Hey, all. Hopefully this will be in my parish's bulletin this weekend. FYI.
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A Thought from Deacon Rob
Three weeks have come and gone since I’ve started my final year in seminary. Three weeks which have given me many reading assignments, typed / homework assignments, opportunities to re-connect with old friends and make new ones, and opportunities to exercise my diaconal ministry both at Saint Mary’s and at Saint Vincent’s.
Yet one of the most important lessons that I continue to learn is how central the Eucharist is in the life of a Catholic. I continue to learn that lesson daily, and in that lesson I find new depths in not only knowing the love of God, but also in deepening my relationship with Jesus Christ. I continue to explore and discover the vast riches that this Mystery holds in my life, and in the life of every Catholic.
At the seminary, we are given ample opportunities to adore our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament. I try to make time everyday to spend at least 15 minutes in conversation with our Lord. And I believe that anyone with a serious commitment to the Gospel would try to spend some time before our Lord at some point during the week between Masses.
Recently, an article appeared in Catholic circles by a priest from a mid-West college who concluded an article saying that Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament is “a doctrinal, theological, and spiritual step backward”. This is such a sad statement! We have recently heard from Jesus himself for five weeks on how central His Body and Blood are to those who are His disciples. How can anyone who professes to be Catholic not want to spend some time with Him, to come to know Him and experience His love?!
We are called to come and sit at the feet of the Master. We are called upon time and again to “follow Him” (as we heard last week). To be in communion with Christ is to know what He says and to desire to live the way He lived. There is no better way in which we come to know Jesus than to spend time in conversation with Him who is Love itself . . . and the best way to do this is before His Presence in the Blessed Sacrament.
I encourage all to come early or stay a little bit before or after the Mass you attend on the weekends to know Christ better. I would also encourage, if your time permits you, to visit the Christ during the day in the church. He quietly waits for you and me to visit Him. Come, let us adore.
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Acts 13-16
Saints,
In these three chapters there are a lot of ideas for us to think about and examples for us to emulate. I look forward to your ideas. Here were some things I thought about while I was reading:
The first thing that struck me was Acts 13:46-47: "Both Paul and Barnabus spoke out boldly and said, ' It was necessary that the word of God be spoken to you first, but since you reject it and condemn yourselves as unworthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles'." I know it probably was not meant this way, but I've been working my way through C.S. Lewis' "Mere Christianity" and there was a chapter that talked about judgment and the sin-intention relationship. This was a perfect illustration for me that even those who are "holy" (after all, the Jews were God's chosen people...how much more elite do you get?) can be less worthy than "sinners." C.S. Lewis wrote, "When a man who has been perverted from his youth and taught that cruelty is the right thing, does some tiny act of kindness, or refrains from some cruelty he might have committed, and thereby, perhaps, risks being sneered at by his companions, he may, in God's eyes, be doing more than you and I would do if we gave up life itself for a friend." It like the parable of the widow’s coin. If you give from what you have, even if it seems small, it can be pleasing to God. The Jew’s had every advantage to prepare them to believe in Jesus Christ, but they rejected His word. The Gentiles were Pagans who were Christ-illiterate and they accepted Him. Do we, as Catholics who have the “faith advantage”, live as fully as those who don’t know Him?
I was also interested in the section dealing with the circumcision of Timothy. This whole section was sort of a throw-back to last time when Peter decides to throw dietary restrictions out the window in order to take advantage of a ministry opportunity. The Jews would not have taken Timothy seriously if he had not been circumcised, so even though Paul and the early Christians did not insist on people being circumcised, he did so to witness to the Jews. God is outside the law, but he can use the law to teach us and bring his word to his people.
Another episode in the saga of the early church that popped out at me was Paul and Barnabus’ response to the healing of the crippled man. Here people were worshipping them as Gods, the highest mark of esteem a man can ask for, but it is remarkable to observe the humility and truthfulness Paul and Barnabus model. It's easy to take credit for big and small things, especially when we seemed to do them. When we work hard on a project or when we lift someone's spirits it's easy to pat yourself on the back. But just as in Paul and Barnabus' case, we need to give credit to God for giving us strength and discipline and clarity of mind to succeed in that project or for giving us the exact words our friend needs to hear. True, we are instruments of God, but just as a clarinet or a piano cannot make music without a player, we cannot do anything without God working through us. There's a song called "Declaration of Dependence" by Steven Curtis Chapman, and there's a line in it that always strikes me: "Now let me say that I'm the kind of guy who wants to do it all myself/ don't wanna ask for help, don't wanna stop for directions./ But in reality I'm nothing on my own/ it's by God's grace alone I can make this confession..." Humans (especiall conscientious ones) like the perception of control, but as my sister once said "We are called, today, to be excellent ambassadors of Christ.” We are not Christ, but we represent him. We have to give God the glory in everything and give credit where it's due.
The last thought I’ll leave you with is Paul and Barnabus’ argument the over Mark. As we know from personal experience, Christians are not perfect. We strive to be perfect as Christ was perfect, but we never achieve this. It was comforting to me to know that even "ideal" Christians like Paul had weaknesses similar to mine. It assured me that these men were human, as we are all human, and yet God worked so splendidly through them. We must have faith that God can work as splendidly through us if we have faith and we let him.
In these three chapters there are a lot of ideas for us to think about and examples for us to emulate. I look forward to your ideas. Here were some things I thought about while I was reading:
The first thing that struck me was Acts 13:46-47: "Both Paul and Barnabus spoke out boldly and said, ' It was necessary that the word of God be spoken to you first, but since you reject it and condemn yourselves as unworthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles'." I know it probably was not meant this way, but I've been working my way through C.S. Lewis' "Mere Christianity" and there was a chapter that talked about judgment and the sin-intention relationship. This was a perfect illustration for me that even those who are "holy" (after all, the Jews were God's chosen people...how much more elite do you get?) can be less worthy than "sinners." C.S. Lewis wrote, "When a man who has been perverted from his youth and taught that cruelty is the right thing, does some tiny act of kindness, or refrains from some cruelty he might have committed, and thereby, perhaps, risks being sneered at by his companions, he may, in God's eyes, be doing more than you and I would do if we gave up life itself for a friend." It like the parable of the widow’s coin. If you give from what you have, even if it seems small, it can be pleasing to God. The Jew’s had every advantage to prepare them to believe in Jesus Christ, but they rejected His word. The Gentiles were Pagans who were Christ-illiterate and they accepted Him. Do we, as Catholics who have the “faith advantage”, live as fully as those who don’t know Him?
I was also interested in the section dealing with the circumcision of Timothy. This whole section was sort of a throw-back to last time when Peter decides to throw dietary restrictions out the window in order to take advantage of a ministry opportunity. The Jews would not have taken Timothy seriously if he had not been circumcised, so even though Paul and the early Christians did not insist on people being circumcised, he did so to witness to the Jews. God is outside the law, but he can use the law to teach us and bring his word to his people.
Another episode in the saga of the early church that popped out at me was Paul and Barnabus’ response to the healing of the crippled man. Here people were worshipping them as Gods, the highest mark of esteem a man can ask for, but it is remarkable to observe the humility and truthfulness Paul and Barnabus model. It's easy to take credit for big and small things, especially when we seemed to do them. When we work hard on a project or when we lift someone's spirits it's easy to pat yourself on the back. But just as in Paul and Barnabus' case, we need to give credit to God for giving us strength and discipline and clarity of mind to succeed in that project or for giving us the exact words our friend needs to hear. True, we are instruments of God, but just as a clarinet or a piano cannot make music without a player, we cannot do anything without God working through us. There's a song called "Declaration of Dependence" by Steven Curtis Chapman, and there's a line in it that always strikes me: "Now let me say that I'm the kind of guy who wants to do it all myself/ don't wanna ask for help, don't wanna stop for directions./ But in reality I'm nothing on my own/ it's by God's grace alone I can make this confession..." Humans (especiall conscientious ones) like the perception of control, but as my sister once said "We are called, today, to be excellent ambassadors of Christ.” We are not Christ, but we represent him. We have to give God the glory in everything and give credit where it's due.
The last thought I’ll leave you with is Paul and Barnabus’ argument the over Mark. As we know from personal experience, Christians are not perfect. We strive to be perfect as Christ was perfect, but we never achieve this. It was comforting to me to know that even "ideal" Christians like Paul had weaknesses similar to mine. It assured me that these men were human, as we are all human, and yet God worked so splendidly through them. We must have faith that God can work as splendidly through us if we have faith and we let him.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Acts 9-12
Hello Saints,
*All following verses, etc, are from the New American Translation
This section of Acts seemed to me to have a profoundly ecumenical message. This is particularly evident in the story of Cornelius and Peter's vision. When God says "What God has made clean you are not to call profane," (Acts 10:15) he's not only speaking to Peter, but to us. This part had two meanings to me. The first, God is communicating to Peter about the men he is about to meet, and the second God is making a commentary on the Jewish Law that Peter has been used to following.
When God brings Cornelius to Peter, he gives Peter a heads up and essentially prepares his heart to receive someone he might not have welcomed. We don't always realize this is happening when God tries to prepare us. How many people have come into our lives that we've just brushed by or written off because it seemed they couldn't possibly be God speaking to us? Acts 10:45-46 finds the early Christians unable to comprehend that God could be so undiscriminating. They'd lived for years believing there was A/ONE chosen people:the Jews, and here God is giving away their "inheritance" to any bum on the street (I'm sure they didn't think those exact words, but you get the idea). Not all saints are Catholic or even Christian. Look at the good works of Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr., Albert Einstein, etc. God wants us to love others, even if they seem so different from us that we can't conceive them being our brothers and sisters. We've all heard the words of Galatians 3:28-29 when Paul states, "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free person, there is not male and female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham'sdescendant, heirs according to the promise." If God brings someone into our life, we need to put aside our sometimes straight-laced Catholic tendencies and love as Christians.
Which brings me to the second meaning. Acts 10:12-14 illustrates Peter's habit of being an observant Jew. While we know Peter wasn't a learned scholar, he was still subject to the purification rites and knew well what foods were clean and unclean. The biblical commentary in my edition states "The vision is intended to prepare Peter to share the food of Cornelius' table without qualms of conscience." Sometimes we get so caught up in rules and traditions that make our Catholic faith so rich that we are unable to live as Christians and share in relationship with others. Had God not prepared Peter, he probably would have blown a wonderful ministry opportunity over a petty technicality (dietary restrictions). A lesson that God is helping me to learn is that sometimes my time is better spent in relationship with my family and people than in alone time with Him, and that can actually speak better through others in some circumstances. There is a time and a place for rules and traditions, the technicalities can hold us back from opportunities to witness to others. Let us never lose sight of the purpose of these institutions. They are in place to facilitate relationship with God, but when we can do God's will or hear God's voice better by stepping away from this and "mixing it up" we are better served and so is God.
Other thoughts?
*All following verses, etc, are from the New American Translation
This section of Acts seemed to me to have a profoundly ecumenical message. This is particularly evident in the story of Cornelius and Peter's vision. When God says "What God has made clean you are not to call profane," (Acts 10:15) he's not only speaking to Peter, but to us. This part had two meanings to me. The first, God is communicating to Peter about the men he is about to meet, and the second God is making a commentary on the Jewish Law that Peter has been used to following.
When God brings Cornelius to Peter, he gives Peter a heads up and essentially prepares his heart to receive someone he might not have welcomed. We don't always realize this is happening when God tries to prepare us. How many people have come into our lives that we've just brushed by or written off because it seemed they couldn't possibly be God speaking to us? Acts 10:45-46 finds the early Christians unable to comprehend that God could be so undiscriminating. They'd lived for years believing there was A/ONE chosen people:the Jews, and here God is giving away their "inheritance" to any bum on the street (I'm sure they didn't think those exact words, but you get the idea). Not all saints are Catholic or even Christian. Look at the good works of Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr., Albert Einstein, etc. God wants us to love others, even if they seem so different from us that we can't conceive them being our brothers and sisters. We've all heard the words of Galatians 3:28-29 when Paul states, "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free person, there is not male and female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham'sdescendant, heirs according to the promise." If God brings someone into our life, we need to put aside our sometimes straight-laced Catholic tendencies and love as Christians.
Which brings me to the second meaning. Acts 10:12-14 illustrates Peter's habit of being an observant Jew. While we know Peter wasn't a learned scholar, he was still subject to the purification rites and knew well what foods were clean and unclean. The biblical commentary in my edition states "The vision is intended to prepare Peter to share the food of Cornelius' table without qualms of conscience." Sometimes we get so caught up in rules and traditions that make our Catholic faith so rich that we are unable to live as Christians and share in relationship with others. Had God not prepared Peter, he probably would have blown a wonderful ministry opportunity over a petty technicality (dietary restrictions). A lesson that God is helping me to learn is that sometimes my time is better spent in relationship with my family and people than in alone time with Him, and that can actually speak better through others in some circumstances. There is a time and a place for rules and traditions, the technicalities can hold us back from opportunities to witness to others. Let us never lose sight of the purpose of these institutions. They are in place to facilitate relationship with God, but when we can do God's will or hear God's voice better by stepping away from this and "mixing it up" we are better served and so is God.
Other thoughts?
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Homily for the Body and Blood of Christ
Even later, my homily for the Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ.
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“Offer it up.” How many times have you heard this in your life? How many times have you told this to someone else? This is a phrase that I have heard numerous times throughout my life from my parents, family and friends. It is also a Catholic expression that is extremely fitting for the solemnity that we celebrate today, that of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ.
On the Cross, Jesus offered His All for our all. This idea is most beautifully given to us through the image on our tabernacle. Have you ever stopped to really look at our tabernacle? On the door is the ancient Christian symbol of the pelican feeding her young. If a pelican cannot find food to support her offspring, she will pierce herself so that the young may receive nourishment. She will offer herself so that her offspring may live. Jesus offers Himself that we may live through the nourishment we receive through the gift of the Eucharist.
In the sharing of the Eucharist, we offer to God, in return, our all for Jesus’ all. This is most prevalent in the actions of the preparation of the gifts. During this portion of the Mass, as the gifts of bread and wine are prepared to be transformed into the Body and Blood of Christ, we prepare to offer ourselves to Christ in our participation of the Eucharistic Mystery. This portion of the Mass is not simply an intermission in the ancient ritual; it is not a time to simply sing a “nice song” or to make sure our envelope gets in the basket, but it is a time in which we place before the Lord our intentions and our entire being to be joined with Him on Calvary for the redemption of the world. Pope John Paul II reiterates this in his first encyclical, Redemptor Hominis: By celebrating and also partaking of the Eucharist we unite ourselves with Christ on earth and in heaven who intercedes for us with the Father but we always do so through the redeeming act of his Sacrifice, through which he has redeemed us, so that we have been "bought with a price". The price: Jesus’ gift of Himself on the altar of the Cross.
In the offering of ourselves to God, we become like the bread that is to be offered: we are taken, blessed, broken and shared. We are taken: We are called from society to form the Body of Christ through our baptism and our share in the Death and Resurrection of Jesus. We are blessed: Through our participation in the sacraments, we are given the graces we need to bring Christ to the world. We are broken: In our offering of ourselves through the Eucharist, we give our entire being to Christ so that our own brokenness may be healed, and that Christ may work through our broken lives to bring others to Him so that they may be healed. We are shared: We are sent from the Mass to be Christ to others, spreading the Gospel not only by the words we speak, but, ultimately, through the lives we live. When we live our lives as Eucharist – when we are taken, blessed, broken and shared – we offer to God our lives in service to Him, and share Christ with a world that is broken so that it may be blessed and taken back to Him at the end of time.
Yes, we come to Mass each week to join in the offering of Christ to the Father through the Holy Spirit by His sacrifice on the Cross. However, we also come to Mass each week to offer ourselves to the Father through Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit. In a few moments, we will come before the altar, offering our all to Jesus, for He offered His all for us.
------------------------------
“Offer it up.” How many times have you heard this in your life? How many times have you told this to someone else? This is a phrase that I have heard numerous times throughout my life from my parents, family and friends. It is also a Catholic expression that is extremely fitting for the solemnity that we celebrate today, that of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ.
On the Cross, Jesus offered His All for our all. This idea is most beautifully given to us through the image on our tabernacle. Have you ever stopped to really look at our tabernacle? On the door is the ancient Christian symbol of the pelican feeding her young. If a pelican cannot find food to support her offspring, she will pierce herself so that the young may receive nourishment. She will offer herself so that her offspring may live. Jesus offers Himself that we may live through the nourishment we receive through the gift of the Eucharist.
In the sharing of the Eucharist, we offer to God, in return, our all for Jesus’ all. This is most prevalent in the actions of the preparation of the gifts. During this portion of the Mass, as the gifts of bread and wine are prepared to be transformed into the Body and Blood of Christ, we prepare to offer ourselves to Christ in our participation of the Eucharistic Mystery. This portion of the Mass is not simply an intermission in the ancient ritual; it is not a time to simply sing a “nice song” or to make sure our envelope gets in the basket, but it is a time in which we place before the Lord our intentions and our entire being to be joined with Him on Calvary for the redemption of the world. Pope John Paul II reiterates this in his first encyclical, Redemptor Hominis: By celebrating and also partaking of the Eucharist we unite ourselves with Christ on earth and in heaven who intercedes for us with the Father but we always do so through the redeeming act of his Sacrifice, through which he has redeemed us, so that we have been "bought with a price". The price: Jesus’ gift of Himself on the altar of the Cross.
In the offering of ourselves to God, we become like the bread that is to be offered: we are taken, blessed, broken and shared. We are taken: We are called from society to form the Body of Christ through our baptism and our share in the Death and Resurrection of Jesus. We are blessed: Through our participation in the sacraments, we are given the graces we need to bring Christ to the world. We are broken: In our offering of ourselves through the Eucharist, we give our entire being to Christ so that our own brokenness may be healed, and that Christ may work through our broken lives to bring others to Him so that they may be healed. We are shared: We are sent from the Mass to be Christ to others, spreading the Gospel not only by the words we speak, but, ultimately, through the lives we live. When we live our lives as Eucharist – when we are taken, blessed, broken and shared – we offer to God our lives in service to Him, and share Christ with a world that is broken so that it may be blessed and taken back to Him at the end of time.
Yes, we come to Mass each week to join in the offering of Christ to the Father through the Holy Spirit by His sacrifice on the Cross. However, we also come to Mass each week to offer ourselves to the Father through Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit. In a few moments, we will come before the altar, offering our all to Jesus, for He offered His all for us.
Homily for the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
A little late, but here's my homily from the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
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Think for a moment of an event – a concert, a play, a sports game – any event where you were astounded because someone you were watching gave “it” their all. Was it the soloist at the opera who poured her soul into her aria? Was it the high school student who put everything he had into the role of a lifetime? Was it someone like Marc-Andre Fleury making some outstanding saves in the final moments of Game 7?
For me, it was the 2008 World Youth Day in Sydney, Australia. To gather with thousands of Catholics from around the world was an awesome event and feelings that are difficult to describe. But what really astounded me – or, actually, “who” astounded me – was our Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI. Every day, at every event, this 80-something-year-old man came to us, his children, with as much energy – if not even more! – than some of the youngest pilgrims there had. Every day, the pilgrims from throughout the world witnessed a daily choice to mirror Christ through the Pope’s giving of his all for our all.
Whatever the event was, we come today as a community of believers to celebrate the giving of Jesus’ all for our all. Through His Death on the Cross, the “all” of Jesus is performed selflessly in His acceptance of the Will of the Father. And with the thrust of the soldier’s lance, the Blood and water pour forth from Christ’s Heart: An apparently pointless act, since Jesus was already dead, but an act which opens for us a sign of the totality of Jesus’ self-giving and pledge of future life.
This is part of the Paschal Mystery which we celebrate today and strive to live outside the walls of this church. Just when Jesus had given us His all, even to the point of death, He opens Himself and pours out more life for us.
This is the eternal Love that we come to know in the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and it is that same eternal Love that we are commanded to living as members of the Body of Christ. Through our Baptism, Confirmation and reception of the Eucharist, we are commissioned to give our all for Christ’s all, so that the Body of Christ may continued to be built up, and that the work of the salvation of souls may never be a lost cause.
In His self-giving act of total love, the eternal Father sent us His Son. In His self-giving act of total love, the Son emptied Himself in the will of His Father, and suffered, died, and was pierced for us. How wonderful for us that we mark this great solemnity on Father’s Day! This is the day when we acknowledge the self-giving love that our fathers, grandfathers, godfathers, foster fathers, and spiritual fathers give to us. It is a day in which we say “thank you” to those men in our lives who allow their own hearts to be pierced so that their love can be given and spent all-the-more.
But it is not on this day alone that we celebrate the self-gift of Christ Jesus or acknowledge the self-gift of our fathers who have done so much for us. Rather, it is a day when we, who bear the name of Sacred Heart Parish, come together and celebrate that eternal Love which continues to pour forth from the Heart of Christ so that we may take that eternal Love to a world that is broken from the effects of sin. As we come around the table of the Eucharist, we become nourished by Eternal Love Himself, the One who was pierced, so that we may become pierced, as well. It is only when our hearts our pierced that we can pour forth the eternal Love of God to others who cry out for it from their inner-most being. This eternal Love, now manifested through us, is poured out from our hearts is aflame with the love of God.
A prayer that has always struck me, and does even more so on this great Feast, is the Anima Christi. This is a prayer that I pray often, usually following the celebration of Mass. The meditation it gives to me helps me, even in my broken state, to endeavor to allow my heart to be pierced so that the eternal Love which was poured out on Calvary two-thousand years ago may be poured out in me today. And through allowing my heart to be pierced, I may strive to give my all for Christ’s all – and I choose to do this daily. We must choose daily to give our all for Christ’s all. And so we pray:
Soul of Christ, sanctify me.
Body of Christ, save me.
Blood of Christ, inebriate me.
Water from the side of Christ, wash me.
Passion of Christ, strengthen me.
O good Jesus hear me,
Within Your wounds hide me,
Never permit me to be separated from You.
From the Evil One, protect me.
At the hour of my death call me,
And bid me come to You,
That with Your saints
I may praise You forever and ever.
Amen.
--------------------------
Think for a moment of an event – a concert, a play, a sports game – any event where you were astounded because someone you were watching gave “it” their all. Was it the soloist at the opera who poured her soul into her aria? Was it the high school student who put everything he had into the role of a lifetime? Was it someone like Marc-Andre Fleury making some outstanding saves in the final moments of Game 7?
For me, it was the 2008 World Youth Day in Sydney, Australia. To gather with thousands of Catholics from around the world was an awesome event and feelings that are difficult to describe. But what really astounded me – or, actually, “who” astounded me – was our Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI. Every day, at every event, this 80-something-year-old man came to us, his children, with as much energy – if not even more! – than some of the youngest pilgrims there had. Every day, the pilgrims from throughout the world witnessed a daily choice to mirror Christ through the Pope’s giving of his all for our all.
Whatever the event was, we come today as a community of believers to celebrate the giving of Jesus’ all for our all. Through His Death on the Cross, the “all” of Jesus is performed selflessly in His acceptance of the Will of the Father. And with the thrust of the soldier’s lance, the Blood and water pour forth from Christ’s Heart: An apparently pointless act, since Jesus was already dead, but an act which opens for us a sign of the totality of Jesus’ self-giving and pledge of future life.
This is part of the Paschal Mystery which we celebrate today and strive to live outside the walls of this church. Just when Jesus had given us His all, even to the point of death, He opens Himself and pours out more life for us.
This is the eternal Love that we come to know in the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and it is that same eternal Love that we are commanded to living as members of the Body of Christ. Through our Baptism, Confirmation and reception of the Eucharist, we are commissioned to give our all for Christ’s all, so that the Body of Christ may continued to be built up, and that the work of the salvation of souls may never be a lost cause.
In His self-giving act of total love, the eternal Father sent us His Son. In His self-giving act of total love, the Son emptied Himself in the will of His Father, and suffered, died, and was pierced for us. How wonderful for us that we mark this great solemnity on Father’s Day! This is the day when we acknowledge the self-giving love that our fathers, grandfathers, godfathers, foster fathers, and spiritual fathers give to us. It is a day in which we say “thank you” to those men in our lives who allow their own hearts to be pierced so that their love can be given and spent all-the-more.
But it is not on this day alone that we celebrate the self-gift of Christ Jesus or acknowledge the self-gift of our fathers who have done so much for us. Rather, it is a day when we, who bear the name of Sacred Heart Parish, come together and celebrate that eternal Love which continues to pour forth from the Heart of Christ so that we may take that eternal Love to a world that is broken from the effects of sin. As we come around the table of the Eucharist, we become nourished by Eternal Love Himself, the One who was pierced, so that we may become pierced, as well. It is only when our hearts our pierced that we can pour forth the eternal Love of God to others who cry out for it from their inner-most being. This eternal Love, now manifested through us, is poured out from our hearts is aflame with the love of God.
A prayer that has always struck me, and does even more so on this great Feast, is the Anima Christi. This is a prayer that I pray often, usually following the celebration of Mass. The meditation it gives to me helps me, even in my broken state, to endeavor to allow my heart to be pierced so that the eternal Love which was poured out on Calvary two-thousand years ago may be poured out in me today. And through allowing my heart to be pierced, I may strive to give my all for Christ’s all – and I choose to do this daily. We must choose daily to give our all for Christ’s all. And so we pray:
Soul of Christ, sanctify me.
Body of Christ, save me.
Blood of Christ, inebriate me.
Water from the side of Christ, wash me.
Passion of Christ, strengthen me.
O good Jesus hear me,
Within Your wounds hide me,
Never permit me to be separated from You.
From the Evil One, protect me.
At the hour of my death call me,
And bid me come to You,
That with Your saints
I may praise You forever and ever.
Amen.
Sunday, June 21, 2009
This is our mission and our call.
"Hosanna" -- Hillsong United
I see a generation
Rising up to take their place
With selfless faith
With selfless faith
I see a near revival
Stirring as we pray and seek
We're on our knees
We're on our knees
Heal my heart and make it clean
Open up my eyes to the things unseen
Show me how to love like you have loved me
Break my heart from what breaks yours
Everything I am for your kingdom's cause
As I go from nothing to eternity
I see a generation
Rising up to take their place
With selfless faith
With selfless faith
I see a near revival
Stirring as we pray and seek
We're on our knees
We're on our knees
Heal my heart and make it clean
Open up my eyes to the things unseen
Show me how to love like you have loved me
Break my heart from what breaks yours
Everything I am for your kingdom's cause
As I go from nothing to eternity
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Acts 7-9
This next section of Acts presents two opposing characters: Stephen, the first martyr, and Paul, who becomes Saul and one of the greatest evangelists of the early Church. Stephen’s last speech and death echo that of Jesus. Saul, who was trying to crush the early Christian church, consented to Stephen’s death. After his revelation from God, Paul begins radically and boldly proclaiming the resurrection of Jesus and eventually, according to tradition, is martyred. Coincidence? Probably not.
So this chapter begins with the Jewish leaders accusing Stephen of blasphemy, much like they did against Jesus. Inspired by the Holy Spirit, Stephen speaks to the people and the Sanhedrin about the truth of Jesus. He connects the ministry of Jesus to the ancient Jewish patriarchs, Abraham, Joseph, and Moses. At the same time, he admonishes the people for constantly rejecting the prophets and teachers God sends to them. Looking back at the centuries of exile and persecution the Jews endured, you’d think they’d be pretty good at recognizing the liberation and freedom that these prophets proclaimed.
However, let’s not be too quick to judge… how many times have we, in times of struggle and temptations big and small, chosen to find comfort in things that aren’t of God? Dealing with David’s deployment this past year has been one of the greatest struggles in my short life. More than once I missed him and worried about his safety to the point of physical pain. A lot of the times, it was really easy to just wallow in self-pity…I’m sad to say that that was my response more often than it should have been—kind of like the Israelites when they constantly cried to God. They thought He had forsaken them instead of remembering all of the times He saved them or sent them prophets. The best way I got through my sorrow was reaching out to my friends in Christ. They reminded me, usually without talking about God, that He would care for me and David, and that His will would be done. This realization seems overly simplistic and easy with my 20/20 hindsight, but trusting God really is that simple. Indeed it does take boldness (the theme of Acts!) and courage to reject the fear that the Devil throws towards us in our struggle to distract us from the peace that God will give us. A television preacher reminded me of this early this morning:
So back to Acts. Stephen relates the history of the Jewish people to show Christ’s fulfillment of the early prophets but also to show that Jesus recreates their tradition of only worshipping God in the temple. My commentary points this out, which is interesting to think about. The Jews held Solomon’s temple in Jerusalem as the supreme place of worship because it contained the tablets of the law Moses received directly from God. So, the people must have wondered, if we’re not supposed to worship the Lord in the temple, what are we supposed to do? Well, how do we, the Church in 2009, worship God? In the Mass! In the Real Presence! Instead of relying on the law for salvation, Stephen encourages the people to move into a new phase of salvation history. The laws of God are still important to guide our morality and conduct, but the law of love, shown by Christ’s death on the cross, now rules. After Jesus died and rose, He loved us enough to stay with us in the Eucharist—both during Mass and in the tabernacle. Instead of relying on the law to purify us (which is what Saul believed so strongly before his conversion), we receive Jesus into our bodies and become a new tabernacle and temple for Him. The great temple in Jerusalem was eventually destroyed, leaving the Jews, again, without a place to worship. In the same way, our bodies can be destroyed, as Christ said, but spirits rooted in Him will never fade away.
So this chapter begins with the Jewish leaders accusing Stephen of blasphemy, much like they did against Jesus. Inspired by the Holy Spirit, Stephen speaks to the people and the Sanhedrin about the truth of Jesus. He connects the ministry of Jesus to the ancient Jewish patriarchs, Abraham, Joseph, and Moses. At the same time, he admonishes the people for constantly rejecting the prophets and teachers God sends to them. Looking back at the centuries of exile and persecution the Jews endured, you’d think they’d be pretty good at recognizing the liberation and freedom that these prophets proclaimed.
However, let’s not be too quick to judge… how many times have we, in times of struggle and temptations big and small, chosen to find comfort in things that aren’t of God? Dealing with David’s deployment this past year has been one of the greatest struggles in my short life. More than once I missed him and worried about his safety to the point of physical pain. A lot of the times, it was really easy to just wallow in self-pity…I’m sad to say that that was my response more often than it should have been—kind of like the Israelites when they constantly cried to God. They thought He had forsaken them instead of remembering all of the times He saved them or sent them prophets. The best way I got through my sorrow was reaching out to my friends in Christ. They reminded me, usually without talking about God, that He would care for me and David, and that His will would be done. This realization seems overly simplistic and easy with my 20/20 hindsight, but trusting God really is that simple. Indeed it does take boldness (the theme of Acts!) and courage to reject the fear that the Devil throws towards us in our struggle to distract us from the peace that God will give us. A television preacher reminded me of this early this morning:
“I remind you to stir into flame the gift of God that you have through the
imposition of my hands. For God did not give us a spirit of cowardice but
rather of power and love and self-control. So do not be ashamed of your
testimony to our Lord, nor of me, a prisoner for his sake; but bear your share
of hardship for the gospel with the strength that comes from God.”
(2 Timothy 1:6-8)
So back to Acts. Stephen relates the history of the Jewish people to show Christ’s fulfillment of the early prophets but also to show that Jesus recreates their tradition of only worshipping God in the temple. My commentary points this out, which is interesting to think about. The Jews held Solomon’s temple in Jerusalem as the supreme place of worship because it contained the tablets of the law Moses received directly from God. So, the people must have wondered, if we’re not supposed to worship the Lord in the temple, what are we supposed to do? Well, how do we, the Church in 2009, worship God? In the Mass! In the Real Presence! Instead of relying on the law for salvation, Stephen encourages the people to move into a new phase of salvation history. The laws of God are still important to guide our morality and conduct, but the law of love, shown by Christ’s death on the cross, now rules. After Jesus died and rose, He loved us enough to stay with us in the Eucharist—both during Mass and in the tabernacle. Instead of relying on the law to purify us (which is what Saul believed so strongly before his conversion), we receive Jesus into our bodies and become a new tabernacle and temple for Him. The great temple in Jerusalem was eventually destroyed, leaving the Jews, again, without a place to worship. In the same way, our bodies can be destroyed, as Christ said, but spirits rooted in Him will never fade away.
Monday, June 8, 2009
Acts of the Apostles: Chapters 3-6
Saints,
We are now moving forward to chapters 3-6 of the book of Acts. This will be a little bit lengthier, but I hope worth it. Again, I urge you, let this bible study be a supplement to your reading of the bible, not a substitute. Nothing can replace what God has to say to you as an individual, nothing is more important than what he has to say to you. I ask you to reflect on what he has to say to you, and if I anything I say strikes you, please take the time and reflect on that as well.
Any verses that are cited within this post will again come from the Duoay-Rheims Bible, which can be found online here: http://www.drbo.org/index.htm . Let’s begin.
Chapter 3 opens with Peter and John going up to the temple, when they are stopped by a crippled begging for alms. What Peter says to him is critical and rather astounding.
6 But Peter said: Silver and gold I have none; but what I have, I give thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, arise, and walk.
This says two things to me. First, that the word of God is powerful, real, effective, and needs to be spoken. The power of God’s word can only be unleashed when it is spoken. We see this throughout the entire bible. How did God create the heavens and the universe? He spoke!
Genesis 1:3 And God said: Be light made. And light was made.
God said this, and this was made, God said that, and that was made. He spoke and it was made. He wasn’t messing around in a heavenly lab mixing stuff up trying to create us. He just spoke.
Look at the Psalm that was from yesterdays mass
Psalm 33:6, 9
By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, and all their host by the breath of his mouth. For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood forth.
So what does this mean for us? Well we have been given the Word of God as a weapon to use. This power is right at our finger tips. When we speak things from the bible, aloud, over life, we embody these things. For example, Ephesians 6:13 says:
13 Therefore take unto you the armour of God, that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and to stand in all things perfect.
I would pray and speak, “I have taken the armour of God and I am able to resist the evil today and I do stand perfect in all things!”.
This is a powerful form of prayer that I think we should all use. It’s power is only unleashed when it is spoken.
The second thing that struck me when I read what Peter said was that the only thing he could give the cripple was Jesus. He had no material thing to give him, but more importantly he had nothing else in his heart to give him either. We can’t give people Jesus if we are not allowing him to live more prevalently in our hearts. Peter, and all the apostles, are so filled with the holy Spirit, filled with it’s love, peace, joy, healing powers, etc. that there is no room in them for anything else.
So I am forced to ask myself, what is my heart filled with? What is it that I am capable of imparting to other people? If there is jealousy, bitterness, resentment, impurity, anger in my heart then how can Jesus live there? And if Jesus cannot live there how can I give him to other people and spread his Gospel? We cannot give away that of which we do not have.
In chapters 4 and the beginning of 5 we are given three examples of types of people. The first is the high priestly group, who tell the Apostles to stop preaching. They have come face to face with the power of the Gospel and reject it.
4:14 Seeing the man also who had been healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it.
They see the healed cripple, they see the miracle, they know it to be true, but still cannot bring themselves to be converted and follow! Why? I think it is because they were to love in with their worldly comfort. . They are respected in the community, have wealth and prestige, etc. Possibly it is because they are to proud to admit that they were wrong in crucifying Jesus, and refuse to take the blame for that They cannot bring themselves to part with these things and accept what the Apostles are teaching.
The second example we are given is that of the married couple, Ananias and Saphira. They, unlike the high priests, accept what the Apostles are saying, but cannot give up everything they had. Their lust for money causes them to try and cheat the Apostles out, and hold back some of the money for themselves. Their own lies end up resulting in their immediate death.
And finally we come to Barnabas, who “Having land, sold it, and brought the price, and laid it at the feet of the apostles.” (4:37). He does not desire the things of this world, but only God. He sells it all and gives it to the apostles, who then distribute it to the people as they have need.
So again I am forced to ask myself, which of the three am I like? What am I so attached to that I want to hold back and not give to God. What part of my life, like Ananias and Saphira do I withhold, hidden from God, keeping it all to myself? And why is it that I am holding it back? Am I ashamed of it? Am I to proud to give it to God? You see, God doesn’t want just some of us, or most of us, or 99% of us. He wants us all. He wants our strengths, our weakness, the parts of us that are whole, and the parts that are broken. We cannot be like Ananias and Saphira and say “OK God you can be apart of my relationship with my family, but my relationship with my boyfriend/girlfriend, just stay out okay?” We will only be happy, like Barnabas, when we lay everything we have at the feet of Christ, at the foot of the cross and say, “Take it, it is yours, I am yours, do with me as you will, O Lord.”
In the middle of chapter 5 we come across a man named Gamaliel. He warns the council to leave the apostles alone, saying that they might “be found even to fight against God.” (5:39) He warns them that if the apostles mission is of God, there will be no overthrowing it, there is nothing that they can do to stop it. Amen to that! God’s will will not be thwarted by anything, no matter how hard we try! I think sometimes that we do try and thwart God’s will in our life. We run or hide or avoid what he has set before us to do, his will or plan in our life. And so we “kick against the goads” (Acts 9:5), and we end up hurting ourselves. But why do we hide from God’s plan for us? Look at the awesome examples we have been given in these first 6 chapters by the apostles. They are completely freed from this world and its desires. They are free. They are completely open to God, his Spirit, and his will, and they perform many great works and miracles! People come out into the street just so that Peter’s shadow may be cast over them and be healed! His shadow for crying out loud! (Could you imagine going to the doctors office and instead of him giving you medicine, he covered with you his shadow? This would be awesome, and probably a lot cheaper I think.) (5:15). Maybe it is not God’s will that we perform miracles (and maybe it is!), but it is his will that we be free like the first apostles. This freedom gives them a completely new outlook. Not long ago they were running from the Lord during his passion and now they are rejoicing that they may be counted worthy enough to suffer in his name! (5:41). What a transformation!
Chapter 6 sheds some light on the structure of the early church. The “Greeks”, so they called the Jews that were born and brought up in Greece, widow's are being neglected. Their ministry is growing and so the original 12 appoint 7 people to oversee this mission for the early church. Stephen is one of the 7 appointed and does “great wonders and signs among the people. “ (6:8). The people where Stephen is ministering cannot “resist the wisdom and the Spirit that spoke” (6:10) so they set up false witness against him. The chapter ends by telling us that while Stephen is before the council his face was “as if it had been the face of an angel”. (6:15). What a beautiful image. Even when we are in the bleakest of situations, God is with us, even more prevalently.
May the peace of the Risen Lord be with always,
Sean
We are now moving forward to chapters 3-6 of the book of Acts. This will be a little bit lengthier, but I hope worth it. Again, I urge you, let this bible study be a supplement to your reading of the bible, not a substitute. Nothing can replace what God has to say to you as an individual, nothing is more important than what he has to say to you. I ask you to reflect on what he has to say to you, and if I anything I say strikes you, please take the time and reflect on that as well.
Any verses that are cited within this post will again come from the Duoay-Rheims Bible, which can be found online here: http://www.drbo.org/index.htm . Let’s begin.
Chapter 3 opens with Peter and John going up to the temple, when they are stopped by a crippled begging for alms. What Peter says to him is critical and rather astounding.
6 But Peter said: Silver and gold I have none; but what I have, I give thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, arise, and walk.
This says two things to me. First, that the word of God is powerful, real, effective, and needs to be spoken. The power of God’s word can only be unleashed when it is spoken. We see this throughout the entire bible. How did God create the heavens and the universe? He spoke!
Genesis 1:3 And God said: Be light made. And light was made.
God said this, and this was made, God said that, and that was made. He spoke and it was made. He wasn’t messing around in a heavenly lab mixing stuff up trying to create us. He just spoke.
Look at the Psalm that was from yesterdays mass
Psalm 33:6, 9
By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, and all their host by the breath of his mouth. For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood forth.
So what does this mean for us? Well we have been given the Word of God as a weapon to use. This power is right at our finger tips. When we speak things from the bible, aloud, over life, we embody these things. For example, Ephesians 6:13 says:
13 Therefore take unto you the armour of God, that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and to stand in all things perfect.
I would pray and speak, “I have taken the armour of God and I am able to resist the evil today and I do stand perfect in all things!”.
This is a powerful form of prayer that I think we should all use. It’s power is only unleashed when it is spoken.
The second thing that struck me when I read what Peter said was that the only thing he could give the cripple was Jesus. He had no material thing to give him, but more importantly he had nothing else in his heart to give him either. We can’t give people Jesus if we are not allowing him to live more prevalently in our hearts. Peter, and all the apostles, are so filled with the holy Spirit, filled with it’s love, peace, joy, healing powers, etc. that there is no room in them for anything else.
So I am forced to ask myself, what is my heart filled with? What is it that I am capable of imparting to other people? If there is jealousy, bitterness, resentment, impurity, anger in my heart then how can Jesus live there? And if Jesus cannot live there how can I give him to other people and spread his Gospel? We cannot give away that of which we do not have.
In chapters 4 and the beginning of 5 we are given three examples of types of people. The first is the high priestly group, who tell the Apostles to stop preaching. They have come face to face with the power of the Gospel and reject it.
4:14 Seeing the man also who had been healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it.
They see the healed cripple, they see the miracle, they know it to be true, but still cannot bring themselves to be converted and follow! Why? I think it is because they were to love in with their worldly comfort. . They are respected in the community, have wealth and prestige, etc. Possibly it is because they are to proud to admit that they were wrong in crucifying Jesus, and refuse to take the blame for that They cannot bring themselves to part with these things and accept what the Apostles are teaching.
The second example we are given is that of the married couple, Ananias and Saphira. They, unlike the high priests, accept what the Apostles are saying, but cannot give up everything they had. Their lust for money causes them to try and cheat the Apostles out, and hold back some of the money for themselves. Their own lies end up resulting in their immediate death.
And finally we come to Barnabas, who “Having land, sold it, and brought the price, and laid it at the feet of the apostles.” (4:37). He does not desire the things of this world, but only God. He sells it all and gives it to the apostles, who then distribute it to the people as they have need.
So again I am forced to ask myself, which of the three am I like? What am I so attached to that I want to hold back and not give to God. What part of my life, like Ananias and Saphira do I withhold, hidden from God, keeping it all to myself? And why is it that I am holding it back? Am I ashamed of it? Am I to proud to give it to God? You see, God doesn’t want just some of us, or most of us, or 99% of us. He wants us all. He wants our strengths, our weakness, the parts of us that are whole, and the parts that are broken. We cannot be like Ananias and Saphira and say “OK God you can be apart of my relationship with my family, but my relationship with my boyfriend/girlfriend, just stay out okay?” We will only be happy, like Barnabas, when we lay everything we have at the feet of Christ, at the foot of the cross and say, “Take it, it is yours, I am yours, do with me as you will, O Lord.”
In the middle of chapter 5 we come across a man named Gamaliel. He warns the council to leave the apostles alone, saying that they might “be found even to fight against God.” (5:39) He warns them that if the apostles mission is of God, there will be no overthrowing it, there is nothing that they can do to stop it. Amen to that! God’s will will not be thwarted by anything, no matter how hard we try! I think sometimes that we do try and thwart God’s will in our life. We run or hide or avoid what he has set before us to do, his will or plan in our life. And so we “kick against the goads” (Acts 9:5), and we end up hurting ourselves. But why do we hide from God’s plan for us? Look at the awesome examples we have been given in these first 6 chapters by the apostles. They are completely freed from this world and its desires. They are free. They are completely open to God, his Spirit, and his will, and they perform many great works and miracles! People come out into the street just so that Peter’s shadow may be cast over them and be healed! His shadow for crying out loud! (Could you imagine going to the doctors office and instead of him giving you medicine, he covered with you his shadow? This would be awesome, and probably a lot cheaper I think.) (5:15). Maybe it is not God’s will that we perform miracles (and maybe it is!), but it is his will that we be free like the first apostles. This freedom gives them a completely new outlook. Not long ago they were running from the Lord during his passion and now they are rejoicing that they may be counted worthy enough to suffer in his name! (5:41). What a transformation!
Chapter 6 sheds some light on the structure of the early church. The “Greeks”, so they called the Jews that were born and brought up in Greece, widow's are being neglected. Their ministry is growing and so the original 12 appoint 7 people to oversee this mission for the early church. Stephen is one of the 7 appointed and does “great wonders and signs among the people. “ (6:8). The people where Stephen is ministering cannot “resist the wisdom and the Spirit that spoke” (6:10) so they set up false witness against him. The chapter ends by telling us that while Stephen is before the council his face was “as if it had been the face of an angel”. (6:15). What a beautiful image. Even when we are in the bleakest of situations, God is with us, even more prevalently.
May the peace of the Risen Lord be with always,
Sean
Monday, June 1, 2009
Bible Study Week 1: Acts 1 and 2
When I was reading, the part that really jumped out at me was "save yourselves from this generation which has gone astray" Acts 2:40. It really strikes me that it says "save yourselves". I think that this is such a powerful sentence because it clearly states that God has already given us what we need. We have what we need for salvation, now we just have to figure out how to use our individual "superpowers", as I like to call them. Also, I like this part because it stirs up fear in me because it says that I already have what I need. God has already given me what I need in order for me to do my particular job here on earth and there is no reason for me to sit around and wait. Although I may not know exactly what my "superpowers" are, God has still given them to me and I need to use them to the best of my ability. Salvation is in my hands! There's no more sitting around waiting for God to do all the work, the Holy Spirit is already upon us, waiting for us to wake up and smell the sweet smell of salvation.
I really enjoyed reading the Pope's homily. There was one paragraph that really, really, really stuck out to me.
"Yet this power, the grace of the Spirit, is not something we can merit or achieve, but only receive as pure gift. God’s love can only unleash its power when it is allowed to change us from within. We have to let it break through the hard crust of our indifference, our spiritual weariness, our blind conformity to the spirit of this age. Only then can we let it ignite our imagination and shape our deepest desires. That is why prayer is so important: daily prayer, private prayer in the quiet of our hearts and before the Blessed Sacrament, and liturgical prayer in the heart of the Church. Prayer is pure receptivity to God’s grace, love in action, communion with the Spirit who dwells within us, leading us, through Jesus, in the Church, to our heavenly Father. In the power of his Spirit, Jesus is always present in our hearts, quietly waiting for us to be still with him, to hear his voice, to abide in his love, and to receive “power from on high”, enabling us to be salt and light for our world."
I think this paragraph also states that the power lies in our hands. I like how it says, "God's love can only unleash its powers when it is ALLOWED to change us from within. It says that not only do we have to realize that God has given us the power, but we have to use it.
At first this kind of confused me and I thought, "Oh boy, I'll never figure out what my superpower is! I don't have any special talents or awesome abiblities." but then I realized that I don't need to know. Some of us may never know what gifts the Lord has given us and that is perfectly fine. If I pray, and ask the Lord to work through me I am confident that His work will get done by my hands whether I know what He's using me for or not. Besides, maybe it's better not knowing. If I did know it would probably go to my head and I wouldn't be successful at whatever I am supposed to do.
Although some of us may not know what we have been given I think it is important that we are confident and aware that we all carry around a special gift that the Lord has given us. We have to remember that He has blessed us all with something that makes us different from everybody else. Something that attracts others to come and see what we're all about and where we got these fabulous gifts. Everybody wants to be friends with the kids who get cool stuff for Christmas so that they can reap the benefits. We should make people want to reap the benefits of our God Given Gifts.
I think that making us think that we're worthless and that we have no power over anything in our lives is one way that the devil tries to weaken us. Of course God has the ultimate power over everything and no doubt has the ability to do anything, but that doesn't mean that we can just sit around and wait for Him say, "Listen, you had your whole life to do this and if you don't do it now you're in trouble."
I really enjoyed reading the Pope's homily. There was one paragraph that really, really, really stuck out to me.
"Yet this power, the grace of the Spirit, is not something we can merit or achieve, but only receive as pure gift. God’s love can only unleash its power when it is allowed to change us from within. We have to let it break through the hard crust of our indifference, our spiritual weariness, our blind conformity to the spirit of this age. Only then can we let it ignite our imagination and shape our deepest desires. That is why prayer is so important: daily prayer, private prayer in the quiet of our hearts and before the Blessed Sacrament, and liturgical prayer in the heart of the Church. Prayer is pure receptivity to God’s grace, love in action, communion with the Spirit who dwells within us, leading us, through Jesus, in the Church, to our heavenly Father. In the power of his Spirit, Jesus is always present in our hearts, quietly waiting for us to be still with him, to hear his voice, to abide in his love, and to receive “power from on high”, enabling us to be salt and light for our world."
I think this paragraph also states that the power lies in our hands. I like how it says, "God's love can only unleash its powers when it is ALLOWED to change us from within. It says that not only do we have to realize that God has given us the power, but we have to use it.
At first this kind of confused me and I thought, "Oh boy, I'll never figure out what my superpower is! I don't have any special talents or awesome abiblities." but then I realized that I don't need to know. Some of us may never know what gifts the Lord has given us and that is perfectly fine. If I pray, and ask the Lord to work through me I am confident that His work will get done by my hands whether I know what He's using me for or not. Besides, maybe it's better not knowing. If I did know it would probably go to my head and I wouldn't be successful at whatever I am supposed to do.
Although some of us may not know what we have been given I think it is important that we are confident and aware that we all carry around a special gift that the Lord has given us. We have to remember that He has blessed us all with something that makes us different from everybody else. Something that attracts others to come and see what we're all about and where we got these fabulous gifts. Everybody wants to be friends with the kids who get cool stuff for Christmas so that they can reap the benefits. We should make people want to reap the benefits of our God Given Gifts.
I think that making us think that we're worthless and that we have no power over anything in our lives is one way that the devil tries to weaken us. Of course God has the ultimate power over everything and no doubt has the ability to do anything, but that doesn't mean that we can just sit around and wait for Him say, "Listen, you had your whole life to do this and if you don't do it now you're in trouble."
Acts of the Apostles: Chapters 1-2
Hello saints,
This first post will cover the first two chapters of the book of Acts. I am not going to include the text of these first two chapters in the post, but I strongly suggest reading them before you read this. What I have to say in this post will be general and address everyone, but when you read the chapters for yourself, listen to what the Lord has to say to you specifically. Nothing, I repeat NOTHING, can replace the Word of God and what he has to say to you specifically.
We already covered the Ascension pretty thoroughly so I will not be touching on that in this post. Any verses that I cite or include in the posts have come from the Duoay-Rheims translation of the Bible. You can find this Bible in its entirety here: http://www.drbo.org/index.htm .
Without further ado…
1 The former treatise I made, O Theophilus, of all things which Jesus began to do and to teach,
The author of Acts is St. Luke and the former treatise, or first book, is a reference to his Gospel. He is dedicating this book (as he did his Gospel) to Theophilus. Theophilus may have been an actual person, or it may be a fictitious person symbolizing the “beloved of God” which is what the name means.
8 But you shall receive the power of the Holy Ghost coming upon you, and you shall be witnesses unto me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and Samaria, and even to the uttermost part of the earth.
This was the verse was that was the theme of last years World Youth Day in Sydney. Pope Benedict the XVI gave an awesome homily there on this verse and what the holy Spirit means to us as youth. I was going to cite some of this homily but it is just so awesome that I found myself copy and pasting pretty much the entire thing. So I urge you, please read this: http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/homilies/2008/documents/hf_ben-xvi_hom_20080720_xxiii-wyd_en.html .
After Jesus ascends they go back to Jerusalem and pray in the upper room with Mary the mother of Jesus and some of the other women. I can’t help but wonder here the role that Mary played while they prayed. The example that she was for them, of her humility and purity. She knew Jesus so well and intimately that I can just imagine her sharing stories with the group and giving them insights about her son that only she could do. She truly “mothered” our church from day one and still continues to do so. What a beautiful gift God as given us in his blessed mother.
In the midst of all their praying Peter declares that the spot Judas has left void need be filled. They cast lots between two individuals and let divine intervention decide who will replace him. “the lot fell upon Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles. “ The 12 apostles serve as a sort of governmental role to the early church. Appointing the new apostle, dividing the goods that were sold, etc.
Chapter 2 starts off with the descending of the holy Spirit in the upper room at Pentecost. A sound from heaven came like a wind and tongues as it were of fire sat upon them. All I can say is… wow. Can you imagine all of us sitting in the basement of STMUP praying, and all of a sudden a mighty sound from heaven comes and shakes the room, fire falls from the fire sky and sits upon our heads and we all start talking in different languages! It would be insanity! Yet in the Pope’s homily he says he is praying for this! He says,
“I pray that this great assembly, which unites young people “from every nation under heaven” (cf. Acts 2:5), will be a new Upper Room. May the fire of God’s love descend to fill your hearts, unite you ever more fully to the Lord and his Church, and send you forth, a new generation of apostles, to bring the world to Christ!”
A new upper room! Now probably it won’t be like what the apostles experienced with tongues of fire, etc. But he is asking (praying rather) that the holy Spirit descend again upon us, the youth, just as powerfully as it did the apostles on Pentecost! That we may be sent forth, as a new generation (an army of saints!), to bring the world back to Christ!
It is also important to recognize that it was only after many days of intense prayer that the holy Spirit was poured out upon the world. This is a good example for us. If we want to see radical changes in our lives like those of the apostles, it starts with prayer. I think the Pope says it best in his homily,
“Yet this power, the grace of the Spirit, is not something we can merit or achieve, but only receive as pure gift. God’s love can only unleash its power when it is allowed to change us from within. We have to let it break through the hard crust of our indifference, our spiritual weariness, our blind conformity to the spirit of this age. Only then can we let it ignite our imagination and shape our deepest desires. That is why prayer is so important: daily prayer, private prayer in the quiet of our hearts and before the Blessed Sacrament, and liturgical prayer in the heart of the Church. Prayer is pure receptivity to God’s grace, love in action, communion with the Spirit who dwells within us, leading us, through Jesus, in the Church, to our heavenly Father. In the power of his Spirit, Jesus is always present in our hearts, quietly waiting for us to be still with him, to hear his voice, to abide in his love, and to receive “power from on high”, enabling us to be salt and light for our world.
Peter’s first words (God‘s words rather), his first homily on the birthday of the church, converted were 3,000 souls! How great and mighty is God! Peter tells the converted to “Do penance and be baptized”. I think this is important for us to remember. He lets them know that they are at fault for Jesus death, and therefore must repent. We also, through our sins, are guilty of this and need to repent. Luke tells us that the people were filled with fear. We usually think of fear as something for the weak and we should not desire to have it. But this sort of fear is perfectly healthy, and absolutely necessary for our spiritual growth. To often do we remember the God who loves us and has mercy on us, and forget the God who is a just judge and the awful despair that is hell. I once read that the devil wants us to think of God's mercy before we sin, and his just punishment after we sin. Rather his just punishment before we sin, and his mercy after we sin. Let us not fall into that trap, and be always penitent.
I am going to end this post by asking you one more time to read what the Pope has to say to us young people in his homily at World Youth Day and one final quote.
"Dear young people, let me now ask you a question. What will you leave to the next generation? Are you building your lives on firm foundations, building something that will endure? Are you living your lives in a way that opens up space for the Spirit in the midst of a world that wants to forget God, or even rejects him in the name of a falsely-conceived freedom? How are you using the gifts you have been given, the “power” which the Holy Spirit is even now prepared to release within you? What legacy will you leave to young people yet to come? What difference will you make?"
God bless,
Sean
This first post will cover the first two chapters of the book of Acts. I am not going to include the text of these first two chapters in the post, but I strongly suggest reading them before you read this. What I have to say in this post will be general and address everyone, but when you read the chapters for yourself, listen to what the Lord has to say to you specifically. Nothing, I repeat NOTHING, can replace the Word of God and what he has to say to you specifically.
We already covered the Ascension pretty thoroughly so I will not be touching on that in this post. Any verses that I cite or include in the posts have come from the Duoay-Rheims translation of the Bible. You can find this Bible in its entirety here: http://www.drbo.org/index.htm .
Without further ado…
1 The former treatise I made, O Theophilus, of all things which Jesus began to do and to teach,
The author of Acts is St. Luke and the former treatise, or first book, is a reference to his Gospel. He is dedicating this book (as he did his Gospel) to Theophilus. Theophilus may have been an actual person, or it may be a fictitious person symbolizing the “beloved of God” which is what the name means.
8 But you shall receive the power of the Holy Ghost coming upon you, and you shall be witnesses unto me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and Samaria, and even to the uttermost part of the earth.
This was the verse was that was the theme of last years World Youth Day in Sydney. Pope Benedict the XVI gave an awesome homily there on this verse and what the holy Spirit means to us as youth. I was going to cite some of this homily but it is just so awesome that I found myself copy and pasting pretty much the entire thing. So I urge you, please read this: http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/homilies/2008/documents/hf_ben-xvi_hom_20080720_xxiii-wyd_en.html .
After Jesus ascends they go back to Jerusalem and pray in the upper room with Mary the mother of Jesus and some of the other women. I can’t help but wonder here the role that Mary played while they prayed. The example that she was for them, of her humility and purity. She knew Jesus so well and intimately that I can just imagine her sharing stories with the group and giving them insights about her son that only she could do. She truly “mothered” our church from day one and still continues to do so. What a beautiful gift God as given us in his blessed mother.
In the midst of all their praying Peter declares that the spot Judas has left void need be filled. They cast lots between two individuals and let divine intervention decide who will replace him. “the lot fell upon Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles. “ The 12 apostles serve as a sort of governmental role to the early church. Appointing the new apostle, dividing the goods that were sold, etc.
Chapter 2 starts off with the descending of the holy Spirit in the upper room at Pentecost. A sound from heaven came like a wind and tongues as it were of fire sat upon them. All I can say is… wow. Can you imagine all of us sitting in the basement of STMUP praying, and all of a sudden a mighty sound from heaven comes and shakes the room, fire falls from the fire sky and sits upon our heads and we all start talking in different languages! It would be insanity! Yet in the Pope’s homily he says he is praying for this! He says,
“I pray that this great assembly, which unites young people “from every nation under heaven” (cf. Acts 2:5), will be a new Upper Room. May the fire of God’s love descend to fill your hearts, unite you ever more fully to the Lord and his Church, and send you forth, a new generation of apostles, to bring the world to Christ!”
A new upper room! Now probably it won’t be like what the apostles experienced with tongues of fire, etc. But he is asking (praying rather) that the holy Spirit descend again upon us, the youth, just as powerfully as it did the apostles on Pentecost! That we may be sent forth, as a new generation (an army of saints!), to bring the world back to Christ!
It is also important to recognize that it was only after many days of intense prayer that the holy Spirit was poured out upon the world. This is a good example for us. If we want to see radical changes in our lives like those of the apostles, it starts with prayer. I think the Pope says it best in his homily,
“Yet this power, the grace of the Spirit, is not something we can merit or achieve, but only receive as pure gift. God’s love can only unleash its power when it is allowed to change us from within. We have to let it break through the hard crust of our indifference, our spiritual weariness, our blind conformity to the spirit of this age. Only then can we let it ignite our imagination and shape our deepest desires. That is why prayer is so important: daily prayer, private prayer in the quiet of our hearts and before the Blessed Sacrament, and liturgical prayer in the heart of the Church. Prayer is pure receptivity to God’s grace, love in action, communion with the Spirit who dwells within us, leading us, through Jesus, in the Church, to our heavenly Father. In the power of his Spirit, Jesus is always present in our hearts, quietly waiting for us to be still with him, to hear his voice, to abide in his love, and to receive “power from on high”, enabling us to be salt and light for our world.
Peter’s first words (God‘s words rather), his first homily on the birthday of the church, converted were 3,000 souls! How great and mighty is God! Peter tells the converted to “Do penance and be baptized”. I think this is important for us to remember. He lets them know that they are at fault for Jesus death, and therefore must repent. We also, through our sins, are guilty of this and need to repent. Luke tells us that the people were filled with fear. We usually think of fear as something for the weak and we should not desire to have it. But this sort of fear is perfectly healthy, and absolutely necessary for our spiritual growth. To often do we remember the God who loves us and has mercy on us, and forget the God who is a just judge and the awful despair that is hell. I once read that the devil wants us to think of God's mercy before we sin, and his just punishment after we sin. Rather his just punishment before we sin, and his mercy after we sin. Let us not fall into that trap, and be always penitent.
I am going to end this post by asking you one more time to read what the Pope has to say to us young people in his homily at World Youth Day and one final quote.
"Dear young people, let me now ask you a question. What will you leave to the next generation? Are you building your lives on firm foundations, building something that will endure? Are you living your lives in a way that opens up space for the Spirit in the midst of a world that wants to forget God, or even rejects him in the name of a falsely-conceived freedom? How are you using the gifts you have been given, the “power” which the Holy Spirit is even now prepared to release within you? What legacy will you leave to young people yet to come? What difference will you make?"
God bless,
Sean
Friday, May 22, 2009
Thursday, May 21, 2009
The Ascension
Today is the ascension as I am sure everyone is well aware. So I thought it would be appropriate to talk about that. I am sure you all have read or heard the reading today but here it is again:
Acts 1:1-11
In the first book, Theophilus,I dealt with all that Jesus did and taughtuntil the day he was taken up,after giving instructions through the Holy Spiritto the apostles whom he had chosen.He presented himself alive to themby many proofs after he had suffered,appearing to them during forty daysand speaking about the kingdom of God.While meeting with the them,he enjoined them not to depart from Jerusalem,but to wait for "the promise of the Fatherabout which you have heard me speak;for John baptized with water,but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit."
When they had gathered together they asked him,"Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?"He answered them, "It is not for you to know the times or seasonsthat the Father has established by his own authority.But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you,and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem,throughout Judea and Samaria,and to the ends of the earth."When he had said this, as they were looking on,he was lifted up, and a cloud took him from their sight.While they were looking intently at the sky as he was going,suddenly two men dressed in white garments stood beside them.They said, "Men of Galilee,why are you standing there looking at the sky?This Jesus who has been taken up from you into heavenwill return in the same way as you have seen him going into heaven."
I am not sure if any of you have heard of the Navarre Bible or not, but it has large pieces of commentary under the passages. Here is what I think is some interesting words about the ascension:
Jesus’ life on earth did not end with his death on the Cross but with his ascension into heaven. The ascension, reported here, is the last event, the last mystery or our Lord’s life on earth (cf. also 24:50-53) - and also it concerns the origins of the Church. The ascension scene takes place, so to speak, between heaven and earth. “Why did a cloud take him out of the Apostles’ sight?”. St John Chrysostom asks. “The cloud was a sure sign that Jesus had already entered heaven; it was not a whirlwind or a chariot of fire, as in the case of the prophet Elijah (cf. Kings 2:11), but a cloud, which was a symbol of heaven itself” (Hom. On Acts, 2). A cloud features in theophanies - manifestations of God - in both the Old Testament (cf. Ex 13:22) and the New (cf. Lk 9:34f).
Our Lord’s ascension is one of the actions by which Jesus redeems us from sin and gives us the new life of grace. It is a redemptive mystery. “What we have already taught of the mystery of his death and resurrection the faithful and should deem not less true of his ascension. For although we owe our redemption and salvation to the passion of Christ, whose merits opened heaven to the just, yet his ascension is not only proposed to us as a model, which teaches us to look on high and ascend in spirit into heaven, but it also imparts to us a divine virtue which enables us to accomplish what it teaches” (St Pius V Catechism, I, 7, 9).
“Today we are not only made possessors of paradise”, St Leo says, “but we have ascended with Christ, mystically but really, into the highest heaven, and through Christ we have obtained a more ineffable grace than that which we lost through the devil’s envy” (First homily on the ascension).
The ascension is the climax of Christ’s exaltation, which was achieved in the first instance by his resurrection and which - along with his passion and death - constitutes the paschal mystery. The Second Vatican Council expresses this as follows: “Christ our Lord redeemed mankind and gave perfect glory to God[…] principally by the paschal mystery of his blessed passion, resurrection from the dead, and glorious ascension” ( Sacrosanctum Concilium, 5; cf. Dei Verbum, 19).
Theology has suggested reasons why it was very appropriate for the glorified Lord to go up into heaven to be “seated at the right hand of the Father”. First of all, he ascended because the glorious kingdom of the highest of the heavens, not the obscure abode of this earth, presented a suitable dwelling place for him whose body, rising from the tomb, was clothed with the glory of immortality. He ascended, however, not only to possess the throne of glory and the kingdom which he had merited by his blood, but also to attend whatever regards our salvation. Again, he ascended to prove thereby that his kingdom is not of this world” (St Pius V Catechism, I,7, 5; cf. Summa Theologiae, III, q. 57, a. 6)
The ascension marks the point when the celestial world celebrates the victory and glorification of Christ: “ It is fitting that the sacred humanity of Christ should receive homage, praise and adoration of all the hierarchies of the Angels and of all the legions of the blessed in heaven” (J. Escrivia, Holy Rosary, second glorious mystery).
Okay, so I know that that was a little lengthy and wordy, but I liked what it had to say and thought I would share. Now for some of my own words. The Navarre Bible comments on what a glorious occasion today is, how we partake in his ascension and made are possessors of paradise. That the ascension is an integral and essential part of our salvation. Hearing these things make me want to leap for joy and join in with the choirs of angels and give him praise! We have been saved! We now possess salvation! But things didn’t end their for the Apostles, and nor should they end there for us. After his ascension they retreated back to the upper room with Mary our Mother and prayed, prayed, prayed and prayed some more. They remembered Jesus promise to them that he would not leave them orphan but he would “give you another Paraclete, that he may abide with you for ever.” And so I would invite us all to follow their example. Keep our eyes towards the heavens with wonder and awe and give thanks and praise to God for his glorious ascension, but also remember that he did not abandon us that and to pray more fervently for the holy Spirit so that when we celebrate Pentecost in 10 days we will be ready and that it might change us and have an effect on us like it did the first 12.
Hope you guys were able to take something away from and enjoyed it. Looking forward to hearing some banter now. God bless!
Acts 1:1-11
In the first book, Theophilus,I dealt with all that Jesus did and taughtuntil the day he was taken up,after giving instructions through the Holy Spiritto the apostles whom he had chosen.He presented himself alive to themby many proofs after he had suffered,appearing to them during forty daysand speaking about the kingdom of God.While meeting with the them,he enjoined them not to depart from Jerusalem,but to wait for "the promise of the Fatherabout which you have heard me speak;for John baptized with water,but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit."
When they had gathered together they asked him,"Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?"He answered them, "It is not for you to know the times or seasonsthat the Father has established by his own authority.But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you,and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem,throughout Judea and Samaria,and to the ends of the earth."When he had said this, as they were looking on,he was lifted up, and a cloud took him from their sight.While they were looking intently at the sky as he was going,suddenly two men dressed in white garments stood beside them.They said, "Men of Galilee,why are you standing there looking at the sky?This Jesus who has been taken up from you into heavenwill return in the same way as you have seen him going into heaven."
I am not sure if any of you have heard of the Navarre Bible or not, but it has large pieces of commentary under the passages. Here is what I think is some interesting words about the ascension:
Jesus’ life on earth did not end with his death on the Cross but with his ascension into heaven. The ascension, reported here, is the last event, the last mystery or our Lord’s life on earth (cf. also 24:50-53) - and also it concerns the origins of the Church. The ascension scene takes place, so to speak, between heaven and earth. “Why did a cloud take him out of the Apostles’ sight?”. St John Chrysostom asks. “The cloud was a sure sign that Jesus had already entered heaven; it was not a whirlwind or a chariot of fire, as in the case of the prophet Elijah (cf. Kings 2:11), but a cloud, which was a symbol of heaven itself” (Hom. On Acts, 2). A cloud features in theophanies - manifestations of God - in both the Old Testament (cf. Ex 13:22) and the New (cf. Lk 9:34f).
Our Lord’s ascension is one of the actions by which Jesus redeems us from sin and gives us the new life of grace. It is a redemptive mystery. “What we have already taught of the mystery of his death and resurrection the faithful and should deem not less true of his ascension. For although we owe our redemption and salvation to the passion of Christ, whose merits opened heaven to the just, yet his ascension is not only proposed to us as a model, which teaches us to look on high and ascend in spirit into heaven, but it also imparts to us a divine virtue which enables us to accomplish what it teaches” (St Pius V Catechism, I, 7, 9).
“Today we are not only made possessors of paradise”, St Leo says, “but we have ascended with Christ, mystically but really, into the highest heaven, and through Christ we have obtained a more ineffable grace than that which we lost through the devil’s envy” (First homily on the ascension).
The ascension is the climax of Christ’s exaltation, which was achieved in the first instance by his resurrection and which - along with his passion and death - constitutes the paschal mystery. The Second Vatican Council expresses this as follows: “Christ our Lord redeemed mankind and gave perfect glory to God[…] principally by the paschal mystery of his blessed passion, resurrection from the dead, and glorious ascension” ( Sacrosanctum Concilium, 5; cf. Dei Verbum, 19).
Theology has suggested reasons why it was very appropriate for the glorified Lord to go up into heaven to be “seated at the right hand of the Father”. First of all, he ascended because the glorious kingdom of the highest of the heavens, not the obscure abode of this earth, presented a suitable dwelling place for him whose body, rising from the tomb, was clothed with the glory of immortality. He ascended, however, not only to possess the throne of glory and the kingdom which he had merited by his blood, but also to attend whatever regards our salvation. Again, he ascended to prove thereby that his kingdom is not of this world” (St Pius V Catechism, I,7, 5; cf. Summa Theologiae, III, q. 57, a. 6)
The ascension marks the point when the celestial world celebrates the victory and glorification of Christ: “ It is fitting that the sacred humanity of Christ should receive homage, praise and adoration of all the hierarchies of the Angels and of all the legions of the blessed in heaven” (J. Escrivia, Holy Rosary, second glorious mystery).
Okay, so I know that that was a little lengthy and wordy, but I liked what it had to say and thought I would share. Now for some of my own words. The Navarre Bible comments on what a glorious occasion today is, how we partake in his ascension and made are possessors of paradise. That the ascension is an integral and essential part of our salvation. Hearing these things make me want to leap for joy and join in with the choirs of angels and give him praise! We have been saved! We now possess salvation! But things didn’t end their for the Apostles, and nor should they end there for us. After his ascension they retreated back to the upper room with Mary our Mother and prayed, prayed, prayed and prayed some more. They remembered Jesus promise to them that he would not leave them orphan but he would “give you another Paraclete, that he may abide with you for ever.” And so I would invite us all to follow their example. Keep our eyes towards the heavens with wonder and awe and give thanks and praise to God for his glorious ascension, but also remember that he did not abandon us that and to pray more fervently for the holy Spirit so that when we celebrate Pentecost in 10 days we will be ready and that it might change us and have an effect on us like it did the first 12.
Hope you guys were able to take something away from and enjoyed it. Looking forward to hearing some banter now. God bless!
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
On the Holy Family (from Sean)
Peace of the risen Lord be with you brothers and sisters!
So I was just reading Pope Benedict’s homily from when he celebrated mass in Nazareth last Thursday and I came across something that struck me. So I am going to share it with you.
Finally, in contemplating the Holy Family of Nazareth, we turn to the child Jesus, who in the home of Mary and Joseph grew in wisdom and understanding, until the day he began his public ministry. Here I would simply like to leave a particular thought with the young people here. The Second Vatican Council teaches that children have a special role to play in the growth of their parents in holiness (cf. Gaudium et Spes, 48). I urge you to reflect on this, and to let the example of Jesus guide you, not only in showing respect for your parents, but also helping them to discover more fully the love which gives our lives their deepest meaning. In the Holy Family of Nazareth, it was Jesus who taught Mary and Joseph something of the greatness of the love of God his heavenly Father, the ultimate source of all love, the Father from whom every family in heaven and on earth takes its name (cf. Eph 3:14-15).
I will repeat the Pope’s words: REFLECT ON THIS. I thank God for giving us such a wonderful and blessed man to be our Pope. Please keep the Pope in your prayers and his intentions. Along the lines of keeping holy men in your prayers, why don’t we say some prayes for Fr. Willie this week, or even throughout the summer.
I pray right now that God bless each and every one of you and that our Blessed Mother surrounds with you with her mantle of love. I pray right now that your heart be open to the holy Spirit and that He may work through you this week. I pray right now that the love and peace of Jesus Christ radiate in your hearts, in your faces, and in your smiles to all those who you come in contact with this week. Amen.
Your brother in Christ,
Sean
P.S. If you were interested in reading the Pope’s homily in its entirety here is the link: http://www.ewtn.com/library/PAPALDOC/b16HLnazareth.htm
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