Dcn. Phúc's Reflections & Notes for "Catechism in a Year" (Days 21 - 30)

Day 21 (CCC 150 - 155): True freedom is the power to do what I ought. Faith, our response to God's revelation, is a grace AND a human act. "Trusting in God and cleaving to the truths he has reveled are contrary neither to human freedom nor to human reason" (CCC 154). Therefore, "[it] is right and just to entrust oneself wholly to God and to believe absolutely what he says" (CCC 150). I particularly love the example of when a man and a woman marry, they believe each other tells about themselves and their intentions or to trust in their promises (CCC 154). When my wife and I married, we believed and trusted in the promises that we made to each other through our the vows that we share on our wedding day. If we can trust another person like that, then why is it sometimes so hard for us to trust God in just the same way? If anything, we should trust in God more than in people, even if that person is our spouse. In those moments when we have a hard time with our trust in God, let us turn to the Holy Spirit and ask for the gift of grace. In the same way, if we are struggling in our own relationships, then turn to the Holy Spirit and ask for the gift to trust.

Day 22 (CCC 156 - 162): Here are a few sentences from the CCC that struck me:

We believe "because of the authority of God himself who reveals them, who can neither deceive nor be deceived." [. . .] Faith is certain. . . because it is founded on the very word of God who cannot lie. Faith seeks understanding. . . better what He has revealed. . . there is no discrepancy between faith and reason. . . nobody is is be forced to embrace faith against his will. . . To live, grow, and persevere in the faith until the end we must nourish it with the word of God. . .

Faith is a free gift from God but faith is also our response to God revealing himself to us. The signs and wonders that Jesus performed, the lives of the saints, the holiness of the Church and her stability and fruitfulness are the "motives of credibility" that show the assent of faith is not "blind" but that God is knowable through our intellect and reason. Moreover, we can struggle and wrestle with faith; however, we ought not doubt because God is Truth and He does not deceive us. Thus, "[ten] thousand difficulties do not make one doubt" (John Henry Cardinal Newman) should encourage us to persevere in faith even in time of difficulties and challenges in our lives that test our faith.

Day 23 (CCC 163 - 169): We profess not only an individual faith but also one that we believe as a community of the faithful people of God, called to hand on the faith to others as others before us have done so - including Moses, the Blessed Virgin Mary, the apostles. Hebrews Chapter 11 is a litany of the acts of faith that came before us and calls us to walk by faith, not by sight.

Moreover, this line, in CCC 166, is important in our understanding of why our faith impels us to share the Good News with others: Our love for Jesus and for our neighbors impels us to speak to others about our faith. We cannot embark on the journey of faith alone, we need those who came before us, someone to walk with us in faith, and we need to pay if forward to the generations after us. This is the mission of Holy Mother Church, one that we who are her members, baptized into the One Body of Christ, are carry out as priests, prophets, and kings.

Day 24 (CCC 170 - 175): Today's (2/17) first reading is the account of the tower of Babel and how God "down and there confuse their language" because the people's leads them to want to become like God. Yet, God reunite us all in His Son, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and his bride, the Catholic Church, in the one language of faith. Through the centuries, in so many languages, cultures, peoples, and nations, the Church has constantly confessed this one faith. . . For though languages differ throughout the world, the content of the Tradition is one and the same.

One of the things that my wife and I always so when we visit a new city (for vacation) is, we look for the nearest Catholic Church to attend Mass. It is amazing how the Mass is universal, just as the Catholic Church is universal, no matter where we attend Mass. It is the same Mass across languages as well, because I have been to Mass in English, Vietnamese, and Spanish. How beautiful is that! So, while we do not speak the same language, we share the same Catholic faith and traditions.

Day 25 (CCC 176 - 184): Today is the "In Brief", which is the summary of CCC 142 to 175. Faith is not just knowing God, but we believe and trust in God Himself because He is Truth and Love and will never deceive us. We do not believe in the Church but we believe in God but, through our belief in God, we trust in the teachings of the Church as revealed to her from the Father.

Day 26 (CCC 185 - 192): The "articles" of the Creed (Credo or I Believe) articulate what we believe as to God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, and his one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church. The Creed is the "one teaching of the faith in its entirety. . ." (St. Cyril of Jerusalem). What I believe, I pledge myself to what we believe. When we respond "Amen", we are saying that we believe in everything that the Catholic Church professes and teaches to the the Truth revealed to her by God. This can be a "hard pill" for us - who cannot believe everything about anything - to swallow but, as we mentioned before, God is Truth and Love and we can believe and trust in God who will not deceive us.

Day 27 (CCC 193 - 197): The Apostle's Creed is the oldest known Creed and will be the basis of the "What We Believe" section of the CCC. I love this. . . the Apostle's Creed "is 'the Creed of the Roman Church, the See of Peter, the first of the apostles, to which he brought the common faith" (CCC 194 citing Saint Ambrose). The importance of the Creed and our understanding of it is underscored by how catechumens are dismissed before the Profession of Faith (during Mass) because they have not yet been presented with the Creed. They cannot profess a faith until they have a better understanding of that faith. Therefore, it is also critical for the rest of us Catholics to be attentive to the words of the Creed with we recite them during Mass, perhaps even invite the Holy Spirit to be with us and open our hearts and minds to better understand the faith that we profess we believe.

Day 28 (CCC 198- 204): Our faith begins with God. We do not believe in a what, but we believe in a who; someone we can encounter and enter into a personal relationship with. God is one being, three persons. He is 1 "what" and 3 "who". As the Lateran Council tells us: "We firmly believe and confess without reservation that there is only one true God, eternal, infinite and unchangeable, incomprehensible, almighty, and ineffable, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit; three persons indeed, but one essence, substance or nature entirely simple" (CCC 202). Moreover, God is knowable because He reveals His "divine name to Moses in the theophany of the burning bush", making himself accessible to us. This is foundational and fundamental for Jews of the Old Covenant and Christians of the New Covenant.

Day 29 (CCC 205- 211): YHWH - "I AM WHO I AM" - "This divine name is mysterious just as God is mystery" (CCC 206). As the Catechism unfolds, we are reminded of the story of our salvation, rather than mere facts and teachings. It is an encounter with our Father in heaven. When we realize who God is, when we realize who Jesus Christ is, and when we realize who we are, we come to realize how insignificant we are. Yet, God desires to be close to us because He is merciful and gracious. CCC 2011: "By giving his life to free us from sin, Jesus reveals that he himself bears the divine name: "When you have lifted up the Son of man, then you will realize that 'I Am'" (John 2:28). He and the Father, along with the Holy Spirit, are God - three Divine Persons, God.

Day 30 (CCC 212- 221): God IS. God revealed himself as the one "abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness" (Exodus 34:6). God IS truth, so his promises always come true. Therefore, we can "abandon ourselves in full trust to the truth and faithful of his word in all things" (CCC 215). God IS love. God's love for us is compare to a father's love for his son. Yet, His love for his people is stronger than a mother's love for her children (CCC 219). "God himself is an eternal exchange of love, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and he has destined us to share in that exchange" (CCC 221). This is God's "innermost secret."

Lenten Reflection - Day 6 - The perfect prayer

Sisters and brothers in Christ, in today's Gospel, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ gives us the perfect prayer - the Lord's Prayer or the Our Father prayer. It is perfect because it comes from God but also because it orders for us how we should pray. First, a prayer of gratitude and praise for God. Second, the prayer expresses our desire for the Kingdom of heaven and that God's will be done in all aspects of our lives.

Third, we as God to sustain us, mostly importantly with the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ - the Eucharist - that nourish us physically, mentally, and spiritually. But we also ask God to nourish us with his word, as we heard in today's first reading from the Prophet Isaiah:

So shall my word be

that goes forth from my mouth;

It shall not return to me void,

but shall do my will,

achieving the end for which I sent it.

Fourth, we pray for humble and contrite hearts that forgive others as God forgives us over and over again. Fifth, we beg God to never let us fall to sin and temptation but always protect us from the snares of the Devil who prowl about the world seeking the ruins of souls. Throughout the Lord's Prayer, we are reminded of our dependency on our Father in heaven, through His Son, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, in unity with the Holy Spirit.

. . .

Gospel of the Day

Jesus said to his disciples:

"In praying, do not babble like the pagans,

who think that they will be heard because of their many words.

Do not be like them.

Your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

"This is how you are to pray:

Our Father who art in heaven,

hallowed be thy name,

thy Kingdom come,

thy will be done,

on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread;

and forgive us our trespasses,

as we forgive those who trespass against us;

and lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from evil.

"If you forgive men their transgressions,

your heavenly Father will forgive you.

But if you do not forgive men,

neither will your Father forgive your transgressions."

Lenten Reflection - Day 5 - See Jesus in others, be Jesus to others

Sisters and sisters in Christ, in today's Gospel, we hear from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ how he would judge the nations, how he would judge each and everyone of us - by what we do or fail to do to help those most in need in our society.

From this is borne the Catholic Church's teachings on the corporal works of mercy, which can be found here on the USCCB's web-site: https://www.usccb.org/beliefs-and-teachings/how-we-teach/new-evangelization/jubilee-of-mercy/the-corporal-works-of-mercy, including a seventh ==> bury the dead.

1. I was hungry and you gave me food ==> feed the hungry

2. I was thirsty and you gave me drink ==> give drink to the thirsty

3. a stranger and you welcomed me ==> shelter the homeless

4. naked and you clothed me ==> give alms to the poor

5. ill and you cared for me ==> visit the sick

6. in prison and you visited me ==> visit the prisoners

Let us meditate on this Gospel passage and the corporal works of mercy this Lent and how we can use the practices of pray, fasting, and almsgiving to see Jesus in others and be Jesus to others.

. . .

Gospel of the Day

Jesus said to his disciples:

"When the Son of Man comes in his glory,

and all the angels with him,

he will sit upon his glorious throne,

and all the nations will be assembled before him.

And he will separate them one from another,

as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.

He will place the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.

Then the king will say to those on his right,

'Come, you who are blessed by my Father.

Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.

For I was hungry and you gave me food,

I was thirsty and you gave me drink,

a stranger and you welcomed me,

naked and you clothed me,

ill and you cared for me,

in prison and you visited me.'

Then the righteous will answer him and say,

'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you,

or thirsty and give you drink?

When did we see you a stranger and welcome you,

or naked and clothe you?

When did we see you ill or in prison, and visit you?'

And the king will say to them in reply,

'Amen, I say to you, whatever you did

for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.'

Then he will say to those on his left,

'Depart from me, you accursed,

into the eternal fire prepared for the Devil and his angels.

For I was hungry and you gave me no food,

I was thirsty and you gave me no drink,

a stranger and you gave me no welcome,

naked and you gave me no clothing,

ill and in prison, and you did not care for me.'

Then they will answer and say,

'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty

or a stranger or naked or ill or in prison,

and not minister to your needs?'

He will answer them, 'Amen, I say to you,

what you did not do for one of these least ones,

you did not do for me.'

And these will go off to eternal punishment,

but the righteous to eternal life."

Lenten Reflection - Day 3 - Being intentional and disciplined

Sisters and brothers in Christ, in this Ash Wednesday reflection, Bishop Joe Vásquez had this to say about the Lenten disciplines: "Prayer draws us ever deeper into an encounter with God. By fasting we create space in our lives for God. Almsgiving helps us move from being self-centered to serving others, like the poor, the hungry, the lonely, and the homeless." This helps us to understand what our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ meant when he said, ""Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast." At that time, Jesus was present with his disciples; however, after he is taken away, they must be discipline is prayer, fasting, and almsgiving to keep Christ's presence in their lives when he is not there with them physically.

It is the same with us, or even more so I think, because we have so many things around us that can distract us from feeling God's presence in our lives that the Lenten disciplines are even more important for us to be intentional about them. That, and it takes us time to get into a routine and form habits. One of the things I want to start doing this Lent (and continue doing) is to pray this blessing over my wife every morning. 

    May the Lord bless you and keep you!

    May the Lord let his face shine upon you, and be gracious to you!

    May the Lord look upon you kindly and give you peace! (Numbers 6:24-26)

However, I keep forgetting to say the prayer of blessing over her in the mornings and we are now three days into Lent. I hope to be more mindful and intention and I pray for the grace to do so. Finally, in today' first reading, from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah, God reminds us of a fast that is acceptable to Him, saying (58:6-7):

This, rather, is the fasting that I wish:

releasing those bound unjustly,

untying the thongs of the yoke;

Setting free the oppressed,

breaking every yoke;

Sharing your bread with the hungry,

sheltering the oppressed and the homeless;

Clothing the naked when you see them,

and not turning your back on your own.

Let us commit ourselves wholeheartedly to the Lenten disciplines and approach them with intentionality so that we may experience a Lent that is transformative - heart, mind, body, soul, and spirit.

. . .

Gospel of the Day

The disciples of John approached Jesus and said,

"Why do we and the Pharisees fast much,

but your disciples do not fast?"

Jesus answered them, "Can the wedding guests mourn

as long as the bridegroom is with them?

The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them,

and then they will fast."

Lenten Reflection - Day 2 - Break the chains that imprison us

Sisters and brothers in Christ, in his homily for Ash Wednesday, while speaking on the corporal works of mercy - particularly visit the prisoners - Fr. Charlie talked about writing to inmates and ministering to inmates in hopes that, through the working of the Holy Spirit, they would be led to conversion of heart and repentance. Fr. Charlie also talked about those who are imprisoned by their sins and how Jesus wants to give freedom to those imprisoned by their sins. For them, like those who are physically incarcerated, we are also called to reach out to them, speak the Truth of our Lord Jesus Christ, and hope that, through the working of the Holy Spirit, they too are led to conversion of heart and repentance.

In today's first reading, from the Book of Deuteronomy, God tells what we need to do to live and grow and be blessed: obey the commandments of the Lord, your god. However, if we "turn away [our] hearts and will not listen, but are led astray and adore and serve other gods", we will certainly perish. God sets before us "life and death". . . "the blessing and the curse". . . and tells us to "choose life". It is as simple as that and yet so hard for us because it means that we would have to take up our cross and follow our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ daily.

This Lent, let us cooperate with God on a "Lenten game plan" to help us break the chains that imprison us to our vices and sin. Let us use the pillars of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving to attack this vice and sin relentlessly so that come Easter we will gain the freedom that God so desires for us. Let us let this question from our Lord Jesus Christ, in today's Gospel, be written on our hearts to inspire us to conversion: "What profit is there for one to gain the whole world yet lose or forfeit himself?"

. . .

Gospel of the Day

Jesus said to his disciples:

"The Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected

by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes,

and be killed and on the third day be raised."

Then he said to all,

"If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself

and take up his cross daily and follow me.

For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it,

but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.

What profit is there for one to gain the whole world

yet lose or forfeit himself?"

God to us: "Return to me" (Ash Wednesday reflection)

Sisters and brothers in Christ, in year's past, the Gospel reading for Ash Wednesday struck me with the Lord's instructions on how we ought to pray, fast, and give alms to the poor. However, this Ash Wednesday, the version from the Book of the Prophet Joel (the first reading) struck me. Let us listen again to what the Lord God tells us to do, not only this Lent, but every day of our lives: "Even now, says the LORD, return to me with your whole heart. . ."

Our Lord and our God desires above all things for us to return to Him with our whole heart. Let us reflect on that for a moment. The "one true God, eternal, infinite and unchangeable,  incomprehensible, almighty, and ineffable, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit; three persons indeed, but one essence, substance or nature entirely simple" (CCC 202), our Creator and Father desires us - His wayward, prodigal children - to return to Him.

This is what our Lenten journey is all about or, at least, it is what it should be all about. It is more than giving up vices arbitrarily (although that is a good start); it is about getting right with God through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, with the help of the Holy Spirit. The practices, or observances, of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving are meant to convert and transform our hearts to be more like the Sacred Heart of Jesus, to grow in holiness, and to strive for saintliness in all that we say and do.

. . .

Gospel of the Day

Jesus said to his disciples:

"Take care not to perform righteous deeds

in order that people may see them;

otherwise, you will have no recompense from your heavenly Father.

When you give alms,

do not blow a trumpet before you,

as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets

to win the praise of others.

Amen, I say to you,

they have received their reward.

But when you give alms,

do not let your left hand know what your right is doing,

so that your almsgiving may be secret.

And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.

"When you pray,

do not be like the hypocrites,

who love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on street corners

so that others may see them.

Amen, I say to you,

they have received their reward.

But when you pray, go to your inner room,

close the door, and pray to your Father in secret.

And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.

"When you fast,

do not look gloomy like the hypocrites.

They neglect their appearance,

so that they may appear to others to be fasting.

Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward.

But when you fast,

anoint your head and wash your face,

so that you may not appear to be fasting,

except to your Father who is hidden.

And your Father who sees what is hidden will repay you."

Into the desert with Jesus

Sisters and brothers in Christ, as we prepare ourselves to go into the desert with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ these coming 40 days of Lent, let us take comfort in these words from the Book of Sirach (in today's first reading).

First, the words "my son. . . prepare yourself for trials. . . accept whatever befalls you. . ." remind us that we are beloved sons and daughters of our Father in heaven and that, in our own suffering united with Christ's suffering in the desert and on the Cross, we participate in God's work of mercy through Christ's mission on earth. Then we read "wait on God, with patience, cling to him. . . when sorrowful, be steadfast, in crushing misfortune be patient". These words remind us to trust in God, trust that He will never forsake us but that He is always by our side; therefore, we must not forsake our relationship with Him. Moreover, "in fire gold and silver are tested, and worthy people in the crucible of humiliation" tells us that God will never give us more than we can handle with the help of His grace, and it is in our trials and tribulations that we are purified and on the path to sanctification with eternal life in heaven at the end of the path.

Through it all, we "trust God and God will help [us]; trust in him, and he will direct [our] way. . ." When we lean on the Lord our God, as Jesus did in the desert, we will know in our hearts that these words are true: "Compassionate and merciful is the LORD; he forgives sins, he saves in time of trouble and he is a protector to all who seek him in truth." Therefore, as the psalm tells us: "Commit your life to the Lord, and he will help you." Thus, rather then argue about who will be first, let us come to our Father with childlike faith, completely dependent on our heavenly Father, and receive our Lord Jesus Christ into our hearts and let him be the Lord of our lives these 40 days and beyond.

. . .

Gospel of the Day

Jesus and his disciples left from there and began a journey through Galilee,

but he did not wish anyone to know about it.

He was teaching his disciples and telling them,

"The Son of Man is to be handed over to men

and they will kill him,

and three days after his death the Son of Man will rise."

But they did not understand the saying,

and they were afraid to question him.

They came to Capernaum and, once inside the house,

he began to ask them,

"What were you arguing about on the way?"

But they remained silent.

For they had been discussing among themselves on the way

who was the greatest.

Then he sat down, called the Twelve, and said to them,

"If anyone wishes to be first,   

he shall be the last of all and the servant of all."

Taking a child, he placed it in their midst,   

and putting his arms around it, he said to them,

"Whoever receives one child such as this in my name, receives me;

and whoever receives me,

receives not me but the One who sent me."

10 Things for a Transformative Lent (UPDATED 2/7/2024)

10 Things for a Transformative Lent (UPDATED 2/7/2024)

These are the 10 things I plan to do during Lent to grow closer in my relationship with God, with my wife and others, to grow in my prayer life and spirituality, and to develop better habits (in no particular order).

1. Pray this blessing over my wife every morning. 

    May the Lord bless you and keep you!

    May the Lord let his face shine upon you, and be gracious to you!
    May the Lord look upon you kindly and give you peace! (Numbers 6:24-26)

2. Spend 1 hour each evening reading a Catholic book.

3. Call my parents (and others) more regularly.

4. Spend at least 30 minutes in Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament every day, including pray the Rosary.

5. Be more consistent with Morning Prayer and Evening Prayer from the Liturgy of the Hours.

6. Get at least 6-8 hours of sleep a night.

7. Increase corporal works of mercy.

8. Work out (cardio) at least 15 minutes each day.

9.  UPDATE: Listen to "Bible in a Year" or "Catechism in a Year" podcast (or some other Catholic podcast) daily.

10. Pray and fast for one particular person every day of Lent (from Marcel LeJeune, 2/20/2023)

UPDATE (2/7/2024): What is your Lenten Discipline Plan? For Lent 2024, as I shared in my homily (see links below), I want to give up worrying. I want to let go and let God. I want to "[walk] very simply with the Cross of the Lord and be at peace with [myself]" (St. Francis de Sales). I am worried,though, that I will not be able to give up worrying for Lent. How ironic?! Fortunately, I have formed my Lenten discipline plan. I plan to read Gary Zimak’s book, “Give Up Worry for Lent: 40 Days to Finding Peace in Christ.” I plan to attend our Parish Lenten Mission next month, featuring Catholic speaker, author, and radio host - Gary Zimak. I plan to do what he suggests in earnest. I am off to a good start so far! I have already purchased my copy of Gary Zimak’s book. I also have the Parish Lenten Mission on my calendar.

Link to Gary Zimak's book on Ave Maria Press: https://www.avemariapress.com/products/give-up-worry-for-lent

Click to read: https://dcnphuc2019.blogspot.com/2024/01/homily-for-fourth-sunday-in-ordinary.html #homily

Click to listen:

https://phucphan.podbean.com/e/homily-for-the-fourth-sunday-in-ordinary-time-year-b-1282024/ #Lent #Homily

Though many languages, one voice

Sisters and brothers in Christ, I think at some point in our lives we were either separated from our siblings or friends because of ruckus behavior or, as adults, we had to separate kids because of behavior. In today's first reading, from the Book of Genesis, on the tower of Babel, we read that God has to separate the people because they are getting to full of themselves to the point of trying to make themselves into God - Come, let us build ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the sky, and so make a name for ourselves. . .

God will do what He can to help us overcome our sin of pride if we are willing to humble ourselves and turn to Him in faith. This is what it means when Jesus tells us, in today's Gospel, that if we want "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 and that of the Gospel will save it." Then, Christ adds this question of us: "What profit is there for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life?" Would we rather humble ourselves in this life for eternal life in heaven than forfeit eternal life for worldly desires?

More over, going back to today's first reading, which is the account of the tower of Babel. God comes "down and there confuse their language" because the people's pride leads them to want to become like God. Yet, God reunite us all in His Son, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and his bride, the Catholic Church, in the one language of faith. Through the centuries, in so many languages, cultures, peoples, and nations, the Church has constantly confessed this one faith. . . For though languages differ throughout the world, the content of the Tradition is one and the same.

One of the things that my wife and I always so when we visit a new city (for vacation) is, we look for the nearest Catholic Church to attend Mass. It is amazing how the Mass is universal, just as the Catholic Church is universal, no matter where we attend Mass. It is the same Mass across languages as well, because I have been to Mass in English, Vietnamese, and Spanish. How beautiful is that! So, while we do not speak the same language, we share the same Catholic faith and traditions. 

. . .

Gospel of the Day

Jesus summoned the crowd with his disciples and said to them,

"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

and that of the Gospel will save it.

What profit is there for one to gain the whole world

and forfeit his life?

What could one give in exchange for his life?

Whoever is ashamed of me and of my words

in this faithless and sinful generation,

the Son of Man will be ashamed of

when he comes in his Father's glory with the holy angels."

He also said to them,

"Amen, I say to you,

there are some standing here who will not taste death

until they see that the Kingdom of God has come in power."

At Home Marriage Retreat 2023 Podcasts & Blogs

Prelude https://phucphan.podbean.com/e/at-home-marriage-retreat-prelude-and-ccc-1601-1608/

Day 1 - Time is of the Essence (Rules for Date Night) https://phucphan.podbean.com/e/at-home-marriage-retreat-day-1-time-is-of-the-essence-rules-for-date-night/

Day 2 - Understanding God’s Design (Come to Mass) https://phucphan.podbean.com/e/at-home-marriage-retreat-day-2-understanding-god-s-design-come-to-mass/

Day 3 - Willingness to Look Within (Coping with Loss) https://phucphan.podbean.com/e/at-home-marriage-retreat-day-3-willingness-to-look-within-coping-with-loss/

Day 4 - Listening to the Heart (Grace to be vulnerable) https://phucphan.podbean.com/e/at-home-marriage-retreat-day-4-listening-to-the-heart-grace-to-be-vulnerable/

Day 5 - Reconciling and Giving Mercy (Peter or Judas) https://phucphan.podbean.com/e/at-home-marriage-retreat-day-5-reconciling-and-giving-mercy-peter-or-judas/

Day 6 - Resolving to Change Our Way (Our Promises to God and Each Other) https://phucphan.podbean.com/e/at-home-marriage-retreat-day-6-resolving-to-change-our-way-our-promises-to-god-and-eash-other/

Day 7 - Eucharistic Giving (Date Your Spouse) https://phucphan.podbean.com/e/at-home-marriage-retreat-day-7-eucharistic-giving-date-your-spouse/

Here are links to my previous blogs "On love and marriage":

- Part 1: https://dcnphuc2019.blogspot.com/2023/02/on-love-and-marriage-part-1.html

- Part 2: https://dcnphuc2019.blogspot.com/2023/02/on-love-and-marriage-part-2.html

- Part 3: https://dcnphuc2019.blogspot.com/2023/02/on-love-and-marriage-part-3.html

- Part 4: https://dcnphuc2019.blogspot.com/2023/02/on-love-and-marriage-part-4.html

- Part 5: https://dcnphuc2019.blogspot.com/2023/02/on-love-and-marriage-part-5.html

- Part 6: https://dcnphuc2019.blogspot.com/2023/02/on-love-and-marriage-part-6.html

- Part 7: https://dcnphuc2019.blogspot.com/2023/02/on-love-and-marriage-part-7.html

On love and marriage (Part 7)

Friends, thank you for joining me these past 7 days of the At Home Marriage Retreat 2023, presented by the USCCB. Like with all things in life, how much we get out of something depends on how much effort we put into something. After this at home marriage retreat, I hope that you and your spouse, at the very least, desire to spend more time with each other to help each other grow and meet the other's needs spiritually, emotionally, and physically. Perhaps, you want to do an in-person retreat for married couples or go on a Marriage Encounter Weekend. Whatever you decide, I would encourage you to take time to work on your marriage each and every day, through prayer, communication, and sharing.

Today's topic for Day 7 is "Eucharistic Giving", and this struck me because of how true it is, particularly for husbands. Husbands, after we married the love of our life, the best women in the wide-world for us, we stop desiring to continue to win her heart. I shared an article from Ascension that says that one of the things that wives want their husbands to continue doing after they are married is to continue to win her heart, to date her. Today's meditation speaks to this, saying: Being Eucharistic in our actions requires us to not only understand what our spouse needs, but also to be willing to make sacrifices for them to meet those needs. . . when we were dating each other. . . we were trying to win the heart of our beloved, we took time to discover and understand their needs, wants, and desires and we made a concerted effort to please them by listening to them, spending time with them, and even getting things they needs.

Therefore, let us continue to "date each other" so that we are always attentive to each other's needs, wants, and desires, which changes over time, and we would not know it unless we put in the effort to discover it. Even more important is our desire to always grow in our relationship with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. While God may be the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow, we do not know everything there is to know about God. Thus, let us desire to want to know God more and more each day in the same way as we desire to know our spouse more and more each day. This is how relationship grows and bear good fruit.

Here are links to my previous blogs "On love and marriage":

- Part 1: https://dcnphuc2019.blogspot.com/2023/02/on-love-and-marriage-part-1.html

- Part 2: https://dcnphuc2019.blogspot.com/2023/02/on-love-and-marriage-part-2.html

- Part 3: https://dcnphuc2019.blogspot.com/2023/02/on-love-and-marriage-part-3.html

- Part 4: https://dcnphuc2019.blogspot.com/2023/02/on-love-and-marriage-part-4.html

- Part 5: https://dcnphuc2019.blogspot.com/2023/02/on-love-and-marriage-part-5.html

- Part 6: https://dcnphuc2019.blogspot.com/2023/02/on-love-and-marriage-part-6.html

UPDATED: Here is the link to the At Home Marriage Retreat and other resources from the USCCB: https://www.usccb.org/resources/national-marriage-week-2024-home-marriage-retreat

On love and marriage (Part 6)

In a true God-moment, Fr. Charlie's homily on today's Gospel truly captures the essence of today's topic for At Home Marriage Retreat 2023, "Day 6 - Resolving to Change Our Ways". Fr. Charlie said that forgiveness is very important in marriage. He jokingly said that the spouse (most likely the husband) should always to ready to offer a "sin offering", or ask for forgiveness and work toward reconciliation who he/she make a mistake that hurt the other. Moreover, with Ash Wednesday and Lent only a week and a half away, as part of our preparation, we should discern what sin or vice we need to work on the most this Lenten season - be it pride, wrath, sloth, resentment, unforgiveness, etc. Then, once we have identify the sin or vice that we to "cut off" then, with the help of the Holy Spirit, we can use the pillars of Lent - pray, fast, and give alms - at our spiritual weapons to help us change our ways for the sake of our marital relationship specifically and our relationship with others in general.

Let's take a closer look at that this might look like. For example, for me, one of my shortcomings is taking the time to stay in touch with my parents, who are both in their mid-70s. For Lent, I would like to reach out to them more, to see how they are doing, and to be more attuned with how they are. Through the grace of the Holy Spirit, I plan to pray more intently for my parents. After Mass each morning, I would stand before the statue of the Blessed Virgin and pray for my goddaughter niece, and nephews, asking Mother Mary to protect them and help them to know that they are loved so much by their heavenly Father. I plan to pray for my parents in a similar this Lent.

For fasting, I plan to abstain from slothful excuses as to why I do not call my parents more often than I should. At one point, my wife set a weekly alarm to remind me to call my parents. This Lent, I plan to be more attentive to those alarms and follow through. Finally, almsgiving, I plan to set aside time to connect with my parents more, particularly calling them more since they do not text, check emails, or use social media. These are the ways that I plan to use the pillars of Lent - pray, fast, and give alms - to attack the sin against the 4th Commandment and overcome the vice of not calling my parents. This is but one example of how we can change our ways to better the important relationships in our lives, particularly our relationships with God, our spouse, and our families.

Here are links to my previous blogs "On love and marriage":

- Part 1: https://dcnphuc2019.blogspot.com/2023/02/on-love-and-marriage-part-1.html

- Part 2: https://dcnphuc2019.blogspot.com/2023/02/on-love-and-marriage-part-2.html

- Part 3: https://dcnphuc2019.blogspot.com/2023/02/on-love-and-marriage-part-3.html

- Part 4: https://dcnphuc2019.blogspot.com/2023/02/on-love-and-marriage-part-4.html

- Part 5: https://dcnphuc2019.blogspot.com/2023/02/on-love-and-marriage-part-5.html

UPDATED: Here is the link to the At Home Marriage Retreat and other resources from the USCCB: https://www.usccb.org/resources/national-marriage-week-2024-home-marriage-retreat

On love and marriage (Part 5)

Growing up, I had a hard time saying "I'm sorry" because it meant that I had done something wrong and had to admit that I hurt the person I loved. Pride got it the way. When my siblings and I got into a spat, we would not talk with each other for a few hours or a few days. Then, when one of us broke down and started talking with the other again, we knew that all was "forgiven" and we moved on. This period of "silence", as I learned real quick in the early years of my relationship my future spouse and our marriage, was not how a healthy relationship should be. Thankfully, when we do give each other the "silent treatment", one of us is always ready to engage in conversations before too long and, by the grace of God, the other person is willing to open up and engage in the conversations as well. More importantly, we set aside our pride and apologize, ask for forgiveness, and receive forgiveness.

What struck me the most about today's At Home Marriage Retreat 2023, "Day 5 - Reconciling and Giving Mercy", is the comparison between Peter and Judas and the simple, yet probing question: "Peter or Judas?" I had never thought of Peter and Judas from the perspective of forgiveness and mercy so it is such a profound thing to reflect on for sure. I also like this line: Forgiveness is not forgetting the issue, trusting the other person immediately, nor condoning their misdeed. . . Forgiveness is one of the first steps toward healing because we choose to let go of the anger that holds us bound and keeps us bitter. This is especially important to remember in a situation when one person had been unfaithful to the other. Forgiveness is a "hard pill" to swallow in cases of infidelity but it is a necessary first step for healing. However, It does not mean that bond of trust can be mended nor does it mean that the act of infidelity is condoned.

One of the things that Fr. Charlie shares with our couples, going through CALLED TO BE ONE Marriage Class, is before the couples exchange their vows, they should reflect on areas of unforgiveness in their relationship and seek healing through forgiveness, the Sacrament of Reconciliation, counseling, etc. He encourages the couples to do what they can so that they can start their married life with a clean slate. As we always tell our couples, problems do not "magically disappear" when they get married. They have to work on it, starting with any "baggage" that they can offload before they exchange their "I do's".

Here are links to my previous blogs "On love and marriage":

- Part 1: https://dcnphuc2019.blogspot.com/2023/02/on-love-and-marriage-part-1.html

- Part 2: https://dcnphuc2019.blogspot.com/2023/02/on-love-and-marriage-part-2.html

- Part 3: https://dcnphuc2019.blogspot.com/2023/02/on-love-and-marriage-part-3.html

- Part 4: https://dcnphuc2019.blogspot.com/2023/02/on-love-and-marriage-part-4.html

UPDATED: Here is the link to the At Home Marriage Retreat and other resources from the USCCB: https://www.usccb.org/resources/national-marriage-week-2024-home-marriage-retreat

On love and marriage (Part 4)

Right of the bat, that I to share that this sentence from Pope Francis' "Amoris Laetitia" struck me in the At Home Marriage Retreat 2023, "Day 4 - Listening to the Heart": Often the other spouse does not need a solution to his or her problems, but simply to be heard, to feel that someone has acknowledge their pain, their disappointment, their fear, their anger, their hopes, and their dreams." If husband and wife cannot do this for each other, then who can? The only person that a husband should be truly intimate and open with is his wife - not his parents, not his siblings, not his best friend but his wife. This should be the same for a wife toward her husband.

One of the things that Natural Family Planning (NFP) teaches couples about intimacy is S.P.I.C.E. - "S" for spiritual intimacy; "P" for physical, not sexual, intimacy; "I" for intellectual intimacy; "C" for creative intimacy; and "E" for emotional intimacy. These are ways husband and wife can grow in intimacy with each other, allowing each other to be vulnerable, and opening each other heart to one another. When society and the culture talk about intimacy, it is always sexual but, while God created us to be sexual beings and sex is a gift from God in the context of the marital bond, spouses can be  (and are called to be) intimate with each other in a much deeper level. This is what it means for them to become one - in God and with each other.

Often times, spouses fear being intimate with each other because they fear letting their guard down. They fear being vulnerable and getting hurt. Therefore, it is important for couples to help each other identify and work through past hurts and wounds and heal from them through forgiveness and reconciliation. It could be meeting with a priest, deacon, or counselor to help them talk through the pain and anguish of past hurts and wounds. One such opportunity is the "Unbound Conference" (https://mogpc.org/events-1) or one of the conferences put on by the John Paul II Healing Center (https://jpiihealingcenter.org/). Some things we cannot resolve on our own. Fortunately, the Church has gifted people who can help us heal so that we can be the best version of ourselves for our spouses and families.

Here are links to my previous blogs "On love and marriage":

- Part 1: https://dcnphuc2019.blogspot.com/2023/02/on-love-and-marriage-part-1.html

- Part 2: https://dcnphuc2019.blogspot.com/2023/02/on-love-and-marriage-part-2.html

- Part 3: https://dcnphuc2019.blogspot.com/2023/02/on-love-and-marriage-part-3.html

UPDATED: Here is the link to the At Home Marriage Retreat and other resources from the USCCB: https://www.usccb.org/resources/national-marriage-week-2024-home-marriage-retreat

Hail Mary: A 40 Days for Life Story

The original post was on 9/29/2020.

. . .

Friends, I started my #40DaysForLife prayer vigil this morning at the abortion facility on Duval. On this the feast of the Archangels Michael, Raphael, and Gabriel, I tell you what, I was experiencing spiritual warfare as I have not experienced in a while.

Last night, in a moment of despair (I guess you would call it that), I thought to myself, are we making a difference - praying in front of abortion facilities? This morning, God answered me in two ways. First, I was listening to Relevant Radio on the drive to the abortion facility and the person on the show said that prayers  matter because (as I was reminded of) God works through prayers to move and convert hearts. Second, I saw this "Hail Satan" and upside-down crosses on the ground where I normally pray. So God was telling me, yes, we are making a difference if we are getting a response like this from the Evil One and his satanic minions.

So, as I prayed the "Hail Mary", I rearranged the rocks for them to say "Hail Mary" and turn the crosses right-side up, and made a finger rosary. Then, more spiritual warfare! As I was getting ready to pray the rosary for life, I thought I had lost my wallet and panicked. I thought about abandoning the prayer vigil altogether and return home to make sure that I, in fact, did not lose my wallet. But the Archangels interceded, calmed my nerves, and told me to stay the course and not get distracted. I felt the Blessed Mother Mary tell me that she would take care of me if I just pray the rosary. So, I prayed a healing prayer and then a deliverance prayer and a peace came upon me and I prayed the rosary for life. Afterwards, I prayed the healing prayer and deliver prayer again and blessed the area around me.

Evil exists in the world because we allow it to persist. Abortion will continue to exist when we allow Satan to feed us lies that devalues the life of the unborn child; lies such as "reproductive rights", "the unborn is not a person", "just a clump of cells and tissues". This is why the U.S. bishops call abortion the "preeminent issue" of our time. Central Texas Coalition for Life #EveryoneDeservesABirthday

On love and marriage (Part 3)

Growing up, my brothers and I would get into arguments and give each other the silent treatment. It then becomes who can hold out the longest. We knew that everything was okay when one of us started to talk with the other again. And so, we moved on from there, somethings with an "I'm sorry" but, most of the time, we the quiet, nonverbalized understanding that we are sorry.

While this may work for siblings when they are younger, it does not work between adult siblings. Think about it, we get into an argument, say mean things to each other, then we go our separate ways. Days become weeks become months become years without talking to each other and we get "used to it". It becomes normal and we have moved on with our lives without the other person. No, if we have loving spouses to help to encourage us to reconcile, then things might be different.

However, giving each other the silent treatment is never a good thing, particularly when one spouse is intentionally ignoring the other spouse. This does not resolve the situation because whatever it is is not even being discussed between the spouses at all. However, and this is what struck me in the At Home Marriage Retreat 2023, "Day 3 - Willingness to Look Within": . . .if we actually deal with the mistakes and seek to correct the patterns that caused it, we often can, together, move the stone [or elephant in the room] to the basement of our life where it can become part of the foundation for creating a new home life together. That last part - become part of the foundation for creating a new home life together - is the key because, as I mentioned before, marriage is two imperfect people coming together and working together, with the help of God, to make marriage and family life work. We all make mistakes but how we respond is crucial to a successful, long married life together.

Communication, forgiveness, and empathy are so important in marital relationship. If you are not the type to verbalize what you feel inside, then write it down and share it with your spouse with the understanding that your spouse will read it and then respond in-kind. Spouses must allow each other the grace to be vulnerable and provide each other with a "safe space" where each spouse can open up, be vulnerable, and not feel that the other spouse will "attack them". This is so important for married couples. Then, pray together and pray for each other. Nothing melts away the walls of resentment than a prayer of love from the heart.

Here are links to my previous blogs "On love and marriage":

- Part 1: https://dcnphuc2019.blogspot.com/2023/02/on-love-and-marriage-part-1.html

- Part 2: https://dcnphuc2019.blogspot.com/2023/02/on-love-and-marriage-part-2.html

UPDATED: Here is the link to the At Home Marriage Retreat and other resources from the USCCB: https://www.usccb.org/resources/national-marriage-week-2024-home-marriage-retreat

Benediction - Clergy-Religious Appreciation Dinner (2/7/2023)

Loving and merciful Father,

We give you praise and glory for 75 years as a Diocese and for the opportunity to serve your people in Central Texas. Help us to continue to spread the Good News of our Lord Jesus Christ to all we encounter - in our words and in our deeds - for the next 75 years and beyond.

O Lord, we are grateful to you for our shepherd, Bishop Joe Vásquez, for his servant leadership and compassion for us, the flock you have entrusted to his love and pastoral care. We ask for your continued blessings upon his Episcopate, his family, his Vicars who help him govern the Diocese, as well as his staff and all their families.

Pour forth your blessings upon all priests, deacons, religious brothers and sisters, and seminarians whom you have called to serve your people alongside our Bishop. Protect them from the snares of the Devil and help them to resist all his empty promises.

Strengthen the faith of the laity, that they may hear and answer your call to serve the Catholic Church in Austin in their own special ways, sharing of their time, talents, and treasures without counting the costs. In a special way, we pray for all Knights of Columbus and their families that they may continue to live out the Order’s pillars of charity, unity, fraternity, and patriotism with boldness and confidence.

Protect and preserve the sanctity of life from conception to natural death, the holiness of marriage between one man and one woman, and the dignity of the family - the domestic church - so that all children may come to love and adore you, O Lord, and to know of your love for them in the love of their fathers and mothers.

O Lord, through the outpouring of grace from your Holy Spirit, may we courageously answer the call to the vocation to which you have called us to in life, so that we may live out our baptismal call as priest, prophet, and king, always faithful to you and the one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church of your Son, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

We ask all this through the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary as we pray. . . Hail Mary. . .

The Lord be with you. And with your spirit. May Almighty God bless you. . . + the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen. Go in peace. 🙏🕊❤️

On love and marriage (Part 2)

I often hear non-Catholics say that the Mass and other Christian worship services are the same. While we all worship God with Scripture readings and reflections, hymns, and praises, there is only one Eucharistic celebration where we receive our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ - body, blood, soul and divinity - at Holy Communion and that is at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass in the Catholic Church. While other Christian denominations sees the bread and wine as symbols of Jesus' Body and Blood, when Catholics say "Amen" before receiving the Host and the Precious Blood, we are affirming our belief that the bread and wine are truly the Body of Christ and the Blood of Christ (Gospel of John, chapter 6). The Real Presence of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in the Eucharist cannot be taken lightly, nor is attending Mass because it is truly the Banquet Feast of the Lamb - heaven on earth. We attend Mass not for the music nor for the homily/sermon, but to worship God and give Him praise and thanks and be nourished by True Food - the Eucharist. If we truly understand this and embrace it, then we would never miss Mass, not even daily Mass.

Now, what struck me in the At Home Marriage Retreat 2023, "Day 2 - Understanding God's Design", is this: We often see 'emotional starvation' in relationships when one or both spouses grow apathetic and stop meeting each other's needs. We see this same type of apathy in individuals who take their faith for granted and who give little effort in growing their relationship with Christ. We often hear from spouses whose marriage is hanging on by a thread that "he checked out a long time ago" or "she does not care about our marriage any more for some time now" or "I already had one foot out the door without realizing it." Couples grow apathetic toward each other without realizing it until it is too late and they want out because they are not fulfilled in the marriage. Here is the link to the "5 Love Languages" quiz: https://5lovelanguages.com/. Know each other's love language(s) and help keep our spouse's love tank filled at all times.

Moreover, one of the ways to prevent this from happening is to accept these three challenges that I give all couples who go through CALLED TO BE ONE Marriage Class. First, attend Mass together but be intentional about it. Prepare for Mass and then make it a date after Mass or a meal with your children and families and friends. Second, pray for each other and pray together. It is hard to stay angry and apathetic with each other when we know that our spouse is pray for us or, better still, we hear our spouse pray for us. Prayers are words from faith, hope, and love that flows from the depths of our hearts. We can never go wrong with prayers when we pray from a place of faith, hope, and love, for God and for each other. Third, practice chaste living in marriage. Your heart should be for your spouse and your spouse only. Love your spouse wholeheartedly, with all your being, and commit yourself to doing this each and every day of your marriage.

Here are links to my previous blogs "On love and marriage":

- Part 1: https://dcnphuc2019.blogspot.com/2023/02/on-love-and-marriage-part-1.html

UPDATED: Here is the link to the At Home Marriage Retreat and other resources from the USCCB: https://www.usccb.org/resources/national-marriage-week-2024-home-marriage-retreat

On love and marriage (Part 1)

The other night, Theresa and I were at FD Grille. As we were waiting for our food, Theresa pointed out to me a couple sitting a few tables over. I looked over at the couple and saw something that, unfortunately, I have see so many times before - rather than talking with each other, they were one their phones. One time, we saw a couple, each with their own iPad, watching a movie while having dinner at the same table in the restaurant. Have we truly lost the art of the conversation? Do we have so little in common with our own spouse that we do not know how to engage each other in conversation over a meal together?

One of the things that struck me in reading the "At Home Marriage Retreat - Day 1 - Time is of the Essence" is this: The first problem so many couples face in marriage is not falling out of love, but rather falling out of knowing each other. . . Similarly, our relationship with God is degraded when we give Him too little of our time each day and each week. We have enough "necessary distractions" (raising children, work, school, etc.) yet we fill more of our time with unnecessary distractions. While it is fun to play video games, watch sports, or participate in some other extracurricular activities, when it takes us away from spending time with those who are most important in our lives - God and and our spouse, it is time to reevaluate.

Fr. Charlie, in taking with couples who go through CALLED TO BE ONE Marriage Class, share that the three periods where divorce is high are (1) in the 1-5 year, (2) the 20 year mark, and (3) the 40-45 year mark. The 1-5 year mark is because couples are learning to live together as husband and wife and encounter problems that they have never encountered before when they were dating. However, co-habitation before marriage is definitely not the answer because co-habitation is two individuals living together under the same roof, sharing the same responsibilities; however, the commitment is not there at the level of husband and wife. Therefore, co-habitation can never be a "test" for what married life will be like.

The 20 year mark are the empty-nesters, husband and wife who poured so much of their time, talents, and treasures into their "necessary distraction" (their children :D) that they forget to work on their relationship. The start to drift apart without even knowing it and they realize that they might not have anything in common other than being the parents of their children. This is why date nights are so important in marriage, but rules must also be put in place. Rule #1: choose something or someplace both husband and wife will enjoy. Rule #2: no third-wheel or fifth-wheel, no double-date, and definitely, no children (find a trusted baby-sitter for a few hours). Rule #3: do not talk about the children, work, or the house; rather, focus on sharing each other's desire, likes and dislikes, get to know each other all over again. [By the way, these are from Fr. Charlie; I cannot take credit for them. :D]

Finally, I want to share this article with you, titled: "5 Things Wives Wish Their Husbands Knew"

https://media.ascensionpress.com/podcast/5-things-wives-wish-their-husbands-knew/ The 5 things are:

1. Love & compliment your wife privately, not just publicly.

2. What you did to win them, do it to keep them.

3. Listen to them; stop trying to fix everything!

4. I wish my husband would pray with me and lead the family spiritually!

5. I am a crockpot, not a microwave.

Let us take steps now so that we can prevent ourselves from "falling out of knowing each other" as husband and wife, and knowing God who loves us and a model of love for all married couples.

UPDATED: Here is the link to the At Home Marriage Retreat and other resources from the USCCB: https://www.usccb.org/resources/national-marriage-week-2024-home-marriage-retreat

Here is the link to the At Home Marriage Retreat and other resources from the USCCB: https://www.usccb.org/resources/home-marriage-retreat-national-marriage-week-2023

Dcn. Phúc's Reflections & Notes for "Catechism in a Year" (Days 11 - 20)

Day 11 (CCC 80 - 87): The three-legged stool upon which the deposit of faith stands upon is Sacred Scripture, Sacred Tradition, and the Magisterium. Sacred Tradition preceded Sacred Scripture because the Bible as we know it was not compiled until centuries after the time of Jesus Christ. Therefore, our early Christian brothers and sisters relied on Sacred Tradition to transmit the faith orally. The Magisterium is the teaching "leg" in which the bishops, in union with the Bishop of Rome, interpret Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition for the faithful. The faithful in response are called to be docile to the teachings entrusted to their bishops in union with the Pope; however, the Magisterium is a servant of Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition. I have always believed that, while we may have personal interpretations of Scripture to help us live lives faith to Christ, we must be docile and faithful to Church authority and what our bishops tell us. This is the great challenge of our time - obedience - when the rest of the world is telling us "do you". But when it comes to faith, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ entrusted his teachings to his one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church and her bishops. We should trust our bishops and learn from them.

Day 12 (CCC 88 - 95): Sensei fidei is our "senses of the faith." The degree in which we accept or reject the dogmas of the Catholic faith reveals a lot about our hearts. If our life is upright, then we are more receptive of the dogmas in our hearts and live by them in our lives. In the analogy from G.K. Chesterton that Fr. Mike shared, dogmas give us boundaries so that we do not "fall off the cliff". Dogmas also give us the freedom to live fully within the boundaries to encounter and nurture a relationship with our Father in heaven. The dogmas are also gifts of God to the Church that we ought to receive with gratitude. Thinking about this in another way, dogmas are like the secular laws. Laws restrict our actions but, at the same time, they give us freedom to live life without fear. For example, if we abolish traffic laws, then none of us would be willing to drive anywhere because when we get to an intersection, we do not have the assurance that the other drivers will stop to let us through the intersection safely. Absolute freedom is no freedom at all.

From G.K. Chesterton (Orthodoxy, p. 53):

“We might fancy some children playing on the flat grassy top of some tall island in the sea. So long as there was a wall round the cliff’s edge they could fling themselves into every frantic game and make the place the noisiest of nurseries. But the walls were knocked down, leaving the naked peril of the precipice. They did not fall over; but when their friends returned to them they were all huddled in terror in the centre of the island; and their song had ceased.”

Day 13 (CCC 96 - 100): Today is a recap. "Lex orendi lex credendi" means the law of prayer is the law of belief. The way we pray reveals what we believe and, when we add "lex vivendi", guides how we live. Moreover, in 1 Timothy 3:15 tells us that "the household of God, which is the church of the living God, [is] the pillar and foundation of truth." While there is a lot of important things written in the Bible but there are also many important things that were passed on by the Apostles - Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition (the deposit of faith) - and authentically taught and upheld by the Magisterium of the Catholic Church.

Day 14 (CCC 101 - 108): God the Father, in his love for us, like a father does with his child, stoops to our lowliness in His Word - our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ - and in His word - Holy Scriptures - to reveal himself to us so that we made come to know Him. The Bible is true and speaks the Truth because it firmly, faithfully, and without error speaks the Truth that God wishes to speak to us for our salvation, from Genesis to Revelation. We should read Holy Scripture as inspired word of God, and the Christian faith is a religious of the Word of God that is living.

Day 15 (CCC 109 - 114): The three criteria for interpreting Scripture in accordance with the Holy Spirit who inspired Scripture: (1) attentive to content and unity of the whole Scripture; (2) read Scripture within the living tradition of the whole Church (the Fathers of the Church, Sacred Tradition, etc.); and attentive to the analogy of faith. Scripture is the heart of Christ opened to interpretation guided by the Holy Spirit and within the whole plan of revelation by God. What is the author's intention and time period in which they wrote and what is the literary genre? For example, Genesis 1 & 2 are a true account of the creation of the world - science asks what and who and faith asks who and why. We recognize that there are human authors of Scripture but Scripture also has a divine author. Therefore, we should never take a text out of context but read and interpret the text in the context of the whole of Scripture. Moreover, the third criterion (the analogy of faith) means every truth of faith must be in line (in proportion or relationship) with other truths, and this idea goes back to what Saint Paul wrote in Romans 12:6. When we stay within these three criteria, then we are free to interpret and understand Scripture, without fear of going off track.

From Pope Benedict XVI:

“The Catechism was not written to please you. It will not make life easy for you because it demands of you a new life.”

Day 16 (CCC 115 - 119): When reading the living word of God, there are two senses of Scripture - the literal and the spiritual. The spiritual sense is further subdivided into the allegorical, moral, and anagogical senses. When reading Scripture, the literal sense helps to us read the words of Scriptures as they are written. The spiritual sense helps us to understand the events of Scripture in the context of God's plan of salvation as a whole. The spiritual sense also helps us understand the significance of events in Scripture in Christ (allegorical); the moral teachings that Christ wants us to understand and live by (moral); and how these events help us to prepare ourselves for eternal life (anagogical). Remember: "The Letter speaks of deeds; Allegory to faith; the Moral how to act; Anagogy our destiny (CCC 118).

Day 17 (CCC 120 - 127): The key point of these paragraphs is the "Gospels are at the heart of all the Scriptures" because includes the life and teachings of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The Old Testament is fulfilled in the New Testament; the New Testament is hidden in the Old Testament. Moreover, the Old Testament is an indispensable part of Scripture has never been revoked. In other words, the New Testament does not render the Old Testament void (Marcionism). Finally, there fore 73 books in the official canon of Scripture.

Day 18 (CCC 128 - 133): The unity of the Old Testament and New Testament is essential because it is the inspired word revealed to us by the one true God. The New Testament is hidden in the Old Testament and the Old Testament is revealed in the New Testament. Access to Sacred Scripture must be accessible to all because, as Saint Jerome said, "Ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ." The Church protects Sacred Scripture, that the translation of the Bible is as accurate as possible.

Day 19 (CCC 134 - 141): Today is a recap. Isegesis is preferred over exegesis. Psalm 119: . . .your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. . .

Day 20 (CCC 142 - 149): Jesus is the fulfillment of God's revelation to man because in the fullness of time and in the fullness of his love, Christ moves among man. Abraham is the father of our faith. Mary most perfectly embody the obedience of faith. Saving faith is not merely intellectual assent because even the demons believe in God. Saving faith is "man completely submits his intellect and his will to God. . . [this is] the obedience of faith" (CCC 143). Therefore, we much not only acknowledge the existence of God, but also obey His will for our lives. Abraham did not know the entire plan of God and, yet, he sojourned in obedience. The Angel Gabriel did not reveal the entire plan of salvation to Mary and, yet, she was obedient to God's will. We are called to walk by faith in the same way.

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever

Sisters and brothers in Christ, there is a meme circulating on Catholic social media sites that truly captures today's first reading, in which Saint Paul wrote: "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever." The message of the meme is: "Look back and thank God. Look forward and Trust God. Look around and serve God. Look within and find God." I learned from an early age that the one constant in life is change and, although we change over time, through it all, God remains steadfast in His love and mercy each and everyone of us. Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is our hope and our salvation, yesterday, today, and forever.

As we celebrate the memorial of Saint Blaise, bishop and martyr, we can come to the realization that Saint John the Baptist (who was beheaded by Herod in a plot by his brother's wife and his wife, Herodias) and Saint Blaise (and all martyrs of Christ for that matter) lived their lives in service of God with this confidence in their hearts: "The Lord is my helper, and I will not be afraid. What can anyone do to me?" Indeed, may we all have the courage to "imitate their faith", even in the face of persecution and - for many of us - in our daily challenges and difficulties.

This is certainly a high calling but, by the grace of God, we will live for Christ courageously - yesterday, today, and forever. And it starts with brotherly love and hospitality towards each other, especially in times of distress. As we prepare ourselves for Lent at the end of the month, let us reflect and put into action how we can love God and love our neighbors through the corporal works of mercy.

. . .

Gospel of the Day

King Herod heard about Jesus, for his fame had become widespread,

and people were saying,

"John the Baptist has been raised from the dead;

That is why mighty powers are at work in him."

Others were saying, "He is Elijah";

still others, "He is a prophet like any of the prophets."

But when Herod learned of it, he said,

"It is John whom I beheaded. He has been raised up."

Herod was the one who had John 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.

Herodias 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.

His 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?"

Her mother 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.

Christ is our light - Candlemas

Sisters and brothers in Christ, today is the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, also known as Candlemas, forty days after the celebration of Christmas.

"The feast has many different names in the Roman Catholic Church. It has been called the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord (numbers 18:15), the Feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Leviticus 12:6-7) and, more familiarly, Candlemas (Luke 2:29-32)" (quoting from article on Aleteia article with Scripture references added by me).

Christ is the "light", as Simeon declares in today's Gospel, and the current Roman Missal has the following prayer that summarizes the symbolism:

"O God, source and origin of all light,

 who on this day showed to the just man Simeon

 the light for revelation to the Gentiles,

 we humbly ask that,

 in answer to your people’s prayers,

 you may be pleased to sanctify with your blessing these candles, which we are eager to carry in praise of your name,

 so that, treading the path of virtue,

 we may reach that light which never fails."

For me, the canticle of Simeon (below) is prayed in Night Prayer for the Liturgy of the Hours.

"Now, Master, you may let your servant go 

in peace, according to your word,

for my eyes have seen your salvation,

which you prepared in the sight of all the peoples:

a light for revelation to the Gentiles,

and glory for your people Israel."

It is a reminder to me that the darkness of night ends at the breaking of dawn. More importantly, it is a reminder that the darkness shall pass because the light of Christ will always dispel the darkness in the world. This gives us hope to go about our lives with joy, even in the face of difficulties and challenges, because darkness does not have the final say because the light of Christ conquers the darkness of Satan, the Evil One.

It is important for us to remember that Christ has already won the victory of sin and darkness and we are called to be in his light, especially when go through dark times in our lives - illnesses, deaths, depression, etc. or when the lights are literally out because of weather and we find ourselves sitting in the dark and the cold. In those times, let us hang on to hope that is the light of Christ and be witnesses of that hope and light to others who are also experiencing the darkness and cold. We cannot do it on our own but all things are possible when we turn to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for he will send us his Spirit to be with us and strengthen us.

. . .

Gospel of the Day (short form)

When the days were completed for their purification

according to the law of Moses,

Mary and Joseph took Jesus up to Jerusalem

to present him to the Lord,

just as it is written in the law of the Lord,

Every male that opens the womb shall be consecrated to the Lord,

and to offer the sacrifice of

a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons,

in accordance with the dictate in the law of the Lord. 

Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon.

This man was righteous and devout,

awaiting the consolation of Israel,

and the Holy Spirit was upon him.

It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit

that he should not see death

before he had seen the Christ of the Lord. 

He came in the Spirit into the temple;

and when the parents brought in the child Jesus

to perform the custom of the law in regard to him,

he took him into his arms and blessed God, saying:

    “Now, Master, you may let your servant go 

        in peace, according to your word,

    for my eyes have seen your salvation,

        which you prepared in the sight of all the peoples:

    a light for revelation to the Gentiles,

        and glory for your people Israel.”