…store up treasures in heaven…

 

Scripture readings for this reflection can be found at Friday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time | USCCB

In our gospel for today our Lord is teaching us about the importance of remaining focused on heaven, our ultimate home. Material and earthly accumulations can be a distraction from what is important: happiness in heaven. By remaining faithful to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, we are storing up our treasures in heaven.

All the accumulations here on earth can possibly be lost or destroyed or stolen. Owning of a large amount of wealth and other material things, our focus will be on these belongings rather than focusing on something greater: love of God and love of neighbor. In the long run, gathering material goods and riches doesn’t really bring true happiness. It may bring short term pleasure, but there will always be a possibility of losing these things that we value here on earth. We are not to make objects or valuables more important than our relationship with God. By making our objects or valuables more important than God, we have made them out to be the false gods that goes against the commandments of God. As the Lord says in today’s gospel, “For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be.”

Is your treasure looking at how much wealth you’ve accumulated? Or is your wealth in your relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ? It is our following Jesus Christ that we can truly find happiness in this world and happiness in the life hereafter.

The Lord goes on to tell us that “The lamp of the body is the eye.” If you’re focusing on things of the earth and your belongings, you will never be satisfied. True happiness comes from keeping our spiritual eyes on God and His Will for us. It is through the regular attendance at Mass, by the regular use of confession, and by regular reading of scripture and other spiritual materials that will lead us to focus on heavenly things. It is through this regular reading of scripture that will fill us with that spiritual light that the Lord is talking about in today’s gospel.

As we go through our days, once we move beyond our time at Mass or our spiritual readings, let us remain focused throughout the day that Jesus is always present with us in all our actions. By living out our lives as God-centered Christians, we can bring that light of Christ to all those we encounter as we go through our day. It is then that we will be storing up treasures in heaven.

Receive the Gospel of Christ whose herald you have become. Believe what you read, teach what you believe, and practice what you preach.

 

On Saturday, June 17th, at St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York City, 11 men were ordained to the Sacred Order of Deacon. This beautiful ceremony brought back my own memories of being ordained deacon 13 years ago on June 19th, 2010 by Timothy Cardinal Dolan.

At each ordination, after those being ordained promised obedience to the bishop and are ordained by the Laying of Hands on each of their heads by the bishop, the bishop would hand each deacon the Book of the Gospels and tells each one individually, "Receive the Gospel of Christ whose herald you have become. Believe what you read, teach what you believe, and practice what you preach." These words are very profound and mean a lot to me, even after 13 years. It's a great responsibility. We become heralds of the Gospel of Christ; we are called to believe in the Gospel. we are called to teach others about what is in the Gospel, and, most importantly we are called to practice what we preach. In other words, if we "talk the talk" we got to "walk the walk." We have to be examples of what it means to be followers of Christ. Sometimes that is not always easy, and sometimes we may fail in being that example the Lord expects of us. For myself, it is times like this that I turn back to God with repentance and renew my commitment to "practice what I preach." It is through the Sacrament of Confession that I'm able to turn back to Christ and renew my ordination promises.

Being a deacon is that of service. Like the original deacons found in the Acts of the Apostles, chapter 6, vs 1-7, we are called to be of assistance to the priests and bishops and to serve those people that God has placed into our lives. May God bless these 11 new deacons, and all men who have answered the call to be deacons to be able to live a life worthy our call. And God bless the wives and families that are willing to share their husbands in their service of God. 

Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest.

 

Scripture readings for today can be found at Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus | USCCB

On this feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, I find these words of the Lord most comforting from the gospel of St. Matthew: "Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28). No matter what issues or problems we are dealing with, we can take these problems to Jesus, and he will give us rest. In our usual day-to-day existence, there will be always problems or issues to deal with. There will always be a concern about the bills or a concern about our spouse or children or a relative that may be having some sort of difficulty. Further there are health concerns that we may be facing. What our Lord is telling us is that we can take all these problems to him in prayer, and he will be there to help us resolve our problems and issues in a way that is best for us. Jesus tells us that once we place our problems into his loving hands, "...you will find rest." 

Further, with the love of Jesus coming from his Sacred Heart, St. John in our 2nd reading at mass is reminding us of our duties to love one another. St. John says, "Beloved, let us love one another, because love is of God; everyone who loves is begotten by God and knows God." (1 John 4:7)

During this Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, let us turn to Jesus, pray for his presence in our lives, and ask him to be always present in whatever problems we are facing. 

Most Sacred Hear of Jesus, have mercy upon us.

Blessed be God, and praise his great name, and blessed be all his holy angels!

 

Scripture readings for this reflection can be found at Friday of the Ninth Week in Ordinary Time | USCCB

In our first reading we hear the continuing story of Tobit and the healing of his eyes, thanks to the archangel Raphael. It was through Raphael that Tobit was healed, and that Tobiah found his wife, Sarah.

Earlier in the week, we heard how Tobit, while in his courtyard, was blinded by the dropping onto his eyes from the birds just above him. He was blinded for four years. Even during this affliction and suffering, Tobit remained faithful to God and prayed constantly for healing from Him. No matter how frustrated Tobit got with his blindness, he never lost his faith in God.

We also heard of Sarah, the daughter of Raquel, and her faith in God. She was married several times but became widowed each time. Her pain was truly great, and she turned to the Lord to bring her peace and to send a husband to bring her gladness and joy.

Hearing both the prayers of Tobit and of Sarah, God sent the angel Raphael to bring healing to Tobit and joy and happiness to Sarah. After Tobiah and Sarah were married, they returned to his father Tobit and his mother, Anna. Then using the medicine given to him by the angel, Raphael, Tobiah administered it to Tobit’s eyes, and Tobit was cured.

These examples of faith in God, even in the most difficult of times, can be an example of how we should live out our lives. Due to the human condition and our weaknesses, there will always be trouble or illness. But we are called to be God-centered in all the troubles of our lives. Earlier in the book of Tobit, he prays, “Lord, command me to be delivered from such anguish.” (Tobit 3:6) He was praying for death, but the Lord had other plans for him and was able to bring him the healing of his eyes, and to see the joy of his son, Tobiah, being married to Sarah.

In all our cares and concerns, we can, like Tobit, place our troubles into the loving hands of God, “Lord, command me to be delivered from anguish.” Tobit was giving up hope, but God was merciful and granted him healing. We are called to never give up hope that God is with us, even in the most difficult of times. We are to trust that God will be with us and will always answer our prayers in the way that is best for us.

Tobit gave praise to God by proclaiming to his neighbors how God had mercifully restored sight to his eyes. Let us, like Tobit and his new daughter-in-law, remain faithful to God, even in times of trouble. God will be with us to grant the healing we need, and the peace that can only come from the loving hands of God. Praise be Jesus Christ, now and forever.

Firmly I Believe

My house shall be a house of prayer for all peoples

 

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

In our gospel for today Jesus is teaching us about the value of having faith in God and remaining focused on prayer and union with God. Other distractions, like the one in today’s gospel with the money changers, has no place where we worship God. We are to be prepared to encounter God and what he is teaching us through Holy Scripture. We are to also focus on being fed with the spiritual food of Holy Communion: The Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus Christ. That should always be our reason for coming into God’s House of Worship. We are to leave the outside distractions where they belong: outside.

Upon entering church for the worship of God we are to place ourselves in the presence of God through prayer and silence. We are to forget our plans for the day or upcoming week. We are not to be concerned with things we plan on doing once we leave church. As hard as it may be to do, we are to quiet our minds of all the things going on in our lives. We are to prepare ourselves to encounter the God who knows us and loves us.

Jesus goes on to let us know that God does care about our cares and concerns. The Lord tells us, “Therefore, I tell you, all that you ask for in prayer, believe that you will receive it and it will be yours.” (Mark 11:24) All our cares and concerns are to be placed at the foot of the altar for God to respond to in a way that is best for us. He may not answer in the way we ask, but God will answer in the way that is best for us.

The Lord goes on to teach us about the love and forgiveness we are to have for others. The Lord says, “When you stand and pray, forgive anyone against whom you have a grievance, so that your heavenly Father may in turn forgive you your transgressions.” (Mark 11:25). This is a difficult thing to do, isn’t it? Forgiving those people in our lives that may have hurt us has always been difficult, but holding a grudge, and not letting go of the pain will only lead us to grow in anger towards those we are called to love as God loves. Further it takes us away from worship of God and causes us to be more focused on the anger and frustrations we may have towards other people. So, it’s important to let go of any pain or anger we have towards other people, place it in God’s hands, and let us ask God to help us forgive those in our lives that have hurt us. Then we will have that peace that can only come from the God who loves us intensely.

When in church getting ready to worship God, remember the words of St. Teresa of Avila: “Let nothing disturb you, let nothing frighten you, all things pass away; God never changes. Patience obtains all things. He who has God can want for nothing. God alone suffices.”