Dearest Goddaughter (LTR-30) - God Above All

Dearest Goddaughter,

In today's Gospel, Saint Mark gives us a glimpse into a day in the life of our Lord Jesus Christ, and it is a BUSY day. Jesus healed Simon's mother-in-law who was sick. He then spent the rest of the day and well into the night curing "many who were sick with various diseases, and he driving out many demons." Yet, he found time to pray. After a long day and night, Christ rose up early before dawn and prayed.

I am reminded of this beautiful story about Saint Teresa of Calcutta. She and her fellow sisters were so busy caring for the poor and the sick. Her fellow sisters approached her about how busy they were. In response, Mother Teresa added another Holy Hour to their day. For her, the busier you are, the more time you need for prayer.

What about us? We work with many young couples preparing for the Sacrament of Marriage, many of who are out of practice when it comes to praying. We encourage them to start small - grace before meals or even a short prayer before they kiss each other good night and sleep. We share with them the importance of prayer in their daily lives, especially when they have children. A family that prays together stays together.

My sister-in-law and her husband get really busy with their children, especially when they play sports. Yet, they make sure the kids go to Mass, even if it means rising earlier in the morning. I love them and admire them so much for all they do to instill the love of their faith in their children, even in the busyness of life. Let us all put God first and foremost in our day.

Love,

Bỏ Phúc

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

. . .

On leaving the synagogue

Jesus entered the house of Simon and Andrew with James and John.

Simon’s mother-in-law lay sick with a fever.

They immediately told him about her.

He approached, grasped her hand, and helped her up.

Then the fever left her and she waited on them.

When it was evening, after sunset,

they brought to him all who were ill or possessed by demons.

The whole town was gathered at the door.

He cured many who were sick with various diseases,

and he drove out many demons,

not permitting them to speak because they knew him.

Rising very early before dawn, 

he left and went off to a deserted place, where he prayed.

Simon and those who were with him pursued him

and on finding him said, “Everyone is looking for you.”

He told them, “Let us go on to the nearby villages

that I may preach there also.

For this purpose have I come.”

So he went into their synagogues, preaching and driving out demons 

throughout the whole of Galilee.

Dearest Goddaughter (LTR-29) - Jesus saves

Dearest Goddaughter,

There are times in our lives when we feel trapped, whatever it may be, just like Hannah and the man with an unclean spirit from today's readings. In the moment when they felt most lost, filled with hopelessness, they turned to God - Hannah in prayer and the man with an uncleaned spirit cried out to Jesus. God hears their cry and heals them both.

Jesus can save us if we turn to him in faith, hope, and love because he is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. I recently saw a meme that says: "In the Eucharist, Jesus heals us. In Adoration, Jesus holds us." Therefore, it is up to us to turn to Jesus and trust in his loving mercy. Sometimes this can be hard for us, especially when we are in despair, so let us practice by turning to Jesus in times of joy and giving him praise and thanks for the many blessings in our life. This way, we learn to talk with Jesus and nurture a relationship with our Savior so in times of distress, we can turn to him without any hesitation. Jesus saves.

Finally, when Jesus heals us, let us not forget him. The season of Christmas ended on the Lord's Epiphany (or Baptism of the Lord); however, that does not mean that we cannot carry the spirit of the Child Jesus in our hearts all year long. Let us reflect on what the Incarnation means to us in prayer, in what we do, and in my relationship with a God who loves us so much that He humbled Himself and became like us in all things but sin so that He can be close to us. Let us be close to him. Jesus saves.

Love,

Bỏ Phúc

P.S. These are the readings for the day: 1 Sm 1:9-20 and Mk 1:21-28 (below).

. . .

Jesus came to Capernaum with his followers, 

and on the sabbath he 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-28) - Baptism of the Lord

Dearest Goddaughter,

Today is the feast of the Baptism of the Lord. As the unblemished Lamb of God, Jesus did not need to be baptized by John the Baptist. However, he insisted that John baptized him and, in doing so, sanctified the waters of Baptism for all of us and leaves us a model to follow.

I teach Baptism class and I share with all parents and godparents that one of the greatest gifts they can give their children is Baptism. Their children will be sanctified by the waters of Baptism, given a new life in Jesus Christ our Lord, become adopted sons and daughters of the Father through Christ, and beloved children of our Father in heaven. What a blessing! What a gift!

Through our Baptism, we take part in the mission of the Catholic Church, which Jesus has entrusted to continue his mission on earth: to lead all souls to encounter Jesus through the Holy Spirit and come to know the Father. The graces that flow from the waters of Baptism is the spring of salvation from which we draw water joyfully to strengthen us to desire God above all and to love our neighbors has Christ commands of us.

Let us reflect on our own Baptism, even if we do not remember it because our parents, in their wisdom and love for their children, had us baptized as infants, and hear God speaks these words in our hearts: "You are my beloved son (daughter); with you I am well pleased.

Love,

Bỏ Phúc

P.S. These are the readings for the day: 1 Jn 5:1-9 and Mk 1:7-11 (below).

. . .

This is what John the Baptist proclaimed: 

“One mightier than I is coming after me.

I am not worthy to stoop and loosen the thongs of his sandals.

I have baptized you with water; 

he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

It happened in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee 

and was baptized in the Jordan by John.

On coming up out of the water he saw the heavens being torn open 

and the Spirit, like a dove, descending upon him.

And a voice came from the heavens, 

“You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”

Reflection for the Lord's Epiphany (1/7/2024)

Back in 2004, I planned a road trip around the southeast corner of New Mexico. We started with a couple days of skiing in Ruidoso. Then, drove down to Alamogordo to check out White Sands National Park. The third leg of the road trip took us to Roswell. The final destination was Carlsbad Caverns National Park. I had never been to any of these areas before but I trusted the information I gathered on the internet on these locations.

Back then, I had one of those Rand McNally Road Atlas as my GPS. It was quite the adventure in our rental 15-passenger van but not without its challenges. We were supposed to backtrack to Ruidoso after Alamogordo to get to Roswell but, because of the bizarre that blew in the night before, we had to take a detour through Lincoln National Forest. It was a white-knuckle drive because we were driving on a narrow road with a 100-feet drop off on the other side of the guardrail. I was going 10 mph and every time I stepped on the gas, my friends told me slowdown. It was a memorable road trip and we made it there and back safe and sound. 

I cannot imagine what the three Magi (or Wise Men) must have felt when they left their home to embark on a journey into the unknown with just a star at its rising to guide them. This takes a lot of faith, trust, and hope on their part. Faith in what they learned about the star in their studies is true or their search was all for naught. Trust that, while the journey might be perilous, that they would be safe and protected during their travels. Finally, hope that what lies at the end of their journey - the newborn king of the Jews - is everything that they had hoped for (which, as we all know, was that and so much more for them and for us). Most of all, unlike King Herod, they did not allow fear, inadequacy, and worries to consume them and darken their actions and intentions.

Just as the Magi were guided by a light that led them to Christ, let us also be guided by the light of Christ in our own lives so that we can become the light of Christ for others in our world. How? Let us reflect on the gifts that the Wise Men brought for the Child Jesus and how they relate to the three offices of our Lord Jesus Christ that we are baptized into - priest, prophet, and king. The gift of gold for a king; however, not a king that lord over others but one who is a servant leader. Jesus came to serve, not to be served. The gift of frankincense for a prophet, who is called to lift others up in prayers but also spread the Good News of our Lord Jesus Christ by sharing it with others. Finally, the gift of myrrh, to remind us that we died to our old self in the water of baptism so that we can rise with Christ to new life in him.

Let us, therefore, be like the Magi and walk this journey of life not in fear, inadequacy, and worries but with faith, trust, and hope because we are guided by the light of Christ. 

Dearest Goddaughter (LTR-27) - Baptized in Christ Jesus

Dearest Goddaughter,

Sisters and brothers in Christ, Saint John writes that we "have eternal life, [we] who believe in the name of the Son of God." Where does his confidence come from to make such a bold statement? It comes from God, who at the baptism of our Lord Jesus Christ in the Jordan River, by Saint John the Baptist, said: "You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased."

Therefore, we too should have confidence to witness to the life of Jesus, his teachings, and his Passion and Resurrection, because the Spirit of Truth is with us. Most of all, let us know in our hearts that we, too, through the waters of Baptism are beloved sons and daughters of our Father in heaven. Saint Gregory of Nazianzus, bishop, wrote: "Christ is bathed in light; let us also be bathed in light. Christ is baptized; let us also go down with him, and rise with him."

How blessed we are to be baptized and incorporated into the Body of Christ, the Church! Our Christian dignity, our dignity has a human person is not rooted in the world, but in the divine, because our dignity comes from God, our Creator, the Author of Life. Once again from Saint Gregory of Nazianzus: "Nothing gives such pleasure to God as the conversion and salvation of men, for whom his every word and every revelation exist. He wants you to become a living force for all mankind, lights shining in the world. You are to be radiant lights as you stand beside Christ, the great light, bathed in the glory of him who is the light of heaven."

Love,

Bỏ Phúc

P.S. These are the readings for the day: 1 Jn 5:5-13 and Mk 1:7-11 (below).

. . .

This is what John the Baptist proclaimed:

"One mightier than I is coming after me.

I am not worthy to stoop and loosen the thongs of his sandals.

I have baptized you with water;

he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."

It happened in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee

and was baptized in the Jordan by John.

On coming up out of the water he saw the heavens being torn open

and the Spirit, like a dove, descending upon him.

And a voice came from the heavens,

"You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased."

Dearest Goddaughter (LTR-26) - Saint John Neumann, pray for us!

Dearest Goddaughter, 

Jesus found Philip and said to him, "Follow me," Then, Philip found Nathanael and invited him to "come and see" Jesus. Jesus is always searching our hearts and inviting us to follow him. For our part, we need to prepare our hearts - through attending Mass, daily prayer, Adoration, and receiving the Sacraments - to receive Jesus so that his Spirit dwells in our hearts. Then, we are called to share the Good News of Jesus Christ with others, in words and deeds as Saint John tells us in today's first reading.

This weekend, we celebrate the Epiphany of the Lord and, then on Monday, we celebrate the Baptism of the Lord. Both are opportunities to invite Jesus into our hearts and remind ourselves of our baptismal promise - to go forth and make disciples of all nations. But it starts with our own conversion of heart, which is a daily commitment to come and follow Jesus. It is not a one-time deal and then we are done but in how we live our daily lives as witnesses of God's Truth and love through faith and hope in God.

This will take effort on our part. Most of all, it will take obedience on our part. Obedience to God's will for us, which, above all, is to love Him and love our neighbors. Obedience can be difficult for us and, if that is the case, then let us look to the saint, whose feast day we are celebrating today - Saint John Neumann. The saint once said: "I have taken this burden [of leaving the episcopacy if it is the desire of the Holy See] out of obedience, and I have labored with all my powers to fulfill the duties of my office, and with God’s help, as I hope, not without fruit."

Let us ask for Saint John Neumann's intercession so that we have the courage to be obedient to God is all things, just as Jesus recognized in Nathanael his obedience and "no duplicity in him."

Love,

Bỏ Phúc

P.S. These are the readings for the day: 1 Jn 3:11-21 and Jn 1:43-51 (below).

. . .

Jesus decided to go to Galilee, and he found Philip.

And Jesus said to him, "Follow me."

Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the town of Andrew and Peter.

Philip found Nathanael and told him,

"We have found the one about whom Moses wrote in the law,

and also the prophets, Jesus, son of Joseph, from Nazareth."

But Nathanael said to him,

"Can anything good come from Nazareth?"

Philip said to him, "Come and see."

Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him,

"Here is a true child of Israel.

There is no duplicity in him."

Nathanael said to him, "How do you know me?"

Jesus answered and said to him,

"Before Philip called you, I saw you under the fig tree."

Nathanael answered him,

"Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel."

Jesus answered and said to him,

"Do you believe

because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree?

You will see greater things than this."

And he said to him, "Amen, amen, I say to you,

you will see the sky opened and the angels of God

ascending and descending on the Son of Man."

Dearest Goddaughter (LTR-25) - Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, pray for us!

Dearest Goddaughter, 

We often hear in Scripture that Mary kept certain things related to her Son, Jesus, in her heart and reflecting on them. One of those things is in today's Gospel when John the Baptist sees Jesus walking by and says to everyone present: "Behold, the Lamb of God." John the Baptist is drawing attention to the Jesus, the Messiah, and even allows his followers, including Andrew (the brother of Peter) and John, to seek out Jesus and come after him. What faith! What humility!

During the Liturgy of the Eucharist, the priest raises the Body of Christ and the Precious Blood and says these words: “Behold the Lamb of God, behold him who takes away the sins of the world. Blessed are those called to the supper of the Lamb.” The faithful responds, saying: "Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed.”

Indeed, we are unworthy but our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ nevertheless comes to redeem us and calls us to himself because he loves us as the apple of his eyes. Knowing that we are unworthy should motivate us to strive for holiness and saintliness in our lives so that we may one day stand before Christ in heaven as "good and faithful" servants, worthy of the sacrifice of our Lord on the Cross for us.

And what can we do to become holy? Let us listen to what Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton (whose feast we celebrate today) tells us: ". . .the first end I propose in our daily work is to do the will of God; secondly, to do it in the manner he wills; and thirdly, to do it because it is his will." Yes, to become holy, we must discern God's will and ask for the grace and courage to follow His will for us, just as John the Baptist's life always pointed to Christ, ours must do the same.

Love,

Bỏ Phúc

P.S. These are the readings for the day: 1 Jn 3:7-10 and Jn 1:35-42 (below).

. . .

John was standing with two of his disciples,

and as he watched Jesus walk by, he said,

“Behold, the Lamb of God.”

The two disciples heard what he said and followed Jesus.

Jesus turned and saw them following him and said to them,

“What are you looking for?”

They said to him, “Rabbi” (which translated means Teacher),

“where are you staying?”

He said to them, “Come, and you will see.”

So they went and saw where he was staying,

and they stayed with him that day.

It was about four in the afternoon.

Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter,

was one of the two who heard John and followed Jesus.

He first found his own brother Simon and told him,

“We have found the Messiah,” which is translated Christ.

Then he brought him to Jesus.

Jesus looked at him and said,

“You are Simon the son of John;

you will be called Cephas,” which is translated Peter.