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Meditation: Mark 7:31-37

2/9/2018

5th Week in Ordinary Time

He put his finger into the man’s ears and, spitting, touched his tongue. (Mark 7:33)

Life has become much more automated recently, hasn’t it? Driverless cars are on the horizon. Cell phones can now be unlocked through facial recognition software. If you go to the grocery store or the public library, you’ll find people flocking to the self-checkout stand. Certainly these innovations have made life more convenient. But there’s still something to be said for the old-fashioned kind of customer service, in which a cashier hands you your money, and you sometimes end up chatting about the weather, sports, or a recent family outing. It’s what we sometimes call the “human touch.”

Human contact is not only important to us, but it’s important to God as well. That’s why Jesus held children in his lap, and it’s why he had no hesitation touching lepers. It’s also why, in today’s reading, he didn’t just pray words of healing. He made it a point to touch the deaf and mute man.

Jesus may no longer be present on earth physically, but he still wants to touch people. He wants to do it through us. This is especially important in our time, as we live in a world where human interaction seems to be decreasing every day.

Something that seems as insignificant as a warm handshake or a pat on the shoulder can be a huge comfort at times. A warm embrace can bring healing to a close friend who is struggling. Even a simple “hello” coupled with a smile can lift someone’s spirits. And if you have the opportunity to pray with someone, you might ask if it’s okay to hold their hand or place your hand on their shoulder while you pray.

God has given all of us a healthy desire to give and receive love. When that desire is bottled up, we suffer, and the people we have an opportunity to help suffer as well.

So let’s make it a point to go out of our way to touch people with a smile and a warm gesture of affection today. In our homes, let’s make it a point to offer displays of affection to our spouse and children. After all, Jesus did tell us to love one another as he loves us—and he loves to touch us!

“Lord, help me to be more kind and loving to everyone I meet."

1 Kings 11:29-32; 12:19
Psalm 81:10-15

Meditation: Mark 7:24-30

2/8/2018

Saint Jerome Emiliani (Optional Memorial)

She begged him. (Mark 7:26)

Some of the most emotionally powerful stories in the New Testament feature a parent begging Jesus to touch their child. From the little girl who was raised from the dead to the epileptic boy, these miracles all took place because parents pushed through the crowd on their child’s behalf.

The Syrophoenician woman in today’s Gospel reading is another example of a persistent parent who sought out Jesus, even when he seemed to want to be left alone. She pressed Jesus to heal her daughter. Even when he initially refused her request, she didn’t give up. She asked again, until Jesus relented and restored the girl.

Since New Testament times, parental guidance and prayers have made all the difference in the lives of countless saints. St. Monica spent years praying for her wayward son, Augustine, before she finally saw her prayers answered in his conversion. He went on to become one of the great early church fathers. More recently, Louis and Zelie Martin prayed constantly that all of their children would become saints. Several of their children joined religious life, and their youngest is one of our most beloved saints: Thérèse of Lisieux.

Many of us have been influenced by the prayers of our parents. And even if you never knew your parents or if your relationship is not what it could be, you can be sure that you have spiritual parents and brothers and sisters praying for you along the way. Not only do you have your guardian angel, but you also have saints who can relate to your challenges and who are praying for you. Like the Syrophoenician woman, they are wonderfully persistent in their intercession. It’s almost as if they won’t take no for an answer, even if the answer came in an unexpected way

Let’s thank the Lord for our biological and spiritual family members who have prayed for us and mentored us over the years. You may not know everything about them, and you may not even know who they are, but they have made a difference in your life. Thank the Lord for these prayer warriors. Their persistent prayers have made you the person you are today.

“Lord, thank you for giving us people who persistently pray for us.”

1 Kings 11:4-13
Psalm 106:3-4, 35-37, 40

Saint Jerome Emiliani’s Story

A careless and irreligious soldier for the city-state of Venice, Jerome was captured in a skirmish at an outpost town and chained in a dungeon. In prison Jerome had a lot of time to think, and he gradually learned how to pray. When he escaped, he returned to Venice where he took charge of the education of his nephews—and began his own studies for the priesthood.

In the years after his ordination, events again called Jerome to a decision and a new lifestyle. Plague and famine swept northern Italy. Jerome began caring for the sick and feeding the hungry at his own expense. While serving the sick and the poor, he soon resolved to devote himself and his property solely to others, particularly to abandoned children. He founded three orphanages, a shelter for penitent prostitutes and a hospital.

Around 1532, Jerome and two other priests established a congregation, the Clerks Regular of Somasca, dedicated to the care of orphans and the education of youth. Jerome died in 1537 from a disease he caught while tending the sick. He was canonized in 1767. In 1928, Pius Xl named him the patron of orphans and abandoned children.

Reflection
Very often in our lives it seems to take some kind of “imprisonment” to free us from the shackles of our self-centeredness. When we’re “caught” in some situation we don’t want to be in, we finally come to know the liberating power of Another. Only then can we become another for “the imprisoned” and “the orphaned” all around us.

The Liturgical Feast of Saint Jerome Emiliani is February 8.
Saint Jerome Emiliani is the Patron Saint of:Orphans
Abandoned Children

Meditation: 1 Kings 10:1-10

2/7/2018

5th Week in Ordinary Time

She was breathless. (1 Kings 10:5)

The splendor and depth of God’s wisdom can be a powerful witness indeed! The Queen of Sheba was so taken by Solomon’s insight and wisdom—not just by the grandeur of his palace and Temple—that she couldn’t help but respond. Scripture tells us that it actually took her breath away. God had blessed Solomon so richly that the queen ended up glorifying God.

It may be hard to believe, but using our gifts of insight and wisdom can also be a powerful witness to those around us. You probably don’t live in a palace or don’t have massive landholdings. But God has blessed you with his indwelling Spirit. And that sets you apart. You stand out! The way you live and the priorities you have can point onlookers to heaven. Your words and responses can demonstrate God’s wisdom and gentleness in a critical or selfish setting.

As you grow closer to the Lord and give more of your life to him, you become more open to his goodness and wisdom—and that becomes more evident to the people around you. It is this “evidence” that can lead onlookers to come seek out the Lord for themselves and, eventually, to glorify him. Put simply, they will want what you have: peace, confidence, assurance, and firmness of purpose.

Jesus wants your light to shine out to other people (Matthew 5:16). This light shouldn’t be restricted to the way you pray or to your ability to quote Scripture from memory. If it really is God’s light, then it will naturally include his goodness shining through the most everyday aspects of your life. The more your heart is dedicated to God, the easier it is for people to see the Lord and his gifts in you.

Think about the gifts that God has given to you. How is his goodness being displayed in your life? How has it increased over the past few years? As you identify these blessings, give thanks and praise to the Lord and dedicate yourself to him even more. Then watch what God does in you and through you.
“Holy Spirit, open my eyes and the eyes of those around me to the wonder and majesty of your presence. May we all glorify you for your unbounded generosity.”

Psalm 37:5-6, 30-31, 39-40
Mark 7:14-23

Saint Colette’s Story

Colette did not seek the limelight, but in doing God’s will she certainly attracted a lot of attention. Colette was born in Corbie, France. At 21, she began to follow the Third Order Rule and became an anchoress, a woman walled into a room whose only opening was a window into a church.

After four years of prayer and penance in this cell, she left it. With the approval and encouragement of the pope, she joined the Poor Clares and reintroduced the primitive Rule of St. Clare in the 17 monasteries she established. Her sisters were known for their poverty—they rejected any fixed income—and for their perpetual fast. Colette’s reform movement spread to other countries and is still thriving today. Colette was canonized in 1807.

Reflection
Colette began her reform during the time of the Great Western Schism (1378-1417) when three men claimed to be pope and thus divided Western Christianity. The 15th century in general was a very difficult one for the Western Church. Abuses long neglected cost the Church dearly in the following century. Colette’s reform indicated the entire Church’s need to follow Christ more closely.

Meditation: Mark 7:1-13

2/6/2018

Saint Paul Miki and Companions, Martyrs (Memorial)

You have set aside the commandment of God. (Mark 7:9)

It was an easy trap to fall into. In their zeal for the faith, many of the scribes and Pharisees created layers and layers of traditions and practices that would set them apart from “the world.” Over time, these layers began to complicate and eclipse the true nature of the Law of Moses—to the point that some people were able to turn the Law on its head.

In contrast to the complexities these scribes and Pharisees introduced, Jesus focused on two simple, fundamental commandments: love God with all your heart, and love your neighbor as yourself. Every law and commandment of the Lord can be summed up by these two verses from the Torah.

But no matter how simple these commands are, they certainly aren’t easy. How can we love everyone all the time? There are times when we can barely tolerate members of our family, let alone the stranger next door or the co-worker who gets on our nerves. How can we avoid the temptation to introduce complexities and excuses so that we can free ourselves from the command to love?

By letting God’s own love teach us how to love.
It may not be easy, but it is simple. Jesus loves you. Not because you do the right things. (No one is perfect.) Not because you embrace every one of his teachings. (Everyone struggles with at least one commandment.) And not because you have shown yourself to be better than other people. (God’s rain falls on the just and unjust alike.) No, Jesus loves you because he looks into your heart and sees how “very good” it is (Genesis 1:31). He looks past the hurts, the resentments, and the unconfessed sin, and peers right into the center of who you are.

It’s right there, in the center, that Jesus sees the love he has placed in you. He sees your desire to please the Lord. He sees the goodness and purity that God created you with. And what he sees pierces his heart with love. With joy. With compassion. It’s this gaze that can melt our hearts and teach us to love as he does—simply, mercifully, and equally.

“‘My soul yearns and pines for the courts of the Lord. My heart and my flesh cry out for the living God’ (Psalm 84:3). Jesus, teach me to love.”

1 Kings 8:22-23, 27-30
Psalm 84:3-5, 10-11

Saint Agatha, Virgin and Martyr (Memorial)

2/5/2018

Saint Agatha’s Story
Patron Saint of
Diseases of the Breast
Nurses

As in the case of Agnes, another virgin-martyr of the early Church, almost nothing is historically certain about this saint except that she was martyred in Sicily during the persecution of Emperor Decius in 251.

Legend has it that Agatha, like Agnes, was arrested as a Christian, tortured, and sent to a house of prostitution to be mistreated. She was preserved from being violated, and was later put to death.

She is claimed as the patroness of both Palermo and Catania. The year after her death, the stilling of an eruption of Mt. Etna was attributed to her intercession. As a result, apparently, people continued to ask her prayers for protection against fire.

Reflection

The scientific modern mind winces at the thought of a volcano’s might being contained by God because of the prayers of a Sicilian girl. Still less welcome, probably, is the notion of that saint being the patroness of such varied professions as those of foundry workers, nurses, miners and Alpine guides. Yet, in our historical precision, have we lost an essential human quality of wonder and poetry, and even our belief that we come to God by helping each other, both in action and prayer?

Meditation: 1 Corinthians 9:16-19, 22-23

2/4/2018

5th Sunday in Ordinary Time

I have become all things to all.
(1 Corinthians 9:22)

Jesus once told his disciples that the road to heaven is narrow and sparsely populated (Matthew 7:14). But he also said, “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved” (Mark 16:16). This sounds a bit confusing, doesn’t it? The truth is, no one really knows the answer to the question of how many—or how few—will be saved.

This is probably one reason why Paul was so dedicated to his work as an apostle. He knew the joy of heaven, and he didn’t want anyone to miss out on it. And so he made it his life’s mission to become “all things to all” so that he could “save at least some” (1 Corinthians 9:22). You can sense Paul’s determination from the fact that he used the word “win” four times in just three verses (9:20-22). “Winning” for him meant bringing people to the Lord. It meant doing anything he could so that people could come to know Jesus’ salvation.

So how can we win people to Jesus? How can we become all things to all? Paul would tell us to learn how to talk about sports so that we can meet sports fans on their level. He would tell us to learn how to talk about current events with an accent on God’s plan. He would tell us to learn what it means to have nothing so that we can relate to the poor or what the main concerns of young people are so that we can put ourselves in their shoes and win them.

Paul adapted his teaching to the culture of each city he visited so that he could reach the people there in words and images they would understand. That’s a great example for us. Paul’s example urges us not to be a stumbling block to other people because we don’t understand their culture or their interests. So let’s all imitate Paul and become as flexible and adaptable as possible so that we can help as many people as possible come closer to Jesus.

“Lord, teach me how to share your good news.”

Job 7:1-4, 6-7
Psalm 147:1-6
Mark 1:29-39

SUICIDE: GRAVITY AND RESPONSIBILITY

2/3/2018

SUICIDE: GRAVITY AND RESPONSIBILITY
Father William Saunders

What is the Church's teaching regarding suicide? I always thought suicide was a mortal sin, so how is it that a person can be buried in the Church?—A reader in Fairfax Before addressing the act of suicide, we must first remember that God is the giver of all life. Each of us has been made in God's image and likeness (Gn 1:27) with both a body and a soul. Therefore, life is sacred from the moment of conception and natural death, and no one can justify the intentional taking of an innocent life.

For Christians, this teaching takes on an even greater depth because our Lord entered this world and our own human condition. Our Lord knew the joy and pain, success and failure, pleasure and suffering, happiness and sorrow that comes in this life; yet He also showed us how to live this life in the love of God and trusting in His will. Moreover, Jesus suffered, died and rose to free us from sin and give us the promise of everlasting life. Through our baptism, we share a new life in the Lord. St. Paul reminds us, "You have been purchased, and at a price. So glorify God in your body" (1 Cor 6:20).

Therefore, we must be mindful that the preservation of our life—body and soul—is not something discretionary but obligatory. We must preserve and nourish both our physical and spiritual life. The <Catechism> asserts, "Everyone is responsible for his life before God who has given it to him. It is God who remains the sovereign Master of Life. We are obliged to accept life gratefully and preserve it for His honor and the salvation of our souls. We are stewards, not owners, of the life God has entrusted to us. It is not ours to dispose of" (#2280).

With this foundation in mind, we can see why suicide has traditionally be considered a gravely wrong moral action, i.e. a moral sin. Our Holy Father affirmed this position in his recent encyclical "Evangelium Vitae" (#66). (Please note that suicide is distinguished from the sacrifice of one's life for God or another, as in the cases of martyrdom, or of offering one's life or risking it to save another person.)

The intentional taking of one's own life is wrong for several reasons: First, in the most basic sense, each human being naturally seeks to preserve life. To take our own life defies our natural instinct to live.
Second, suicide violates a genuine love for oneself and one's neighbor—family, friends, neighbors and even acquaintances. Other people need us and depend on us in ways we may not even know. When I as a priest have had to comfort the family of a suicide victim, I hope that the person somehow realizes how much he really was loved and needed. I also feel sad that this poor, troubled person faced something so seemingly unbearable, insurmountable or agonizing that he chose to withdraw from the love of God and others and kill himself.

Finally, suicide defies the love we owe God. Sure, we all face tough times, hardships and sufferings. However, we are called to place ourselves in the hands of God, who will never abandon us, but see us safely through this life. The words of the "Our Father"—"thy will be done"—must be real for us. To commit suicide is to reject His "lordship" in our life.

Therefore, objectively, suicide is a mortal sin. (Moreover, to help someone commit suicide is also a mortal sin.) Here, though, we must remember that for a sin to be mortal and cost someone salvation, the objective of the action (in this case, the taking of one's own life) must be grave or serious matter; the person must have an informed intellect (know that this is wrong); and the person must give full consent of the will (intend to commit this action).
In the case of suicide, I wonder whether a person always has full consent of the will. Fear, force, ignorance, habit, passion and psychological problems can impede the exercise of the will so that a person may not be fully responsible or even responsible at all for an action. Here again the <Catechism> states, "Grave psychological disturbances, anguish, or grave fear of hardship, suffering, or torture can diminish the responsibility of the one committing suicide" (#2282). This qualification does not make suicide a right action in any circumstance; however, it does make us realize that the person may not be totally culpable for the action because of various circumstances or personal conditions.

Only God can read the depths of our soul. Only He knows how much we love Him and how responsible we are for our actions. We leave the judgment then to Him alone. The <Catechism> offers words of great hope: "We should not despair of the eternal salvation of persons who have taken their own lives. By ways known to Him alone, God can provide the opportunity for salutary repentance. The Church prays for persons who have taken their own lives" (#2283).
Therefore, we do offer the Mass for the repose of the soul of a suicide victim, invoking God's tender love and mercy, and His healing grace for the grieving loved ones.

Fr. Saunders is president of Notre Dame Institute and pastor of Queen of Apostles Parish, both in Alexandria.

This article appeared in the July 6, 1995 issue of "The Arlington Catholic Herald." Courtesy of the "Arlington Catholic Herald" diocesan newspaper of the Arlington (VA) diocese.

Meditation: Mark 6:30-34

2/2/2018

Saint Blaise, Bishop and Martyr (Optional Memorial)

His heart was moved. . . . and he began to teach them many things. (Mark 6:34)

Jesus was encouraged because the apostles had just returned from a very successful missionary trip. They had healed some people, delivered others from demons, and brought many to conversion. But at the same time, Jesus was discouraged as well. He had just received news that John the Baptist, his friend and kinsman, had been beheaded by King Herod.

With this good and bad news on his mind, Jesus took a practical approach and invited the apostles to get away for a time of rest (Mark 6:31). He probably needed it as well. But a crowd of people followed, and Jesus changed his plans. Rather than settling in for some rest and rejuvenation, he threw himself into teaching the people. In a sense, you could say that the “practical” Jesus was replaced by the “compassionate” Jesus. He was able to look beyond his needs and the needs of his disciples to see the needs of so many other people—people who were in far greater need than he was.

It wasn’t just Jesus whose eyes were open in this way. The apostles gave up their plans for rest as well. Still, you can imagine how surprised they must have been when, after what could have been hours of teaching, Jesus told them to give the people something to eat (Mark 6:37).

Jesus wants us to be practical. He wants us to be ordered. He wants us to take care of ourselves and get the rest we need. But there are also times when he wants us to put our plans aside for the greater good.

We can learn how to sense these movements from God so that the practical doesn’t overshadow the compassionate and spontaneous. You may sense a prompting to speak to someone after Mass or in the grocery store. You may feel that God just wants you to hug your husband or child or that you should put aside what you are doing and read Scripture for a few minutes. Whenever something like this happens, try to act on it. You never know where it will lead you.
“Jesus, help me sense your Spirit’s promptings. I don’t want to be so regulated that I can’t hear your voice or follow your leadings. Lord, make me flexible and open!”

1 Kings 3:4-13
Psalm 119:9-14

The Presentation of the Lord (Feast)

2/2/2018

Meditation: Malachi 3:1-4

. . . refining them like gold or like silver that they may offer due sacrifice to the Lord. (Malachi 3:3)

Today we celebrate Mary and Joseph bringing Jesus to the Temple to present him to God. The prophet Malachi foreshadowed this event when he spoke of the Holy One entering his Temple. He would purify his people so that they could offer a worthy sacrifice to God—which is exactly what Jesus had come to do. And he has come to do it for you.

As part of the priesthood of all believers, we have all been “refined” in Baptism so that our everyday lives and our worship at Mass can truly honor the Lord. Unfortunately, often we arrive at Mass feeling rushed or distracted by the concerns of our week. It can be hard just to pay attention, let alone offer “due sacrifice” (Malachi 3:4). So how can we offer our hearts to him more fully at Mass? One way is to let Jesus purify us just before the Liturgy begins.

Instead of arriving breathless during the opening hymn, try to come early enough to spend a few minutes in prayer. Examine your heart, and ask God to bring to mind one thing that may be blocking your path to holiness. It may be resentment toward someone who has disappointed you. Maybe you had harsh words for a family member earlier in the morning, and you are still stewing over the encounter. You may be distracted by all the items on your to-do list for the coming week. It’s important to see that legitimate concerns as well as sinful acts can detract from your worship.

When you have discovered that one thing, place it in the Lord’s hands. Repent if you need to. Set it aside, and ask the Holy Spirit to help you enter into the joy and worship of the Mass. Then do your best to fix your heart on the Lord. Tell him how holy he is and how much you love him. Ask him to bless your efforts.

Our worship won’t be perfect until we reach our heavenly home. But week after week, we can let Jesus draw us closer to that time when we, too, are refined as the purest gold and silver.

“Jesus, thank you for entering the temple of my heart. Lord, I place myself in your loving hands. ”

Psalm 24:7-10
Hebrews 2:14-18
Luke 2:22-40

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"It is like a mustard seed that, when it is sown in the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on the earth. But once it is sown, it springs up and becomes the largest of plants and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the sky can dwell in its shade." Mark 4: 31-32