“Lord, save me!”

 

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

There's a lot to unpack in today's gospel from St. Matthew. The first thing that touches my heart is at the beginning. After dismissing the crowds and sending the disciples into the boat to precede him to the other side of the sea, the Lord went up the mountain to pray. All throughout the gospels the Lord teaches us the importance of being alone with God in prayer and meditation. We can do that in many different ways. The Lord chose to go up the mountain to be with God and to pray and meditate. For myself, I often pray and meditate alone in the morning just after rising. I take my breviary and bible, and I take time to pray and focus on what God is trying to tell me in the Divine Office and the readings assigned for mass that day. It is during this time alone that helps me get closer to the Lord and to try to be open to what God is trying to teach me for that day. It's important for me to have scripture as part of my daily meditation so that I can allow God to speak to me through the Holy Bible. I encourage this routine for anyone trying to get closer to God. Find a time of day, whether in the morning or the evening, to be quiet with God and to meditate on the Word of God in your life.

The other part of today's Gospel that touches me is the storm that breaks out and there's the Lord walking towards them. They failed to recognize him at first, but he reassures them that it is truly him that is coming towards them on the water. He invites Peter to walk on the waters towards him. At first, Peter is walking on the water towards Jesus. But as soon as he takes his eyes off of the Lord he starts to sink. He then prays, "Lord, save me!" The Lord extends his hand and Peter is saved.

How many times during our lives do we take our spiritual eyes off of Jesus and then to start having problems in our lives (which are pretty much the storms of our lives)? It is during these "storms" in our lives that we need to pray to Jesus, "Lord, save me!" Jesus will always extend his hands towards us and brings us the peace and comfort that we need to deal with whatever issues we are facing. It's always important to keep reaching out to Jesus in good times and bad times so that we can have the peace and comfort that can only come from Him.

"A prophet is not without honor except in his native place and in his own house."

 

Scripture readings for this reflection can be found at Memorial of Saint Alphonsus Liguori, Bishop and Doctor of the Church | USCCB

In our gospel for today we hear of how the people that knew Jesus growing up had a problem with who he was and the wisdom he was exhibiting as the Messiah. They even had problems accepting the miracles that were attributed to him. They were saying, "Where did this man get such wisdom and mighty deeds?” (Matthews 13:14) It reminds me of that old saying, “Familiarity breeds contempt.” They had trouble wrapping their minds around the fact that someone they knew from childhood could be so special. They just considered him as someone ordinary.

These people of His hometown thought they knew who he was. They were thinking that Jesus was just a “nobody” from Nazareth. They thought he was just the carpenter’s son. They thought they knew him and as a result looked down on him. They were thinking that he wasn’t special. But as it turns out they didn’t really know him. And because they did not have faith in him, Jesus could not perform any miracles there.

This shows that faith is essential in our relationship with Jesus. All throughout his ministry while on earth, he would often tell someone that their faith in him was the cause of their healing. For example, the woman with the issue of the blood disease in Mark 5:34 and Luke 8:48, we hear Jesus tell the woman that her faith has healed her and to go in peace.

As with individuals described in scripture who experienced healing through Jesus, we need to approach Him in prayer concerning the various challenges present in our lives.  We need to ask ourselves, “Do I really believe that Jesus can perform this miracle for me?” In Mark 5:28 we hear the woman in need of being cured say to herself: “If I but touch his clothes, I shall be cured.” We need that same faith in Jesus in the issues that we bring before him, whether it’s health issues, problems with family or financial problems. We need to reach out to Jesus in prayer and believe that he will help us in the way we need.

As we pray and bring our problems to the Lord at Mass, let’s bring all our needs to him as we approach him in Holy Communion and believe that he will bring us the healing and peace we long for in our lives.

 

I desire mercy, not sacrifice,

 

Scripture readings for today can be found at Friday of the Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time | USCCB

In our gospel from St. Matthew for today we see another confrontation between the Pharisees and the Lord Jesus Christ. The Pharisees see that the apostles were doing something that went against the laws of the Sabbath. The law in this instance was doing what was considered work on the Sabbath when the apostles, because of their hunger, started picking the heads of grain to satisfy their hunger. To the Pharisees this was a great sin. Instead of looking at the fact that the apostles were hungry and deserved to be fed the Pharisees looked at it from the perspective that they were breaking the sabbath.

But Jesus defends his disciples' actions of plucking grain on the Sabbath, arguing that mercy and human need take precedence over strict Sabbath observance. The Lord further reminded them of the time when David and his men ate the Sacred Bread in the temple which only the priests were allowed to eat. This act of mercy towards those who are hungry is something pleasing to God.

In our own time we are called by Jesus to be merciful towards those in our lives that may not be doing things according to our understanding of God and of His laws. Everything in God’s laws and commandments flow from loving God and loving those around us.

We are to look at everyone with the eyes of mercy. We are to see people that are loved by God.  We are to look beyond what is in the law and look towards the needs of those around us. By being merciful towards everyone and showing them the love that God has for them we are helping them come closer to God and to grow in relationship with the God who loves them. Instead of pointing our fingers towards people and telling them they are breaking God’s commandments, we are to have open arms to welcome them into our Christian community letting them know that God loves them unconditionally.

It is by showing them the love of God that they will be drawn to following the God of love and mercy.

I did not come to call the righteous but sinners

 

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

In our gospel for today we see the usual judgementalism of the Pharisees towards Jesus and those who Jesus was ministering to. Jesus’ mission was to come and help people return to relationship with God.

Tax collectors during the time of Jesus were considered outcasts by the Jewish people because they worked for the Roman government and were extorting money from the Jews in order to turn it over to the Romans, while keeping some of the money for themselves. As a result, they were considered the worsts of sinners for betraying God and the Jewish people in order to make a profit. Further, there were others who just simply turned away from their faith in God and were living lives not compatible with Jewish law.

To the Pharisees these people were beyond redemption and were already condemned by God. Jesus, knowing the hearts of all people, reached out to these tax collectors and sinners and showed them the love that God has for each one of them. All they needed to do was to turn back to God, repent for their sinfulness, and develop that loving relationship with God, who is all loving and forgiving.

Matthew is a prime example of someone turning his life over to God. Through Jesus Christ, he saw his sinfulness, repented, and would go on to proclaim that Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior. We are to be like St. Matthew in helping others to come and know the love and forgiveness of Jesus Christ.

In our day and age, Jesus is still calling people away from their sinful ways to turn back to Him and to seek forgiveness for their sins through his church. All of us are called to be Christ-like towards those who may be living a life not appropriate to the Christian way of life that we know and love. We are called to be welcoming to all people and invite them to share our faith in the loving God, as taught by Jesus Christ. We may see people whose lifestyles we may not approve of, but we need to look beyond their sinfulness and see people loved by God and made in His likeness. We are called to pray for them and make them welcome in our Christian community. As Jesus responds to the Pharisees, when they question about why he was with tax collectors and sinners, he says, "Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do.” (Matthew 9:12) Those who have left the church and relationship with God for any reason are being called by the Lord to return to a relationship with Him and to seek forgiveness.

So let us show the love of God to all people and make all welcomed into our church. Pray for them that they may turn away from sin and embrace a life in relationship with God through Jesus Christ. 

 

While we were still sinners Christ died for us!

 

Scripture readings for this reflection can be found at Solemnity of Most Sacred Heart of Jesus | USCCB

Today we celebrate the feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, which is usually commemorated on the Friday after the Second Sunday after Pentecost.

This beautiful devotion shows us the love that Christ has for all of us. In one of his writings, St. Bonaventure wrote, “…consider how great and worthy is he who hangs on the cross for you. His death brings the dead to life…” and “It was a divine decree that permitted one of the soldiers to open his sacred side with a lance. This was done so that the Church might be formed from the side of Christas he slept the sleep of death on the Cross.” Christ willingly went to the cross to die for our salvation.

In our gospel for today we hear Christ describe the Good Shepherd. Christ is that Good Shepherd looking far and wide for those who are away from God through sin. Once the sinner has returned to the loving embrace of Christ in His Church, our Lord is overjoyed, like the Good Shepherd that is described in the gospel.

As we pray today to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, let us reflect on the words of St. Paul in today’s second reading to the Romans, “The love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.” God’s love for us is infinite, and He wants us to always to turn away from sin and to always turn towards Him out of love and devotion. Further, as we continue our devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, let us pray for those in our family that may be away from the Church and any devotion to the Lord Jesus Christ. It will be through our prayers that our family and friends will come back into relationship with Jesus and find that peace that can only come from being in relationship with the Lord.

Finally, as we pray to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, let us remember what St. Teresa of Calcutta is quoted as saying: “Do not let the past disturb you. Leave everything in the Sacred Heart of Jesus and begin again with joy.” 

 

Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory to Him forever! Warmest greetings to our fathers, godfathers, grandfathers, and spiritual fathers on Father’s Day.

Today we have a recurring guest blogger:  Fr. Arthur F. Rojas, pastor 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 Sunday of the Most Holy Trinity 2025 by Fr. Arthur F. Rojas and with permission to publish on the blog

© All Rights Reserved personally by Rev. Fr. Arthur F. Rojas, June 10, 2025    

At times in our country, the local authorities have been referred to as the “town” or “city fathers” and the Framers of the United States Constitution as the “Founding Fathers” of our nation.  Yet most of our state legislators recently have served a Vampire State instead of our once-Empire State by passing the Medical Aid in Dying Bill over to Hon. Kathy Hochul, our governor, for her signature into law.  How many of our elderly, disabled, poor, lonely, or frail fathers (and mothers) have the majorities at Albany placed on the altars of “individual autonomy,” “choice,” and “death with dignity” as Canada and western Europe have shown that the “right” to die becomes inevitably the “duty” to die?  I am reminded of the end of the science-fiction movie Soylent Green as the protagonist played by Charlton Heston announces the terrible secret on his way arguably to euthanasia, “Soylent Green is people!”

Let us extol anew the prayerful fortitude and talent of St. Athanasius, St. Hilary of Poitiers, and other Catholic heroes in the first several centuries of the Church as they upheld the Nicene Creed and our profession of faith in the mystery of one God in three Divine Persons against powerful forces wanting to feed humanity lies about God instead of His Revelation.  Truly the prelates Ss. Athanasius and Hilary have been called fathers…an Eastern and a Western Father of the Church among others so honored with the title.    So may we committed Catholics and other New Yorkers of good will today attest to the intrinsic worth of human life from the womb to the tomb, in light of the recent travesty at Albany, and treat our elderly and our disabled not as burdens to our comfortable way of life or as mere liabilities to corporate bottom lines but as opportunities to be truly human, truly loving to each other as God expects of us.

Firstly, let us pray for the conversion of Governor Hochul, that she may veto the bill instead of becoming complicit in this sordid affair.  The votes are arguably in both chambers to sustain that move.  Then, call her office at 518/474-8390 to convey your insistence – firmly but respectfully – that she decide with a view to history and the hereafter and not just the elections in 2026.  Next, all Catholics should consider a Catholic-oriented Health Care Proxy to sign and distribute to their relatives and attorneys.  The website of the New York State Catholic Conference (nyscatholic.org) has a booklet offering Catholic guidance, including a draft Health Care Proxy, that is downloadable from the website in English and Spanish.  Moreover, Catholics in the healing arts and sciences should learn and insist on their conscience rights under applicable laws, policies, and union contracts to take no part in procedures arising from this bill or related decisions made by insurance companies.  Finally, Catholic investors and stockholders should sponsor resolutions at annual meetings and elect directors who will not cut costs or raise profits by eliminating people who suffer instead of treating suffering patients. 

You are the light of the world

 

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

In our gospel for today, the Lord uses two metaphors to describe how we, as His followers, are to live out our lives. 

First, Jesus says we are to be the salt of the earth. The reason people use salt is to add flavor to the food they are preparing to eat. Without salt, the food will taste bland or flat. We, as followers, are called to be like "salt" to the world in which we live. We are to bring our love of the Lord to those we meet. In doing so we are making the world a better place. It takes away the blandness and flatness of the world and brings the love of Christ to all we meet. We are to live out our Christian lives so that it's evident that we are followers of Jesus Christ. By bringing the love of Christ to those we touch each day, we are helping those around us to know the love that Christ has for everyone. That's how we are to be the "salt of the earth."

This is tied into us being the "light of the world." When people see us and how we behave, can they see that we are Christians, followers of Christ? Our faith and how we live needs to be shining examples of the love that Christ has for everyone. By seeing us, people should be seeing the love that Christ has for everyone. Much like a light bulb emanates light for all to see, we are to be the light of Christ's love for everyone. 

This reminds me of the hymn from a number of years ago, "They'll know we are Christians by our love." By showing love to everyone, we will be like the salt bringing the "flavor" of Christ love to all we meet. 

As Saint Paul says in our first reading from the 2nd letter to the Corinthians, let us always say "yes" to bringing the love of Christ into this world to bring us greater peace and joy.