Epiphany

The Epiphany of the Lord

“They were overjoyed at seeing the star, and on entering the housethey saw the child with Mary his mother. They prostrated themselvesand did him homage. Then they opened their treasures and offered himgifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.” Matthew 2:10-11

This may be surprising to a lot of people, but the Church is still celebrating Christmas! The Christmas season extends beyond December 25^th. The Christmas season concludes with the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, this year celebrated on the Church Calendar on Monday, January 8^th. This is all part of what many consider the three manifestations of Jesus to the world.

The first was on Christmas Day. He was made known to those around him. Once born the Shepherds heard of the birth of Jesus from the choirs of Angels announcing the good news of His birth. They came and did him homage.

The second manifestation occurs on the Feast of the Epiphany, this year celebrated on Sunday, January 7^th, 2018. The three wise men traveled a great distance, following the star as they went in search of this great event: the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem. After consulting with King Herod, they found the Christ Child. This was the second manifestation: these three foreigners came at a great distance and discovered God’s presence in the form of Jesus Christ. They did him homage, giving Jesus their treasures. How often do we come into Christ’s presence at mass and give Him the attention that He deserves? The Three Wise men realized the special gift that was in front of them. When we’re at mass, we need to realize the gift that’s in front of us and give Christ our complete attention and love. The treasure that Jesus is searching for is our whole being, dedicated to loving Him and serving Him in how we live our lives.

The final manifestation is on the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, when, while being baptized by John the Baptist, the Holy Spirit descended upon Jesus in the form of a dove, and God the Father says, “You aremy beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.” (Mark 1:11). Here God manifests Himself and shows that God is a Trinity of persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

As we conclude this Christmas season, with the three ways God manifested Himself to us in history, let us continue to develop that relationship with Him by making Him the center of all who we are. We are to be focused on Him at Mass and worship Him as the three Kings did, and then we are to leave Church, with Christ in our hearts, to remind the world that Christ is in our midst.

Praise be Jesus Christ, now and forever, Deacon Tom Tortorella

Thanksgiving

For the scripture readings for today's reflection, go to: http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/112317-thanksgiving.cfm

What is thanksgiving? I think we often look at thanksgiving backwards. We think of thanksgiving as thanking God for something that has happened to us already. I believe the real purpose of giving thanks, though, is opening the door to even greater blessing. Thanksgiving becomes a window through which God's love shines.

Looking at the 10 lepers we have in today's gospel, what do we have? We have 10 men with a disease that has caused them to be outcasts in society. Because of their disease they weren’t allowed to be part of society. They were rejected and looked down upon. Leprosy was a disease for which there was no cure. In fact, leprosy was a death sentence carried out a little bit at a time—an arm now, a leg or ear later. Because the disease was thought to be highly contagious, lepers were driven out of town where they couldn't associate with anybody. These men were hopeless and helpless and alone, but they formed a fellowship among themselves. People feared catching the disease they carried. It is because of their disease that they stood at a distance from Jesus to speak with him.

Then they start hearing stories of this Jesus and all the miraculous healings he has been doing. They start hoping that they too will be healed by this Jesus of Nazareth. Their hopes began to rise. They reached the point of believing, so they began to dream. In spite of a hopeless disease, they began to feel there was a chance to live. Through fellowship, these ten lepers had the courage to keep going. Then they met Jesus and said to him, "Master, have mercy upon us." Everybody would have told them they were going to die, that it was useless to ask for help. If they had believed that, they would have died. But they came to our Lord, taking Jesus at his word that "All things are possible to him who believes."

Jesus saw a way to test their faith. He said to them, "Go, show yourselves to the priests." They could have looked at each other and said, "Well, nothing's happened to us. We're just the same as we were." Instead, they did what he said; they obeyed him. As they went, the blessing came—they were cleansed. What a tremendous experience!

The one that returned praising God shows what true gratitude and thanksgiving is all about. The other nine never returned to Jesus to thank him. They may have very well went on to the priests as Jesus requested to show that they were healed. But they were quick to forget the one who was responsible for their healing.

The one that returned was able to enter into a faith in Jesus as God. He was able to show that gratitude and thanksgiving to Jesus for the good that had happened to him. He was able to see the love of God in the healing that Jesus provided him.

We are called, like the Leper that was healed, to turn to Jesus in gratitude, trust and faith, not only in the good things we may have already received from the Hand of God, but we are to turn to Jesus in gratitude and faith for the good things that will happen to us. Faith is central in our relationship with Jesus. We are to trust that he is present in all our situations. We are to be truly grateful to him in all he does for us.

Each time we are at Mass, as we approach Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, we are invited to say, “Jesus, Master! Have pity on us!” Then, as we leave church, we can rest assured that Jesus is saying to us, “Stand up and go; your faith has saved you.”

All Souls Day

All Souls’ Day

November is the month of the Holy Souls, and on November 2^nd, we commemorate All Souls’ Day. In the website http://www.catholic.org/saints/allsouls/ we read, “All Souls Day is a holy day set aside for honoring the dead. The day is primarily celebrated in the Catholic Church, but it is also celebrated in the Eastern Orthodox Church and a few other denominations of Christianity. The Anglican church is the largest protestant church to celebrate the holy day. Most protestant denominations do not recognize the holiday and disagree with the theology behind it.

According to Catholic belief, the soul of a person who dies can go to one of three places. The first is heaven, where a person who dies in a state of perfect grace and communion with God goes. The second is hell, where those who die in a state of mortal sin are naturally condemned by their choice. The intermediate option is purgatory, which is thought to be where most people, free of mortal sin, but still in a state of lesser (venial) sin, must go.”

So, during the month of November, and in particular on November 2^nd, we pray for those in our family that are in purgatory waiting to finally see the full glory of God in heaven. This website goes on to tell us: “Purgatory is necessary so that souls can be cleansed and perfected before they enter into heaven. There is scriptural basis for this belief. The primary reference is in 2 Maccabees, 12:26 and 12:32. ‘Turning to supplication, they prayed that the sinful deed might be fully blotted out... Thus made atonement for the dead that they might be free from sin.’”

One of the greatest ways to pray for our beloved dead relatives is by having masses said for them at our parishes. In years past I would go with my list of family members that have gone before me and have masses said for them. The mass is the highest form of Catholic worship, and can do the most good for the souls in purgatory. Further, when praying your rosary, pray for those in your family that have since passed on to their rest. I like to include those people (in addition to my parents and grandparents) that I haven’t thought of in years. They may very well still be in purgatory and are in need of that extra “push”, that extra prayer, to get them into heaven.

So pray for your dead, have masses said for them, say rosaries for them. Then when they make it to heaven, they will be praying for you.

Praise be Jesus Christ, now and forever,
Deacon Tom Tortorella

Blessed Francis Palau Y Quer

Today, November 7th, on the Carmelite calendar is the feast of Blessed Francis Paulau y Quer. Born in Ayona, Lerida, on December 29th, 1811, Blessed Francis Palau y Quer entered the Carmelite Order in 1832 and was ordained priest in 1836. Civil turmoil forced him to live in exile and outside his community. On his return to Spain in 1851, he founded his "School of Virtue" - which was a model of catechetical teaching - at Barcelona. The school was suppressed and he was unjustly exiled to Ibiza (1854-1860) where he lived at El Vedra in solitude and experienced mystically the vicissitudes of the Church. While in the Balearic Islands he founded the Congregations of Carmelite Brothers and Carmelite Sisters (1860-1861). He preached popular missions and spread love of Our Lady wherever he went. He died at Tarragona on March 20th, 1872, and was beatified by Pope John Paul II on April 24th, 1980.

Central in Bl. Francis Palau y Quer's teachings is that prayer is to be the center of all we do. He writes, "God in His providence has ordained not to cure our ills or grant us grace without the intervention of prayer." In our service to one another we are to first turn to God in prayer. He goes on to say, "He (God) wishes us to help in saving each other by means of our prayer." We may have friends or family that are in need of our help or are struggling with issues or problems. One way to start helping them is praying for their intentions. God will respond according to His Holy Will.

Blessed Francis pointed out the importance of prayer in the life of the Blessed Virgin Mary. "...it was God's good pleasure that his coming  should be preceded by the prayers of the singular Virgin who by the beauty of her virtues drew into her womb the uncreated Word of God. The Redeemer came, and by constant prayer he reconciled the world to the Father." So prayer is central in our salvation.

In speaking on the Apostles being sent to preach to all nations, Blessed Francis says, "... the result of their preaching came from prayer more than from their words." Blessed Francis hconcludes by saying, "Since God does not distribute graces to men except through prayer, because he wishes us to recognize him as the source from which all good flow; in like manner, he does not wish to save us from danger, or cure our wounds, or console us in affliction, except by means of this same exercise of prayer."

So let us follow the example of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the apostles and Bl. Francis by praying for those in our families that are in most need of our prayers.

For the Victims of Las Vegas

Following is a letter sent out by the Mother Stacy of St. Luke in the Fields Church in New York City that I wanted to share. Let's pray for all the victims of the massacre in Las Vegas.


Dear People of God,

In the wake of the deadliest shooting incident yet on U.S. soil, our thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends of those murdered, and with all those still recovering from injuries. We also pray with deep gratitude for all first responders who put their lives at risk to save others, running into chaos, terror and death to rescue and tend the helpless.

As has been said often, better gun control and more attention to mental health needs are a significant part of the solution. However, the other part of the solution is harder to quantify and solve by legislative means. It is the calling and responsibility of each of us to rebuild the fabric of our nation's civic and public life. It is the restoration of neighborly concern, mature human civility, respectful speech and thoughtful action, without which no country can ever be truly secure or at peace.

The calling of people of all faiths and none in America today is to participate in rebuilding communities of care, concern and justice in every street and city. Let us persevere in doing what we can in every way that we can to do this.

Faithfully,

The Rev. Caroline Stacey

The Church of Saint Luke in the Fields | 487 Hudson Street | N.Y, NY 10014
https://stlukeinthefields.org/

Forgivness

The scripture readings for the Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time can be found at http://usccb.org/bible/readings/091717.cfm 

 We're living in a wonderful world full of technology and great advancements. Through technology we can speak instantly to those clear on the other side of the world. We can travel faster then ever in the history of the world. With modern technology, the world, indeed, is a smaller place.

Yet, how much have we advanced in the love and forgiveness of those around us? The scripture readings for today show us that things haven't really changed all that much since agent times. In our first reading from Sirach, we read that "War and anger are hateful things, yet the sinners hugs them tight." (Sirach 27:30) It seams that in our day and age, whether here in the United States or around the world, we see acts of war and anger. People hugging tight to anger and hatred. Sirach goes on to tell us, "Think of the commandments, hate not your neighbor..." (Sirach 28:7) With all the strife we see in recent times, we need to be reminded to "hate not your neighbor."

In the gospel for today, our Lord gives Peter and us a great challenge. Peter asks how often must I forgive my brothers sins against me? Seven times? Jesus' response is clear, "I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times." (Matthew 18:22) Then Jesus tells of the servant receiving forgiveness of his debts from his master, yet is unwilling to show the same mercy to a fellow servant who owes him a great deal less.

We all turn to God to seek forgiveness for all our sins and wrongdoings. We also hope and pray that those we have hurt are willing to forgive us as God is willing to forgive us. Sometimes these hurts can go back a long way with our family or with friends. There may be people we haven't spoken to in years because of a long ago hurt. We need to move beyond the hurt and reach out to forgive and to ask for forgiveness.

Jesus is calling us to forgive our brothers and sisters from the heart. When we are truly reconciled and forgiving to each other, then we can find that peace that can only come from God.

Moving!!

"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." Philippians 4:6-7

Over the last two weeks my family and I have moved from an apartment that we lived in for 17 years to a new and beautiful apartment in Co-Op City in the Bronx, New York.

I'm sure you have experienced the stress and anxiety of packing & moving. First the packing was difficult since a lot can accumulate over 17 years. What do we keep? What do we throw away? Even though I wasn't perfect at it (much to my wife's dismay), I found "LESS IS MORE!"

We finally lined up a mover and it took two days to do the move!! The movers were good and professional and we finally made it!!

Part of the move also is the leaving behind the memories one accumulates at an old home. My son was six when we moved there (now 23) and our daughter was 10 (now 27). A lot of memories of the school years, church activities, easy times, difficult times. It's hard to leave that behind!

Then I realized that I'm not leaving them behind. They come with me and my family wherever we may be, while making new memories.

At my new apartment (much bigger than the one we left behind) is a short walk from St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church where I hope to serve as a deacon. St. Michael was always part of the process of waiting for this apartment. After we applied for an apartment at Co-Op City, I paid a visit to St. Michael's Church and asked him to intercede for us to get an apartment here. My kitchen window overlooks St. Michael's!!

So, I am grateful to St. Micheal for getting us here.

I am also grateful to God for the times, good and bad, at the old place, and look forward to making new memories at the new apartment.

I was thinking of all this as I was just recently watching a classic movie with Gregory Peck called, "The Keys of the Kingdom", a movie made in 1944 (I highly recommend it). One of the superiors of the Gregory Peck character, by this time a Catholic Priest, was advising Fr. Chisholm about making a difficult decision. The Bishop, played by Edmund Gwenn, says, "Why don't we just allow God to do with us what he Wills", implying that if we trust in God in all that occurs in our life, we will find peace and contentment.

So, at my new apartment, I plan on allowing God to do with me what he Wills in order to find happiness n my new home, and in my service as a deacon in His Church.

Charlotesville

He who passively accepts evil is as much involved in it as he who helps to perpetrate it. He who accepts evil without protesting against it is really cooperating with it.

-Martin Luther King Jr.

 

The violence that has recently occurred in Charlottesville is most disturbing, and we as Christians must speak out against such violence and hatred that has been exhibited by those doing them. "White nationalist" and "white supremacist" are evil and have no place in our society. Those who believe and accept as fact that one race is superior over another are blind fools who have no place in our society.

These people claim to be Christian, but in all they do, show actions contrary to that of the values taught by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Jesus teaches us, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12:30-31)

 

As a Catholic Deacon, I condemn these acts of violence against innocent people. I condemn any and all acts of hatred and racism. I call upon all other people of conscience to condemn these acts of violence and hatred. Let us pay head to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, who said,  "I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear.

Lord, Save Me

The scripture readings for the Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time can be found at http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/081317.cfm

In today's readings we have two of my favorite readings from scripture, that of Elijah hearing the voice of God in "a tiny whispering sound" (1 Kings 19:12) and Peter reaching out to Jesus from the water after saying, "Lord, save me." (Matthew 14:30).

By this point in 1 Kings, the prophet Elijah is convinced that there is nothing more he can do for the Lord. He was even praying to God to take his life. But God had other plans for him and gave him strength to make a 40 day journey to Horeb, the name for Mount Sinai preferred by the book of Deuteronomy. After the storm and earthquakes Elijah hears the voice of God in the tiny whispering sound of the wind and feels Gods presence and comfort with him

In our Gospel, we see our Lord go off to the mountain to pray and to be in union with the Father. As the Gospel goes on, we see Jesus manifesting His divine identity by walking on the sea and saving Peter from the turbulent waters.

Both stories from today's readings shows us that when we are feeling frustrated or abandoned by God, in whatever storms we may be facing in our lives, God is always there for us, either in the quiet and solitude of prayer, or in the storm that we may be facing. God is reaching out to us.

Jesus is asking us to be strong in faith and to not doubt that He is present in all our situations in our lives, no matter what the problem is that we may be encountering. We may feel frustrated like Elijah or Peter, thinking that God is not there! But like Elijah, we have to be open to His voice by quieting our minds and being open to God's voice. We have remove all the clutter of the storms in our minds and attempt to listen to God's voice calling out to us. Then, like Peter, we can reach out to Jesus, and have Jesus restore our faith that He is present to us in all our troubles and situations in life.

The Rosary

I grew up in the Bedford Park section of the Bronx. My childhood parish was Our Lady of Refuge on East 196 Street & Briggs Avenue. I was baptized there, made my first communion and confirmed there. And graduated from their school in 1970.

Growing up in the Bronx when I did was a great experience. A lot of fond memories of family and friends. This was before computers & smart phones. Your friends were real friends, not ones you meet on the computer through Facebook. Central to all these memories were the times at Our Lady of Refuge.

I vaguely remember the former pastor Msgr. Valentine Snyder. A good strong priest with a strong faith in Jesus Christ. He served Jesus Christ by teaching love and respect to the children entrusted to his care at the school. He was known to have a curfew for the kids that went to Our Lady of Refuge. If you were caught outside after 9 p.m., you were quickly sent home. Guaranteed the next day you were called to the principles office.

The pastor I remember most growing up was Msgr. Jeremiah Nemecek. I recall one Saturday morning around 1968 wanting to get out of the house and walking to Our Lady of Refuge to pay a visit (this was a time when churches were always opened). Msgr. Nemecek was out front on the corner of 196 Street & Briggs Avenue, praying his rosary. Near him was his pet dog (I forgot the breed or kind of dog, but do remember the dog being a loving affectionate animal). He recognized me as one from the school. I told him I was going to pay a visit to the church. He was apparently pleased at this and gave me the rosary he was praying on. I remember that day like it was yesterday. And I still have this rosary!!

Over the years I had stashed this rosary among the many other things that I collected over the years. It was only recently that I started using it to pray my daily rosary. I remember and pray for the repose of the soul of Msgr. Nemecek.


Another person that helped me develop a love for the rosary and for Our Lady was my sixth grade teacher, Sister Dominica. She was tough and fierce, but because of her being so tough, we learned what we needed to learn. I remember one day in class during a quiet time when everyone was reading and catching up on their work, she took hold of her habit rosary and started praying. This tough and strong woman took on the look of someone who obviously loved Our Lady, the Blessed Virgin, and our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. I'll never know this, but I now imagine that she was praying for us, her students.

I pray daily for those priests and nuns that served at Our Lady of Refuge. In particular I pray for Msgr. Snyder, Msgr. Nemecek, and Sr.Dominica. If you want to find out more about OLR, go to their website. Our Lady of Refuge is still an active parish in a poor neighborhood. Your donations would be well spent at OLR.

Long live Our Lady of Refuge!

The Kingdom of Heaven

The Scripture readings for today can be found at http://usccb.org/bible/readings/073017.cfm
If Jesus was telling the parable today, He may compare the Kingdom of Heaven to winning the lottery. I've seen many people spend large sums of money in order to hit the lottery. To them winning that big lottery jackpot is all they want out of life. To them, it would be like "heaven" hitting that big one and not worrying about anything for the rest of their lives. They would be on "easy street". What they fail to realize is that happiness is more than just having all this money. We have heard of lottery winners that, after a few years, are back to having nothing again, misusing the money they won. Or we know people that go to the lottery agent with their LONG list of lottery numbers, only to not win anything. They walk away frustrated and feel empty at not winning that jackpot.

What Jesus is talking about in today's gospel is true wealth. True wealth is relationship with God, and knowing that God will bring us that happiness and contentment. King Solomon in the first reading from the first book of Kings knew what true happiness is.  He "hit it big" when he assumed the throne of King David, his father. But he knew that he needed help from God in order to rule fairly and responsibly. He asked God for an understanding heart to judge people, and to distinguish right from wrong. (1 King 3:9)

St. Paul, in his letter to the Romans, is talking about the same thing. He tells us, "that all things work for good for those who love God." (Romans 8:28)

We are all called, like Solomon, to turn to God and ask for an understanding heart, to love others as God loves them, and to live a life trusting that God  the one who will bring us true wealth and happiness: the kind that will last for all eternity. We are to love God and love our neighbor.

Saint Martha

The Scripture Readings for the Feast of St. Martha can be found at http://usccb.org/bible/readings/072917.cfm

Which person can you relate to? Martha, the busy one, or Mary, the one at the feet of Jesus?

Martha is all about being busy, making sure that things are ready for her special guest, Jesus. I can imagine her banging those pots and pans around the kitchen making sure that all is perfect for Jesus. After all, He IS special and things need to be right for Him, right?

Well, yes, but....  we need to make sure things are just right for Jesus. But are we slowing down to listen to His message of love and repentance? Jesus tells her, "Martha, Martha, you are worried about many things!" He goes on to say that Mary has chosen the better part.

What is that "better part"? It's taking time out of all our busyness to settle down and become "quiet" in order to hear what Jesus is trying to teach us in scripture. What Mary was doing was allowing Jesus to become intimately part of her life and becoming more "God-centered."

We all have things in our lives that are important. Families, jobs, things that need to be done in our lives. We are also involved in different church activities, doing things for Jesus in the different ministries we may be involved in. In all this activity (important as they may be) we need to take time out each day to be alone with our Lord. Whether it's reading scripture, praying and meditating on the mysteries of the rosary, or just time to be quiet and try to listen to what Jesus is calling us to do in our lives. Then from there, we are to be more Christ-like in our relationship with others, and to have Him at the center of all we do. That is the "better part!"

Saints Joachim and Anne

Scripture readings for today can be found at http://usccb.org/bible/readings/072617.cfm.

Today we celebrate the feast of Saints Joachim and Anne, parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and grandparents of Jesus.

According to a 2nd-century tradition, Anne and Joachim conceived Mary as a gift from God after years of infertility. Devotion to Anne dates back to around 550, when Emperor Justinian built a church in St. Anne's honor. In most artwork of Saint Anne and the child Mary, we see Saint Anne teaching Mary to read the scriptures.

Because of the love and devotion Joachim and Anne had towards God, they were blessed with the gift of the Blessed Virgin Mary. By sharing their love and faith in God with Mary, Mary in turn became the most honored Mother of God. Because of the influence her parents had on her, Mary was always able to be open to the will of God in her life.

Mary learned from St. Anne of the promises of God to send the Messiah to the people of Israel. Mary knew scripture and was able to live out her faith in God with love and trust. This love of scripture and trust in God allowed Mary to respond to the Angel Gabriel, "I am the maidservant of the Lord. Be it done to me according to your word."

The story of Joachim and Anne teach us to always to have God and scripture in the heart of all we do. God was the center of their lives and as a result God was able to work through them to bring about His plan for salvation.

Let us, like Joachim and Anne, always study scripture and allow God to work through us to bring His message of love and healing to those in our lives.  Like Mary, we are called to bring Christ into a world that is in most need of His salvation and forgiveness. Let us allow His love and healing penetrate us and those we know and love.

“My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord and my spirit exults in God my savior!”

Today we commemorate the great mother of God under the title of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. In the Old Testament in the first book of Kings, we hear of the beauty of Mount Carmel, where 900 years before Christ, the prophet Elijah defended the faith of Israel in the living God. It was at Mount Carmel that Elijah, inspired by God, went to the people of Israel to have them turn back to the true worship of God. By this point, the Israelites were worshiping a false god. Through Elijah, God showed forth His glory to the people of Israel, and they returned to worship of God, proclaiming “The Lord is God! The Lord is God!”

During the thirteenth century, under the title of “Saint Mary of Mount Carmel,” the Order of Carmelites had its beginnings. These early Carmelites built a life of community in silence and solitude, having the Lord Jesus as the center of their activity in the Eucharist and Scripture. They imitated the prayerfulness of Mary, always reflecting on how God was touching their lives, and the devotion of Elijah in defending the true worship to the living God.

Mary’s prayerfulness is evident in Scripture. When the angel Gabriel explained to Mary how she was to be the mother of the Savior, her response was “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” When the angel first came to her, I could only imagine her surprise at having such a heavenly being before her. But being open to God’s working in her life, she listened to Gabriel as he explained how God was to work in her. Then, very bravely, accepted what God had in mind for her: “I am the handmaid of the Lord.” She was able to be open to the prompting of God’s will for her because she was able to contemplate on His presence in her life.

Then knowing her elderly cousin was in need of help, Mary traveled to Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist, to be with her in her time of need. Mary’s response to Elizabeth’s greeting was “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord.” Mary was always aware of God working within her and was always ready to respond to what God expected her to do.

We are called to follow Mary’s & Elijah’s examples in being open to God’s will in our lives. First we are called to reflect on God’s Word to us in scripture. Then we are called to go and be of service to others in our lives that may need us. We are to bring God’s love to all we are to come into contact with, whether it’s a relative in need, a friend or co-worker that may need someone to just be present in their time of need. We are to share the love of God with others with the words that Mary said: “I am the servant of the Lord” and “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord.” By bringing the love of God to others in our lives, we are making this a world a better place to live. We are imitating both Elijah in being zealous for the Lord God and of Mary’s openness to doing His Holy Will.
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Ministry of Service

This past Saturday, June 17th, I was at St. Patrick's Cathedral for the Ordination to the Sacred Order of Deacon 12 men for the Archdiocese of New York. This brought back memories of my own ordination with 12 of my classmates on Saturday, June 19th, 2010.

At the ordination this past Saturday, one thing that Cardinal Dolan said that touched my heart was, "It's not about you becoming a Deacon but about Jesus and how you serve Him." That, coupled with the phrase that Cardinal Dolan says to each deacon as they receive the Book of the Gospels is very important, "Receive the Gospel of Christ, whose herald you now are.  Believe what you read, teach what you believe, and practice what you teach."

All of us as Christians are called to live the life of Christian service. But as deacons, we are called to a higher standard of service to Christ and His Church. We are called to minister at the altar, to conduct wake services, perform baptisms, witness weddings. All things that we are called to herald the Gospel of Christ.

Over my years as Deacon I have done numerous baptisms & wakes. Each is special in it's own way.

One recent act of service I was able to do as deacon is for a woman who had twins born prematurely at Einstein Hospital in the Bronx. Isaiah and Josiah have been suffering much since being born prematurely. I was able to arrange with the hospital chaplain to have them baptized. Further, on a few occasions,  I was able to visit them and bless them and their mother and father. This is an example of what makes my diaconate special. Serving those who need the presence of Christ in their lives as they suffer and deal with issues that are beyond their control. Christ is present to Isaiah and Josiah and their mother during their suffering.

I am grateful to God for the gift my diaconate. I pray also for those 12 men ordained this past Saturday at St. Patrick's Cathedral that they receive many blessings as they serve people in their faith community.

The Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi)

The scripture readings for the Feast of Corpus Christi can be found at http://usccb.org/bible/readings/061817.cfm

“I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world.” John 6:51

The Solemnity of Corpus Christi, or the Body and Blood of Christ, is over 700 years old. Because Holy Thursday, when the Lord gave us the Eucharist, occurs in Holy Week which centers on the Lord’s Passion and Death, the Church set aside this special feast in June to reflect on the Eucharist itself, the gift of Jesus to His Church.

As Catholics we believe in the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist. He is truly present: Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity in the host and wine used at Mass. The Real Presence is the teaching of the sixth chapter of St. John’s Gospel. “The one who feeds on My flesh and drinks My blood has life eternal” says the Lord (John 6:54). This is central to our faith in Christ: the true presence of Christ in the Eucharist.

When we come to church, we don’t have to hope that the Lord will be there. His presence doesn’t depend on our mood, our feelings, our holiness, or even on our faith. Christ is TRULY PRESENT in the Eucharist by His promise and power. That is what is meant by the “Real Presence.” When entering a Catholic Church, the Lord is truly present in the tabernacle and at Mass not symbolically but actually. The distinctive strength, the center and heart of Catholic spirituality is the power of the Real Presence of Christ in the Blessed Sacrament.

As a result of the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist, we need to be sure to receive Him worthily. I would encourage all to regularly use of the Sacrament of Confession. St. Paul tells us, “Therefore whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord unworthily will have to answer for the body and blood of the Lord.^” (1 Corinthians 11:27)

The Eucharist embodies everything that Jesus did for us and everything that Jesus is for us. It is a mystery of faith that gathers together Jesus’ teaching, His Passion, His Resurrection and his pledge of eternal life for us. So, let us approach the Blessed Sacrament worthily and with great devotion.

Reflection for the St. Lucy's Religious Education Program

This past Wednesday, May 31st, 2017, I was asked to give a short reflection during a Holy Hour for the teachers of the St. Lucy's Religious Education program. Following is the reflection. This reflection can be applied to all who are responsible for the teaching of our children in the Catholic Faith.

Why do we do what we do with the students in our religious education program? Why do we come, week in and week out, giving up our Sunday mornings and Wednesday evenings to come and teach those entrusted to our care? Why is sharing our faith in God so important that we sacrifice so much time and energy to share our faith with these young people, who at times don’t really want to be in the classroom learning about this Jesus Christ? Why is it so important to do so?

It’s because that this Jesus, who died 2000 years ago on the cross, and rose again on Easter Sunday morning has had a profound effect on each one of us. Our relationship with Jesus is so important to us, we feel compelled to share it with others.

Towards the end of the Gospel of St. Mark we read, “Jesus said to them, ‘Go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature.’” Then in the Acts of the Apostles we read, “...you will receive power when the holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, throughout Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” So here we are, on Bronxwood Avenue in the Bronx, far from Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria, carrying out this command of Jesus to be his witnesses!

The Holy Spirit came upon the Apostles and the church on that first Pentecost. Then the world was on fire with the saving power of God. These men, who were afraid to leave the upper room after the crucifixion of Jesus on Good Friday, became bold witnesses of the fact that this crucified Jesus is now alive. Peter, in Acts, says, “God has made him both Lord and Messiah, this Jesus whom you crucified.”

Each week, all of us in the St. Lucy’s religious education program, are called to share this good news with those who come to our classes. We are called to share with our students that Jesus died for each one of us and that he is Lord and Messiah. We are called to plant the seed of faith in Jesus Christ with all those we encounter.

Let us always proclaim the gospel with love and devotion to all we come into contact with here at St. Lucy’s.

Blessed Elia of Saint Clement, Virgin

For further information on Blessed Elia of Saint Clement go to http://ocarm.org/en/content/liturgy/bl-elia-st-clement-ocd-virgin-m

For the psalms and readings from the Office of Readings, go to http://universalis.com/USA.NewYork/readings.htm

Today on the Carmelite calendar is the Optional Memorial of Blessed Elia of Saint Clement. Born in Bari, Italy, on January 17th, 1901 to deeply Christian parents. At her baptism she was given the name Theodora, which means gift of God. It was on April 8th, 1920, then the feast of St. Albert, the author of the Carmelite Rule, she entered the Carmel of St. Joseph in Bari. She received the Carmelite habit on November 14th of the same year, the Feast of St. John of the Cross. On December 8th, 1924, she wrote in her own blood her act of total and definitive offering to the Lord with the vow to embrace the "most perfect." She died on Christmas Day 1927. It was on December 19th, 2005, that Pope Benedict XVI signed the Decree of Beatification. She was proclaimed Blessed in Bari Cathedral on March 8th, 2006.

In the first reading from the Office of Readings for today, St. John tells us, "My dear people, let us love one another since love comes from God and everyone who loves is begotten by God and knows God." (1 John 4:7) Blessed Elia lived out these words of St. John. She loved God and she loved those around her. In her writings, Blessed Elia says, "My life is love: this sweet nectar surrounds me, this merciful love penetrates me, purifies me, renews me and I feel it consuming me. The cry of my heart is: 'Love of my God, my soul searches for You alone. My soul, suffer and be quiet; love and hope..."

Blessed Elia knew and experienced the love of God within her soul. She lived her whole life in service of God and those around her. She goes on to say, "Souls, I will search for way to caste you into the sea of Merciful Love: souls of sinners, but above all souls of priests and religious." She wanted all people to experience the love of God.

Let us follow the example of Blessed Elia of St. Clement in loving God above all things and loving those in our lives. Let us, as St. John tells us, "Let us love one another since love comes from God."

Joaquina Vedruna de Mas

Today, May 22nd, the Carmelite Order commemorates the optional memorial of St. Joaquina Vedruna de Mas. She was born in Barcelona in the year 1783. She married Theodore de Mas in 1799. They had 9 children before she became widowed in 1816. Then in 1826 she was prompted by God's Spirit to found the Congregation of Carmelite Sisters of Charity, which spread throughout Catalonia, establishing houses for the care of the sick and educating of children, especially the poor. She was greatly drawn to contemplating the mystery of the Holy Trinity. Her spiritual life was marked by prayer, mortification, detachment, humility and love. She died in Vich in 1854.

In her writings she spoke of being "on fire with love of God!" She goes on to speak of how we are to "preach love, proclaim love, and yet more love, until we had set the whole world on fire." This love of God and others was central to her life as a follower of Jesus Christ. She was teaching what our Lord taught, when He was asked what was the greatest commandment.

From the gospel of St. Matthew we read, "'Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?'
Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.'" (Matthew 22:36-40 NIV).

St. Joaquina goes on to teach that we are to have no "undue attachments in our hearts for created things: they must burn with love alone, love more fervent; for love never says 'enough,' never rest until it is completely on fire." Here she is teaching us that God must be at the center of all we do. Nothing is more important than the love we are to have for God. If something distracts us from love and service to God, we are to remove it from our lives. 

St. Joaquina concludes with saying, "The more we love God, the more we shall long to love him. And when we have Jesus in our hearts, we shall have everything else in him and with him." She is teaching that in all we do in love, whether at work, in our families, or in our everyday life, we are to have the love of God at the very center of all we do.

Wouldn't this be a better world if all would follow this advise? Let us all set the world on fire for love of God!

The Road to Emmaus

The Scripture Readings for the 3rd Sunday of Easter can be found at http://usccb.org/bible/readings/043017.cfmhttp://usccb.org/bible/readings/043017.cfm.

We may say, "What a privilege for the two disciples on the road to Emmaus to meet Jesus, to listen to him explaining the Scriptures, and to share the Eucharist with Him." Wouldn't our hearts burn within us too? Wouldn't we have to invite this special guest into our homes? The good news is that we share that same experience each time we celebrate the Eucharist.

Although the disciples knew Jesus personally, and although they had the privilege of walking with and listening to him on the way to Emmaus, they did not recognize him until he broke bread with them. The story teaches us that it is in the Eucharist that we truly come to recognize the Lord.

I often wonder why the disciples did not recognize Jesus on the road? Probably because they had preconceived notions about the Messiah that prevented them from understanding that Jesus had to die that we might live. Thus, they were saddened and greatly disappointed.

The disciples had been told about the necessity of these events many times, but they had not believed, they did not understand. Their own ideas blocked their vision.

Jesus' gradual revelation of himself allows them to learn certain lessons about who He is and about trusting God's promises. Remember: Jesus never forces us to believe but rather gently invites us to believe!

While we do not know the specific passages Jesus used, we do know that he opened the Scriptures to the disciples with a view of showing them how the Old Testament pointed to Him as its fullfillment.

We know that Jesus walked with them through the entirety of the revelation that gave witness to who He was and why He had come. He opened the Scriptures to them.

When they first met Jesus on the road to Emmaus, they had little faith. They had heard about the Empty Tomb, yet they had not believed. The supernatural working of God to raise Jesus from the dead was outside of their understanding. They had never fully considered who Jesus was.

We need to be careful not to make the same mistake. These two disciples on the road to Emmaus knew something had happened, but it was beyond their level of faith to see things as they truly were.

Knowing about Jesus and knowing Him are two different things. Many people today know who Jesus is, but their eyes have yet been opened.

We have all traveled the road to Emmaus at some time as we had our hopes dashed. But what a difference the presence of Christ makes in our lives. Our eyes are opened to a new way of looking at realty by he Word of God. We recognize the real presence of Christ each time we come to the Eucharist. Christ is not just present, but transforms us, renews us, recreates us just as he restored hope and joy once again to the disciples on the road to Emmaus.

He appeared first to Mary Magdalene

Saturday within the Octave of Easter

The Scripture Readings for today can be found at http://usccb.org/bible/readings/042217.cfm.

In this Resurrection gospel of Christ first appearing to Mary Magdalene we can learn a lot about ourselves and how we are to approach our encounter with Christ.

Mary was met with disbelieve when she went to the disciples with the news of Christ being alive. After he appeared to Mary, he appeared to two others, who in turn went to the disciples.  They, too, were met with disbelief. It wasn't until the disciples encountered the risen Christ that they came to believe that Christ has indeed risen from the dead.

Then Christ gave them the command to "Go into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel to every creature." (Mark 16:15) We, too, are given the command to proclaim the Gospel to every creature. But do we follow out this command of Jesus? We encounter the Risen Jesus every time we go to Church and receive him in the Eucharist. But then we leave him at the doors of the church to wait for us to return to Eucharist the following Sunday.

We are called to go into the world where we live to share the good news that Christ has indeed risen from the dead and we are called to live a life of love of God and love of neighbor.

All too often, though, when we get home from Church on Sunday, we get into the regular routine of our lives and problems. Instead of making Christ part of our family life, He's left out of it.

Then on Monday morning, when we return to work, do we share the positive experience we had at Church, or do we talk about the baseball or football game that occurred on Sunday afternoon? We are quick to idolize those sports hero that we see in those sports, but yet we ignore the One that should be most important in our lives: Jesus Christ!

Too often we are afraid of being criticized for our faith in Christ. We should be proud to acknowledge that Christ is the center of our lives and how we live. We are called to live a life of love towards God and those around us. This is how we are to proclaim the Gospel to every Creature!

When you next attend Mass and receive Him in Holy Communion, ask Him for the strength to share your faith in Him with others. This way this world will be a little bit better by the loving example of who you are as you share the news that Christ has indeed risen from the dead.

 

Palm Sunday

Palm Sunday

Scripture readings for today's reflection can be found at  http://usccb.org/bible/readings/040917.cfm

Today we start the most important week of the church year: Holy Week. During this week we journey with Jesus as he goes from the joy of being proclaimed “King of the Jews” on Palm Sunday to His suffering and death on His Holy Cross.

As Jesus enters Jerusalem just days before being betrayed, we hear the crowds cry out, "Hosanna to the Son of David;blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord; hosanna in thehighest” and "This is Jesus the prophet, from Nazareth inGalilee."

Then we see, within a few days to a week after this, the betrayal of Judas, the agony in the Garden, and the arrest of Jesus. This all came about due to the jealousy of the scribes and Pharisees, the greed of Judas, and sinfulness of those around Jesus that led him to his death on the Cross.

The gospel of St. Matthew, from the beginning, was told and retold because it contains the very heart of the Christian message: the saving activity of Jesus carried out through his suffering, death, and resurrection.

In this gospel we hear of Jesus sharing a final Passover meal with his disciples wherein he institutes the Eucharist; the Garden of Gethsemane, where Jesus is betrayed and handed over to his enemies; the trial before the Jewish Sanhedrin; the trial before Pilate; crucifixion and death; the guarding of the tomb.

Jesus is rejected by the very people he came to save. He is betrayed and denied by two of his own handpicked apostles. He is killed as an insurrectionist, but he is really a king. His saving power is activated through his death.

Through our reading of the Passion, we can identify with Peter’s denial, with Judas’ betrayal, with the disciples’ flight, with Pilate’s cowardice, with the leaders’ cynicism or with the crowd’s mindless frenzy. We all have a place in the Passion story.

But throughout the reading of this gospel, with all this betrayal towards Christ, we are reminded that Christ loves us. Despite what all these people did to Him, Jesus died for all of them. His love, His truth, His forgiveness. His grace is the foundations on which we can rely. Despite our failures, in Him we can have a new strong life.

As you approach the Eucharist at Mass today, place your cares and love into the hands of Jesus. Thank Jesus for dying for you on that Good Friday 2,000 years ago, and for rising again on Easter Sunday morning.

Lazarus, come out!

Fifth Sunday of Lent

The readings for the Fifth Sunday of Lent can be found at http://usccb.org/bible/readings/040217.cfm,

What do people on their deathbeds wish they had done - or not done? Like Lazarus, we will die. Unlike Lazarus, we probably won't get a second chance at living. Father Nelson Medina, of Bogata, Columbia, once listed the top 20 regrets he heard from people who were dying. None were, "I wish I'd spent more time at my office." Many were what we would call matters of conscience. I know a mother facing death who wished she had played more with her children - and not only when they were small. Father Medina couched this in terms of "I thought I always had to be useful more than joyful."

This 5th Sunday in Lent, so near to the feast of Easter, still leaves us time to consider regrets, and how to reverse them while we have a chance. Then we will be ready to celebrate with joy.

Ezekiel didn't need to be a prophet to know that the Israelites were filled with regrets. It's as though they were already dead: they have no hope. They had wasted their time on nothing. They hadn't kept their promises. They had ignored their Maker.

In our 2nd reading from St. Paul, he reminds us that Baptism can strengthen us to live without regrets - if we remember to count on the Holy Spirit for help.

We learn in today's gospel that Martha, Mary, and Lazarus were very good friends of Jesus. They were special to our Lord. Further, they didn't ignore Jesus, a regret that people whisper as  they are dying. They neglected to pray, they hurt people rather than befriending them, they didn't offer encouragement and uplift, but weighed others down with complaints or even vulgarity and rudeness. The family of Lazarus isn't like that.

Yet they don't "get" Jesus really. His teaching, his miracles, his example of forgiveness and healing: None of this has been enough for even his friends to acknowledge him as the one who unties, the one who raises up, the one who loves to the full capacity of the heart!

And the end is coming. "Did I not tell you that if you believe you will see the glory of God?" (John 11:40). This is Jesus' regret - that he hasn't gotten through to his dear friends and that he, like Lazarus, will be called to face death. His will not be a "natural" death from illness, but from the forces of darkness and sin.

What perturbs Jesus and troubles Jesus is the very thing that can free us from regret, now and at the hour of our death. He can let us go. He can raise us up. If you have sensed any regrets as we heard and saw the witness of Ezekial, Paul, Martha, Mary, Lazarus, and Jesus, now is a good time to hear your friend Jesus call you to "come out." Come away from regret and move towards the celebration of rising. The time is at hand.

Jesus told his friends that their faith in him would lead them to see the glory of God. They saw a glimpse. In the Holy Eucharist, we see the reality. This sacrament raises us to eternal life and gives us strength to live this life without regret, trusting in the power of the one who raised Lazarus from the dead.

Fourth Sunday of Lent

Forth Sunday of Lent

Readings for the Fourth Sunday of Lent can be found at http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/032617.cfm.

In the story of the man born blind, we see a number of people reacting negatively to a miracle of healing. We might wonder why no one sees what Jesus is doing. But our own reactions to the wonders of God's world can be similarly obscured. Our faith calls us to learn to see the wholeness that God sees.

Many people have laser eye surgery to correct vision and reverse conditions such as cataracts and glaucoma. It's become quite commonplace. I even heard of a woman who took her young dog to the vet because he was having trouble seeing. The vet asked her about bringing the dog to an ophthalmologist. She had no idea such a specialty existed, but before long the dog was having a laser procedure to relieve the pain of glaucoma, and his sight returned. The advantages in medical technology continue to improve the quality of life for people and even their pets, but we rarely regard these advances as miracle.

Visual sight is a powerful metaphor for our attitudes towards the world around us and the people who come into our lives every day. Although our medical technology is far advanced from the time of Jesus, our spiritual blindness hasn't always changed.

In our first reading for today we hear of the anointing of David as Israel's first king, Samuel is ready to anoint one of the handsome and powerful sons of Jesse. He never suspects that God's anointed would be the youngest, the least, the shepherd boy from the hills. God tells him he's judging according to human, not divine, standards. Too often we prefer good looks, celebrity, and power to humility, virtue, and care for the common good when we're choosing our leaders. Our media-driven world has made us far too reliant on the superficial and the sensational.

In the Gospel for today, few people recognize the healing that's at the center of the story. Jesus heals because life and healing are his very nature. The man who is healed moves from physical to spiritual sight. But nearly everyone else misses the point.

The disciples are puzzling over the sin that must be at the heart of the man's blindness. The religious leaders see only a threat to their power and status quo. Even the man's parents prefer to disown their son rather than risk trouble with the authorities.

We can get so get so caught up in our own priorities, our anxieties, and our various ideologies that we miss the wonder of the world around us: the loved ones in our lives, the glories of the changing seasons and the natural world, the goodness  and kindness that people show to one another on a daily basis. Blind to these things, we see  only the darkness and the negativity conjured up by our fears.

God sees healing, wholeness, and life. God dwells in the divine light and shares that light with all of us. What  will it take for us to open our eyes to this reality? As we move through the end of the Lenten season into Holy Week and Easter, we might heed the words of St. Paul when he says, "Live as children of the light, for light produces every kind of goodness and righteousness and truth."

We should spend today looking for signs of God's love and mercy in the people we meet, in the natural world, and, yes, even in the daily news. Goodness is there if we open our eyes to it.

As we approach the Eucharist today, we are reminded that our eyes see bread and wine, but our faith knows the Body & Blood of our Lord. May our participation in this miracle open our eyes to God's presence in the world.

Humility

Readings for Tuesday of the Second Week of Lent can be found at http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/031417.cfm,

Jesus was careful to recognize that certain people were appointed to lead and direct others. But at times those leaders were at fault because of their pride, vanity, and bad example. Therefore, Jesus says the people should not imitate them.

We see Jesus pointing out the faults of the scribes and Pharisees. They were quick to put heavy burdens on ordinary people and give them no help (or good example) on fulfilling those burdens. For example, they have made fasting a basis for holiness when the people could never match the Pharisees' twice weekly fasts. Also, some of the Pharisees paraded around, seeking to be noticed, and to receive praise and adulation for how great they were in their religious observances. They placed themselves on a higher level then the ordinary folks they were called to serve.

Jesus was the opposite. Jesus was humble and urging humility in his followers. Too many leaders loved titles and honor, causing them to consider themselves better than anyone else.

In the end, Jesus insisted that the one who is great must be servant just as Jesus was. He was the Son of God, and yet He was a foot washer. The greatest virtue of a leader with authority is humility. We recall Pope Francis' many addresses to his own cardinals and bishops, the pastors of the people, urging them to be true shepherds and avoid acting as though they are anything other than servants and shepherds.

First Sunday of Lent

The Scripture Readings for today can be found at http://usccb.org/bible/readings/030517.cfm.

What does the devil look like? Does he carry a pitchfork and have horns and a long tail? Is he the image that Flip WIlson's Geraldine made famous with her comment: "The devil made me do it"? Or is he a reality with whom we need to deal in our journey with God toward eternal life? Pope Francis seems to believe in the latter.

The devil, as a force for evil , plays a major role in today's first reading and Gospel. In each instance, the devil appeals to human weakness and offers false promises. In Jesus, we have the power, through grace, to withstand the lies and temptations of the devil.

Mankind is created from the earth but enjoys the breath of life. Thus, humans are living beings intended by God for life to the full. We are earthly but filled with the breath of life.

God blesses Adam and Eve with his protective word to not eat of the tree of knowledge. God gave his command not to limit, but to protect, human freedom. God cares for his creatures.

The devil, who cares nothing about the welfare of humans and is the "Father of Lies," says that by eating of the fruit  of the tree of knowledge, humans will gain knowledge, the knowledge of what is good and what is evil; something God jealously wants to reserve for himself.

The consequences were dramatic. They see everything - God, themselves, and nature, in a different light. They now know evil and sin. And to know implies being responsible for what is known.

St. Paul clearly says that death entered the world through the first man's sin, but grace and life through the obedience of Jesus. Man's disobedience led to death and sin. Christ's obedience leads to life and good. Christ, because he is divine as well as human can, and did, make the perfectly obedient response to the Father. Thus, he reversed the disobedience of humankind.

In St. Matthew's gospel we hear of the temptations of the devil towards Jesus. The temptations are worded as conditional causes - IF you are the Son of God. The devil does not believe that Jesus is the son of God. The devil does not have faith, which is required to believe that Jesus is who he says he is.

The first temptation is to turn stones into bread. A good thing to do, but the nourishment that Jesus brings is found in the Word of God, and in obedience to that word.

The second temptation asks Jesus to prove his divinity by throwing himself off the parapet of the Temple and, thus, put his life on the line. Jesus will indeed put his life on the line by obediently laying down his life in the crucifixion. Jesus will die because he is the son of God, not in order to prove it. Jesus remains obedient to his mission. The third temptation has to do with power and prestige, wealth, and domination. Jesus makes it clear that his mission is to be found in humility and service. Israel, as a nation, had failed in these areas; Jesus does not.

Lent is a time for us to follow our call to prove that we are creatures filled with God's breath of life and to live obediently. Because we are baptized, we have the life of the Holy Spirit dwelling in us. Jesus won the victory for us. We need not - and, in reality, cannot - reverse the effects of evil and sin in our lives by our own efforts. But, then again, we don't have to.

Lent is a time to "turn away from sin and be faithful to the Gospel."

Humility

The readings for the Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time can be found at http://usccb.org/bible/readings/012917.cfm

In today's gospel from St. Matthew we have the very familiar Beatitudes. A beatitude, as a literary form, is found frequently in the Old Testament wisdom literature and the Psalms. The Greek word for beatitude is "makarios" and can be translated as "blessed," "happy," or "fortunate" It describes a very positive situation for a person wherein the significant aspects of one's life have come together producing joy and well being. In a religious context this usually indicates a positive relationship with God.

To have a positive relationship with God, we are called by Jesus to have a positive relationship with those around us.

In order to do this, Jesus explains that we need to be humble. Humility is the key to our relationship with God and with others. "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 5:3) Jesus is teaching us that we need to think less of ourselves and more of God and others in our lives. We are to be less "self-centered" and more "God-centered". Jesus goes on to teach us that we are to seek out righteousness, to be clean of heart, and to be merciful. Righteousness is thinking of others as God would think of them: with love and kindness. To be clean of heart is to remove any hatred towards our neighbors and replace it with love and respect. To be merciful is to show mercy towards those in need.

Will this be easy? Certainly not.  "Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of evil against you falsely because of me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven." (Matthew 11-12)

Today's gospel is challenging us to live a life of love towards God and our neighbor. God is challenging us to change our attitudes with the "beatitudes". In today's gospel, Jesus reminds us of the two great commandments: Love of God and Love of neighbor.