Dearest Goddaughter (LTR-52) - Ephphatha!

Dearest Goddaughter,

I love baptizing babies and toddlers. I also pray for them and their parents and godparents because it is the responsibility of the parents (with the help of the godparents) to teach and form their children in the Catholic faith. I tell parents that the greatest legacy and gift that they can leave their children is a robust faith in God through Jesus Christ with the Holy Spirit. This means that the parents and godparents must also be strong in their Catholic faith.

One of my favorite parts of the Rite of Baptism is the Ephphatha, which has its origin from today's Gospel. The people brought to Jesus a "deaf man who had a speech impediment." Jesus "put his finger into the man's ears and, spitting, touched his tongue; then he looked up to heaven and groaned, and said to him, "Ephphatha!" (that is, "Be opened!"). . . immediately the man's ears were opened, his speech impediment was removed. . ."

After I do the Sign of the Cross on the ears and mouth of the child, I invite the parents and godparents to do the same. I share with them this story in the Gospel and explain that their (god)child's  ears are now open to hear God's words through His Word and speak His Truth for others. But, first, the parents and godparents, along with their families and the support of their parish family, must form the child in the Catholic faith. The parents are the heads of their family - the domestic church - in communion with the Catholic Church. 

Love,

Bỏ Phúc

P.S. These are the readings for the day: 1 kgs 11:29-32; 12:19 and Mk 7:31-37 (below).

. . .

Jesus left the district of Tyre

and went by way of Sidon to the Sea of Galilee,

into the district of the Decapolis.

And people brought to him a deaf man who had a speech impediment

and begged him to lay his hand on him.

He took him off by himself away from the crowd.

He put his finger into the man's ears

and, spitting, touched his tongue;

then he looked up to heaven and groaned, and said to him,

"Ephphatha!" (that is, "Be opened!")

And immediately the man's ears were opened,

his speech impediment was removed,

and he spoke plainly.

He ordered them not to tell anyone.

But the more he ordered them not to,

the more they proclaimed it.

They were exceedingly astonished and they said,

"He has done all things well.

He makes the deaf hear and the mute speak."

Dearest Goddaughter (LTR-51) - Love God Above All

Dearest Goddaughter,

God asks of us two things and these are the two Commandments that Jesus teaches us: to love God with all our heart, mind, and soul, and to love our neighbors.

When I first met Theresa, I was not a Catholic, but I saw in her how much she loved her faith. As we prepared for marriage and took the #Unitas marriage classes, the couples teaching the class challenged me not just to allow her to grow in her faith, by not being an impediment or obstacle, but also to grow in my own faith with her as a married couple. I had no doubt that I would support her by attending Mass with her on Sundays. However, God placed on my heart what it truly means for the two to become one flesh, to be united as a married couple. The rest, as they say, is history - my story woven into His story of redemption.

Today's first reading - of how "when Solomon was old his wives had turned his heart to strange gods, and his heart was not entirely with the LORD, his God. . ." - reminded me of my own story. While I am so blessed and happy that Theresa took a chance, followed her heart, and married a unbaptized, non-Catholic,, I would encourage all Catholics to take into consideration not only the faith of the person that they want to start a relationship with, especially if they love their Catholic faith, but also how devoted they are to the practice of their faith because disunity can be painful in a marriage.

I have witnessed this a lot while working with couples preparing for marriage. Certainly, the "heart loves what the heart loves;" however, if our hearts love God above all, then our days will be filled with peace and harmony - in our hearts, marriage, and family.

Love,

Bỏ Phúc

P.S. These are the readings for the day: 1 Kgs 11:4-13 and Mk 7:24-30 (below).

. . .

Jesus went to the district of Tyre.

He entered a house and wanted no one to know about it,

but he could not escape notice.

Soon a woman whose daughter had an unclean spirit heard about him.

She came and fell at his feet.

The woman was a Greek, a Syrophoenician by birth,

and she begged him to drive the demon out of her daughter.

He said to her, “Let the children be fed first.

For it is not right to take the food of the children

and throw it to the dogs.”

She replied and said to him,

“Lord, even the dogs under the table eat the children’s scraps.”

Then he said to her, “For saying this, you may go.

The demon has gone out of your daughter.”

When the woman went home, she found the child lying in bed

and the demon gone.

Dearest Goddaughter (LTR-50) - Breathless

Dearest Goddaughter,

Two young men - who were in R.C.I.A. preparing to receive the Sacraments at the Easter Vigil that following week - came up to me after my Ordination Mass (March of 2019). They were left "breathless" by their experience of their first "major" Mass.

There were KofC Sir Knights, altar servers, deacons, priests, the men to be ordained, and, of course, our Bishop. It was a beautiful Mass. Everyone lifted up their voices giving God praise and worship. Who would not be left "breathless" by the beauty of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass?! I remember my first time experience the Triduum, it left me breathless to think that we get to experience the heavenly banquet right here on earth at Mass.

When I hear how some people "do not get anything out of Mass," I pray for them because, as Jesus tells us in today's Gospel, their hearts are not in the right place. When they prepare their hearts for Mass, through prayer, meditating on the readings for Mass, and falling in love with Jesus Christ in the Eucharist, then the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass will leave them breathless in the same way that Queen Sheba was left breathless by what she witnessed.

Love,

Bỏ Phúc

P.S. These are the readings for the day: 1 Kgs 10:1-10 and Mk 7:14-23 (below).

. . .

Jesus summoned the crowd again and said to them,

“Hear me, all of you, and understand.

Nothing that enters one from outside can defile that person;

but the things that come out from within are what defile.”

When he got home away from the crowd

his disciples questioned him about the parable.

He said to them,

“Are even you likewise without understanding?

Do you not realize that everything

that goes into a person from outside cannot defile,

since it enters not the heart but the stomach

and passes out into the latrine?”

(Thus he declared all foods clean.)

“But what comes out of the man, that is what defiles him.

From within the man, from his heart,

come evil thoughts, unchastity, theft, murder,

adultery, greed, malice, deceit,

licentiousness, envy, blasphemy, arrogance, folly.

All these evils come from within and they defile.”

Dearest Goddaughter (LTR-49) - He Dwells Among Us

Dearest Goddaughter,

In today's first reading, King Solomon dedicated the temple to God and humbly asked, "Can it indeed be that God dwells on earth?" Yes, indeed, it can be that God dwells on earth!

God dwells in us. Saint Paul wrote to the Corinthians, saying: "Do you not know that your body is a temple of the holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own?" (1 Corinthians 6:19) In the beautiful song, we sing: "Holy spirit, You are welcome here Come flood this place and fill the atmosphere Your glory, God, is what our hearts long for To be overcome by Your presence, Lord:"

Most of all, in the Eucharist is the Real Presence of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Saint John Paul II once said, "In that little Host is the solution to all the problems of the world." God indeed dwells on earth and in us when we open our hearts to receive Him.

Jesus desires to be close to us; we long to be close to Him. Sometimes we forget that we do; thankfully, God never stops calling us to Himself. Therefore, let us honor God not only with our lips, but with our hearts as well, and we will never be far from God.

Love,

Bỏ Phúc

P.S. These are the readings for the day: 1 Kgs 8:22-23, 27-30 and Mk 7:1-13 (below).

. . .

When the Pharisees with some scribes who had come from Jerusalem

gathered around Jesus,

they observed that some of his disciples ate their meals

with unclean, that is, unwashed, hands.

(For the Pharisees and, in fact, all Jews,

do not eat without carefully washing their hands,

keeping the tradition of the elders.

And on coming from the marketplace

they do not eat without purifying themselves.

And there are many other things that they have traditionally observed,

the purification of cups and jugs and kettles and beds.)

So the Pharisees and scribes questioned him,

"Why do your disciples not follow the tradition of the elders

but instead eat a meal with unclean hands?"

He responded,

"Well did Isaiah prophesy about you hypocrites,

as it is written:

This people honors me with their lips,

but their hearts are far from me;

In vain do they worship me,

teaching as doctrines human precepts.

You disregard God's commandment but cling to human tradition."

He went on to say,

"How well you have set aside the commandment of God

in order to uphold your tradition!

For Moses said,

Honor your father and your mother,

and Whoever curses father or mother shall die.

Yet you say,

'If someone says to father or mother,

"Any support you might have had from me is qorban"'

(meaning, dedicated to God),

you allow him to do nothing more for his father or mother.

You nullify the word of God

in favor of your tradition that you have handed on.

And you do many such things."

Benediction - Clergy-Religious Appreciation Dinner (2/1/2024)

Blessed for the opportunity to give the Benediction at tonight's Clergy & Religious Appreciation Dinner tonight. Also, we got a selfie with Bishop Joe Vásquez!

Below is the text of my Benediction. #VivatJesus

. . .

Loving and merciful Father,

We give you praise and glory for the opportunity to serve your people in the Diocese of Austin. Help us to share the Way, the Truth, and the Life of our Lord Jesus Christ to all we encounter with charity in our hearts.

O Lord, we are grateful to you for our shepherd, Bishop Joe Vásquez, for his servant leadership and compassion for us and the faithful in the Diocese of Tyler, whom you have entrusted to his loving and pastoral care. We humbly ask that you continue to bless his Episcopate, his family, his Vicars who help him govern the Diocese, as well as his staff and all their families.

Protect all priests, deacons, religious brothers and sisters, and seminarians from the snares of the Devil and help them to resist all his empty promises. Raise up among your people in the Diocese of Austin devoted men and women who will courageously answer your call to the priesthood, diaconate, and consecrated life.

Strengthen the faith of the laity, that they may hear and answer your call to serve the Catholic Church in Austin. May they find in you the freedom to share their time, talents, and treasures, serving their neighbors joyfully. We especially lift up in prayers all Knights of Columbus and their families; that they may continue to be bold witnesses of charity, unity, fraternity, and patriotism in all that they do.

Protect and preserve the sanctity of life, 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, and flourish In their vocations.

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.

Dearest Goddaughter (LTR-48) - Light of Christ #Candlemas

Dearest Goddaughter,

Today is the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord #Candlemas

While their eyes may have dimmed over a lifetime, Simeon and Anna saw the light of world in the child Jesus, saying: "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.”

We received the light of Christ at our Baptism and are charged with keeping that light burning brightly through your lives. However, the squalor of life and our own sinful desires dim the light of Christ in us. For some, the light is extinguished. In those moments, when we find the light is dimming or going out, let us turn to the source of the light, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, for faith, hope, and love.

Today's Gospel also reminds me of the deep love that Mother Mary has for us. She allows her heart to be pierced for our sake and for our salvation. I stand before the Blessed Mother every morning to ask for her intercession for my nieces and nephews. May her maternal heart comfort us all.

Love,

Bỏ Phúc

P.S. These are the readings for the day: Mal 3:1-4; Heb 2:14-18 and Lk 2:22-40 (below).

. . .

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.”

The child’s father and mother were amazed at what was said about him;

and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother,

“Behold, this child is destined

for the fall and rise of many in Israel,

and to be a sign that will be contradicted

—and you yourself a sword will pierce—

so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”

There was also a prophetess, Anna,

the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher.

She was advanced in years,

having lived seven years with her husband after her marriage,

and then as a widow until she was eighty-four.

She never left the temple,

but worshiped night and day with fasting and prayer.

And coming forward at that very time,

she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child

to all who were awaiting the redemption of Jerusalem.

When they had fulfilled all the prescriptions

of the law of the Lord,

they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth.

The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom;

and the favor of God was upon him.

Dearest Goddaughter (LTR-47) - Faith of our Fathers

Dearest Goddaughter,

In our marriage class, I tell the couples that the greatest legacy that they can leave for their children is their Catholic faith. Their faith will help them through difficult and challenging times in their lives because they will know in their hearts and minds that God is with them always.

This belief is rooted in today's first reading from the First Book of Kings in which King David, on his deathbed, said this to Solomon, his son and heir:

"Take courage and be a man. Keep the mandate of the LORD, your God, following his ways and observing his statutes, commands, ordinances, and decrees as they are written in the law of Moses, that you may succeed in whatever you do, wherever you turn. . ."

Moreover, in today's Gospel, Jesus too teach, preach, and pass on the faith in the One True God to the Twelve and sent them forth two by two to do the same in his name. Just as Jesus cultivated the faith of the apostles to maturity, parents are called to cultivate the faith of their children to maturity. It can be challenging but it is an effort, a sacrifice worth making.

Love,

Bỏ Phúc

P.S. These are the readings for the day: 1 Kgs 2:1-4, 10-12 and Mk 6:7-13 (below).

. . .

Jesus summoned the Twelve and began to send them out two by two

and gave them authority over unclean spirits.

He instructed them to take nothing for the journey but a walking stick

–no food, no sack, no money in their belts.

They were, however, to wear sandals but not a second tunic.

He said to them,

"Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you leave from there.

Whatever place does not welcome you or listen to you,

leave there and shake the dust off your feet

in testimony against them."

So they went off and preached repentance.

The Twelve drove out many demons,

and they anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them.