Saturday, May 30

Saturday of the Seventh Week of Easter
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Thanks be to God, our national quarantine is coming to an end. For weeks we have been under a “stay at home” order, and while it has been inconvenient in many ways, nothing is wasted with God. Since last week, I’ve heard nearly six hours’ worth of Confessions. Something common to most of these Confessions is people telling me the quarantine has caused them to look at what is truly important in their lives. It has also caused many people to see their flaws, and underlying bad habits, from which normal life has distracted them. But when we are required to sit still, to be quiet, and to listen to God, and to our own hearts and minds, then spiritual growth takes place. The question now is, what do we do with our new insights? Do we change how we go about life? Or, do we fall back into the same habits?

Our reading today from Acts tells of St. Paul’s two-year quarantine in Rome, where he was under house arrest. Although Paul was under “stay at home” orders, he nonetheless was able to welcome many people to his home, where he taught them about Jesus, and helped them to understand the mysteries of the Kingdom of God. Paul certainly did not allow his quarantine to go to waste: he used it for his own spiritual growth, and for that of many others as well. Those to whom Paul ministered went out, in turn, and witnessed to others about the Kingdom of God.

Now that we are ending our quarantine, Jesus is “sending” us back out into the world. Many people are talking about a “new normal.” But Jesus doesn’t want us to establish a new normal: He sends us to establish the Kingdom of God. What does this mean? It means, by His “Great Commission,” Jesus sends us, just as God the Father sent Him, to announce the Good News, and to bring healing and life in His name. We can understand our mission better by looking to what will happen this coming Monday: the return to “Ordinary Time.”

Ordinary Time, in the Church calendar, refers to the majority of the liturgical year. We have the seasons of Advent, Christmas, Lent, and Easter. The remainder of the year we call “ordinary.” But to call this time “ordinary” does not mean “normal,” or boring, or uneventful. During Ordinary Time we focus on the day to day ministry of Jesus while He was on earth. Ordinary Time looks to the teachings of Jesus, and to His acts of healing, and mercy, and casting out the powers of evil. During Ordinary Time, it is as if we are looking to Jesus as an example, and hearing Him say to us, “As I have done for you, so you must do for one another.”

So, from Ordinary Time, we better learn what Jesus is sending us back out into the world to accomplish. Underlying everything we do in His name is that we announce the arrival of the Kingdom of God. But where is this Kingdom? It is wherever the King is. Jesus, by His very presence on earth, was ushering in the Kingdom of God. And now that Jesus has returned to the Father, He sends us to do the same. Where is the Kingdom of God? If the King is in our hearts, then the Kingdom is wherever we are!

Within the word “ordinary,” we see the root word “ordinal,” from which comes our English word, “order.” The teachings of Jesus bring order and structure, and purpose to our lives as Christians. So as we end our quarantine, let’s be careful that we not stop listening to Jesus in our hearts; instead, may we keep learning from Him, that we might have something wonderful to share with the world around us. For as St. John says in our Gospel, “If everything Jesus did were written down, the whole world could not contain the books which would be written.” Let’s keep adding to the story of Jesus with our own lives and actions.

Peace

Fr. Guy

Friday, May 29

Friday of the Seventh Week of Easter
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God’s ways are mysterious, and beyond the grasp of human intellect. For example, why would God choose such weak men to be the founders of His Church? Among the Apostles Jesus chose were Judas, who would betray Him, and Peter, the first Pope, who would deny knowing Jesus three times. And the other Apostles likewise abandoned Jesus when He was arrested. Yet, after these men had been strengthened by the grace of the Holy Spirit, they went out boldly and laid down their lives in testimony to Jesus. Only the Apostle John, who was entrusted with the care of Jesus’ Mother, would live to die of old age.

In today’s Gospel reading, Jesus asks Peter three times, “Do you love me?” This, of course, was Peter’s chance to “undo” his three denials of Jesus. Peter had declared, “I do not know the man!” And while it was a denial, it was also the truth. Peter really did not know Jesus. Peter had his own ideas about who Jesus was, and what Jesus was supposed to accomplish. But Peter had not truly accepted the truth of who Jesus was, or of why He was sent by the Father. Only after the resurrection would Peter truly come to know Jesus, and only then could he truly declare his love.

Each time Peter answered, “Yes, Lord, you know I love you,” Jesus responded, “feed my sheep.” In other words, Jesus is not interested in a love which is only declared with words; love is proven genuine through action. Peter had wanted a relationship with Jesus which did not include the cross. Just as it is impossible to separate Jesus from the cross, so it is impossible to love Jesus without loving others: for Jesus gave His life, in love, for all.

Jesus asks the same question of each of us: “Do you love me?” If we answer “yes,” then Jesus says, “feed my sheep.” And with what do we feed them? With the gift of our own life, just as Jesus gave His life for the salvation of His sheep. Such love is much more than a feeling. Such love is realistic, and it does not always come easy or feel good. True and divine love recognizes that sometimes other people make it difficult to love them. And, we ourselves are often difficult to love. Regardless, we are called to show mercy to others, to recognize their pain and struggles, and to help each other along to our Heavenly calling by God the Father. Every person is a potential Saint!

Today is the optional feast of Pope St. Paul VI. He became Pope in the mid-nineteen sixties, following the death of Pope St. John XXIII. Pope Paul reconvened Vatican Council II. Perhaps his most famous writing is “Humanae Vitae” (On Human Life). This work might better be titled, “On Human Love,” for in it, Paul VI addresses the origins of human life, and the sanctity of human sexuality. He states that all life is a gift from God, and that each human person is a unique and direct creation of God. Of course, God uses the human mother and father as agents in the creation of human life. Therefore, human sexuality is sacred to God, and should be the most intimate and solemn declaration of the couple’s love for one another.

Sexual intimacy is the total gift of one’s entire self to the other, and the total acceptance of the other as a gift from God. Likewise, children should be accepted as a gift from God, and loved and cherished as such. For the final goal of parenting is to shepherd children into the eternal Kingdom of the Father in Heaven, where God’s family will be gathered and united in love forever.

Today as we reflect on Jesus’ question, “Do you love me?” let us ask ourselves, “Do I love others?” “Do I make of my own life a gift to others, as Jesus has done? And, do I have room in my life to accept others, in spite of their flaws?” If we do, then we love as Jesus has first loved us.

Fr. Guy

Thursday, May 28

Thursday of the Seventh Week of Easter
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In one of our readings from earlier this week, St. Paul was convinced he was going to become a martyr in Jerusalem. In today’s reading from Acts, Paul is put on trial before the Sanhedrin (the Jewish ruling council). However, at this time, Israel was also occupied by a governor from Rome, so Paul’s trial was being overseen by a Roman official.

When Paul noticed that the Sanhedrin was made up of both Pharisees and Sadducees, he was able to set them against one another. The Pharisees believed at the end of time there would be a resurrection of the dead, but the Sadducees did not believe in any resurrection. So, because Paul was preaching of a resurrection through Jesus Christ, an argument broke out between the two parties, and instead of prosecuting Paul, they began to quarrel with one another. The Roman official had Paul removed from the midst of the Sanhedrin, and then the Lord spoke to him, saying, “Just as you have witnessed to me in Jerusalem, so you must also witness to me in Rome.”

Paul would die a martyr in Rome, testifying to the Lord Jesus Christ. Because Paul was born in Tarsus, he had Roman citizenship. It was illegal to crucify Roman citizens, so Paul was beheaded instead. St. Peter, the first pope of our Church, was also martyred in Rome. But because Peter was not a Roman citizen, he was crucified. At his own request, Peter was crucified upside down, for he declared himself unworthy to die in the same way as the Lord Jesus.

We notice in our readings of late from the books of Acts a movement from Jerusalem to Rome. Why? The promise of salvation was given to Abraham, and to his descendants. It would be through them that the Christ would be born. Although Abraham did not inherit it in his own lifetime, God had promised to give the land of Canaan (Israel) to his offspring. This promise was fulfilled when Moses led the Hebrews out of slavery in Egypt, and into the land of Israel, after their forty years of wandering in the desert. The most important city of Israel, where the Temple was built, was Jerusalem.

Jerusalem represents the fulfillment of the promise to Abraham, and to the Jewish people. But God had also promised Abraham that he would become the father of many nations (meaning, the Gentiles). Many of the prophecies of the Old Testament also foretold of the day when the Gentiles would become part of God’s covenant people. The city of Rome was the head of the entire Roman Empire, and represents the Gentile people. So, the movement of focus in Acts, from Jerusalem to Rome, shows the fulfillment of God’s promise to Abraham. For the Gospel of Jesus Christ has come, not only for the salvation of the Jews, but for all people of the world.

Two of my most precious memories are of experiences in Rome. One was when I prayed at the tomb of St. Paul in the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls (which our St. Joan of Arc Church is modeled after). Because Paul was beheaded, only his body is entombed there (his head is in a monastery). I was moved in my heart to be so near to the body of our Church’s greatest missionary, who wrote most of the New Testament. The second is of the time I was privileged to offer Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica, beneath the main altar in the crypt, only feet away from the body of St. Peter. I was truly blessed to be so close to the mortal remains of these two great Apostles.

I pray that each member of St. Joan of Arc may be proud of our Catholic heritage. We are heirs to a great legacy, and the recipients of the promise made to Abraham, and its fulfillment in Jesus Christ. May His peace reign in our hearts always.

Fr. Guy

Wednesday, May 27

Wednesday of the Seventh Week of Easter
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Today is the feast of St. Augustine of Canterbury. He is known as the Apostle to the English, and is credited with establishing the Catholic Church in England. Actually, there were already Catholics in England, and there had been for more than a century. However, they were mostly monks who did not establish parishes, and the bishops they appointed were not always loyal to Rome. Catholics made up only a small percent of the English population, which mainly followed the Anglo-Saxon pagan cults.

When the king of England married a Catholic queen from France, the Pope saw an opportunity to convert all of that country to the Catholic Faith. Augustine was sent with several missionaries, and became the first Archbishop of Canterbury. He met, however, with great resistance from the native Briton clergy, who were mainly following the heretical teachings of Pelagius. But since the king, Ethelbert, was backing Augustine, the resistant bishops were displaced, and Augustine was successful in establishing parishes and Catholic schools, to teach the true Catholic Faith. After a time, even Ethelbert converted to Catholicism, and encouraged all of his subjects to do the same.

Many Catholics imagine a “golden age” of the Church, when all Catholics were in agreement on doctrine, and when all were fully loyal and obedient to the bishops. They also imagine a time when the bishops and priests were extremely holy, and always lived and taught the truth. The reality is, such a time never existed, not even from the beginning. The Church has always been attacked, from both outside and inside. The true teachings of Jesus have always been challenged and twisted. While the Apostles were still on earth, false teachers rose up and tried to lead the faithful astray. They attempted to replace the true Catholic Faith with one of their own making.

Our first reading today tells of Paul preparing to leave Miletus. He has been there for three years, and as he prepares to depart, he says to the presbyters (that is, the priests), “Keep watch over yourselves and over the whole flock of which the Holy Spirit has appointed you overseers,
in which you tend the Church of God that He acquired with His own Blood. I know that after my departure savage wolves will come among you, and they will not spare the flock. And from your own group, men will come forward perverting the truth to draw the disciples away after them.”

Even Jesus, in our Gospel reading, prays that His disciples will not be led astray. This chapter of John’s Gospel is known as the “Great High-Priestly Prayer” of Jesus. Our Lord asks the Father to protect His disciples from error and from the deceptions of the evil one. He says that He is not asking the Father to take them out of the world, for Jesus is sending into the midst of the world to proclaim the truth of salvation. So, Jesus asks the Father to guard them in the truth, which leads to eternal life, and to unity with the Father and the Son.

Jesus is the greatest missionary, sent to reveal the truth by God the Father. In turn, He sent out His Apostles to continue His work by establishing the Church. St. Augustine of Canterbury was a missionary, and we, too, are called to be missionaries of the truth. But we must know the truth, and continue to guard it from error, as we each continue to grow in our understanding of it. For the Gospel is the truth which sets us free from sin, error, and death, and opens to us the way which leads to eternal life. May we keep ourselves informed intellectually, as well as transformed in our hearts by the truth which we are called to share with one another. Then we will be true missionaries of Jesus to the world.

Fr. Guy

Tuesday, May 26

Tuesday of the Seventh Week of Easter
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“Last of all, we must die.” These were the final words of St. Philip Neri, whose feast we celebrate today. Philip was eighty years old when he died, and spent his last day on earth as he had his entire life: in cheerful and loving service to God’s people. Philip had heard Confessions most of that day, and had counseled many in spiritual direction. He uttered his final words as he went off to bed, knowing that he would awaken to see Jesus face to face.

“Last of all, we must die.” We should not become morbid, and dwell on death; instead, the idea that we each must leave this world someday should shape how we engage in life. St. Philip was born in Florence, in the early 1500’s. He was given a good education, and was expected to thrive in the family business. But he forsook worldly wealth, and went off to Rome, where he lived for several years as a hermit, eating nothing but bread, and drinking only water. His nights were spent praying in church, or in the catacombs. During the day, Philip would greet people on the streets, engaging them in conversation, and turning their thoughts to God. One of his frequent questions was, “Brothers and Sisters, when shall we begin to do good?” Then, he would lead people to help in hospitals, or in places where the poor were in need, or to prayer in church. In so many ways, Philip inspired people on the streets, going about their business, to turn their attention to the business of Jesus Christ.

Eventually, St. Philip attracted the attention of so many that he needed to find a place for them to gather for prayer and instruction in the faith. He was given access to a large gathering space which belonged to a church. It became known as the “oratory,” and the Order which Philip founded became known as the Oratorians. On one occasion, as he was praying, St. Philip’s heart began to feel so full of love for Jesus that it caused him to cry out, “Enough, Lord!” From that moment on, Philip’s physical heart was enlarged and even his rib-cage was permanently pushed outward.

St. Philip Neri spent every day of his life praying (alone and with others), teaching the faith and preaching about Jesus, serving the needs of the poor, hearing Confessions, and inspiring others to serve Jesus by serving others in love. When it came time for Philip to leave this world, he did so with a sense of peace, knowing that he had lived entirely for Jesus Christ.

“Last of all, we must die.” When our time comes, how will we be remembered? We need not fear if we feel much time has already been wasted; even one day lived well in love for God and neighbor is a blessing. And, if we live one day at a time, seeking ways to serve Christ, it will become the habit for our life. Our first reading today tells of Paul departing for Jerusalem, where he believes he will die for his faith. While we know that Paul would die in Rome, and not in Jerusalem, his words are still powerful. He essentially says he has no regrets, for he has preached the Gospel truthfully, and has served Christ and His people with all his strength. Now, Paul is ready to die. Likewise, in our Gospel reading, Jesus knows His final hours on earth have come. He prays, in the garden before His arrest, that His disciples will be strong in the faith, and that they, and all believers, may be one. Jesus has no regrets: He has faithfully accomplished His Father’s will, and is about to lay down His life for the salvation of the world.

If we live each day, thinking of how we wish to live our last day, we will stay focused on what is most important, and we will serve Jesus faithfully, like St. Paul, and St. Philip Neri. May they pray for us.

Fr. Guy

Monday, May 25

Monday of the Seventh Week of Easter
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Today our nation observes Memorial Day, a day to remember those who have died protecting our freedoms. As we think about their sacrifice for us, and for our country, we may feel Patriotic. We may also be inspired to think that we, if called upon, would also give our lives to protect our nation and the freedoms we enjoy. But feeling Patriotic, and actually having the courage to die, are two different things. Today, let us pray for the souls of the many who have laid down their lives for us over the centuries, and let us honor them by continuing to defend the liberties and values they fought and died for.

Our Catholic Church also has countless martyrs, who laid down their lives for their faith in Jesus Christ. We are inspired by their courage, and we might even feel that we ourselves would be willing to die in the name of Jesus. But being inspired, and actually dying as a martyr, are two different things. Are we really strong enough in our faith to die for Jesus? Are we even willing to suffer a little for the sake of our faith? Perhaps the greater question is, are we willing to live for Jesus, as true disciples?

The word “martyr” is a Greek word, which simply means, “a witness.” The word itself has nothing to do with dying for one’s beliefs. However, in the early days of the Church, there were so many who died as witnesses to Jesus, that the word martyr came to be associated with those who laid down their lives for their faith. Our Church teaches that there are two kinds of martyrdom: red martyrdom, and white martyrdom. Red martyrdom refers to those who have actually shed their blood in testimony to Jesus. White martyrdom refers to those who courageously live their faith in Jesus, even if it leads to personal suffering.

Most of us are not called to red martyrdom, but each and every one of us who are baptized is called to white martyrdom. Such martyrdom means sometimes we will suffer criticism, or rejection by others for our beliefs and way of life. But sometimes our suffering comes from within. For example, it is easy to follow Jesus when doing so brings us comfort and joy. But following Jesus is much more difficult when it requires us to deny ourselves, and to be personally challenged in our lifestyle. We like to pick and choose the teachings of Jesus we find easy to follow, but we so often ignore or reject the teachings we find difficult, or even frightening.

In our Gospel reading today, the disciples come to a level of comfort with the teachings of Jesus. But they have only arrived at a superficial understanding. So, Jesus tells them they soon will reject Him, abandon Him, and flee to their homes. They will do this out of fear of what is happening to Jesus, namely, His arrest and crucifixion. But once Jesus was raised from the dead, they once again rejoiced in Him. This is because it is easy to share in the story of Jesus when it is something happening “outside” of us, and when we do not get dragged too far into the drama personally. But the drama of Jesus must become personal, and it must play out in each one of our lives personally. This drama is painful, and frightening at times, and without the Holy Spirit empowering us, we would be unable to participate in it. But with the Holy Spirit, we are able to witness to Jesus with our whole lives, or we might say, Jesus witnesses through us.

Today, may we remember and honor those who laid down their lives for our freedoms. And, may we allow the drama of Jesus, who gave His life for our eternal salvation, to play out in every aspect of our lives. In this way, we will be counted among the martyrs: those whose lives were given fully in service to Jesus, and in testimony to their faith in Him.

Fr. Guy

Saturday, May 23

Saturday of the Sixth Week of Easter
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Our daily readings from Acts have introduced us recently to a lay couple, known as Priscilla and Aquila. They were Jews who had been living in Rome, until the Emperor expelled all Jews from the city. By the time St. Paul met them, Priscilla and Aquila had already become believers in Jesus Christ. Not only were they believers, but they appear to have been catechists as well, teaching others the truth about Jesus Christ. For some time, Paul lived and worked with them in Corinth, and they assisted him in his apostolic work.

Today’s reading also introduces us to a Jewish Scripture scholar named Apollos, who had come to believe in Jesus as the Messiah. Because Apollos knew the Old Testament Scriptures so well, he was able to explain how they foretold the coming of Jesus as the long awaited Savior. We don’t know exactly how Apollos became a believer in Jesus, but there was something about his teaching which was not completely accurate. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him preaching about Jesus in the synagogue, they took him aside afterward and helped him to a new and better understanding of Jesus. We know from other places in Scripture that Apollos would later become numbered among the Apostles.

The book of Acts is fascinating because it is the story of the first Christians, and tells of the many adventures of the Apostles on their missionary journeys. And as today’s reading demonstrates, the Holy Spirit was very active in the lives of many lay people as well. Because there were many more lay teachers (catechists) than Apostles, many scholars believe the Faith was spread farther by them than it was by the Apostles. The early Church was largely the result of lay people living and sharing their faith with others in their communities.

Christians are mentioned in the writings of pagans in the early days of the Church. The pagan writers mention that Christians live among them, but that they follow a different moral code. The pagans respected the marital fidelity of the Christians, and marveled at their love: not only for one another, but even for strangers in need. They were also fascinated that the Christians had such a strong devotion to only One God.

Our world right now is tired, anxious, and depressed. We Christians are as well. We have been away from the Sacraments, and from the community of one another. But we are not the first Christians to suffer, and our present suffering is nothing compared to that of our fathers and mothers in the Faith. Priscilla and Aquila were driven from their home and business in Rome by an Emperor’s decree. Many Christians around the world at that time had their property seized by the government, were imprisoned, or even put to death because of their faith in Jesus Christ. Yet, they continued to tell the Good News everywhere they went, and by their testimony, the Faith spread throughout the Roman Empire.

The world needs our strength and our hope in these times. And this strength and hope come from our faith in Jesus. The very Son of God came into the world, was hated and rejected, suffered and died, and then conquered death and the power of evil by His resurrection. He promises us all that is His, and we possess it now by faith. He sends us to be light for others, that they, too, may overcome their fear and anxieties, and come to share in the joy of our hope.

I have great respect for our laity, and am so often inspired by your faith. You have inspired me during this time of pandemic, and I look forward to celebrating with you in person again soon. In the meantime, keep the faith, and like Priscilla and Aquila, look for ways to share your hope in Jesus with others. In this way, you dispel the darkness, and bring the light of life to the world.

God bless you all!
Fr. Guy

Friday, May 22

Friday of the Sixth Week of Easter
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Today is the feast of St. Rita of Cascia, often venerated as the Saint of impossible causes. Rita was born in the late 1300’s in Italy. When she was only twelve years old, her parents gave her in marriage to a man of wealth and power, but also of bad temper. Her husband had many enemies, and his family was involved in a vendetta with one or more other families of the region. He was a man of violence, and often Rita suffered physical abuse at his hands. She was married to him for eighteen years before he was stabbed to death by his enemies.

Rita had two sons, who, as young men, sought to take revenge on their father’s murderers, and keep the family feuds alive. Rita begged them not to continue on their father’s path of violence, but they would not listen to their mother. Not wanting them to die in mortal sin, and face eternal hell for murder, Rita prayed that God would take them by natural causes. Within a short time, both sons died.

Left alone, Rita wished to enter the Augustinian Convent, but the nuns were hesitant because of Rita’s association with what had been tantamount to a mafia family. They agreed to admit her to their community if she could establish peace between the warring families. Rita had already publicly forgiven her husband’s killers at his funeral. Now, by prayer and God’s grace, she was able to establish a peace between the families, and was admitted to the Augustinian Order.

Rita was a great intercessor for others, spending long hours in prayer before the Blessed Sacrament. If she could not pray before the Blessed Sacrament, she would pray before a crucifix. One day, while deep in prayer, contemplating the suffering of Jesus on the cross, and with a desire to share more deeply in His suffering, she received a wound on her forehead. In a vision, she had seen a single thorn fly free from Jesus’ crown of thorns and lodge in her own forehead. She had been asking Jesus if He would allow her to experience His crucifixion, but He replied that she would barely be capable of enduring a single thorn from His crown of suffering. Rita’s wound bled daily for the rest of her life.

After Rita died, the nuns noticed that the blood from her wounded forehead never dried up. Over the course of many years, her body was exhumed and examined on three occasions. Each time, the body remained incorrupt. To this day, her body has not deteriorated, and so Rita is among those Saints known as the “incorruptibles.”

Today’s readings are truly appropriate descriptions of the way of life of St. Rita. And, Rita might tell us that all Christians are called to live this same way. In our first reading, St. Paul says, “Rejoice in the Lord always, and I say it again: rejoice! The Lord is near. Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God. Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” Likewise, Jesus teaches us to be merciful and forgiving to one another, just as God has been to us. He tells us our righteousness must exceed the ordinary expectations of the world, and achieve a supernatural level, which comes from the grace of God.

St. Rita’s heart overflowed with love for Jesus Christ, and she lived a beautiful life by His grace, placing herself in the service of others as an intercessor and peacemaker. May we be inspired by her life and example, as we ourselves follow the way of Jesus. St. Rita of Cascia, pray for us!

Fr. Guy

Thursday, May 21

Thursday of the Sixth Week of Easter
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In today’s Gospel reading, Jesus tells His disciples, “In a little while you will no longer see me, and after a little while, you will see me.” He also says that in a little while, the disciples will grieve while the world rejoices, but that their grief will turn to joy. But the disciples are confused over what this “little while” means, during which they will not see Jesus, and after which they will see Him again.

With the teachings of Jesus, there are always many layers of meaning. There is an immediate context, and a greater context, and many levels of understanding in between, depending on the spiritual maturity of the recipient. In the immediate context, Jesus is referring to His arrest, and crucifixion, and burial. For three days, while Jesus was in the tomb, His disciples would not see Him. During this time, the enemies of Jesus, and those who rejected His teaching, would rejoice. But after three days, the disciples would see Jesus again, after He arose from the tomb.

Today would have been celebrated traditionally as Ascension Thursday, the fortieth fay after Easter. But most dioceses around the world (like the Archdiocese of Indianapolis) have transferred the celebration of the Ascension to the Sunday following it. At His Ascension, Jesus would again be taken away from His disciples for a “little while,” and hidden from their sight in Heaven. But ten days later, with the coming of the Holy Spirit, the disciples would see Jesus again, but in a new way. They would no longer look upon Him with their eyes, but they would always see Him in their hearts. And, by their preaching of the Gospel, they would empower others to see Jesus also by faith.

But there is another meaning to not seeing Jesus “for a little while,” and it refers to the day when we will see Him again in Heaven. It has been more than two-thousand years since anyone saw Jesus in the flesh on earth, and it will likely be many more years before He comes again for the Day of Judgment. That doesn’t seem like a “little while” to us, but the Scriptures tell us with God, a thousand years are like a single day. Also, if we think about this “little while” in terms of us seeing Jesus as individuals when we die, we are reminded that no matter how long we live on this earth, a human life-span is but a little while.

There is still another meaning to not seeing Jesus for a little while, and then seeing Him again. Many of our daily Gospel readings lately have been from the Last Supper narratives in the Gospel of John. A recurring theme has been Jesus telling the disciples He is going away to the Father, and that it is good for Him to go away, for then the Holy Spirit will come and empower the disciples to do even greater works than Jesus had been doing. In our own spiritual lives, it is good for Jesus to “go away” for a little while, so that we may grow in our faith.

Faith requires us to reach out to the greater, and to the unknown. Each of us tends to create an image, and an idol, of Jesus in our hearts, because we imagine Him in certain ways which make Him too familiar to us. When our image of Jesus becomes too familiar, He also becomes limited, and no longer inspires faith in us. Instead, we may even develop contempt for this personal image of Jesus, and begin to lose faith in Him. So, it is necessary for Jesus to shake our faith from time to time, so that He seems to hide from us, or to distance Himself for a little while. During this time, we find it necessary to reach out to Him, and to call on Him for His help and mercy with a greater yearning and devotion. Only then, when faith is stretched and strengthened, do we find Jesus again. Then we see Him, not as we think He is, but as He truly is. Jesus is always greater than the limitations of our mind.

Peace,
Fr. Guy

Wednesday, May 20

Wednesday of the Sixth Week of Easter
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From time to time I like to remind everyone of the four principles of the New Evangelization. They are: encountering Jesus, the personal call of Jesus, ongoing formation, and being sent by Jesus. In some way, each of these must always be present in the work of evangelization if it is truly the work of Jesus Christ.
The encounter with Jesus is not just something which happens once in a life-time. And, it is not just something to get people started as believers in Jesus. Each of us, no matter how long we have been a believer, needs a daily encounter with Jesus in some way. This might happen through the Sacraments, the Scriptures, prayer, or time spent in company with other Christians. All the baptized are called to be evangelists, and this means that we ourselves should be an encounter with Jesus for others. The more deliberate we are about this, the more effective our work as evangelists will be, and, at the same time, the more we will grow in holiness and in our likeness to Jesus.

Jesus’ call is not generic. Jesus calls each person by name. Through the encounter with Jesus, He offers Himself, His love, eternal life, and His entire Kingdom to us. Then, He awaits our answer. We each must answer for ourselves, and we must answer freely. But how can people hear Jesus’ call if we, His evangelists, are not extending it to them? This call comes in many forms and in many situations. And again, we ourselves must hear and answer this call daily. Once in a lifetime, or even once a week, or once a day, is not enough. Answering the call of Jesus is the way of life for the Christian.

Ongoing formation happens once a person answers Jesus’ call. Answering the call should be such an exciting thing that we have a deep desire to learn more about Jesus, and about the new life to which we are called. Ongoing formation happens through a life of prayer and worship, through study, by engaging in works of charity, and by being in the company of holy people. Ongoing formation leads to total transformation of our lives.

Engaging in mission is only possible after we have come to know Jesus, have answered His call, and have been properly formed by His grace and His teachings. Then, Jesus sends us out to evangelize others. But He does not send us on our own: He gives us the Holy Spirit. Without the Holy Spirit, our evangelization efforts are in vain and will come to nothing. We must always bear in mind that we are sent, not in our own name, but in the name of Jesus, to accomplish the work of salvation.

Our reading from Acts tells of an occasion when St. Paul trusted more in his own cleverness than in the Holy Spirit. While in Athens, he saw a monument to an “unknown god.” Paul decided to use the place to explain to the people that the unknown god is Jesus Christ. After his eloquent sermon, Paul expected they all would become believers. Most laughed at Paul, a few said they might want to hear more later, and only a few actually believed Paul’s testimony. This is why, no matter how clever our arguments might be, we need the Holy Spirit to speak through us, and to open the hearts of others before they can believe.

In today’s Gospel, Jesus promises to send the Holy Spirit. He says there is so much more He has to teach the Apostles, but they cannot bear it all at once. But the Holy Spirit would continue to teach them, and empower them to testify to Jesus as Lord and Savior. The Holy Spirit makes it possible for us to encounter Jesus daily, and to hear and answer His call; the Spirit also continues to form us in the faith, and then empowers us to go forth and witness to Jesus in the world around us. Come, Holy Spirit, and fill the hearts of your faithful, that we may continue the work of our Lord Jesus until He comes again!

Fr. Guy

Tuesday, May 19

Tuesday of the Sixth Week of Easter
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In our reading from Acts, the jailer asks Paul and Silas, “What must I do to be saved?” They answer, “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you and your household will be saved.” Then, the jailer and his entire family became believers and were baptized.

We Catholics have always practiced infant baptism, but some Christian denominations criticize us for this. They argue that a person must first believe in Jesus as Savior, and then the baptism follows, as their own personal choice.  For Catholics, baptism is more than a statement of personal faith. For us, baptism is inclusion into the Church, the people of God in Jesus Christ. We are not baptized into our “own” faith; rather, we are baptized into “the” Faith of the entire Catholic Church: a faith which we share. This faith is greater than ourselves, and yet, it does become a personal faith as well.

Is there Biblical evidence for infant baptism? Our reading from Acts says the entire household of the jailer was baptized, and last week, we read that the entire household of Lydia was also baptized. In the ancient world, “household” would have implied not just the family, but also the servants who lived there, and their children as well. Also, the Old Covenant with Abraham required the circumcision of boys eight days after birth, to bring them into the people of God’s promise. Baptism fulfills the Old Covenant, and replaces circumcision. So, the Catholic Church has baptized infants from the time of the Apostles. The protocol is this: we baptize infants and children up to the age of six, and then catechize them about what baptism means when they are old enough to understand. But, we first catechize children age seven through adult, and then baptize them after they understand what it means.

So, believing in Jesus and baptism are not two separate things: our salvation (that is, our being saved) includes both faith and baptism. In today’s Gospel, Jesus speaks of the opposite of salvation, and that is “condemnation.” He says that it is necessary for Him to return to the Father in Heaven so that the Holy Spirit will come and dwell in the hearts of believers. By the Holy Spirit, the work of Jesus continues outside of Israel, extending to all corners of the world. While on earth, Jesus could be in only one place at a time, doing the work of only one man. But by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in the hearts of believers, we make Jesus present in millions of places all at the same time, and His work is accomplished through each of us in many places at once.

But what does Jesus mean when He says the Holy Spirit will convict the world in regards to sin and righteousness and condemnation? The world is convicted regarding sin when there is a refusal to believe in Jesus as Savior. Only Jesus washes away the guilt of our sins, and if we die in sin, we cannot go to the Father in Heaven, for nothing impure can abide with Him. Our sins are forgiven when we believe that, in His love for us, the Father sent His Son to cleanse us in His blood, and to rise again to bring us forth from the power of death.

The world is convicted in regards to righteousness because Jesus has gone to the Father, and is no longer visible on earth in human form. Again, this conviction is due to a lack of faith, which is necessary for seeing Jesus with us in this life. For faith sees what the eye cannot. And, there is no righteousness without that faith which looks beyond this world to the place where Jesus has gone before us. Finally, the Holy Spirit convicts the world in regard to condemnation because the “ruler of this world has been condemned.” Jesus is speaking here of the devil. It is not that the devil truly has power over the world, but that the world gives him power by running after things which are sinful. Jesus died and rose again to set us free from sin, and the power of the devil. But if we do not follow Jesus’ way by faith, and by the grace of baptism, then we have chosen to be ruled over by the devil; and we share in his condemnation. God’s grace has been poured out to us in greater abundance than we can imagine, so may we always accept it by believing in Jesus!

Peace,
Fr. Guy

Monday, May 18

Monday of the Sixth Week of Easter
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Although the following is not found among today’s readings, I will quote it, as it is appropriate for today’s theme: “’Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’ But how can they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how can they believe in him of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone to preach? And how can people preach unless they are sent? As it is written, ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who bring the good news!’ Thus faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the word of Christ.” (Romans 10:13-15, 17)

Throughout this Easter Season, the readings have had much to say about the missionary activity of Christians. The Easter Season begins with the celebration of baptism, and ends with the celebration of the coming of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost. The Holy Spirit is given in baptism so that we share in the death and resurrection of Jesus, and are born again as God’s children. Pentecost is more associated with the Sacrament of Confirmation, when the Holy Spirit is given to us that we might be missionaries, who tell the Good News to the world around us. The reading above from Romans makes it clear that people cannot believe in the Gospel unless they have heard it, and they cannot hear it unless someone proclaims it to them. And, we cannot proclaim the Gospel unless we are first sent by Jesus. The work we do as missionaries is done, not in our own name, but in His name.

Today’s reading from the book of Acts tells us of a woman named Lydia, who “listened” to the teaching of the Apostles, and came to believe in Jesus Christ. She and her entire household were then baptized. Afterward, Lydia opened her home to the Apostles, that they might use it as a temporary base of operation for proclaiming the Gospel. Her home would also be a “church” where the Eucharist was celebrated. Lydia would have owned a rather large home, for the Scripture tells us she dealt in purple cloth. Purple cloth was extremely hard to make in the ancient world, and so it was very expensive. Lydia was a woman of wealth. Just as she had heard and received the Gospel with joy, so she wanted others to know Jesus. So, she opened her large home as a place for everyone to gather and to hear the Good News, and to be baptized.

All disciples of Jesus are sent by Him as missionaries to the world, to bring peace, joy, and salvation to others by living and sharing the Good News. In our Gospel today, Jesus says that He was sent as a missionary into the world by His Father. Likewise, He promises to send the Holy Spirit to witness within the hearts of the disciples, so they in turn might witness to others. Our mission is to bring the world to eternal life by making the Gospel known, so that everyone may come to believe in the name of Jesus Christ.

Peace,
Fr. Guy

Saturday, May 16

Saturday of the Fifth Week of Easter
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Being a Christian is not easy, and Jesus never promised it would be. In fact, Jesus said if we are not willing to take up the cross every single day and follow Him, we cannot be His disciples. In today’s Gospel reading, Jesus tells us that if we truly are His disciples, the world will treat us the same way it treated Jesus. This means, certainly, that if they ignored, rejected, and abused Jesus, they will do the same to us. But it also means if they listened to and accepted Jesus, they will accept and listen to us as well.

It is easy to be a Christian when we are in the company of other Christians who think as we do. But even among Christians, there may be factions. Just look at the hundreds of different Christian denominations in the world, each claiming to be true church of Jesus Christ. Even within the Catholic Church, there are disagreements and divisions. This is why disciples of Jesus are called always to put aside their own ego, and to humbly and sincerely seek the greater truths of God. When we seek divine truth, we will never fully grasp the answers, for there is no such thing as fully comprehending God or of completely grasping divine truth. This is why, as St. Paul says, “we walk by faith, not by sight.”

Seeking to know God’s truth does not mean that we can never know what is right; it means, rather, that whenever we come to an understanding of truth, there will always be another level to reach for. And, the deeper our knowledge of God, and the higher our understanding of His ways, the further apart we grow from worldly thinking, and from worldly values. Unfortunately, as Jesus tells us, growth in holiness often leads to our being misunderstood or rejected by the world. But this should not make us despair, and it should not cause us to forsake the world. For when we grow in the image of Jesus, as true disciples, we have something very precious, something the world desperately needs. The challenge is in helping the worldly to recognize it.

Our reading today from Acts tells of Paul and Timothy going from place to place, proclaiming the Gospel message. They find the majority of people very receptive, and even hungering to hear more about the teachings of Jesus Christ. In fact, they seem to be pleading, with tears, for Paul and Timothy to come to them and proclaim the Good News. But while they were in Lystra, Paul seemed to bow to Jewish pressure to have Timothy circumcised. Earlier this week, we read of the Council of Jerusalem, which concluded that circumcision was not necessary for Christians. So, why did Paul allow it in Timothy’s case?

This brings us back to the fact that being a Christian is not easy, and requires constant prayer and discernment. The Jews of Lystra were hesitant to receive the Gospel message because Timothy was uncircumcised (Timothy was half Jewish). Paul had a decision to make: would they move on, and abandon the Jews to their stubbornness? Or would Timothy’s circumcision remove the obstacle which prevented them from hearing the Gospel? While the Council of Jerusalem declared circumcision as unnecessary, it did not prevent it. So, for the sake of a greater good (namely, the conversion of the Jews to Christ), Paul allowed Timothy to be circumcised.

But had they been among Gentiles in that instance, it might have caused confusion for Timothy to be circumcised. In fact, if the audience had been Gentiles, it might have caused scandal, as it would make them believe they had to become Jewish before being baptized. So, this was a case of Paul seeking the will of God, and asking for the constant guidance of the Holy Spirit. Listening to the Holy Spirit is an acquired skill, which develops with practice. Interestingly, in this same reading from Acts, the Holy Spirit actually prevents Paul and Timothy from preaching in Asia at that time. We do not know the reason, but we presume either the people there were not yet prepared to receive the Gospel, or that the lives of Paul and Timothy might have been in danger. Being a Christian is not easy, but we trust in God’s grace, and we reach out every day to a deeper knowledge of God, and to a greater understanding of His ways.

Peace be with you,
Fr. Guy

Friday, May 15

Friday of the Fifth Week of Easter
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Today’s first reading, from the book of Acts, tells of the decision of what is known as the Council of Jerusalem. Throughout Her history, the Church has held councils of bishops to answer important questions on theological and pastoral issues. The council closest to our own time is Vatican Council II, which was held in the mid nineteen sixties. One of the most visible results of that council was permission to celebrate Mass in the vernacular language of the local people, rather than in Latin. It also called the laity to “full, active, and conscious participation” in the Mass, and allowed the priest to offer Mass facing the people, instead of “ad orientem.”

The Council of Jerusalem was convened because some of the Jewish converts to Christianity were arguing that Gentiles had to be circumcised and become Jews before they could be baptized as Christians. The Apostles, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, determined that becoming Jewish was not necessary for baptism. They stated that the Church does not wish to place inconvenient burdens on people, but to help them grow in holiness. Because the Gentiles were superstitious about animals which had been sacrificed to pagan gods, the Apostles told them to refrain from eating such meat (as it was commonly sold by butchers at that time). They also were to keep their marriages pure and holy.

In essence, all of our Church’s teachings are for the purpose of bringing us closer to Christ and to eternal salvation. And ultimately, to be close to Christ, and to be in His grace, means to be in God’s love, and to love as He has first loved us. This sort of love is more than “being nice,” or having warm feelings toward others. It is more than minding our manners and controlling our emotions. The love Jesus calls us to abide in is known in Greek as “agape,” and it is a selfless, divine and life-giving love. This is the love Jesus demonstrated for us by laying down His life on the cross. It is a love both for God, and for others.

How can we love others perfectly if we do not first love God? If our love is not “divine,” then it is selfish and imperfect in some way. For example, why do we love the people we love? Isn’t it because in some way we benefit from those relationships? Can we love a complete stranger? Do we love even our enemies and those who cause us pain? That is the kind of love Jesus calls us to share in. If we love God first, then we can look beyond our own ego, and love others even if it means sacrificing ourselves. If we love God perfectly, we will also love others perfectly, in a way which transcends ego. But even our love for God can be selfish, if we only love God because we fear the loss of eternal life, or if we only love God in expectation of some reward.

So, how do we learn to love God perfectly? To love God is to know Him. How do we know God? We know God through the ways in which He has revealed Himself to us. Creation is a starting point, but we can only know God partially and imperfectly through nature. We need divine revelation, as found through the Scriptures, and most completely and perfectly in His Son, Jesus Christ. Christ reveals God to us, and He also reveals ourselves to us. This means that in Jesus, we discover who we truly are, as God’s children. And where do we receive these teachings of Jesus? From the Church. Where do we encounter Jesus in the flesh? In the Eucharist, at Church.

Even though we are physically away from the Church right now, let us not forget that because we are the Church, the Body of Christ through baptism, Christ is never far from us. Every Catholic home is called to be a “domestic church,” a place of prayer, and Scripture, where charity (agape) is lived and shared. May we continue to learn from Mother Church to know God, and by knowing Him to come to perfect love, which reaches its fulfillment in the Kingdom of Heaven, which is the goal of our faith.

Blessings,
Fr. Guy

Thursday, May 14

Thursday of the Fifth Week of Easter
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Today we observe the Feast of St. Matthias. Not much is known about the background, or the ultimate fate, of this Saint. All we know of him comes from the book of Acts. After the Ascension of Jesus, and before the coming of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost, Peter proposed that they needed to choose an Apostle to replace Judas. Judas, of course, had betrayed Jesus, and in despair, committed suicide.

There were dozens of disciples who followed Jesus, but only twelve had been selected by the Lord to be Apostles. The word “apostle” means, “one who is sent in the name and authority of another.” Jesus had chosen twelve to be the authoritative leaders of His Church, and to teach and shepherd in His name. Why twelve? The people of Israel belonged to the twelve “tribes,” each named after one of the twelve sons of Jacob, whose name was changed to Israel. By establishing His Church, Jesus was establishing a New Israel, which would be led by twelve Apostles.

Once the Holy Spirit had come upon the Apostles on Pentecost, they began their missionary work, establishing parishes throughout the Roman Empire. They also ordained men to shepherd the Church in their absence, and these were known as “episkopoi” in Greek, meaning, “over-seers.” The word “episcopal” comes from this word, and refers to what pertains to the bishops. The bishops are the successors to the Apostles. They, in turn, ordain “presbyters” (that is, priests) and deacons to help them in the local parishes. So, Apostolic authority and succession continues down to our own time through the bishops.

We see this succession already in the time of the first Apostles. Since Judas was gone, the Apostles chose his successor. Praying, and seeking guidance from the Holy Spirit, they decided on a man called Matthias. Apparently, he had been one of the many disciples of Jesus from the beginning, and now his role as disciple would take on a new authority as an Apostle. There are many stories and legends about the ministry of Matthias. Some say he died a martyr in Jerusalem, while others say he died while ministering to the people in Ethiopia. Whatever his story, the Church presents him as one who shed his blood as a martyr for Jesus Christ.

The Gospels present a truly human side to the Apostles. From the beginning, they struggled over who would be the greatest, and fought over who would sit at the right and left hand of Jesus in His Kingdom. Judas was greedy, and betrayed Jesus for thirty pieces of silver. Peter boasted he would die for Jesus, and then denied Him three times within the same night. All of them abandoned Jesus at the time of His arrest. Only later would John return, and stand at the foot of the cross as Jesus died. They were slow to believe in Jesus’ resurrection, and even after the descent of the Holy Spirit, their human flaws were apparent as they ministered to others. Nonetheless, in spite of their flaws, and even their sins, Jesus worked through them to establish His Church.

In our own time we have seen the failings, and even the detestable sins of bishops and priests. But in spite of the personal failings of some, the Church still endures, and will until the end of time. The centuries have also presented us with stellar examples of bishops and priests who have laid down their lives in selfless service to Jesus and His Church. But, the clergy can do nothing without the Holy Spirit, and the grace bestowed on them through ordination into Jesus Christ. Please pray for me, for my brother priests, and for our bishops, that we may answer the call of Jesus daily, and have the grace to shepherd the flock rightly and lovingly in His name. St. Matthias and all Apostles in Heaven, pray for us!

Peace,
Fr. Guy

Wednesday, May 13

Wednesday of the Fifth Week of Easter
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Today is the feast day of Our Lady of Fatima. This feast observes the appearances of the Blessed Virgin to three Portuguese shepherd children in 1917. The children were Lucia, who became a Carmelite nun, and lived to the age of 97, and her cousins Francisco and Jacinta, who died within three years following the apparitions, as the Blessed Mother had predicted.

The Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to the children, asking them to pray the Rosary daily, and to make sacrificial offerings of penance for wayward souls, and for souls who have no one to pray for them. She also told them to pray for an end to World War I, and would later instruct the children to tell the Pope to consecrate Russia to her Immaculate Heart. She said if all the faithful would pray the Rosary daily, they would bring peace to the entire world.

Many, of course, doubted the children were actually seeing visions of Mary. But in October of 1917, Mary had promised to prove the apparitions true by a miracle. By that time, the story had spread across Portugal, and tens of thousands of people followed the children to the place where the Virgin promised the miracle. That day it was raining hard, and the earth was soaked. The people themselves, and their clothes, were saturated with the rain. But then the rain stopped, and the clouds parted. What happened next is known as the “Miracle of the Sun.” The sun seemed to become smaller, and began to radiate with different colors of light. Then, the sun began to zig-zag in the sky, and at one point, appeared to be rushing toward the earth, growing larger and larger.

Suddenly, the sun returned to normal, but the earth, and the people’s clothes, were immediately dry. During this time, the children had seen visions of Mary, and angels, and even St. Joseph blessing the earth. Due to this event, the Church began to allow public devotion to Mary under the title of Our Lady of Fatima.

What is the message of Fatima? While appearing to the children, the Virgin Mary told them to call upon all Catholics to devote themselves to the Holy Trinity, to pursue lives of holiness, and to pray the Rosary daily. The Rosary should be prayed especially for the salvation of souls, so that no one should suffer in hell. The children were given visions of souls in hell, and our Lady told them such suffering is avoidable if people but turn to the mercy of Her Son, Jesus Christ, and allow His grace to transform their lives.

While some of the visions of Fatima may seem frightening, they are actually warnings, sent from our merciful God, who desires that all be saved. Human beings have the ability to overcome the darkness of sin, and hatred, and war, if we but follow the teachings of Jesus Christ. Of late, there has been great interest in the “third secret” of Fatima, which was a vision of things which may come to pass. In the vision, Lucia saw a bishop, dressed in white, being led to the top of a hill, with many other Catholics following. The bishop (probably the Pope) and the faithful with him, were shot to death for their faith in Christ. 

Is this vision bound to come to pass? The message of Mary at Fatima is that Catholics have the power to change the world and even the future. So, pray daily, especially the Rosary, for when we pray it we are praying with the Blessed Mother. May she help us to bring greater peace to the world. Our Lady of Fatima, pray for us!

Fr. Guy

Tuesday, May 12

Tuesday of the Fifth Week of Easter
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Our first reading tells of the tireless evangelization efforts of Paul and Barnabas. Preaching about Jesus did not always make them popular. In fact, Paul was dragged outside the city, stoned by the mob, and left for dead. To everyone’s amazement, Paul regained consciousness, and returned to the city, where he continued to proclaims Jesus Christ. The reading goes on to tell of the constant movement of Paul and Barnabas in their missionary work, and it almost makes us feel exhausted just to read about all they accomplished.

As I have written much over the years on the New Evangelization, I’d like to point out again what the mission of an evangelist is, and what it is not. First, let’s take the pressure off ourselves by examining what our mission is not: Jesus does not send us out to save anyone’s soul. We cannot save others, and we cannot believe for them. We each must believe in Christ for ourselves, and only Jesus Christ can bring us to salvation.

So, what are we called to do as evangelists? Let’s remember here the conclusion of Matthew’s Gospel, and what we call the “Great Commission.” There, Jesus says, “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them and teaching them to obey all I have commanded you.” Our mission as evangelists is not to save anyone, but to make disciples for Jesus, by teaching and baptizing. Nowhere in the book of Acts does it say, “Paul and Barnabas saved many people in Lystra and Derbe!” No! It says they proclaimed Jesus Christ, and taught in His name, and baptized many people who became believers… and because they became believers, they were added to the number of those who were being saved.

Important to evangelization is not only making new disciples, but also encouraging those who already believe. So, our first reading says of Paul and Barnabas, “They strengthened the spirits of the disciples and exhorted them to persevere in the faith, saying, ‘It is necessary for us to undergo many hardships to enter the Kingdom of God.’” In fact, the name “Barnabas” means, “Son of Encouragement,” a name given to Barnabas by the other Apostles because of his gift of encouraging others to persevere in their faith.

To evangelize means to proclaim the Gospel (that is, the Good News). But what is the Good News? As evangelists, we should be able to answer that question in a direct and succinct way. The Gospel might be summed up in the well-known words of John 3:16, “God so loved the world that He gave His Only-Begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him might not perish, but might have eternal life.” Or, we might use Jesus’ own proclamation of the Gospel from the beginning of Mark’s Gospel, “Time is fulfilled, the Kingdom of God is near, repent, and believe in the Gospel.” Jesus gives us another short formula in today’s Gospel reading, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you… Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid.”

But ultimately, the Gospel is more than a few words sewn together; the Gospel is the Word of God made flesh: the Gospel is Jesus Himself, who reveals God’s love as a human person. The best way we can proclaim the Gospel is by our own personal testimony. Why do I believe? What does Jesus mean to me? How has Jesus changed my life? And, as evangelists, our testimony must go beyond words to the entirety of our lives, so that our words and actions are consistent. Salvation comes only through Jesus Christ. Our mission is not to save anyone, but to make disciples by teaching them about Jesus, our Lord and Savior. May He fill our hearts with His presence always, so that wherever we are, He may be found.

Fr. Guy

Monday, May 11

Monday of the Fifth Week of Easter
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When Barnabas and Paul healed the crippled man at Lystra, the people exclaimed, “The gods have come down to us in human form!” They believed these two miracle-workers were Zeus and Hermes, and they prepared to offer sacrifice to them. While the people of Lystra were wrong, they were not too far from right.

The two Apostles had been preaching to the people of Lystra about Jesus Christ. Jesus is God, who has come down to us in human form. And Jesus does not ask us to offer blood sacrifices to Him. Instead, He offers Himself in sacrifice. Our act of worship is to offer this same sacrifice to the Father in the celebration of Mass. Paul and Barnabas had a difficult time preventing the people from offering sacrifice to them, because they themselves were mistaken for gods in the flesh. It should be the same situation with ourselves: when people encounter us, they should feel as if they have met God in the flesh. This is what it means to be baptized into Jesus Christ: we become one with Him, and through Him, we share in the divine nature, just as through Him, God shares our human nature.

This is what we call the “hypostatic union,” which is the joining together of the two natures of Jesus Christ. Jesus has both divine and human natures. The divine is not diminished by being joined to the human, and the human is not totally lost or absorbed in the divine. The two natures co-exist equally in the Person of Jesus Christ. By His human nature, Jesus reveals to us what it means to be truly human. To be truly human means to have been created in the divine image. So, in Jesus, we come to see our true dignity, and our calling to live as children of God, sharing fully in His divine nature.

If this is the case, why do human beings, in general, have such a hard time seeing God, or following the divine way? On the one hand, the curse of original sin has darkened our intellect so that we do not see clearly. But God never ceases to provide the grace we need to see beyond this darkness. On the other hand, we allow ourselves to be distracted by so many things, which compete with our higher calling, and so by our own choices we fail to see God. Every day we choose many things over God, either willfully, or by habit, or by simply not paying attention.

Our Gospel reading today takes place at the Last Supper. Jesus says to the Apostles, “Whoever has my commandments and observes them is the one who loves me. Whoever loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and reveal myself to him.” Judas the Zealot wants to know why everyone does not see God. Jesus responds, “Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him.”

But how are people to love Jesus if they have never known Him or seen Him? And what of ourselves as Catholic? We have never seen Jesus in the flesh here on earth. How, then, can we love Him? This Gospel reading is a continuation of the account where Jesus says, “I am the way and the truth and the life.” From this we might conclude that whoever loves and seeks the truth, loves and seeks Jesus. For God has placed such a yearning for truth into every human heart, and it is a natural yearning for God Himself.

We are blessed as Christians because what every heart yearns for has been fully revealed to us in Jesus Christ. Like Paul and Barnabas, we are to live and believe and proclaim the Gospel in such a way that people will say of us, “God has visited us in the flesh!” May we be in union with Jesus today and every day of life, until we see Him face to face in the eternal Kingdom of Heaven.

Fr. Guy

Saturday, May 9

Saturday of the Fourth Week of Easter
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Jesus says, “If you ask anything of me in my name, I will do it.” This does not mean Jesus is a genie in a bottle, ready to grant us three wishes. The purpose of prayer is not to bend God’s will to ours, but rather, to conform our will to His. The key to understanding these words of Jesus is found in these three: “in my name.”

What does it mean to pray in the name of Jesus? What does it mean to do anything in the name of someone else? Here are some examples. First, perhaps a parent sets up a trust fund for a child. They do this for the welfare of the child, who is a minor, and unable to make important personal decisions. As the parent manages the trust fund, they do so in the name of the child, until the child reaches legal age. The same could be said of someone who assumes legal responsibility for an aged adult, who can no longer make sound decisions. So, someone must act in that person’s name, regarding financial, legal, and even medical matters.

Another example of acting in someone else’s name would be if your employer sent you to conduct a transaction or to work a deal on behalf of the company. You would not be acting in your own name, but in the name of the business. The same would apply to a diplomat, acting on behalf of a nation. To pray in the name of Jesus does not mean Jesus is ready to give us whatever we want personally. Rather, to pray in Jesus’ name means we are acting on His behalf, and serving in accordance with His will.

St. Paul once called Christians “ambassadors” for Christ. Jesus Christ has gone to the Father to prepare a place for us. In the meantime, He has entrusted us with the mission of bringing salvation to the world in His name. Our prayers, therefore, should not be only for our personal needs or desires or for what is only good for ourselves. Our prayers should first and foremost be for the salvation of the world, and for the grace we need to accomplish our mission.
Today’s Gospel reading shows us a bit of frustration on the part of Jesus, or what we might call His “righteous indignation.” Jesus is nearing the end of His life on earth, and His Apostles still have not understood His teaching. Philip wants to see the Father. We can almost hear the sighing of Jesus as He says, “Have I been with you so long and you still do not understand? He who sees me sees the Father!”

Part of our daily prayer should be for the grace to see beyond the immediate appearance of things in life to the greater realities. Sometimes we fail to see beyond the end of our own noses, so to speak, and we miss the greater workings of God in our midst and the many ways He makes His presence known to us. So, here is a suggested prayer for today:

Lord Jesus, open the eyes of my heart that I may see the Father in all things. Help me to see the many opportunities to show the Father to others this day. Give me the grace to desire to do your will in my life, and give me the courage to follow the way you have set before me. May you be glorified in my life, Lord Jesus, as you have glorified me in the presence of the Father. Amen.

Blessings,
Fr. Guy

Friday, May 8

Friday of the Fourth Week of Easter
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Thomas, and the other Apostles, were worried at the Last Supper, because Jesus told them He was going away to the Father. He also told them that they knew the way to the place He was going. Thomas replied, “Lord, we don’t know where you’re going. How can we know the way?” To this, Jesus responded, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

We find these words of Jesus comforting as Christians. But they were spoken originally to a Jewish audience. As Jews, the Apostles would have understood a deeper meaning to Jesus as “the way, the truth, and the life.” The original Hebrew title of the book of Exodus means “the way out” (and even the familiar title to us, “Exodus” is Greek for “the road leading out”). These words refer to “the way out of Egypt,” that is, to God’s leading of His people Israel out of their long bondage in Egypt. The way out was also the way leading them to the Holy Land. Along the way, God revealed His sacred law to Moses, who then set it before the people. Moses told them that God’s law is the way which leads to life, and he said, “Today I set before you life and death; choose life!”

With this understanding, we see that the “way” is more than the road beneath the feet of the people of Israel. The “way” was that of following divine truth, and by following such truth, they would have life. The Last Supper was a Passover meal, which the Jews celebrated on the night before God led them out of Egypt. On that night, the angel of death “passed over” all the homes which were marked with the blood of the sacrificial lamb. In the homes where there was no blood, the firstborn died. Now, at the Last Supper, God would not spare His own firstborn, but would offer Him as the sacrificial lamb, whose blood would spare all who are marked with it.

Also, through His Son, the new “lawgiver” or the new “Moses,” God would lead His children out of the bondage of sin and death to the promised land of Heaven. The Gospel is the divine truth which leads us to life without end. The “way” is not a road, the “truth” is not carved on stone tablets, and the “life” is not earthly prosperity in the land “flowing with milk and honey.” The way, the truth, and the life are all found in the very person of Jesus Christ Himself.

For most people throughout the world right now, the “way” to move forward is uncertain. How do we know what to do next? Will things ever return to “normal”? What is life about, and what is really important in life? What am I to believe about the world, myself, God?

To return to the title of the book of Exodus, it means, “the way out.” But there is a greater meaning. God did not just deliver His people “from” their slavery in Egypt; He also brought them “to” the land which had been promised to their ancestor, Abraham, centuries before. And the promise to Abraham included not only the land, but also the heir who would bring salvation to the entire world: Jesus Christ. He is the way, the truth, and the life. He not only sets us free from sin, and death, and the anxieties of life which enslave us; He also leads us “to” the fullness of life with the Father in Heaven. May we continue to use this quieter time in history to follow Jesus more closely, by spending time reading the Bible, praying, and in showing love and mercy to those around us.

Fr. Guy

Thursday, May 7

Thursday of the Fourth Week of Easter
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As we’ve all been quarantined the past several weeks, many of us have come to rely on home delivery, whether it is food, or products we purchase online. We’ve been living under orders to “stay home,” but Jesus tells us to “go forth!” Now, before you actually go out and violate the stay at home order, let us recognize Jesus’ meaning.

When Jesus tells us to “go forth into all the world,” it is to proclaim the good news: the Gospel. It is to share our faith in Jesus Christ, by which we have already received eternal life. While it is necessary for missionaries to go out to the world, we can fulfill the commission of Jesus even at home, if we are living our faith and sharing it with one another. When we think of all the things that can be delivered, nothing compares to what Jesus came to bring us. He came all the way from Heaven, sent by God out of love for us. And, now that Jesus has returned to the Father, He sends us to continue delivering Him to the world around us. In today’s Gospel He says, “Whoever believes in me believes not only in me but also in the one who sent me, and whoever sees me sees the one who sent me.”

If you recall the Gospel from yesterday, Jesus had said whoever sees Him sees the Father who sent Him. Today, Jesus says, whoever sees and believes whom He sends (that is His disciples) sees and believes Jesus. Likewise whoever sees and believes Jesus sees and believes the Father. This is something we should really take notice of! We are God’s messengers, and what we deliver is eternal life!

But are we humble enough to deliver such a wonderful thing? For to deliver the life of Jesus means we must serve others, as Jesus has served us. Jesus demonstrated such service by washing the feet of His disciples, a task reserved for the lowest of servants. And this sort of service cannot truly be done without love, lest it be merely a going through the motions. To deliver Jesus means we must truly care about the welfare, and the eternal salvation, of all people.

Our first reading continues to follow the missionary journeys of St. Paul. At first, Paul was proclaiming the Gospel only to Jews, but later was recognized as having been chosen by the Holy Spirit to evangelize the Gentiles as well. In today’s reading, Paul goes to the Jewish synagogue, and tries to help them to understand and accept that Jesus is the Christ, foretold by the Jewish Scriptures. However, the Jews would largely refuse Paul’s testimony about Jesus. This would cause Paul such anguish that in his letter to the Romans, he expresses a desire to go to hell and suffer, if only it would save the Jewish people. But Paul also knew that there is salvation in the suffering of only one man: Jesus Christ.

We should be proud of our Catholic heritage, of our history, traditions, and our teachings. And, just as our fathers and mothers before us lived and died for Jesus, having adventures in His name which we continue to tell today, may we make new stories, which Catholics after us will tell in centuries to come. Such adventures come from delivering Jesus to the world around us.

May the peace of Christ Jesus continue to abide in your homes!

Fr. Guy

Wednesday, May 6

Wednesday of the Fourth Week of Easter
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Yesterday, I mentioned that faith is something sown in us by God. In other words, faith is only possible because of God’s grace. But that doesn’t mean faith is solely the work of God. We must use the grace of God and cultivate faith. So, faith is both God’s work, and our work. If we are lazy in our faith, it will not grow and mature; even though it began with God, it will never bear fruit unless we do our part.

We might use the eye as an analogy for faith. After all, we often refer to the knowledge of God, and of spiritual truths, as being “enlightened.” The eyes in our heads have the ability within themselves to see. However, they cannot see anything without light. Only when light hits the eye is it able to do what is natural to it. But if the eye is in complete darkness, even if it is a healthy eye, it cannot see a thing.

In today’s Gospel, Jesus refers to Himself as the light. He says, “I came into the world as light, so that everyone who believes in me might not remain in darkness.” Jesus is what we call “uncreated light,” something greater than light which enables the eye-ball to see. And the darkness He dispels is the darkness of the soul. Such darkness is ignorance of the truth: of the truth of who God is, and of who we are as His children. This darkness causes us to lose our way because we cannot see the truth without the light. This darkness of the soul also clouds our intellect, so that we begin to mistake lies for the truth, and so we are led into further darkness.

Because God has placed within every human heart a desire for Himself, we naturally want to see God. But the eye itself is unable to see God. All the eye might see is a manifestation of God, but it cannot see God as He is. Likewise, the ear might seem to hear the rustling of God, but it is not truly God. The ear cannot hear God. Only the soul is capable, by grace, of experiencing God as He is. This is why Jesus says, “Whoever believes in me believes not only in me but also in the one who sent me, and whoever sees me sees the one who sent me.” Jesus makes the invisible God visible to us. And just as the eye is able to see when light shines upon it, so the soul sees God when it turns, in faith, to Jesus.

Continuing on in today’s Gospel reading, Jesus teaches us why it is so important to believe His Word. He says that His teaching is not His own, but is from the Father who sent Him. And what is this Word, this teaching, or what Jesus calls this “commandment”? It is eternal life. By believing in Jesus as the full revelation of God and of divine truth, we come to eternal life here and now. Eternal life does not begin when we die; it begins when we believe what God reveals to us in His Son, Jesus Christ. This is why Paul and Barnabas, and the other Apostles, were so anxious to proclaim the Gospel throughout the world, because by doing so, they were imparting the gift of eternal life!

May we each continue to grow in faith, to learn from Jesus, and to give life to one another by living and proclaiming the Gospel.

Peace,
Fr. Guy

Tuesday, May 5

Tuesday of the Fourth Week of Easter
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The Jews came to Jesus, somewhat frustrated, and said, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly!” Jesus replied to them, “I did tell you, but you do not believe.”

Faith is not something arrived at through clever, intellectual arguments. The mind itself cannot grasp the depths of divine truth. While the mind can achieve a certain level of understanding and theological knowledge, the mind is not where faith resides.

Faith is something sown within us by God, in the very depths of our souls. However, because we are persons, created with a free will, we each must choose to believe. God calls to us, and sends us the Holy Spirit to enable us to believe, but we ourselves must want to believe. This desire to believe, and in fact belief itself, does not mean we have a complete and clear intellectual knowledge or understanding of God. But it does mean we have willingly opened ourselves to God, that we might know Him, and be transformed into the perfect image of His Son. But faith allows God to remain the greatest mystery of all.

How do we know that God has sown faith in every human soul? Because the desire for answers, for knowing the meaning of life, is already there. Just go to any bookstore and you will find volumes of books on philosophy, theology, spirituality, religion, psychology, meditation, and self-help. Our hearts yearn for the answer, which is ultimately God Himself.

God does not leave us on our own, to struggle in our search for Him. God comes to us, and reveals Himself most fully as one like ourselves, so that in Jesus, we might know not only God, but also who we are called to be as human beings. This is why the Gospel is “good news:” not only because it tells us of the forgiveness of our sins, and of our deliverance from hell, but because it answers the question burning deep in the soul of every human being. Through Jesus Christ, the Gospel reveals God to us, and it reveals to us who we truly are, as God’s children.

Our reading from Acts tells of the Gentiles in Antioch who long to be taught about Jesus. Barnabas answers the call, and begins to proclaim the Gospel to them. But there are so many who are eager to learn and to become disciples, that Barnabas goes to find Paul to help him. Antioch became one of the most important seats of Christianity, and it was there that the disciples of Jesus were first called Christians. In fact, in the time of the Apostles, Antioch was more important to Christians than Rome.

Jesus says, “My sheep hear my voice; I call them and they follow me.” The sheep follow the Good Shepherd because they know His love for them is so strong that He is willing to die for them. In response, the sheep live for the Shepherd, and follow wherever He leads them. This is what we call the “obedience of faith.” Faith begins with the working of the Holy Spirit within us, and then it is our duty as Christians to cultivate it, by prayer, Scripture, and doing the work of Jesus by loving God and others. Of those who believe, Jesus says, “No one can take them out of my hand.” May we willingly place ourselves in the hands of Jesus daily, trusting in His love for us, and living for Him who died for us.

Blessings,
Fr. Guy

Monday, May 4

Monday of the Fourth Week of Easter
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We’ve all heard of kosher foods. These are foods which are acceptable for consumption by Jewish people according to the Law of Moses. But the word “kosher” applies to more than just food. The Hebrew word “kosher” means that which is “clean” or acceptable in the sight of God. In that sense, the very people of Israel were called by God to be kosher. And, by extension, as the New Covenant people of God, we Catholics are also called to be a kosher people.

But what makes something kosher, or clean, in the sight of God? In today’s first reading, Peter is criticized by the other Jewish Christians for having entered the home of a Gentile, and for possibly having eaten a meal there. By Jewish law, even entering the home of a Gentile (a non-Jew) could make a person ceremonially unclean (that is, un-kosher). Peter answered by describing a vision he had from God. In the vision, Peter saw a large sheet descending from Heaven, and within the sheet were all sorts of unclean animals. Peter heard a voice telling him to kill and eat the un-kosher beasts. At first, Peter refused, declaring that as a good Jew, nothing unclean had ever entered his mouth. But the voice said, “What God has made clean, do not call profane.”

From this vision, Peter realized that Jesus, by the shedding of His blood, had made all things clean in the sight of God. Jesus is the fulfillment of the Law of Moses, which had been in place as a guide until the coming of Christ. Now, the Gospel, the Good News of salvation in the death and resurrection of Jesus, replaces the old law. No longer were the old dietary restrictions in place, for as Jesus had once said, “It is not what goes into a man which makes him unclean, but what comes out of him. For from within the heart come those things which make a man unclean in the sight of God.” (see Mark 7:15)

From this, Peter came to understand that it is also through the blood of Jesus that the Gentile people, too are made clean in the sight of God. So, Peter went to the home of the Gentile man, and when he had preached the Gospel to them, the Holy Spirit came upon the family and they became believers in Jesus as their Savior. Once Peter explained this, the Jewish Christians gave thanks to God for bringing salvation to the Gentiles as well. For this was in fulfillment of the prophecy to Abraham, that through one of his descendants, all nations of the world would find blessing.

In today’s Gospel reading, Jesus declares that His sheep are those who hear His voice and listen to Him. He also says that He has other sheep which do not belong to this fold, and they, too, must be called and gathered. Initially, Jesus was sent to the Jewish people, but in this passage, He is referring to the call of the Gentile people as well. For all who hear and obey the voice of Jesus belong to Him.

May we faithfully listen to the voice of our Good Shepherd today and always. And may we do more than listen: may we obey. By such obedience, we will also have loving concern for the salvation of others, that they also may come to know Jesus and the life He offers. By Him, we, and all who obey Him, have become a kosher people, washed clean in His blood.

Peace,
Fr. Guy

Saturday, May 2

Saturday of the Third Week of Easter
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Today we give thanks to God as we observe the feast day of St. Athanasius. While many may not be familiar with the Saint himself, anyone who is Catholic is familiar with his work. For Athanasius’s teaching is the basis and framework of the Nicene Creed, which we recite at every Sunday Mass.

The name “Athanasius” is Greek, and may be translated as “The One who is without death,” referring to the conquering of death by Christ, and eternal life given to the baptized. Athanasius was from Alexandria, Egypt, and by the age of twenty-seven, already a deacon and well-respected theologian. He was the personal assistant to the bishop of Alexandria.

At that time, the Arian heresy was very strong, and in fact, the Arians were more numerous than those who followed the orthodox teachings of the Apostles. The Arians were followers of the teaching of a man named Arius, who taught that Christ, and God the Father, were not of one, eternal divine substance. According to Arius, God was not really a Trinity; instead, he taught that God the Father “created” the Christ, so there was a moment in eternity when the Second Person of the Trinity did not exist.

So, the Emperor, wishing to use Christianity as a way of uniting his empire, needed for Christians to be in agreement among themselves on matters of theology. He called for a council, known as the Council of Nicea, to set forth the Church’s official teaching on God as a Trinity. During these proceeding, which lasted for months, St. Nicholas (yes, good old St. Nick!) became so infuriated at Arius, that he punched him in the face. As a result, St. Nicholas was imprisoned for a few days.

Athanasius would emerge as the champion of Nicea, as he was able to clearly set forth the true teachings of the Catholic Church regarding the Trinity. Athanasius made it clear that God is a Trinity of Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. While the Father “begets” the Son, and the Holy Spirit “proceeds” from them, this “begetting” and “proceeding” are from eternity, meaning, there was never a moment when the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit did not exist as one, equal and divine substance. (If you want some additional homework on this topic, you may research what St. Augustine would later put forth in what we call the “filioque” clause of the Nicene Creed).

The result of the Council of Nicea was the affirmation that what Athanasius taught was indeed the true teaching of the Apostles, and of what had been revealed by Jesus Christ Himself. When the bishop of Alexandria died, shortly after the conclusion of the council, Athanasius took his place (he went directly from deacon to bishop, skipping over priestly ordination).  However, due to the mixing of Church and politics at that time, Athanasius made many enemies. Because of this, Athanasius would have to go into exile (that is, hiding) five different times during the remainder of his life on earth. From Athanasius, we learn that teaching the truth does not always make us popular, but nonetheless, we are called as Catholics to defend the truth as revealed by God.

May St. Athanasius pray for the Church today from his place in Heaven: may he pray for our Pope Francis, our Archbishop Charles, and all bishops; may he pray for all who suffer for their faith in Jesus Christ; may he pray for all who are discerning their vocation in Christ, and for each of us, that we may faithfully profess and follow the teachings of our Lord, Jesus Christ.

Peace,
Fr. Guy

Friday, May 1

Friday of the Third Week of Easter
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We begin the month of May by observing the feast of St. Joseph the Worker. This feast is especially appropriate for this time of quarantine, when many people, who wish to work, cannot. It is also a time for us to pray for those who have lost jobs, and also for those who are working on the front lines to combat this pandemic.

Our Catholic Church teaches us that work is an important part of what it means to be human. Our first reading today tells of God’s work of creation, and of how He made human beings in His own image and likeness. Essential to being in God’s likeness is that we also can create new things through our labor. Work makes us like our Creator. While all living creatures have their own purpose and form of work, only human beings have the capacity to consciously engage in work as a means of bettering ourselves, others, and the environment around us. If we approach work as a gift from God, and engage in it as a way of growing in His image, then our work becomes a means to greater holiness.

No matter what work we do, whether it is our livelihood, working around the house, or even planting a garden, if it is done with the idea of bringing glory to God, then it is in some way service to Jesus Christ. When I was in the seminary, I happened to visit a convent while on break. I saw a statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary spinning wool. When I returned to the seminary, I asked Fr. Jelly, a well-known Mariologist, if he could tell me more about the image I had seen. Instead of informing me, he gave me an assignment for extra credit, to go and research the image for myself and to give a presentation to my class mates. I discovered that all around the world, there are images of Mary engaging in traditional housework: spinning, cooking, sweeping, and sewing. These images fall under the category of “Our Lady of the Hearth.” The idea behind them is that the greatest of all Saints did not establish churches or preach to the crowds. She faithfully served Jesus by doing common household chores for Him.

St. Joseph is also an example of such humble and anonymous work in service to Jesus. Joseph was a carpenter, who worked with his hands. He never preached the Gospel in the synagogues, and never went on missionary journeys. Nevertheless, the work he did daily was in service to Jesus and Mary. Joseph also taught the trade of carpentry to Jesus, who worked with His own hands in this way until it was time for Him to be revealed as the world’s Savior.

If we allow it, all work challenges us to become more perfectly conformed to the image of Jesus. It begins with our attitude, and with the recognition that our work, in some way, points to the original work of God’s creation of the world. And if we do our work, no matter how menial we consider it, for the glory of Jesus Christ, then it becomes the work of salvation. Mary and Joseph both performed the work of salvation by parenting Jesus, and providing for His daily needs. If they had not cared for Jesus in this way, He would have been unable to fulfill His work as Savior.

Some people are unable to work physically. Or so they think. What really is the work of God? Jesus tells us the work of God is to believe in His Son. This faith leads to us loving God and others. And love is always creative and life-giving. Many elderly or physically disabled think they have nothing to contribute. But they can pray for, encourage, and love others. Our Church has many young and healthy people who live in monasteries and cloistered convents, spending their days in constant prayer for the Church and the world. They are our prayer-warriors!

So, whatever we do, if it begins with love for God and others, it is the work of salvation. May all we do today bring glory to God, and blessing to others. St. Joseph, pray of us!

Fr. Guy

Thursday, April 30

Thursday of the Third Week of Easter
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God is always calling us to Himself. But we are not always listening. Sometimes we hear God’s call, but we are not receptive to it. We might say to God, “Not right now… I’m too busy. Get back with me later.” Or, at other times, we are resistant to God’s call, preferring our own way, or the way of the world, to the way in which God calls us to walk. But God does not give up. He continues to call us to Himself, and He even provides the grace of the Holy Spirit to help us to hear, and to answer His call.

Our first reading today tells of a servant of the Queen of Ethiopia. Obviously, this man has heard God’s call in his heart, and desires to answer. Not having found God in his own country, he hoped to find Him in the land of Israel. The servant has been to Jerusalem to worship what he does not yet understand. For the time being, he is only responding to the movement of the Holy Spirit in his heart. On his way back home, he is reading from the scroll of the Prophet Isaiah. The fact that he has the scroll shows that he must have a large bank account, because in those times, scrolls were handwritten, and normally, only the community synagogue would own a copy.

As the Ethiopian was reading and trying to understand the Scripture, Philip was sent by the Holy Spirit to instruct him. This was not the Apostle Philip, but rather, the Philip who, along with Stephen, was one of the first deacons of the Church. After engaging the man in conversation, Philip explains to him that the prophecy from Isaiah, and in fact, all the Scriptures, are about Jesus Christ. Some time later, they came across a body of water, and the Ethiopian asked to be baptized. After the baptism, the Holy Spirit took Philip away, so that he could continue evangelizing elsewhere.

All who are baptized are called to be evangelists. This doesn’t mean we must roam the countryside, looking for someone we can witness to. Some are called to that, but most are not. Most Catholics are called simply to live their life in such a way that others are attracted, and will come to us and ask to be taught. Simply by the way we speak and how we live, people should know that we are Christians. And, we should be so equipped in the knowledge of our faith that we can answer their questions.

While knowledge of the Scriptures, and the teachings of our Church, are important, the first part of evangelizing is sharing our own personal story: being able to explain to others why we are Catholic, and what our faith means to us. Evangelization requires that personal element, for it is about sharing the faith person to person.

But we must never lean totally on ourselves, or on our own testimony. Evangelization is first and foremost the work of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit will give us what we need to say when we are called upon to share our faith and to give testimony to Jesus Christ. But first, the Holy Spirit works to prepare the hearts of those to whom we are called to evangelize. If the Holy Spirit does not first work in them, then our testimony is in vain. This is why Jesus says in today’s Gospel, “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draw him, and I will raise him on the last day… Everyone who listens to my Father and learns from him comes to me.”

May we listen to the voice of God calling us today, that we in turn might be the call of God to others.

Peace,
Fr. Guy

Wednesday, April 29

Wednesday of the Third Week of Easter
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Today is the Feast of St. Catherine of Siena. (There is a St. Catherine who appeared to St. Joan of Arc, and is depicted on our side altar; however, that is Catherine of Alexandria, not Catherine of Siena). Catherine of Siena was born late in life to a family of more than twenty children, however, about half of them did not survive, including Catherine’s own twin sister.

Already as a child, Catherine exhibited a strong faith and a great devotion to Jesus Christ. She began having visions of Jesus at the age of seven or eight. When she was in her teens, her parents began making plans for her to be married, as marriages were arranged in those times. But Catherine refused, saying that she was going to live her life as the bride of Jesus. Eventually, her parents conceded, and allowed her to join the Third Order of St. Dominic, meaning, that she would wear the Dominican habit, and participate in a regimented prayer life, but would live with her family outside of the convent.

By such a lifestyle, we might think that Catherine would be hidden away, and lost to history. But in her time, the Church was in great upheaval. Due to greed and the desire for temporal power, the Pope no longer lived in Rome, but rather, in Avignon. In fact, the Avignon Papacy went on for decades. Even local authorities were using the authority of the Church for worldly gain. Her love for Jesus and His Church caused Catherine to become active in restoring the holy dignity of the Church, and the Papacy. She became involved in local politics, and began writing letters to ecclesial and temporal authorities further away, including the Pope.

Catherine also began traveling, not only to meet authorities in person, but also to encourage the Catholic laity to stay close to Jesus in times of confusion, when their shepherds and civil leaders were fighting amongst themselves. Over time, it became apparent that Catherine’s mission was guided by the Holy Spirit, as was proven by various miracles. Due to her persistence, she was instrumental in convincing the Pope to return to Rome.

But the drama did not end there. The Pope’s return to Rome had political repercussions. The authorities in France decided to elect their own Pope, and later, another man claimed that he was the rightful successor to St. Peter. So, for a few years, there were three Popes! Nonetheless, Catherine’s faith was not in human beings, but in God. She had great success in turning the hearts of many lapsed or confused Catholics back to Jesus, and also was able to enact reforms to the clergy. She wrote books on mystical theology, and by the end of her life had inspired hundreds of women and men to enter Religious Life. She died at the age of only thirty-three.

The message most central to Catherine’s teaching was to turn one’s whole heart and mind to Jesus. Her message may be summed up in a section of our first reading today, “My children, I am writing this to you so that you may not commit sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous one. He is expiation for our sins, and not for our sins only but for those of the whole world.”

Catherine’s whole life was one of answering the invitation of Jesus to come to Him. She died the way she lived, as one truly united to our Lord. Perhaps in her final moments, she heard Jesus speak to her the words of todays’ Gospel, "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."

St. Catherine of Siena, Pray for us!
Fr. Guy

Tuesday, April 28

Tuesday of the Third Week of Easter
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Today’s readings from both the book of Acts and the Gospel are continuations from yesterday’s readings. The people who had been fed by Jesus from the two fish and five loaves had followed Him, seeking another free meal. When Jesus tells them not to seek bread which perishes, but to seek rather the Bread of Life, which comes from Heaven, the people cannot accept that the bread Jesus is speaking of is Himself. They are still looking for an object, which they can eat, and which will magically transform them into eternal beings.

But God does not work magic upon us, and eternal life is not something which happens “to” us. Salvation must happen “within” us by entering into a relationship of faith with Jesus Christ. God is a personal God, and we, made in His image, are persons. Just as God’s Son comes to us as a person, or we could say, in a personal way, so we must receive Him personally. What does this mean? It means we allow Him to form us as human persons by His grace, that every aspect of our lives might be transformed into God’s perfect image. Certainly, every one of us falls short of this goal, but we must continue striving, using every natural strength God has given us, while also relying on His grace. This is how Saints are made. It is no drudgery, but rather, a joyful process, when we realize God is calling us to inherit everything in His Heavenly Kingdom.

St. Stephen saw this inheritance awaiting him, as he stood trial before the Sanhedrin for preaching about Jesus Christ. He looked up and said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” Angered by this, the Jews began to stone Stephen to death. But because in life, Stephen was so configured to Jesus, he died with the same attitude of His Savior. He prayed for his persecutors, as Jesus did on the cross, saying, “Lord, do not hold this against them.” As he was dying, Stephen also prayed in a similar way as Jesus had prayed to His Father. Jesus had prayed, “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.” Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”

An interesting figure who seemed to be in charge of the stoning of Stephen was a young rabbi named Saul. Saul was an up and coming rabbi and scholar, who had studied under Gamaliel, one of the world’s foremost rabbis of the time. Saul hated the Church, and went from town to town arresting Christians and having them put to death.

But one day, as he was going to Damascus to arrest Christians there, he encountered the risen Jesus, person to person. Saul was stricken with blindness for a few days. After recovering his sight, Saul underwent a personal transformation: he would end up becoming the Church’s greatest missionary and teacher of Jesus Christ. His new life came with a new name: Saul became St. Paul. Like Stephen, Paul would eventually become a martyr for his faith in Jesus.

We each need to encounter Jesus daily if we are to be transformed by Him. Certainly, the greatest encounter is in the Holy Eucharist. But we also encounter Jesus in the Scriptures, in prayer, and in communion with our fellow believers, as we bear witness to one another, and live as Jesus in love for each other. So, let us come to Jesus in some way today and every day. For He says of Himself in today’s Gospel, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst.”

Many blessings,
Fr. Guy

Monday, April 27

Monday of the Third Week of Easter
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After feeding the five-thousand, Jesus went to the other side of the Sea of Galilee. But the crowd he had fed followed Him. They followed not because they loved Jesus or because they wanted to hear more of His teaching; they followed because they wanted another free meal. They were following Jesus for worldly and selfish reasons. And we all do that to some extent.

For example, some Catholics adhere to a very strict daily prayer routine, and attend Mass frequently, and fast on Fridays, and appear very devout. But why? Is it because they are so madly in love with Jesus and are grateful for all they have received? Or is it because they are trying to earn what they cannot: God’s love? God’s love cannot be earned, for it is already there before we even realize it. God’s love is proven in the gift of His Son for our salvation. If such people are not trying to earn God’s love, are they trying to earn their own salvation? Are they trying to keep God happy so He doesn’t let bad things happen to them? Are they trying to bribe God to answer their prayers for themselves, or for their loved ones? As I said, we all play such games to some extent. It doesn’t mean our love for God is not genuine, or that we do not have faith. It simply means we are misdirected and need to mature spiritually.

To the crowd which sought another free meal, Jesus said, “Do not work for food that perishes but for the food that endures for eternal life.” The crowd asked, “How do we work for such food?” To this, Jesus replied, “This is the work of God, that you believe in the one he sent.” But why is it so important to have faith? How is believing in Jesus doing the work of God?

What we firmly believe shapes every aspect of our lives. Here’s an example: the entire world is quarantined right now because we believe the Coronavirus can kill us. But apart from this, even in normal times, how we think of ourselves, and what we believe about the world, directs the way we go about life. The thing which guides our life more than anything else should be our faith in Jesus Christ. If we truly believe that God loved us enough, in spite of our sins, that He sent His Son to die on a cross as the penalty for our sins, and that through His rising to life He has given us eternal life in His Kingdom… how ought we to live? Shouldn’t we live in constant gratitude and praise to God, and in peace and love with one another? Shouldn’t we also be forgiving and patient? Shouldn’t we be generous as God has been to us?

If we are truly seeking Jesus for the right reasons, that we might know the truth and how to live by it, then we will become messengers of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Today’s first reading tells us of Stephen, one of the first deacons of the Church. St. Stephen was also the first to die as a martyr, witnessing to his faith in Jesus Christ. He was arrested and brought before the Sanhedrin (the Jewish governing authority). When they tried to debate with Stephen about Jewish teaching, and whether or not Jesus was the Christ, they were unable to match his wisdom. So, they brought in false witnesses to lie about what Stephen had said.

The book of Acts tells us that as they looked upon Stephen, he had the face of an angel. This does not mean he was beautiful, or radiant like a Renaissance painting of an angel. In Scripture, angels normally appear as warriors of God, frightening in appearance. The very word “angel” means “a messenger.” In bearing witness to the Gospel, Stephen was truly a messenger of God’s Word. But the Sanhedrin would not accept his testimony, because it didn’t fit their narrative. Once again, we see here a case of religious people following God for the wrong reasons, and dismissing divine truth when it is uncomfortable or inconvenient. So, they had Stephen killed.

May we always seek God’s truth, and ask for the grace to follow Jesus for the right reasons. May our lives be transformed by Him, and may we, like Stephen, be angel messengers of the Gospel!

Peace,
Fr. Guy

Saturday, April 25

Saturday of the Second Week of Easter
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Today is the Feast of St. Mark, one of the four Evangelists (an Evangelist is one of those who wrote the four Gospels). Each of the four Evangelists has his own symbol: Matthew is symbolized by a human (or angel), Luke by an ox, John by an eagle, and Mark by a lion.

Mark is widely accepted as being the same person as John Mark, who was a young cousin of the Apostle Barnabas. It was Barnabas who introduced St. Paul to the other Apostles, and these two became the recognized Apostles to the Gentile people. For a while, Mark traveled with them to help in their missionary work. But on one occasion, due to being so young, Mark became frightened when it looked as if they might be arrested and killed for preaching the Gospel. So, he snuck away during the night, abandoning Barnabas and Paul. Later, when Mark repented and wanted to return to missionary work, Paul refused to accept him. This caused a rift between Barnabas and Paul, and they parted company.

Later, Mark crossed paths with St. Peter, and became his personal secretary. As Peter traveled from place to place preaching about Jesus Christ, Mark wrote down what Peter said. These writings became the Gospel according to Mark. Mark’s Gospel is actually the oldest of the four, and also the shortest. It contains no infancy narrative of Jesus, but rather, begins with the baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist. Matthew and Luke both used Mark’s Gospel as an outline for their Gospels, while adding their own material. Because of this, those three Gospels contain many similarities, and are known as the "synoptic” Gospels, meaning, they “look alike.” John’s Gospel follows a completely different outline, and was the last to be written.

Mark eventually became a bishop, and founded the Church at Alexandria. He was martyred, most likely, under Nero. The reality of suffering is prominent in the Gospel of Mark, while hope is offered through faith in Jesus Christ. Perhaps Mark was influenced in this way by his time working with St. Peter, who in today’s first reading says to us, as Christians, “Be sober and vigilant. Your opponent the Devil is prowling around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, steadfast in faith, knowing that your brothers and sisters throughout the world undergo the same sufferings. The God of all grace who called you to his eternal glory through Christ Jesus will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you after you have suffered a little. To him be dominion forever.  Amen.”

Mark also understood well, from his time with Barnabas and Paul, that the Church established by Jesus is missionary in nature, and that all believers are called to bear witness to Jesus by their words and actions. So, his Gospel ends with Jesus returning to Heaven, while the disciples go forth into the world to proclaim the Gospel. In the conclusion of Mark’s Gospel, we get the sense that Jesus not only redeems human souls, but that by His coming into the world, dying, and rising again, Jesus redeems all of creation. In Mark’s conclusion, Jesus commands the disciples to preach the Gospel “to every creature,” a way of announcing that the curse brought about on the entire creation by the sin of Adam is now removed by Jesus.

As for ourselves, Mark might tell us in these days of quarantine, to hope in Jesus, to bear our suffering patiently as we allow God to work through it, and to be prepared to proclaim the Gospel to every person and every creature by how we live, and by how we love, in the name of our Lord Jesus. May He bless you always!

Fr. Guy

Friday, April 24

Friday of the Second Week of Easter
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Today we conclude our examination of the parts of Mass. The liturgy of the Eucharist ends with the concluding rites. After Communion, the Holy Eucharist is returned to the Tabernacle, where Christ remains enthroned on earth with His people. The sanctuary lamp indicates the perpetual presence of Jesus in the Tabernacle.

After Communion there should be some silent time for each person to reflect on what they have just received: the very body and blood of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. Also, we have heard the Word of God spoken to us, and we should hold that Word close to our hearts and allow it to fill our minds as we go forth into the world.

Then the priest offers the concluding prayer. This prayer asks God to empower our hearts to live holy lives which testify to our faith in Jesus Christ. The concluding prayer is normally missionary in nature, asking that the power of the Eucharist may bear fruit in the world through the people who have received it.
Before the final blessing, the priest says to the people, “The Lord be with you,” to which they respond, “And with your spirit.” This is more than just a polite greeting. We find it at the beginning of Mass, and also before the preface (at the beginning of the liturgy of the Eucharist).  But why? In these words the priest assures the people of Christ’s presence with them, just as Jesus promised His Apostles before His Ascension into Heaven, “I am with you always, until the end of the age.” (Mt. 28:20) And, the priest acknowledges that the people He is addressing are a special people: through baptism, they have become the living Temple and dwelling place of God. 

But why do the people respond, “And with your spirit”? It is because the priest is ordained, and by virtue of his ordination, he speaks with the authority of Jesus and acts in His name. By saying, “And with your spirit,” the people are acknowledging that the priest is not acting in his own name, or even as his own person; they are addressing Jesus as the priest at every Mass, working and speaking through the man who is ordained.

As we saw above, when communion is over, the Eucharistic body of Jesus is placed in the Tabernacle. But, Jesus is also within those who have received Him in Word and Sacrament. By saying “The Lord be with you,” at the end of Mass, the priest is saying, “The Lord is in you!” Now, the people are send forth on mission, for the word Mass is from the Latin “missio,” from which comes the word “mission.” Just as Jesus was sent into the world on mission from His Father, so He now sends His Church into the world to continue the work of salvation.

So, the priest imparts the final blessing, in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Then he says the final words of dismissal (usually, “Go in peace, glorifying the Lord by your life”) and the people respond, “Thanks be to God!” And isn’t this what the word “Eucharist” means? It is the Greek word, meaning, “to give thanks.” As we end Mass, we thank God for speaking to us in His Word, for giving us His Son’s flesh and blood, and also for entrusting us with the mission to bring salvation to the world until Jesus comes again on Judgment Day.

The Mass ends with a final hymn, while the altar-servers and priest process out. This “recessional” represents Christ, through His people, going out to all the world to proclaim the Good News. Mass teaches us that we are a missionary people. May the Holy Spirit fill our hearts with every grace we need to fulfill our mission faithfully!

Peace,
Fr. Guy

Thursday, April 23

Thursday of the Second Week of Easter
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The second part of the Mass is known as the liturgy of the Eucharist, and as we saw in yesterday’s reflection, it begins with the preparatory rites. Most people associate the liturgy of the Eucharist with what is called the “Eucharistic Prayer,” for that is the main portion of it. But before the Eucharistic Prayer comes the “preface.” The preface is a prayer to the Father, which recounts the story of our salvation: that God sent His Son into the world to die for our sins and to rise again to open for us the Kingdom of Heaven. During Advent, Christmas, Lent, and Easter, the preface usually takes on the theme of the season.

The preface is important because it proclaims what is about to become present to us through the gestures and symbols of the Eucharistic Prayer. A portion of our first reading today, from the book of Acts, would make a great preface. It is the address of the Apostles to the Sanhedrin, “We must obey God rather than men. The God of our ancestors raised Jesus, though you had him killed by hanging him on a tree. God exalted him at his right hand as leader and savior to grant Israel repentance and forgiveness of sins. We are witnesses of these things, as is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him.”

After the preface, the congregation joins in singing the “Sanctus,” or, “Holy, holy, holy…” Then the people kneel, for the most important part of Mass is about to happen. The priest holds his hands over the bread and wine and prays the “Epiclesis,” a prayer calling down the Holy Spirit on what will become the body and blood of Jesus. Then, the priest, acting in the person of Jesus Himself, says the words of “Consecration,” by which the bread and wine become the body and blood of Jesus.

There are four common forms of the Eucharistic Prayer which the priest may choose from. Eucharistic Prayer I is the modern adaptation of the traditional Tridentine Mass, which was developed in the 1500’s. It is the longest, and contains two litanies of the Saints. Eucharistic Prayer II is the oldest, going back to about the year 200 A.D., and it is the shortest, and often used for weekday Masses. Eucharistic Prayer III is based on the Byzantine liturgy, and Eucharistic Prayer IV follows the format of the Jewish synagogue service.

Whichever Eucharistic Prayer is used, it is Jesus who is really the priest at every Mass. This is why the Eucharistic Prayer is addressed to God the Father. The only part of it which addresses Jesus is the prayer before the sign of peace. The Eucharistic Prayer concludes with the lifting up of the body and blood of Jesus to the Father, as the priest says, “Through Him, and with Him, and in Him, O God Almighty Father, in the unity of the Holy Spirit; all glory and honor is yours, forever and ever!” In this prayer, we ourselves are offered up in, with, and through Jesus into the hands of our Heavenly Father. To this prayer, the people respond with what we call the “Great Amen.”

Then, the people stand, and with the priest pray the “Our Father,” the prayer Jesus taught His disciples. The sign of peace follows. After this, the priest breaks the body of Jesus in two, and then breaks off another small piece, which he mixes with the precious blood in the chalice. The people sing the “Lamb of God,” and then kneel again in the presence of Jesus, lifted high by the priest, who declares, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world. Blessed are those called to the Supper of the Lamb!” The people respond, “Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed.” Communion then follows.

Todays’ Gospel reading is the perfect summary for our reflection on the liturgy of the Eucharist. It says, “The Father loves the Son and has given everything over to him. Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever disobeys the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God remains upon him.” May we each remain in His love, as we declare His Son to one another.

Peace,
Fr. Guy

Wednesday, April 22

Wednesday of the Second Week of Easter
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The homily completes the liturgy of the Word, as it explains the readings, and applies them to life. Just as the liturgy of the Word has introductory rites, so the second part of Mass, the liturgy of the Eucharist, has “preparatory” rites. These help us to prepare our hearts for seeing and receiving Jesus in the Holy Eucharist.

The preparatory rites begin with the recitation of the Nicene Creed, which was adopted as the Church’s proclamation of the Faith in the year 325 A.D. But from its beginning, the Church expressed the Faith in other, shorter creeds, such as the Apostles’ Creed. The word “creed” is from the Latin word “credo,” which means, “I believe.” Having listened to the Word of God, we declare our belief in it, while at the same time, professing our belief that the Word of God is about to become flesh for us in the Eucharist. The Creed is known as a “symbol” of our Faith, and a way of identifying a person as a Christian.

After the Creed, we bring our petitions before God in what we call the Prayer of the Faithful. These prayers normally begin with a prayer for the Church, especially for the Pope and Bishops who lead us, and conclude with a prayer for the repose of the souls of the faithful departed. In between are petitions for various needs of the community. But by no means are these few petitions exhaustive; they are only meant to represent the collective intentions in the hearts of the entire assembly. So, we each should silently add our personal intentions at this time.

Next comes the Offertory. During this time, a hymn is normally sung, and a collection taken up from the people. What we offer to God is in recognition that, everything we have, first comes from God, and that God has given to us the greatest gift of all: His Only-Begotten Son. The money we place in the collection basket is symbolic of offering back to God His Son. For the money is brought forward with the bread and wine, which become the body and blood of Jesus. And, our offertory represents ourselves, offered to God in, with, and through Jesus upon the altar.

Once the gifts have been brought to the altar, the priest says the prayer over the gifts, saying, “Blessed are you, Lord God of all Creation; for through your goodness we have received the bread we offer you: fruit of the earth and work of human hands, it will become for us the bread of life.” A similar prayer over the cup then follows. This is an acknowledgement of what we read  in today’s Gospel, “God so loved the world that He gave His Only-Begotten Son, so that everyone who believes in Him might not perish, but might have eternal life.”

After this, the priest offers a silent prayer asking that we, and what we offer, may be acceptable to God. Then the priest washes his hands for two reasons. First, it is a purification ritual, asking God to make the priest’s hands pure as they are offering up the sacrifice which leads to salvation. Secondly, because Jesus is to be mutilated at the hands of the priest, the priest asks God not to hold him personally accountable for the death of His Son. The priest then invites the people to pray that the sacrifice will be accepted at his hands for the salvation of all.

These are the preparatory rites, which make our hearts and minds ready for the liturgy of the Eucharist, in which the body and blood of Jesus are offered up for the forgiveness of sins, and to bring us to everlasting life.

Blessings to All!
Fr. Guy

Tuesday, April 21

Tuesday of the Second Week of Easter
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Yesterday we examined the introductory rites for Mass. I mentioned that the introductory rites are the beginning of the first half of Mass, known as the liturgy of the Word. Today, we’ll look at the liturgy of the Word, for it is more than simply sitting in the pew while the readings are being read.

Children are born into this world with great curiosity. Even the youngest of babies is observant, and already beginning to take in as much information as possible. As children develop the ability to speak, they are constantly asking questions. As human beings, we need instruction, and in fact, survival is impossible without it. God created us to be inquisitive, and He wants us to discover the greatest of truths in life. Among the most important questions in life are: Who am I? Where did I come from? What is the meaning of life? Who is God? What happens when I die? The same God who has given us a curious mind also provides the answers.

We call the instruction of God, as found in the Scriptures, “Divine Revelation.” And the greatest revelation of God, of course, is in His Son, Jesus Christ. In Jesus, God reveals Himself to us as one of us! Jesus teaches us what it means to be human, and that to be truly human is to be a child of God. All of Scripture tells, in some way, about Jesus. The Scriptures also teach us how to be like Jesus, and they show us the way to our true destination with God the Father in Heaven.

We normally begin the liturgy of the Word with a reading from the Old Testament. However, in the Easter Season, we read from the book of the Acts of the Apostles. The first reading is followed by a Psalm. In the Psalms, God shows us how to praise Him with His own divine words. The Psalms are also the ancient hymnal of Israel. After the Psalm comes a reading from one of the letters of the Apostles. These letters were written to the first Christians, and are just as relevant to us today as they were in their own time. After the second reading (or, Epistle) we sing “Alleluia,” which is the Latin version of the Hebrew “Hallalujah,” which is an imperative, meaning, “Praise God!”

The priest (or a deacon) proclaims the Gospel. Why can’t a lay person read the Gospel at Mass? It is because a priest or deacon is ordained, and because they are ordained, when they proclaim the Gospel, it is Jesus Himself speaking to His people. And this is true of all Scripture: it is not like other literature, which is “dead.” God’s Word is alive, and by the power of the Holy Spirit, whenever it is proclaimed, God is speaking anew to His people in the present moment. He is instructing us for life, not only in this world, but for eternal life. Even if we read the Bible quietly to ourselves alone, God is speaking to us on that occasion.

But we must open our hearts in faith to truly receive the fullness of God’s Word. In today’s Gospel Jesus has a conversation with Nicodemus, one of the leaders of the Jewish people. Jesus says to him, “You are the teacher of Israel and you do not understand this? If I tell you about earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you about heavenly things?” Jesus also told Nicodemus that the Holy Spirit is necessary if one is to fully grasp the meaning of God’s teachings. Nicodemus became a believer, and when Jesus died on the cross, he helped Joseph of Arimathea to bury Him

Our first reading today tells us that the first Christians gathered together to be instructed by the Apostles, and that part of that instruction was to show love and generosity to one another. It says, “With great power the Apostles bore witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great favor was accorded them all.” May we receive the power of God which comes from attentively listening to His holy Word!

Peace,
Fr. Guy

Monday, April 20

Monday of the Second Week of Easter
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Most of us are really missing the celebration of Mass together. So, I thought I would use some of this week’s reflections to talk about the structure of the Mass. The Mass is divided into two major parts: the liturgy of the Word, and the liturgy of the Eucharist. The first part of the liturgy of the Word is known as the introductory rites, and so we will begin there.

Every building needs a strong foundation, and every activity must begin well if it is to end well. So, to fully appreciate the Mass, we need to begin with good preparation. Mass really begins within ourselves, through our own personal preparation. We should dispose ourselves for Mass in our minds, hearts, and attitudes, as we become mindful of where we are, and of what we are about to celebrate. As we recollect our thoughts upon entering the Church, the first thing we do is to bless ourselves with Holy Water. This gesture is a reminder of our baptism into Jesus Christ. It recalls how our Jewish ancestors entered the Temple in Jerusalem. At the Temple entrance was a large basin, from which worshipers would ceremonially wash themselves to be purified of sin so they could participate in the Temple prayers and sacrifices.

Holy Water reminds us that in baptism, our sins are washed away, and we are made “clean” and pure so as to be admitted into God’s House: and God’s House on earth is symbolic of His Heavenly dwelling. Baptism admits us to the Kingdom of Heaven. In baptism we die and rise with Jesus, and we are born again as God’s children. In baptism we also receive the Holy Spirit, who enables us to share in the life of God, to grow in holiness, and to faithfully witness to our faith in Jesus Christ. In today’s Gospel reading, Jesus tells Nicodemus that if he wishes to enter the Kingdom of God, he must be born of water and the Holy Spirit in baptism.

After blessing ourselves with Holy Water, we find a pew, and before being seated, we genuflect toward the tabernacle, where the Body and Blood of Jesus are enthroned. This is an important part of our preparation for Mass, as we acknowledge our belief that the Eucharist is truly the Body and Blood of our Savior, broken and given to us to make our salvation new. Once we are seated, we should take a few moments to pray quietly, making our lives an offering to God.
The opening hymn is a way that we join in the endless song of the angels and Saints in Heaven. The procession of the priest, book-bearer, and altar servers symbolizes Jesus and His angels coming down from Heaven to celebrate with us on earth. Then we begin with a very important prayer: In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. This is not time to put hymnals away, but for everyone to participate, for we are calling on the very name of God, and invoking His presence. We then pray the Confiteor, which is an acknowledgement that we are sinners, who need the grace God offers us in the Mass. The Gloria follows; it is a hymn which praises God for who He is: a gracious and merciful God, who is good in Himself.

The opening prayer is known as the “Collect.” It means that at that moment, all the hearts and minds and intentions of every individual at Mass are collected as one and offered up to God, in and through Jesus Christ, for He unites us as one with Himself. All of these introductory rites are designed to prepare us, and to help us focus, so that we might listen attentively to the Word of God.

We might be reminded of these introductory rites in a portion of our first reading for today, which describes the gathering of the first Christians. It says, “’And now, Lord… enable your servants to speak your word with all boldness, as you stretch forth your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are done through the name of your holy servant Jesus.’ As they prayed, the place where they were gathered shook, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.”

Blessings,
Fr. Guy

Saturday, April 18

Saturday in the Octave of Easter
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Peter and John were arrested and warned by the Sanhedrin to stop preaching about Jesus Christ. Although Peter and John were actually performing healings in the name of Jesus, the Jewish leadership told them they could no longer preach in His name. To this, the two Apostles answered that they could not stop witnessing to what they had seen and heard from Jesus, and that they knew for a fact He had risen from the dead.

But the faith of the Apostles was slow in developing. On the first Easter morning, Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene. She ran to report to the Apostles that Jesus was alive! But they refused to believe. Later, Jesus appeared to two of His followers, and they also went and told the Apostles, “He is alive!” But again, the Apostles refused to believe. Jesus appeared to them in the locked room, and rebuked them for being slow to believe. Only after seeing Jesus in the flesh did they accept that He truly had risen from the dead.

Why do we believe in the resurrection of Jesus Christ? Our faith is based on the testimony of the Church, going back to the Apostles themselves. Yet, our faith is based on more than just stories handed down from the past. Faith is a gift from the Holy Spirit, which has been given to us. Although our eyes have not seen Jesus in the flesh, our hearts believe. And, such faith, given to us by God’s grace, enables us to see Jesus in the Holy Eucharist, and to hear Him in the words of Holy Scripture, and to show Him alive to the world in our own lives.

But faith is not solely the work of God. While the Holy Spirit empowers us to believe, faith is also a human effort. As we reflect on Easter, and the Apostles being admonished for being slow to believe, we might ask ourselves: “Do I really believe?” 

Faith always involves some level of doubt. The Scriptures say that even while Jesus was appearing to His disciples alive, they saw, and yet, had their doubts. Their eyes were seeing Him alive, but their minds were telling them it was impossible. Even if our eyes saw Jesus risen from the dead, our minds would still doubt, because rising from the dead is beyond the normal way of things in this world. So, if the mind is always a bit hesitant to believe, where does faith abide? Faith abides in the heart.

So, as we ask ourselves, “Do I really believe?” we might also ask, “Do I want to believe?” The question of “want” goes to the heart, for the heart (or will) is the desiring aspect of the human soul. The Holy Spirit speaks directly to the heart, and instills belief without the need for persuasive, logical arguments. The heart wants to believe, and if we want to believe, then faith is at work within ourselves.

On this day, the Saturday within the Octave of Easter, may we find some time for a quiet moment. In that moment, spend some time resting in your heart, listening to the quiet movements of the Holy Spirit. Ask yourself, “Do I want to believe?” Your heart will answer, “Yes!” Abide with Jesus in that quiet moment, which is beyond logic, and beyond every question. For when we are in the presence of the Answer Himself, there are no questions. Faith grasps all things instantly. And while the mind may not understand, or may fall short of expressing the Answer, nonetheless, we have witnessed the risen Christ. And in our hearts we declare, “I believe! He is risen!”

Fr. Guy

Friday, April 17

Friday in the Octave of Easter
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The Octave (that is, the eight days) of Easter are counted as one continuous day. Today, we are celebrating Easter, the day on which our Lord Jesus arose from the dead. Today is a day which has no end, for by His rising, Jesus has brought about the new day of eternity.

It is fascinating that the Sacred Triduum began with a meal at sunset (the Last Supper, which was a Passover meal). That meal happened as the sun was setting, and darkness was taking its hold over the world. In fact, when Judas left the supper to go and betray Jesus, the Scripture says, “It was night.” Not only was it night according to the clock, but there was a deeper night setting in: it was the night of darkness and evil, which seemed to be overcoming Jesus, the Light of Life. When Jesus left that supper, He was arrested, and crucified, and placed in the tomb.

But today’s Gospel reading tells of one of the appearances of Jesus to His Apostles after the resurrection. He meets them on the seashore, and they have breakfast together. But why breakfast? Just as supper ends the day, as darkness encroaches, so breakfast welcomes the new day, as the light has dawned. So, the risen Jesus shares a meal with His Apostles which celebrates a new day: not a day determined by the hour on the clock, but a day which has dawned by the Light of Life rising out of the darkness of death from the tomb.

Notice how the relationship with Jesus has changed after the resurrection. Before He died, the followers of Jesus thought they knew Him. He was a man called Jesus, from Nazareth. Each of them had an idea of what the mission of Jesus would be, and they were each frightened and disappointed when Jesus’ path led to the cross. But now, after He had risen from the dead, the old familiarity was gone. In fact, they seem a bit scared of Jesus, and unsure about what will come next. But can you imagine what it would be like to meet someone who had risen from the dead? What powers would such a person have? What would be their mission? What would they have to teach us? After all, such a one would have conquered death itself!

Easter is a time of letting go of our childish ideas of what Jesus is like, and of what we have determined His mission should be. This does not mean that Jesus should be unfamiliar to us, but rather, we should stand in awe of Him. In human flesh, our God has destroyed the power of death! So what does that mean for us? It means looking at life in a new and different way. It means coming to accept the new day of Easter, every day of life. It means awakening from the darkness and the limitations of our own mortality, to walk in the light of eternal life.

When Jesus first called the Apostles, they had fished all night and caught nothing. He told them to cast their net over the other side of the boat. While they thought this made no sense (after all, it was the same water on both sides of the boat), they did so to humor Jesus. When they did, they brought in such a catch that their nets were tearing. In today’s Gospel, after the resurrection, Jesus calls to the Apostles to cast their net on the other side of the boat. Once again, they bring in a large catch of fish.

Easter teaches us that there is always the “other side of the boat.” Often in life, we are so focused on one way of doing things, or one way of experiencing life, that we forget there is another side. We try and try to bring in a catch of fish, but our nets remain empty. Easter calls us to cast our nets on the other side of the boat. So often, we forget there is that whole other side to life: the spiritual side, which Jesus opens to us. And when we do turn our attention there, and bring in the catch, Jesus says, “Come, have breakfast.” In other words, “Come, let’s be fed with what is necessary to begin the new day.” And what is this “new day?” It is what we celebrate today: it is Easter!

Blessings
Fr. Guy

Thursday, April 16

Thursday in the Octave of Easter
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Many people wish they could have been born two millennia ago when Jesus walked the earth. They think it would have been so wonderful to see Jesus in the flesh, and they imagine that they would have been among His faithful followers. That is a nice thought, but let’s consider this: there were thousands, perhaps tens of thousands, who looked upon Jesus with their eyes in those days, and saw nothing special. The majority who actually encountered Jesus on earth did not recognize Him as the Son of God, or the Savior of the world. So, what makes us think we would have known Him, or believed in Him?

The Jewish people, to whom Jesus was promised through the covenant with Abraham, rejected Him. How ironic, that the very people who watched and waited for Him, did not recognize Him! In today’s first reading, Peter addresses the Jewish people, telling them how tragic is it that they rejected and crucified Him. Nevertheless, Peter goes on to offer them hope. He tells them that even though they rejected His first coming, they should pray for His second coming. Peter tells them to believe and to be baptized in the name of Jesus. For it is better to see with the eyes of faith, and to accept Him in their hearts by faith, than it is to have seen Him in the flesh. For many of those who saw Him with their eyes rejected Him, but those who see by faith have grasped Him for eternity.

Jesus comes to us each day in many ways, which we can only recognize by faith. If we are looking for Jesus in a particular way, which we have pre-determined, we will probably never see Him. But if we are open our hearts and allow Jesus to come to us in His own way, then we will never fail to see Him right in our midst.

Our Gospel tells of the Apostles, on the first Easter evening, locked away in hiding, out of fear and despair. Jesus came and stood in their midst, saying, “Peace be with you!” At first, they were unwilling to accept that it was truly Jesus, raised from the dead; they thought He might be a ghost or just an illusion. So, Jesus ate a piece of fish in front of them, and allowed them to touch the wounds in His hands and side. Then, they were convinced that Jesus was truly alive and in the flesh. Although their eyes were seeing Him, their hearts were disbelieving, until Jesus proved Himself alive in these ways.

Once they had come to believe, Jesus gave them a commission, to go and tell the world that He had died, and was raised from the dead, for the forgiveness of sins and the salvation of all who believe. You and I believe because of the witness of the Apostles, handed down to us in our own time through the Holy Catholic Church. None of us has ever seen Jesus in the flesh with our own eyes. But because we have faith, because we believe in the testimony of the Apostles, we see Him in our hearts. But this spiritual vision requires grace, and that grace needs to be renewed through constant communion with Jesus through prayer, the Scriptures, the Sacraments, and fellowship with our brothers and sisters who also believe in Jesus. For Jesus is visible to us in the flesh through the lives of our fellow believers.

So, let us not despair that we have not seen Jesus as He was two millennia ago, for many who did, did not believe. Instead, let us see Jesus with the eyes of our hearts, for faith does not disappoint, and true faith cannot be deceived. May God’s grace grow within us always, that we may see Jesus clearly, and make Him visible to all.

Peace,

Fr. Guy

Wednesday, April 15

Wednesday in the Octave of Easter
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One of the things I notice these days, in my pastoral work, is that there seems to be a lack of focus. We could blame this on the fact that sociologist tell us, in general, people’s attention spans have grown shorter. This might be the case, but perhaps there is another reason: maybe it is because we are trying to focus on too many things at once. In our modern society, we are required to multi-task, and to have so many things going on all at the same time, while trying to keep track of everything. Being constantly accessible through cell-phones, texts, and e-mail prevents us from settling into any particular moment, and simply being present to what we are doing here and now. But if we are to retain the joy of Easter, and to abide in God’s peace, we need to be able to focus on what is most important.

In today’s first reading, Peter and John went to the Temple to pray. Outside, they encountered a crippled beggar, whose attention was on all the people passing by, as he hoped to receive something from them. Peter stopped in front of the man, and to gain his full attention, said, “Look at us!” The man’s eyes stopped shifting from person to person, and focused only on Peter and John. Peter then commanded the crippled man to be healed, in the name of Jesus. The man stood up, and was able to jump around like a child. But had the man not focused on the words of the Apostles, he would not have been healed. In fact, if he had not focused, their words would have remained as so much background noise in the midst of all the Temple traffic.

The Gospel reading is the story of Jesus, speaking with the two men on the road to Emmaus. This was the first Easter afternoon. The two had been believers in Jesus as the Messiah. But now they had lost hope, because they had seen Him crucified, and that morning had received the report that His body had been stolen from the tomb. As they walked along, they commiserated about how bad things were.

Then, Jesus approached and walked beside them. Even though Jesus was with them, the men did not recognize Him, because they were too focused on how bad things were in their lives, and in the world. The presence of Jesus did them no good because they were not focused on Him. After a short while, Jesus scolded them for being slow to believe the Scriptures. As they walked, He went back through all the Old Testament stories, and explained how they each foretold that the Messiah must suffer, die, and rise again. 

When they reached their destination, they invited Jesus to have dinner with them, but they still did not recognize Him. Only when Jesus sat at table, took bread, gave thanks, and broke it (the same gestures He did at the Last Supper) were their eyes opened, and they recognized that Jesus had been with them all along.
How many things are we trying to focus on in life? How many of them are truly essential? What things are keeping us from paying attention to Jesus? So many things in life distract us from our Lord, and from the truth of who we really are. They may also be keeping us from focusing on our loved ones, and on the things which are truly meaningful in life. May we each take some time out of our schedules today to focus only on Jesus: listening to Him, and making our hearts present to Him. Then, His peace and joy will remain in our hearts and minds always.

Peace,
Fr. Guy

Tuesday, April 14

Tuesday in the Octave of Easter
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There is something much larger than ourselves. In fact, there are countless things larger than ourselves. For example, right now, the entire world is answering to a higher power, which has brought most of life’s activities to a stand-still. No, I am not speaking of God, but of a virus so small it requires a microscope to be seen. If such a tiny, unseen virus can have such control over the world, just think of how powerful God is! He is the Source of life, both temporal and eternal.
But we tend to get so caught up in our own little worlds that we forget there are so many things greater than ourselves. We cling to our own ideas, our own views, our own opinions, always assured that because we believe it or desire it, it must be right. Then we attempt to impose our limited understanding on the world around us, hoping to gain some control over life and death. It is all a big, stupid game we play as human beings. How much control do we really have in life if we are all bunkering down in our homes out of fear of a virus?

Easter is a time to come face to face with our own mortality, and with our limitations, and fears. And, the current pandemic brings us to the tomb: not just the tomb of Jesus, but our own tombs, and the tombs of our loved ones. How do we respond to death? Do we believe we can create a reality for ourselves which excludes it? The thought is ridiculous, and yet, we each try to live in such a way that we ignore death’s reality, until we are forced to admit that it is inevitable.
I am not saying this to cause depression, but to help us all to understand the true meaning of Easter. Even the Son of God had to confront death, and by doing so, He destroyed its power. Death itself is a natural process, but as human beings, we add so many other layers of meaning to it, and with each layer we give it power. Death makes us afraid, makes us feel powerless. We associate death with loss, and with the end of our very selves. But we were not even aware of the moment when we came into existence in our mothers’ wombs, so why are we so concerned about the mystery of dying? The first step to overcoming the fear of death is to recognize the awesome mystery of life itself.

The problem is this: we cling. We cling to this thing or that, we cling to the past or the present, or we reach out to the future; we cling to places, to other people, to our own existence. And yet, as we cling to these things, they are dissolving in our grasp. Mary Magdalene was baffled by the empty tomb of Jesus. She looked inside, and found nothing but emptiness. She was asked twice, “Woman, why are you weeping?” Her answer was that the one she loved had been taken away and she couldn’t find His dead body. Finally, Jesus spoke her name, and she snapped out of her grief-induced stupor. As soon as she realized it was Jesus, and that He was alive, she grabbed onto Him. But Jesus said, “Do not cling to me, for I must go to my Father and your Father, to my God, and to your God.”

Mary would have to let go of the lesser (that is, the temporal) to take hold of the greater (the eternal). And so it must be for us, if we are to experience the mystery of Easter. This does not mean that we cannot appreciate the moment, or the blessings of each moment; rather, it means that we experience the “greater” in the lesser. And that which is “greater” is God, the Source of all things. If we cling to what can be taken from us, we live in constant anxiety. But if we reach out to the One who is greater than ourselves, we find His blessing in everything. What are we clinging to in life? Are we trying to arrange our world, and to hold everything in place? Or, can we discover the timeless in all which is passing away? May we accept each moment, and everything in the moment, as a gift from God. And may each breath of life be offered back to the Lord of Life, that we may conquer death in each moment.

Peace,
Fr. Guy

Monday, April 13

Monday in the Octave of Easter
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Today is Easter Monday, or Monday in the Octave of Easter. “Octave” refers to a period of eight days. Our Church also celebrates the Octave of Christmas. But why? What is so important about the number eight?

To answer this, we go all the way back to the Creation story in Genesis. God created the world in six days, and rested on the seventh. So, “seven” completes the natural cycle we find within the world of time and space. Seven is a perfect number, which signifies completion, or perfection. It is one of the many sacred numbers we find in Scripture, along with the numbers three, four, five, ten, twelve, forty, and one-thousand. But why is the number eight important?

The number eight follows after the number seven. Therefore it implies something which goes beyond the natural order of things in time and space: it implies a supernatural perfection (super natural means that which is above, or beyond nature). For example, on our calendar, weeks are measured by seven days. Once the seventh day is reached, we roll back over to the number one, and a new week begins. There is no eighth day on the calendar. That is because the eighth day is not measurable by our calendars, and there is no day which comes after the eighth day. The eighth day is eternity.

On what day did Jesus rise from the dead? Yes, it was Sunday. Jesus rested from His work of salvation on the Sabbath (the seventh day), in the grave. And yes, we say that Jesus arose on the “third” day, but that refers to the third day after His crucifixion on Good Friday. Sunday is the “first” day of the week, if we are referring to the calendar. But Jesus did not rise from the dead simply to throw us back into the cycle of time. Jesus arose early in the morning, before it was light. This means that He is the light which brought about a new day, and that day never ends, for Jesus will never die again: He is the sun which never sets! So, the rising of Jesus was the dawn of a day which never ends. His resurrection brings us into eternity.

In the Old Testament covenant with Abraham, God commanded that all male babies be circumcised on the eighth day after birth. That is how they came to be identified as children of the covenant promise. As Christians, we associate baptism with the eighth day. It doesn’t matter on which calendar day a person is baptized, or how old they are at the time. Whenever a person is baptized, it is for them the eighth day, an Easter celebration, and a coming to eternal life.
To celebrate an Octave means we end up on the same day on which it began. For example, the Octave of Easter begins on Sunday, and ends on Sunday. But isn’t this throwing us back into the cycle of time? No! Instead, the Octave brings us into the endless cycle of eternity, which has no end. It means we have come to share fully in the life of Jesus. For us, every day is Easter! Imagine how different life would be if we truly lived with such an awareness.

May God bless each of you as we celebrate our new life in Jesus during this Octave of Easter. And, may we rise each day of life with Jesus, as we live Easter each day in our hearts.

Peace,
Fr. Guy

Wednesday, April 8

Wednesday of Holy Week
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Tomorrow begins the “Sacred Triduum,” that is, “the Sacred Three Days.” These days are: Holy Thursday, when Jesus celebrated His Last Supper, which was also the first Eucharist; Good Friday, when Jesus died upon the cross for our salvation; and Easter, when Jesus arose from the grave, victorious over sin and death. While we call these the “three days,” they are really one seamless event.

In the Gospels, Jesus often refers to His “hour,” at some point saying, “My hour has not yet come,” and later, “Now the hour has come.” We call this hour of Jesus the hour of salvation. However, it is not literally sixty minutes. The “hour” of Jesus is actually three days. These three days make up the hour of salvation. This “hour” is the long awaited moment within salvation history. It is what God promised from the beginning of time, what was expected in the covenant with Abraham, and what was foretold by the Old Testament Prophets. In Romans, St. Paul goes so far as to say that all of creation awaited it. Essentially, these Sacred Three Days, this Hour of Jesus, is the most important moment in all of history.

On Monday I mentioned that Holy Week is not simply a commemoration of past events; instead, Holy Week comes to us in the present moment. This is all the more true of the Sacred Triduum. In celebrating Holy Thursday, we are present at the Last Supper with Jesus and the Apostles. On Good Friday, we are standing at the foot of the cross. And, on Easter, we discover with Mary Magdalene the empty tomb, and we are there in the room with the Apostles when Jesus appears to them alive! Yet, it is not so much that we are “there,” but rather, those events are “here” with us in the present moment. For these are the living mysteries of our salvation, and they are not contained by time or space. These events are alive in the hearts of those who believe.

It will seem strange not to celebrate these sacred mysteries at Church, in communion with our brothers and sisters. Since you will be celebrating at home, I would recommend the following: certainly, tune in and watch the livestreams of these liturgies from St. Joan of Arc. Even after the livestream, they should be available to watch later on Youtube. Another idea is to use the home blessing, which was attached to the pastoral letter I sent out last week. On each of the days, read the prescribed readings for the day as a family. For the Last Supper, perhaps a special family meal with additional prayers and Scripture readings could be prepared. On Good Friday, watch the recorded Stations of the Cross, and also pray the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary. On Easter, it is good to sing hymns together (or alone), and to celebrate in some way which glorifies Jesus and brings joy to your hearts. There are also many movies available about the life of Jesus.

I will be praying especially for all the members of our SJOA family as I celebrate the liturgies of the Sacred Triduum on your behalf. The Hour of Jesus has come! May it find a place at every moment in our hearts!

Fr. Guy

Tuesday, April 7

Tuesday of Holy Week
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Yesterday, I mentioned that the Chrism Mass normally takes place on the Tuesday of Holy Week. Although it will be postponed, it won’t quite be the same. The oils will be blessed, certainly. But, it is also at the Chrism Mass that priests renew their promise to continue faithfully serving God’s people in parish ministry. It is quite meaningful to renew our priestly promises on Holy Week, for it is at this time that the very priesthood of Jesus is revealed in its fullness. And, it was at the Last Supper that the ordained priesthood was established, for at that first Eucharist, Jesus empowered His disciples to do the same, saying, “Do this in memory of me.”

Sadly, the priesthood of Jesus, that is, His offering of Himself for the world’s salvation, would become manifest through the betrayal of Judas. Judas was an Apostle, one of the first priests of Jesus Christ. But Judas was simply acting on behalf of all sinners, for all sin is, in some way, a betrayal of Jesus. And it was not just Judas: Peter (the first Pope) would deny knowing Jesus three times, and the others would also run away when Jesus was arrested. Only John would return, and stand with the Blessed Mother, and Mary Magdalene, at the foot of the cross.

It is interesting that the first Eucharist brought not joy, but confusion, sorrow, and division. The Apostles did not understand what it meant that Jesus was establishing a new covenant in His own blood. They were confused over Jesus’ words that one of them would betray Him, and that they all would abandon Him. There was sorrow and fear in their hearts as Jesus spoke of going away from them and returning to the Father. All the Apostles could do was to obey Jesus, to “take and eat,” and to “take and drink.” By doing so, they acted in faith, and only later would they come to understand.

Not a one of us can fully comprehend the depths of the mysteries of the Holy Eucharist. Like the Apostles, we each come to Communion with doubts, and anxieties, and divisions, and even disbelief and lack of trust in Jesus. All we can do is approach in faith, which enables us to obey Jesus. Only later will we truly understand. For now, the faithful cannot receive Jesus in the Eucharist. Perhaps this separation from Jesus in the Eucharist is necessary for us to grow in faith, and in our appreciation for what we receive in Holy Communion. When we look back later on, we will see more clearly. For now, it is enough to know that Jesus is with us in Spirit, and He will never abandon us.

Although I cannot renew my priestly promises publicly right now, at the Chrism Mass, I do so in my heart to you through this reflection. I am so humbled to be called a priest of Jesus Christ. And, although we say we are ordained to serve Christ’s people, it is not exactly so. One of my seminary professors admonished us that we are not ordained to serve Christ’s people, but to serve Christ Himself. What he meant was that in parish life, people will always desire the priest to do for them what they wish, or think is most important. My professor was pointing out that we are ordained to obey Christ, and not the wishes of the people. And by obeying Christ, we priests administer to the people exactly what Jesus has determined is necessary for salvation. It is a balancing act, and in fact an art, which we call the art of shepherding. To serve Christ faithfully and obediently serves His people best.

I am looking forward to celebrating Masses with you again, and hearing Confessions, and certainly celebrating first Communions, Confirmations, weddings, and all the Sacraments. Please pray for me, our Archbishop, and all priests at this time.

Blessings,
Fr. Guy

Monday, April 6

Monday of Holy Week
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We have entered into Holy Week. But in reality, Holy Week has entered into us. What do I mean by this? I mean that Holy Week is not simply a commemoration of events that happened long ago and far away.  Holy Week is timeless, and every year, it comes to us in the present moment. In other words, God makes Holy Week new, and a current event. By participating in the prayers and observations of Holy Week, we experience it as a present reality, of God making His covenant of salvation new with us, in the blood of His Son, Jesus Christ.

One of the events of Holy Week, which is postponed this year because of the Corona virus, is the Chrism Mass. Usually, this Mass is celebrated on Tuesday of Holy Week. At that Mass, the Archbishop blesses the new oils, which are used throughout the year in our Sacraments. The three oils are: the oil of catechumens, the oil of the infirm, and the sacred chrism.

The oil of catechumens is used to anoint those preparing for the Sacrament of Baptism. In the case of adults and older children, the anointing takes place at the beginning of their time of instruction in what it means to be baptized. Infants are anointed with this oil just prior to baptism itself. The idea of this anointing is to recognize our need for God’s grace, and to ask the Holy Spirit to dispose the heart of the person being baptized to grow always in God’s grace.

The oil of the infirm is used for anointing the sick. This oil symbolizes that Jesus enters into our suffering and makes it His own. And because we are His Body, the Church, when we suffer, He suffers, and through His suffering, the redemption of the world continues. The anointing of the sick should happen at the beginning of a serious illness, before surgery, and certainly near the time of death. The elderly, who are suffering the effects of aging, may also be anointed periodically.

Sacred chrism is used to anoint infants after baptism. The word “chrism” gives rise to the word “Christ,” which means, “the anointed one.” The chrism symbolizes that those who are baptized have come to share not only in the life of Jesus, but also in His work as prophet, priest, and king. Chrism is used in the Sacrament of Confirmation, which seals us with the fullness of grace to be witnesses to Jesus Christ in the world. Chrism is also used to anoint the hands of priests when they are ordained. Chrism has a nice fragrance, due to the addition of balsa.

In today’s Gospel reading, Mary, one of the sisters of Lazarus, anoints the feet of Jesus with perfumed oil. This was a way of recognizing Him as God’s anointed one, or “Messiah.” The Hebrew word “Messiah” and the Greek word “Christ” both mean, “God’s anointed one.” By this anointing, Mary was preparing Jesus for His death, when He would give us His life for our salvation. May Holy Week remind us that we each have been anointed, not just with oil, but with the Holy Spirit, to proclaim and to continue the work of Jesus, God’s Anointed One.

Fr. Guy

Saturday, April 4

Optional Memorial Saint Isidore, bishop and doctor of the Church
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Today is the optional memorial of St. Isidore of Seville. He is an appropriate Saint for these times of “sheltering at home,” because our circumstances are perfect for learning something new. St. Isidore lived from the late 6th century to the early 7th century A.D. His sister became abbess of a convent, and his older brother, Leander, was a bishop and scholar. Leander, however, was a harsh teacher to his younger brother, with such high expectations, that Isidore ran away from home.

Feeling like a failure, Isidore tried to console himself in the forest, and sat down near a stream. He noticed a portion of rock which had been worn away by the constant dripping of the stream, and marveled at how something as soft as water could wear away solid rock. Isidore realized this was possible because the gentle water was persistent. So, he returned to his brother to continue his studies, vowing to be persistent, and gentle, like water.

Eventually, Isidore became a great scholar, and succeeded his brother Leander as bishop of Seville. He had developed such a love of learning that he wanted everyone to have an opportunity to be educated. He established seminaries throughout his territory, and required them to teach not only philosophy and theology, but also art, science, and even medicine. By educating the priests, they in turn could educate their parishioners. Isidore himself wrote an encyclopedia, which contained much of the world’s knowledge on every subject at that time in history.

Not only because of his love for learning, but also because of his gentle heart, Isidore turned many heretics back to the true teachings of the Church. And, he also convinced barbarians to stop attacking the local towns, and to become Catholics themselves. He also had a great love for the poor, and a deep concern for the needs of others. Not only was he generous during his lifetime, but upon his death, he gave his entire family estate to the poor.

During this time of social distancing, and staying at home, it is very important to take care of our mental health. One of the ways we can do this is by expanding our minds by learning new things. Through the blessing of the internet, it is possible to study so many things without having to leave home. The mind was created by God to hunger for knowledge. And, no matter what subject we explore, if we recognize that all things were created by God, then everything we study can be spiritually edifying. So, I encourage everyone at home to do something these days to feed the mind. Either study something online, or just pick up a book and take the time to read. If you live with others, perhaps you can take the time to share with one another what you learn each day.

In today’s first reading, St. Paul refers to the necessity of keeping the mind pure and holy. It is very easy to allow our minds to be filled with garbage. Such mental “junk food” does to our minds what junk food does to our bodies: it makes us unhealthy and sick. Likewise, Jesus says if we make a tree healthy, it will bear good fruit; but an unhealthy tree bears rotten fruit. So, let’s take advantage of this time at home to fill our minds with something good and holy. It is a natural thing to want to learn something new. To do so makes us all feel like children again, as children are always inquisitive about life and the world around them.

St. Isidore has left us a wonderful example of how Christians should feed the minds and hearts God has given us. For by learning something new, we are better equipped to share that knowledge with others, and to bear good fruit. St. Isidore, pray for us!

Fr. Guy

Friday, April 3

Friday of the Fifth Week of Lent
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Someone asked me this morning, “How can we get God to make this virus go away?” I’m sure that is a question in the hearts of many right now. It is natural to want relief from a painful situation. But it is “super-natural” to endure the cross, and to trust in God’s providence to bring light out of every darkness. The short answer is this: the sooner we accept the hardships of this pandemic, the sooner its curse will be lifted. Now, this is not to say that we should seek out suffering, or desire sickness. Rather, it is to say that when we embrace our crosses in faith, we begin to see the greater picture, and how God uses everything to bring us to spiritual maturity.

We are in the final two weeks of Lent, known as “Passiontide,” when we focus all the more on the cross of Jesus. Jesus was not looking forward to the pain of the cross, but He did desire the salvation which would come through it. The night before He was crucified, He prayed to His Father, essentially asking Him, “Father, I greatly desire to avoid the terrible suffering of the cross, and if there’s any other way to save the world, then let’s do that! Nevertheless, Father, let your will be done.” The next day, Jesus took up the cross, and then suffered and died for us. The result was the forgiveness of the sins of the world, which are washed away in His blood, and atoned for by the laying down of His life. There would be no resurrection, no Easter, without Good Friday.

Most of you know that in my personal spirituality I am very much a Carmelite, following the teachings of St. John of the Cross and St. Teresa of Avila. Both of them had to face the pain and anguish of “dark nights” of the spirit. St. John of the Cross was accused of heresy during the Spanish Inquisition, and was locked in a small closet, in complete darkness, for nine months. He prayed day after day to God to speak to him, or to appear to him, to tell him what to do. He was trying to make sense out of a situation wherein he was unable to see with either his eyes or his mind or soul. Weeks went by, and he prayed, “Lord, show me what this is all about! Surely in my suffering there is some meaning!” But there was only silence and darkness. The more John struggled against the darkness, the more it gained a hold on his soul.

One day, John had an insight from God: he had been asking to see God’s face, or to hear God’s voice, or to know the divine essence. He came to a new awakening when he realized, “What I’ve been asking for, God has been giving me!” For he realized that God cannot be seen with the eyes, or heard with the ear, or grasped by the mind. God is beyond such limitations, and can only be experienced by faith, hope, and love. John says that when he embraced the darkness and the silence as God, it was no longer dark for him. John was filled with great joy, because he stopped trying to escape his situation. In faith, he embraced it, and this was at the end of nine months. At that time, he was released from his imprisonment and exonerated by the Inquisition. John said these nine months were like being born again.

Both the Old Testament and Gospel readings today teach us that death is never far away from us at any moment. The current pandemic has made us all them more aware of death’s presence. We don’t like to think about death, as we find it depressing and frightening. Yet here is the irony: we can never truly appreciate and experience the gift of life if we do not acknowledge the nearness of death. Death is always a possibility at any moment, and no matter how old we live on earth, death will come to us eventually. This doesn’t mean we should be reckless with life, but that we should cherish it all the more. Such wisdom helps us to be more compassionate toward others, and to recognize that all life is a gift which only God can give, and only God can redeem.

May this Passiontide help us to appreciate all the more the gift of Jesus’ life on the cross for us, for by His death He has destroyed death. And, may this pandemic help us to grow in compassion and appreciation for the life of all.

Fr. Guy

Thursday, April 2

Optional Memorial Saint Francis of Paola, hermit
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Today is the optional feast of St. Francis of Paola. Francis was born in the middle ages in Italy. His parents were unable to have children, so they made special prayers to St. Francis of Assisi, asking for the gift of a child. When their son was born, they named him in honor of St. Francis. But as the boy grew, he developed a serious illness in his eyes. Again, his parents turned to St. Francis of Assisi, promising if he would heal their son, they would send him to a Franciscan friary to learn the way of St. Francis. They also made a pilgrimage to Assisi, and their little son was healed.

When Francis grew up, he became a Franciscan hermit, meaning, he lived a life of isolation, prayer, and penance. In fact, besides the three vows required of Religious Life: poverty, chastity, and obedience, Francis added a fourth one. This fourth vow was one of observing a lifelong Lenten diet, free of all meat and animal products. Today, we would call him a vegan. For several years, Francis lived in a cave near the seashore. But when some young men expressed the desire to follow his way of life, Francis built a small monastery.

As time went on, more men, and even women, wanted to live like Francis. Eventually, he was granted permission by the Pope to establish an official Religious Order. Francis wanted to be called the Hermits of St. Francis. But the Pope gave them the title of “Minims,” which means “the least of all.” This was because Francis of Paola considered himself the most insignificant servant of God, desiring only to live a humble life of prayer and penance on behalf of the whole Church.

When we think about the austerities of Lent, especially during our time of “sheltering at home,” we might ask St. Francis of Paola to pray for us. After all, he chose to spend his entire life as if it were Lent, living in isolation. And, Francis didn’t even have the internet!

There are many miracles and healings associated with St. Francis of Paola, even the raising of children from the dead. He also is said to have cured victims of the plague. Yet another reason for invoke the prayers of Francis at this time! Francis believed above all in two things: humility, and non-violence. He loved all life, even the lives of animals. There were two animals in particular he loved: a trout, which lived in the monastery pond, and a little lamb.

On one occasion, the priest who offered Mass for the friars (Francis was never ordained a priest) noticed the fat, delicious-looking trout in the pond. He caught the trout, took it home, and cooked it in a frying pan. When Francis realized where his trout had gone, he sent some friars to retrieve it. The priest became angry, and threw the trout out the window; because it was cooked, it broke into pieces. Francis simply placed the pieces in the pond, said a prayer, and the trout came back to life.

Another story tells of how some laborers, who were working near the monastery, became hungry. They found Francis’ lamb, cooked it, and ate it. When Francis found out, he asked them where the fleece and bones were, and they answered they had tossed them into their brick kiln. Frances said a prayer, and called to his little lamb by name. The lamb came out, alive and happy. These are fun little stories about Francis, but they remind us that those who are closest to Christ are able to continue the works of Christ. And, through a life of penance and prayer, they come to have power over life and death.

May Lent help us to grow closer to Christ, and to be transformed by Him. And, St. Francis of Paola, pray for us!

Peace,
Fr. Guy

Wednesday, April 1

Wednesday of the Fifth Week of Lent
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When Nebuchadnezzar ordered the three companions of Daniel to be burned to death in the fiery furnace, he did not say, “April Fools! I was just kidding!” In fact, Nebuchadnezzar was furious, because Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refused to worship the idols of Babylon. So, he ordered the furnace to be heated seven times hotter than normal. Still, the young men refused to worship false gods, and placed their faith in the God of Israel, saying, “Whether we live or die, we will worship no false gods.” Then, the three men were put into the furnace.

King Nebuchadnezzar expected the three to be burned up instantly, but when he looked into the furnace, he saw they were walking around unharmed by the flames. As he looked, he also saw a fourth man with them, who, according to the king, looked like a “Son of God.” In the Old Testament, this description might well describe an angel. Or, looking back through the lens of the New Testament, we might consider that this fourth man was a manifestation of Jesus, coming ahead of time to save the three faithful young men. In any case, this account reminds us that God will never abandon us, even in our hour of greatest trial or need. If we trust in Him as Lord of both life, and death, then we have nothing to fear. As St. Paul once said, “Whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.” (Romans 14:8)

Jesus came to set us free. But when He said this to the Jews, they became indignant, saying, “We have never been slaves of anyone! We are descendants of Abraham!” We might respond the same way, wondering, “What do I need to be free of? I am a free person. I am a slave of no one and no thing.” Our current quarantine has temporarily removed many of our freedoms, but nonetheless, we are American citizens. So, from what does Jesus free us?

Certainly Jesus frees us from our sins. In fact, the Greek word for “forgiveness” in the New Testament literally means, “to set free.” And, because Jesus forgives our sins, He thereby frees us from the curse of death. But Lent is a time of recognizing the many other things which enslave us. These are the things which have power over us without our even realizing it. In fact, we willingly give power to some of these things, and desire them to rule over us.

What are these things? For some, it is pleasure, and there are many kinds of pleasure. The pleasures which enslave us are those things in life we feel we just can’t live without, and we will do anything for another experience of that particular pleasure. Among such things may be food, and that is why Lent is a time of fasting, so that we are not mastered by our appetite. Some people are mastered by a habit, or by substance abuse. Other people are mastered by their quest for money, or power, or fame. Many people are enslaved by fear and anxiety. And many others are enslaved by lies, as they live in an artificial world, allowing themselves to be deceived rather than face reality, which they consider too painful.

Whatever these things are, if we give our freedom over to them, we are in essence worshiping false gods. Jesus wants us to be free to know and to love God, for only by such freedom are we truly and fully alive. When Jesus was fasting for forty days in the desert, the devil tempted Him with worldly power and glory. To this Jesus replied, “You shall worship the Lord you God, and serve Him alone.” For to serve God alone is to be truly free, and God calls us not only to come home to Him in Heaven, but through Jesus, invites us to sit on His Throne and reign with Him forever! There is no greater freedom than that!
May we continue to use this season of Lent to recognize the idols which enslave us, and turn to Jesus, that He may set us free.

Peace,
Fr. Guy

Tuesday, March 31

Tuesday of the Fifth Week of Lent
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Years ago, I heard a story about an American contractor who was working to rebuild Japan after World War II. After returning to the United States, he invited a Japanese man, whom he had befriended, to come visit him. On the way home from picking up his friend at the airport, the American stopped by his parish Church, and explained to the Japanese man, “I’m a Catholic, and every day at this time, I spend a few moments praying in Church.”

The Japanese man had never been inside a Catholic Church before, and as he entered, he was amazed at the beautiful windows, the high vaulted ceiling, the elaborate statues, and all the religious images. But then he looked above the altar, and noticed the crucifix. Now, we Catholics are accustomed to seeing the crucifix, but image seeing it for the first time, especially if you were not a Catholic. The Japanese man was horrified at this life-sized depiction of a man nailed to a cross and dying a horrible death. He declared, “That is the most horrible thing I have ever seen! Why is it here in this spiritual place, among such beauty?”

The American proceeded to explain who that was upon the cross, and why He was there. He said, “That man on the cross is the Son of God, who came into the world to take the suffering and death of each person upon Himself. He died on the cross so we can live with God in Heaven forever.” The Japanese man took another long look at the cross, nodded his head in approval, and said, “That is the most beautiful thing I have ever seen!”

We can look upon on the cross in one of two ways: either as a horrible curse, or as the most beautiful blessing. For in truth, it is both. The cross is the punishment due for our sins; it is God’s justice. It is also the remedy for our sins; it is God’s mercy. For the cross to be accepted as mercy, we must first realize the destructive quality of our sins, and our need for forgiveness. Without the cross of mercy, our destiny is eternal separation from God in hell. Lent helps us to see our need for mercy, so we may reach out to the cross as our hope of salvation.

If we are stubborn in our sins, and refuse to see a need to change our lives by God’s grace, then the cross is a terrible burden. With this attitude, we look upon the Christian life of discipleship as a drudgery and a curse. We then begin to think God is unfair for imposing the cross upon us. Why can’t we have a good relationship with Jesus without the cross? That is what St. Peter wanted: he was always trying to dissuade Jesus from the cross. Sadly, it led to Peter denying Jesus when Jesus needed him the most.

The current pandemic has people asking, “Is this a punishment from God?” Like the cross, we can look upon the Corona virus either as a curse, or as a blessing. If we think of it as a curse, sent from God, then we become like the Pharisees, pointing fingers, and attempting to assign blame. This view causes us to live in fear. But if we look upon this pandemic as God calling out to us to grow in His grace, and in love for Him and in mercy toward others, then it is a subtle blessing.  While the cross of Jesus was painful, it also brought about our atonement with God. So, this time of pandemic is an opportunity for walking with God more closely, and allowing Jesus to transform our lives.

Our first reading tells of the children of Israel defying God. As a result, poisonous serpents were sent to bite them. As a remedy, God instructed Moses to make a bronze serpent and to place it high upon a pole. Whoever looked at it in faith would be saved from the poison. This was a way God used the poison as the remedy. Likewise, Jesus took the curse of our sins upon Himself, and was lifted high upon the cross. All who look to Him in faith will be saved. Again, the curse becomes the cure. So, may we allow God to use this time of crisis to enable us to live life to its fullest.

Peace,
Fr. Guy

Monday, March 30

Monday of the Fifth Week of Lent
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We have entered the portion of Lent known as “Passiontide,” which began yesterday with the observance of the fifth Sunday of Lent. “Passiontide” refers to the Passion (the suffering) of our Lord Jesus Christ. These final two weeks of Lent are a time to walk even more closely with Jesus, as He takes up His cross for our salvation.

As we think of deliberately walking more closely with Jesus, let us remember that it is Jesus who first walks more closely with us. While we are often forgetful of Jesus, He never stops thinking of us. In fact, Jesus is present to us always, even when we are wandering far from Him. Jesus is the Good Shepherd who calls His sheep by name, and always seeks and finds the lost. Jesus stands with us in our times of greatest need, and He is our Advocate before the Father in Heaven, making the case for our salvation.

It is an old custom in the Catholic Church to use purple or red cloths to cover the crucifix, statues, and icons during Passiontide. Why? This is a way of showing deeper sorrow for our sins, and of recognizing the gravity of what is to come on Good Friday. The covering of these images reminds us of the very distraught words of Mary Magdalene, “They have taken my Lord away, and I don’t know where to find Him!” It also reminds us of the tearing of the Temple veil at the moment Jesus died on the cross. The Temple veil covered the Holy of Holies, God’s dwelling on earth with His people, from the rest of the Temple area. It was a large and heavy curtain, which reminded God’s people of the separation between them and Himself due to the curse of sin and death. At the moment Jesus died, the veil was mysteriously torn in two, from top to bottom. This tearing symbolized that sin and death, which separate us from God, have been destroyed. Now, through Jesus, we have access to God’s dwelling: not on earth, but in Heaven! Nothing stands between us and God.

Our readings today present Jesus as our Advocate with the Father. In the Old Testament reading, Daniel is a Christ-figure, as he comes to the defense of Susanna, who has been wrongfully accused and is facing death. Our Gospel reading tells of Jesus standing up for the woman who was caught in adultery. Likewise, Jesus stands with us in our great need, as our defender. This does not mean that Jesus excuses our sins. Instead, He washes us clean, and then commands us, “Now go, and sin no more.” Jesus removes sin (the veil) which separates us from God, and gives us access to the Sanctuary in Heaven.
The Temple in Jerusalem was destroyed by the Romans in 70 A.D., about forty years after the resurrection of Jesus. As a result, the Jews could no longer offer sacrifices to God upon the altar. Instead, they turned their focus to the synagogues, which are places for reading and proclaiming the Scriptures. In these times of quarantine, our “Temple” where the Sacrifice of the Mass is offered, is off limits. So, like the Jews, the faithful must turn all the more to finding God in the Scriptures. It is my hope that families are reading the Bible at home every day. The Bible is God’s very long love letter to us, and it tells so many wonderful stories of how God has been there for His people throughout history. The Bible also tells us about Jesus, and His teachings. And, because the Bible is God’s living Word, whenever it is read, God is speaking at that moment.

May Passiontide be a time of turning our hearts all the more to Jesus, our great Advocate, whose death gives us full access to God and to eternal life. And, having endured the cross with Jesus, may the eyes of our hearts come to see Him clearly, unveiled, as we declare as one Church: “He is risen! He is risen indeed!”

Peace,
Fr. Guy

Saturday, March 28

Saturday of the Fourth Week of Lent
Lectionary: 249
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We each have our own ideas about Jesus, and our own expectations of Him. We believe in a Jesus of our own making, and often that Jesus is like a vending machine: we put in our money, select the number, and what we expect comes out. This is true whether we have a harsh, judgmental Jesus, or a sugar-coated, overly friendly Jesus. We create an image of Jesus in our minds, and we expect Him to behave in a particular way. And, when He doesn’t, we become confused, frightened, or even angry, and sometimes, we reject Him.

Jesus refuses to dance to our tune. It is not Jesus who should conform to our will, but rather, we are called to conform to His. Lent is a time for challenging our ideas about Jesus, so that we might let go of the false ones we have created, and embrace the truth about Him. But this is uncomfortable, so we normally end up rejecting the true Jesus for the one of our own making.

The Jews were having difficulty accepting Jesus as the Christ (that is, the Messiah) because He did not meet their expectations. And, His teachings were challenging them to rethink their beliefs. It was easier for them to kill Jesus than to embrace His call to walk more closely in the light of truth. It is also easy for us to condemn the Jews for rejecting Jesus, without realizing that we are, in some way, doing the same thing. We may call ourselves disciples of Jesus, but are we really? A disciple is a student, and one who is always learning from the Master. Let’s look at how we might be guilty of rejecting the Jesus of reality for the Jesus of our imagination.

Some people have a tremendous fear of Jesus, as if He were a cruel and exacting judge. They imagine Jesus watching their every move, and writing down their every fault. When bad things happen, they think Jesus is punishing them directly, and they live in fear of death, when they will stand before Him to be judged. Such people have rejected the Jesus of mercy, who desires our salvation more than we ourselves do.

Other people imagine a Jesus who is nothing more than a friendly mascot, who passes judgment on no one. For such people, nothing is a sin. Although, perhaps for them the greatest sin is actually believing and pointing out that there truly is a difference between right and wrong. They have created a Jesus who is so merciful that no one will be condemned on the Day of Judgment. These folks have rejected the Jesus who hung upon a cross so that sins might be forgiven: they reject Christ crucified. For if there is no difference between right or wrong, then Jesus was truly foolish for dying in such a way.

Some people reject Jesus by living a purely secular life. While they may attend Mass, and may think of themselves as Catholic, their lives are really not lived in God’s grace. Being Catholic is one of the “many” things they do in life, but is not at the heart of who they are. Still others reject Jesus by refusing to love their neighbor. And, most of us reject Jesus by excusing ourselves from following those teachings which are most difficult for us.

But Jesus never asks from us anything for which He has not first provided the grace. If Jesus calls us to greater holiness, then we may be certain He has already provided the grace we need in abundance. All that is necessary is to say, “Here I am, Lord. Please, make of me what you will!” Lent is a time to take up the cross of discipleship. Notice in the word “disciple” the root word “discipline.” Any great attainment in life requires discipline and dedication. How much more so for the attainment of holiness and eternal life with God!

May Lent help us to be aware of the subtle ways we reject Jesus, that we may embrace Him all the more. And, may we set aside our own ideas of Jesus, and follow His way of truth. May His peace be always in our hearts!

Fr. Guy

Friday, March 27

Friday of the Fourth Week of Lent
Lectionary: 248
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I have been teaching Tae Kwon Do in our St. Joan of Arc after-school program for thirteen years. Sometimes people ask me, “Which students are the most difficult to teach?” While every individual brings their own challenges, as well as natural talents, to Tae Kwon Do, each group presents common challenges to learning. Beginners are difficult to teach because they have no foundation to build upon: they must learn how to stand, and how to move. Some learn faster than others. But, laying the foundation is often difficult, because everything is new.

When Tae Kwon Do students reach the middle-belt levels, they have developed good basic skills, and they feel they are doing well. But then they complain because the basics are no longer good enough; now they are required to learn even more skills, and to sharpen what they’ve already learned. This level of students have developed a sense of complacency, and they are hesitant to move on. Many students drop out at this level. Happy with what they’ve learned, they are hesitant to grow to a higher level.

Black belt students often are the most difficult to teach, because they think they already know it all. Having attained this level, they sometimes resent correction, or the introduction of even higher challenges. Also, black belts are often unwilling to admit their sloppiness, or that they’ve been practicing a technique wrongly. The early stages of black belt are where many get stuck, and due to their stubbornness, they never advance to the level of master.
Why am I talking about Tae Kwon Do today? It is because these same challenges are found in our spiritual growth. Lent is a time to grow spiritually to ever new levels in our likeness to Jesus Christ. For those just awakening to the spiritual life, or for those who may suddenly decide to take it seriously, there is both blessing and difficulty. The blessing is that most beginners are zealous, and eager to learn. The difficulty is there is little or no foundation on which to build. Everything is new and must be learned. If the basics are not grasped, then the entire foundation will be weak, as well as all that is built upon it. Hard word and persistence in spiritual exercise is required at this level.

Then there are those who are somewhat advanced in their spiritual life, but have become complacent and happy with the way things are. Why? Because they don’t want to be challenged. They have a “good enough” attitude which prevents them from advancing. And there are those “spiritual” black belts, who have journeyed far in God’s grace, but have become conceited. They think they have already arrived, and have nothing more to learn. In fact, they are actually afraid that Jesus will challenge them to something which will make them feel like beginners all over again. But that is the nature of spiritual growth! Each new level is a new beginning. I usually tell my first level black belt students, “Now you can begin to learn Tae Kwon Do.” They are usually deflated, because they think they have “graduated.” Each great accomplishment is only the beginning of working toward the next level of perfection.

Today’s first reading, from the book of Wisdom, is very prophetic, as it speaks so clearly of the rejection of Jesus by Israel’s spiritual leaders. They do not like Jesus, because His way of life challenges their own. Rather than striving to become more holy themselves, they seek to pull Jesus down, and to do away with Him. May we never develop such an attitude! Instead, let us be good, humble, dedicated disciples of Jesus, learning from Him day by day, and never in this world thinking that we have “arrived.” There is always more to learn, and always room for growth. Come, Lord Jesus, and teach us!

Fr. Guy

Thursday, March 26

Thursday of the Fourth Week of Lent
Lectionary: 247
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I always find our first reading for today somewhat humorous. God complains to Moses, saying “Your people” are getting out of control! In response, Moses seems to say, “They are not my people. They are the people YOU brought out of Egypt!” Neither God nor Moses wants to claim the Israelites at the moment, because of their disobedience, stubbornness, and sin. Nonetheless, God is putting Moses to the test, to see if he will intercede for the people, and ask God to show mercy.

Moses is a forerunner of Jesus Christ, or we might say, a Christ figure. Moses was to point forward to the fullness of redemption which would come one day, not only for Israel, but for all the world, through Jesus. God tests Moses by saying, “Let me destroy these people, and I will make of you and your descendants a great nation.” Moses, however, does what God hoped he would do: he says, “No, Lord! Remember your promise to Abraham, to make of his descendants a great nation. Far be it from you, Lord, to forget your covenant promise!” God was pleased with Moses, and spared the Israelites. Eventually, God would lead them to the Promised Land, just as He had promised Abraham He would do.

When the time was right, Jesus Christ came into our world, and stood between us and the punishment which was rightfully ours, due to our sins. There is no greater intercessor on our behalf than Jesus. While Moses seemed to argue with God over whose people the Israelites were, Jesus did not do so. Instead, Jesus said, by His becoming human, “They are mine, and I will take responsibility for their sins.” This is the whole message of Holy Week, which we soon will celebrate as the Church of Jesus Christ.

While Jesus takes responsibility for our sins, He does not make excuses for them. Jesus calls us to repent, that is, to turn back to the way of God and to holiness. Nothing unclean or impure can inherit the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who are washed completely in the grace of God through Jesus Christ will inherit eternal life. If we play the game of excusing ourselves from sin, and taking no steps to put sin away from us, then we are presuming upon God’s grace, and that is the most serious of sins.

What is true repentance? It means we recognize our sins for what they are, that we use God grace to put them out of our lives, and that we firmly intend to use all our strength to avoid sinning in the future. This is called a “purpose of amendment,” meaning, we intend with God’s help to avoid the sin, and whatever leads us into it, and that we desire to grow in the holiness of Jesus Christ. Jesus is not ashamed of us when we struggle with sin, but His grace does us no good if we take it for granted.

And, just as Jesus claims us as His own, in spite of our faults, so we are called to be patient with one another. Again, this does not mean making excuses for others. We, in charity, are to call and challenge one another to conversion and to holiness: not in a judgmental way, but as humble servants who show the way by our own example. So let us continue our Lenten journey, following Jesus, as His faithful people, to the cross of Good Friday, and to the Resurrection to eternal life in the Promised Land of Heaven.

Fr. Guy

Wednesday, March 25

Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord
Lectionary: 545
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Merry Christmas! –in nine months. Today we celebrate the Feast of the Annunciation, when the Angel Gabriel announced to Mary that she was chosen to be the mother of the world’s Savior. While Mary had questions about how this would happen, and what she needed to do, she believed in the power of God to make it so. Her answer to the angel was, “Yes! I am God’s maidservant: let it be done to me just as you have said.” With Mary’s consent, the Son of God entered into her womb, and nine months later, would be born and given the name “Jesus,” which means, “God Saves.”

It is almost ironic that in the midst of Lent, as we prepare for the death of Jesus on Good Friday, we should take a day out to celebrate His birth. Christmas is a time of joy, which makes us think of things true, beautiful, and good. Our St. Joan of Arc school children have been focusing this year on truth, beauty, and goodness in each of their subjects. Why? Because these things help us to lift up our hearts and minds to God, the Source of all that is true, beautiful, and good.
In our modern world, we have become too focused on the mere function of things, of their usefulness. We live in a world of disposable goods, which are tossed out after their use. This mindset is even being applied to human persons. We tend to measure a person’s value based upon their usefulness, and their productivity. And, if they come to be seen as less productive, or  if their needs outweigh their ability to contribute, we think of them as useless or obsolete.
This utilitarian approach leaves out the inherent goodness in all things God has made. When God created the world, He looked upon all He had made and declared, “It is good!” All that God has made has an essential goodness within it. Likewise, everything God has made points us to a higher truth, for all things direct us back to God, their source. And what makes things beautiful? Isn’t what is considered beautiful a personal opinion? Let’s look at the expression, “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.” This doesn’t mean that there is no objective beauty in the world. It means two things: first, as human beings, made in God’s image, we collectively feel a sense of awe when we behold something naturally and essentially beautiful, like a glowing sunset, or an eagle in flight. Second, it means that there is essential beauty in the human person who is able to recognize beauty in God’s creation. In other words, as human persons, we possess truth, beauty, and goodness in ourselves.

The Incarnation (the becoming flesh) of God’s Son magnifies our inherent goodness by joining our human nature to His own divine nature. The fact that Jesus came to give His life for us shows that each and every human life has a dignity, and a value so great that the Son of God was willing to die a horrible death on a cross to redeem us all. So what do we learn from this? We learn to take a step back, and to look at things as they are, instead of measuring their value based on whether or not we find them useful to ourselves. During our time of “sheltering at home,” we can do the following: go outside, and take a breath of fresh air. Look up at the sky, as if you’ve never seen it before. Listen to the songs of the birds (who, by the way, have no clue there is a pandemic, and are simply going about their life as God created them to do). Look at a tree branch, feel its texture. Look at the world through fresh eyes. Look at your own hand: what an amazing creation of God! Take a fresh look at your children, or your spouse, and see how awesome a human being truly is.

The birth of Jesus makes us think of truth, beauty, and goodness… and His coming death makes us realize how precious life itself is. During these days of “retreat,” let us open our hearts to God’s plan, as Mary did. Then, being filled with the life of Jesus, we will find a deep and endless joy, and we can wish everyone, from the bottom of our hearts, Merry Christmas!

Fr. Guy

Tuesday, March 24

Tuesday of the Fourth Week of Lent
Lectionary: 245
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Our sense of vision is extremely limited. I like to remind people that none of us has ever seen our own face. All we have seen of ourselves is a reflection in a mirror, or a photographic image. Also, we can only see what is in front of us. At any moment, things are happening on both sides of us, and behind us. There are things too far away for us to see, and things far too small. And, there are things going on inside of us which our eyes cannot see.

Not only is our physical vision limited, but our mental vision is limited as well. Although the mind can see things which are not present, through memory and imagination, and can grasp abstract concepts, nonetheless, our minds are also very limited in their ability to comprehend. Yet, we live most of our lives within the confines of a universe we have created within our own minds. Our delusions are often shared by those closest to us, those who think as we do, and on a larger scale, by others in society who also define the universe by the limitedness of their minds.

Basically, we tend to think small about everything. We even project our own limitations onto God. But God is not limited by our weakness, or by our smallness. This is why St. John of the Cross was fond of saying that, to know God, we must “go out of ourselves.” This in no way means that we should try to escape our bodies, or try to lift our minds to some imaginary astral plane. What John meant was that we all, in some way, try to fit God into a box, and that box is the limitedness of our own understanding. John of the Cross would say that God does not want to be squeezed into the confines of our smallness. Instead, God says, “Come out and play in my world! For my world is without boundaries!” How do we do this?

It is impossible to overcome our own smallness by our natural abilities, for these in themselves are limited. John of the Cross says we must use the supernatural faculties of faith, hope, and love. Faith accepts the truth of God and His presence without seeing it with the eyes or the mind. Hope touches that which is eternal and boundless while here in the midst of time and space. And love, which is the divine essence, simply makes a gift of one’s life to God who gives His life to us completely in Jesus Christ.

But in spite of God’s grace, and the gifts of faith, hope, and love, we often give the wrong answers to God when He calls to us. Our answers do not match the divine questions. For example, in today’s Gospel reading, Jesus asks the sick man at the pool of Bethesda, “Do you want to be well?” Instead of answering simply “yes” or “no,” the man replies by stating the nature of his problem. He says, “When the pool is stirred, I have no one to put me into it.” But that is not what Jesus asked him. Although the greatest answer (Jesus Christ) was standing before him, the man did not see the greater healing Jesus offered. Instead, the man only went back to his problem. His sight was limited.

So, Jesus commanded him to take up his mat, to be healed, and to go his way. Immediately, the man was cured. It is tragically funny that the Jews rebuked the man for carrying his mat on the Sabbath, and that they wanted to punish Jesus for curing on the Sabbath. Their sight, too, was limited by their distorted understanding of God’s laws. They had put God in a box.

Do we have God in a box? Are we measuring God by our own limitations? Here is an equation: small God = small faith; big God = big faith. If we have God in a box, then we are worshiping an idol of our own making. St. Anselm once said, “God is that than which nothing greater can be conceived.” As our idea of God is, so are we. Through the supernatural faculties of faith, hope, and love, may we go beyond our own limitations to play in God’s world.

Fr. Guy

Monday, March 23

Monday of the Fourth Week of Lent
Lectionary: 244
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When I was in the seminary, we were expected to observe a “grand silence” from 7 p.m. until after Mass in the morning. It was expected that we each be in our rooms either praying or studying. There was to be no gathering for fun or conversation, and certainly no watching of television (we didn’t have internet in those days). Our doors were to be closed, but unlocked, so that the dean of men could open them anytime, to make sure we were observing silence.

Our entire world, it seems, is being forced to observe a “grand silence.” If we think of it as a loss of our freedoms and privileges, then it feels to us as something imposed upon us against our will. But what if we accept it as a way to observe a holy Lent? What if we accept it as an unexpected gift? Silence, and being somewhat quarantined, is not always such a bad thing. In fact, isn’t this what people seek out when they go on a retreat? We have a parishioner at St. Joan of Arc, Kate Lee, who is becoming a cloistered Carmelite Sister in Minnesota. “Cloistered” means she will rarely, if ever, for the rest of her life, leave the convent property. She is willingly giving herself to a life of prayer, penance, and silence as an offering for the good of the whole Church. I know she is praying for us right now, so let’s remember her in our prayers as well.

In our grand silence, we come face to face with our fears and anxieties, because we no longer enjoy the usual distractions from them. We become more aware of our emotions, and of our good and bad personality traits. This is all part of the experience of a grand silence. We also may feel claustrophobic, and we just want to know what will come next, and how long the silence will last. We want to know the beginning from the end. Ah! But here is the secret! If we settle down, and embrace the silence as a way God is making Himself present to us, then we find a deeper and more profound answer. By resting in God, we find both the beginning and the end, and we no longer see a distinction between life and death. We are in the hand of God, and it will all be okay in the end. The grand silence forms us in faith.

In our Gospel reading, a royal official begs Jesus to come in person to heal his son, who is very ill and near death. Jesus refuses to go in person, saying, “Unless you see signs and miracles you will not believe.” Instead, Jesus tells the man to go home, and that his son will live. The man returned home to find his son’s health completely restored, and he and his entire household became believers. Part of the grand silence is also an entering into darkness, where we cannot see what is coming, or how things will work out. But faith enables us to see in the darkness. While faith may not enable us to see the specifics of God’s plan, it does allow us to see the Lord Himself, and if our eyes remain on Him, then all will be well.

Let us be comforted in the promise of God to His people in our first reading: “I am about to create new heavens and a new earth; the things of the past shall not be remembered or come to mind. Instead, there shall always be rejoicing and happiness in what I create; for I create Jerusalem to be a joy and its people to be a delight; I will rejoice in Jerusalem and exult in my people. No longer shall the sound of weeping be heard there, or the sound of crying.”
May the Lord of life, healing, and resurrection, give you peace as together we embrace this grand silence.

Fr. Guy

Saturday, March 21

Saturday of the Third Week of Lent
Lectionary: 242
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Let’s look once again at the first reading, from Hosea, where it says, “Come, let us return to the Lord, it is he who has rent, but he will heal us; he has struck us, but he will bind our wounds. He will revive us after two days; on the third day he will raise us up, to live in his presence.” Lent is a time of turning our hearts and minds, in fact, the entirety of our lives, back to God. To repent means to turn back. Sometimes it is only through suffering that we come to realize how far we have strayed from God, and come to see clearly our need to return to Him for mercy.

Where do we find this mercy? At the cross of Jesus. In His mercy, that is, His love for us, Jesus gave us His life through the agony of the cross. When we acknowledge our need for God’s mercy, then we pass with Jesus through suffering to the resurrection to new life. This doesn’t mean a return to the old, or a “getting back to normal.” It means a new perspective on life, and what God calls us to share in for eternity. Mercy is the power to move forward, not backward.
One of the most ancient prayers of our Church is known simply as “the Jesus Prayer.” It is often prayed on Rosary beads, but may be prayed without them. The words are, “Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me.” The prayer may be softly and slowly repeated again and again, until the heart rests in God. This is a way we dispose ourselves for mercy. And the mercy we ask for in this prayer is more than just the forgiveness of sins: it is begging God to enlighten our hearts and minds to see the true nature of life, and to become what He created and calls us to be.

God’s mercy is offered constantly, but so often we cannot receive it because we are not open to it. We are too busy telling God what to give us, and when to give it, and how it is to be given. This applies even to how we demand mercy from God: we want it our way. But God’s mercy cannot be received that way. It can only be received by a humble heart which has surrendered completely to the way of God. The heart of Jesus, from which mercy is poured out, was a heart completely humble and loving, and accepting of God’s will. Mercy must be received in the same way it is given.

In today’s Gospel, two men went into the Temple to pray (obviously it was not closed due to the Corona virus!). The Pharisee was confident in his own holiness, and thanked God that he was better than others. His prayer was not accepted, because his heart was stubborn and blinded by his own sense of righteousness. The tax collector stood in the corner, with his head bowed, simply praying, “Have mercy on me, a sinner.” He was forgiven, because his heart was humble and receptive to God’s mercy.

As we continue our Lenten journey to the cross on Good Friday, let us never hesitate to call out to God for mercy; but let us be sure we are not demanding it in our own way. Instead, may we simply open our hearts and say to God, “Make of me what you will.” Then, the mercy of God will grow within us, and we will become a source of mercy to others.

Peace,
Fr. Guy

Friday, March 20

Friday of the Third Week of Lent
Lectionary: 241
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It is a blessing that most of us grew up in a time of peace and prosperity. We still have those among us who endured the hardships of World War II, and their ability to pull together in hard times, and to win the victory over an evil empire, is why we call them the “Greatest Generation.”

Today’s first reading, like many Old Testament passages about calling to God in hard times, would ordinarily go ignored by most of us. But suddenly, in uncertain times of global pandemic, we begin to pay more attention to these ancient cries of God’s people. We may find ourselves calling out all the more these days in prayer to God, as we seek answers. Many people may wonder if this is a scourge from God on the world. While I do not believe it is, I do know that, in His providence, God will not let it go to waste. This is an opportunity, when we are cut off from our normal routines, to focus on what the season of Lent is truly about.

Sickness causes us to come face to face with our own mortality. Much of the time, we keep ourselves distracted by our busy daily schedules and activities. But all of these distractions prevent us from truly listening to God, and calling out to Him. In our modern world, we seem to turn more to science and technology to solve our problems. But now, these things appear powerless to stop the current epidemic. God invites us to call out to Him from the depths of our hearts, to turn to Him and to find mercy.

The word “mercy” is from the Latin word, “Misericordia,” which means, “a miserable heart.” But why would a heart be miserable? Some hearts are miserable because they have made bad decisions which lead to bad consequences. Or, a heart may be miserable over the suffering of others. And, a heart may be miserable because it is so much in love that it hurts. God’s heart is miserable because in sin, we turn away from Him. It is a heart suffering because we are suffering. And, God’s heart is miserable because it is bursting with love for us, which often goes unrequited. This heart, which became flesh to take away our sins, was pierced by a lance upon the cross.

In these times, when we cry out to God for healing and relief, let us be mindful of the pain and suffering of others, and not just our own. While science might not be able to help us right now, Jesus can. How? Because Jesus enters into our suffering, into our misery. That is the meaning of Lent, which leads us to the cross. Currently, science tells us to stay away from one another, and to practice “social distancing.” While we should follow this advice, let us remember that the human person needs human contact, and human love. This is why Jesus says the greatest commandment is to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength; and to love our neighbor as ourselves.

Let us reach out to one another in safe and prudent ways, maintaining human contact and communication. And let us help carry the cross for one another, and pray for each other in these uncertain times. If we lift ourselves and one another up to God, then we mind His mercy…. His miserable heart which has already come down to us and entered into our suffering.

Peace,
Fr. Guy
 

Thursday, March 19

Solemnity of Saint Joseph, husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Lectionary: 543
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With the world-wide crisis caused by the Corona virus, we are living in uncertain times. Everyone wants answers about how long we will need to be self-quarantined, how long schools and businesses will be closed, and how long life will be on hold. I keep saying, it is like driving through thick fog, and not being able to see what is too far ahead. Right now, our ability to forecast the future is very limited. We are living day by day.

Today’s Solemnity of St. Joseph gives us hope, for although our own vision is limited, our great God knows the beginning from the end. Each morning He brings light out of darkness. And, He could even send His Son to die on a cross to bring about the world’s salvation. How can anything good come from the Son of God being rejected and nailed to a cross? Could there be any worse tragedy? But God said, “That’s no problem for me. I can do something with that!” Likewise, our current circumstances are not too difficult for God. If we trust in Him, He will bring good out of what seems to be only a crisis.

When the curse of sin and death first entered the world, God already had a plan: He would send His Son as the remedy. But God did not send Jesus immediately; Jesus would not be born for thousands of years. Nonetheless, God already began to set things in motion. He selected Abraham to be the great ancestor of our Lord Jesus, who would come through his bloodline. King David was also one of the great ancestors of Jesus. Although the kingship of David would one day end, the reign of His descendant, Jesus Christ, will last forever. And when it was time for Jesus to be born, God chose an earthly father for Him: St. Joseph. Joseph was obedient to God’s will, although he was not always sure how things would happen. Joseph, like David and Abraham, had limited vision into the future. All they could do was trust in God’s promise, and live by faith, one day at a time.

In regards to the faith of Abraham, our second reading says, “He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into being what does not exist. He believed, hoping against hope, that he would become the father of many nations, according to what was said, Thus shall your descendants be. That is why it was credited to him as righteousness.”

Faith means we cannot see the beginning from the end, but we trust that somehow, God has a plan, and will work out all things for our good. If He can bring salvation out of the horrible death of His Son on a cross, He can bring blessing out of any situation. This current epidemic will pass. In the meantime, as Christian, let us use this time at home for prayer, asking for an end the the virus, and praying for the sick, and for all people in need, especially those who have lost their jobs. St. Joseph, to escape Herod’s attempt to kill the baby Jesus, had to pack up and move to Egypt. There, he had to find work to support Mary and Jesus. St. Joseph is one that both Mary and Jesus would have gone to for support, encouragement, help, guidance, and love. If Joseph was good enough for Jesus and Mary, he can certainly help us in our time of need!

May God bless each of you in these uncertain times, and may we continue to grow in faith, like Abraham, David, and Joseph. St. Joseph, pray for us!

Peace,
Fr. Guy