Follow me!!!!

This weekend, we have a continuation of the call to be a disciple of our Lord!  Last weekend, Jesus said that to be his disciple we must "deny ourself, pick up our cross, and follow him."  Now, our Lord says very simply, but powerfully, "Follow me"!  Being a disciple of Jesus is not a job or a career, but it is a way of life.  We have our respective vocations that we live: married life, single life, priesthood and religious life, but the overall banner is "Discipleship!"  Being a disciple in all that we do: our thoughts, words, and actions.  It is the call to also love God and love our neighbor.  We can be enthusiastic disciples or tired disciples but one thing is certain, we always need to go to Jesus to stay energized and become renewed.  The sacraments are a great opportunity for us to be fed and nourished.  Let us come to Jesus and in all that we do, let us follow him.  God bless us on our journey!!!!

Saints Peter & Paul

On this Friday evening, the Church begins the Vigil of the Solemnity of Saint Peter & Saint Paul!!!!  We remember the Archbishops who were installed this past year because they will receive the pallium from Pope Francis at Saint Peter's in Rome.  These saints go hand in hand!!!  I remember fondly my pilgrimage to Rome in 1996.  The statues of Saints Peter & Paul were always together.  They are key figures in the early Church and saints that we can turn to for their intercession as we live our faith to the fullest!!!!!  We thank God for these two saints and their example of never giving up and living that call to conversion on a daily basis!!!!!  Saints Peter & Paul, Pray for Us!!!!!

Keeping the Faith!!!

The commentary from the Loose-Leaf Lectionary once again gives us something to think and pray about.  The author begins with a good question: "Do you dare to believe?"  In Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18, Abram has a vision from the word of The Lord.  This passage has three components: the promise of a son, the promise of countless offspring, the promise of land (3884).  With all of these, Abram put his faith in The Lord.  Here is a great quote to remember: "Faith means becoming firm or secure by leaning upon The Lord" (3884).  Living our faith is a way of life and we always need to keep the faith no matter what we encounter in life.  The Lord is always with us, so take comfort, lean on him, and, have faith!!!!  God Bless You!!!

A Blessing to You!!!

The opening line for my homily at the morning Mass was from the commentator in the Loose-Leaf Lectionary, "Be a source of blessing for others." How true that is!!! The examples that we have from Sacred Scripture was the reading from Genesis, where Abram and Lot were able to avoid conflict and live in the land given to them. In the gospel, Jesus tells us to do to others what we would have them do to us. If you want to be treated with kindness, dignity, and respect, then that is how we need to treat others. Sometimes people will say, "They are just getting a taste of their own medicine..." If you are unkind, rude, inconsiderate of others, than you might receive the same treatment. However, we can make a difference in peoples lives. All human beings are created in the image and likeness of God and deserve our total dignity and respect. When we treat others in a dignified and respectful manner, than we can truly be a source of blessing for them. God has blessed us in many ways! Hopefully we can take those blessings and share them with others so they can know what it is like to receive a blessing and in turn, be a blessing to others!!!

Saint John the Baptist!!!!!

Today the Church celebrates the birthday of Saint John the Baptist!!!  One of the parishes that I serve is under the patronage of Saint John the Baptist so it is a day for all parish communities with this patron to celebrate.  The Church only celebrates three birthdays: Our Lord, the Blessed Mother, and John the Baptist.  All three have a role in salvation history.  Mary said yes to God's will and became the mother of His only Son.  John was the herald of the Messiah.  He said a phrase that I think of often, "I must decrease, so he can increase."  Jesus is the Savior of the world!  As we celebrate John the Baptist, we can think of our call to discipleship and be the heralds of the Good News.  Like John, do not be afraid to preach the gospel, do not be afraid to live your faith, and do not be afraid to live the truth.  We need faithful, committed disciples.  In all that we do, remember, we are to decrease so that The Lord will shine forth and increase in the lives and hearts of all people's.  Have a blessed day!!!!!

Giving All for God's Glory!

The Church celebrates the memorial of Saint Aloysius Gonzaga, a religious and a holy man. As he was being raised, Aloysius' mother instructed him in piety and he had a desire to become a religious. Aloysius eventually joined the Society of Jesus, Jesuits, but what he did before joining speaks volumes. He relinquished his inheritance to his brother so he could devote his time to serving God and people who were sick during the plague. Aloysius also contracted the disease and he died in 1591. Giving up all for the glory of God, for the sake of Christ, and the gospel. Truly an example to be imitated. Jesus says in the gospel for today, Matthew 6:19-23, "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and decay destroy, and thieves break in and steal. But store up treasures in heaven." Our Lord goes on to say, "For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be." Even Saint Paul tells his listeners to focus on the things that are above, rather than what is below. Our true home is heaven, while we are just passing through earth. We pray for Saint Aloysius Gonzaga to intercede for us that we may have the grace to give up all for the glory of God and focus on what is eternal. Here is a beautiful prayer that we can use to focus our minds and our hearts: "O Lord, you give all spiritual gifts. You brought together in the young Saint Aloysius Gonzaga the practice of penance and an admirable purity of life. If we have not imitated his innocence, grant us by his prayer and example the grace to imitate his renunciation, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen" (Magnificat, 295). God Bless You!!!

Unconditional Forgiveness!!!

A commentary stated that we need to "Imitate the Father- Forgive Relentlessly"!!! Forgiveness, like love, is unconditional!!! God loves us so much that He gave His only Son to be our Savior. Look at what Jesus did on the cross, he forgave those who had crucified him, "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do." That example of forgiveness continues to reverberate to our present day. Of course, I always think about the example that Blessed John Paul II gave us after the assassination attempt on his life. He went to the prison where the would be assassin was incarcerated and forgave him. Another example of forgiveness heard around the world. In Matthew's Gospel, 6:7-15, Jesus gives his disciples the "Our Father." Our Lord tells the disciples that they do not need to babble. Instead, say this prayer because your Father knows what you need before you ask Him. At the conclusion of the prayer Jesus says, "If you forgive others their transgressions, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your transgressions." Forgiveness takes grace and we pray for that everyday. Maybe there are people in our lives that we need to forgive or maybe we need to forgive ourselves and we struggle to do that. Let us turn to God and ask Him for the grace to forgive unconditionally. His forgiveness is a great example to imitate. God Bless You!!!