Dearest Goddaughter (LTR-46) - For God so Love Us

Dearest Goddaughter,

Today is the Memorial of Saint John Bosco, Priest. 🙏❤🕊

Jesus invites us into a person relationship with him. While it is wonderful for us to see Jesus as a brother and a friend, we must never forget that he is God and He calls us to be the best version of ourselves, the version that the Father created us to become.

In the same way that we should not take our loved ones for granted, we must also not take God for granted. We must not be like the people in today's Gospel who dismissed Jesus because they thought they knew everything there is to know about him. They even took offense at him: "Is he not the carpenter, the son of Mary, and the brother of James and Joseph and Judas and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him.

Our Father in heaven is a loving and merciful Father. Our Lord Jesus Christ desires for us to encounter him and have a relationship with Him. The Holy Spirit is ever present to guide us and pour forth the graces of God upon us. For our part, we turn to God with faith and humility. It is also good to have a fear of the Lord, to give Him right worship and reverence because we love Him for loving us first.

Love,

Bỏ Phúc

P.S. These are the readings for the day: 2 Sm 24:2, 9-17 and MK 6:1-6 (below).

. . .

Jesus departed from there and came to his native place,

accompanied by his disciples.

When the sabbath came he began to teach in the synagogue,

and many who heard him were astonished.

They said, “Where did this man get all this?

What kind of wisdom has been given him?

What mighty deeds are wrought by his hands!

Is he not the carpenter, the son of Mary,

and the brother of James and Joseph and Judas and Simon?

And are not his sisters here with us?”

And they took offense at him.

Jesus said to them,

“A prophet is not without honor except in his native place

and among his own kin and in his own house.”

So he was not able to perform any mighty deed there,

apart from curing a few sick people by laying his hands on them.

He was amazed at their lack of faith.

Dearest Goddaughter (LTR-45) - Just Have Faith

Dearest Goddaughter,

What would we do if someone we cared about and trusted become our enemy, like David and his son, Absalom? How would we respond if we have an illness that does not have a cure and we cannot get relief from the symptoms, like the woman afflicted with hemorrhages for twelve years? How would we respond if we have a loved one who is near the end of his or her life, like the synagogue officials, Jairus, and his daughter? 

Would we lose hope? Would we turn our backs on God and lose faith in Him? Would we stop loving God and others? Over the years in ministry, I have met and talked with many people who no longer believe in God or practice their Catholic faith because of something traumatic that had happened in their lives in the past. They have lost a child or a loved one. They struggle with the challenges of daily life and feel that God has abandoned them. They are suffering from an illness or knows someone who is and feel God is ignoring their prayers or they in turn ignore God.

To all of us who have been through hardship, suffered losses in our lives, struggled with illnesses and health problems. . . Jesus says to us: "Do not be afraid; just have faith" (Mark 5:36) and promises to be "with [us] always, until the end of the age" (Matthew 28:20). We can trust God and all His promises. Jesus, I trust in you.

Love,

Bỏ Phúc

P.S. These are the readings for the day: 2 Sm18:9-10, 14b, 24-25a, 30–19:3 and Mk 5:21-43 (below).

. . .

When Jesus had crossed again in the boat

to the other side,

a large crowd gathered around him, and he stayed close to the sea.

One of the synagogue officials, named Jairus, came forward.

Seeing him he fell at his feet and pleaded earnestly with him, saying,

"My daughter is at the point of death.

Please, come lay your hands on her

that she may get well and live."

He went off with him

and a large crowd followed him.

There was a woman afflicted with hemorrhages for twelve years.

She had suffered greatly at the hands of many doctors

and had spent all that she had.

Yet she was not helped but only grew worse.

She had heard about Jesus and came up behind him in the crowd

and touched his cloak.

She said, "If I but touch his clothes, I shall be cured."

Immediately her flow of blood dried up.

She felt in her body that she was healed of her affliction.

Jesus, aware at once that power had gone out from him,

turned around in the crowd and asked, "Who has touched my clothes?"

But his disciples said to him,

"You see how the crowd is pressing upon you,

and yet you ask, Who touched me?"

And he looked around to see who had done it.

The woman, realizing what had happened to her,

approached in fear and trembling.

She fell down before Jesus and told him the whole truth.

He said to her, "Daughter, your faith has saved you.

Go in peace and be cured of your affliction."

While he was still speaking,

people from the synagogue official's house arrived and said,

"Your daughter has died; why trouble the teacher any longer?"

Disregarding the message that was reported,

Jesus said to the synagogue official,

"Do not be afraid; just have faith."

He did not allow anyone to accompany him inside

except Peter, James, and John, the brother of James.

When they arrived at the house of the synagogue official,

he caught sight of a commotion,

people weeping and wailing loudly.

So he went in and said to them,

"Why this commotion and weeping?

The child is not dead but asleep."

And they ridiculed him.

Then he put them all out.

He took along the child's father and mother

and those who were with him

and entered the room where the child was.

He took the child by the hand and said to her, "Talitha koum,"

which means, "Little girl, I say to you, arise!"

The girl, a child of twelve, arose immediately and walked around.

At that they were utterly astounded.

He gave strict orders that no one should know this

and said that she should be given something to eat.

Knights of Columbus Austin Chapter - A Report of the Spiritual Director (1/29/2024)

Worthy Chapter President and brother Knights,

I encourage you all to read these articles in the January / February 2024 issue of the Columbia magazine:

• “The Courage of Conversion” by Supreme Knight Patrick E. Kelly
• “Blind Spots” by Supreme Chaplain Archbishop William E. Lori
• “What Do You Desire Most?” by Father John Connaughton

Here is the link to the online edition: https://issuu.com/columbia-magazine/docs/columbiajanfeb24en.

I might be preaching to the choir here because I trust that you all are Catholic gentlemen who practice their Catholic faith with fidelity; however, for us to say that we have "been there, done that" would be to:

• deny our capacity to continue to grow in our relationship with God. (It is like a couple - engaged or married - preparing to receive the Sacrament of Marriage and say that they know everything there is to know about each other. We are not the same people today that we were 5 years ago nor are we the same people 5 years from now that we are today. We change. We grow.)
• deny our continual role as "influencer" in our family and community with it comes to our Catholic faith.("Influencer" is a trendy word on social media but it can certainly apply to us because we are in positions of influence in our families, our parish community, and our society.)

We must humble ourselves and recognize that:

• our imaginations are so impoverished and our hearts are so atrophied that we cannot imagine the transcendent. We just need to look at how aesthetically sterile some of the designs and architectural works in our modern society.
• people do not find the things of God relevant or interesting, which reveals a lack of imagination on our part (cannot imagine the transcendent. Our hearts and minds do not look upward to God.).
• we have a deep longing for connection, but we attempt to satisfy it with worldly and superficial things that leave us empty. The world and what it has to offer will never satisfies the deep yearning in our soul.
• we have "blind spots" in our lives - hypocrisy - take that wooden beam out of our own eyes, Jesus tells us.

Through prayer and discernment and spending time in the Real Presence of our Lord in Adoration, we come to realize our true desire:

• the greatest aspiration of the human heart is. . . sanctity (the universal call to holiness)
• starving for fellowship, friendship, and authentic communion (God is Three Persons - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit - in intimate communion and we are invited to be communion with God and with each other.)
• Christ wants to make us holy through life in the Church because the Church will shape us into saints

With the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we prepare a discipline plan that includes:

• repentance and conversion (take up our Cross and come and follow Jesus) through the graces of the Sacraments
• conversion - when we think of conversion, we think of someone who was not Catholic who becomes Catholic. I was not Catholic but converted to Catholicism in 2028. However, the conversion for us Catholics is:
• a renewal and deepening of the Catholic faith that we inherited from our parents
• actively seeking a closer personal relationship with Jesus Christ
• opening ourselves to the grace of the sacraments in a way that affects our daily lives
• work on our "blind spots" - hypocrisy - so we can lead others by example
• Change is be terrifying because it requires us to look deep within ourselves but we fund the courage to change. Christ is here to help us.
• dare to pray for conversion for ourselves and those we love, to encounter our Lord Jesus Christ and be changed forever.

Deacon Phúc’s challenges for all Knights for the month of February

• PERSONAL & FAMILY: Attend the 12th Annual Catholic Men’s Conference themed “Spiritual Fatherhood” (February 17, 2024 at San Jose Catholic Church) https://centexcatholic.com/mens-conference and bring your son, grandson, nephew, mentee, etc.
• COUNCIL: Consider starting the Cor Initiative at your parish.

. . .

Links to previous Spiritual Director reports for 2023-2024 fraternal year:

• A Report of the Spiritual Director (11/27/2023) https://dcnphuc2019.blogspot.com/2023/11/knights-of-columbus-austin-chapter.html
• A Report of the Spiritual Director (10/23/2023) https://dcnphuc2019.blogspot.com/2023/09/cor-knights-of-columbus-initiative-part.html
• A Report of the Spiritual Director (9/25/2023) - UPDATED https://dcnphuc2019.blogspot.com/2023/11/k-of-c-austin-chapter-report-of.html
• 7 Things & Cor - A Report of the Spiritual Director (8/28/2023) https://dcnphuc2019.blogspot.com/2023/08/7-things-cor-report-of-spiritual.html
• Greatest roles of fatherhood - A Report of the Spiritual Director (6/26/2023) https://dcnphuc2019.blogspot.com/2023/06/greatest-roles-of-fatherhood-report-of.html

Homily for the Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B - 1/28/2024)

Good afternoon. It is hard to believe that Ash Wednesday, and with it the start of Lent, is only 17 days away. This year, Valentine’s Day happens to fall on the same day as Ash Wednesday, so the question that we should be asking ourselves right now is this. How can we observe Valentine’s Day with that special person in our lives and still HONOR GOD, because what else do we do on Ash Wednesday besides going to Mass to receive ashes? We fast and abstain from meat. That’s right, gentlemen. . . no tomahawk steaks on the grill for Valentine’s Day dinner this year. Eat a salad instead.

Now, you might have seen it circulating on social media but there is a meme that shows a person with ashes on his forehead in the shape of a heart. I chuckled when I saw it but it also got me thinking. There is no greater symbol of LOVE than the CROSS of CHRIST, which is marked on our foreheads with ashes on Ash Wednesday. Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI once said: “Christ on the Cross spilt all His blood to free humanity from the slavery of sin and death. And thus, from a sign of iniquity, the Cross has been transformed to a sign of blessing, from a symbol of death to the symbol. . . of the LOVE that overcomes hatred and violence. . .” (September 17, 2006). Let us put God first in our lives. Let us ask Jesus to be at the center of our relationships. Let us invite the Holy Spirit to help us to prepare for Lent. Our current message series, titled “Discipline: Our Onramp to Lent,” can help.

Fr. Charlie kicked off the message series a few weeks ago and talked about AWARENESS. He told us to be aware of that ONE thing that is keeping us from being close to God. Now, if you are like me, then there are probably MANY things in your life that are distracting you and keeping you from being close to God. However, let us focus on one thing at a time so we do not get overwhelmed or discouraged. When we become aware of and focus on changing that one thing that is keeping us from being close to God, we realize that we have been, is being, and will continue to be CALLED BY NAME, to embark on a mission that gives our lives MEANING and PURPOSE. And the person calling us by name is GOD. The Lord calls us, just as He called Moses and all the prophets that Moses spoke of in today’s first reading when he said: “[a] prophet like me will the LORD, your God, raise up for you. . .”, and He sends us on His mission for the salvation of souls. Are we disciplined in our spiritual and prayer life to embark on the mission that God has given us; we who are His chosen ones, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people of His own through our Baptism (1 Peter 2:9)?

My sisters and brothers in Christ, we have heard Jesus say: “[ask] and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened” (Matthew 7:7-8). When we ask, God answers our prayers. When we seek, we find God waiting for us. When we knock, God opens the gates of his kingdom to us. But what about when it is the other way around? When Jesus asks, do we answer him? When Christ seeks us out, do we allow ourselves to be found by him? When our Lord knocks on the door of our hearts, do we open our hearts to him freely and welcome his Spirit to dwell in our hearts? In other words, are we “free of anxieties” so that we can be close “to the Lord without distraction”? And if we are aware that we are “divided” and “anxious about the things of the world” when we should be “anxious about the things of the Lord” and how we may “please the Lord,” then perhaps it is time for us to change course, to “impose a restraint” on ourselves for our own sake and benefit.

Saint John of the Cross said that “[the] road is narrow. He who wishes to travel it more easily must cast off all things and use the cross as his cane. In other words, he must be truly resolved to suffer willingly for the love of God in all things.” For many of us, change can be overwhelming. Changing ourselves so we can be close to God can be downright frightening, especially when we hear the Lord say things like: “Whoever will not listen to my words. . . I myself will make him answer for it.” I remember how terrified I felt when I started discerning Jesus’ call to me to become a deacon in his Church. I thought that if I imposed restraints on myself that I would lose who I was and not be able to live my life the way I want to live it - free of encumbrances, such as obedience that comes with being an ordained minister. However, what the Spirit of God helped me to realize was that my life was not my own; it belonged to God. My life has been and will always be His. In that moment of great clarity, I was free, unbound of worries and distractions, to give Jesus my “yes.” We know and trust that God will always speak the Truth that we need to hear. “Whoever has ears ought to hear” (Matthew 11:15).

My sisters and brothers in Christ, by the grace of God, and with the help of the Holy Spirit, change is possible when we practice the VIRTUE of DILIGENCE. “Diligence” is the theme of the “Discipline: Our Onramp to Lent” message series this week. According to Merriam-Webster, the word diligence means the “steady, earnest, and energetic effort; devoted and painstaking work. . . to accomplish. . . an undertaking,” such as making changes in our lives. Most of all, for us as believers and followers of Jesus Christ, diligence starts with letting our “yes” mean “yes” and our “no” mean “no” because “anything more is from the evil one” (Matthew 5:37). In other words, we must not be lukewarm or indifferent. Rather, let us boldly "renew our 'yes' to God Who chose the way of the Cross to save us” (Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, September 17, 2006).

You may recall Fr. Charlie’s homily series, from a couple of years ago, on the Seven Deadly Sins during Lent -  which was then followed by the Seven Virtues during the Easter season - that DILIGENCE is the virtue that helps us to counter the deadly sin of SLOTH. The deadly sin of sloth is when we avoid doing what is hard and just do what is easy or we are busying ourselves to avoid what God is calling us to do. The virtue of diligence is rooted in facing the reality of situations that we are uncomfortable with or that we wish to avoid. Who here remembers Fr. Charlie talking about the “sloth” button on our alarm clocks? For me, waking up every morning to attend the 6:30 daily Mass, at Saint Mary Cathedral, over the past decade has helped me to overcome the deadly sin of sloth with the virtue of diligence. In doing so, I exchange the worldly comfort of my bed for the comfort of being in God’s loving presence.

This Lent, 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.

Whatever your Lenten discipline plan is, be diligent in your preparation to help you overcome distractions. Focus on that one thing that you need to change to grow close to God so that you do not get overwhelmed or discouraged. Most of all, pray “to have courage for whatever comes in life” (Saint Teresa of Avila). God encourages us to “[be] strong and steadfast; have no fear. . . for it is the LORD, your God. . . he will never fail you or forsake you.” Jesus is knocking on the door of our hearts. He is asking for us. He is seeking us and calling us by name. Let us have the courage to open the door for Christ and answer him, saying: “Here I am, Lord. I have come to do your will.”

. . .

Readings: 1st: Dt 18:15-20; 2nd: 1 Cor 7:32-35; Gospel: Mk 1:21-28 (below)

Then they came to Capernaum,

and on the sabbath Jesus entered the synagogue and taught.

The people were astonished at his teaching,

for he taught them as one having authority and not as the scribes.

In their synagogue was a man with an unclean spirit;

he cried out, "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,

"Quiet! Come out of him!"

The unclean spirit convulsed him and with a loud cry came out of him.

All were amazed and asked one another,

"What is this?

A new teaching with authority.

He commands even the unclean spirits and they obey him."

His fame spread everywhere throughout the whole region of Galilee.

Dearest Goddaughter (LTR-44) - Spirit of Power and Love and Self-Control

Dearest Goddaughter,

Today is the Memorial of Saints Timothy and Titus, bishops, and we have two readings to choose from for the first reading - from Saint Paul second letter to Timothy or his letter to Titus.

In his letter to Titus, Saint Paul wrote that he left Titus is Crete so that he "might set right what remains to be done." Moreover, in his second letter to Timothy, Saint Paul encouraged and reminded Timothy "to stir into flame the gift of God that you have through the imposition of my hands. For God did not give us a spirit of cowardice but rather of power and love and self-control. . . bear your share of hardship for the Gospel with the strength that comes from God."

While that latter was to encourage Timothy in his missionary work, those same encouraging words could also apply to Titus who Saint Paul left to be the Bishop of Crete to shepherd the people of God in Crete. Moreover, these two letters are certainly a reminder to us to be bold in our witness of the Good News of Jesus Christ in our own time and society, just as Paul, Timothy, and Titus were in their time and society.

Let us not be "ashamed of [our] testimony" because, as Jesus tells us in the Gospel, those who deny him before others, he will deny them before his Father in heaven. No matter how small our faith may be, if we allow ourselves to be nourished by the word of God, our faith will blossom as to bring others to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Love,

Bỏ Phúc

P.S. These are the readings for the day: 2 Tm 1:1-8 or Ti 1:1-5 and Mk 4:26-34 (below).

. . .

Jesus said to the crowds:

“This is how it is with the Kingdom of God;

it is as if a man were to scatter seed on the land

and would sleep and rise night and day

and the seed would sprout and grow,

he knows not how.

Of its own accord the land yields fruit,

first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear.

And when the grain is ripe, he wields the sickle at once,

for the harvest has come.”

He said,

“To what shall we compare the Kingdom of God,

or what parable can we use for it?

It is like a mustard seed that, when it is sown in the ground,

is the smallest of all the seeds on the earth.

But once it is sown, it springs up and becomes the largest of plants

and puts forth large branches,

so that the birds of the sky can dwell in its shade.”

With many such parables

he spoke the word to them as they were able to understand it.

Without parables he did not speak to them,

but to his own disciples he explained everything in private.

Dearest Goddaughter (LTR-43) - Conversion of Saint Paul

Dearest Goddaughter,

Today is the Feast of the Conversion of Saint Paul, Apostle. Saul's conversion gives us hope that, like him, we too can do a 180 and turn our lives around to come and follow Jesus.

For him, it was a dramatic conversion. For us, it can be a dramatic conversion as well or it can be a slow and steady conversion over time as Jesus works to beak down the walls that we have built around our hearts over the years. I know for me personally, it took several years before I finally open the ears of my heart and listen to God and let the Spirit of Christ dwell in my heart (https://dcnphuc2019.blogspot.com/2024/01/my-vocation-story-part-2-call-to.html).

The important thing for us to remember is that we must answer God when He calls us and be grateful to the person who God sends to help us on our faith journey. For Saul, it was Ananias. While Ananias feared Saul because he was persecuting the followers of the Way of Jesus Christ, he nevertheless trusted Jesus when Christ told him to go see Saul.

And, because of Ananias' faithfulness to God, St. Paul - Christ's "chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before Gentiles, kings, and children of Israel" - was indeed sent forth by Christ to bring others to come and follow him. We, too, can be "instruments" of Jesus Christ for love of God and our neighbors.

Love,

Bỏ Phúc

P.S. These are the readings for the day: Acts 22:3-16 or Acts 9:1-22 and Mk 16:15-18 (below).

. . .

Jesus appeared to the Eleven and said to them:

"Go into the whole world

and proclaim the Gospel to every creature.

Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved;

whoever does not believe will be condemned.

These signs will accompany those who believe:

in my name they will drive out demons,

they will speak new languages.

They will pick up serpents with their hands,

and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not harm them.

They will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover."

Dearest Goddaughter (LTR-42) - Fullness of Life

Dearest Goddaughter,

Which are we? The path, the rocky ground, or the thorns? The more important question is, what do we need to do to become the rich soil to receive the word of God that He sows in our hearts?

God will always speak to us. He will always sow his word into our hearts. Jesus will always be standing at the door of our heart and knock, waiting for us to open up and let him in. The Holy Spirit is always dwelling in our hearts, waiting for us to activate the graces of the sacraments that we have received.

So, it is up to us to till the soil of our hearts to receive the word that God sows. If our hearts are shallow and rocky, then we must go deeper in our prayer and spiritual life. If our hearts are filled with distractions and anxieties, then let us remove those thorns by learning to lean on God and trust in Him. Let us be on alert for Satan and his minions who "prowl about the world seeking the ruin of [our] souls."

We are temples of the Holy Spirit; let us act like one. Jesus offers us his friendship, let us accept it with an open heart. We are beloved sons and daughters of our Father in heaven, let us go to Him and be filled with His love and mercy.

Love,

Bỏ Phúc

P.S. These are the readings for the day: 2 Sm 7:4-17 and Mk 4:1-20 (below).

. . .

On another occasion, Jesus began to teach by the sea.

A very large crowd gathered around him

so that he got into a boat on the sea and sat down.

And the whole crowd was beside the sea on land.

And he taught them at length in parables,

and in the course of his instruction he said to them,

"Hear this! A sower went out to sow.

And as he sowed, some seed fell on the path,

and the birds came and ate it up.

Other seed fell on rocky ground where it had little soil.

It sprang up at once because the soil was not deep.

And when the sun rose, it was scorched and it withered for lack of roots.

Some seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it

and it produced no grain.

And some seed fell on rich soil and produced fruit.

It came up and grew and yielded thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold."

He added, "Whoever has ears to hear ought to hear."

And when he was alone,

those present along with the Twelve

questioned him about the parables.

He answered them,

"The mystery of the Kingdom of God has been granted to you.

But to those outside everything comes in parables, so that

they may look and see but not perceive,

and hear and listen but not understand,

in order that they may not be converted and be forgiven."

Jesus said to them, "Do you not understand this parable?

Then how will you understand any of the parables?

The sower sows the word.

These are the ones on the path where the word is sown.

As soon as they hear, Satan comes at once

and takes away the word sown in them.

And these are the ones sown on rocky ground who,

when they hear the word, receive it at once with joy.

But they have no roots; they last only for a time.

Then when tribulation or persecution comes because of the word,

they quickly fall away.

Those sown among thorns are another sort.

They are the people who hear the word,

but worldly anxiety, the lure of riches,

and the craving for other things intrude and choke the word,

and it bears no fruit.

But those sown on rich soil are the ones who hear the word and accept it

and bear fruit thirty and sixty and a hundredfold."

My Vocation Story (Part 5) - Servant of the Suffering Servant born of a Lowly Servant

Diaconal Formation started in January of 2014 and ended the morning of March 30, 2019 when 29 of us were ordained as Permanent Deacons by Bishop Joe Vasquez in the Diocese of Austin. However, 31 of us were ordained in total. Deacon Daniel Guerra was ordained at our annual couples retreat, at Cedarbrake in August of 2018. He died less than two weeks later on the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Deacon Guy Helou was ordained as a deacon in the Maronite Rite on January 13, 2019. Since our ordination, we said good-by to Deacon Noel Caballero, who passed away in 2023. (Also, I think Deacon Don Moore is not longer in the Diocese of Austin after he retired from his secular job.)

Diaconal Formation was a special time for me and my wife because we grew together in our faith as a couple. We prayed together as a couple. And God healed us after our miscarriage and walked with us as we faced other challenges. I will not lie, there were times during Formation when I would think to myself: "I must be out of my mind" (read more about it here: https://dcnphuc2019.blogspot.com/2024/01/dearest-goddaughter-ltr-39.html). However, God never stopped calling me to Himself. He made straight my path to Him and either removed obstacles along the way or allowed the obstacles to persist so that I can grow in my relationship with Him and learn to trust Him even more. The last two years of Formation was a struggle and, as we got closer and closer to Ordination, Satan was shooting arrows at me to derail me from the path that God had me one. However, by the grace of God through prayer and with the support of my family and friends, especially my wife, I was ordained as a deacon.

As I laid prostrate on the floor of St. William (in Round Rock), during the Litany of Supplication while the choir led the congregation in the Litany of the Saints, I wept. When we were able to rise up from the floor, I heard a voice say to me, "Let's get to work." I died to self and rose as a servant of the Suffering Servant born of a Lowly Servant. The Scripture passage that I discerned for my ordination prayer card is Mary's Magnificat (Luke:1:46-48): "My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord. My spirit rejoices in God my Savior for He has looked with favor on His lowly servant."

UPDATE: Here is the link to my "My First-ever Homily as a Deacon!" https://dcnphuc2019.blogspot.com/2023/03/my-first-ever-homily-as-deacon.html

My Vocation Story (Part 1) - St. Brendan https://dcnphuc2019.blogspot.com/2024/01/my-vocation-story-part-1-st-brendan.html

My Vocation Story (Part 2) - Call to Conversion https://dcnphuc2019.blogspot.com/2024/01/my-vocation-story-part-2-call-to.html

My Vocation Story (Part 3) - Growing in Faith https://dcnphuc2019.blogspot.com/2024/01/my-vocation-story-part-3-growing-in.html

My Vocation Story (Part 4) - Call to the Diaconate https://dcnphuc2019.blogspot.com/2024/01/my-vocation-story-part-4-call-to.html

My Vocation Story (Part 5) - Servant of the Suffering Servant born of a Lowly Servant https://dcnphuc2019.blogspot.com/2024/01/my-vocation-story-part-5-servant-of.html

Dearest Goddaughter (LTR-41) - Family of God

Dearest Goddaughter,

We have our families who love, care, and support us. We also have "families" who also care and support us. These "families" are the ones that Jesus speaks of today when he said: "Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother."

I always tell engaged couples who go through Called to be One Marriage Class at Saint Albert the Great with us that they also have a parish family that they can turn to for support. If they would welcome it, then the Church can truly be a part of their sacramental life in the life of the Church. The domestic church united and grafted to the one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church.

We live in such an individualistic society, especially in the U.S., that families are sometimes isolated from the support of their community, particularly their church community. However, just as God is a Communion of Three Persons - God, our Creator made us to be in communion with Him and with each other.

Therefore, let us recognize in each other fellow sojourners on this road of life and love our neighbors as we love God and God loves us. 

Love,

Bỏ Phúc

P.S. These are the readings for the day: 2 Sm 6:12b-15, 17-19 and Mk 3:31-35 (below).

. . .

The mother of Jesus and his brothers arrived at the house.

Standing outside, they sent word to Jesus and called him.

A crowd seated around him told him,

"Your mother and your brothers and your sisters

are outside asking for you."

But he said to them in reply,

"Who are my mother and my brothers?"

And looking around at those seated in the circle he said,

"Here are my mother and my brothers.

For whoever does the will of God

is my brother and sister and mother."

My Vocation Story (Part 4) - Call to the Diaconate

In Part 3 (https://dcnphuc2019.blogspot.com/2024/01/my-vocation-story-part-3-growing-in.html), I shared how God knew exactly what I needed to go in my newfound Catholic faith through ministries such as the Knights of Columbus and Christ Renews His Parish (CRHP). In this blog, I will share God's call to the diaconate.

As I prepared for the Easter Vigil in 2008, I was asked to choose a saint name. After much discernment, the Holy Spirit guided me in choosing Saint Andrew, the apostle, as my saint. What inspired me to choose Saint Andrew is this passage from the Gospel of Mark (Mk 1:14-20):

As he passed by the Sea of Galilee,

he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting their nets into the sea;

they were fishermen.

Jesus said to them,

"Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men."

I desire in my heart to lead others to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in the same way that my wife and countless others led me to Christ. I desire to come and follow Jesus and become a "fisher of men". And in was in this spirit that God called me to the diaconate. Being a deacon in the one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church of Jesus Christ would be my second vocation, right after my vocation as a husband.

It was the fall of 2012 and I had just lost my job at a CPA firm. In the midst of looking for a job, I felt this peace envelop me. Then, at Mass one morning, Deacon Jack Murphy came to Saint Albert the Great to invite men in the parish (and their wives) to discern the diaconate. After Mass, a friend became up and said to me, "you are going to talk with Deacon Jack, right?" And so I did. One the drive home after Mass, I shared with Theresa that I felt God calling me to the diaconate. I got her blessing and we attended the Information Sessions at the Diocese of Austin Pastoral Center to learn more. Before long, we started the application and interview process that would take all of 2013.

It is interesting to me how God calls me to himself during the some of the darkest moments in my wife. Like when He called me home to Rome that December in 2006 or when He called me to discern the diaconate that December in 2012. In December of 2013, my wife and I lost our child due to a miscarriage. We named our child Jude. As we struggled to cope with our loss, we received a letter from Bishop Vasquez inviting us to start Diaconal Formation in January of 2014. . . we trusted in God and began our journey in Formation. . .

[Bishop Vasquez laying his hands upon me during the Ordination Mass on March 30, 2019.]

My Vocation Story (Part 1) - St. Brendan https://dcnphuc2019.blogspot.com/2024/01/my-vocation-story-part-1-st-brendan.html

My Vocation Story (Part 2) - Call to Conversion https://dcnphuc2019.blogspot.com/2024/01/my-vocation-story-part-2-call-to.html

My Vocation Story (Part 3) - Growing in Faith https://dcnphuc2019.blogspot.com/2024/01/my-vocation-story-part-3-growing-in.html

My Vocation Story (Part 4) - Call to the Diaconate https://dcnphuc2019.blogspot.com/2024/01/my-vocation-story-part-4-call-to.html

My Vocation Story (Part 5) - Servant of the Suffering Servant born of a Lowly Servant https://dcnphuc2019.blogspot.com/2024/01/my-vocation-story-part-5-servant-of.html

Dearest Goddaughter (LTR-40) - Protect the Unborn

Dearest Goddaugther,

Today is the Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children for the Catholic Church in the United States.

Jesus warns us that "if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand." And one of the things that divide houses and families in our country is political issues, at the very top of which is the issue of abortion.

As Fr. Daniel said in his homily at Mass this morning, we know by reason and natural law (both given to us by God, our Creator and the Author of Life, that human life from conception to natural death is precious and holy in the eyes of God. Yet, we allow Satan to divide us with his lies about the precious gift of life that God has given us, to be able to share in God's power to create new life.

Therefore, let us unite in prayers for all mothers to look to the Blessed Virgin Mary for the strength and courage to respond to God's gift of life with faith, hope, love, and trust. Let us unite in prayers for all fathers to look to Saint Joseph and be courageous enough to accept responsibility for the life that they have helped bring into the world. Let us unite in prayers and ask our Lady of Guadalupe, the Patroness of the Unborn, to protect all children that they may be given a chance in life to reach their fullest potential as beloved sons and daughters of our Father in heaven. Amen.

Love,

Bỏ Phúc

P.S. These are the readings for the day: 2 Sm 5:1-7, 10 and Mk 3:22-30 (below).

. . .

The scribes who had come from Jerusalem said of Jesus,

"He is possessed by Beelzebul," and

"By the prince of demons he drives out demons."

Summoning them, he began to speak to them in parables,

"How can Satan drive out Satan?

If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.

And if a house is divided against itself,

that house will not be able to stand.

And if Satan has risen up against himself and is divided,

he cannot stand;

that is the end of him.

But no one can enter a strong man's house to plunder his property

unless he first ties up the strong man.

Then he can plunder his house.  

Amen, I say to you, all sins and all blasphemies

that people utter will be forgiven them.

But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit

will never have forgiveness,

but is guilty of an everlasting sin."

For they had said, "He has an unclean spirit."

My Vocation Story (Part 3) - Growing in Faith

In Part 2 (https://dcnphuc2019.blogspot.com/2024/01/my-vocation-story-part-2-call-to.html), I shared my conversion story and coming home to Rome at the Easter Vigil in 2008. In high school, I did a lot of volunteer work through after-school activities and clubs. I also volunteered at the public library and even at the nursing home where my mom worked at for years. So after I came into the Catholic Church, God put in my heart that I would grow in my newfound Catholic faith through volunteerism.

There was no better way than with a fraternal order whose first pillar is charity, and that was what I did. I became a Knight of Columbus a few months after I became Catholic and by the fall of 2010, I was a Fourth Degree Sir Knight. As I reflect back on first few years as a Catholic, I can see God's hands molding me and guiding me on the path that He would eventually call me to - as a deacon in His one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church.

God led me to the Knights of Columbus where I learned servant leadership through charity, Christian unity, fraternal brotherhood in Christ, and patriotism and love of country. He then helped me to grow in my faith, prayer life, and spirituality through my involvement with Christ Renews His Parish (CRHP) as a retreatant, team member, and then the chair of the Continuation Committee. My wife and I also worked with engaged couples as facilitators of the FOCCUS relationship inventory. Most of all, I was blessed with the opportunity to serve God by serving His people and building up His kingdom at Saint Albert the Great Catholic Church.

Through it all, God guided me and prepared me for His call to the diaconate, to become a deacon. . . Most of all, God knew exactly wanted I needed. He still does and continues to guide me every day.

[Pictured is me in my full Fourth Degree regalia, which my wife and family members pitched in to purchase for me for Christmas after my became a Sir Knight in 2010. I wore it for the first time at the March for Life/Rally for Life in January of 2011.]

My Vocation Story (Part 1) - St. Brendan https://dcnphuc2019.blogspot.com/2024/01/my-vocation-story-part-1-st-brendan.html

My Vocation Story (Part 2) - Call to Conversion https://dcnphuc2019.blogspot.com/2024/01/my-vocation-story-part-2-call-to.html

My Vocation Story (Part 3) - Growing in Faith https://dcnphuc2019.blogspot.com/2024/01/my-vocation-story-part-3-growing-in.html

My Vocation Story (Part 4) - Call to the Diaconate https://dcnphuc2019.blogspot.com/2024/01/my-vocation-story-part-4-call-to.html

My Vocation Story (Part 5) - Servant of the Suffering Servant born of a Lowly Servant https://dcnphuc2019.blogspot.com/2024/01/my-vocation-story-part-5-servant-of.html

Dearest Goddaughter (LTR-39) - Out of Our Mind

Dearest Goddaughter,

In today's Gospel, Jesus' relatives saw the busy schedule that Jesus had because crowds followed him everywhere that it was even impossible for them to eat. Sometimes, when we follow the will of God for us, those around us might not fully understand why. They might even say that we are "out of our minds" like Jesus' relatives said of him. Sometimes we think this ourselves.

I remember during Diaconal Formation how I had to attend classes every other Saturday and write papers and read textbooks in the evenings and on weekends when I did not have class. I thought to myself, "I must be out of my mind." I could be outside having fun, visiting my family, or hanging out with friends. I missed my nephews' and nieces' birthdays. I even missed my nephew's baptism because I had to attend Diaconal Formation classes.

In those moments, I found myself having to pray harder and deeper, asking God for strength and courage to trust in His plan for me. It was challenging because not only am I dealing with my own self-doubts and questionings, but I know that Satan was also putting things not of God in my heart and mind.

So, in those moments, do not make any changes but draw even closer to God in prayer. Spend time before the Blessed Sacrament in Adoration. Whatever it is that we need to do to stay closer to God and trust in Him, do it. When we do, we will find ourselves saying "Not Today, Satan!" confidently and not "I must be out of my mind."

Love,

Bỏ Phúc

P.S. These are the readings for the day: 2 Sm 1:1-4, 11-12, 19, 23-27 and Mk 3:20-21 (below).

. . .

Jesus came with his disciples into the house.

Again the crowd gathered,

making it impossible for them even to eat.

When his relatives heard of this they set out to seize him,

for they said, “He is out of his mind.”

My Vocation Story (Part 2) - Call to Conversion

In Part 1 (https://dcnphuc2019.blogspot.com/2024/01/my-vocation-story-part-1-st-brendan.html), I shared about my early childhood encounter with Jesus Christ at St. Brendan School in New Haven, CT. It was not until my second year in college at UT-Austin that God called me home to Rome through my future wife - Theresa. We met through a student organization's lion / dragon dance team and, before we broke for the summer, I asked her to be my girlfriend. She said "yes". (Thank goodness!)

While I did not go to temple or really practiced by Buddhist faith, she was a devout Catholic and made sure that she went to Mass every Sunday and on holy days of obligation. Many young adults stray from their faith during their college years (as I would learn later on while working with engaged couples preparing for the Sacrament of Marriage), she not only did not stray from her faith but her devotion to her Catholic faith got me exploring the faith as well.

A few years into our relationship, she invited me to attend Mass with her. I remember my first few times at St. Albert the Great Catholic Church. I went through the whole stand-sit-kneel (repeat). As I listened Fr. Bill Brooks give his homilies (in his usual dramatic style), I thought to myself: "what in the world am I getting myself into?" From a cultural/traditional standpoint, I was determined to remain Buddhist and not convert to Catholicism because I was the eldest son in the family. However, what really struck me was, neither Theresa nor her parents ever brought up converting to Catholicism during our almost 8-year relationship.

Over time, God chipped away at the wall that I was building our my heart to keep Jesus out. He did this through our UNITAS sponsor couple for marriage preparation, my Sunday experience going to Mass, our relationship with Fr. Isidore (who was doing our marriage paperwork), and, of course, Theresa. Then, a month after our formal engagement during Thanksgiving of 2006, the wall came tumbling down. I asked Theresa to attend classes with me. She was a bit confused because we had completed all the classes for marriage prep. I told her it is classes for the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (R.C.I.A.). God was calling me home to Rome, and so my faith journey began with Inquiry Sessions with Deacon Al C. and lots of questions.

At the Easter Vigil in 2008 (March 22nd), 2 months shy of our 1 year anniversary as husband and wife, I was received into the Catholic Church - Baptism, Confirmation, Reconciliation, and Eucharist. It was good to be home but God was not done with me yet. . .

[Picture of me and Theresa taken during the Easter Vigil on March 22, 2008 when I came home to Rome.]

My Vocation Story (Part 1) - St. Brendan https://dcnphuc2019.blogspot.com/2024/01/my-vocation-story-part-1-st-brendan.html

My Vocation Story (Part 2) - Call to Conversion https://dcnphuc2019.blogspot.com/2024/01/my-vocation-story-part-2-call-to.html

My Vocation Story (Part 3) - Growing in Faith https://dcnphuc2019.blogspot.com/2024/01/my-vocation-story-part-3-growing-in.html

My Vocation Story (Part 4) - Call to the Diaconate https://dcnphuc2019.blogspot.com/2024/01/my-vocation-story-part-4-call-to.html

My Vocation Story (Part 5) - Servant of the Suffering Servant born of a Lowly Servant https://dcnphuc2019.blogspot.com/2024/01/my-vocation-story-part-5-servant-of.html

Dearest Goddaughter (LTR-38) - Prince of Peace

Dearest Goddaughter,

There are times and situations where we may be in a position that gives us an advantage over another person - for instance, an employer over his or her employees. As the saying goes - "with great power comes tremendous responsibility." Sometimes, the greatest power is restraint.

David had the advantage over Saul in the cave yet he chose restraint and mercy. He could have killed Saul, the man who is hunting him to kill him, yet he chose restraint and mercy. As with when he faced the Philistine, David trusted that God would deliver him from his enemy, saying: "The Lord will be the judge; he will decide. . ." We must stand up against injustice, no doubt about it; however, let us allow the Spirit of God to guide us rather than raw emotions or feelings.

This can be hard for us, especially in the face of injustice, but I think it would be prudent of us to practice restraint, pause to pray, and discern next-steps. The woes in our society exist in part because we do not practice restraint with each other but are driven by our impulses. We see this on social media and in how people lash out at one another. As I mentioned before, it would behoove us practice the pause before we react.

Jesus picked the twelve disciples and gave them the authority to preach and the power to drive out demons, to share His message of love, mercy, and forgiveness and not to lord over others. Jesus is the Prince of Peace. May we look to him so that we, too, can be instruments of faith, hope, and love in our family, communities, and world.

Love,

Bỏ Phúc

P.S. These are the readings for the day: 1 Sm 24:3-21 and Mk 3:13-19 (below).

. . .

Jesus went up the mountain and summoned those whom he wanted

and they came to him.

He appointed Twelve, whom he also named Apostles,

that they might be with him

and he might send them forth to preach

and to have authority to drive out demons:

He appointed the Twelve:

Simon, whom he named Peter;

James, son of Zebedee,

and John the brother of James, whom he named Boanerges,

that is, sons of thunder;

Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew,

Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus;

Thaddeus, Simon the Cananean,

and Judas Iscariot who betrayed him.

My Vocation Story (Part 1) - St. Brendan

This weekend (Jan. 20-21) is Called By Name Sunday in the Diocese of Austin. Our pastors are encouraged to share their vocation stories with us to foster awareness of vocation to the priesthood and religious life (and, might I add, the diaconate). In light of that, I wanted to share briefly my own vocation story.

According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC), the definition of vocation is:

"the calling or destiny we have in this life and hereafter. God has created the human person to love and serve him; the fulfillment of this vocation is eternal happiness. Christ calls the faithful to the perfection of holiness."

Therefore, our vocation is a "calling or destiny" that comes from our relationship with God, our Creator. He breathes life into us so that we may "love and serve him," not out of obligation or servitude, but of our own freewill through a loving relationship between Father and His son or daughter.

For me, I first encountered Jesus as a young boy at St. Brendan School (pictured below), in New Heaven, CT, where I attended kindergarten, first grade, and second grade. The Dominican sisters who were my teachers in first grade (Sr. Maria Pia), second great (her name evades my memory but I believe it was Sr. Juanita), and the principal (Sr. Marie Antoinette) made a lasting impression on me. I love getting glow-in-the-dark Rosaries, attending Mass, kneeling at the Communion rails, and gazing upon Christ Crucified on the Cross. I remember Easter Egg Hunts on the grounds of the school, the convent, the rectory, and the church.

My time at St. Brendan would forever form my faith and idea of God because, interesting enough, when I prayed (even as a Buddhist growing up), I would have the image of God and Jesus in my mind. From third grade until I met my future wife in college, I did not have a lot of exposure to Christianity or the Catholic Church besides knowing a few of my friends in high school were Catholics. However, my experience at St. Brendan would stay with me throughout my early years and even now.

[Picture of the former St. Brendan Church, Whalley Avenue, New Haven from https://staedan-stbrendan-parishes.org/our_history (1/18/2024).]

My Vocation Story (Part 1) - St. Brendan https://dcnphuc2019.blogspot.com/2024/01/my-vocation-story-part-1-st-brendan.html

My Vocation Story (Part 2) - Call to Conversion https://dcnphuc2019.blogspot.com/2024/01/my-vocation-story-part-2-call-to.html

My Vocation Story (Part 3) - Growing in Faith https://dcnphuc2019.blogspot.com/2024/01/my-vocation-story-part-3-growing-in.html

My Vocation Story (Part 4) - Call to the Diaconate https://dcnphuc2019.blogspot.com/2024/01/my-vocation-story-part-4-call-to.html

My Vocation Story (Part 5) - Servant of the Suffering Servant born of a Lowly Servant https://dcnphuc2019.blogspot.com/2024/01/my-vocation-story-part-5-servant-of.html

Dearest Goddaughter (LTR-37) - Saul and Darth Vader

Dearest Goddaughter,

Jealousy blinds us to the goodness of others. Saul became jealous of David because the people credited him with slewing ten thousands while Saul only thousands. Jealousy leads us to do irrational things. Saul had the intention to kill David out of jealous rage. However, God puts people in our lives to help us overcome temptation and sin. For Saul, it was his son, Jonathan, who had the courage to stand up to his father and his king and reminded him of what God did through David.

When we do God's work and bring others to Him, there may even be some who might become jealous of our success. Throughout the Gospels, we hear about how the Pharisees and Sadducees were jealous of the great works that Jesus was doing with his preaching, teaching, and healing. He gained a large following and brought many people to his Father in heaven. In moments when we are jealous of another, we must remind ourselves that we are on the same team, serving the same God. We pray that we surround ourselves with people who hold us accountable and have the courage to point out our waywardness, just like Jonathan did for his father, Saul.

In the Star Wars saga, Jedi Master Yoda warns that Anakin Skywalker's fear would lead to anger, anger to hate, and hate to suffering. We saw all that as Anakin Skywalker is transformed into Darth Vader. In the midst of his going over to the Dark Side, he was also jealous of his Master Obi-won Kenobi. The only difference between Saul and Anakin Skywalker is, the former listened to his son, Jonathan, while the latter refused to listen to his master and friend. Let us listen to God and those who He puts in our lives to guide us on the right path to holiness.

Love,

Bỏ Phúc

P.S. These are the readings for the day: 1 Sm 18:6-9; 19:1-7 and Mk 3:7-12 (below).

. . .

Jesus withdrew toward the sea with his disciples.

A large number of people followed from Galilee and from Judea.

Hearing what he was doing,

a large number of people came to him also from Jerusalem,

from Idumea, from beyond the Jordan,

and from the neighborhood of Tyre and Sidon.

He told his disciples to have a boat ready for him because of the crowd,

so that they would not crush him.

He had cured many and, as a result, those who had diseases

were pressing upon him to touch him.

And whenever unclean spirits saw him they would fall down before him

and shout, “You are the Son of God.”

He warned them sternly not to make him known.

Dearest Goddaughter (LTR-36) - Faith to Move Mountains

Dearest Goddaughter,

How many times have others doubted us in the same way that Saul was skeptical of David going up again the Philistine? How many times have other watched us, waiting for us to fail and fall on our face in the same way that the Pharisee watched Jesus in the synagogue? How do we respond?

We do what David did. We trust in God. David responded to Saul saying, "The Lord. . . will keep me safe." David's faith made a believer out of Saul because Saul replied, saying: "Go! the Lord will be with you." Moreover, to those who watch and wait for us to fail and fall, we respond by trusting in God. We move forward with the mission that God has given us, confident that he will not let us fall; but if we do, He is right there to pick us up.

Let us be like the man who had a withered hand and listen to what Jesus tells us and follow him. Jesus tells the man with the withered hand to come and he comes. Jesus tells the man with the withered hand to stretch out his hand and he stretches out his hand to Christ. His obedience is rewarded because Jesus heals him and restores his hand. Therefore, let us keep our eyes on Jesus and not on the challenge before us or the naysayers.

Love,

Bỏ Phúc

P.S. These are the readings for the day: 1 Sm 17:32-33, 37, 40-51 and Mk 3:1-6 (below).

. . .

Jesus entered the synagogue.

There was a man there who had a withered hand.

They watched Jesus closely

to see if he would cure him on the sabbath

so that they might accuse him.

He said to the man with the withered hand,

"Come up here before us."

Then he said to the Pharisees,

"Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath rather than to do evil,

to save life rather than to destroy it?"

But they remained silent.

Looking around at them with anger

and grieved at their hardness of heart,

Jesus said to the man, "Stretch out your hand."

He stretched it out and his hand was restored.

The Pharisees went out and immediately took counsel

with the Herodians against him to put him to death.

Dearest Goddaughter (LTR-35) - God Looks Into Our Hearts

Dearest Goddaughter,

The Lord said to the prophet Samuel: "“How long will you grieve. . .?" [and then] ". . .be on your way. I am sending you" The Lord does not want us to dwell on the past or get hung up on on whatever it is that holds us back from truly living our lives as disciples of Jesus Christ. This can come across as God being too harsh but that is far from the case.

God looks into our hearts. He loves us and desires only the best for us and He offers that to us at all times, even in the midst of our own uncertainty, doubts, and loss. Our Lord is always present in our lives and ready to help us get back on our feet and lead on on the right path. In those moments, we have a choice to make - listen to God and follow Him or continue to wallow in our own self-pity and be down on ourselves. We only need to ask the Holy Spirit to help us move forward - one foot in front of the other and keep moving on in life.

We must trust in God, just as Samuel did. When we do, we realize that God has something wonderful waiting for us, just as Samuel found David with the help of God. This trust comes from being in a relationship with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, whose love and mercy we experience in the Eucharist at every Mass. Therefore, let us keep holy the sabbath because it was made for us to honor, worship, and give God praise and glory for His many blessings in our lives.

Love,

Bỏ Phúc

P.S. These are the readings for the day: 1 Sm 16:1-13 and Mk 2:23-28 (below).

. . .

As Jesus was passing through a field of grain on the sabbath,

his disciples began to make a path while picking the heads of grain.

At this the Pharisees said to him,

“Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the sabbath?”

He said to them,

“Have you never read what David did

when he was in need and he and his companions were hungry?

How he went into the house of God when Abiathar was high priest

and ate the bread of offering that only the priests could lawfully eat,

and shared it with his companions?”

Then he said to them,

“The sabbath was made for man, not man for the sabbath.

That is why the Son of Man is lord even of the sabbath.”

Dearest Goddaughter (LTR-34) - Undermine Satan's Power

Dearest Goddaughter,

Jesus asks the question: “Can the wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them?" The Lord promises to be with us to the end of times and He keeps his promises in his Real Presence in the Eucharist.. Yet, many (including some Catholics) do not believe, do attend Mass, do not spend time in prayer or in Adoration before the Blessed Sacrament.

Samuel told Saul, in today's first reading, that the Lord "delights in obedience in the command of the Lord" and not in "burnt offerings and sacrifices" that are devoid of true belief, meaning, and right worship of God. It is like sewing a "piece of unshrunken cloth on an old cloak" or pouring "new wine into old wineskins". What we do must come from the heart that leads to conversion in our lives and moves us closer to God.

Therefore, let us rejoice that our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is with us in the Eucharist, especially in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. Saint Ignatius of Antioch once wrote: "Try to gather together more frequently to give thanks to God and to praise him. For when you come together frequently, Satan’s powers are undermined, and the destruction that he threatens is done away with in the unanimity of your faith." Let us then go to Mass with joy and worship God as a faithful people and give him thanks and praise.

The great saint also asked these important question that we should all reflect on: "why is it that we are not all wise when we have received the knowledge of God, which is Jesus Christ? Why do we perish in our stupidity, not knowing the gift the Lord has truly sent us?" God gives us faith and reason to know Him. We can certainly know Him through faith and reason with the help of the Holy Spirit.

Love,

Bỏ Phúc

P.S. These are the readings for the day: 1 Sm 15:16-23 and Mk 2:18-22 (below).

. . .

The disciples of John and of the Pharisees were accustomed to fast.

People came to Jesus and objected,

“Why do the disciples of John and the disciples of the Pharisees fast,

 but your disciples do not fast?”

Jesus answered them,

“Can the wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them?

As long as they have the bridegroom with them they cannot fast.

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

and then they will fast on that day.

No one sews a piece of unshrunken cloth on an old cloak.

If he does, its fullness pulls away,

the new from the old, and the tear gets worse.

Likewise, no one pours new wine into old wineskins.

Otherwise, the wine will burst the skins,

and both the wine and the skins are ruined.

Rather, new wine is poured into fresh wineskins.”

Dearest Goddaughter (LTR-33) - Jesus Saw Their Faith

Dearest Goddaughter,

"It is not you they reject, they are rejecting me as their king," the Lord said to Samuel. In his homily this morning, Fr. Callen Sweeney compared the people's demand for a king to rule over them to what happened in Eden.

The serpent convinced Adam & Eve that God is withholding something from them. So rather than trust that God has provided for them everything they would ever need, Adam & Eve decided to take matters into their own hands and ate from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. We all know the consequences of their rejection of God's love and goodness.

It is often said that when we say "yes" to something, we are saying "no" to something else. For instance, with Lent starting in a little over a month, many of the faithful will "give up" something for Lent. In a sense, they are saying "no" to whatever it is that they are "giving up" and "yes", hopefully, to filling that time with prayer, devotion, etc. that will help them grow in virtue and in their relationship with Jesus during Lent. The challenge for us in our daily lives is to remember to say "yes" to God.

One of the many challenges that parents often face in trying to get their children to Mass on Saturday evenings or Sunday mornings is, they have to compete with sports and activities. There are practices, games, and tournaments that could last all weekend and conflict with Mass. This is when it is important to discern things of God and reject things not of God or that leads us away of God. It is difficult, which is why is also important to surround ourselves with people who share our faithfulness to God, like the men in today's Gospel who made every effort to get their paralytic friend before Jesus.

We hear that they were "unable to get near Jesus"; however, with great efforts that are driven by their faith and devotion to God, they had "broken through".  We, too, must break through the barriers and obstacles that keep us from coming to Jesus and being near him. It takes courage but when we make the effort and break through, Jesus will see our faith and welcomes us as "good and faithful servants." Let us remind ourselves every day to never reject God for anything or anyone.

Love,

Bỏ Phúc

P.S. These are the readings for the day: 1 Sm 8:4-7, 10-22a and Mk 2:1-12 (below).

. . .

When Jesus returned to Capernaum after some days,

it became known that he was at home.

Many gathered together so that there was no longer room for them,

not even around the door,

and he preached the word to them.

They came bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men.

Unable to get near Jesus because of the crowd,

they opened up the roof above him.

After they had broken through,

they let down the mat on which the paralytic was lying.

When Jesus saw their faith, he said to him,

“Child, your sins are forgiven.”

Now some of the scribes were sitting there asking themselves,

“Why does this man speak that way?  He is blaspheming.

Who but God alone can forgive sins?”

Jesus immediately knew in his mind what 

they were thinking to themselves, 

so he said, “Why are you thinking such things in your hearts?

Which is easier, to say to the paralytic,

‘Your sins are forgiven,’

or to say, ‘Rise, pick up your mat and walk’?

But that you may know

that the Son of Man has authority to forgive sins on earth”

–he said to the paralytic,

“I say to you, rise, pick up your mat, and go home.”

He rose, picked up his mat at once, 

and went away in the sight of everyone.

They were all astounded

and glorified God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this.”

Dearest Goddaughter (LTR-32) - I Do Will It

Dearest Goddaughter,

Fr. Doug Jeffers gave a wonderful homily this morning on today's Gospel. He said that while Jesus did not need to perform signs and wonders - like healing the leper or driving our demons or calming the seas - yet he does these things because they are a prefiguration of the Sacraments.

In other words, when the priest - in persona Christi - says the words of consecration (this is my Body. . . this is my Blood), it truly is the Body of Christ and the Blood of Christ in the Eucharist. Or when the priest says, "I absolve. . .", to a penitent, their sin is absolved by Jesus Christ through the priest. In other words, Jesus perform the signs and wonders for our benefit so that we know the word of God is Truth, and what is spoken by God happens.

Knowing this should give us great comfort because when we frequent the Sacraments of the Church, we encounter God and Christ speaks to our hearts through the minister (confession), makes us adopted sons and daughters of the Father (baptism), gives us his Spirit (confirmation), heals us through His created things (i.e., oil of the sick), nourishes and strengthens us with his Body and Blood (in the Eucharist), and helps us to live lives of holiness (sacraments of marriage and holy orders). How blessed are we to have the Sacraments!

Therefore, let us be like the leper in today's Gospel and come to Jesus with trust and confidence and say to him: "If you wish, you can make me [insert your prayer]." Then, listen to God respond to you, saying: "I do will it."

Love,

Bỏ Phúc

P.S. These are the readings for the day: 1 Sm 4:1-11 and Mk 1:40-45 (below).

. . .

A leper came to him and kneeling down begged him and said,

“If you wish, you can make me clean.”

Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand,

touched the leper, and said to him, 

“I do will it. Be made clean.”

The leprosy left him immediately, and he was made clean.

Then, warning him sternly, he dismissed him at once.

Then he said to him, “See that you tell no one anything,

but go, show yourself to the priest

and offer for your cleansing what Moses prescribed;

that will be proof for them.”

The man went away and began to publicize the whole matter.

He spread the report abroad

so that it was impossible for Jesus to enter a town openly.

He remained outside in deserted places,

and people kept coming to him from everywhere.

Dearest Goddaughter (LTR-31) - Here I Am

Dearest Goddaughter,

In today's first reading, we hear these words from Samuel to God: “Speak, for your servant is listening.” These are important words to reflect on in our lives. God is always speaking to us. He whispers in our hearts. He shouts at us through our parents, loved ones, or friends. He guides us on the right paths through the circumstances of our lives (the good and the bad) or through those who are in our lives.

We live in a world that is go-go-go from one thing to the next. We are bombarded with text messages, email notifications, social media posts, etc., that there seem to be no down or quiet time. The weekends that I like the most are those that I can stay at home, read a book, and spend some time listening to God. However, sometimes that is not possible, which is why (for me), I go to daily Mass every morning at Saint Mary Cathedral. I spend that 30-45 minutes in prayer, conversing with God and taking the time to grow in my relationship with Jesus and his Mother Mary.

In the busyness of modern life, we certainly need to practice the pause and listen to God speak to us, saying to Him: "Speak, Lord, I am listening." In other words, we have to do what Jesus did in today's Gospel, he went to a quiet place and prayed. This is so important for our mental health, emotion well-being, and spiritual growth. So, remember, you can never be busier than Jesus was nor is your work more important than Jesus' mission that his Father gave him. Therefore, if Jesus can find time in his busy day to pray and talk with his Father in heaven, then so can we.

Love,

Bỏ Phúc

P.S. These are the readings for the day: 1 Sm 3:1-10, 19-20 (below) and Mk 1:29-39.

. . .

During the time young Samuel was minister to the LORD under Eli,

a revelation of the LORD was uncommon and vision infrequent.

One day Eli was asleep in his usual place.

His eyes had lately grown so weak that he could not see.

The lamp of God was not yet extinguished,

and Samuel was sleeping in the temple of the LORD

where the ark of God was.

The LORD called to Samuel, who answered, “Here I am.”

Samuel ran to Eli and said, “Here I am.  You called me.”

“I did not call you,” Eli said.  “Go back to sleep.” 

So he went back to sleep.

Again the LORD called Samuel, who rose and went to Eli.

“Here I am,” he said. “You called me.”

But Eli answered, “I did not call you, my son. Go back to sleep.”

At that time Samuel was not familiar with the LORD,

because the LORD had not revealed anything to him as yet.

The LORD called Samuel again, for the third time.

Getting up and going to Eli, he said, “Here I am. 

You called me.”

Then Eli understood that the LORD was calling the youth.

So Eli said to Samuel, “Go to sleep, and if you are called, reply,

‘Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening.’” 

When Samuel went to sleep in his place,

the LORD came and revealed his presence,

calling out as before, “Samuel, Samuel!”

Samuel answered, “Speak, for your servant is listening.”

Samuel grew up, and the LORD was with him,

not permitting any word of his to be without effect.

Thus all Israel from Dan to Beersheba

came to know that Samuel was an accredited prophet of the LORD.