Homily For First Sunday of Advent

Good morning my brothers and sisters in Christ. May the grace of God be at work in each and everyone of you as we enter the Season of Advent. To some, today's celebration of the First Sunday of Advent is a reminder that there is less than one month before the arrival of Christmas. To others, it means that the rush is on to put twinkling lights around the house, to buy what is needed for the Christmas pastry cooking, to shop for presents. And to others yet, it means to make peace with relatives so all may enjoy a wonderful family Christmas as Christ intended it to be.

According to the teachings of the Catholic Church, Advent means three things:

(1) It means to prepare ourselves to be worthy of celebrating the Christmas anniversary of the Lord's coming into the world as the incarnate God of love.

(2) It means that through the Sacrament of Holy Communion and through grace, we are to prepare our souls as fitting abodes for the coming of the Redeemer.

(3) It means to prepare ourselves for the final coming of the Lord as our Judge, either at death or at the end of the world, whichever may come first.

Today three readings from the Holy Bible prepare us to be spiritually uplifted according to these three goals of the Season of Advent.

During the First Reading from the Book of Jeremiah, we heard that during the days of the Old Testament, the Lord God repeated the promises that He had made to Abraham and to His descendants. [Gen. 22:15-18] To Abraham and his offspring, God had promised to bless them, that they would be as numerous as the stars of heaven and as the sand that is on the seashore. And they shall possess the gate of their enemies and by his offspring shall all the nations of the earth gain blessing for themselves.

Over and above this, God was now promising that a righteous Branch would spring up from the descendants of king David, the righteous One executing justice and righteousness in the land. While the Jewish people of those days took these words as meaning the coming of a King and a worldly kingdom, that was not what God was referring to. He was referring to a spiritual Kingdom in which Christ, the offspring, [Gal. 3:16] would be the Firstfruit of many to follow. [1 Cor. 15:20, 23] God was speaking of the spiritual Kingdom that was promised to Abraham, he who was to become the spiritual father of all those who live by faith. [Rom. 4:13-8] God was speaking of the Mystical Body of Christ.

For just as the Father has life in Himself, He was going to grant the Son also to have life in Himself. [Jn. 5:26] Through the mystery of the incarnation, He the Father who is the Righteous One [Rom. 10:3] was going to give all authority [Jn. 5:27; 1 Pet. 3:22] to His Son, the Righteous One who was being called to execute justice and righteousness in the land. Through the righteousness of the Lord Jesus, we as the living saints of the Holy Catholic Church receive our righteousness. As such, "the Lord is our righteousness." [Jer. 33:16]

Today's Gospel Reading echoes the fulfillment of the promises of God the Father through the glorious Resurrection of Jesus Christ. While the Reading appears to contain prophecies of days that are ahead of us, such is not the case. Today's passage from the Gospel of Luke was taken from Chapter 21, verses 25 to 28 and 34 to 36. One particular verse of importance was omitted, that being Luke 21:32, where it states, "Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away, until all things have taken place."

Jesus stated that all the signs mentioned during today's Gospel Reading were to be fulfilled before the passing away of the generation that lived in His days. As such, the signs that He was giving to His followers have to be perceived as representative of the ending of the age of the Old Testament and the beginning of the new age, when the New Covenant was made during the Last Supper.

As Saint John states it, "But there are also many other things that Jesus did; if every one of them were written down, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written." [Jn. 21:25] While the Holy Bible does not tell us everything that happened after the Resurrection of Jesus, there is sufficient information provided in other passages to tell us that these things have come to pass.

When a reference is made in the Holy Bible to "the powers of the heavens will be shaken." tradition tells us that this is a reference between the great battle between Archangel Michael and Satan, at which time Satan was casted out of Heaven. [Lk. 10:18; Rev. 12:7-10]

On the subject that "Christ redeemed us," [Rom. 3:24; Gal. 3:13; Eph. 1:7] that truth is made known to us through the teachings of the Catholic Church and our ongoing profession of faith.

Regarding seeing the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory, when Jesus called Nathanael as a follower, He told him, "Very truly, I tell you, you will see Heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man." [Jn. 1:51] We can only accept as truth that this came to pass as Jesus promised to Nathanael because Jesus is the truth. God cannot lie. [Tit. 1:2;] No falsehood is found in Him. [Heb. 6:18]

Today's Gospel Reading tells us to be on our guard so our hearts are not weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of this life, so the day of the Lord will not catch us unexpectedly, as in a trap. No one knows when he will die! No one knows when he will appear before the Lord God to be judged for his worldly behaviour! As such, no one can prepare himself as one prepares himself to go on a holiday.

Therefore, Divine wisdom tells us that we should always be prepared! We should immediately be prepared in case the Lord calls us tonight during our sleep. Before our bedtime tonight, if anything needs to be done, it must be completed. For there may be no tomorrow.

Today's Second Reading from the First Letter to the Thessalonians gives us sound advise as to how we should prepare ourselves. Which ever comes first, that we depart from this world before the final return of the Lord Jesus or He gloriously returns with His saints on the last day, either way, we should abound in love for one another and for all. Our love should not be limited to our friends, but also for our enemies. Our love should not be limited towards those we are talking to, but also towards those we are not talking to. Our love should not be limited to those we can forgive, but also towards those we have difficulty forgiving. "For with the judgment you make you will be judged and the measure you give will be the measure you get." [Mt. 7:2]

To be fully prepared, we must have holy hearts so we will be blameless before our God and Father. To achieve this goal, we must walk with the sanctifying Holy Spirit who disciplines us to increase our holiness. We must maintain pure minds at all time. We must receive the Sacrament of Confession to maintain our ongoing righteousness by the grace of God. We must receive the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist, the Living Bread, so we will qualify to inherit the eternal Heavenly Kingdom as children of God. We must do all what is humanly possible to continually remain in communion with God on a daily basis.

Not knowing when the coming of the Lord shall be for each and everyone of us, we must persevere in our living faith. Indebted to Christ for our redemption, we cannot allow ourselves to take a break from our living faith. For a shipwreck in our faith by allowing our human nature to take over our spiritual commitment could cost us our blessed hope among the saints and angels in the continuous presence of the Lord Jesus and the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Through the Sacrament of Baptism, we received the gift of a new heart and a new spirit, over and above the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit to help us and guide us in our spiritual lives. During the coming week, let us embrace a spiritual attitude so the Season of Advent may become something special for us. May Advent be a true moment of preparation for each and everyone of us in the expectation of the coming of Jesus at Christmas, at death, or at the last coming of the Lord, which ever may come first.

My prayers are with each and everyone of you as you personally strive to achieve this holy objective for the glory of God.

First Sunday of Advent

Reading 1

JER 33:14-16

The days are coming, says the LORD, 
when I will fulfill the promise 
I made to the house of Israel and Judah.
In those days, in that time, 
I will raise up for David a just shoot ; 
he shall do what is right and just in the land.
In those days Judah shall be safe 
and Jerusalem shall dwell secure; 
this is what they shall call her: 
“The LORD our justice.”

Responsorial PsalmPS 25:4-5, 8-9, 10, 14

R. (1b) To you, O Lord, I lift my soul.
Your ways, O LORD, make known to me;
teach me your paths,
Guide me in your truth and teach me,
for you are God my savior,
and for you I wait all the day. 
R. To you, O Lord, I lift my soul.
Good and upright is the LORD;
thus he shows sinners the way.
He guides the humble to justice,
and teaches the humble his way. 
R. To you, O Lord, I lift my soul.
All the paths of the LORD are kindness and constancy
toward those who keep his covenant and his decrees.
The friendship of the LORD is with those who fear him,
and his covenant, for their instruction. 
R. To you, O Lord, I lift my soul.

Reading 21 THES 3:12—4:2

Brothers and sisters:
May the Lord make you increase and abound in love
for one another and for all,
just as we have for you, 
so as to strengthen your hearts, 
to be blameless in holiness before our God and Father 
at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his holy ones. Amen.

Finally, brothers and sisters, 
we earnestly ask and exhort you in the Lord Jesus that,
as you received from us 
how you should conduct yourselves to please God
and as you are conducting yourselves
you do so even more.
For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus.

AlleluiaPS 85:8

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Show us, Lord, your love;
and grant us your salvation.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

GospelLK 21:25-28, 34-36

Jesus said to his disciples:
“There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, 
and on earth nations will be in dismay, 
perplexed by the roaring of the sea and the waves.
People will die of fright 
in anticipation of what is coming upon the world, 
for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.
And then they will see the Son of Man 
coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
But when these signs begin to happen, 
stand erect and raise your heads 
because your redemption is at hand.

“Beware that your hearts do not become drowsy 
from carousing and drunkenness 
and the anxieties of daily life, 
and that day catch you by surprise like a trap.
For that day will assault everyone
who lives on the face of the earth.
Be vigilant at all times 
and pray that you have the strength 
to escape the tribulations that are imminent 
and to stand before the Son of Man.”

Prayers for Today

"Lord Jesus, may I never lose sight of the signs of your presence in my life and the signs of your action in the world today. Free me from spiritual dullness, indifference, and every distraction that would keep me from you. May I never tire of listening to your word, seeking you in prayer, and longing for your return in glory." 

Heavenly Father, I gladly spend a few minutes with you, to be close to you, because you know how much I need your presence and grace in my life. You deserve to be the center of my thoughts and desires; but often I let myself be taken up by the anxieties of daily life. Sorry Lord, but at least here I am right now, hungry for you alone. Today, Lord, I accompany the whole Church as we begin the Advent Season and begin to prepare for your coming to earth as a baby on Christmas morning. 

Lord, help me during this Advent Season, which begins today, to see that the priority in my life is preparing myself and those around me for a truly “spiritual” Christmas. I know it is a busy time of year. Help me remain focused on what is essential -- you being born into our hearts. 

The Sunday Propers: The End of the Church Year

Taken from Catholic Exchange:

The Sunday Propers: The End of the Church Year

KEVIN TIERNEY

With this Sunday’s Mass, the liturgical year draws to a close.  Starting the next week, the priest will be in purple, the Gloria will be gone, and we will be into the advent season, where we prepare our hearts, and the hearts of the Church, for the birth of Our Lord.  While the liturgy will never “end” so long as we are on this earth, the Church wants us to ponder several things at the conclusion of this season of Pentecost.  In today’s challenging environment, it would do us well to reflect upon them.

The first thing worth reflecting upon is the permanence of God’s word.  The Catholic Church of 2015 is a deeply divided Church.  There’s no point saying otherwise, we have to accept that reality.  Our leadership does not trust each other, and as a result (among other things), there is a lack of trust between Catholics in the lay and ordained state.  This lack of trust goes from the person in the pews all the way up to the Bishop of Rome.  So deep is this division, we’ve lost the ability to talk to each other about even the simplest of things.

In today’s Gospel, Christ gives His people words of comfort.  “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but My Word will not pass away.”  Though we find ourselves in a factional Church, those factions will pass away.  While we ourselves might be part of this or that faction, that does not define us as a Catholic.  Christ’s word is available to us all, and it will always be available to us.  It will be available to us no matter whom the pope is, no matter which reform movement is big in the Church at the time, or how much we like whoever our current Bishop is.  Not only is that word available to us all, all Catholics must strive to be faithful to it.  Even if we cannot speak to each other, we must never forget we are all striving to adhere to the same Christ.  We may fundamentally disagree about how to do so, and that disagreement matters.  But that struggle to adhere to His word should help us to at least have compassion towards others.

The second lesson the Church wishes us to learn can be found in the Epistle, where St. Paul advocates “longsuffering in joy.”    To suffer is hard for us Catholics today.  To do so joyfully?  I think that’s one thing missing from all circles of the church today.  Where was the joy in the discussions surrounding the Synod?  Where was joy in everything from the pope’s words down to the news article about the synod you read?

We Catholics often have a false concept of longsuffering with joy.  Often, we equate it to a putting our head in the sand approach to things.  Sometimes, we stress that we should ignore all the negative, and only focus on the positive.  To acknowledge such challenges is said to place the faith of Catholics at risk through scandal.  While these views are popular, they are wrong.

To practice longsuffering in joy means you have to acknowledge the suffering part.  That means that while you shouldn’t despair, you have to look at the world and Church as it exists.  The joy part comes not from the crisis in the Church, but in the fact that, at this moment in salvation history, God placed you here to combat that crisis.  We might not have the mind of a St. Augustine, or the austerity of a St. Francis, or the holiness of St. Terese.  Yet if we give ourselves over to God, we might be given those gifts.  Every little thing we do not only contributes to our own holiness or sin, but contributes to solving the crisis, or prolonging it.  The solution to this crisis will not come from some grand papal reform or from an educated elite, but from every Catholic, from the bottom to the top, embracing their vocation and mission.

To assist us in embracing that vocation, the Collect calls us to “seek more earnestly the fruit of this divine work”, that work being the Eucharist.  We traditionalist are viewed as liturgical snobs, and sometimes, sure, the shoe fits.  Yet if traditionalism had a “mission” it would be this part of the Collect.  We seek to draw Catholics of all stripes and vocations closer to the divine work of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.  Without the mercies provided by the Mass and the Eucharist, nothing else is possible.  At Mass, we worship in the same faith, the same creed, and are given the same grace.  Any lasting reform of the Church has gone hand in hand with a reform of the liturgy.

Sometimes that involves the modification of certain practices.  More often, it involves the faithful Catholic drawing deeper from the wellspring of graces that is the liturgy.  That’s what I’ve tried to do here at Catholic Exchange the last year.  I’ve invited you, the reader (most of you who aren’t even familiar with the Latin Mass) to draw deeply from our shared tradition.  I’ve asked you to consider how the liturgy forms us for such important practices such as penance and evangelization.  I’ve based my understanding of the liturgy in that it asks us to follow the precepts of Christ, and those precepts, while occasionally difficult, are realistic.  Not only are they realistic, they can change your life for the better, and that of the whole world.  As we conclude this series that is what I hope readers will call to mind.  Wherever you worship, the liturgy can change your life.  And if you are seeking something more, I believe the Extraordinary Form can provide whatever you are seeking.  If I can help you in that journey, I will.

Homily for Today

Good morning everyone! Welcome to all the members of our faith community and the visitors who have joined us today to celebrate the Feast of Christ the King.

Today's Feast is a very special one. Although Christ has always been recognized as the King of kings, it was not until Pope Pius XI instituted the Feast of "Christ the King" in 1925 that it finally receive official recognition in the Holy Catholic Church. In other words, it has only been nearly 80 years since Catholics have been meeting annually to officially recognize Christ as King.

This is very important because the last time that God was officially recognized as King among the people was 3,046 years ago, or 2,971 years before the institution of this special Feast. For nearly 3,000 years, the world did not "officially" recognize God as its King.

Some of you may wonder what happened 3,046 years ago. At that time, God's people approached Samuel and asked him to appoint a king over them. [1 Sam. 8:3, 5] The people wanted a king like the surrounding pagan nations so they would have someone to lead them during their battles. This greatly offended God who knew the hearts of the people, that they were rejecting Him as King over them. [1 Sam. 8:7] And so it was, in 1043 B.C., Saul was anointed as the king of God's people.

The injustice that was done to God was finally corrected 78 years ago when the Lord Jesus, in who the fullness of God was pleased to dwell bodily, [Col. 1:19, 2:9] was 'officially' reinstated as the rightful King of the Catholic Church.

Now that Christ the King has been officially elevated to His rightful position above all His creation, one may wonder, where is His Kingdom?

Speaking to His followers, Jesus said, "Truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see that the Kingdom of God has come with power." [Mk. 9:1] Speaking to Nathanael, Jesus said, "Very truly, I tell you, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man." [Jn. 1:51] Based on the Sacred Words of Jesus that are perfect truth, the Kingdom of God arrived during the first century.

In the Acts of the Apostles, we read that after Jesus resurrected and appeared to His disciples, "He ordered them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait there for the promise of the Father." [Acts 1:4] The disciples were to await the arrival of the Holy Spirit in Jerusalem on Pentecost Day. There are every indication in the Holy Scriptures that this moment is when the New Jerusalem, the Kingdom of God officially descended on earth.

In the Book of Revelation, John says, "Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, 'See, the home of God is among mortals. He will dwell with them as their God, they will be his people, and God himself will be with them.'" [Rev. 21:1-3]

This particular passage is not a reference to the future, but rather to the past. Why? Because of the reference of God dwelling among His people. Who dwells in the Blessed Tabernacle in every Catholic Church around the world? Christ the King! Who do we receive during the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist? Christ the King! God is now dwelling among His people as the rightful King. His Kingdom has arrived on earth as promised.

Another proof that the aforementioned passage is of the past is from the passage that is found in today's Second Reading. It says, "Look! He is coming with the clouds; every eye will see him, even those who pierced him; and on his account all the tribes of the earth will lament. So it is to be. Amen." Every eye will see Him, even THOSE WHO PIERCED HIM. Those who pierced Christ the King are the Roman soldiers who crucified Him! Surely, this cannot be a reference to the future as some allege regarding the Second Coming and the future Kingdom of God.

While some await for a false hope, a visible Kingdom of God on earth, Jesus never said that His Kingdom would be visible. He said, "The Kingdom of God is not coming with things that can be observed; nor will they say, 'Look, here it is!' or 'There it is!' For, in fact, the Kingdom of God is among you." [Lk. 17:20-1] The Kingdom of God cannot be observed! It cannot be seen! It is invisible because it is of the spiritual world that coexists with our world.

During today's Gospel Reading, we heard Jesus say, "My kingdom is not from this world." [Jn. 18:36]

My brothers and sisters in Christ, if we await a false hope, the Second Coming of Christ to rule on earth for 1,000 years as some believe, or if we await for the physical descent of the Kingdom of God on earth, how can we truly appreciate the mystery of the Mystical Body of Christ when through such belief we are clearly rejecting the physical presence of God and His Kingdom on earth? With such a belief, are we not counting ourselves among our separated brothers and sisters who are awaiting a false hope?

Christ the King is here today with us! His Kingdom has arrived and we as baptized children have received our new creation of the godly seed, [1 Jn. 3:9] this gift making us members of the Kingdom of God on earth. Through our new creation, we are now able to worship God in spirit and truth, for the Father seeks such as these to worship Him. [Jn. 4:23-4]

During today's First Reading, we heard, "To him was given dominion and glory and kingship, that all people, nations and languages should serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that shall not pass away, and his kingship is one that shall never be destroyed." [Dan. 7:14]

The present Kingdom of God on earth, spiritual in nature, invisible to the naked eye, is one that shall never be destroyed. The dominion of Christ the King is an everlasting dominion that shall not pass away.

During the coming week, let us assess our beliefs. Are they in harmony with the teachings of Jesus? Are they based on sound Catholic doctrine that has been handed down by apostolic succession? Are they based on Biblical truths? Are we wholeheartedly partaking in the spiritual Kingdom of God on earth through our Baptism as we should be? Are we accepting with inner joy and peace that Christ the King is presently ruling over us? Or are we looking for a false Christ and a false Kingdom? Many are being deceived and their deception is hurting the Body of Christ. As living stones, we must support one another, correct one another if we err from the truth, and be united in one Lord, one truth, one baptism, one Christ, one Spirit and one Holy Catholic Church. May the grace of God be with you this week.

The Solemnity Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe

Reading 1DN 7:13-14

As the visions during the night continued, I saw
one like a Son of man coming,
on the clouds of heaven;
when he reached the Ancient One
and was presented before him,
the one like a Son of man received dominion, glory, and kingship;
all peoples, nations, and languages serve him.
His dominion is an everlasting dominion
that shall not be taken away,
his kingship shall not be destroyed.

Responsorial PsalmPS 93:1, 1-2, 5

R. (1a) The LORD is king; he is robed in majesty.
The LORD is king, in splendor robed;
robed is the LORD and girt about with strength.
R. The LORD is king; he is robed in majesty.
And he has made the world firm,
not to be moved.
Your throne stands firm from of old;
from everlasting you are, O LORD.
R. The LORD is king; he is robed in majesty.
Your decrees are worthy of trust indeed;
holiness befits your house,
O LORD, for length of days.
R. The LORD is king; he is robed in majesty.

Reading 2RV 1:5-8

Jesus Christ is the faithful witness,
the firstborn of the dead and ruler of the kings of the earth. 
To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood,
who has made us into a kingdom, priests for his God and Father,
to him be glory and power forever and ever. Amen.
Behold, he is coming amid the clouds,
and every eye will see him,
even those who pierced him.
All the peoples of the earth will lament him.
Yes. Amen.

"I am the Alpha and the Omega, " says the Lord God,
"the one who is and who was and who is to come, the almighty."

AlleluiaMK 11:9, 10

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!
Blessed is the kingdom of our father David that is to come!
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

GospelJN 18:33B-37

Pilate said to Jesus,
"Are you the King of the Jews?" 
Jesus answered, "Do you say this on your own
or have others told you about me?" 
Pilate answered, "I am not a Jew, am I? 
Your own nation and the chief priests handed you over to me. 
What have you done?" 
Jesus answered, "My kingdom does not belong to this world.
If my kingdom did belong to this world,
my attendants would be fighting
to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. 
But as it is, my kingdom is not here." 
So Pilate said to him, "Then you are a king?" 
Jesus answered, "You say I am a king. 
For this I was born and for this I came into the world,
to testify to the truth. 
Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice."

Homily for Today

Good morning my brothers and sisters in Christ. May the grace of the Lord be with all you so you may come to the knowledge and understanding of the richness that is found in today holy readings that are intended to feed our souls.

A few moments ago, we heard that Jesus said, "Whoever is not against us is for us." [Mk. 9:40] What does this Bible passage mean? Are we to understand that Jesus is saying that He is tolerant of those who minister in His Most Holy Name apart from His association? Are we to understand it today to mean that Jesus is tolerant of all the Christian Churches, that all religions are equal? Based on those who apply 'Sola Scriptura' in the interpretation of the Holy Scriptures, this is certainly the conclusion that they have drawn, consequently leading to thousands of divisions within the Christian community.

On September 5, 2000, the Vatican released a theological document called "Dominus Jesus." Its purpose was to correct Church theologians who were distorting the true meaning of the spirit of ecumenism. In that document, the Catholic Church rejected pluralism that implies that all religions are equal. To teach that one religion is as good as another one endangers the Church's missionary message that the fullness of salvation can only be found in the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church. As some of you may have heard, that document created a worldwide reaction from a number of Christian denominations. At the same time, some of them admitted that this document proposed nothing new, that this had always been the position of the Holy Catholic Church. The difficulty that they had was that they had not heard the Vatican expressing it so openly since before Vatican II.

Today's First Reading from the Old Testament Book of Numbers [Numb. 11:16-17, 25-29] opens our eyes to the fact that the position of God's people in the days of the Old Testament was no different than today's position of the Vatican.

First of all, The Lord God told Moses, "Gather for me seventy of the elders of the people and they shall bear the burden of the people along with you so that you do not bear it all by yourself." [Num. 11:16] Two thousand years ago, Jesus did the same thing to help Him with His ministry. He "appointed seventy others and sent them on ahead of him in pairs to every town and place where he himself intended to go." [Lk. 10:1] From these Bible passages in the Old and New Testament, we come to the understanding that God's representative on earth should have a number of people under him to assist him in his ministry of leading the people. Following that example, today, His Holiness Pope John-Paul II has all the Bishops of the world who number in the thousands, they assisting him in the effective administration of the Body of Christ, the Holy Catholic Church.

Secondly, we heard in the First Reading that among the seventy who were registered, Eldad and Medad stayed behind in the camp and prophesied. When Joshua, the assistant of Moses, one of his chosen men, saw this, he reported it to Moses. Moses said to him, "Are you jealous for my sake? I wish that all the Lord's people were prophets, and that the Lord would put His Spirit in them." [Num. 11:29]

Now, what we perceive here is that two persons remained in the tent and they continued to do the work of the Lord. [Num. 11:26] The other sixty-eight, had left the tent, no longer prophesizing. [Num. 11:25]

In consideration that a lot of the events in the life of Moses foreshadowed the life of Jesus, let us review the similarities between the men who prophesied in the camp and the man who cast out demons in the Name of Jesus. Moses was chosen by God to free His people from slavery. Jesus was chosen by God to free His people from the slavery of sin. Joshua was one of Moses' chosen men. John was one of Jesus' chosen men. By the way, the name "Joshua" means "Saviour."

Two of those appointed by Moses, filled with the Holy Spirit, continued to prophesies. Can the same be said about the man who was casting out demons in the Name of Jesus? We have no choice but to come to that conclusion because:

First, how could the man cast out demons in the Name of Jesus if he did not know Jesus, had not heard of Him, had not heard His teachings, nor had seen the power of God manifested through Him? Surely, the man could not speak of Someone that he did not know! Nor could he do the work of Jesus if he had not heard the teachings of Jesus! Nor would he attempt to cast out demons on his own if he had not seen the power of God manifested through Jesus.

Secondly, how could the man cast out demons if he was not filled with the Holy Spirit. It is not everyone who can cast out demons. In Matthew 17:19, we read that some of the disciples of Jesus were unsuccessful in casting a demon out of a boy. In Acts 19:13-7, we read of the seven sons of a high priest named Sceva who tried to exorcised an evil spirit. They were overpowered by the evil spirit.

From this, it can be concluded that unless one lives by the teachings of Jesus, not some of them, but all of them, in the Spirit of Truth, he cannot do the work of the Lord Jesus, nor be of the Body of Christ. Jesus said, "Whoever is not against us is for us." These Sacred Words shine in perfect unity. There is no division. All are of the same faith.

When the two men prophesied, they did so for the people of God, not for the pagans in the surrounding nations. When the man casted out a demon in the name of Jesus, he did so according to the teachings of Jesus, not the teachings of the Jewish people or of those who adored idols. These men were in perfect unity with the Divine Will of God.

When the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church says that the fullness of salvation can only be obtained through the Mother Church that enjoys the fullness of revelation, it means exactly that!

How can one enter the Kingdom of God if he has not been baptized, consequently not having received the new creation that qualifies him as a member of the invisible Body of Christ?

How can one have salvation if he does not receive the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist, the Living Bread, that gives life to the soul?

How can one obtain the forgiveness of sins if he rejects Jesus' command for the priests to forgive sins as the ministers of the Church?

How can one say that he belongs to the true Church when there is One Body, one Spirit, one hope of our calling, One Lord, one faith, and one baptism. [Eph. 4:4-5]

How can one say that he belongs to the true Church when the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church is the only Church that has been instituted by Jesus Christ> Is it not the only Church that has persisted for two thousand years in the purity of its teachings and traditions?

How can one claim to be the true Church when the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven have been given to the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church, that whatever it binds on earth shall be bound in Heaven, and whatever he looses on earth, shall be loosed in Heaven?

The Catholic Church can be compared to a cake. Many religions possess a cake but only the Catholic Church has sweet icing on the cake. Without the Sacraments, there is no life that leads to salvation in a religion or a Church.

Today's readings emphasize the necessity to do the works of the Lord in order to remain filled with the Holy Spirit. The two men who prophesied were filled with the Holy Spirit. The man who casted out the demons was filled with the Holy Spirit.

During the Second Reading from The Letter of James, we heard that the rich people should weep and wail for the miseries that are coming to them. They spend their lives accumulating wealth. Every moment of the day, their minds are set on how they can make a dollar. Some are so obsessed with this worldly desire that they even dream of how to make money. The devil is leading them towards the path of golden coins, surely not towards the golden path of eternal life in the Kingdom of God and salvation.

When one becomes obsessed with money, he cuts corners. If he is a contractor, he will build with low grade material. If he is a retailer, he will pay minimum wages to his employees. If he is dishonest, he will cheat them of their wages. When he files his annual income tax, he will omit some of his revenues. Through these means, he grows in fame, luxury, human knowledge of investments and all the goodies that come with wealth. But in the end, he will have nothing!

Jesus said, "Whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you bear the name of Christ will by no means lose the reward." What you do towards your fellowmen, you do towards Jesus.

"If your hand causes you to stumble, cut if off; it is better for you to enter life maimed than to have two hands and to go to hell." We all know our human weaknesses and tendencies. Knowing them, by the grace of God the Father and the power of the Holy Spirit in the Most Holy Name of Jesus, we should apply our spiritual minds to overcome such weaknesses and tendencies. We should avoid what causes us to sin. We should run away from those opportunities that seek to destroy our souls.

I should remind all of you here of a sin that has become very popular among Catholics. It is the sin of being judgmental, such leading towards one's refusal to forgive those who have sinned, even those who have committed offenses against the Church and its members. The Holy Bible teaches us that we will be judged by the same measure that we judge others! That means if we cannot forgive those who have sinned, on Judgment Day, the Lord God shall not forgive us. It means that if we reject sinners from the Body of Christ on earth, the Lord God shall reject those souls from the eternal Body of Christ in Heaven. Considering the extent of the scandal in the Church today and the negative position of many Catholics, unless there is a drastic change, many of these Catholics shall be lost forever. We must ask ourselves, what would Jesus say to these sinners?

My brothers and sisters, we cannot serve two masters. We will love one more than the other!

This week, let us reflect upon our position towards the Lord Jesus and His Church that He has instituted on earth. Are we with Jesus our against Him? Are we with the teachings of Jesus that are found in the Holy Catholic Church or against them? If we seek with all our souls, our minds, our bodies and our strength to humbly serve and obey the Lord Jesus in the Body of Christ by shining as a light in the world, then we truly enjoy the hope that leads to eternal joy and peace in the Kingdom of God, such awaiting those who receive their salvation through Christ.

Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Reading 1NM 11:25-29

The LORD came down in the cloud and spoke to Moses.
Taking some of the spirit that was on Moses,
the LORD bestowed it on the seventy elders;
and as the spirit came to rest on them, they prophesied.

Now two men, one named Eldad and the other Medad,
were not in the gathering but had been left in the camp.
They too had been on the list, but had not gone out to the tent;
yet the spirit came to rest on them also,
and they prophesied in the camp.
So, when a young man quickly told Moses,
"Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp, "
Joshua, son of Nun, who from his youth had been Moses’aide, said,
"Moses, my lord, stop them."
But Moses answered him,
"Are you jealous for my sake?
Would that all the people of the LORD were prophets!
Would that the LORD might bestow his spirit on them all!"

Responsorial PsalmPS 19:8, 10, 12-13, 14

R. (9a) The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart.
The law of the LORD is perfect,
refreshing the soul;
the decree of the LORD is trustworthy,
giving wisdom to the simple.
R. The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart.
The fear of the LORD is pure,
enduring forever;
the ordinances of the LORD are true,
all of them just.
R. The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart.
Though your servant is careful of them,
very diligent in keeping them,
Yet who can detect failings?
Cleanse me from my unknown faults!
R. The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart.
From wanton sin especially, restrain your servant;
let it not rule over me.
Then shall I be blameless and innocent
of serious sin. 
R. The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart.

Reading 2JAS 5:1-6

Come now, you rich, weep and wail over your impending miseries.
Your wealth has rotted away, your clothes have become moth-eaten,
your gold and silver have corroded,
and that corrosion will be a testimony against you;
it will devour your flesh like a fire.
You have stored up treasure for the last days.
Behold, the wages you withheld from the workers
who harvested your fields are crying aloud;
and the cries of the harvesters
have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts.
You have lived on earth in luxury and pleasure;
you have fattened your hearts for the day of slaughter.
You have condemned;
you have murdered the righteous one;
he offers you no resistance.

AlleluiaCF. JN 17:17B, 17A

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Your word, O Lord, is truth;
consecrate us in the truth.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

GospelMK 9:38-43, 45, 47-48

At that time, John said to Jesus,
"Teacher, we saw someone driving out demons in your name,
and we tried to prevent him because he does not follow us."
Jesus replied, "Do not prevent him.
There is no one who performs a mighty deed in my name
who can at the same time speak ill of me.
For whoever is not against us is for us.
Anyone who gives you a cup of water to drink
because you belong to Christ, 
amen, I say to you, will surely not lose his reward.

"Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin,
it would be better for him if a great millstone
were put around his neck
and he were thrown into the sea.
If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off.
It is better for you to enter into life maimed
than with two hands to go into Gehenna,
into the unquenchable fire.
And if your foot causes you to sin, cut if off.
It is better for you to enter into life crippled
than with two feet to be thrown into Gehenna.
And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out.
Better for you to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye
than with two eyes to be thrown into Gehenna,
where 'their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.'"

Prayers for Today

"Lord Jesus, free my heart from envy and jealousy, and every disordered thought and wrong desire, that I may always treat each person with respect and goodness for the glory of your name."

In you, Lord, I find all my joy and happiness. How could I offend you by chasing after fleeting success and lifeless trophies? I believe in you because you are truth itself. I hope in you because you are faithful to your promises. I love you because you have loved me first. I am a sinner; nevertheless, you have given me so many blessings. I humbly thank you. 

Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Reading 1IS 50:5-9A

The Lord GOD opens my ear that I may hear;
and I have not rebelled,
have not turned back.
I gave my back to those who beat me,
my cheeks to those who plucked my beard;
my face I did not shield
from buffets and spitting.

The Lord GOD is my help,
therefore I am not disgraced;
I have set my face like flint,
knowing that I shall not be put to shame.
He is near who upholds my right;
if anyone wishes to oppose me,
let us appear together.
Who disputes my right?
Let that man confront me.
See, the Lord GOD is my help;
who will prove me wrong?

Responsorial PsalmPS 116:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 8-9

R. (9) I will walk before the Lord, in the land of the living.
or:
R. Alleluia.
I love the LORD because he has heard
my voice in supplication,
Because he has inclined his ear to me
the day I called.
R. I will walk before the Lord, in the land of the living.
or:
R. Alleluia.
The cords of death encompassed me;
the snares of the netherworld seized upon me;
I fell into distress and sorrow,
And I called upon the name of the LORD,
“O LORD, save my life!”
R. I will walk before the Lord, in the land of the living.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Gracious is the LORD and just;
yes, our God is merciful.
The LORD keeps the little ones;
I was brought low, and he saved me.
R. I will walk before the Lord, in the land of the living.
or:
R. Alleluia.
For he has freed my soul from death,
my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling.
I shall walk before the Lord
in the land of the living.
R. I will walk before the Lord, in the land of the living.
or:
R. Alleluia.

Reading 2JAS 2:14-18

What good is it, my brothers and sisters,
if someone says he has faith but does not have works? 
Can that faith save him? 
If a brother or sister has nothing to wear
and has no food for the day,
and one of you says to them,
“Go in peace, keep warm, and eat well, ”
but you do not give them the necessities of the body,
what good is it? 
So also faith of itself,
if it does not have works, is dead.

Indeed someone might say,
“You have faith and I have works.” 
Demonstrate your faith to me without works,
and I will demonstrate my faith to you from my works.

AlleluiaGAL 6:14

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord
through which the world has been crucified to me and I to the world.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

GospelMK 8:27-35

Jesus and his disciples set out
for the villages of Caesarea Philippi. 
Along the way he asked his disciples,
“Who do people say that I am?” 
They said in reply,
“John the Baptist, others Elijah,
still others one of the prophets.” 
And he asked them,
“But who do you say that I am?” 
Peter said to him in reply,
“You are the Christ.” 
Then he warned them not to tell anyone about him.

He began to teach them
that the Son of Man must suffer greatly
and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes,
and be killed, and rise after three days. 
He spoke this openly. 
Then Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. 
At this he turned around and, looking at his disciples,
rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan. 
You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do.”

He summoned the crowd with his disciples and said to them,
“Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself,
take up his cross, and follow me. 
For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it,
but whoever loses his life for my sake
and that of the gospel will save it.”

Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time

Reading 1IS 35:4-7A

Thus says the LORD:
Say to those whose hearts are frightened:
Be strong, fear not!
Here is your God,
he comes with vindication;
with divine recompense
he comes to save you.
Then will the eyes of the blind be opened,
the ears of the deaf be cleared;
then will the lame leap like a stag,
then the tongue of the mute will sing.
Streams will burst forth in the desert,
and rivers in the steppe.
The burning sands will become pools, 
and the thirsty ground, springs of water.

Responsorial PsalmPS 146:7, 8-9, 9-10

R. (1b) Praise the Lord, my soul!
or:
R. Alleluia.
The God of Jacob keeps faith forever,
secures justice for the oppressed,
gives food to the hungry.
The LORD sets captives free.
R. Praise the Lord, my soul!
or:
R. Alleluia.
The LORD gives sight to the blind;
the LORD raises up those who were bowed down.
The LORD loves the just;
the LORD protects strangers.
R. Praise the Lord, my soul!
or:
R. Alleluia.
The fatherless and the widow the LORD sustains,
but the way of the wicked he thwarts.
The LORD shall reign forever;
your God, O Zion, through all generations. Alleluia.
R. Praise the Lord, my soul!
or:
R. Alleluia.

Reading 2JAS 2:1-5

My brothers and sisters, show no partiality
as you adhere to the faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ.
For if a man with gold rings and fine clothes
comes into your assembly,
and a poor person in shabby clothes also comes in,
and you pay attention to the one wearing the fine clothes
and say, “Sit here, please, ”
while you say to the poor one, “Stand there, ” or “Sit at my feet, ”
have you not made distinctions among yourselves
and become judges with evil designs?

Listen, my beloved brothers and sisters.
Did not God choose those who are poor in the world
to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom
that he promised to those who love him?

AlleluiaCF. MT 4:23

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Jesus proclaimed the Gospel of the kingdom
and cured every disease among the people.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

GospelMK 7:31-37

Again 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.”

Prayers for Today

"Lord Jesus, fill me with your Holy Spirit and inflame my heart with love and compassion. Make me attentive to the needs of others that I may show them kindness and care. Make me an instrument of your mercy and peace that I may help others find healing and wholeness in you."

Lord Jesus, I come to you once again in prayer. Even though I cannot see you, my faith tells me that you are present. You are ready to listen and desire to speak with me. Your presence gives me hope, because you are the all-powerful God, the creator of heaven and earth. You are the source of all that is good in my life. Nothing happens to me without your knowing and permitting it. My hope leads me to love. I want to be one with you in mind and heart, identifying myself with your will and your standards.