Intercede for us

Sisters and brothers in Christ, today's (8/31) Gospel reveals the power of intercessory prayers - asking God (or Mother Mary or one of the saints) - to intervene for someone. We read that "Simon’s mother-in-law was afflicted with a severe fever, and they interceded with [Jesus] about her," and Christ healed her.

I see many on social media ask their friends to send good "vibes" and "juju" their way and, while I do not know how to do any of that, I can pray for them because they are basically asking for prayers. On a weekly basis, I post prayer requests and so that I can pray for the intentions of families and friends when I serve at Mass that week, especially Sunday Masses.

Of course, my go-to intercessor and advocate is the Blessed Virgin Mary or, as I like to call her, Mother Mary. She has come to my aide so many times and I just love her and I love turning to her in my time of need. The Memorare is one of my favorite Marian prayers because it reminds us of what a powerful intercessor Mother Mary is for all of us. Let us pray. . .

Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary,
that never was it known 
that anyone who fled to thy protection, 
implored thy help, 
or sought thy intercession, 
was left unaided. 
Inspired by this confidence 
I fly unto thee, 
O Virgin of virgins, my Mother. 
To thee do I come, 
before thee I stand, 
sinful and sorrowful. 
O Mother of the Word Incarnate,
despise not my petitions, 
but in thy mercy hear and answer me. 
Amen.

. . .

Gospel of the Day

After Jesus left the synagogue, he entered the house of Simon.

Simon’s mother-in-law was afflicted with a severe fever,

and they interceded with him about her.

He stood over her, rebuked the fever, and it left her.

She got up immediately and waited on them.

At sunset, all who had people sick with various diseases

brought them to him.

He laid his hands on each of them and cured them.

And demons also came out from many, shouting, “You are the Son of God.”

But he rebuked them and did not allow them to speak

because they knew that he was the Christ.

At daybreak, Jesus left and went to a deserted place.

The crowds went looking for him, and when they came to him,

they tried to prevent him from leaving them.

But he said to them, “To the other towns also

I must proclaim the good news of the Kingdom of God,

because for this purpose I have been sent.”

And he was preaching in the synagogues of Judea.

Name of Jesus

Sisters and brothers in Christ, today's Gospel reveals the power of Jesus' name and the authority of his word. Both heal us, physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually, just like Jesus healed the man with the unclean spirit.

The people of Capernaum "were all amazed and said to one another, 'What is there about his word? For with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits, and they come out.'" Unfortunately, many in our world today do not believe in the name of Jesus nor that his word saves nor that He can heal us. It is as the Lord said to Jeremiah: "What fault did your ancestors find in me that they withdrew from me, Went after emptiness, and became empty themselves?" (2:5)

Thinking about it differently, what made then turn away from God and no longer believe in Him much less trust Him? Perhaps they have forgotten that we have not "received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand the things freely given us by God." So how do we lead others to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ?

Saint Paul tells us to witness to them "not with words taught by human wisdom, but with words taught by the Spirit. . .". Relying on the Spirit of God, the name of Jesus, and the power of his authority to heal and transform lives.

. . .

Gospel of the Day

Jesus went down to Capernaum, a town of Galilee.
He taught them on the sabbath,
and they were astonished at his teaching
because he spoke with authority.
In the synagogue there was a man with the spirit of an unclean demon, 
and he cried out in a loud voice,
“What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth?
Have you come to destroy us?
I know who you are–the Holy One of God!”
Jesus rebuked him and said, “Be quiet! Come out of him!”
Then the demon threw the man down in front of them
and came out of him without doing him any harm.
They were all amazed and said to one another,
“What is there about his word?
For with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits,
and they come out.”
And news of him spread everywhere in the surrounding region.

Head on a platter

Sisters and brothers in Christ, today is the Memorial of the Passion of Saint John the Baptist.

In today's Gospel, we see in Herod what can happen to us in a moment of weakness when we fall to sin and temptation - we do something that is contrary to what God desires of us. Jesus tells us that the "spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak" (Matthew 26:41), and we see that in Herod.

Herod "feared John, knowing him to be a righteous and holy man, and kept him in custody. When he heard him speak he was very much perplexed, yet he liked to listen to him." The spirit is willing. . . Yet, after Herodias' "own daughter came in and performed a dance that delighted Herod and his guests", Herod "swore many things to her" because he lusted over her - the flesh is weak.

How can we fortify ourselves from falling to sin and temptation? Unceasing prayer and never losing our focus on Christ. This is when we tap into the graces of the Sacraments that we have received to strengthen us.

. . . 

Gospel of the Day

Herod was the one who had John the Baptist arrested and bound in prison
on account of Herodias,
the wife of his brother Philip, whom he had married.
John had said to Herod,
“It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.”
Herodias harbored a grudge against him
and wanted to kill him but was unable to do so.
Herod feared John, knowing him to be a righteous and holy man,
and kept him in custody.
When he heard him speak he was very much perplexed,
yet he liked to listen to him.
She had an opportunity one day when Herod, on his birthday,
gave a banquet for his courtiers,
his military officers, and the leading men of Galilee.
Herodias’ own daughter came in
and performed a dance that delighted Herod and his guests.
The king said to the girl,
“Ask of me whatever you wish and I will grant it to you.”
He even swore many things to her,
“I will grant you whatever you ask of me,
even to half of my kingdom.”
She went out and said to her mother,
“What shall I ask for?”
She replied, “The head of John the Baptist.”
The girl hurried back to the king’s presence and made her request,
“I want you to give me at once
on a platter the head of John the Baptist.”
The king was deeply distressed,
but because of his oaths and the guests
he did not wish to break his word to her.
So he promptly dispatched an executioner with orders
to bring back his head.
He went off and beheaded him in the prison.
He brought in the head on a platter and gave it to the girl.
The girl in turn gave it to her mother.
When his disciples heard about it,
they came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.

I do not know you

Sisters and brothers in Christ, today's Gospel reminds me of all relatives and friends I know I have all over the world and yet will never get to know better in my lifetime. It could be many reasons, from money to time to distance between us. However, it does not have to be this way with our Lord and our God, our Father in heaven.

To know Jesus is to encounter him and foster a personal relationship with him through prayer - our way of talking with God. Yet, we often do not take the time to get to know God better or, worst yet, some of us do not have the desire to know our Creator and Redeemer. This is truly sad but what is even sadder than us not knowing God is our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ saying to us: "I do not know you." Ouch!

As today's Gospel Acclamation reminds us: "Be vigilant at all times and pray, that you may have the strength to stand before the Son of Man." Therefore, let us do just this and, fortunately for us, it is never too late to start that conversation with Christ. He is waiting to hear from us.

. . .

Gospel of the Day

Jesus told his disciples this parable:
“The Kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins
who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 
Five of them were foolish and five were wise. 
The foolish ones, when taking their lamps,
brought no oil with them,
but the wise brought flasks of oil with their lamps. 
Since the bridegroom was long delayed,
they all became drowsy and fell asleep.
At midnight, there was a cry,
‘Behold, the bridegroom!  Come out to meet him!’ 
Then all those virgins got up and trimmed their lamps. 
The foolish ones said to the wise,
‘Give us some of your oil,
for our lamps are going out.’ 
But the wise ones replied,
‘No, for there may not be enough for us and you.
Go instead to the merchants and buy some for yourselves.’ 
While they went off to buy it,
the bridegroom came
and those who were ready went into the wedding feast with him. 
Then the door was locked.
Afterwards the other virgins came and said,
‘Lord, Lord, open the door for us!’ 
But he said in reply,
‘Amen, I say to you, I do not know you.’ 
Therefore, stay awake,
for you know neither the day nor the hour.”

First, last, only

Sisters and brothers in Christ, we often go through life thinking that we a invincible. However, as today's (8/25) Gospel reminds us, we must always be prudent because we do not know when our time on earth will come to an end. It may sound morbid but that it is the reality of life - it will come to an end.

The Gospel passage reminds me of a prayer that FrPaul-Michael Piega always said before Mass - may we celebrate the Mass as if it were our first Mass, our last Mass, our only Mass. Therefore, as Jesus tells us: "Stay awake!" in our spiritual and prayer life, in our relationship with God because we will stand in judgment before the throne of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ when our pilgrimage on earth ends and God calls us to himself.

Fortunately for us, as Saint Paul wrote to the Corinthians, the Good News is, "God is faithful, and by him you were called to fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. . . so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift as you wait for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ. He will keep you firm to the end, irreproachable on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ."

. . .

Gospel of the Day

Jesus said to his disciples:
“Stay awake!
For you do not know on which day your Lord will come.
Be sure of this: 
if the master of the house
had known the hour of night when the thief was coming,
he would have stayed awake
and not let his house be broken into.
So too, you also must be prepared,
for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come.
“Who, then, is the faithful and prudent servant,
whom the master has put in charge of his household
to distribute to them their food at the proper time?
Blessed is that servant whom his master on his arrival finds doing so.
Amen, I say to you, he will put him in charge of all his property.
But if that wicked servant says to himself, ‘My master is long delayed,’
and begins to beat his fellow servants,
and eat and drink with drunkards,
the servant’s master will come on an unexpected day
and at an unknown hour and will punish him severely
and assign him a place with the hypocrites,
where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.”

Come and see

Sisters and brothers in Christ, today (8/24) is the feast of Saint Bartholomew, Apostle.

We can learn from the exchange between Philip and Nathanael in today's Gospel in our efforts to lead others to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Nathanael was skeptical, saying "Can anything good come from Nazareth?" Looking at it in another way, someone can wonder: "Why do I need God in my life?" Or "Why do I need to go to Mass?"

Philip's response is perfect, "Come and see." It is an invitation to encounter God, to get to know Jesus, and to become a part of the Body of Christ - the Church. "Come" with an open heart and "see" the wonders of the Holy Spirit working in our lives. "Come" to Mass and "see" the miracle of the Eucharist, when heaven and earth meet, where Christ is truly present in our midst. I am blessed to have experienced this many years ago when my wife invited me to "come and see" those many years ago.

We can be Philip to the Nathanael in our lives so that they too can encounter God and experience His love and mercy in their own lives.

. . .

Gospel of the Day

Philip found Nathanael and told him,
“We have found the one about whom Moses wrote in the law,
and also the prophets, Jesus son of Joseph, from Nazareth.”
But Nathanael said to him,
“Can anything good come from Nazareth?”
Philip said to him, “Come and see.”
Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him,
“Here is a true child of Israel.
There is no duplicity in him.”
Nathanael said to him, “How do you know me?” 
Jesus answered and said to him,
“Before Philip called you, I saw you under the fig tree.”
Nathanael answered him,
“Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel.”
Jesus answered and said to him,
“Do you believe
because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree?
You will see greater things than this.”
And he said to him, “Amen, amen, I say to you,
you will see heaven opened and the angels of God
ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”

Everlasting encouragement and hope

Sisters and brothers in Christ, I find this beautiful prayer, from Saint Paul to the Thessalonians, to be so hopeful and encouraging. . .

"May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting encouragement and good hope through his grace, encourage your hearts and strengthen them in every good deed and word."

Our Father in heaven loves us and gives us everlasting encouragement and hope, which strengthen us to live our lives a followers and disciples of Christ in all that we do and say.

When our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ reigns in our hearts, His Spirit guides our thoughts and emotions, which in turns guide our speeches and actions, helping us to be imitators of Christ. We reflect the love of Christ that is in our hearts and shine it forth into the world, just as Christ said in today's Gospel: "cleanse first the inside of the cup, so that the outside also may be clean."

. . .

Gospel of the Day

Jesus said:

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites.
You pay tithes of mint and dill and cummin,
and have neglected the weightier things of the law:
judgment and mercy and fidelity.
But these you should have done, without neglecting the others.
Blind guides, who strain out the gnat and swallow the camel!“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites.
You cleanse the outside of cup and dish,
but inside they are full of plunder and self-indulgence.
Blind Pharisee, cleanse first the inside of the cup,
so that the outside also may be clean.”

Do not be blind guides

Sisters and brothers in Christ, in today's Gospel, Jesus warns against misguiding others on the path of faith, the path of salvation, saying: "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You. . . make one convert, and when that happens you make him a child of Gehenna twice as much as yourselves. Woe to you, blind guides. . ."

As a follower and disciple of Christ, we have the great responsibility to speak Truth and lead others to Jesus, even when faced with "persecutions and. . . afflictions." Those who blindly  lead others go astray out of selfish desires are unworthy of the calling of Christ. However, we cannot go about it alone; we need the grace of God. More importantly, we must help each other along the path of salvation, especially by lifting each other up in prayers. 

It is as Saint Paul wrote in his Second Letter to the Thessalonians:

"We always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and powerfully bring to fulfillment every good purpose and every effort of faith, that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, in accord with the grace of our God and Lord Jesus Christ."

Here is a prayer for us:

"Lord Jesus, your word is life for me. May I never shut the door to your heavenly kingdom through my stubborn pride or disbelief. Help me to listen to your voice attentively and to conform my life more fully to your word. Amen."

. . .

Gospel of the Day

Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples:
"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites.
You lock the Kingdom of heaven before men.
You do not enter yourselves,
nor do you allow entrance to those trying to enter.
"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites.
You traverse sea and land to make one convert,
and when that happens you make him a child of Gehenna
twice as much as yourselves.
"Woe to you, blind guides, who say,
'If one swears by the temple, it means nothing,
but if one swears by the gold of the temple, one is obligated.'
Blind fools, which is greater, the gold,
or the temple that made the gold sacred?
And you say, 'If one swears by the altar, it means nothing,
but if one swears by the gift on the altar, one is obligated.'
You blind ones, which is greater, the gift,
or the altar that makes the gift sacred?
One who swears by the altar swears by it and all that is upon it;
one who swears by the temple swears by it
and by him who dwells in it;
one who swears by heaven swears by the throne of God
and by him who is seated on it."

Fathers, sons, and baseball

A couple of weeks ago, I led a Men's Retreat, encouraging men to live their lives courageously, leading others to God, starting with their families.

This afternoon, under the hot Texas sun (and high humidity), I watched as a group of fathers come together to lead practice for their sons' baseball team. At the end of practice, they encouraged their kids, saying that while it was hot and lots of hard work, their training will help them during their games. Most of all, they encouraged the kids to go out and have fun.

As I watched, I thought of this Sunday's readings on discipline and being followers and disciples of Christ, particularly these verses:

"Endure your trials as "discipline". . . all discipline seems a cause not for joy but for pain, yet later it brings the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who are trained by it."

Great job, men! Way to be courageous and lead your sons with courage!

The narrow gates that lead to joy

Sisters and brothers in Christ, in today's Gospel, Jesus tells us to "[strive] to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I tell you, will attempt to enter but will not be strong enough." Narrow is the gate and straight is the path that leads to heaven. If we are courageous enough, then we will be strong enough to enter the narrow gates. However, it takes discipline.

Discipline is an interesting as I learned during my years in Diaconal Formation. At first, I disciplined myself to pray the Liturgy of the Hours twice a day, pray the Holy Rosary daily, attend Mass daily, go to Confession regular, do a Holy Hour regularly, meet with my Spiritual Director, etc., because I was asked to do so. However, the discipline transformed into a desire to do these practices because it helped me grow closer in my relationship with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

This is what Saint Paul must have meant when he wrote: "At the time, all discipline seems a cause not for joy but for pain, yet later it brings the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who are trained by it." At first, the disciplines were a "pain" but now, not doing them causes me "pain" because the disciplines brought me great joy and help me to love God and love neighbor in a deeper way.

Therefore, as Saint Paul wrote in today’s second reading: "do not disdain the discipline of the Lord or lose heart when reproved by him; for whom the Lord loves, he disciplines; he scourges every son he acknowledges." Allow God to mold us through disciplines so that we may have the strength to enter through the narrow gate that leads to salvation.

. . .

Gospel of the Day

Jesus passed through towns and villages,
teaching as he went and making his way to Jerusalem.
Someone asked him,
"Lord, will only a few people be saved?"
He answered them,
"Strive to enter through the narrow gate,
for many, I tell you, will attempt to enter
but will not be strong enough.
After the master of the house has arisen and locked the door,
then will you stand outside knocking and saying,
'Lord, open the door for us.'
He will say to you in reply,
'I do not know where you are from.
And you will say,
'We ate and drank in your company and you taught in our streets.'
Then he will say to you,
'I do not know where you are from.
Depart from me, all you evildoers!'
And there will be wailing and grinding of teeth
when you see Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob
and all the prophets in the kingdom of God
and you yourselves cast out.
And people will come from the east and the west
and from the north and the south
and will recline at table in the kingdom of God.
For behold, some are last who will be first,
and some are first who will be last."

Do as they say, not as they do

Sisters and brothers in Christ, in today's Gospel, Jesus tells the crowds to "do and observe all things whatsoever they [the Pharisees and scribes] tell you, but do not follow their example. For they preach but they do not practice." In other words, they do not practice what they preach so do not do what they do but do what they say.

Moreover, St. Ignatius of Antioch stated the importance of truly being Christian, not just being called one: “Only request in my behalf both inward and outward strength, that I may not only speak, but truly will; and that I may not merely be called a Christian, but really found to be one. For if I be truly found a Christian, I may also be called one, and be deemed faithful” (Laudate). Let us not be Christians in name only, but allow our Christian identity to permeate our being so that all we do and say, our very being imitates our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

This means that we should not be Christians on Sundays only or when we are on church grounds. We are not called to be Christians in a vacuum. Rather, Jesus calls us to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world, to live our lives as followers and disciples of Christ in our daily lives - at home, at work, at school, when we are out with friends, etc. It can be challenging at times but with God, nothing is impossible and He will give us the grace to be imitators of Christ - to be meek and humble of heart, faithful and true to God as Jesus was to his Father in heaven.

. . .

Gospel of the Day

Jesus spoke to the crowds and to his disciples, saying,
“The scribes and the Pharisees
have taken their seat on the chair of Moses.
Therefore, do and observe all things whatsoever they tell you,
but do not follow their example.
For they preach but they do not practice.
They tie up heavy burdens hard to carry
and lay them on people’s shoulders,
but they will not lift a finger to move them.
All their works are performed to be seen.
They widen their phylacteries and lengthen their tassels.
They love places of honor at banquets, seats of honor in synagogues,
greetings in marketplaces, and the salutation ‘Rabbi.’
As for you, do not be called ‘Rabbi.’
You have but one teacher, and you are all brothers.
Call no one on earth your father;
you have but one Father in heaven.
Do not be called ‘Master’;
you have but one master, the Christ.
The greatest among you must be your servant.
Whoever exalts himself will be humbled;
but whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”

Trust in God's promises

Sisters and brothers in Christ, in today's first reading, we see how our conversations with God often go:

Us: ". . .our hope is lost. . ."

God: "I [have] put my spirit in you that you may live. . . I have promised, and I will do [as I have promised]. . ."

Can we trust in God's promises? Yes, we can and Jesus tells us how in today's Gospel, saying: “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment."

We tend to trust people we have a personal relationship with and what is the first commandment but an invitation from God to enter into a personal relationship with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. When we encounter Jesus and talk with him on a regular basis (a.k.a., daily prayers), we come to believe and trust these words from our Lord and not lose hope:

"For I know well the plans I have in mind for you—oracle of the LORD—plans for your welfare and not for woe, so as to give you a future of hope. When you call me, and come and pray to me, I will listen to you. When you look for me, you will find me. Yes, when you seek me with all your heart, I will let you find me."

Prayer for Rain

 Prayer for Rain

O God, our Creator, you are the source of all life. It is through your divine providence and infinite power, that the wonder and splendor of all creation surround us. "How majestic is your name in all the earth." We pray to you who calms the raging waters and commands the wind, to provide us sufficient rain to meet our needs.

During this time of drought, we are mindful of our dependence on you for all that sustains our body and soul. We pray for the cooling, gentle rain that will once again bring life to the fields and crops that feed us, restore the colorful rainbow of flowers and the cooling shade of the trees.

We also pray for all those who are suffering from natural disasters. May they look to you for the strength to restore their lives and heal their wounded land.

Help us to always be good stewards of your creation and care for the many resources of this earth.

May your grace refresh our souls.

We ask for these blessings through the intercession of Mary, Queen of Heaven and Earth. Amen.

https://sppnb.org/news/prayer-for-rain

Sunday Best

Sisters and brothers in Christ, back in May, I had a 2-week jury trial and, during those two weeks, I wore a suit to court every day. We dress up for job interviews, weddings, funerals, etc. because the importance of the occasion calls for us to be dressed appropriately. It is the same with Mass on Sundays. We dress in our "Sunday best". (However, I have been guilty of coming to Mass in jeans and sneakers while I am on vacation.) 

If it is important for us to be presentable in this life, how important is it for us to be presentable before our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. However, when we stand before God, it is not the earthly garment that He looks at but rather the things of this world that we have allowed to cover up the light of Christ, the love of God that dwells in our hearts and illumines our souls - making us unpresentable before our Lord and our God. As today's Gospel parable tells us,  "many are invited, but few are chosen" because the "white garment" that we received at our Baptism, and charged with bringing to Jesus unstained, has been stained by our sins.

What can we do? We can cooperate with God who desires to "give you a new heart and place a new spirit within you, taking from your bodies your stony hearts and giving you natural hearts. I will put my spirit within you. . ." Therefore, let us pray for the courage and conviction to open our hearts to received God's heart and spirit because our Lord is our God and we are his people.

The inheritance as our reward

Sisters and brothers in Christ, Paul the Apostle reminds us, "Whatever your task, work heartily, as serving the Lord and not others, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward - you are serving the Lord Christ" (Colossians 3:23-24).

I bet Saint Paul was thinking of Jesus' parable, from today's Gospel, when he wrote these words to the Colossians, particularly "from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward" for a life laboring in the vineyard of the Lord. Whether you started working in his vineyard early on in life or later in life, God's outpouring of love, mercy, and generosity, but not only for you, but for everyone who chooses to come and follow Christ. It is never too late.

For us, we must think as God does and not as we do so that we rejoice when someone turns to God - no matter how late in life they do it, perhaps even a "deathbed" conversion - and not be envious or jealous of God's generosity towards them. Nor will He cheat us. God's generosity knows no bounds and we ought to be grateful for that.

. . .

Gospel of the Day

Jesus told his disciples this parable:
“The Kingdom of heaven is like a landowner
who went out at dawn to hire laborers for his vineyard.
After agreeing with them for the usual daily wage,
he sent them into his vineyard.
Going out about nine o’clock,
he saw others standing idle in the marketplace,
and he said to them, ‘You too go into my vineyard,
and I will give you what is just.’
So they went off. 
And he went out again around noon,
and around three o’clock, and did likewise.
Going out about five o’clock,
he found others standing around, and said to them,
‘Why do you stand here idle all day?’
They answered, ‘Because no one has hired us.’
He said to them, ‘You too go into my vineyard.’
When it was evening the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman,
‘Summon the laborers and give them their pay,
beginning with the last and ending with the first.’
When those who had started about five o’clock came,
each received the usual daily wage.
So when the first came, they thought that they would receive more,
but each of them also got the usual wage.
And on receiving it they grumbled against the landowner, saying,
‘These last ones worked only one hour,
and you have made them equal to us,
who bore the day’s burden and the heat.’
He said to one of them in reply,
‘My friend, I am not cheating you.
Did you not agree with me for the usual daily wage?
Take what is yours and go.
What if I wish to give this last one the same as you?
Or am I not free to do as I wish with my own money?
Are you envious because I am generous?’
Thus, the last will be first, and the first will be last.”

Church Militant & the Holy Rosary

We are the Church Militant and the Holy Rosary is our weapon in the spiritual warfare "with the principalities, with the powers, with the world rulers of this present darkness, with the evil spirits in the heavens" (Ephesians 6:11-12).

According to this op-ed piece in "The Atlantic", the author - Daniel Panneton, a writer based in Toronto, Canada - writes that the “rosary has acquired a militaristic meaning for radical-traditional (or “rad trad”) Catholics.” This is the type of anti-Catholic bias that Blessed Father Michael Joseph McGivney and Catholics faced and they overcame it with perseverance in faith.

The author also zeroed in on the Knights of Columbus and the Order's efforts to encourage Catholic men to courageously go into the breach, calling it an "extremist turn":

In 2015, Bishop Thomas Olmsted of Phoenix issued an apostolic exhortation calling for a renewal of traditional conceptions of Catholic masculinity titled “Into the Breach,” which led the Knights of Columbus, an influential fraternal order, to produce a video series promoting Olmsted’s ideas. But among radical-traditional Catholic men, such concerns take an extremist turn, rooted in fantasies of violently defending one’s family and church from marauders.

The author got such backlash from Catholics so much so that he actually changed the title of his piece from "How the Rosary Became an Extremist Symbol" to "How Extremist Gun Culture Is Trying to Co-opt the Rosary".

Well, let's be Holy Rosary "extremists" and "rad trad" Catholics and pray the Holy Rosary even more fervently! Like the founder of the Knights of Columbus, God made us courageous!

Article #1: How the Rosary Became an Extremist Symbol

https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2022/08/radical-traditionalist-catholic-christian-rosary-weapon/671122/

Article #2: Rosaries are flying off the shelves after ‘The Atlantic’ article suggests link to ‘extremism’

https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/252046/rosaries-atlantic-extremism

Article #3: ‘The Atlantic’ publishes article on the rosary as symbol of far-right, violent extremism

https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/252038/the-atlantic-publishes-article-on-the-rosary-as-a-symbol-of-far-right-violent-extremism

What will there be for us?

Sisters and brothers in Christ, Peter asks the best question in today’s Gospel. He said to Jesus: “We have given up everything and followed you. What will there be for us?” When I read that, I thought to myself, "That is the equivalent of saying, 'What are we going to get out following you?'"

This past Sunday, during our first Called to be One Marriage Class at Saint Albert the Great, I asked the couples to complete this statement: "My HOPE for our marriage is ______. (Not desires, not expectations, not goals BUT HOPE.)" I did not want them to think with their emotions (desires) or their minds (expectations and goals) but with their hearts and eyes directed at Christ. The couples who shared hit the nail on the head when they said that their HOPE is to get each other to Heaven.

I then shared with them from CCC 1817: "Hope is. . . by which we desire the kingdom of heaven and eternal life as our happiness, placing our trust in Christ's promises and relying not on our own strength, but on the help of the grace of the Holy Spirit. . . [Hope] keeps man from discouragement; it sustains him during timesnof abandonment; it opens up his heart in expectation of eternal beatitude."

Therefore, the answer to Peter’s question - "We have given up everything and followed you. What will there be for us?" - is hope of eternal life with our Father in heaven.

. . .

Gospel of the Day

Jesus said to his disciples:
“Amen, I say to you, it will be hard for one who is rich
to enter the Kingdom of heaven.
Again I say to you,
it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle
than for one who is rich to enter the Kingdom of God.”
When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and said,
“Who then can be saved?”
Jesus looked at them and said,
“For men this is impossible,
but for God all things are possible.”
Then Peter said to him in reply,
“We have given up everything and followed you.
What will there be for us?”
Jesus said to them, “Amen, I say to you
that you who have followed me, in the new age,
when the Son of Man is seated on his throne of glory,
will yourselves sit on twelve thrones,
judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
And everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters
or father or mother or children or lands
for the sake of my name will receive a hundred times more,
and will inherit eternal life.
But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.”

Activating Sacramental Graces

Friends, Fr. Charlie Garza often talks about activating the graces we received from the Sacraments to help us in our journey through life. This weekend, I activated the graces of most all Sacraments. . . #diakonia

I activated the graces of the Baptism and Confirmation to encourage men to be courageous in carrying out the mission that God has entrusted to them at their Baptism. I activated the graces of Eucharist and Holy Orders as I led the men during the retreat, encourage them to have the courage to follow our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, even if it causes them discomfort, and to lead their families into a deeper relationship with God. I activated the graces of Matrimony as my wife and I encouraged couples, who are coming to us for Called to be One Marriage Class at Saint Albert the Great, to put God at the center of their relationship and marriage and turn to Him in times of joy and suffering, leaning on each other and on God. #faith #hope #love

It was a busy but grace-filled weekend as I cooperated with the Holy Spirit and channeled my inner Saint Andrew the Apostle and be a "fisher of men" for our Lord Jesus Christ. Remember to activate the graces of the Sacraments you have received and allow God to pour forth His graces to your hearts. . . it will change your life. . .

It was not so

Sisters and brothers in Christ, marriage is the visible reality of an invisible reality. Namely, the love between a man and a woman models the sacrificial, agape love of Christ and the Church. As Christ gave of himself completely for the Church; a husband and a wife are called to do the same in the covenantal bond of marriage. Yet, just as "the hardness of your hearts Moses allowed you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so", God allows us - of our own freewill - to stray from His love because of the hardness of our hearts; however, God's plan from the beginning as for us to be with Him always.

This Saturday, I have the blessed opportunity co-lead the Men's Retreat with Fr. Charlie. Men, in fulfilling their responsibilities as the breadwinner and head of their household, often forget their important role as the faith leader in their families. Men too often depend on themselves - their own strength, intelligence, and abilities - and forget about their relationship with God. Some even believe that they do not need their heavenly Father in their lives. But that is folly and nothing can be further from the truth. Yet, God will allow men to fall away from Him, but from the beginning, God made man for Himself and never stops calling man to Himself.

Please keep us in your prayers. Most of all, please pray for the 64 men that have signed up for the retreat, that they open their hearts to the Lord so that He can mold them into the men He has made them to be - made courageous and for others.

. . .

Some Pharisees approached Jesus, and tested him, saying,
“Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any cause whatever?”
He said in reply, “Have you not read that from the beginning
the Creator made them male and female and said,
For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother
and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh?
So they are no longer two, but one flesh.
Therefore, what God has joined together, man must not separate.” 
They said to him, “Then why did Moses command
that the man give the woman a bill of divorce and dismiss her?”
He said to them, “Because of the hardness of your hearts
Moses allowed you to divorce your wives,
but from the beginning it was not so.
I say to you, whoever divorces his wife
(unless the marriage is unlawful)
and marries another commits adultery.”
His disciples said to him,
“If that is the case of a man with his wife,
it is better not to marry.”
He answered, “Not all can accept this word,
but only those to whom that is granted.
Some are incapable of marriage because they were born so;
some, because they were made so by others;
some, because they have renounced marriage
for the sake of the Kingdom of heaven.
Whoever can accept this ought to accept it.”  

Forgiving

Sisters and brothers in Christ, Jesus teaches us a hard lesson about forgiveness in today's Gospel, saying: "Should you not have had pity on your fellow servant, as I had pity on you?’ Then in anger his master handed him over to the torturers until he should pay back the whole debt. So will my heavenly Father do to you, unless each of you forgives his brother from his heart."

This should mind us of the "Our Father" Prayer (or the "Lord's Prayer") that we recite at Mass, asking God to "forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us". Sometimes, we recite a prayer from memorial but do not take the time to hear the words that we are speaking. More importantly, we do not allow the words of the prayer to penetrate our soul and dwell in our hearts and transform us into the person that God created us to be - to love others as God loves us, which includes forgiving others.

Forgiveness is hard, especially if we are hurt by a loved one. The sense of betrayal, the pain inflicted, and the feeling of abandonment are all visceral things that veil that light of Christ in our hearts. Only by the grace of God can we forgive but, when we do forgive, it frees us to love as God loves. This is one of the great lessons in the novel, "The Father's Son", by Catholic author Jim Sano (a novel that my Exodus90 brothers and I have been reading for our faith-sharing small group).

 . . .

Peter approached Jesus and asked him,
“Lord, if my brother sins against me,
how often must I forgive him?
As many as seven times?”
Jesus answered, “I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times.
That is why the Kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king
who decided to settle accounts with his servants.
When he began the accounting,
a debtor was brought before him who owed him a huge amount.
Since he had no way of paying it back,
his master ordered him to be sold,
along with his wife, his children, and all his property,
in payment of the debt.
At that, the servant fell down, did him homage, and said,
‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back in full.’
Moved with compassion the master of that servant
let him go and forgave him the loan.
When that servant had left, he found one of his fellow servants
who owed him a much smaller amount.
He seized him and started to choke him, demanding,
‘Pay back what you owe.’
Falling to his knees, his fellow servant begged him,
‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.’
But he refused.
Instead, he had the fellow servant put in prison
until he paid back the debt.
Now when his fellow servants saw what had happened,
they were deeply disturbed,
and went to their master and reported the whole affair.
His master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant!
I forgave you your entire debt because you begged me to.
Should you not have had pity on your fellow servant,
as I had pity on you?’
Then in anger his master handed him over to the torturers
until he should pay back the whole debt.
So will my heavenly Father do to you,
unless each of you forgives his brother from his heart.”
When Jesus finished these words, he left Galilee
and went to the district of Judea across the Jordan.

It is well done

Sisters and brothers in Christ, today is the feast of St. Lawrence, deacon and martyr.

Legend has it that when the prefect of Rome demanded that the deacon bring him the "treasures of the Church", St. Lawrence. . . "gathered a great number of blind, lame, maimed, leprous, orphaned, and widowed persons and put them in rows. When the prefect arrived, Lawrence simply said, 'These are the treasure of the Church.'. . . The prefect was so angry he told Lawrence that he would indeed have his wish to die—but it would be by inches. He had a great gridiron prepared with coals beneath it, and had Lawrence’s body placed on it. After the martyr had suffered the pain for a long time, the legend concludes, he made his famous cheerful remark, 'It is well done. Turn me over!'” (excerpt from Franciscan Media)

St. Lawrence's life and martyrdom bring to reality the words of St. Paul to the Corinthians: "God is able to make every grace abundant for you, so that in all things, always having all you need, you may have an abundance for every good work." Truly, God's grace was poured forth abundantly on St. Lawrence and gave him all he needed to be a heroic witness for Christ in the early Church. He truly lived and served God in the way that Jesus spoke off in today's Gospel, saying: "Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will preserve it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there also will my servant be. The Father will honor whoever serves me." St. Lawrence is indeed honored by the Father.

 . . .

Gospel of the Day

Jesus said to his disciples:
“Amen, amen, I say to you,
unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies,
it remains just a grain of wheat;
but if it dies, it produces much fruit.
Whoever loves his life loses it,
and whoever hates his life in this world
will preserve it for eternal life.
Whoever serves me must follow me,
and where I am, there also will my servant be.
The Father will honor whoever serves me.”

Return to the sheepfold

Sisters and brothers in Christ, I recently read a beautiful reflection on Jesus leaving the 99 sheep and going after the 1 sheep that strayed. The saint wrote:

"When a shepherd sees that his sheep have scattered, he keeps one of them under his control and leads it to the pastures he chooses, and thus he draws the other sheep back to him by means of this one. And so it was when God the Word saw that the human race had gone astray: he took the form of a slave and united it to himself, and by means of it won over the whole race of men to him, enticing the sheep that were grazing in bad pastures and exposed to wolves, and leading them to the pastures of God."

What a beautiful image of our loving God who became one of us to give us hope! Hope in the fact that, no matter how far we stray from God, He is always calling us back to the sheepfold, to Him, into His loving and merciful embrace.

. . .

Gospel of the Day

The disciples approached Jesus and said,
“Who is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven?”
He called a child over, placed it in their midst, and said,
“Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children,
you will not enter the Kingdom of heaven.
Whoever becomes humble like this child
is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven.
And whoever receives one child such as this in my name receives me.
“See that you do not despise one of these little ones,
for I say to you that their angels in heaven
always look upon the face of my heavenly Father.
What is your opinion?
If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them goes astray,
will he not leave the ninety-nine in the hills
and go in search of the stray?
And if he finds it, amen, I say to you, he rejoices more over it
than over the ninety-nine that did not stray. 
In just the same way, it is not the will of your heavenly Father
that one of these little ones be lost."

Anyway

Sisters and brothers in Christ,

Today's Gospel, in which Jesus told Peter to pay the temple tax even though they are exempted, reminds me of this poem that is attributed to Mother Saint Teresa of Calcutta. She  wrote:

People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered.
Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives.
Be kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends
and some genuine enemies.

Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and sincere people may deceive you.
Be honest and sincere anyway.

What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight.
Create anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous.
Be happy anyway.

The good you do today, will often be forgotten.
Do good anyway.

Give the best you have, and it will never be enough.
Give your best anyway.

In the final analysis, it is between you and God.
It was never between you and them anyway.

. . .

Gospel of the Day

As Jesus and his disciples were gathering in Galilee,
Jesus said to them,
"The Son of Man is to be handed over to men,
and they will kill him, and he will be raised on the third day."
And they were overwhelmed with grief.
When they came to Capernaum,
the collectors of the temple tax approached Peter and said,
"Does not your teacher pay the temple tax?"
"Yes," he said.
When he came into the house, before he had time to speak,
Jesus asked him, "What is your opinion, Simon?
From whom do the kings of the earth take tolls or census tax?
From their subjects or from foreigners?"
When he said, "From foreigners," Jesus said to him,
"Then the subjects are exempt.
But that we may not offend them, go to the sea, drop in a hook,
and take the first fish that comes up.
Open its mouth and you will find a coin worth twice the temple tax.
Give that to them for me and for you."

Sacramental Life

Reflection for the Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (8/6/2022), shared during Communion Service at The Conservatory

Click on link below to listen.

https://phucphan.podbean.com/e/reflection-nineteenth-sunday-in-ordinary-time-872022/

2022 Friends of the Poor® Walk/Run

Friends, it's that time of the year again! Please prayerfully consider donating to my efforts for Friends of the Poor Walk. As in years past, I will pray the Rosary while I walk/run so please send me your intentions. 🙏🕊❤️

Click here to make a donation: https://www.fopwalk.org/walkerlisting/walkerprofile/?walkerID=58913

Please send me your prayer intentions to deaconphuc@saintalbert.org. God bless.

Listen to him

Sisters and brothers in Christ, today is the feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord, when Peter, John, and James saw our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in his glory.

As Catholics, we are blessed to experience this during the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, when heaven opens and the Holy Spirit descends and changes the bread and wine to the Body and Blood of Christ. Jesus is truly present with us at Mass and he dwells inside of us - physically - when we receive him at Holy Communion. And, after having received the Lord in the Eucharist and we return to the pews and pray, we can almost hear the Father whisper in our hearts: “This is my chosen Son; listen to him.”

The Father tells us to listen to His Son who He sent because our Lord Jesus Christ is the Way and the Truth and the Life. Christ invites us to come and follow him, to carry out his mission on earth, the mission of the one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church. Therefore, after we have experience the glory of God in the Mass, we must go forth and share the Good News of Jesus Christ with others, in our words and how we live our lives as Christian witnesses in the world, to be "a lamp shining in a dark place." Our Lord and our God sent his Spirit to be with us "until day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts."

. . .

Gospel of the Day

Jesus took Peter, John, and James
and went up a mountain to pray.
While he was praying his face changed in appearance
and his clothing became dazzling white.
And behold, two men were conversing with him, Moses and Elijah,
who appeared in glory and spoke of his exodus
that he was going to accomplish in Jerusalem.
Peter and his companions had been overcome by sleep,
but becoming fully awake,
they saw his glory and the two men standing with him.
As they were about to part from him, Peter said to Jesus,
“Master, it is good that we are here;
let us make three tents,
one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”
But he did not know what he was saying.
While he was still speaking,
a cloud came and cast a shadow over them,
and they became frightened when they entered the cloud.
Then from the cloud came a voice that said,
“This is my chosen Son; listen to him.”
After the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone.
They fell silent and did not at that time
tell anyone what they had seen.

Losing our sense of the divine

Sisters and brothers in Christ, we have lost our sense of the divine when we cling on to things of this life, and of this temporal world, at the price of eternal life and the salvation of our souls. Jesus tells us this in today's Gospel, saying: "What profit would there be for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? Or what can one give in exchange for his life?" We owe everything to God - our Creator, our Redeemer, and our Sanctifier - including our lives, and yet we our focus is not on Him but on the things of this world.

Jesus gives us a roadmap that is quite simple. First, we must deny ourselves worldly allurements that distracts us, leads us astray from God's path for our lives, and clouds our vision of heaven and eternal life. Second, we must take up our cross, bearing the burdens of this life with supernatural joy and peace that can only come from being united with God. We can do this by the grace of God but only when we keep our eyes fixed on Him and foster a relationship with Jesus by going to Mass, praying, and worthily receiving the Lord in the Eucharist. Finally, we must follow Christ. For us to follow him with all our heart, mind, and soul, we must be able to do steps 1 and 2, which are so often stumbling blocks for us all.

However, all journey begins with taking that initial step. Let that first step be towards our Lord and our God, and we will find that He is there to hold our hands and lead us on the path to salvation.

. . .

Gospel of the Day

Jesus said to his disciples,
“Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself,
take up his cross, and follow me.
For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it,
but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
What profit would there be for one to gain the whole world
and forfeit his life?
Or what can one give in exchange for his life?
For the Son of Man will come with his angels in his Father’s glory,
and then he will repay each according to his conduct.
Amen, I say to you, there are some standing here
who will not taste death
until they see the Son of Man coming in his Kingdom.”

Saint John Vianney, pray for us!

Today is the feast of Saint John Vianney, the patron saint of priests. May our Blessed Mother Mary wrap our priests - Fr. Charlie, Fr. Rito, and Fr. Michael - and all priests in her loving mantle.

Saint John Vianney, pray for us! 🙏🕊❤️

Get behind me, Satan!

Sisters and brothers in Christ, we are like Peter. One moment, we profess that Jesus is "the Christ, the Son of the living God" because God placed His law within us, and write it upon our hearts. At other moments, we live our lives as though we do not know God or, worst still, we reject God by rejecting His thoughts and His way. In those times when we ignore God or reject Him, our Lord wants us to know this: "I will forgive their evildoing and remember their sin no more." But we must repent and return to our Lord and our God. When we do, the Holy Spirit gives us the grave to resist Satan.

Today is the feast of St. John Vianney. He epitomized holiness and was not afraid to say to the Evil One: "Get behind me, Satan!" St. John Vianney once said, "The man of impure speech is a person whose lips are but an opening and a supply pipe which hell uses to vomit its impurities upon the earth." He also teaches us to call upon our Blessed Mother Mary in our struggles against the forces of Satan, saying; "If you invoke the Blessed Virgin when you are tempted, she will come at once to your help, and Satan will leave you." With God and his angels and saints on our side, we have the strength to resist sin and temptations, to tell the Evil One: "Not today, Satan!"

. . .

Gospel of the Day

Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi

and he asked his disciples,

"Who do people say that the Son of Man is?"

They replied, "Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah,

still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets."

He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?"

Simon Peter said in reply,

"You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."

Jesus said to him in reply, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah.

For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father.

And so I say to you, you are Peter,

and upon this rock I will build my Church,

and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.

I will give you the keys to the Kingdom of heaven.

Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven;

and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."

Then he strictly ordered his disciples

to tell no one that he was the Christ.

From that time on, Jesus began to show his disciples

that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer greatly

from the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes,

and be killed and on the third day be raised.

Then Peter took Jesus aside and began to rebuke him,

"God forbid, Lord! No such thing shall ever happen to you."

He turned and said to Peter,

"Get behind me, Satan! You are an obstacle to me.

You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do."

Please, Lord!

Sisters and brothers in Christ, in today's Gospel, the woman with a daughter tormented by demons teaches us to persevere in faith and prayer. She seeks out Jesus and says, "have pity on me," but Christ does not respond. She pleads again, "Lord, help me," but he seeming ignores her plea. Again, she cries out to him, "Please, Lord!". This time, Christ answers and heals her daughter.

Many of us give up on God too easily and quickly. We petition God through prayer and when He does not respond right now, we convince ourselves that God does not love us, that He does care about us, and so we do not want to have to anything to do with Him. Nothing could be further from the truth. In those times of when our prayers seemingly go unheard by God, He is preparing our hearts to receive the outpouring of grace from His Sacred Heart for what is to come.

We have to trust Him, trust that He desires nothing but the best for us. It is hard, no doubt about it because we are anxious about many things and that robs us of the peace that God desires for us. Therefore, the next time that we pray a prayer of petition, start with prayer of adoration, then go to prayer of thanksgiving, then move to prayer of atonement, and, finally, prayer of petition. This will help us to open our hearts fully to receive His love, mercy, and will in our hearts, to trust Him completely.

. . .

Gospel of the Day

At that time Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. And behold, a Canaanite woman of that district came and called out, “Have pity on me, Lord, Son of David! My daughter is tormented by a demon.” But he did not say a word in answer to her. His disciples came and asked him, “Send her away, for she keeps calling out after us.” He said in reply, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” But the woman came and did him homage, saying, “Lord, help me.” He said in reply, “It is not right to take the food of the children and throw it to the dogs.” She said, “Please, Lord, for even the dogs eat the scraps that fall from the table of their masters.” Then Jesus said to her in reply, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish.” And her daughter was healed from that hour.

Take courage

Sisters and brothers in Christ, no joke, today's Gospel is how a  typical conversation between me and the Lord goes sometimes.

Jesus: “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.”

Me (following St. Peter's example): Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.”

Jesus: "Come."

Me: "You mean, right now?" or a little later, "Lord, save me!”

Jesus: “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”

Yet, Jesus never stops calling me to trust him and follow him. And when I fall, he is right there, stretching out his hand to catch me. God is a loving, merciful Father who will not let us down and always keeps His promises.

. . .

Gospel of the Day

Jesus made the disciples get into a boat
and precede him to the other side of the sea,
while he dismissed the crowds.
After doing so, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray.
When it was evening he was there alone.
Meanwhile the boat, already a few miles offshore,
was being tossed about by the waves, for the wind was against it.
During the fourth watch of the night,
he came toward them, walking on the sea.
When the disciples saw him walking on the sea they were terrified.
“It is a ghost,” they said, and they cried out in fear.
At once Jesus spoke to them, “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.”
Peter said to him in reply,
“Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.”
He said, “Come.”
Peter got out of the boat and began to walk on the water toward Jesus.
But when he saw how strong the wind was he became frightened;
and, beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!”
Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand and caught him,
and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”
After they got into the boat, the wind died down.
Those who were in the boat did him homage, saying,
“Truly, you are the Son of God.”
After making the crossing, they came to land at Gennesaret.
When the men of that place recognized him,
they sent word to all the surrounding country.
People brought to him all those who were sick
and begged him that they might touch only the tassel on his cloak,
and as many as touched it were healed.

Podcast Recording of Homily (7/30/2022)

Below is a link to the recording of my homily for the Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, preached at the 5:00 Vigil Mass.

https://saintalbert.podbean.com/e/deacon-phuc-phan-500-pm-mass-homily-english-1659377663/