IV Sunday in Ordinary Time

 

Submission to the blog of Dcn. Thomas Tortorella for the IV Sunday in Ordinary Time by Rev. Fr. Arthur F. Rojas © All Rights Reserved © January 24, 2023 

Scripture readings can be found at Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time | USCCB

For much of our history, Americans have been raised in a “can-do” culture, as shown in the series of books by Horatio Alger, attitudes such as “rugged individualism,” and sayings such as “pulling yourself up by your bootstraps” and “where there is a will, there is a way.” In contrast, the Beatitudes (Mt 5, also Lk 6) and the other readings of today in the Ordinary Form may challenge our view of the world because many of our ancestors or even a few of us came to America in search of a better life here on Earth if not for ourselves, then for our children. Our goals – while they may be good in themselves – may lead us to focus on mostly material improvements in this life at the expense of preparing for eternity, one that is hopefully with God and not apart from Him. Furthermore, the “pragmatic” philosophy of John Dewey (“whatever works” is only a slight exaggeration) have led us Americans at times to an attitude of “the end justifies the means” about that we choose or why we think the way we do on various subjects. Finally, the legacy of the “progressives” of the early 20th century and their exaltation of governance by technical experts have led many of us to overly place our trust in “experts” whose agenda may be obscured by their seemingly impressive credentials whilst the moral values of ordinary people (and their liberties) may be marginalized. Sometimes, calls to blindly “follow the science” may cause us to compromise or even lose our faith. In the first reading, the prophet Zephaniah advises how to prepare for judgment by the Lord and it appears that the Lord is not pleased with human affairs on Earth. Despite many scientific and technological advances over millennia, it seems that human character has changed not nearly as much since the time of Zephaniah. As Christians who possess the fullness of Christianity, committed Catholics should behave concretely in virtuous ways as outlined by the first reading. What do our neighbors see in us who hold ourselves as Catholics? The Responsorial Psalm points to the “poor in spirit” in Psalm 146, a term that shall be magnified by Our Lord in the Beatitudes in Matthew 5, the source of our Gospel reading today, and Luke 6. To be “poor in spirit” is to live in gratitude to God, the Source of blessing to each and all of us, and to be masters of our goods – both tangible and intangible – by our demonstrated readiness to be charitable with them. Writing his first letter to the Christians at Corinth, St. Paul demonstrates the mercy and the power of God from His calling people to holiness whom we may be tempted to regard as “losers”: the weak, the despised, and the poor and marginalized. The second reading reminds us that God calls us Catholics not because He needs us but because we need His call to holiness so that we might be transformed and thus glorify God by our cooperation with His power in our lives and through those fruits in our lives, to bring others to Him in this life with an eye to eternity. Our Lord concludes with the seeming contradictions of the Beatitudes in today’s Gospel. His listing sounds different from so many self-help books and concepts that sell us different ways to “success.” It is very hard – at least to me – to reconcile the “prosperity gospel” preaching of Joel Osteen, Creflo Dollar, Rev. Ike, and others with the Beatitudes of Mt 5 and especially Lk 6. When we realize that the Ten Commandments were given to holy Moses and to non-Christians in the Old Testament, it may surprise us that to Our Lord, the Ten Commandments are “gimmes” or already expected of us Christians and that He likely would measure us according to the benchmarks of the New Testament, namely the Beatitudes! It is not that we Catholic Americans may not have nice things or may not aspire to professional, social, and economic advancement in this life. However, the Beatitudes convey Christ’s blessing only upon those who meet the entry requirements for the Kingdom of Heaven, which is the only state of happiness that will last beyond the end of time and that of all nations, including our own. Only those who place supreme priority in growing in right relationship to God (and then with our neighbor) and those who further try to help others to do so will enjoy the supreme and eternal reward of union with God in Heaven

You need endurance to do the will of God

 

Scripture readings for today's reflection can be found at Friday of the Third Week of Ordinary Time | USCCB

In our readings for today we are called to have patience and trust in God that our faith in Him will grow. There will be times, as described in Hebrews, that we will struggle in our faith. Hebrews describes those with faith as in a contest of suffering or being exposed to abuse and afflictions due to their faith in the Lord. Hebrews goes on to describe that we with faith, though we are suffering at times, we will have a “better and lasting possession.”

That better and lasting possession is being in relationship with the Lord. In the Psalm response for today, we hear, “Trust in the Lord and do good that you may dwell in the land and be fed in security. Take delight in the Lord, and he will grant you your heart’s request.” Trusting in the Lord, even when things in our lives seem difficult or hard, is what the Lord is hoping that each one will do. We need to place our trust in God, and he will be there to comfort us even in times of difficulty.

Then in our gospel for today we hear the Lord describe our faith like that of a seed, which at first is small and insignificant. With time and nurturing, our faith grows, and we become stronger in our faith in the Lord. It is then we can find peace and security in the Lord.

Today we commemorate St. Angela Merici, a saint from the 15^th century saint. She is an example of how faith can grow, even during difficult times. At the age of 10, Angela and her sister became orphaned and went to live with their uncle.

Then, after the death of her sister, Angela was inspired by the Holy Spirit to dedicate herself to the Lord and to give her life in service to the Church to help everyone grow closer to the Lord.  She became increasingly more devout and joined the Third Order of St. Francis where she also pledged to remain a consecrated virgin, forsaking marriage to one man to be married to the Lord and His Church. Though suffering greatly in her life, she was able to find peace and consolation in serving the Lord.

As we journey through our lives, let us use St. Angela Merici as an example of how to live out our faith. Even during her life and her suffering and losses, she was able to find that peace that can only come from the Lord by loving him above all things and by serving other people in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. We can do this service very easily by serving those among our family and friends. We are to love and serve them as we are to love and serve Christ. And we are to do it with patience, kindness, and love. Angela Merici, pray for us.

Repent, for the Kingdom of God is at hand.

 

Today we have a recurring guest blogger:  Fr. Arthur F. Rojas, administrator of PRESENTATION OF THE B.V.M CHURCH, PORT EWEN AND SACRED HEART CHURCH, ESOPUS. For more information on this parish, check out their website at Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary & Sacred Heart Churches - Port Ewen - Esopus, NY (presentationsacredheart.org) 

Submission to the blog of Dcn. Thomas Tortorella for Word of God Sunday

by Rev. Fr. Arthur F. Rojas © All Rights Reserved © Jan. 19, 2023

Scripture readings for today can be found at Third Sunday in Ordinary Time | USCCB

“Repent, for the Kingdom of God is at hand.” Mt 4:17 (from the Gospel in the Ordinary Form today)

Today, January 22nd, marks the anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the ruling by the United States Supreme Court that invented and imposed for 49 years the “right” to abortion-on-demand across America. To me, it seems Divine Providence and not mere coincidence that on the Feast of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus last year, the U.S. Supreme Court overruled that holding via Dobbs v. Jackson, which effectively returned the issue of abortion to the states, which was the situation before January 22, 1973. Indeed, in November 2020, our parish was honored to serve as the host parish to the Forty Hours Devotion by the Ulster Deanery Respect Life Committee (www.ulsterdeaneryrespectlife.org) in prayerful support of the challenge by the State of Mississippi in the Dobbs case to Roe v. Wade. Although the Dobbs holding was cheered by faithful Catholics and tens of millions of Americans who understand that human life is sacred from the moment of conception until natural death, as “one nation under God” per the Pledge of Allegiance, we Americans owe repentance and reparation to God if we are serious about the conversion of hearts, starting with our own, and the healing of our divided people and culture.

Far from being a means of emancipation and social advancement for women and men in our country, the toll of more than 60,000,000 aborted children also claims millions more broken hearts and wounded psyches of their mothers – many of whom were coerced into getting abortions – as well as many of their fathers, whose suffering still is little acknowledged by our society, and even living siblings who discover that they had a close relative who was extinguished before birth. For all the recourse of the “pro-choice” side to awful instances of rape and incest, proof abounds that abortion-on-demand has done nothing to stem the grave evils of domestic and sexual abuse. Instead, abortion-on-demand merely responds to violence with more violence and even more victims. Abortion-on-demand has become America’s largest self-inflicted wound arguably since the practice of slavery.

As with the struggle against slavery, our determination to end the intrinsic evil of abortion will require a variety of tactics and strategies for the abortion issue is not merely a matter of politics but one of right and wrong, which includes public policy but involves so much more than civil and criminal laws. Thus, we are called to seek changes of hearts, minds, and habits as well as laws and policies. If we really believe that God is the Supreme Being (First Commandment) and that our land is “one nation under God” (Pledge of Allegiance), considering also the appeal to God as author of inalienable rights in the Declaration of Independence and the wish to “secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity” as stated in the preamble of our constitution, then let’s take a first step tomorrow, January 23rd, with extra prayer and some kind of fasting/abstinence, maybe an additional work of charity as part of the National Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children, as requested by the Catholic bishops of the United States. I hope and pray that your first step tomorrow will be followed by more steps of prayer, good works, and witness towards achieving the legal and social respect of the life of the preborn child as well as our fellow Americans and human beings who are frail and disabled. If we want the Lord to heal our nation, then firstly let us seek His forgiveness and reconciliation. Kyrie, eleison!

N.B. This article is adapted from an item by Fr. Rojas for today’s bulletin at St. Joan of Arc Church, Spring Hill, Fla.

Jesus went up the mountain and summoned those whom he wanted…

 

The scripture readings for today's reflection can be found at Friday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time | USCCB

In our gospel for today we hear of Jesus calling the Apostles in order for them to go and preach about the kingdom of God and to drive out demons. These were 12 ordinary men with no great education. Just common men that the Lord wanted to use to bring the Good News of God’s love and salvation into the world. Certainly, these men were not perfect. Even one of them, Judas, betrayed the Lord. But Jesus saw in each one of them something special to bring His love and forgiveness into the world.

Our Catholic faith can be traced back to these Apostles, which is why we proclaim each week at Mass that we believe in one Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church. We can trace our faith from Peter and the apostles all the way through the centuries to the Pope and bishops in our Church today. It is through their preaching of the Good News of God that the Church has survived more than 20 centuries.

We, too, like the Apostles, are called to be followers of Jesus and to bring the message of the Lord to those in our lives. We may not always get it right, and there may be times when, like Judas, we may turn away from the Lord. But we must remember that the Lord is always there waiting for us to turn back to him for forgiveness just in case we fall short of what God is calling us to do in Jesus’ name.

Peter denied Jesus three times, but, after the Resurrection, the Lord forgave Peter. Judas could have had the same forgiveness from Jesus that Peter received if he had the faith and courage to realize that God is all forgiving. Instead, he turned away from God in despair.

Let us always remember that God is present for us and wants us to be his instruments of salvation to those in our lives. If we fall short, let us just turn back to Jesus and ask for forgiveness by saying to Jesus, “Lord, you know that I love you.” Then Jesus will say to us, like he said to Peter, “Feed my sheep.”

Each time we approach the Lord in Holy Communion, let us, like the psalmist in today’s psalm say, “Show us, O Lord, your mercy, and grant us your salvation.”

EPIPHANY; MULTIPLE MANIFESTATIONS

 

We have a guest blogger today. Arlene B. Muller (Arlene Clare Muller, OFS) is a lector and EM at St. Pancras Church in Glendale, NY, a singer in the choir at St. Margaret's Church in Middle Village, NY, a professed Secular Franciscan & newly elected Formation Director at St. Adalbert's Secular Franciscan fraternity in Elmhurst, NY & an itinerant speech/language therapist who works with preschool children with delayed language development. In addition to her ministries & work she seeks to promote the GOSPEL & the GOSPEL OF LIFE, especially in writing & frequently on FACEBOOK.

Scripture readings for today's reflection can be found at The Epiphany of the Lord | USCCB

This morning as I thought about today's Scripture readings for the Feast of the Epiphany, I realized that not only was there a manifestation of the coming of JESUS CHRIST, King & Messiah to the Magi, but St. Paul the Apostle, formerly Saul of Tarsus the former Pharisee, also experienced a manifestation. 

The religious Jewish people at that time, of which he was one, referred to Gentiles as "unbelieving dogs" and wanted nothing to do with them because of the threat of assimilation with them which had led to the many sins that had caused their exile.
So not only was the conversion of Saul of Tarsus from arresting Christians to following & proclaiming CHRIST as the LORD & MESSIAH amazing, but also that he became Apostle to the Gentiles and the man who realized that the Gentiles--the very people he probably called "unbelieving dogs"--are CO-HEIRS with the Jews!

So all 3 Scripture readings deal with our GOD being a GOD for ALL people, even when Israel is at the geographical center. And not only do we celebrate Our LORD being made manifest to the Gentiles through the Magi, but we celebrate the truth of the Gentiles being made co-heirs with the Jews being made manifest to St. Paul, so that through the preaching of St. Paul and the spread if the GOSPEL & establishment of the Church to the Gentiles almost 2000 years ago, Our LORD is made manifest to us--mostly Gentiles--throughout the centuries to us in our present day. 

And we pray, as St. Paul did, that one day there will be a large number of Jewish people who will come to know & believe in JESUS CHRIST as LORD, SAVIOR & MESSIAH.

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

 

Scripture readings for today's reflection can be found at Christmas Weekday | USCCB

Today in our gospel we hear of John the Baptist pointing towards Jesus and saying, “One mightier than I is coming after me. I am not worthy to stoop and loosen the thongs on his sandals.” John, in all humility, was pointing towards Jesus so that others may come to finds salvation and forgiveness of their sins. John knew that it wasn’t all about him, but rather about the salvation that will come from Jesus Christ.

John is an example of how we are to live our lives. We need to realize that we are not to be self-centered or selfish, caring only for ourselves, but rather God centered. We are all called to not only follow Jesus Christ in our lives with all humility, realizing that it is through him that we receive the forgiveness of our sins, but also to point out Jesus to those in our lives that are in need to know that Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior.

It takes courage to be a follower of Jesus and to share this fact with others in a world that seems to ignore his commands of love of God and love of neighbor. We are in a society that has become so self-centered and consumer oriented that we fail to see the importance of living a life in obedience to God’s commandments of love and forgiveness.

In our first reading for today, from the first letter of John, we are reminded, “Who indeed is the victor over the world but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?” John is telling us that we gain victory by believing in Jesus Christ.                                                                                                                                   

As we start out this new year, let us remember that each day we receive is a gift from God and we are to be grateful to God for this gift of life. Over the last few years, due to COVID, we came to know how fragile life is. Let us place our whole life in the loving hands of Jesus Christ and attempt to bring others to faith in him. It is through Jesus Christ that were baptized with the power of the Holy Spirit and have that peace that comes from God alone.

As we approach the altar during Holy Communion, let us recall the words of God the Father who said of Jesus, “You are my beloved Son, with you and I am well pleased.” Then, as we receive our Lord in Holy Communion, we can say, “My Lord and my God.”