to someone who is caught up in such circumstances. Being incumbered by insurmountable debt is another way modern people feel captured. Each of these circumstances, and many more like them, are the result of unfortunate choices made by people, through the years. Some are handed down, like a legacy, to future generations, and having no successful examples to follow in their lives, they perpetuate their sad states of affairs. We can cite examples of ways such people deal with these problems: illicit drugs, gangs, thievery, etc. Freedom presents its own challenges. It means taking responsibility for one’s life. This is no easy thing for those who have become accustomed to others making their decisions for them. Freedom calls for self-discipline. It’s easier to be disciplined by others than to discipline oneself. It’s said that it’s easier to turn a man into a slave than a slave into a man…. We can feel sympathy for people caught up in lives of despair and purposelessness. We heard of the Israelites plight in our Exodus story, even to the extent they lamented leaving the bondage of the Egyptians! They could not have foreseen that their dream of freedom, once realized, would entail new challenges and fresh perils. Still, their attitude is sad. To think they were ready to give up freedom for a belly-full of food—no matter the personal cost. This has great relevance for us. We are the new People of God, journeying in faith towards our own promised land of eternal life. By our Baptism we have been called out of slavery to sin; slavery to material comforts and securities; and so forth. We are led, not by Moses, but by Jesus. We have to live by faith and not by sight! Along the way we are bound to face our own “desert” of trial and difficulty. At times we may feel that God has abandoned us. And so we hunger for the “fleshpots” of our modern world. We are tempted to fall back into the slavery of sin rather than live in the freedom of the children of God. But just as God sustained the Israelites in the desert, so He sustains us through faith in Jesus, and the special bread that Jesus gave us—the Holy Eucharist. It is not we who keep the faith; it is the faith that keeps us. No matter how difficult life seems to be, for those who trust in God, and live one day at a time, the “manna” falls every day! To listen to this week's Meditation Music, click here: Just a Closer Walk with Thee.docx May God Richly Bless You! “Jesus has made Himself the Bread of Life to give us life. Night and day, He is there. If you really want to grow in love, come back to the Eucharist, come back to that Adoration.” ~~ Mother Teresa~~

July 25th, 2021 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time Jesus feeds the multitude A Message from Father †Michael Today’s Theme: “The Hands of the Lord Feed Us” Reflections on Today’s Scripture A popular folkloric figure, Elisha was, for the most part, motivated in his deeds by a concern for the poor and faithful remnant who survived in spite of the moral decadence that surrounded them (9th Century B.C.) Besides the miraculous feeding of today’s First Reading (2 Kings 4:42-44,) the prophet was accredited with: multiplying oi8l to help a widow pay her debts; granting a child to an aged, barren woman, and then bringing that child back to life when he died; making poisoned soup edible; healing a leper, etc. He has been compared to Francis of Assisi and his band of followers (13th Century A.D.) In telling the story of Elisha and the hundred hungry men, the Deuteronomic historian sought to turn the eyes of his people outward from their self-sufficiency and to whet their spiritual appetites with an eschatological (end times) hunger. Only with the appearance of Jesus, the Bread of Life, would that hunger be fully satisfied. Because of the calling every Christian has received to be a beacon for the Gospel, every believer is challenged to assume a new way of living, characterized by a virtue made possible in the Holy Spirit. In examining today’s Second Reading (Ephesians 4:1-6,) one can discern God’s great plan…the creation of a new people of God, freed from social, political and religious barriers; and made one by the love of God. Christian living is a process of becoming what we ought to be, based on our faith. Life must reflect faith and translate into intellectual assent and psychological credence of faith into a social, emotional, and above all, lived commitment. As the guiding inner source of Christian life, the Holy Spirit makes unity, patience and humility possible. All four Gospels relate the episode of the feeding of the multitudes, but only †John called it a sign (John 6:1-15.) Of all the acts of power performed by Jesus, only †John selected just seven to include in his testament of the Good News. Each was a vehicle of revelation and an encounter with Jesus, as Lord. In each one, a challenge was issued: those who witnessed the sign were summoned to go beyond it and believe in the One Whom the sign has revealed! Besides looking back into Israel’s tradition and remembering the manna fed to the Israelites in the desert (Exodus 16,) Jesus sign of the loaves ahead to the Holy Eucharist. †John tells us that “Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks and (He, Himself) distributed the bread to the people.” (He is alone among the other evangelists making this last point.) Although spiritual hunger may be eradicated by Jesus, it is we—His disciples—who must satiate physical hunger, with our own hands, for the needy. Food for the Hungry Food is the first necessity of life. Without it, no life is possible, much less a higher form of life. Feeding the hunger is the first of the great Corporal works of Mercy. At the last judgment, Jesus will say, “I was hungry and you gave Me food;” or He will say, “I was hungry and you did not give Me food.” Jesus gave hungry people the only thing that mattered to them at the moment—food—and He did so with great generosity. All ate as much as they wanted and there were twelve baskets of leftovers! Every loaf is as much a miracle as those Jesus gave to the people. Every loaf is touched by many human hands, and is expressed beautifully in the prayer said by the priest in the Offertory of the Mass: “Blessed are You, Lord, God of all creation. Through Your goodness we have this bread to offer, which earth has given and human hands have made. It will become for us the bread of life.” We see God’s miracles in the seasons of the year and the harvest. In the corn and wheat fields grains are multiplied, so that if we do our part, there is enough for everyone. Our world is preoccupied with food. The developed nations are replete with abundance, while third world nations people face the problem of how to get anything to eat at all! Today’s account of Jesus miracle of multiplication should make us thankful for our abundance, and careful not to waste it. More than 700 million people are said to suffer from inadequate food and undernourishment. This leaves us with the problem of how to treat our surplus food. Some think stockpiling is the answer, while others believe reduction in the amount produced would be more prudent. Both approaches have drawbacks and may give scandal: stockpiles of food may be akin to nuclear stockpiles; while reduction in production may mean farmers are forced to leave land fallow. The miracle of the multiplication of the loaves is one of generosity. We experience that generosity every time we gather at table with our families, and especially when we partake in the Holy Eucharist in our worship. Generosity, then, should have a central place in the life of every Christian, and we have many opportunities in everyday dealings with one another to practice it. It’s not only about giving things, but also, and more especially, about giving ourselves—our time, our energy and our love. Joy is one of the lovely fruits of generosity. One rarely meets a generous person who is sad—and we’ll never meet a happy miser. Understanding God’s Goodness We must think of our abundance as a trust held in reserve for our brothers and sisters. No one should pray, “Thank you God, for blessing me with money and possessions,” and then proceed to live as if they were alone in the world! For the time will come when it will become apparent to us that we have been worshipping idols of good fortune and selfishness! Possessions are indeed signs of God’s blessing and goodness--in that we have been given talents and abilities with which to acquire them. But, more importantly, they are also opportunities of service with which we have been entrusted. We might not be able to multiply the food as Jesus did, but we do not have to do so. All we have to do is share it, or the money with which to buy it. Perhaps a better version of “grace before meals” might be: “Thank you Lord, for Your goodness to us, and especially for this plentiful food. May we use Your gifts in such a way that others too will know Your goodness, and give you thanks as we do.” May God Richly Bless You! “…We can beg for an increase of love in our hearts that will vitalize and transform all our individual actions, And know that God will take them and multiply them, as Jesus multiplied the loaves and fishes.” ~~ Dorothy Day~~ To view a recording of today's Holy Mass, click here: https://youtu.be/X2YH71U0M6w As We Gather at Your Table.docx

July 18th, 2021 16th Sunday in Ordinary Time Jesus tends His Flock A Message from Father †Michael Today’s Theme: “As a Shepherd Tends His Flock” Reflections on Today’s Scripture (Note: For this Sunday, and the next four, the Gospel Readings come from chapter six of †John’s Gospel. †John has no account of the institution of the Holy Eucharist. But this chapter more than compensates for that.) The miracle described in our First Reading (2 Kings 4:42-44,) shows God’s concern for His people during a time of famine. The bread in question was the bread of the {“first-fruits,” which was meant to be offered to God. But instead of offering it to God, Elisha, the prophet of the old covenant, gave it to the people. The leftovers stress God’s generosity. Like Elisha, Jesus, the prophet of the new covenant, feeds hungry people and does so even more astonishingly. There are clear eucharistic overtones in the way the miracle is related. Jesus “took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed them to the people” (John 6:1-15.) Such language is meant to remind us of what He did at the last Supper, and of what happens every time we celebrate the Holy Eucharist. Even though both readings are “miraculous,” there is an essential human element in each, without which no miracle is possible. Meanwhile, †Paul pleads with the Ephesians to live a life in keeping with the Gospel, placing special emphasis on the need for unity and harmony, in our Second Reading (Ephesians 4:1-6.) A Costly Caring Unselfishness is never easy. However, at certain times, it’s easier than at others. For example, it’s easier when we have the opportunity to plan our “good deeds,” when they are of our own choosing, and we happen to be in the mood. Then, they cause us the minimum inconvenience and disruption. At other times, though, when the deed is not something for which we have opted, voluntarily, or when it might be “sprung on us” at an inopportune time, we are charged to forget ourselves, and set aside our own plans to make the “sacrifice.” Acts of kindness are judged not so much by their importance, but by the disruption caused in the life of someone who does them. It’s a great test of people when, at the “drop of a hat,” they put aside their own plans to help another person. I am reminded of a professor of inorganic chemistry I was privileged to know at the University of Arizona, in the 1970s. Although I have forgotten his name now, I remember he was considered the foremost expert on the subject of “tea.” In his office, the shelves were lined with the obligatory books and memorabilia on chemistry, of course, but also, he had displayed a myriad of containers of teas gathered from around the world. It was a rather spacious office, and the shelves surrounded the entire perimeter. The number of tea samples he had gathered was far beyond any cursory attempt to number. While I was leisurely chatting with him, one lovely Tucson day, we were continually interrupted by students knocking on his door, seeking his advice and counsel about chemistry assignments, or problems. Each time, the professor rose from his chair, went to the door, and dealt with the student’s request. Eventually, I asked him, “Professor, how do you manage to get any work done with so many interruptions?” He smiled and said, “At first, I used to resent the interruptions to my work. But one day it suddenly dawned on me that they were the work!” While he could have easily locked himself away, and passionately explored his favorite study or research, instead, he was generous and unselfish. I concluded that was one of his many charms, and the reason he was my favorite professor, too. Everyone I knew agreed, and he was one of the happiest and most fulfilled professors on campus. It’s a consolation for us to know that Jesus, too, had to cope with interruptions. Our Gospel Selection, today, tells us He was in such demand that He and His apostles scarcely had time to eat. However, at some point, He decided that “enough was enough,” and took the apostles off to a quiet place for a break. This time He wasn’t thinking of Himself, but of them. Having just returned from their first mission, He saw they needed rest. Caregivers also need to be “cared for.” Their plans were “foiled,” somewhat, in that many people followed them. But Jesus didn’t react negatively, but rather, He was moved with pity for them, too. He saw they were without a “leader.” Official teachers of the time had no time for ordinary people. But they flocked to Jesus. Caring, like unselfishness, is never easy. Some people are willing to care “a little,” provided they are “in the mood,” and it’s not to inconvenient, or upset their own plans. But to care, like Jesus did, regardless of His plans, shows His true character. Parents are like that, too. Consider how many times we have arisen in the night to care for a sick child; or how often we have interrupted our plans to listen to their “serious problems.” Everyone is capable of caring, and the need for caring people is immense in today’s world. Neglect seems to be rampant everywhere we look. So many people are like sheep without a shepherd. One only has to consider the burgeoning homeless populations around us to see that. When we care, we are living the Gospel! “Good” can come out of interruptions. They can prevent us from being preoccupied with ourselves. Selfishness is a kind of “prison.” Love, on the other hand, sets us free. Having Compassion Counselors and therapists are told, that in dealing with their clients, they must—at all times—control their emotions; maintaining a certain distance and detachment. Without such safeguards, they would not be able to maintain the necessary “perspective,” and would leave themselves open to manipulation and control by their clients/patients. They would also face the danger of “burn-out.” At all times, they are charged to be professional and “cool.” Yet this coolness, this detachment, can be carried too far…. The quality of a relationship between therapist and client/patient is far more important than procedures and techniques. Cold, detached and unsympathetic attitudes on the part of therapists are not conducive to “healing.” People must experience warmth, sympathy/empathy and care, if they are to expect healing, change and growth to occur. Most successful psychotherapists are those who are able to show warmth and empathy. Therapy works best when the therapist is affected by the plight of the client/patient, and is not afraid to let them see this. The famous psychologist, Carl Jung, said “I have learned that only the physician who feels himself deeply affected by his patients could heal.” And Scott Peck, author of The Road Less Traveled," goes so far as to say that it is essential for a therapist to even love a client/patient, if the therapy is to be successful…. When we meet people who seem to understand what it is to be like us, without wanting to analyze us or judge us, then we find it easier to “open up” to them. When we discover that our pain is felt by the person in whom you have confided, it makes us want to “get well.” The best doctors and nurses—and therapists—are those who can’t bear to see people suffering. But this doesn’t mean there are no limits…. Professionals tend to keep their distance, at the outset, in order to gather necessary information and be objective as possible. Jesus, however, was no detached healer. His care for people was obvious, and He showed it to be largely a matter of the heart. He didn’t attempt to barricade Himself behind defenses, but He also knew how to replenish His reserves, from time to time. We should attempt to follow His lead, exercising proper care and objectivity, of course, when we give of ourselves; but be willing to put ourselves “into the fray,” in our heartfelt caring for others. To view a recording of today’s Mass, click here: https://youtu.be/MsbIUTUo_xs May God Richly Bless You! “ Accept surprises that upset your plans, shatter your dreams, give you a completely different turn to your day—and Who knows?—to your life. It’s not chance. Leave God free to weave the pattern of your days.” ~~ Helder Camara, Brazilian social rights activist~~ Lord of all my Shepherd is, The.docx

July 11th, 2021 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time Jesus send out the 12 to Preach Repentance A Message from Father †Michael Today’s Theme: “Working for Christ Reflections on Today’s Scripture God entrusted the precious cargo of the Good News of Salvation, the most important message ever delivered, to a man who knew how to raise a particularly hearty breed of sheep. A Prophet by divine call, Amos was also a “dresser of sycamore trees.” (This avocation required he travel from his hometown of Tekoa—appx six miles south of Bethlehem—to where the trees grew. There, he would pinch, or nip the fruit at a propitious time, so that it would grow large enough to be worth eating. It was of poor quality, as fruits go, and served as nourishment for the poor.) Although he was not associated with authority of any organized religion, he seemed an unlikely candidate for the ministry of prophesying. Nevertheless, he became the champion of the Lion of Judah (Amos 7:12-15.) Nonetheless, he was rejected by those to whom he was sent. Today’s Gospel highlights Jesus’ mandate to the apostles to go into the surrounding areas on a temporary mission to whet their appetite for preaching the message of repentance to the people (Mark 6:7-13.) We understand this from His admonition to them to go without provisions, except for the power He shared with them. This reading is of special interest for the different light it sheds on the disciples of Jesus. Too often, their reaction to Jesus, especially as recorded by Mark, had been one of “incomprehension, confusion and doubt.” Their active cooperation with Jesus in His crusade against evil in all its forms should encourage all who would be His disciples. Commitment, service and a worthwhile apostolate are possible even where perfect faith and complete understanding are not present. †Paul’s letter serves as a hymn of thanksgiving to God for the great spiritual gifts He has given us in Christ (Ephesians 1:3-14.) This speaks volumes about the dynamic presence of the Holy Spirit, blessing, guiding and moving God’s people. God Has Made Us Responsible In a sense, belief in God is very uncomfortable, because it increases our responsibility. If there were no God, there would be no point in being responsible—our existence would be one of chaos and eternal “night.” In fact, it is our belief in God that gives rise to ALL our morality! If someone comes to us and asks our help, we should not turn them away with pious words, swaying, “Have faith; take your troubles to God and He will help you.” In such cases we should act as if there were no God, as if there were only one person in all the world who could help the person—namely, ourselves. It is at such times that awareness of facilities that are available to help people are familiar to us. As a chaplain for the Albuquerque Police Department, I carried a pocket reference to such outreach ministries, and when called upon, I could assist needy persons to find a place to stay, a meal, clothing, etc. Often I would transport them to the facility, in the Chaplain Unit. (I found this service extremely rewarding, at least in small measure, for I was directing them to a partial, though temporary solution.) Reliance on the providence of God is an essential part of Christianity. But it must not be used as an excuse for doing nothing. We must not stand back and wait for God to do everything. God is not going to “come down” and “do it Himself.” God works through us! There is nothing patently “wrong” in asking God to right injustices and comfort the suffering—the subjects of many people’s prayers. But we must realize that expecting “supernatural” assistance is folly. A better prayer would be to ask the Holy Spirit, within us, to help us find the wherewithal that we all possess, given our store of talents and abilities, and the wisdom to discern the most efficient solution to a neighbor’s (or, our own) problems. We are God’s instruments. That is our dignity, and also our responsibility. We must become convinced that without our love, others will not achieve the things God has “willed” for them. We see this so clearly from today’s Gospel. There we see how Jesus shared His work of spreading the kingdom of God through the apostles. Of course, we might ask ourselves, “What can we do?” We have to answer that question for ourselves. To be a source of light in the world, on doesn’t need to be either rich or famous. All one needs is a “warm heart.” Christ Needs You and Me I’ve read several stories about wartime, where bombardment of churches occurred. One, in Strasburg, Germany, and another in Korea, both have left a statue of Christ devoid of its hands. When offers to sculpt replacements for the hands have been offered, the pastors there have declined, in order to send a message to those who would view the statues: “Friends, lend Me your hands!” one placard reads. Because of that, passers-by are to realize that Christ has no hands except those of the people who view them—no hands but ours to raise the fallen. Extrapolating further, from the example of the statue: Christ has no feet but ours to seek out the lost; no ears but ours to listen to the lonely; no tongue but ours to speak words of comfort. Many in authority have difficulty involving people in a work, especially so-called “ordinary people.” This can lead people to feel they have nothing to contribute. It is good for people to be involved—it makes them “responsible.” It gives them an opportunity to use their talents and builds a community spirit. But sometimes people don’t want to become involved. It’s easier to leave it to the experts. The practice of leaving it to the professionals is very common today. This leads to the belief that all healing should be left to doctors, nurses, care-givers and first-responders; all teaching should be left to the professional teachers; and all work for the poor should be left to governmental agencies and charitable organizations. Of course, experts are needed for specialized jobs. But the non-specialists also have much to contribute, and many times have a “warmer heart.” The sick have as much need for companionship as of medicine. The old need someone to spend time with them, and help them tend to their affairs; the young need someone to show in interest in them, to relate to them, and be role models and examples for them to follow. This is work we can all do. It does not call for any expertise—only a caring heart. The Bible begins with the story of how God made human beings partners in the work of creation. And Christ made His disciples partners in the work of salvation. A great responsibility has been laid upon us. We are responsible for God’s world and for one another. We are stewards of creation. We are co-workers with Christ. t’s a great challenge for us to be active, not passive followers of Christ. We must be “receivers,” but also, we must be “givers.” Something is asked of every one of us, and everyone’s contribution, no matter how small, is important. “For the forest to be green, the trees must be green!” May God Richly Bless You! “I just want people to see Christ in me; I don’t even care if they know my name as long as they get to know Jesus.” ~~Mother Teresa~~ Prayer of Mother Teresa.docx To view a recording of today's Holy Mass, click here: https://youtu.be/iBrpsxsrIpg

July 4th, 2021 The people asked: “Is this not the carpenter’s Son?” A Message from Father †Michael Today’s Theme: “The Priest’s Ministry” Reflections on Today’s Scripture A Biblical prophet is someone who has received a divine call to speak God’s Word to His people. Our First Reading highlights this mission when God sends a prophet to ensure that the people do not remain in ignorance of their disobedience (First Reading: Ezekiel 2:2-5.) Even though the Word of God could present listeners difficult challenges, it was a Word of love in that it meant that God had not abandoned His people. God’s spokesman had to be prepared for opposition and rejection. It happened to the Old Testament prophets, and for Jesus, as well. At the close of His Galilean ministry, Jesus was rejected by the people of His home town. They couldn’t bring themselves to believe in the greatness of someone they saw as “one of their own” (Gospel: Mark 6:1-6.) Consequently, His power was ineffective there. Their rejection was an anticipation of the rejection of the Jewish nation as a whole. Today’s Christians should not grow discouraged by lack of belief. †Paul’s experience of weakness (“a thorn in the flesh,”) taught him humility, and allowed him to experience God’s power in a way that might not otherwise have been possible (Second Reading: 2 Corinthians 12:7-10.) The words, “My grace is sufficient for you,” are spoken to us, and should give us great consolation in times of struggle. Rejection by One’s Own People Often people must go away from their home and native place in order to “blossom.” At home, they may feel “cramped,” or “stifled,” through lack of opportunity, challenge and recognition. When they come back home, people they knew “back when,” are not prepared for this seemingly “new” persona. They expect to see the person who went away, returning the same as they are remembered. In doing so, they feel “comfortable,” and accept them. The person poses no “challenge” to them. Better still, in their opinion, if the person should return home “down on their luck.” Then they would be able to feel sorry for them. But if they return a “changed” person, they are likely to resent and distrust them. They, themselves, may be “stuck in a rut,” giving rise to the resentment they feel for someone who has made something of themselves. The tendency is to “cut the returning person down to size”—their own size…. In our story today, Jesus came back home and dearly wanted to share His gifts with His own people. Instead of being welcomed, however, He found people watching, studying and scrutinizing Him. As soon as He began to speak in the Synagogue, they became aware of His “special gift”—the gift of wisdom. Initially they were impressed, even to the point of amazement. Yet, instead of rejoicing and opening themselves to what He had to offer, they asked, “Where did He get all this?” The surmised someone had “given” it to Him. But the simple answer was that it was in Him all along. Many parents have asked similar questions upon hearing a child of theirs come out with something that has made them wonder. This stems from personal development theory, wherein we must decide the limits and boundaries to the progress to which another person is capable. In our own lives, too, we often have such experiences, or hear of them from our friends and acquaintances who return “home.” We find people remembering us from our humble origins, who have, in fact, set unconscious boundaries to our capabilities. Jesus was remembered as the son of an ordinary carpenter, Joseph. The people said, in effect, “Who does He think He is?” Old friends and relatives believe they know the “sum of our abilities,” and find our newly developed ones, threatening. Such attitudes don’t allow from growth and development. It’s a familiar, but sad story—the prophet not accepted by his own people. Often, we fail to acknowledge the gifts and talents of those who are close to us, in our own family, or neighborhood. We don’t appreciate or recognize the most likely concerted effort that was necessary for someone to gain “newly acquired” expertise and reputation. We tend not to give them a chance; we may even “put them down,” doing them a great injustice. And we also suffer because we do not benefit from their goodness and gifts. It’s hurtful to be rejected—and particularly so if it comes from our own people. Oftentimes, we attempt to help someone, drawing on our own talents and skills, but we are rebuffed. We become frustrated…even helpless. Met with rejection, we may be tempted to say, “That’s it! I’m finished with ‘you’ people!” We decide not to help or care anymore—because it becomes too painful…. Our blessed Lord Jesus didn’t react like this. He didn’t become embittered. He did what little He could for the people of Nazareth—curing a few sick people. Thereupon, He left them behind, taking His light and His gifts elsewhere. Thorn in the Flesh Today’s Liturgy also includes †Paul’s moment of great frankness (Second Reading: 2 Corinthians12:7-10.) He tells us that he was granted all manner of visions by God that made him feel that he had one foot in heaven already. But he also says he was given a “thorn in the flesh” to remind him of his human weakness and to keep him humble. “A thorn in the flesh”—it’s a striking and powerful image. We’ve all had the experience of a thorn, or splinter in a finger or foot. And we’ve also experienced the expression, “Thorn in the side.” It’s an image that is raw and painful—a constant nagging that is impossible to ignore. Sometimes, it may annoy us so much that we become angry. Even though it may be a small thing, such discomforts can be extremely painful. The “thorn” is an image of a problem, and can take many forms—illness, worry, burden, addiction, compulsion…. (We assume †Paul’s was some form of physical ailment or distress. He doesn’t say.) Perhaps, some other person has become “difficult” in our lives. Mostly, whatever it is, we dearly want to be rid of it. It’s only natural that we should attempt to rid ourselves of the bother. In †Paul’s case, he had to accept that his “thorn” was something he had to endure; something, against which he would be given the strength to endure. God’s words, “My grace is sufficient for you,” are spoken to us, too, and should be a great consolation for us. In spite of human weakness, and at times, we can utilize prayerful meditation, and the guidance of the Holy Spirit to endure our suffering, and actually prosper because of it. †Paul actually learned to value and even boasted of his “thorn.” Although he found it a source of weakness and powerlessness, in the moment, it was through the grace of God that he viewed it as a manifestation of God’s power. “It’s in times of calm, when the boat is going nowhere, that the sailor most appreciates the power of the wind.” ~~Anonymous So, it can be for us—in our weakness, we experience God’s power. In our darkness, we experience His light. In our sins, we experience His mercy. If only our “thorn” makes us rely more on that power, and seek recourse in the Holy Spirit, then it will become a source of growth and grace for us, as well. May God Richly Bless You! “First: think; Second: dream; Third; believe; And, finally: dare.” ~~Walt Disney~~ Be Still and Know.docx To view a live stream of today’s Mass, click here: https://youtu.be/M7MCIfBGDbc