Sisters and brothers in Christ, today is the Memorial of Saint John of the Cross. This is from today's Office of Reading, From a spiritual Canticle by Saint John of the Cross, priest:
"Would that men might come at last to see that it is quite impossible to reach the thicket of the riches and wisdom of God except by first entering the thicket of much suffering, in such a way that the soul finds there its consolation and desire. The soul that longs for divine wisdom chooses first, and in truth, to enter the thicket of the cross. . . The gate that gives entry into these riches of his wisdom is the cross; because it is a narrow gate, while many seek the joys that can be gained through it, it is given to few to desire to pass through it.."
As we heard in today's Gospel, John the Baptist came to lead the people of God on the path of salvation repentance for the forgiveness of sin. He even called our Herod for his sinfulness, yet the people did not listen to him. Herod even had him beheaded. Repentance requires us to turn away from a life of sin and turn to God, but the people did not want to listen to John the Baptist.
Then, Jesus came to lead us to salvation through the narrow gate that is his Cross upon which he was crucified, suffered, and died for our sins to redeem us. As Saint John of the Cross wrote, to know Jesus, to come and follow him, means suffering because we die to our old self and habits. It is a process is painful but it purifies and sanctifies us so that we can come to know Jesus better. Therefore, let us not be afraid to suffer for Christ through his Cross.
[Memorial of Saint John of the Cross, Priest and Doctor of the Church (Year C) - Mt 17:9a, 10-13] #gospelreflection #Catholic #diakonia
Sisters and brothers in Christ, today's Gospel reminds me of when Jesus said, "I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already blazing!" (Lk 12:49). Do we just go "through the motions" with our faith or do we respond to God with intentionality and fervor? Is our generation like the generation in Jesus' time - indifferent. . . "[we] played the flute for you, but you did not dance, we sang a dirge but you did not mourn"?
God teaches us what is for our good, yet we do not want to listen to him. He leads us on the way that we should do, yet we want to di things our way. Our Lord promises that if we would hearken to his commandments, then our prosperity would be like a river, yet we do not want to follow his commandments. Saint John wrote that "those who follow [the Lord] will have the light of life," so why would we not want that light of life for ourselves and for our loved ones? That is what Jesus desires for us.
As we prepare ourselves for the celebration of the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, our Redeemer, and await his Second Coming, let us be intentional in the practice of our faith in words and actions. Let our faith be the well-spring from which we are people of hope and love. When we do, the light of life, which is Jesus Christ himself, will shine brightly in us and we can set the world on fire with the love of God.
[Friday of the Second Week of Advent (Year C) - Mt 11:16-19] #gospelreflection #Catholic #diakonia
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Sisters and brothers in Christ, today is the FEAST OF OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE.
In both Gospel options for Mass today, we hear the story of the Annunciation and Visitation from the Gospel of Luke. At the Annunciation, the Blessed Virgin Mary, "full of grace", received a message from the angel Gabriel. In response, Mary gave her Fiat (or yes) to God, saying: "“Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.”
In the Visitation, we hear that Mary made haste to see her cousin, Elizabeth, in the countryside. The news from the angel Gabriel was so wonderful, so great that Mary had to share it. In a way, John the Baptist was already heralding the coming of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in his mother's womb because we hear Elizabeth exclaimed: "And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy."
As we celebrate the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, we are reminded that Mother Mary continues to lead all of us - beloved sons and daughters of the Father - to her Son our Lord Jesus Christ. The appearance of Our Lady to San Juan Diego led to the conversion of millions to the Catholic faith. Mary continues to lead countless souls to her Son.
We are called to imitate Mother Mary and lead others to Christ, and she is there to intercede for us and help us with our mission. It can be a daunting challenge but, as the angel Gabriel said, "Do not be afraid. . ." Therefore, let us not be afraid but have faith and trust in God and find strength in the Holy Spirit, through the intercession of Mother Mary, to say to our Lord Jesus Christ: "May it be done to me according to your word."
[Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe (Year C) - LK 1:26-38 or Lk 1:39-47] #gospelreflection #Catholic #diakonia
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Sisters and brothers in Christ, as I vest for Mass, there is a prayer for each item that I pray as I put them on - the amice, alb, cincture, stole, and dalmatic. As I put on the dalmatic, I pray: "Lord, you have said that your yoke is each and your burden light. Grant that I made be able to bear it as to obtain your grace."
It is such a beautiful prayer (all of them are) and reminds me that my life, as Saint Paul puts it, is Christ's. This pray finds its origin in today's Gospel in which Jesus says to us: "Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves. For my yoke is easy, and my burden light."
After a long day's work or a long work week, whenever I put on my vestment and pray these prayers, I feel a weight being lifted and I know immediately that God is carrying whatever burden it is that is weighing me down. In that moment, I take a deep breath and fill my lungs with the sweetness of the Holy Spirit, who rejuvenates and refreshes me - mind, body, soul, and spirit.
I get this feeling every time I am at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, which is why I would encourage folks that, if they are able, then go to Mass daily, receive our Lord Jesus Christ in the Eucharist, and be renewed and restored.
[Wednesday of the Second Week of Advent (Year C) - Mt 11:28-30] #gospelreflection #Catholic #diakonia
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Sisters and brothers in Christ, in today's Gospel, Jesus tells us the parable of the shepherd who leaves his 99 sheep to go after the one lost sheep. Then, he asks the questions, "What is your opinion?"
My snap judgment would be to say, "why would the shepherd leave 99 sheep to go after 1 lost sheep? It does not make sense to sacrifice the many for one." Then, a thought comes to my mind, "what if I am the 1 lost sheep? Would I not want the shepherd to come find me?" Of course, I would!
Jesus is the Good Shepherd, we are the sheep of his flock. Christ "feeds his flock" with his Body and Blood in the Eucharist, which we receive at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. "In his arms he gathers the lambs" and entrust us to the care of his one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church. Jesus is able to go after the 1 lost sheep because he trusts that the remaining 99 sheep would not go astray. He trusts that the 99 would stay together, support each other, and protect each other. That is what we are called to do for each other as sisters and brothers in Christ - stay together, support each other, and protect each other.
To love one another as God loves us (and commands us to do for each other) is to will the good of another. We are free to live lives of holiness because God loves us and wills our good. In a marriage, the wife is free to become the best version of herself because she is secured in the love of her husband. In the same way, a husband is free to become the best version of himself because he is secured in the love of his wife. They are like the 99 sheep, which allows Jesus, through them, to go after the lost sheep.
Therefore, sisters and brothers in Christ, let us live lives of faith, hope, and charity because, when we secured in God's love for us, it frees us to be instruments of God to go after the lost sheep and bring him/she home to Jesus' loving embrace.
[Tuesday of the Second Week of Advent (Year C) - Mt 18:12-14] #gospelreflection #Catholic #diakonia
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Sisters and brothers in Christ, today is the SOLEMNITY OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY, a holy day of obligation, and so we vest in blue for Mother Mary.
However, our Bishop has dispensed us of the obligation to go to Mass today. However, like me, if you are able to go to Mass today for Mother Mary, then please go to Mass.
On Saturday morning, I was asked to lead my brother Knights in the recitation of the Holy Rosary at the Knights of Columbus - Texas State Council Mid-Year Meeting. The Holy Spirit moved me to prepare this introduction of the season of Advent and the Joyful Mysteries of the Holy Rosary to share with those present.
This is the short reflection that I shared before leading the Holy Rosary:
"The Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary are the story of Advent. It is the story of Mary giving her “Yes” (her Fiat) to God and becoming the first Tabernacle. Mary’s “Yes” made the Incarnation the Word became flesh and dwelt among us. God enters into our human history to save us from sin and death. As we pray the Joyful Mysteries, let us reflect on the great mystery of the Incarnation, the hope, peace, joy, and love of God this Advent, as we prepare our hearts to receive our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ this Christmas."
[Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Year C) - Lk 1:26-38] #gospelreflection #Catholic #diakonia
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Sisters and brothers in Christ, on the SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT, we light the Bethlehem Candle, a symbol of PEACE and preparation for our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ who is the PRINCE OF PEACE.
What is the PEACE of Christ like? For me, it is the straight path through the peaks and valleys along the winding roads of life. It is trusting God in the midst of a chaotic world because Jesus Christ is the reason for our HOPE. The PEACE of Christ is knowing that there is a better tomorrow and that whatever difficulties and challenges we face in life, they too shall pass.
Nothing robs us of Christ's PEACE in our lives more than sin and unforgiveness. Sin separates is from the love of God and, when our heart is restless (as St. Augustine wrote) it is not at PEACE. Moreover, unforgiveness disturbs our PEACE because we cannot ask God to forgive us our trespasses when we cannot forgive those who trespass against us (as we say in the Lord's Prayer).
This is the message that "John [the Baptist] went throughout the whole region of the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. . ." When we are reconciled with God and with one another, the PEACE of Jesus Christ reigns in our hearts because our Lord will come and say to us, as he said to the apostles in the upper room: "PEACE be with you."
[Second Sunday of Advent (Year C) - Lk 3:1-6] #gospelreflection #Catholic #diakonia
