Weekly Catholic Bible Study

Weeks 731-740

Oratory of Divine Love Reflection 740: God is True to His Word: A reflection on a reading from the Book of Genesis, Psalm 105 and the Gospel of John (Gen. 17:3-9, Psalm 105 & John 8 : 51-59)

 

[Genesis]

When Abram prostrated himself, God spoke to him: “My covenant with you is this: you are to become the father of a host of nations. No longer shall you be called Abram; your name shall be Abraham, for I am making you the father of a host of nations. I will render you exceedingly fertile; I will make nations of you; kings shall stem from you.

 

I will maintain my covenant with you and your descendants after you throughout the ages as an everlasting pact, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you. I will give to you and to your descendants after you the land in which you are now staying, the whole land of Canaan, as a permanent possession; and I will be their God.” God also said to Abraham: “On your part, you and your descendants after you must keep my covenant throughout the ages.”

 

[Psalm 105]

R.    The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.
Look to the LORD in his strength; seek to serve him constantly. Recall the wondrous deeds that he has wrought, his portents, and the judgments he has uttered.
R.    The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.
You descendants of Abraham, his servants, sons of Jacob, his chosen ones! He, the LORD, is our God; throughout the earth his judgments prevail.
R.    The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.
He remembers forever his covenant which he made binding for a thousand generations – Which he entered into with Abraham and by his oath to Isaac.
R.    The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.

 

[John]

Jesus said to the Jews: “Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever keeps my word will never see death.” So the Jews said to him, “Now we are sure that you are possessed. Abraham died, as did the prophets, yet you say, ‘Whoever keeps my word will never taste death.’ Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died? Or the prophets, who died? Who do you make yourself out to be?”

 

Jesus answered, “If I glorify myself, my glory is worth nothing; but it is my Father who glorifies me, of whom you say, ‘He is our God.’ You do not know him, but I know him. And if I should say that I do not know him, I would be like you a liar.

But I do know him and I keep his word. Abraham your father rejoiced to see my day; he saw it and was glad.”

 

So the Jews said to him, “You are not yet fifty years old and you have seen Abraham?” Jesus said to them, “Amen, amen, I say to you, before Abraham came to be, I AM.” So they picked up stones to throw at him; but Jesus hid and went out of the temple area.

 

 

“The Lord remembers his covenant forever…”  That was our responsorial psalm today. And that short verse of scripture simply means that God is true to his Word. God doesn’t lie.  God doesn’t make empty promises.    And so the Lord kept the promise he made to Abraham, although it may not seem that way to the naked eye.

 

Abraham’s descendants HAVE become numerous and filled the earth. Well, not really Father.  The Jewish people are a rather small ethnic group by comparison to others.   Granted, but remember, it is not only the Jewish people that call Abraham their father, but also Christians, AND Moslems.

 

Remember, the Moslem people are Abraham’s children also, descended not from Isaac, but from Abraham’s first son, Ishmael, the son of Hagar, the slave girl. So, the Lord does indeed remember his covenant forever, but the question remains, do we keep our end of the covenant with him?

 

That was the deal.  God said to Abraham, I’ll bless you with descendants, but in return, they have to worship me. THIS is what Jesus is following up with in our gospel today when he says, “Amen I say to you, whoever keeps my word will never see death.”

 

Now first of all, we say “Amen” at the end of a prayer.  ‘Amen’ means let it be done. So why does Jesus often say ‘Amen’ at the beginning of his statements? It shows his unity with the Father. Unlike the prophets before him, who prayed and fasted, and had a vision or message from God, and then came back to the people and said, “Thus says the Lord…”

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‘OK, during my meditation, THIS is what God told me to tell you.’ In Jesus’ case, God the Father has a thought, and that thought is immediately received by the Son.  So the Father thinks, ‘whoever keeps your word will never see death.’ Jesus says “AMEN” to the Father’s thought, and THEN says to the people, “Whoever keeps my word will never see death.”

 

It demonstrates the unity between the Father and the Son, and underscores the reality that Jesus is NOT a prophet.  Jesus is on a completely different level. After reading the gospels you must conclude that Jesus either was who he claimed to be, the Son of God, or he was crazy.  There are no other conclusions. You can’t even say he was a con-man, because if that were the case, when he was threatened with death, he would have backed down.

 

So how do we know that he WAS the Son of God, and NOT crazy? Because of the miracles he performed, primarily his resurrection from the dead, which ALL his apostles and disciples, willingly accept execution, rather than to deny. THAT’s the REAL proof.  Nobody dies for a lie. The fact that all of the people who claim they saw Jesus risen from the dead, accepted horrible executions, rather than recant that story, is our proof it really happened. And if Jesus is the Son of God, like the Father, Jesus remembers his covenant forever. Jesus is also true to his word, and so if he says, “whoever keeps my word will never see death,” we can be assured that promise is true.

 

And so we come back to the same question.  Jesus remembers his covenant with us, but how well do we remember our covenant with him? If it is true that those who keep Jesus word will never experience the eternal death of hell, how well are we striving to keep that word? Do we challenge ourselves not to grow in GOODNESS every day, but challenge ourselves to grow in HOLINESS every day? Because that IS our end of the bargain.  Holiness, nothing less. Christianity is a challenging lifestyle my brothers and sisters, but the reward is worth is, because the Lord is true to his word.

 

By Father Michael Sisco

 

Prayer: Act of Faith: “O my God, I firmly believe that you are one God in three divine Persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. I believe that your divine Son became man and died for our sins and that he will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe these and all the truths which the Holy Catholic Church teaches because you have revealed them who are eternal truth and wisdom, who can neither deceive nor be deceived. In this faith I intend to live and die. Amen.”

 

Quote from a Saint: “Holiness does not consist in doing extraordinary things. It consists in accepting, with a smile, what Jesus sends us. It consists in accepting and following the will of God.” -- Saint Teresa of Calcutta

 

Questions for reflection:

1. Do you have trouble remembering your covenant with the Lord?

2. How have you seen God’s faithfulness in your life?

3. Have you ever though about how well God fulfilled his promise of filling the world with Abraham’s offspring?

4. Would someone observing your daily life know that you are a follower of God?

5. Have you ever struggled with accepting that Jesus is who He says that He is?

6. Would you be willingly to follow in the disciples’ footsteps and embrace martyrdom?

7. Do you challenge yourself to grow spiritually on a daily basis?

--Benjamin & Kristen Rinaldo, CfP  

Oratory of Divine Love Reflection 739: Living God’s mercy: A reflection on a reading from the Book of Genesis (Gen. 37:3-4, 12-13a, 17b-28a)

 

Israel loved Joseph best of all his sons,  for he was the child of his old age; and he had made him a long tunic.
When his brothers saw that their father loved him best of all his sons, they hated him so much that they would not even greet him.

One day, when his brothers had gone to pasture their father's flocks at Shechem, Israel said to Joseph, "Your brothers, you know, are tending our flocks at Shechem. Get ready; I will send you to them."

So Joseph went after his brothers and caught up with them in Dothan. They noticed him from a distance, and before he came up to them, they plotted to kill him. They said to one another: "Here comes that master dreamer! Come on, let us kill him and throw him into one of the cisterns here; we could say that a wild beast devoured him. We shall then see what comes of his dreams."

When Reuben heard this, he tried to save him from their hands, saying, "We must not take his life. of shedding blood," he continued, "just throw him into that cistern there in the desert; but do not kill him outright." His purpose was to rescue him from their hands and return him to his father. So when Joseph came up to them, they stripped him of the long tunic he had on; then they took him and threw him into the cistern which was empty and dry.

They then sat down to their meal. Looking up, they saw a caravan of Ishmaelites coming from Gilead,
their camels laden with gum, balm and resin to be taken down to Egypt. Judah said to his brothers:
"What is to be gained by killing our brother and concealing his blood? Rather, let us sell him to these Ishmaelites,
instead of doing away with him ourselves. After all, he is our brother, our own flesh." His brothers agreed.
They sold Joseph to the Ishmaelites for twenty pieces of silver.

 

 

What causes the friction between Joseph and his older brothers in our first reading, so much so they conspire to kill him? They want what HE had, namely, the favor of their father. And because they are SO jealous of that relationship, they’re willing to kill him over it.  (Boy!  Talk about your sibling rivalry!)

 

Now WHY does Joseph have their father, Israel’s favor? First, because he was the only brother that hadn’t messed up. It’s too long to tell the whole story in a daily Mass homily; but to make a long story short, the other brothers keep disappointing their father by doing their OWN will instead of God’s, AND their father’s.

 

Joseph was the child of Israel’s old age, so Israel was especially fond of him. And Joseph was the child born of the wife that Israel loved, whereas the other brothers were born of the wife Israel married out of obligation. So for all these reasons Joseph is favored by his father Israel above all his other brothers.  So, first they plot to kill him.  THEN they decide to sell him as a slave in Egypt.

 

Through a series of circumstances that the Lord guides, Joseph keeps rising in the ranks, until he’s Pharaoh’s right hand man. And because of a famine that strikes that entire region, it puts Joseph in a place to save his family when they come to Egypt looking for help.

 

At every step Joseph acts virtuously. Even when Joseph is the perfect position to exact vengeance on his brothers for what they did to him he refuses.  He treats them with mercy. So one would expect that when Israel is at the end of his life, that the Blessing, that was passed from God to Adam and then all through the generations that would determine which of Israel’s sons would be the ancestor of the Messiah, the blessing would go to Joseph. 

 

But it doesn’t!  Instead the blessing goes to Judah; the second oldest son! That’s why one of Jesus’ titles is, “the lion of Judah.” And here’s the kicker!  Of all the brothers, Judah is the WORST! It was Judah who antagonized what they did to Joseph in the first place! And of all the brothers, Judah is the warrior. THAT’s why all the Jews of Jesus’ day expected the Messiah to be a warrior Judah was a warrior, and another descendant of Jesus was a warrior; King David.  So they fully expected the Messiah to be a warrior.

 

So Judah was jealous of his younger brother Joseph because he thought Joseph was going to get something he wanted, but Judah got it anyway, despite his faults. There was really nothing for him to be jealous of! And yet, while everyone THOUGHT that God instructed Israel to bless Judah because HE was a warrior, in reality, God instructed Israel to bless Judah in SPITE of the fact that he was a warrior.

 

Because even though Jesus was a descendant of the tribe of Judah, in every way, Jesus REFLECTS the patriarch Joseph. He’s unjustly treated, betrayed by his brothers, and yet he has unshaken trust  in God. I’ve said before my brothers and sisters, that is NO coincidence that Joseph is the name of Jesus’ foster father, and that he’s described as a just and upright man, because despite Jesus’ bloodline, his spirit reflects that of Israel’s favorite son. The moral of the story is don’t be jealous of what others have. Trust in the Lord, and he’ll take care of you.

 

By Father Michael Sisco

 

Prayer: “O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee, and I detest all my sins because of Thy just punishments, but most of all because they offend Thee, my God, Who art all-good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of Thy grace, to sin no more and to avoid the near occasions of sin.”

 

Quote from a Saint: “'Proclaim that mercy is the greatest attribute of God. All the works of My hands are crowned with mercy.'”—Saint Faustina.

 

Questions for reflection:

1. Is jealousy something that you struggle with? Has it caused ruptures in your familial relationships or with friends?

2. Have you ever been so envious of another that you wished them ill or took some amount of pleasure at seeing them fail?

3. If you have siblings what does your relationship with them look like? Are there any underlying issues that need to be cleared up?

4. Have you ever struggled to do the will of God as well as the will of your parents? How does doing their will show the proper honor due to their roles in your life?

5. How would you have reacted if put in the place of Joseph when his brothers showed up looking for food?

6. Do you struggle with forgiveness?

7. Would others consider you merciful?

8. Have you ever reflected upon the idea that God extends grace and mercy to us despite our faults? How well do you respond?

--Benjamin & Kristen Rinaldo, CfP  

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Oratory of Divine Love Reflection 738: Hospitality: A reflection on a reading from the Book of Genesis, The Letter to the Colossians and the Gospel of Luke (Gen. 18 : 1-10a, Col, 1 : 24-28 & Luke 10 : 38-42)

 

[Genesis]

The LORD appeared to Abraham by the terebinth of Mamre, as he sat in the entrance of his tent, while the day was growing hot. Looking up, Abraham saw three men standing nearby. When he saw them, he ran from the entrance of the tent to greet them; and bowing to the ground, he said: Sir, if I may ask you this favor, please do not go on past your servant. Let some water be brought, that you may bathe your feet, and then rest yourselves under the tree. Now that you have come this close to your servant, let me bring you a little food, that you may refresh yourselves; and afterward you may go on your way." The men replied, "Very well, do as you have said."

Abraham hastened into the tent and told Sarah, "Quick, three measures of fine flour! Knead it and make rolls." He ran to the herd, picked out a tender, choice steer, and gave it to a servant, who quickly prepared it. Then Abraham got some curds and milk, as well as the steer that had been prepared, and set these before the three men; and he waited on them under the tree while they ate.

They asked Abraham, "Where is your wife Sarah?" He replied, "There in the tent." One of them said, "I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah will then have a son."

 

[Colossians]

Brothers and sisters: Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up
what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ on behalf of his body, which is the church, of which I am a minister in accordance with God's stewardship given to me to bring to completion for you the word of God, the mystery hidden from ages and from generations past. But now it has been manifested to his holy ones, to whom God chose to make known the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles;
it is Christ in you, the hope for glory. It is he whom we proclaim, admonishing everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone perfect in Christ.

 

[Luke]

Jesus entered a village where a woman whose name was Martha welcomed him. She had a sister named Mary who sat beside the Lord at his feet listening to him speak. Martha, burdened with much serving, came to him and said, "Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me by myself to do the serving?
Tell her to help me."

The Lord said to her in reply, "Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things. There is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part and it will not be taken from her."

 

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It is fruitful to see how the readings assigned at any given Mass shed light on each other and bring out a special message. In the whole divine scheme of things, they weren’t just thrown together arbitrarily; God is trying to tell us something. When it comes to the readings at a Sunday Mass, this is especially true of the first and third readings. The Church has chosen the first reading to show how in some ways our gospel passage for today was prepared for in the Old Testament.

 

We have all heard the passage about Martha and Mary; we have heard it many times. Martha asks Jesus to get her sister to help her serve the guests. Now, how can that be enlightened when coupled with the passage in Genesis of Abraham showing hospitality to three men under the terebinth of Mamre?

 

In both cases, God becomes present in a veiled way. And the reader is to reflect on how the various characters in the readings responded to God’s veiled visitation. When Abraham looked up, all he saw was three men – he had no way of knowing he was being visited by the Lord. And yet, he responded wonderfully, with over-the-top hospitality. He was, in turn, rewarded with the promise of a long-awaited son within a year.

 

And now, what can we learn when we compare that with our reading from the Gospel of Luke? How is Martha’s bustling around preparing food and hospitality for her guests all that different from Abraham’s bustling around making preparations for his guests? I’m wondering if there is a difference in focus. Martha’s focus seems to be more on the preparations themselves, and Abraham’s focus seems to be more on the guests and giving them his full attention. For him, the preparations were just a means to an end.

 

As we saw, God appeared to Abraham in a veiled way. His visitation of Martha and Mary was also veiled. They would not have seen Jesus as the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity. That hadn’t been revealed yet. They were devout Jews. There was only one God. To them, Jesus was only a man – a creature, not the Creator. They saw him as a very special man, and perhaps the long-awaited Messiah. And yet, his presence was very mysterious. He was a very dear friend, indeed, but what about all his miracles and healings? What about his teachings that went straight to the heart?

 

Martha gets too caught up with the preparations and the acts of hospitality, perhaps losing focus of their purpose. Mary responds to this mysterious presence in another way, giving it her full attention. Could there have been a little pride mixed in with Martha’s actions? Maybe she wanted to make a good impression on the guests and maintain her reputation of being a talented and efficient hostess. It seems like if her main focus was on the contentment of this special guest, she would have been happy that her sister was giving him her undivided attention. Instead, she tries to pull her away from the more important thing to the less important thing.

 

Abraham, Martha, and Mary all received a veiled visitation of the Lord, and they responded in their unique ways. Service of our neighbor is not a bad thing; God is not displeased with it. But it has to be seen as secondary to adoration and contemplation. There are times when God wants our full attention.

 

In addition, even during the busyness of service, he wants us to keep our minds on him. Fr. Isaac, in his homily this past week, mentioned the term “Memoria Dei”. That would be a Latin phrase in our monastic tradition summing up this notion of being mindful of God while we go about our daily duties. A similar Greek notion going even further back in our monastic tradition is the word “nepsis”. It refers to wakefulness, a state of spiritual alertness, vigilance, and watchfulness, particularly over one’s thoughts and internal state. God is always present to us; the question is – are we present to him? If we are in the state of grace, we are temples of the Holy Spirit. And our second reading makes a reference to “Christ in you, the hope for glory.”

 

I have been reflecting on the veiled visitation of God to Abraham, Martha, and Mary. We too receive veiled visitations from the Lord. Nowhere is this more true than when we receive Holy Communion at Mass. Our Catholic faith teaches us that it really is the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity. That’s a pretty big deal! And yet, he comes veiled under the unassuming appearances of a sip of wine and a wafer of bread. For many of us, it is a daily occurrence, and runs the risk of becoming commonplace and routine; it loses the splendor of its glorious reality. We need to employ nepsis to be wakeful and alert to respond appropriately to the momentous event. As Fr. Isaac pointed out in his homily, how we spend the next 15 minutes after receiving Holy Communion is a good indication of how seriously we’re taking the gift that has just been afforded us.

 

In our Cistercian liturgy we have only one Communion Antiphon for today. But in the Roman liturgy being used in the parishes there is an alternate one from the Book of Revelation. It sums up my message very beautifully: "Behold, I stand at the door and knock, says the Lord. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door to me, I will enter his house and dine with him, and he with me."

 

by Fr. Stephen Muller

 

Prayer: “O Father, we humbly seek Your guidance in cultivating a spirit of hospitality. May our hearts overflow with warmth and kindness, welcoming others as You have welcomed us. Grant us the grace to serve with joy and open our homes with love, reflecting Your light in every encounter. Amen.”

 

Quote from a Saint: “All guests who present themselves are to be welcomed as Christ, for he himself will say: I was a stranger and you welcomed me (Matt 25:35). Proper honor must be shown to all, especially to those who share the faith (Gal 6:10) and to pilgrims.”—Rule of St. Benedict

 

Questions for reflection:

1. In what ways do you offer hospitality to others?

2. How hospitable are you? Do you welcome others into your house as if they were Christ?

3. How is offering hospitality to others a work of mercy?

4. Do you most often identify with Martha or Mary?

5. Have you every wondered why Jesus said that Mary had “chosen the better part” when it seemed like she was offering hospitality? Does the explanation in the homily help you to understand this more?

6. God is always present to us; the question is – are you present to Him?

7. Do you ever find that receiving the Eucharist has become commonplace and routine? How can you bring yourself back to proper reverence when you notice this happening?

8. How do you “spend the next 15 minutes after receiving Holy Communion”?

--Benjamin & Kristen Rinaldo, CfP  

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Oratory of Divine Love Reflection 737: Do Not Be Timid: A reflection on a reading from the Prophet Jeremiah (Jeremiah 20 : 10-13)

 

I hear the whisperings of many: “Terror on every side! Denounce! let us denounce him!” All those who were my friends are on the watch for any misstep of mine. “Perhaps he will be trapped; then we can prevail, and take our vengeance on him.”

But the LORD is with me, like a mighty champion: my persecutors will stumble, they will not triumph. In their failure they will be put to utter shame, to lasting, unforgettable confusion.

O LORD of hosts, you who test the just, who probe mind and heart, Let me witness the vengeance you take on them, for to you I have entrusted my cause.
 

Sing to the LORD, praise the LORD, For he has rescued the life of the poor from the power of the wicked!

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“But the Lord is with me like a mighty champion; my persecutors will stumble, they will not triumph…”  Listen to the confidence in Jeremiah’s voice. He has no doubt at all that the Lord was with him. He has no doubt at all that his enemies will not succeed over him. A few truths come out of this reading.

 

First, persecution is inevitable because there are always going to be people who DON’T want to be confronted with the fact they are sinning. People don’t like being told when they’re wrong and so instead of admitting

they’re wrong, they’d rather shoot the messenger. The second truth that comes out of this reading is that the Lord WILL prevail, and those who serve the Lord will prevail. The third truth that comes out of this reading is that we need to have confidence in the second truth.

 

My brothers and sisters, Catholicism is not a religion for the timid, and so we have to stop being timid. Why is it that television and music can insult and blaspheme Roman Catholicism left and right but they’d never dare do that to Jews or Moslems? Because Jews and Moslems have no problem speaking out when they’re religion is insulted. And I’m not advocating the use of threats or violence either.

 

William Donahue of the Catholic League takes on anti-Catholicism in the courts and in the media. He calls out people on their anti-Catholic bigotry and he gets results. Organizations and individuals back down, apologize, and change policies all because the Catholic League confronted them. If you doubt me, I advise you to look up the Catalyst, the Catholic League’s newsletter on the internet and see for yourself the people they take on

and the success they have.  Why is Will Donahue so successful? Because he’s confident.  He’s confident that God will prevail over his enemies.

 

My brothers and sisters, we need that same confidence, especially now. This is not a time in history we can afford to be timid.

 

by Father Michael Sisco

 

Prayer: “Heavenly and everlasting Father, You are my mighty Father, and enemies tremble before You. Because You are with me, no one can stand against me. Let me be a strong warrior for You and in my life. I will not cower against the evil one’s spirit of fear, but run it over and claim victory! In Jesus’ mighty name, I pray. Amen."

 

Quote from a Saint: “Even if I must suffer greatly, thanks be to God’s mercy, I will not lack courage.”

St. Genoveva Torres Morales

 

Questions for reflection:

1. Have you ever been persecuted for presenting or defending the truth?

2. What are some of the greatest challenges to the Church at this time in history?

3. How does the fact that God will prevail strengthen you when you are mistreated for His sake?

4. Are you timid when it comes to defending the Catholic Church? Is it easier to defend the Church at some times and harder in other situations?

5. What was an instance when the media insulted the Catholic Church? What was your reaction? What was the reaction of those around you? Did you speak out to defend the Church?

6. How confident are you that you have nothing to fear because the Lord is with you?

7. Have you ever been in a situation when someone insulted the Catholic Church in your presence? How did you react?

8. Had you heard of the Catholic League and the work that they do before reading this reflection? Will you look up the organization and their newsletter?

--Benjamin & Kristen Rinaldo, CfP  

Oratory of Divine Love Reflection 736: Seek to Dwell in the House of the Lord: A reflection on Psalm 27 (1, 4, 13-14) & the Gospel of John (John 6 : 1-15)

[Psalm 27]

The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom should I fear?
The LORD is my life’s refuge; of whom should I be afraid?
 
One thing I ask of the LORD this I seek:
To dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life,
That I may gaze on the loveliness of the LORD and contemplate his temple.
 
I believe that I shall see the bounty of the LORD in the land of the living.
Wait for the LORD with courage; be stouthearted, and wait for the LORD.
One thing I seek: to dwell in the house of the Lord.

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[John]

Jesus went across the Sea of Galilee. A large crowd followed him, because they saw the signs he was performing on the sick. Jesus went up on the mountain, and there he sat down with his disciples. The Jewish feast of Passover was near. When Jesus raised his eyes and saw that a large crowd was coming to him, he said to Philip, “Where can we buy enough food for them to eat?” He said this to test him, because he himself knew what he was going to do.

Philip answered him, “Two hundred days’ wages worth of food would not be enough for each of them to have a little.” One of his disciples, Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, said to him, “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish; but what good are these for so many?”

Jesus said, “Have the people recline.” Now there was a great deal of grass in that place. So the men reclined, about five thousand in number. Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed them to those who were reclining, and also as much of the fish as they wanted.

When they had had their fill, he said to his disciples, “Gather the fragments left over, so that nothing will be wasted.” So they collected them, and filled twelve wicker baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves that had been more than they could eat. When the people saw the sign he had done, they said, “This is truly the Prophet, the one who is to come into the world.” 

Since Jesus knew that they were going to come and carry him off to make him king, he withdrew again to the mountain alone.

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“One thing I seek: to dwell in the house of the Lord.” That was our responsorial psalm today, and this one verse should be the theme of the life of every Roman Catholic. One thing I seek…ONE goal in life...ONE purpose for my existence. To dwell in the house of the Lord.  Heaven.  Eternal life.  Unity with God.  This one verse reminds us that everything we say and everything we do should be geared toward going to heaven when we die. This is how the saints lived, and this is WHY they are saints.

 

Unfortunately, this is rarely the case for the rest of us. The rest of us have sins we just refuse to part with; we just won’t challenge ourselves to let them go, or even admit that they ARE sins.          Some people are like the crowd in the gospel today that want to crown Jesus king because he fed them.

 

Some people worship God today as long as God fulfills my wish list; as long as he gives me what I want out of life, but they are quick to abandon him when he doesn’t. And some people are like the Pharisees that have convinced themselves they are right and the Church is wrong, even though the Church has proven the authenticity of her teaching over and over again.

 

They never question themselves and their own motivations, to consider the possibility they might be wrong, and the teaching of the Church just MIGHT be right.

 

These are very common traps my brothers and sisters, and many people fall victim to them.  THAT’S why this verse of scripture is a good one to memorize. Write it down.  Tape it to the fridge.  Tape it on your bedroom mirror. Make it the screen saver for your computer.

 

“ONE thing I seek: to dwell in the house of the Lord.” That is the ONLY thing that is truly important. That is the ONLY thing that truly matters.              If I win the whole world and yet lose my soul for eternity in the process, what have I truly gained?  Nothing.

 

So many people make material gain or social status the theme of their lives, but some day someone will put them in a box, lower them in the ground, and then divide all their possessions up. It’s a gesture in futility.  No one cheats death.

 

My brothers and sisters, by all means live IN the world, but don’t live FOR the world. Live for the Lord, and make heaven your goal first above all.

 

by Father Michael Sisco

 

Prayer: “I want to be completely transformed into your mercy and to be your living reflection, O Lord. May the greatest of all divine attributes, that of your unfathomable mercy, pass through my heart and soul to my neighbor.” — St. Faustina

 

Quote from a Saint: “Unite your heart with God. And especially, in the midst of temptation, protest ceaselessly that you prefer to die instantly rather than consent to the least venial sin.” — St. Damien of Molokai

 

Questions for reflection:

1. If you reflect honestly on your life, would you say that the theme is to dwell in the house of the Lord? If not, what would your life look like if you were doing that?

2. Do you ever find yourself only following God when it appears that He gives you what you want and abandon Him when He does not?

3. Have you ever thought that you were right and the Church was wrong on certain matters? What have you done to bring yourself back into communion with the Church?

4. What could you add to your daily life that would move you toward having the theme of dwelling in the house of the Lord?

5. Why is it so tempting to put material gain or social status before living for the Lord?

6. What is the difference between living in the world and living for the world?

7. What can you do when you find yourself slipping into living for the world rather than just in it?

--Benjamin & Kristen Rinaldo, CfP  

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Oratory of Divine Love Reflection 735: The Sermon on the Mount : A reflection on the Gospel of Matthew (Matthew 5 : 1-20)

 

1 When he saw the crowds, he went up the mountain, and after he had sat down, his disciples came to him.2 He began to teach them, saying:

3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

4 Blessed are they who mourn, for they will be comforted.

5 Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the land.

6 Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied.

7 Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.

8 Blessed are the clean of heart, for they will see God.

9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.

10 Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

11 Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of evil against you [falsely] because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven. Thus they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

 

13 “You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its taste, with what can it be seasoned? It is no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.  14 You are the light of the world. A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket; it is set on a lampstand, where it gives light to all in the house.  16 Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.

 

17  “Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have come not to abolish but to fulfill.18 Amen, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or the smallest part of a letter will pass from the law, until all things have taken place. 19 Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do so will be called least in the kingdom of heaven. But whoever obeys and teaches these commandments will be called greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 20 I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter into the kingdom of heaven.

 

 

It was on a mountainside that Jesus, surrounded by His disciples and a very large crowd, sat down and taught, taught as no one else ever did. The discourse, never to be forgotten, called “The Sermon on the Mount” began with the “Beatitudes.”

 

Unlike the rabbis, the Pharisees whose message was about rules, laws, traditions, observances and who looked down on the common people with a kind of scorn, Jesus raised their minds and hearts beyond legalism to generosity of heart and, of course, to a greater trust in God. He lifted their souls to a surpassing way and they were moved.

 

Then, He called them to the more, to living this. He said, “I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the Kingdom of Heaven.” Jesus’ way is the only way; there is no other. He

is the supreme Teacher and we, always the receptive disciples.

 

It is little over a month that the Catholic world and beyond witnessed an embracing of Jesus’ word. One hundred thirty-three cardinals, in secret conclave, voted - before the white smoke billowed forth, a cardinal, Robert Francis Prevost, was approached with the question: “Do you accept?” Whatever that answer cost him we can only guess - His ‘yes’ came - with a very humble spirit and surely, a very emotional heart. Then the white smoke and in time, as Pope Leo XIV, he appeared on the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica. The new pope, Leo XIV, greeted a jubilant crowd wherever they were. And we, with them, saw not only a man, an American but also a living witness to Jesus’ call to surpassing righteousness. Pope Leo had committed himself to surpassing generosity, to unlimited readiness of heart, to surpassing love and service and under it all, a surpassing trust in God. A heartfelt, serious, sincere act, this he made with full awareness and a consent graced by God. He did it willingly - like Our Lady’s “Let it be done!”

 

As He spoke, he might have quoted St. Paul: “Imitate me as I imitate Christ.” He didn’t but, then, actions speak louder than words.

 

by Fr. John Denburger

 

Prayer: “Holy Father, In Your gentle embrace, teach us the beauty of meekness. Help us to surrender our pride and seek humility in our hearts. May we reflect Your love through kindness and patience, showing strength in gentleness. Guide us to walk in Your ways, finding peace in submission and grace in our interactions. Let our lives be a testament to Your quiet strength. Amen.”

 

Quote from a Saint: "What does love look like? It has the hands to help others. It has the feet to hasten to the poor and needy. It has eyes to see misery and want. It has the ears to hear the sighs and sorrows of men. That is what love looks like." --Saint Augustine

 

Questions for reflection:

1. Reflect on one of the Beatitudes. How do you see that Beatitude at work in the world around you? How do you relate to that Beatitude?

2. In what ways does Jesus lift people up in the Sermon on the Mount?

3. What are some examples that you have seen that exemplify charity of heart?

4. How do you allow Jesus to be the supreme teacher? Is it hard to be a receptive disciple?

5. What times in your life have you let yourself trust in God in the face of a daunting task or responsibility?

6. When you do good deeds to you use them to glorify God or yourself?

7. How can you use Pope Leo’s example of humility in your own life?

--Benjamin & Kristen Rinaldo, CfP  

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Oratory of Divine Love Reflection 734: The Sacred Heart : A reflection on Ezekiel (34 : 11-16), Psalm 23:1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6. and the letter to the Romans (5 : 5b-11)

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[Ezekiel]

Thus says the Lord GOD: I myself will look after and tend my sheep. As a shepherd tends his flock when he finds himself among his scattered sheep, so will I tend my sheep. I will rescue them from every place where they were scattered when it was cloudy and dark. I will lead them out from among the peoples and gather them from the foreign lands; I will bring them back to their own country and pasture them upon the mountains of Israel in the land's ravines and all its inhabited places. In good pastures will I pasture them, and on the mountain heights of Israel shall be their grazing ground. There they shall lie down on good grazing ground, and in rich pastures shall they be pastured on the mountains of Israel. I myself will pasture my sheep; I myself will give them rest, says the Lord GOD. The lost I will seek out, the strayed I will bring back, the injured I will bind up, the sick I will heal, but the sleek and the strong I will destroy, shepherding them rightly.

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[Psalm 23]

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. In verdant pastures he gives me repose; beside restful waters he leads me; he refreshes my soul. He guides me in right paths  for his name's sake. Even though I walk in the dark valley  I fear no evil; for you are at my side with your rod and your staff  that give me courage. You spread the table before me in the sight of my foes; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows Only goodness and kindness follow me all the days of my life; and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD for years to come.

 

[Romans]

Brothers and sisters: The love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us. For Christ, while we were still helpless, died at the appointed time for the ungodly. Indeed, only with difficulty does one die for a just person, though perhaps for a good person one might even find courage to die. But God proves his love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us. How much more then, since we are now justified by his blood, will we be saved through him from the wrath. Indeed, if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, how much more, once reconciled, will we be saved by his life. Not only that, but we also boast of God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

 

St. Paul describes his conversion as “being grasped by Christ” - strong words, passionate words but Paul in his wondrous conversion never loses sight of his roots. He never disdains his ‘Jewishness’; in Romans 5 he writes of his kinsmen,

the Israelites: theirs was the adoption, the covenants, the worship, theirs were the patriarchs and from these came the Messiah in His human origins.

One of the gifts of our Israelite heritage is the figure of the shepherd. In the readings for today’s solemnity of the Sacred Heart we heard in Ezekiel God say, “I myself will look after and tend My sheep.” In Psalm 23 we confessed, “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want” and in the Gospel Jesus reveals Himself as a totally self-sacrificing shepherd. In Romans Paul proclaims the love of this Shepherd: “God proves His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” We are the people, the beloved flock of this Divine Shepherd.

In reflecting on the life of a shepherd in Israelite life, two things stand out. The shepherd served the community by his dedicated care of the flock; he guided, fed, protected them, and he birthed them. One could say of such a person ‘the flock was his life!’ Yet, at the same time he was looked down upon because, given the circumstances of his life, he did not, could not fulfill all the rules of Israelite life.

In this there is the image, a type of Jesus; as the Good Shepherd He loved to the end giving His all willingly no matter the suffering entailed. Then there is Jesus experiencing hatred, scorn, blasphemy because He taught, questioned, challenged, consoled with a love, in their blindness, they could not see, appreciate or stand.

In presenting the Sacred Heart of Jesus much has been written based on the experience of His love but the greatest proclamation of this love is found in His own words spoken in pain on the cross - two words, just two: “I thirst!”

Infinitely greater than the thirst of a dying man, the thirst of the Sacred Heart is for you, for me and this sacred thirst is eternal. No matter how we fail or forget the Lord Jesus never takes back this cry of love “I thirst!” The love of the Heart of Christ has no limits, does not calculate love and patiently waits There is much to reflect on but one can reflect on the Divine Heart and never come to a deeply personal love, a communion of hearts. Beautiful, pious thoughts may swim around in our heads - at least, that is a beginning – but my heart, my soul needs to be penetrated - to receive the Lord as my Lord and not just a thought or idea - to receive and know the Sacred Heart as love, mercy living and incarnate.

Jesus, the Sacred Heart speaks to you, to me: “I thirst”

And waits for our response
Which will be........

 

by Fr. John Denburger

 

Prayer: “O MOST Holy Heart of Jesus, fountain of every blessing, I adore Thee, I love Thee and with a lively sorrow for my sins, I offer Thee this poor heart of mine. Make me humble, patient, pure, and wholly obedient to Thy will. Grant, good Jesus, that I may live in Thee and for Thee. Protect me in the midst of danger; comfort me in my afflictions; give me health of body, assistance in my temporal needs, Thy blessing on all that I do, and the grace of a holy death. Within Thy Heart I place my every care. In every need let me come to Thee with humble trust saying, ‘Heart of Jesus help me’. Amen.”

 

Quote from a Saint: “Do not let the past disturb you, just leave everything in the Sacred Heart and begin again with joy.” --St. Mother Theresa

 

Questions for reflection:

1. Would you describe your conversion as Saint Paul does: “Being grasped by Christ.”? If not, how would you describe it?

2. Are you comfortable with the concept of Jesus being your shepherd? Do you conceptualize your relationship with God in a different manner?

3. What kind of sheep are you? Are you an obedient sheep that willingly follows its shepherd or do you keep the shepherd busy with your wandering away?

4. Reflect on God’s use of the image of the Shepherd in the context that shepherds were looked down upon by Israelites due to the fact that they could not fulfill all of the law. Have you ever given this any thought before now?

5. Do you have a devotion to the Sacred Heart?

6. What do you think about the idea that Jesus is thirsting for us? Is this something that you have heard before?

7. Has your heart and soul been penetrated in order so that you can receive and know our Lord?

8. How will you respond to the thirst of our Christ?

--Benjamin & Kristen Rinaldo, CfP  

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Oratory of Divine Love Reflection 733: The Trinity: A reflection on the Gospel of John (John 16 : 12-15)

 

Jesus said to his disciples: "I have much more to tell you, but you cannot bear it now. But when he comes, the Spirit of truth, he will guide you to all truth. He will not speak on his own, but he will speak what he hears, and will declare to you the things that are coming. He will glorify me, because he will take from what is mine and declare it to you. Everything that the Father has is mine; for this reason I told you that he will take from what is mine and declare it to you."

 

 

When I think of the mystery of the Holy Trinity, I’m struck by the total gratuitousness of all their actions. They do not need us. We do not add to their completion or perfection. Before creation, they were already totally complete and infinitely perfect.

 

When we think of our own actions, we are often motivated by what we’ll get out of it. People will like and respect me if I do such and such. Doing this other thing will make me feel good about myself. If I show up for work everyday and do a conscientious job, I’ll get a steady paycheck. If you look at animals in nature, most of their actions are driven by finding food everyday, and having offspring and caring for them.

 

It’s not uncommon in life to want to control things. We want our dog to “go potty” outside. We want our kids to act a certain way. We want our wife to be devoted. Observing what motivates the people and things around us gives us power and helps us gain some control. You know that your dog loves to eat, and loves treats. So you reward him with a treat when you’re potty training him. Your teenager loves to get her allowance each month or loves to borrow the car. You can withhold those privileges when her actions are disappointing. But when it comes to the Blessed Trinity, there is nothing we can add or withhold that will steer them in a certain direction. We cannot control or influence how they’re going to act or what they’re going to do. We have no power over God.

 

You’ve probably heard the amusing story of the little boy who was asking something of Jesus – maybe it was a bike or something. When it wasn’t coming as quickly as he wished, he took the statue of Mother Mary and put it in a drawer, declaring to Jesus that he was going to keep her there until he got what he wanted.

 

When we look around at the beauty and exquisiteness of creation; when we think of the privileged place we human beings have in that creation; when we think of all the Blessed Trinity went through to accomplish our salvation after we had screwed things up – we are totally blown away by the thought that God doesn’t need us and never did.

 

Our Responsorial Psalm today holds some of those thoughts of wonder:

 

When I behold your heavens, the work of your fingers,

the moon and the stars which you set in place–

what is man that you should be mindful of him,

or the son of man that you should care for him?

You have made him little less than the angels,

and crowned him with glory and honor.

You have given him rule over the works of your hands,

putting all things under his feet.

 

We are completely in God’s debt. He owes us nothing. We have done nothing to deserve all the love that the Most Holy Trinity has showered upon us. We may be deluded into thinking that if we do good and avoid evil, we can expect good things to happen to us, sort of like the dog referenced above that was being potty-trained. But the Book of Job shows that God doesn’t always work like that.

 

So, what motivation DO we have for doing good and avoiding evil? St. Bernard has a good homily that explores this question. He uses the three images of the slave, the hireling, and the son. The slave does the right thing out of fear of being whipped or punished, sort of like us not committing a mortal sin out of fear of ending up in hell for all eternity. The hireling behaves himself just for the sake of pay and reward, not unlike us when we do something meritorious with an eye to having a better seat in heaven. It’s still on the level of “what’s in it for me.” But the son is not thinking of himself when he does good and avoids evil. He is thinking only of the Father. He wants to please him in any way that he can, and never do anything that would sadden or disappoint him. He is motivated by love of the other, and not self-love.

 

When we think of all that the Blessed Trinity has done for us, all in such a whimsical way, we can only respond in heart-felt praise and thanksgiving. And we will go on doing just that for all eternity as the Mystery unfolds more and more.

 

by Fr. Stephen Muller

 

Prayer: “O Holy Spirit of Light and Love, to you I consecrate my heart, mind, and will for time and eternity. May I ever be docile to Your divine inspirations and to the teachings of the holy Catholic Church whose infallible guide you are. May my heart be ever inflamed with the love of God and love of neighbor. May my will be ever in harmony with your divine Will. May my life faithfully imitate the life and virtues of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him, with the Father, and You, divine Spirit, be honor and glory forever.” --St. Pius X, pope

 

Quote from a Saint: “For to have the fruition of God the Trinity, after whose image we are made, is indeed the fullness of our joy, than which there is no greater.” --St. Augustine

 

Questions for reflection:

1. What motivates your actions? How does this compare to the motivations of the Holy Trinity?

2. Have you ever considered the privileged place that we have in God’s creation?

3. Do you struggle with the need to be in control? Do you pray in a way that you try to control God?

4. How can the need to be in control hamper your ability to follow God’s will?

5. Reflect on the following: “We may be deluded into thinking that if we do good and avoid evil, we can expect good things to happen to us, sort of like the dog referenced above that was being potty-trained. But the Book of Job shows that God doesn’t always work like that.” Why do you think it doesn’t work like that? Are you guilty of believing that by doing good that good things will happen to you?

6. Which do you identify most with: the slave, the hireling, or the son? Do you find that you change between these three images? How does progressing through these different types reflect a maturing relationship with God?

7. What are some ways that a person can be more motivated by love of the other rather than self-love? Why is this the best motivator?

--Benjamin & Kristen Rinaldo, CfP  

Oratory of Divine Love Reflection 732: Be a witness: A reflection on the Book of Acts and the Gospel of John (Acts 5 : 27-33 & John 3 : 31-36)

 

[Acts]

When the court officers had brought the Apostles in and made them stand before the Sanhedrin, the high priest questioned them, “We gave you strict orders did we not, to stop teaching in that name. Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and want to bring this man’s blood upon us.”

But Peter and the Apostles said in reply, “We must obey God rather than men. The God of our ancestors raised Jesus,
though you had him killed by hanging him on a tree. God exalted him at his right hand as leader and savior to grant Israel repentance and forgiveness of sins. We are witnesses of these things, as is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him.”

 

When they heard this, they became infuriated and wanted to put them to death.

 

[John]

The one who comes from above is above all. The one who is of the earth is earthly and speaks of earthly things. But the one who comes from heaven is above all. He testifies to what he has seen and heard, but no one accepts his testimony.
Whoever does accept his testimony certifies that God is trustworthy. For the one whom God sent speaks the words of God. He does not ration his gift of the Spirit. The Father loves the Son and has given everything over to him. Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever disobeys the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God remains upon him.

​

 

“We are witnesses of these things…” This is what Peter says to the Sanhedrin today. Why should we, the scholars of the Law believe you, an uneducated fisherman?’  Because we are witnesses of these things.               We witnessed what Jesus did while he was alive. We witnessed you putting him to death. And we witnessed that God has raised him from the dead. THAT’S why you should believe us. And that’s why WE should believe also.

 

When we ask the teenagers why should they believe, many of them say, because of the miracles that Jesus and the apostles did. Yeah, you can say that.  The problem is that miracles can be faked and skeptics readily point that out.  We see magicians today like David Copperfield, who can make us believe we’re seeing the impossible.

 

The REAL proof of authenticity is NOT the miracles that Jesus preformed. Rather, the real proof is that the apostles all chose death, (or in John’s case, exile) rather than deny what they witnessed. The apostles witnessed the power of the Holy Spirit from their own hands. Peter himself makes a lame man walk, which was the incident that ultimately led them before the Sanhedrin, because they don’t know what to make of this. And so Peter, who was so afraid to even be associated with Jesus on the eve of the crucifixion, now boldly says to the Sanhedrin, “Better for us to obey God rather than you.”

 

That’s the REAL proof.  They witnessed the power of the Holy Spirit in Jesus, they witnessed the power of the Holy Spirit in themselves and they died for what they witnessed. That’s what makes their story believable. Then why do so many NOT believe? Jesus said in the gospel to Nicodemus, “The one who is of the earth is earthly and speaks of earthly things.”

 

People don’t believe because their heads are too stuck in earthly things. That’s why during lent we try to wean ourselves, detach ourselves from earthly things, so we can better hear the Spirit of God, and be more effective tools for the Spirit of God to use. Because now people have to believe through our witness, and we will NOT be effective witnesses if we are obsessed with the goods of this world.

 

My brothers and sisters, pray that God make us effective witnesses to the Christian life, in a world that sorely needs the example of Christians.

 

by Father Michael Sisco

 

Prayer: “Loving God, our Father, strengthen us to become witnesses to the saving grace of your Son, Jesus, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.”

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Quote from a Saint: “Whoever is still seeking for miracles so that he may believe is himself a wonder, who does not believe while the world around him does.” --Saint Augustine

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Questions for reflection:

1. Do you believe in God because of miracles or do you believe because of the witness of the apostles?

2. In what ways can using miracles as a basis for belief be dangerous?

3. In what way can we use miracles to support our faith but not base it on them?

4. Have you or someone you know ever experience something that would be considered miraculous? Did this have an effect on your faith?

5. “People don’t believe because their heads are too stuck in earthly things.” Do you agree with this statement? How have you seen this in those around you?

6. Do you live your life in a way that leads others to believe in God through your witness?

7. Do you struggle with being obsessed with the goods of this world? What are some ways that you can detach yourself?

8. Have you found Lent a good time to practice weaning yourself of earthly things?

--Benjamin & Kristen Rinaldo, CfP  

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Oratory of Divine Love Reflection 731: The Light: A reflection on the Book of Acts and the Gospel of John (Acts 5 : 23-26 & John 3 : 16-21)

 

[Acts]

The high priest rose up and all his companions, that is, the party of the Sadducees, and, filled with jealousy, laid hands upon the Apostles and put them in the public jail. But during the night, the angel of the Lord opened the doors of the prison, led them out, and said, “Go and take your place in the temple area, and tell the people everything about this life.”

When they heard this, they went to the temple early in the morning and taught. When the high priest and his companions arrived, they convened the Sanhedrin, the full senate of the children of Israel, and sent to the jail to have them brought in. But the court officers who went did not find them in the prison, so they came back and reported, “We found the jail securely locked and the guards stationed outside the doors, but when we opened them, we found no one inside.”

When the captain of the temple guard and the chief priests heard this report, they were at a loss about them,
as to what this would come to. Then someone came in and reported to them, “The men whom you put in prison are in the temple area and are teaching the people.” 

Then the captain and the court officers went and brought them, but without force, because they were afraid of being stoned by the people.

 

[John]

God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him will not be condemned, but whoever does not believe has already been condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the only-begotten Son of God.
 

And this is the verdict, that the light came into the world, but people preferred darkness to light, because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come toward the light, so that his works might not be exposed. But whoever lives the truth comes to the light, so that his works may be clearly seen as done in God.

 

When you can’t find the light, BE the light. That is the basic theme of our readings today. We see this ongoing exchange between the apostles and the Chief priests these past several days, because Peter and John cured a lame man in front of the temple.

No matter what the Chief priests do to try to silence the apostles; threaten them, beat them, lock them up in jail; nothing stops them from going right back to the steps of the temple and preaching again. And this was just the beginning!  The rest of their lives were going to be defined by rejection, abuse, and death.  What kept them going? What kept them coming back for more?  What kept them from giving up?

              The empowering of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. It WASN’T their experience of Christ that kept them faithful, because all the time they were WITH Christ they kept messing up! It was the effect of the Holy Spirit on them at Pentecost that changed them. While they were WITH Christ, before AND after his resurrection, HE was

their light.  AFTER he ascended into heaven that light was gone. Then THEY had to allow the Holy Spirit to shine through THEM to continue HIS work. Then THEY had to be the light for everyone else to see.

Everyone is discouraged and disheartened because the world is so dark right now. YES!  Agreed!  It is VERY hard to find light in this world right now. But could it EVER be as bad as the apostles had it, when it was literally them against the entire world?

              The same Holy Spirit THEY received at Pentecost YOU received at confirmation. But if you continue to focus on and be discouraged by the darkness that Spirit will never be effective in you. You will mute the Spirit that God has given you.

So stop focusing on the darkness and instead LOOK for the light. Look for the light here in Church; in the readings and the Grace of the sacraments.  Look for the light in the good that other people do. Look for the light in your prayers, in music that inspires you to holiness, in faithful friends that rally you and encourage you.

              Secondly BE the light.  Be charitable whenever opportunity presents itself. Keep challenging yourself to grow in virtue and weed out sins and vice. This is how we survive, living in a dark world, without letting the darkness overcome us.          And this is how we draw others to salvation, who will gravitate to the light in us.

by Father Michael Sisco

 

Prayer: “Lord, thank you for the Light of the World that has come into the world for our blessing and guidance.  Help us to learn how to be the Light, the True Light, in this world.  Let Your Light shine brightly through our lives.  Show us how we are to live that our works may be the works of Your Light.  Let us not grow weary in doing the good things.  Rather joyfully carry them out through Your Spirit, buried deep within us.  Thank You, always, for showing us the way we are to walk.  Help us to always seek You out as we step.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.”

 

Quote from a Saint: “All the darkness in the world cannot extinguish the light of a single candle.” ― St. Francis Of Assisi

 

Questions for reflection:

1. Do you ever find yourself overwhelmed by the darkness of the world to the point where the Spirit is muted?

2. Where do you find the light in the world?

3. Where is the light the most powerful to you in the Church?

4. It is easy to see darkness in people. When are some times when you have seen the light in others?

5. Do you have a friend group or small group that rally you and encourage you?

6. Do you take into account how you can be the light to others?

7. What are some ways that you are the light to others?

8. Have you ever contemplated how it hard it was for the early Christians to live under the Roman persecutions?

--Benjamin & Kristen Rinaldo, CfP