Does God Want Me To Suffer?

Sunday Mass Readings are at the bottom.

Bad Weather

This week's readings talk about suffering and obedience. Speaking of which, it has been quite cold today(Wednesday) here in New England. Last year, I was in the American Southwest in the Spring where this Sunday it will be 80 degrees and sunny (wow). The 34 degrees here is quite a contrast. The point is, this cold weather causes me and my fellow New Englanders some pain. Not only that, but people around here seem to be losing jobs and suffering seems to be upon us. But what does all of this suffering mean and what is the point of it anyway? This week's readings are going to explain it for us whether you live in the Southwest, in New England, or in Europe.

The Purpose of Suffering

The second reading says that Jesus "learned obedience from what he suffered." Okay, so Jesus learned from HIS suffering. What about me? What can I possibly learn from being stuck in traffic for 2 hours? WHat is there to learn from having my heart broken? What can I possibly learn from losing my job?!!

The truth is that the suffering itself is not enlightening. It is how we REACT to suffering that determines whether suffering teaches us, helps us, or destroys us. For example, Matthew 26:39 makes it very clear that Jesus expressed "the horror that death represented for his human nature" when he said "My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me."1 In other words, Jesus knew that suffering was coming, but he didn't run away from it. He accepted it. His obedience was part of what made him "perfect" as the 2nd reading says. And, so I am quite sure that even if Jesus had to deal with 2 hour traffic jams and lousy weather (he slept during a life-threatening storm and was constantly barraged with crowds of people) he would have endured it all.

Jesus' Lifestyle

What if Jesus was obsessed with his OWN pleasure just as we often are? We would be in deep trouble. In truth, we would not have been born if Jesus was obsessed with his own pleasure. If he was, he would have never created us.2

This Sunday's Gospel says,"whoever serves me, must follow me". In the context of Sunday's readings, "following" Jesus means to do as he does. It means to "hates our life in this world." In contrast, to "love our lives in this world" means to do as popular culture teaches. Popular culture teaches us to get as much pleasure as possible and to avoid as much pain as possible. Jesus, on the other hand says that we should serve one another. To focus on personal pleasure as the highest value in life would truly be a life wasted- a life "lost".

Meant To Imitate Jesus

Romans 8:29 says that "For those he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son" We are meant to be "conformed" to the image of Christ. One definition of conform is "to make similar in form, nature, or character." And so, we are meant to be made similar to Jesus. How does Jesus react to terrible upcoming suffering that is far worse than bad weather or losing one's job? Let us recall that Jesus was innocent. Are ANY of us innocent? Do ANY of us know what it is like to be completely INNOCENT and yet be sentenced to death? Jesus knows. In the face of this terrible upcoming, undeserved suffering he says in this week's Gospel "I am troubled now. Yet what should I say? 'Father, save me from this hour'? But it was for this purpose that I came to this hour." In other words, Jesus does not run from suffering because he was born to serve and to save us. He knew that to save us and to serve did not mean to seek personal pleasure. He knew that to serve meant to sacrifice of himself.

So the next time I am faced with suffering, maybe I should remember that I am "predestined to be conformed to the image" of Jesus. Maybe I should consider that the purpose of my life is NOT to enjoy as much pleasure as possible. Maybe I should keep my eyes on my role model Jesus and seek to be like him. It's likely that if I seek to be and to act more like Jesus, I will notice the weather and all the pleasures of this world less and less.

We are meant to be like Jesus. And what an honorable name and an honorable life to imitate.

God loves us.

1- Catechism of the Catholic Church paragraph 612

2- Incidently, this reminds me of abortion. Most abortions are performed because the pregnant couple had just planned on having sex and not having a baby. The baby is inconvenient to the parents. The parents care about their own pleasure more than the innocent life they have already created. On the other hand, God gives us life even though we might not love him in return.

Reading II

Heb 5:7-9

In the days when Christ Jesus was in the flesh,
he offered prayers and supplications with loud cries and tears
to the one who was able to save him from death,
and he was heard because of his reverence.
Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered;
and when he was made perfect,
he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him.


Gospel
Jn 12:20-33

Some Greeks who had come to worship at the Passover Feast
came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee,
and asked him, "Sir, we would like to see Jesus."
Philip went and told Andrew;
then Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus.
Jesus answered them,
"The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.
Amen, amen, I say to you,
unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies,
it remains just a grain of wheat;
but if it dies, it produces much fruit.
Whoever loves his life loses it,
and whoever hates his life in this world
will preserve it for eternal life.
Whoever serves me must follow me,
and where I am, there also will my servant be.
The Father will honor whoever serves me.

"I am troubled now. Yet what should I say?
'Father, save me from this hour'?
But it was for this purpose that I came to this hour.
Father, glorify your name."
Then a voice came from heaven,
"I have glorified it and will glorify it again."
The crowd there heard it and said it was thunder;
but others said, "An angel has spoken to him."
Jesus answered and said,
"This voice did not come for my sake but for yours.
Now is the time of judgment on this world;
now the ruler of this world will be driven out.
And when I am lifted up from the earth,
I will draw everyone to myself."
He said this indicating the kind of death he would die.


Reading 1
Jer 31:31-34

The days are coming, says the LORD,
when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel
and the house of Judah.
It will not be like the covenant I made with their fathers
the day I took them by the hand
to lead them forth from the land of Egypt;
for they broke my covenant,
and I had to show myself their master, says the LORD.
But this is the covenant that I will make
with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD.
I will place my law within them and write it upon their hearts;
I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
No longer will they have need to teach their friends and relatives
how to know the LORD.
All, from least to greatest, shall know me, says the LORD,
for I will forgive their evildoing and remember their sin no more.


Responsorial Psalm
Ps 51:3-4, 12-13, 14-15

R. (12a) Create a clean heart in me, O God.
Have mercy on me, O God, in your goodness;
in the greatness of your compassion wipe out my offense.
Thoroughly wash me from my guilt
and of my sin cleanse me.
R. Create a clean heart in me, O God.
A clean heart create for me, O God,
and a steadfast spirit renew within me.
Cast me not out from your presence,
and your Holy Spirit take not from me.
R. Create a clean heart in me, O God.
Give me back the joy of your salvation,
and a willing spirit sustain in me.
I will teach transgressors your ways,
and sinners shall return to you.
R. Create a clean heart in me, O God.

How to Be the Greatest

Are you important? Are you great? Do you want people to think you are great? What does it mean to be great? This week's commentary will explore this. The readings are after the commentary.

Love Compared to Recognition

Last night, I read Matthew 20:20-28. This passage is the story of the lady who asks Jesus to let her sons sit at the right and left of Jesus. Jesus responds "you do not know what you are asking..." He then tells the disciples,"whoever wishes to be great among you shall be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave. Just so, the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve..."

The mother, along with her sons, wanted recognition. Even the other disciples wanted recognition, for they were offended at the 2 who sought to sit at the Lord's side. The disciples and the mother thought that greatness meant to be recognized. But Jesus said that to be great is to serve, not to be recognized. Being great means to give the most. Perhaps that means to love people who are hard to love. Maybe that means to give everything we have to someone who cannot repay us and will not thank us. To be great means to be a servant.

Serving Someone You Don't Like

Think of a person you don't like. Perhaps this person annoys the heck out of you or is just difficult. Yes, THAT person. What does this person do to annoy you or cause you difficulty? What is his/her name? Are you willing to serve this person? Are you willing to be perfectly loving towards this person with no promise of recognition or even gratitude? As Christians, we are called to do this.

The soldiers and most other people who Jesus was giving up his life for, did not even like Jesus. They made fun of him. They even hit him and spit on him. They tempted him. They hurt him. Even Jesus' friends abandoned him. Was Jesus still willing to love them and SERVE them? He WAS willing. Jesus was not RECOGNIZED for who he was (King and Lord of all). He was looked upon like a piece of trash. Jesus' people felt he was so inferior that he didn't even deserve to live. Yet he was still willing to love these same people with no promise of human recognition or even gratitude. That is service, and a picture of greatness.

A True Follower of Jesus

That is what Jesus meant when he said, "you do not know what you are asking" in Matthew 20. To be great means to give EVERYTHING to God. Are we willing to do this? I have to examine my life and ask myself, "do I live to serve myself? Or do I live a life of sacrifice for love of God and a life in service for anyone and everyone?"

* At work- do I work to serve myself or to serve God and others?
* With people- do I do things in order to serve myself, or do I GIVE and SACRIFICE myself for the benefit of others?
* My relationship with God- do I obey God because I want him to reward me, or do I obey him as a gift of of love to him?


Do I do things in order to be recognized or repaid, or do I simply SERVE and love?

God's Wisdom Versus Our Wisdom

Let's look at the contrast between Jesus' sincere gift of himself and the disciples' desire for recognition. With this in mind, we can better understand Paul's words in the second reading, "Christ crucified is foolishness to people [gentiles]. But to those who are called, Jew and Greeks alike, Christ [crucified is] the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength." We human beings desire recognition and it looks foolish to pass up recognition and to focus instead on loving someone who cannot return the favor. But God's love is brilliant, pure, and perfectly REAL. What looks like weakness (Jesus does not fight back against physical abuse or insults) is really just love in its highest and truest form. God's wisdom is perfect and our common way of thinking is foolish in comparison.


The Call of the Commandments

The responsorial Psalm for this week (Psalm 19) says that "The law of the Lord is perfect......giving wisdom to the simple". This helps us to understand the first reading which lists the 10 commandments. We've heard the commandments since we were kids. Telling the truth (commandment 8) is a perfect way to speak and if we always tell the truth, we will be "wise" even if we are "simple". Paying for music instead of illegally downloading it for free may seem "foolish" yet it can be a loving act towards the musicians who worked to create it (commandment 7). If we take a look at the commandments, we will see that they are a detailed description of what it means to love PERFECTLY-that is, to serve and to be great.



Jesus does not impose the commandments upon us. He GIVES the commandments to us. He SHARES the commandments with us. If we want to know God's motivation for giving us the commandments, we need only picture Jesus carrying the cross. Despite ridicule, pain, and being abandoned, he carries his cross. He loves us and he wants to give us EVERYTHING. That's why he gave us the commandments. He wants us to live as he lives.He wants us to be happy and loving towards God and toward one another. We are given the commandments because God is perfectly wise and he wants to help us live lives of joy and peace. The commandments help us to do this. The person who obeys the commandments is happy and holy.

Real Life

I had a friend who loved me perhaps more than any other person has ever loved me. One day, my friend told me that maybe I should think about moving to a far away place in accordance with God's will ("he" was talking about a specific place). I knew that my friend enjoyed my company and I certainly enjoyed his. Yet, my friend believed that it was God's will for me to go to this far away place perhaps never to return. Eventually, I decided to go. In response, my friend told me that he thought it was the right decision.

I later realized that my friend loved me with a very special love. He loved me with the love of God. He was willing to give up whatever pleasure and benefits he got from having me around (forever) in order to let me do God's will. My friend loved both me and God perhaps more than anyone else I have met. This love reminds of God's love. God's love is self-sacrificing and self-giving. It is beautiful. It is real.

God loves us!

for more commentary on the commandments paste this into your browser

http://massexcitement.blogspot.com/2008/05/are-you-missionary-for-god-or-devil.html

Reading 1
Ex 20:1-17 or 20:1-3, 7-8, 12-17

In those days, God delivered all these commandments:
"I, the LORD, am your God,
who brought you out of the land of Egypt, that place of slavery.
You shall not have other gods besides me.
You shall not carve idols for yourselves
in the shape of anything in the sky above
or on the earth below or in the waters beneath the earth;
you shall not bow down before them or worship them.
For I, the LORD, your God, am a jealous God,
inflicting punishment for their fathers' wickedness
on the children of those who hate me,
down to the third and fourth generation;
but bestowing mercy down to the thousandth generation
on the children of those who love me and keep my commandments.

"You shall not take the name of the LORD, your God, in vain.
For the LORD will not leave unpunished
the one who takes his name in vain.

"Remember to keep holy the sabbath day.
Six days you may labor and do all your work,
but the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD, your God.
No work may be done then either by you, or your son or daughter,
or your male or female slave, or your beast,
or by the alien who lives with you.
In six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth,
the sea and all that is in them;
but on the seventh day he rested.
That is why the LORD has blessed the sabbath day and made it holy.

"Honor your father and your mother,
that you may have a long life in the land
which the LORD, your God, is giving you.
You shall not kill.
You shall not commit adultery.
You shall not steal.
You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

You shall not covet your neighbor's house.
You shall not covet your neighbor's wife,
nor his male or female slave, nor his ox or ass,
nor anything else that belongs to him."

Responsorial Psalm
Ps 19:8, 9, 10, 11

R. (John 6:68c) Lord, you have the words of everlasting life.
The law of the LORD is perfect,
refreshing the soul;
The decree of the LORD is trustworthy,
giving wisdom to the simple.
R. Lord, you have the words of everlasting life.
The precepts of the LORD are right,
rejoicing the heart;
the command of the LORD is clear,
enlightening the eye.
R. Lord, you have the words of everlasting life.
The fear of the LORD is pure,
enduring forever;
the ordinances of the LORD are true,
all of them just.
R. Lord, you have the words of everlasting life.
They are more precious than gold,
than a heap of purest gold;
sweeter also than syrup
or honey from the comb.
R. Lord, you have the words of everlasting life.


Reading II
1 Cor 1:22-25

Brothers and sisters:
Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom,
but we proclaim Christ crucified,
a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles,
but to those who are called, Jews and Greeks alike,
Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.
For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom,
and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.


Gospel
Jn 2:13-25

Since the Passover of the Jews was near,
Jesus went up to Jerusalem.
He found in the temple area those who sold oxen, sheep, and doves,
as well as the money changers seated there.
He made a whip out of cords
and drove them all out of the temple area, with the sheep and oxen,
and spilled the coins of the money changers
and overturned their tables,
and to those who sold doves he said,
"Take these out of here,
and stop making my Father's house a marketplace."
His disciples recalled the words of Scripture,
Zeal for your house will consume me.
At this the Jews answered and said to him,
"What sign can you show us for doing this?"
Jesus answered and said to them,
"Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up."
The Jews said,
"This temple has been under construction for forty-six years,
and you will raise it up in three days?"
But he was speaking about the temple of his body.
Therefore, when he was raised from the dead,
his disciples remembered that he had said this,
and they came to believe the Scripture
and the word Jesus had spoken.

While he was in Jerusalem for the feast of Passover,
many began to believe in his name
when they saw the signs he was doing.
But Jesus would not trust himself to them because he knew them all,
and did not need anyone to testify about human nature.
He himself understood it well.

Don't Tempt Me!- Temptation- Why and How to Fight It

Temptation is more powerful than a locomotive. Sometimes we fall victim to temptation. This week's readings speak of the purpose of temptation and the means to fight it. The readings are after the commentary.

The Desert of Temptation

This week's readings speak of the desert. Mark's account of Jesus' time in the desert is not highly detailed. Mark speaks of wild beasts and of angels ministering to Jesus. Isn't it interesting that it was not the devil who brought Jesus out to the desert, but rather the Spirit? In other words, it was God's will that Jesus be sent to the desert to be tempted. I once heard someone say that each time we are tempted, it is an opportunity to tell God that we love him. When temptation comes, we say to the temptation, I love God more than I love you (the temptation). Although we should do our best to avoid temptation, it will come. When it does, God will use it to strengthen us in our relationshiop with him- if we remain obedient and faithful.

Jesus was tempted by the Father of lies, the master of deceit- Satan. Satan was cunning enough to deceive 2 people who didn't even suffer from original sin- Adam and Eve. Matthew Chapter 4 says that the devil waited until after 40 days to tempt Jesus- when Jesus was most hungry. We have something to learn from this, that when we are in great need, the devil seizes the opportunity to tempt us. When we feel the need for love, companionship, belonging, he comes in when our needs are greatest. In our times of great need, we must be aware of temptation and pray to God for help.

The Battleground of Life

In a sense, the story of the 40-days in the desert is the story of our lives. It is similar to the story of the Israelites' 40 years in the desert. Our lives are a spiritual BATTLEFIELD. On one hand, we have the God of the universe on our side. On the other hand, we have the dark tempter who knows exactly how to best tempt us. Yet, we can see here in this week's Gospel that Jesus has angels ministering to him. Do we have angels ministering to us? We do indeed. Matthew 18:10 says "See that you do not despise one of these little ones, 9 for I say to you that their angels in heaven always look upon the face of my heavenly Father. Paragraph 336 of the Catechism says that we are "in the blessed company of angels". No matter how powerful the temptations we face, God gives us free will, but there are angels at our side fighting against evil.

Our lives are a constant fight between good and evil. But God offers us protection. In Isaih 43:4 God says he offers us protection, "Because you are precious in my eyes and glorious, and because I love you." Let's recall that the bible is the speech of God. His love and his desire to protect us is a real as it gets and we can hear out of his mouth.

Protecting Yourself

The Responsorial Psalm and Psalm readings this week show us how to protect ourselves from temptation. "Your ways, O LORD, make known to me; teach me your paths, Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my savior." David the Psalmist loves God. Here, David asks God to show David his ways. David wants to know God and he wants God to teach him. In this day and age, we are people with many years of education. People around the world are more literate now than they have ever been. Yet it seems as though we are more confused now than ever. In this week's Psalm, David shows us an example of who we should seek advice from.

In the practical sense, we are called to read the Bible. We are called to read the Catechism. Not only has God given us his angels to minister to us, his very speech is written down and he has given us a way to get to know him. Many of us spend more time reading the Mcdonald's menu than we do the Bible. Many of us read the newspaper far more than we read God's word. We are in the desert. We are in a war. Not only are our lives at stake, but our eternal souls are on the line. Will newspapers and magazines prepare us better, or the bible?

Temptation will come. Either the devil will use it to send us to misery, addiction, and hell, or we will use temptation as an opportunity to say yes to God, and say "I love God more" over and over.

Real Life

Not long ago, I was trying to figure out if God wanted me to a be a priest. Each night, I would ask God "do you want me to be a priest?" Night after night, week after week, I did not get an answer. I was frustrated with God because he wouldn't give me an answer. I was tempted to grow angry with God. I asked him "why won't you tell me? What is the point of me not knowing your will? How do you benefit from this lack of clarity?" In the end, God gave me the answer to all of my questions. He let me know whether or not he wanted me to be a priest. He even let me know why he didn't tell me at first. The reason why he didn't tell me at first was because he used this period of uncertainty to draw me to himself in prayer. Because I didn't have an answer to my question, I kept coming to God each night begging him for an answer. Despite temptation to grow angry with God, I was drawn nearer to him. He did indeed have a purpose in NOT answering my question. In all things, even uncertainty, God loves us.

Reading 1
Gn 9:8-15

God said to Noah and to his sons with him:
"See, I am now establishing my covenant with you
and your descendants after you
and with every living creature that was with you:
all the birds, and the various tame and wild animals
that were with you and came out of the ark.
I will establish my covenant with you,
that never again shall all bodily creatures be destroyed
by the waters of a flood;
there shall not be another flood to devastate the earth."
God added:
"This is the sign that I am giving for all ages to come,
of the covenant between me and you
and every living creature with you:
I set my bow in the clouds to serve as a sign
of the covenant between me and the earth.
When I bring clouds over the earth,
and the bow appears in the clouds,
I will recall the covenant I have made
between me and you and all living beings,
so that the waters shall never again become a flood
to destroy all mortal beings."


Responsorial Psalm
Ps 25:4-5, 6-7, 8-9

R. (cf. 10) Your ways, O Lord, are love and truth to those who keep your covenant.
Your ways, O LORD, make known to me;
teach me your paths,
Guide me in your truth and teach me,
for you are God my savior.
R.Your ways, O Lord, are love and truth to those who keep your covenant.
Remember that your compassion, O LORD,
and your love are from of old.
In your kindness remember me,
because of your goodness, O LORD.
R. Your ways, O Lord, are love and truth to those who keep your covenant.
Good and upright is the LORD,
thus he shows sinners the way.
He guides the humble to justice,
and he teaches the humble his way.
R. Your ways, O Lord, are love and truth to those who keep your covenant.


Reading II
1 Pt 3:18-22

Beloved:
Christ suffered for sins once,
the righteous for the sake of the unrighteous,
that he might lead you to God.
Put to death in the flesh,
he was brought to life in the Spirit.
In it he also went to preach to the spirits in prison,
who had once been disobedient
while God patiently waited in the days of Noah
during the building of the ark,
in which a few persons, eight in all,
were saved through water.
This prefigured baptism, which saves you now.
It is not a removal of dirt from the body
but an appeal to God for a clear conscience,
through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,
who has gone into heaven
and is at the right hand of God,
with angels, authorities, and powers subject to him.


Gospel
Mk 1:12-15

The Spirit drove Jesus out into the desert,
and he remained in the desert for forty days,
tempted by Satan.
He was among wild beasts,
and the angels ministered to him.

After John had been arrested,
Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the gospel of God:
"This is the time of fulfillment.
The kingdom of God is at hand.
Repent, and believe in the gospel."

You Have Been Commanded to Preach!- How to Evangelize- For Mass on Feb. 8th

Have you ever been in a position to evangelize someone? Do you feel comfortable preaching the Gospel? This week, we will discuss how to evangelize and our mission as Catholic Christians. There is commentary following the 2nd Reading.

Reading II
1 Cor 9:16-19, 22-23

Brothers and sisters:
If I preach the gospel, this is no reason for me to boast,
for an obligation has been imposed on me,
and woe to me if I do not preach it!
If I do so willingly, I have a recompense,
but if unwillingly, then I have been entrusted with a stewardship.
What then is my recompense?
That, when I preach,
I offer the gospel free of charge
so as not to make full use of my right in the gospel.

Although I am free in regard to all,
I have made myself a slave to all
so as to win over as many as possible.
To the weak I became weak, to win over the weak.
I have become all things to all, to save at least some.
All this I do for the sake of the gospel,
so that I too may have a share in it.

Obligated to Preach

This week's readings (particularly the 2nd Reading and Gospel) remind us of our mission to preach the Gospel. This week's commentary shall focus on evangelizing or "preaching the gospel". Paul speaks of his "obligation" to preach the gospel in this week's second reading.
Now why does Paul feel "obligated" to preach the Gospel? Is it because he was knocked off of a horse and saw a vision of Jesus? Paul knew the mission of the Church as Jesus expressed it to his disciples in Matthew 28:19-20; "go therefore and make disciples of all nations". So Paul knows Jesus words and his command that every Christian (including you and me) is OBLIGATED to make disciples of all nations. 1st Timothy 2:4 says that God "wills everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth." The truth is required in order to be saved. Truth is something that we must bring to others.


Now why does God want us to make disciples of all nations? Is it because we Catholics belong to a really cool social club and getting more members will make us feel less lonely? Of course not! THe Catechism paragraph 850 tells us that "The ultimate purpose of mission is none other than to make men share in the communion between the Father and the Son in their Spirit of love." In other words, the reason why we should be preaching the gospel is to SHARE!


Any person who has come close to God experiences an incomparable love that is second to nothing/no one! Are we to enjoy that love and keep it to ourselves while others suffer miserably and perhaps even fall into the pit of hell? Of course not! This is the reason why we must preach the gospel. We are meant to share the love with which God has loved us.


Why We Don't Preach the Gospel


A very common reason why we are not preaching the gospel today is that we are afraid. We are afraid that we might upset someone. In fear, I might think "maybe that person won't like me anymore if I make them feel bad or guilty." Well, which is more important, that a soul enter heaven, or for someone to like me? How terribly proud I am that I think being likable is more important than someone's salvation and God's command to share his love with others! Nothing is more important than doing the will of God, not even winning more friends.


In addition to pride and fear, we don't preach the Gospel enough because we sin too much. For instance, how can I possibly share the chastity and purity of Christ with someone when I am in a sexual relationship with my girfriend? How can I speak of God's trustworthiness when I tell lies everday (we incorrectly call them "white" lies)? It is IMPOSSIBLE to preach the gospel effectively while living in mortal sin. It's like trying to give a serious speech while in your underwear. It doesn't work! Let's remember that sin distorts our view of reality, of each other, and of God. Therefore, we cannot preach the Gospel without following God's commandments.


How to Preach the Gospel


Many people fear "preaching the Gospel" because they are not eloquent speakers or they lack scriptural and Catechetical knowledge. It's true that we need to learn more about our faith by reading scripture and Catechism. But we needn't speak at all in order to preach the Gospel. Is it possible to end a relationship with someone without speaking? Of course it is. I could end my relationship with my best friend without a word by stealing from him! I could end my marriage without a word by cheating on my wife. Just the same, I can love and bring people closer to God without a single word. This chart show the effects of loving actions versus sinful actions.



As you can see in this chart, we must obey the commandment of God, which is to love God and each other. Loving God and one another involves ACTION. If we obey God and live as he wishes, we will experience his love, and come to know him. Only then can we share him with others through our actions which will inevitably lead to the salvation of souls. We can also see here that it is impossible to preach the gospel while intentionally committing serious sin.


Practical Tips on Preaching With Words


* stop talking- listening carefully and completely is a way to love people. The desire to speak often stems from pride (I want to prove/explain MYSELF). Saintly people are ALWAYS good listeners because they don't have the desire to be heard, they only have the desire to love
* read the Bible daily and read the Catechism as much as possible
* remember who you are talking to- some people are starving and ready for God. They ask lots of questions. You should answer as many as possible. Other people are very opposed to God, so listening and loving might be the best form of preaching at these times
* pray for at least 30 minutes a day- prayer brings peace and detachment from the world. Often times, we sin because we are attached to things or pleasures. In prayer, we experience the love of God and we experience detachment from the world. We are better preachers when we better pray-ers.
*slow down or stop if you get angry- remember that "the ultimate purpose of mission is none other than to make men share in the communion between the Father and the Son in their Spirit of LOVE." It's hard to LOVE when you are angry- so it might be best to take a timeout if you are angry.


In conclusion, we must remember that it is our duty and our command from God to evangelize.


* We musn't let fear of rejection stop us from sharing the Gospel of truth.
* The less we sin, the better evangelizers we will become. We cannot preach effectively while committing serious sins
* We must become better listeners
* We should pray for at least 30 minutes and read the bible every day. We should read the Catechism regularly


God loves us!




Reading 1
Jb 7:1-4, 6-7

Job spoke, saying:
Is not man's life on earth a drudgery?
Are not his days those of hirelings?
He is a slave who longs for the shade,
a hireling who waits for his wages.
So I have been assigned months of misery,
and troubled nights have been allotted to me.
If in bed I say, "When shall I arise?"
then the night drags on;
I am filled with restlessness until the dawn.
My days are swifter than a weaver's shuttle;
they come to an end without hope.
Remember that my life is like the wind;
I shall not see happiness again.


Responsorial Psalm
Ps 147:1-2, 3-4, 5-6

R. (cf. 3a) Praise the Lord, who heals the brokenhearted.
or:
Alleluia.
Praise the LORD, for he is good;
sing praise to our God, for he is gracious;
it is fitting to praise him.
The LORD rebuilds Jerusalem;
the dispersed of Israel he gathers.
R. Praise the Lord, who heals the brokenhearted.
or:
Alleluia.
He heals the brokenhearted
and binds up their wounds.
He tells the number of the stars;
he calls each by name.
R. Praise the Lord, who heals the brokenhearted.
or:
Alleluia.
Great is our Lord and mighty in power;
to his wisdom there is no limit.
The LORD sustains the lowly;
the wicked he casts to the ground.
R. Praise the Lord, who heals the brokenhearted.
or:
Alleluia.


Gospel
Mk 1:29-39

On leaving the synagogue
Jesus entered the house of Simon and Andrew with James and John.
Simon's mother-in-law lay sick with a fever.
They immediately told him about her.
He approached, grasped her hand, and helped her up.
Then the fever left her and she waited on them.

When it was evening, after sunset,
they brought to him all who were ill or possessed by demons.
The whole town was gathered at the door.
He cured many who were sick with various diseases,
and he drove out many demons,
not permitting them to speak because they knew him.

Rising very early before dawn, he left
and went off to a deserted place, where he prayed.
Simon and those who were with him pursued him
and on finding him said, "Everyone is looking for you."
He told them, "Let us go on to the nearby villages
that I may preach there also.
For this purpose have I come."
So he went into their synagogues,
preaching and driving out demons throughout the whole of Galilee.

I Am Sorry For What I Have Done- Conscience, Guilt, and Conversion. For Mass on 1-25-09

What is the worst thing you've ever done? Are you sorry? Why do we feel sorry anyways? Should we listen to our consciences? This week's readings offer the answers. The 2nd Reading, Psalms, and Gospel are after the commentary.

Reading 1
Acts 22:3-16

Paul addressed the people in these words:
"I am a Jew, born in Tarsus in Cilicia,
but brought up in this city.
At the feet of Gamaliel I was educated strictly in our ancestral law
and was zealous for God, just as all of you are today.
I persecuted this Way to death,
binding both men and women and delivering them to prison.
Even the high priest and the whole council of elders
can testify on my behalf.
For from them I even received letters to the brothers
and set out for Damascus to bring back to Jerusalem
in chains for punishment those there as well.

"On that journey as I drew near to Damascus,
about noon a great light from the sky suddenly shone around me.
I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me,
'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?'
I replied, 'Who are you, sir?'
And he said to me,
'I am Jesus the Nazorean whom you are persecuting.'
My companions saw the light
but did not hear the voice of the one who spoke to me.
I asked, 'What shall I do, sir?'
The Lord answered me, 'Get up and go into Damascus,
and there you will be told about everything
appointed for you to do.'
Since I could see nothing because of the brightness of that light,
I was led by hand by my companions and entered Damascus.

"A certain Ananias, a devout observer of the law,
and highly spoken of by all the Jews who lived there,
came to me and stood there and said,
'Saul, my brother, regain your sight.'
And at that very moment I regained my sight and saw him.
Then he said,
'The God of our ancestors designated you to now his will,
to see the Righteous One, and to hear the sound of his voice;
for you will be his witness before all
to what you have seen and heard.
Now, why delay?
Get up and have yourself baptized and your sins washed away,
calling upon his name.'"

Conversion


Paul's conversion is a clear picture of conversion for all people. Although most of us have not been knocked off our feet by a bright light, many of us have experienced conversion. Part of conversion is being convinced that we have sinned. It can be painful. Yet in conversion, God convinces us that our consciences were right all along. In conversion, God shows us the ugly reality of our own sinfulness, and this an act of God to show us the truth. This "sting of conscience" is an act of love by God with the intention of drawing us back to him.

I suspect these thoughts ran through Paul's head after he saw the light and heard Jesus speak:

* This Jesus is Lord, he can appear as light and he has the power to blind me. He is all-powerful
* Jesus made an effort to speak to me, he must care about me to speak to me in such a personal way
* I persecuted this Jesus. I killed his people. Why did he not destroy me? Is it because he loves me?

An encounter with God always seems to be accompanied with a GIGANTIC feeling of love. Knowing this, I imagine how Paul felt.

How did Paul feel when he heard the loving voice of Jesus and stood in the holy presence of God? It must have been very hard to be in Jesus' loving presence and hear him ask the conscience-stinging question "why are you persecuting me?" Notice that Jesus says, "me" here. If Paul felt the love and greatness of God in this moment, and I believe he did, it must have hurt deeply when Paul realized that he was hurting God with his actions. Paul thought that he was HELPING God by killing Christians. By asking "why are you persecuting ME?", Jesus was telling Paul that when Paul persecuted Jesus' Church and his people, Paul was persecuting Jesus himself.
After Paul saw this light, he was blind for 3 days. I think that God made Paul blind to remind Paul that Paul had to rely on God for EVERYTHING- including eyesight. This blindness was a strong message to Paul that God was almighty and Paul needed to rely on God alone. Paul was lead by hand to Damascus. He had days to think about God and his experience. Paul neither ate nor drank during this period, which indicates that he was probably engrossed in his supernatural experience of Jesus such that he thought of nothing else.

Persecuting Jesus

We can see here that Jesus wanted Paul to know that a persecution of Jesus' people was a persecution of Jesus himself. As Catholics, we believe that "sin is an offense against God." "Sin sets itself against God's love for us and turns our hearts away from God's love. Sin is thus love of oneself even to contempt of God."1 The Catechism says that "when we deny him (Jesus) by our deeds, we in some way seem to lay violent hands on him.2 Paul heard this truth from the mouth of Jesus himself. Jesus speaks these words to us as well. As we sin, we hurt Jesus. When we lie to one another, Jesus wants to know "why are you persecuting me?" When we commit sexual sin, Jesus asks, "why are you persecuting me?" When we hoard our money and resources in greed, Jesus asks "why are you persecuting me?"

The Catechism says that "conversion is first of all a work of the grace of God who makes our hearts return to him."3 Conversion is a gift from God! Conversion is God nudging us towards him! To feel guilt for our sins is a present from God! It is a gift similar to the pain we feel when we touch a hot frying pan. If it didn't hurt, we might leave our hands on the frying pan forever until our hands melted! God doesn't want our sin to "melt" us, and that's why it is a grace when our consciences feel sorry for sin.

So why did Paul stop killing Christians? He realized it was wrong! He felt the same sting of conscience that we all feel when we do wrong (sin). Paul had been persecuting Christians for a while and he stopped cold turkey because he realized that he was persecuting God. So Paul experienced deep sorrow (repentance). "Interior repentance is a radical reorientation of our whole life, a return, a conversion to God with all our heart, an end of sin, a turning away from evil, with repugnance toward the evil actions we have committed. At the same time it entails the desire and resolution to change one's life, with hope in God's mercy and trust in the help of his grace."4 This definition of deep interior sorrow from the Catechism describes Paul's conversion very accurately. Paul certainly had the "desire and resolution to change his life". Even better, Paul didn't wait long to change.

No Time For Delay

Acts 9:20 says that Paul "began at once to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues." Perhaps this was in response to Ananias' words from the 1st reading: "Now why delay?" In the 2nd Reading this week, Paul says, "I tell you brothers and sisters, time is running out."

The Devil wants us to delay our conversion. In C.S. Lewis' book the Screwtape Letters, a senior demon teaches his nephew that it's hard to disrupt Christianity by discrediting Jesus, or trying to convince Christians that the devil is more powerful than Jesus. The 2 demons decided that the most effective way to disrupt Christianity was to make Christians think that "Jesus is okay, but there's time aplenty to follow him later on. There is absolutely no rush." The devil's deceitful message when we are on the verge of conversion is that we can don't have to change today, but rather tomorrow.

Paul did not fall for this trap, he made a decision immediately to "change his life, with with hope in God's mercy and trust in the help of his grace." Let's remember this the next time we commit a sin and feel God-given sorrow about it. Instead of waiting for tomorrow to quit our sin, we must stop our sin now.

In summary, let's remember that conscience and sorrow for sin is a gift from God and a call to him. Each time we feel sorrow for sin, we must realize that this an invitation to come to God and to change our lives immediately, relying on help from God always.

Real Life

I've told this story before, but it is so closely tied to this week's readings, so here it is for those of you have not heard it before.

In November of 2006, I went on a mission trip (my first ever) to minister to the poor people of Juarez, Mexico. I was living your average American life and thought to myself, "why not do some mission work?" because I had time off of work. Here is the most powerful incident that happened to me during my visit- I wrote about it the same day it all happened:

"So, we pulled up to the first house and it was a rotten, wood shack. The street outside was dirty and falling apart. The house was about 10 square feet at most and the neighborhood was the worst-looking one I have ever seen. Anyhow, I was not scared, but I was a little bit intimidated as I and Jim (another volunteer, age 60) walked up to the creeky, wooden gate which was falling apart. You had to slither your way through the gate because it would not open the whole way up and it was covered with rusty nails and was completely dangerous.
Jim and I squeezed in and were greeted by a very HAPPY, pleasant old lady. Her face was beaming with enthusiasm and joy as she saw us approaching. I had a huge bag over my shoulder full of vegetables and food.

She greeted us both in Spanish and I quietly smiled. "Passe" she said as she smiled again. I guess that means "come in" because I heard a lot of people say it to me today. She is one of the smallest ladies I have ever seen. She is very skinny, has white hair, dirty clothes, and a distorted face. One of her eyes looks like it has glaucoma. I was afraid of hugging her too hard because she looked about as frail as a dried up cracker.

The house was actually too small FOR HER! I had to duck to get in and once I got in this dark house, I had to duck in order to enter the "bedroom". THe house consisted of the "kitchen" as soon as you walk in and a bedroom. I can't remember what teh floor looked like, but it wasn't pretty. Once we ducked in, we were also greeted by another younger woman probably in her 30's. She looked much healthier than the older woman. She greeted us with a smile.
I could see in the tiny bedroom that there was a girl lying in bed. SHe was probably about 11 years old and she was taking a nap. She woke up and joined us, but she was not smiling. She looked sad.

Before I knew it, we all ducked into the tiny, dark, dirty bedroom and joined hands. Jim started to say a prayer in Spanish. All the while, the 2 women were praying along with him and I stood right across from the little girl.

The situation looked absolutely desperate to me. I dont know why the young girl was at the house, but it had occurred to me that she couldn't afford to go to middle school. Millions of thoughts and feelings began to run through my mind and my body:

* God will save these peoplr
* this house is in terrible shape
* how do these people continue to live?
* who will save these people?
* how long will the old woman live?
* praise God, we are trying
* I am partly responsible for these people's poverty, because I have given VERY LITTLE to the poor since I turned 18.


As our hands were joined, we were united for a moment. We all were asking for the same things. We all wanted good health, enough food, happiness, and mercy for us all and I knew that God heard every word that we uttered and every thought running through our minds. I looked down at my shoes and I could see my own tear drops on them. At this point, the tears were streaming down my face. I felt so bad for teh little girl and the old woman. I was the only one crying I guess because it was my first time in one of their homes. I was afraid taht I would make the little girl even sadder if she saw me crying, but there was no stopping it at this point."

Okay, fast-forward to present day April 2008. I look back at this memory and can see quite clearly what happened to me on that day. God spoke to me while I was in Rumalda's house. He said, "Hey, I love you. I love these poor people. I am love. Can you see that? Do you see the light that I am?" Yes, I saw the light that was God. 2 things were revealed to me:

* God is love. That is who he is.
* In the light, I glanced at myself and could see my own sinfulness. I could see the pettiness of my life. My life suddenly looked ridiculous. My desire for a flat-panel television looked ridiculous! But God did not show himself to me in a mean way. Truly, it was loving because he wants me to know the truth about him, my life, and the reality of this world.


God loves us!


1- Catechism of the Catholic Church 1850
2- CCC 598
3- CCC 1432
4- CCC 1431

Responsorial Psalm
Ps 117:1bc, 2

R. (Mark 16:15) Go out to all the world and tell the Good News.
or:
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Praise the Lord, all you nations;
glorify him, all you peoples!
R. Go out to all the world, and tell the Good News.
or:
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
For steadfast is his kindness toward us,
and the fidelity of the Lord endures forever.
R. Go out to all the world, and tell the Good News.
or:
R. Alleluia, alleluia.


Reading II
1 Cor 7:29-31

I tell you, brothers and sisters, the time is running out.
From now on, let those having wives act as not having them,
those weeping as not weeping,
those rejoicing as not rejoicing,
those buying as not owning,
those using the world as not using it fully.
For the world in its present form is passing away.


Gospel
Mk 16:15-18

Jesus appeared to the Eleven and said to them:
"Go into the whole world
and proclaim the Gospel to every creature.
Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved;
whoever does not believe will be condemned.
These signs will accompany those who believe:
in my name they will drive out demons,
they will speak new languages.
They will pick up serpents with their hands,
and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not harm them.
They will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover."

"Are You In Darkness?"- For 1-11-09 God's Salvation and Generosity

Do you ever feel lonely? Do you ever feel like you are in a dark place and you are trapped? This week's readings talk about this subject and the only person who can rescue us.


Reading 1
Is 42:1-4, 6-7

Thus says the LORD:
Here is my servant whom I uphold,
my chosen one with whom I am pleased,
upon whom I have put my spirit;
he shall bring forth justice to the nations,
not crying out, not shouting,
not making his voice heard in the street.
a bruised reed he shall not break,
and a smoldering wick he shall not quench,
until he establishes justice on the earth;
the coastlands will wait for his teaching.

I, the LORD, have called you for the victory of justice,
I have grasped you by the hand;
I formed you, and set you
as a covenant of the people,
a light for the nations,
to open the eyes of the blind,
to bring out prisoners from confinement,
and from the dungeon, those who live in darkness.


What is this blindness about? What exactly is meant by "confinement", "the dungeon" and "Darkness"? In my last blog entry, I mentioned that in a dream, God told Joseph that Marys' son would "save his people from their sins".1 And, so this is one of the main reasons why Jesus came to Earth. This state of sin that we are in without repentance is the "darkness" that God is talking about in this reading. Below is the an interpretation:


Blindness and darkness- Sin makes it either difficult or impossible to see God. The story of the blind man and the Pharisees in John Chapter 9 mentions how the Pharisees are unable to recognize Jesus because of their sin. In contrast, the blind man, who acknowledged his blindness was able to see Jesus. Pride and other sins cause blindness to the truth. Truth is a person- Jesus Christ. Blindness to this truth is the worst kind of blindness.

Darkness

Prisoners, confinement, and the dungeon- Sin is a rejection of God's love. For instance, God always tells us the truth. This truth brings love to us and to our lives. And, so when we reject God by sinning, we outcast ourselves from God. Life (and death as well) are absolutely and completely lonely without God. We feel "confined" without him who loves us. The Catechism reminds us that sin "reproduce(s) itself and reinforce(s) itself. Sin cloud(s) conscience and corrupt(s) the concrete judgment of good and evil." One sin leads to another and they create even more sin.5 For example, one lie leads to another and another and before we know it, we are trapped. We become "prisoners" to sin and we find ourselves in a "dungeon" created by sin. The good news is that Jesus offers to rescue us from this poor condition.


Reading II
Acts 10:34-38

Peter proceeded to speak to those gathered
in the house of Cornelius, saying:
"In truth, I see that God shows no partiality.
Rather, in every nation whoever fears him and acts uprightly
is acceptable to him.
You know the word that he sent to the Israelites
as he proclaimed peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all,
what has happened all over Judea,
beginning in Galilee after the baptism
that John preached,
how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth
with the Holy Spirit and power.
He went about doing good
and healing all those oppressed by the devil,
for God was with him."

Key points to take from here are that:

* God shows no partiality- We have all sinned and God does not pick favorites, he offers forgiveness and salvation to EVERYONE- even me and you.
* Acting "uprightly"- forgiveness and salvation require that we acknowledge our sins to God and that we ask for his help.
* "healing all those oppressed by the devil"- again the theme from the first reading continues, that God knows that we are oppressed (unjustly ruled over) by the devil and he comes to rescue us.


Gospel
Mk 1:7-11

This is what John the Baptist proclaimed:
"One mightier than I is coming after me.
I am not worthy to stoop and loosen the thongs of his sandals.
I have baptized you with water;
he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."

It happened in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee
and was baptized in the Jordan by John.
On coming up out of the water he saw the heavens being torn open
and the Spirit, like a dove, descending upon him.
And a voice came from the heavens,
"You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased."


Why The Father Was Pleased With Jesus

When I first read that God said to Jesus "you are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased", I thought "Oh big deal, of course the Father is pleased. Jesus is God and so the Father is pleased with him." But wait a second. Jesus was a real human. He had a human will.2 That means that Jesus could say "yes" or "no" to anything the Father asked of him. Jesus' baptism was the beginning of his ministry. The purpose and completion of his ministry was to die for us. Jesus knew that his purpose was to die. "The baptism of Jesus is on his part the acceptance and inauguration of his mission as God's suffering Servant."3 In other words, by accepting baptism, Jesus was accepting a horrible death. Instead of "doing his own thing", Jesus submitted to the desire of the Father, and began his difficult mission. Jesus said "yes" to this even though he didn't have to. And so God the Father's reaction was "You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased."

Our Opportunity to Please God

In sin, we raise ourselves higher than God (in our hearts) at the expense of God and of ourselves. The opposite of this is Jesus. He does not exalt himself higher than the Father. He humbly submits. By his loving and perfect obedience, we are saved.4 It is an incredible grace that we have Jesus not only as our savior but as our role model. We can imitate him today and tomorrow with every decision that we make. When faced with temptation, we can either sin (raise ourselves higher than God)or we can submit to our Lord by doing the right thing. Then we can hear him say "with you I am well pleased".


In summary, let us remember that sin can put us in a dark, lonely place. Because God loves us, he comes to our rescue and is available each and every moment of every day. God picks no favorites (even though we feel like his favorite when we experience his love). He is our role model and we can and should imitate him all the days of our lives.God loves us!


Real Life


A couple of years ago, I started to think seriously about becoming a priest. So I applied to a religious order. I was very excited about becoming a priest. The application process was extremely thorough. I had to undergo a psychological evaluation, thorough background check, and IQ test, and had to write a long paper about my life, amongst other things. I was excited at the prospect of helping others and God as a priest. Then came the day that the committee, which consisted of several priests, was to decide on my application. The night before the decision, I prayed that God's will would be done by the committee. The next day, I received the very surprising news that my application was to be deferred, which means, rejected until next year. The vocations director was very surprised at the decision.


Since I had already sold my house and packed my bags to enter the seminary, I decided that it might be good for me to do mission work while I discerned God's will further. I spent the next year as a missionary. During this time, I got to see God's beautiful face many, many times. (click on one of the videos to the left here to see) He injected me with an intense love and desire for him. Even today, I am happier than I have ever been even though God has led me to a city where I have no family or history.


I will never forget that I tried to "do my own thing". God, it seems, had a different plan for me. I was put on a path I did not foresee and he gives me a joy I never imagined possible.


1-Matthew 1:21

2- Catechism of the Catholic Church 475

3- CCC 536

4- Phillipians 2:6-9 and CCC 1850

5- CCC 1865

The Holiest Family- for Mass December 28, 2008

If you ask the average person what is most important in their life, many would answer "family". So what sort of family member does God want us to be? What does the Bible teach us about living happily with our families? This week's Gospel reminds us that Jesus lived with normal parents who were just as human as us. God wants to teach us what a real family is. There is commentary following the first reading and the Gospel. There is a real life story at the end.

Reading 1
Sir 3:2-6, 12-14

God sets a father in honor over his children;
a mother’s authority he confirms over her sons.
Whoever honors his father atones for sins,
and preserves himself from them.
When he prays, he is heard;
he stores up riches who reveres his mother.
Whoever honors his father is gladdened by children,
and, when he prays, is heard.
Whoever reveres his father will live a long life;
he who obeys his father brings comfort to his mother.

My son, take care of your father when he is old;
grieve him not as long as he lives.
Even if his mind fail, be considerate of him;
revile him not all the days of his life;
kindness to a father will not be forgotten,
firmly planted against the debt of your sins
—a house raised in justice to you.

The message here is quite simple- that we should honor our parents. But why should we honor them? First of all we are commanded by God to do so. If we honor our parents, the act itself is a way to imitate God. After all, Jesus loves the Father. We can see in the garden of Gethsemane where Jesus' humanity feared death yet his love for God the Father took precedence.3 Jesus was scared of Death, but the Father's will was/is more important than any concern Jesus had. We can also see that God the Father loves Jesus at Jesus' baptism when GOd's voice could be heard saying "this is my BELOVED son". In other words, God the Father said, "I love Jesus." Our love of our parents is a reflection of the Father's love for Jesus and Jesus' love for the Father. We imitate God and his love when we honor our parents. This brings us joy.

This love of our divine father is the basis of God's command to love our parents. Why should we love them anyway? No matter how many bad things our parents may have done to us, we owe our lives to them. Didn't mom and dad sacrifice financially to support us? Didn't they suffer through long nights of crying and changing our diapers? What can we possibly do to repay our parents for giving us life in all of its beauty and challenges? We can start by loving them. In doing so, we please God and get a little glimpse of God's enormous love.

Reading II
Col 3:12-21 or 3:12-17

Brothers and sisters:
Put on, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved,
heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience,
bearing with one another and forgiving one another,
if one has a grievance against another;
as the Lord has forgiven you, so must you also do.
And over all these put on love,
that is, the bond of perfection.
And let the peace of Christ control your hearts,
the peace into which you were also called in one body.
And be thankful.
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly,
as in all wisdom you teach and admonish one another,
singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs
with gratitude in your hearts to God.
And whatever you do, in word or in deed,
do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus,
giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Wives, be subordinate to your husbands,
as is proper in the Lord.
Husbands, love your wives,
and avoid any bitterness toward them.
Children, obey your parents in everything,
for this is pleasing to the Lord.
Fathers, do not provoke your children,
so they may not become discouraged.

No commentary.

Gospel
Lk 2:22-40 or 2:22, 39-40

When the days were completed for their purification
according to the law of Moses,
They took him up to Jerusalem
to present him to the Lord,
just as it is written in the law of the Lord,
Every male that opens the womb shall be consecrated to the Lord,
and to offer the sacrifice of
a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons,
in accordance with the dictate in the law of the Lord.

Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon.
This man was righteous and devout,
awaiting the consolation of Israel,
and the Holy Spirit was upon him.
It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit
that he should not see death
before he had seen the Christ of the Lord.
He came in the Spirit into the temple;
and when the parents brought in the child Jesus
to perform the custom of the law in regard to him,
He took him into his arms and blessed God, saying:
“Now, Master, you may let your servant go
in peace, according to your word,
for my eyes have seen your salvation,
which you prepared in sight of all the peoples,
a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and glory for your people Israel.”
The child’s father and mother were amazed at what was said about him;
and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother,
“Behold, this child is destined
for the fall and rise of many in Israel,
and to be a sign that will be contradicted
—and you yourself a sword will pierce—
so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”
There was also a prophetess, Anna,
the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher.
She was advanced in years,
having lived seven years with her husband after her marriage,
and then as a widow until she was eighty-four.
She never left the temple,
but worshiped night and day with fasting and prayer.
And coming forward at that very time,
she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child
to all who were awaiting the redemption of Jerusalem.

When they had fulfilled all the prescriptions
of the law of the Lord,
they returned to Galilee,
to their own town of Nazareth.
The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom;
and the favor of God was upon him.

Joseph and Mary- Real People, Real Parents

Let's remember what happened before this visit to the temple. Mary had seen an angel and conceived the child who the angel called "great", "Son of the Most High" and that the child would "rule". Joseph had a similar message sent from God to him. In the dream, the angel said that Jesus would "save his people from their sins". As a Jew, Joseph knew that only God could forgive sins. He must have wondered "who is this child in Mary's womb who will save people from sins?" He may have understood better when the Magi arrived from Luke Chapter 2. Joseph and Mary put Jesus in a manger. When the Magi arrived, they prostrated themselves before the baby Jesus. Let's imagine for a moment what it must have been like for Mary and Joseph. There already saw great signs occurring before the birth of Jesus. Then Joseph and Mary watched as grown men laid face down in a display of tremendous respect for an infant boy in a feeding box. Oh holy night indeed!

The gospel reading reminds us that Mary and Joseph were required by the law to dedicate their child to God. They already knew Jesus was special and they had been told that Jesus was God.2 Now, Mary and Joseph could have thought to themselves "this is God's only Son. We don't need to go to the temple". They could have considered themselves "above the law". Instead, they acted in obedience and took Jesus to the temple because as it was written in this week's Gospel, it was "the law of the Lord".

This Gospel reading and the story of Jesus' conception and birth tells us much about the Holy Family. The Holy Family could not be called Holy without their obedience to God. Joseph wanted to divorce Mary until the angel told him not to. Joseph obeyed. Mary was "troubled" when she heard message of the angel Gabriel, yet she gave her complete consent in perfect obedience. If it was "possible", Jesus wanted the cup of his passion to pass from him yet he was obedient to the will of the Father.3 At the center of the Holy Family was obedience to God. We are meant to imitate the Holy Family and we are meant to be obedient to God and have him and his holy will at the center of our lives. The reason why God entered the world in the midst of a family is that he once again wanted to help teach us to live by his own perfect example. He did this out of love and generosity to us.

Real Life

The 2nd Reading speaks of love within the family and of gentleness, patience, and forgiveness. The Catechism tells us specifically that "everyone should be generous and tireless in forgiving one another for offenses, quarrels, injustices, and neglect." Our faith demands obedience to this command from God.

For all of my life. I did not get along with one of my brothers. In fact, I didn't like him. When he walked into the room, all I could see was the person who "offended and quarelled" with me. Instead of forgiving him, I would always fight back. Sometimes, I hated my brother. I later went on a 2-week long mission to Mexico. There I witnessed the beautiful love of God. When I returned, I was completely full of the love that I saw and experienced in Mexico.

I did not normally meet up with my brother alone. In fact, I normally preferred not to meet him at all. But after the mission trip, things were different. I was eating lunch at my brother's house one day, and suddenly it dawned on me. "I am here eating lunch with my brother and I am enjoying myself. I am happy to be here."

Once I became obedient to God's will to love my brother and forgive him, my brother became a whole other person to me. I could finally see the nice brother I had all along as God opened my eyes and heart through his loving commandments. Not long afterwards, my brother was literally sending me cookies in the mail and buying me plane tickets to meet him and my family. With God closer to the center of our lives, we (my family) have started on the road to being a holy family.

God loves us!

1-Matthew 1:21
2- Jesus was called "Son of the Most High" to Mary. Luke chapter 2 tells us that the "shepherds" told Joseph and Mary that Jesus was "Messiah and Lord".
3- CCC 612 say that Jesus' human nature was horrified at death

Responsorial Psalm
Ps 128:1-2, 3, 4-5

R. (cf. 1) Blessed are those who fear the Lord and walk in his ways.
Blessed is everyone who fears the LORD,
who walks in his ways!
For you shall eat the fruit of your handiwork;
blessed shall you be, and favored.
R. Blessed are those who fear the Lord and walk in his ways.
Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine
in the recesses of your home;
your children like olive plants
around your table.
R. Blessed are those who fear the Lord and walk in his ways.
Behold, thus is the man blessed
who fears the LORD.
The LORD bless you from Zion:
may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem
all the days of your life.
R. Blessed are those who fear the Lord and walk in his ways.