September, 2018

The Holy Father's Prayer Intention

Universal – Young People in Africa, That young people in Africa may have access to education and work in their own countries.

'That which proceeds from God begins with a salutary fear and finishes with peace of mind.'

Padre Pio

The Angelus

The Angel of the Lord declared to Mary:
And she conceived of the Holy Spirit.

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of
our death. Amen.

Behold the handmaid of the Lord: Be it done unto me according to Thy word.

Hail Mary . . .

And the Word was made Flesh: And dwelt among us.

Hail Mary . . .

Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let us pray:

Pour forth, we beseech Thee, O Lord, Thy grace into our hearts; that we, to whom the incarnation of Christ, Thy Son, was made known by the message of an angel, may by His Passion and Cross be brought to the glory of His Resurrection, through the same Christ Our Lord.

Amen.

"Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you" (Lk 1:28)

"Blessed are you among women,
and blessed is the fruit of your womb"
(Lk 1:42).

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/3690013/posts

Saint of the Day — Saint Pio of Pietrelcina

Padre Pio bore the stigmata, but one secret wound was more painful than the others (Caucus)
The heart of Padre Pio is coming to Boston. Yes, really. [Catholic Caucus]
St. Padre Pio’s 5 Point Rule of Life
The Friar Whose Hands and Side Bled for 50 Years
Padre Pio's Love for the Holy Angels (Catholic Caucus

THE HEALING OF [the eyes of] GEMMA DI GIORGI [by St. Padre Pio] [Ecumenical]
Padre Pio confided in young JP II that shoulder wound was his greatest suffering [Catholic C]
[Padre Pio's]Five Maxims for Living a Devout Life
[CATHOLIC CAUCUS] THEFT OF PADRE PIO RELICS ATTEMPTED
[CATHOLIC CAUCUS] Padre Pio’s healing power felt by local Catholic
Statue of Baby Jesus travels from Holy Land to Padre Pio's monastery
Saint Padre Pio's Christmas Meditation
Remembering Francesco Forgione -- a.k.a., Padre Pio
Pope: a life of prayer and charity like Padre Pio, against activism and secularisation [St. Pio]

Padre Pio's Secret: His Shoulder Wound
St. Padre Pio, Humanae Vitae, and Mandatory Abortion
Padre Pio, Priest and Victim [Ecumenical]
Details of first investigation into Padre Pio’s stigmata revealed [Catholic Caucus]
St. Pio of Pietrelcina [Padre Pio]
THE HOLY WOUNDS OF CHRIST & Padre Pio's Secret: His Shoulder Wound [Devotional]
Popular Italian Catholic saint exhumed 40 years on (Padre Pio's body in fair condition)
Letter 33 - Padre Pio of Pietrelcina, 16 November 1914.
Padre Pio and the Mother Co-redemptrix(CATHOLIC CAUCUS)
Saint Padre Pio letters #29Correspondence with Raffaelina Cerase

Message, holiness of saint with stigmata more relevant now than ever, 'Padre Pio' author says
St. Padre Pio During Mass
Padre Pio and the Guardian Angel
Spiritual Counsels from Saint Padre Pio
What Does It Means To Be Canonized.(Padre Pio example)
Feast of St. Pio this FRIDAY! (Padre Pio - Pray for Texas!)
Padre Pio's Love for the Blessed Mother
St. Padre Pio
Padre Pio's Shrine, as the Architect Sees It - Renzo Piano Talks about Church, San Giovanni Rotondo
Padre Pio Aid Says Saint Accepted New Mass

Padre Pio: on Spirituality, Vatican II and the Novus Ordo Missae
Remarkable Transformation: Padre Pio
Cardinal Schotte (Head of the Synod of Bishops) and his view on Dallas; Rose petals for Padre Pio
Saint Padre Pio's Body Not Found in His Tomb?
Padre Pio Now A Saint - Wrestled With Devil, Predicted Future
Padre Pio Wrestled with Devil, Predicted Future
Pope Bestows Sainthood on Padre Pio
PADRE PIO DA PIETRELCINA
Padre Pio to be Canonized This June
St. Pio Of Pietrelcina, 1887-1968

His Friends Remember Padre Pio
St. Pio Of Pietrelcina, 1887-1968
Padre Pio: on Spirituality, Vatican II and the Novus Ordo Missae
Padre Pio Now A Saint - Wrestled With Devil, Predicted Future
Padre Pio Wrestled with Devil, Predicted Future
Pope Bestows Sainthood on Padre Pio
Remarkable Transformation: Padre Pio

Arlington Catholic Herald

Wisdom from above

Fr. Jack Peterson, YA | For the Catholic Herald

9/19/18

Gospel Commentary MK 9:30-37

A common theme unites all three of our readings today. It is stated simply in the letter of St. James as “wisdom from above.”

The first reading is from the Book of Wisdom and is a bold example of the prophetic wisdom of God. If God, the Father, truly intended to send his only-begotten son down to earth to take on our human flesh and dwell among us, then it makes eminent sense that God would spend time preparing us for this momentous event. He did indeed spend time working out a master plan. Beginning with Abraham, God spent about 2,000 years paving the way for the Incarnation of the Son of God. Through an amazing array of events, persons and prophetic utterances, God set the stage for Emmanuel. Great figures such as Abraham, Isaac and Isaiah were a part of the plan along with powerful events like the Exodus, the serpent mounted on a pole, and the construction of the Ark of the Covenant.

The Book of Wisdom provides us with a most appropriate prophetic utterance. Referring to a particular moment in history, this passage from Wisdom speaks eloquently of the persecutions that Jesus would face about 100 years later: “The wicked say: Let us beset the just one, because he is obnoxious to us … Let us see whether his words be true; let us find out what will happen to him. For if the just one be the son of God, God will defend him and deliver him from the hand of his foes. With revilement and torture let us put the just one to the test that we may have proof of his gentleness and try his patience. Let us condemn him to a shameful death; for according to his own words, God will take care of him.”

In our Gospel passage for today, Jesus shares with his disciples “wisdom from above” in the midst of a very frustrating situation where they demonstrate real hardness of heart. Our Lord offers to them a startling prediction of his impending passion and death in Jerusalem. Mark, the Evangelist, remarks that “they did not understand the saying, and they were afraid to question him.” They immediately depart for a journey to Capernaum at the end of which Jesus asks, “What were you arguing about on the way?” The disciples remain silent for they had, in fact, been discussing among themselves who was the greatest. How sad. They truly did not yet understand Our Lord.

Next, instead of firing this group and rounding up another set of disciples, Jesus chooses to turn the incident into a teaching moment. He patiently explains to them that greatness in his kingdom is, in fact, equated with humble service: “If anyone wishes to be first, he shall be the last of all and the servant of all.” The example of Our Lord’s life cries out with humble service: the cross, the washing of the feet, his extraordinary patience with His disciples, the feeding of the 5,000, and the forgiveness of Peter.

Another recent example of Christian “greatness” quickly comes to my mind. Youth Apostles celebrated a Mass on a recent Saturday where three young men made one-year consecrated commitments to live in poverty, chastity and obedience, as well as to dedicate their apostolic efforts to the service of young people. Two other men who had made the same commitments a year earlier, renewed their commitments that day. We had a reception afterward in the school gym. Mike Paquette, the general director of my community, stayed to the end cleaning up after the reception. During the last few minutes of the clean-up, he was on his hands and knees wiping up the floor with paper towels and a spray bottle. The last of all and the servant of all.

The third piece of wisdom that I gleaned from our readings today comes from Jesus’ action following this teaching moment. “Taking a child, he placed it in their midst, and putting his arms around it, he said to them, “Whoever receives one child such as this in my name, receives me … ”

Jesus encourages a specific example of humble service: to care for and welcome young people in his name. Young people are a pastoral priority for Jesus. They must be a pastoral priority for the church today.

Many adults are tempted to back away from serving young people in our day for a variety of reasons. One is that the youth culture is changing so rapidly that adults can hardly keep up with them and find ways to relate to them. Second, the scandals related to child abuse have people afraid of making a mistake and being accused of inappropriate behavior. The result of these (and many other factors) is that fewer adults want to “receive” children today in the name of Christ.

We must not abandon our young people. They need God, the church and the Good News as much as ever. They need faith-filled, joyful, selfless, caring and encouraging adults today more than ever. Now is not the time to run away from our young people, but to run out into their world and bring to them the love, mercy and truth of Christ.

Where are you going these days in your search for “wisdom from above?”

Fr. Peterson is director of mission and development for the Youth Apostles.

https://www.theworkofgod.org/Devotns/Euchrist/HolyMass/gospels.asp?key=27

Year B - 25th Sunday in ordinary time

The Son of man shall be betrayed into the hands of men, and they shall kill him; and after that he is killed, he shall rise again the third day.
Mark 9:29-36
29 And departing from there, they passed through Galilee, and he did not want anyone to know it.
30 And he taught his disciple, and said to them: The Son of man shall be betrayed into the hands of men, and they shall kill him; and after that he is killed, he shall rise again the third day.
31 But they did not understand a word, and they were afraid to ask him.
32 And they came to Capharnaum. And when they were in the house, he asked them: What did you treat of in the way?
33 But they held their peace, for in the way they had disputed among themselves, which of them should be the greatest.
34 And sitting down, he called the twelve, and said to them: If any man desires to be first, he shall be the last of all, and the minister of all.
35 And taking a child, he set him in the midst of them. Whom when he had embraced, he said to them:
36 Whoever shall receive one such child as this in my name, receives me. And whosoever shall receive me, receives not me, but him that sent me.

Inspiration of the Holy Spirit - From the Sacred Heart of Jesus
I am the man of suffering, I know human pain because I have suffered it, I have surrendered my life to be altar, sacrifice and victim. Isaiah describes me in Chapter 53 talking about my death and explaining how, by my wounds all are healed.

Even after having revealed to my disciples my future death in the hands of men and my resurrection, they did not understand. They never imagined that the powerful man who could perform miracles, who had divine eloquence, was going to be a subject of mocking and martyrdom; that he was going to be humiliated by men until death, so that all would be forgiven their sins. More extraordinary for them was to listen to something never mentioned before, the resurrection from death.

Their minds were full of certain proud happiness as they were sharing my wisdom and my power, it seemed that they had forgotten my saying, “he who wants to be my disciple, must deny himself, take up his cross and follow me”. I was about to deny my own life in order to surrender it to my Father for the forgiveness of sins; I was getting prepared to carry my cross and to fulfill my mission as Savior.

In the same way, the life of each human being is full of moments of happiness, sorrow, joy, suffering, work, dissipation, courage, fear, foolishness, wisdom, laughter, tears, sin, repentance and so many other things. But above all these, there must be self-denial before the Divine Providence; humility must be outstanding, because without it, you cannot walk in my way. He who feels that he is great is the smallest in the sight of God, he who becomes small in humility and has holy fear of God, is great before Him, he is like an image of God who being so great has descended to share the human misery.

I said, he who receives a child in my name receives me. I took a little child as an example of someone who in his innocence and littleness is great before God, and have told you, unless you become like little children, you cannot enter the Kingdom of Heaven. This is a call to humility, because God rejects the proud, but delights exalting the humble.

Woe to those who seek human honors, power, riches and influence on others, they are too far from humility; on the other hand, those who deny themselves surrendering to the divine providence, are discovering the holy innocence that is found in children, who depend totally on their parents.

Author: Joseph of Jesus and Mary

Archdiocese of Washington

Asking a Crucial Question: A Homily for the 25th Sunday of the Year

Msgr. Charles Pope • September 22, 2018 •

In the Sunday Gospel, the Lord Jesus is asking a crucial question. The word crucial here is selected carefully; it comes from the Latin cruces, meaning “cross.” Indeed, looming over this entire gospel reading is the cross. In it, Jesus makes the second prediction of His passion, death, and resurrection. It is in the context of this teaching that the Lord asks the “crucial” question of us: What is most central in your life? Let’s look at this gospel passage in five stages.

I. The Processional Picture – The gospel text opens this way: Jesus and his disciples left from there and began a journey through Galilee. This will be Jesus’ final journey through Galilee. He is heading south, unto His passion, death, and resurrection.

Do not miss the importance of seeing our own life as a kind of procession, a journey. We, too, are making a journey through this life, our first and only journey. With every step we take, we too move closer to death and, we pray, resurrection with and unto the Lord.

All along the way we meet people and find things that will either help us or hinder us in preparing for life’s true destination. Because this is a fallen world, there will unfortunately be much to distract and divert us into foolish desires, pointless paths, and frivolous and harmful philosophies. More on that in a moment.

For now, simply note that the Lord is on a procession. He is headed for a critical destination, one that matters, one on which rests our very destiny. We, too, are on such a path, and while we cannot save ourselves we can surely harm ourselves. Our destiny is caught up in the decisions we make on life’s journey. Yes, we are on a procession with Jesus.

II. The Pain that is Proclaimed – The text says that though Jesus was journeying through Galilee, he did not wish anyone to know about it. He was teaching his disciples and telling them that the Son of Man is to be handed over to men and they will kill him, and three days after his death, the Son of Man will rise. While the Lord surely says this in great confidence, knowing what the end will ultimately be, we must not overlook the undercurrent of pain.

Jesus tries to journey through Galilee quietly, likely because He does not want to be diverted by the endless requests that often accompanied His public appearances. In our grief, we sometimes need to draw aside, to be with close friends and family rather than at large gatherings.

Yet even as Jesus is teaching the disciples some very difficult things about what He will go through, they are dealing with their own issues. They seem to draw back and become quiet. The text says, they were afraid to ask him any questions about this matter.

The text implies this drawing back when it later recounts that Jesus had to ask them what they were discussing as they journeyed. So, it would seem that either they drew back from Jesus or perhaps Jesus walked somewhat apart from them, alone in His thoughts.

Although we have to read be between the lines to see it, there seems to be a portrait here of Jesus in some pain and somewhat alone in that pain. His pain was surely increased by the selfish and egotistical discussion He must have known the disciples were having. He asked them what they were discussing as if He did not know, but He knew they were debating as to who was the greatest.

III. Their Pretentious Pride – The text says, They had been discussing among themselves on the way who was the greatest.

It’s hard to believe they were having such a discussion, but a consistent theme in Scripture is that of the inept response. Over and over again Jesus will give a teaching, often with great solemnity, and immediately thereafter the apostles will give a response that indicates that they don’t understand Him at all, that they have completely missed the point. Inept they are, even indecent and pretentious. Having heard the Lord speak of dying painfully at the hands of others, they digress into a pretentious conversation about which of them is the greatest.

Before we scorn or laugh at the apostles, though, we must remember that we are the disciples. We do this very sort of thing. We divert our attention to all kinds of foolishness. We worry about who gets to be in charge or who’s the most important. How pointless and foolish! How inept of us would-be disciples to get carried away with these sorts of concerns! But we do it every day, dozens of times a day.

The woefully inept and pretentious response of the disciples, which only increased Jesus’ pain, leads Him to ask the crucial question. It leads us to the central point of today’s Gospel.

IV. The Probing Point – It is at this moment that Jesus asks the crucial question, a question not only for the Twelve, but for us as well. The text says that they came to Capernaum and, once inside the house, Jesus asked them, “What were you arguing about on the way?” They remain silent out of sheer embarrassment, for they had been discussing who among them was the greatest.

Why is this a crucial question? Perhaps examining the Greek will help. The Greek word that is translated here as arguing is διαλογίζομαι (dialogízomai), which means to reason, consider, ponder, wonder, or debate. The dia, at the beginning of the word is an intensifier and indicates a kind of back-and-forth aspect, giving us the concept of a debate or an argument.

With this in mind, perhaps we can hear the Lord questioning them in this way: “What are you discussing as you make your journey in life? What are you passionate about? What peaks your interest? What engages you and what do you choose to engage others about? What is going on in your mind all day long?”

It is both sad and embarrassing that so many of us who call ourselves disciples are so preoccupied with things that are futile, passing, and of little importance. Even things that have some relative importance get an undue amount of our attention.

Meanwhile, things that do matter, things that matter most to God, such as salvation, knowledge of Him, preparation for death and judgment, repentance, love, justice, mercy, truth, goodness, decency, virtue, prayer, and frequent reception of the sacraments—all these things rank pitifully low in the lives of most people, even those who call themselves Christians and disciples.

We can spare three or four hours for a football game but have no time for prayer. We find time for everything else and so little time for God and what matters to Him. We get so passionate about politics, sports, or some popular television show, but have little interest in the fact that so many souls are lost, that so many are deeply rooted in unrepentant sin, that so many don’t know why they were made, and that so many don’t know the Lord or His glorious Gospel. The slightest scare regarding our physical health sends us reeling, while our spiritual health goes so easily unattended.

Yes, what are we discussing; what are we thinking about as we make our journey? It is a crucial question. It says a lot about where our heart lies.

Do not miss this crucial question. What are you discussing; what are you thinking about on the way? Answer the Lord honestly and let Him go to work.

V. The Paradoxical Prescription – At the heart of the Lord’s crucial question is a diagnosis of our wrongful priorities and worldly thinking. The Lord turns everything on its end and says, Then he sat down, called the Twelve, and said to them, “If anyone wishes to be first, he shall be the last of all and the servant of all.”

In this gospel passage, the disordered thinking of the disciples is related to wrongful notions of importance, leadership, and greatness. The Lord directly addresses these wrongful notions by presenting this deeply paradoxical teaching. The paradox is that the greatest are not those who are served, but those who serve. The cleanup crew at the black-tie dinner gets the Lord’s attention more so than those at the head table.

We tend to think of greatness in terms of how much money a person earns, how much authority he has, how much influence he has, or where he lives. None of these things matters at all to God. We are forever impressed by the rich and the famous, but God looks to the lowly, the poor, and especially those who serve. This teaching of the Lord’s is paradoxical from any worldly perspective.

Yes, it is all very paradoxical; it shows the folly of our worldly obsessions. When we appear before Him someday, God will not care how much money we earned (except the extent to which used it to be generous to the poor). He will not be impressed with the square footage of our home, the brand of our car, or how big the television screen in our great room was. He certainly won’t care who our favorite sports hero was, what team we rooted for, or even if we were popular.

No, what will most impress Him is whether we served, whether we loved, and whether we knew Him and humbly sought to live His truth. He will not care whether we called the shots, but He will care whether we embraced His vision, lived His truth, and charitably cared for others by serving them in the spiritual and corporal works of mercy. Did we feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, clothe the naked, harbor the homeless, visit the sick, ransom the captives, and bury the dead? Did we comfort the afflicted? Did we instruct the ignorant, counsel the doubtful, admonish sinners, bear wrongs patiently, forgive offenses willingly, and pray for the living and the dead? Did we humbly submit to the Lord in our life by seeking to live chastely, to control our anger, and to resist greed?

The fundamental prescription for us is that we change the way we think. In short, God will want to know if we were rich in what matters to Him.

The greatest are those who serve, who have others in mind, who seek not their own glory and will but the glory and will of God and the goodness of others. This is greatness to God; everything else is foolishness to Him.

In the end, the question resounds: “What are you discussing; what are you thinking as you make your way through this life?” It is the crucial question. Only the cross and its power can fix our foolishness. Too easily we are like the disciples, debating among ourselves about who’s the greatest; who’s the most important; who’s in charge; who gets to call the shots.

What are you discussing as you make your way? It’s a crucial question.

An old spiritual says, simply, “Fix me, Lord; fix me. Fix me for my long white robe. Fix me, Jesus; fix me. Fix me for my journey home. Fix me, Jesus; fix me.”

Video

Information: St. Pio of Pietrelcina

Feast Day: September 23

Born: May 25, 1887, Pietrelcina, Italy

Died: September 23, 1968, San Giovanni Rotondo

Canonized: June 16, 2002, Rome, Italy by Pope John Paul II

Major Shrine: San Giovanni Rotondo

CATHOLIC ALMANAC

Sunday, September 23

Liturgical Color: Green

Today is the Memorial of St. Pio of
Pietrelcina. In 1918, he was blessed
with the stigmata while praying before
a crucifix. St. Pio heard confessions
many hours each day and had the
ability to read the souls of those who
came to him.

Sunday Gospel Reflections

25th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Reading I: Wisdom 2:12,17-20 II: James 3:16-4:3

Gospel
Mark 9:30-37

³⁰ They went on from there and passed through Galilee. And he would not have any one know it;
³¹ for he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, "The Son of man will be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him; and when he is killed, after three days he will rise."
³² But they did not understand the saying, and they were afraid to ask him.
³³ And they came to Caper'na-um; and when he was in the house he asked them, "What were you discussing on the way?"
³⁴ But they were silent; for on the way they had discussed with one another who was the greatest.
³⁵ And he sat down and called the twelve; and he said to them, "If any one would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all."
³⁶ And he took a child, and put him in the midst of them; and taking him in his arms, he said to them,
³⁷ "Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me; and whoever receives me, receives not me but him who sent me."

Interesting Details

For the second time, Jesus predicts his coming death and resurrection. "But they did not understand "(v. 32). Is this due to a lack of comprehension or a subconscious fear of suffering?
(v.34) The disciples sensed that their discussion of who was the greatest was improper and incorrect, yet they did it out of Jesus' earshot (or so they thought). What criterion could have been used by them in spite of Jesus' teaching?
(v.35) The other Gospels also highlight the teaching of Jesus regarding humble service, for example Luke 22:26. But most illustriously, John 13:1-20 has Jesus go down on his knees and wash his disciples' feet, to give them an example.
(v.37) A child, a symbolic description of the least noticed, heard, seen, respected face in a crowd ("the least of them") carries a dignity beyond appearance. It is the dignity of the presence of Jesus within him.

One Main Point

The time for His Passion is near. Jesus dedicates whatever time left to teach his apostles. He again predicts his death and resurrection. He instructs his students on the need for humility when serving each other. He raises the dignity of all those whom the apostles shall serve.

Reflections

Foretold that the path of discipleship is suffering, how fearful am I? What form of suffering am I most fearful of?
In my following Jesus, have I wanted to be first instead of last? What rewards do I look for in return for my service?
Who are "the children" in my eyes? Are they the uneducated, the poor immigrants who "drain our resources ," the immoral - low-in-spirit, the sinners, etc.? How do I recognize them in my midst? How do I receive them?

Catholic Culture

Ordinary Time: September 23rd

Twenty-Fifth Sunday of Ordinary Time

MASS READINGS

September 23, 2018 (Readings on USCCB website)

COLLECT PRAYER

O God, who founded all the commands of your sacred Law upon love of you and of our neighbor, grant that, by keeping your precepts, we may merit to attain eternal life. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

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Recipes (1)

Saucy Summer's End Cookout

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Activities (1)

On how our Work is Love, and how we can work with Christ to save Souls with our Love

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Prayers (4)

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Library (4)

» Enjoy our Liturgical Seasons series of e-books!

Old Calendar: Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost

But they were silent; for on the way they had discussed with one another who was the greatest. And he sat down and called the twelve; and he said to them, "If any one would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all." And he took a child, and put him in the midst of them; and taking him in his arms, he said to them, "Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me; and whoever receives me, receives not me but him who sent me (Mark 9:34-37)."

The feast of St. Padre Pio, which is ordinarily celebrated today, is superseded by the Sunday liturgy.

Click here for commentary on the readings in the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite.

Sunday Readings
The first reading is taken from the Book of Wisdom 2:12, 17-20. Against the background of Egyptian worship of animals and mockery of Jewish trust in God, the author devotes much of chapters 1 - 5 to the ineffectiveness of such mockery when God has promised immortality to those who remain faithful.

The second reading is from the Letter of St. James 3:16, 4:3. "Where do the wars and where do the conflicts among you come from? Is it not from your passions that make war within your members? You covet but do not possess. You kill and envy but you cannot obtain; you fight and wage war. You do not possess because you do not ask." In this reading St. James tells us to recognize the source of our disagreements.

The Gospel is from St. Mark 9:30-37. The Apostles were still very worldly-minded. They were full of the hope that Christ would establish an earthly messianic kingdom, that he would not only free their holy land from the hated pagan rulers but that he would set up a worldwide empire for the people of God. Many of the messianic prophecies of the Old Testament spoke of a worldwide kingdom; all nations would submit to the descendant of David; Jerusalem would be the magnet which would attract all peoples. The prophets, however, were speaking of the true messianic kingdom, the spiritual kingdom that Christ would establish. The Apostles were as yet unable to see the true meaning of these prophecies. They took them as referring to a worldly kingdom. They had come to believe that Christ was the promised Messiah, therefore, he would overcome all enemies and all opposition and set up this kingdom. How, therefore, could his enemies overpower him much less put him to death before he had accomplished his task? Thus they refused to believe his prophecies concerning his coming tortures and death.

Now, either in trying to understand what he had so plainly told them, or maybe in putting this disturbing thought far from their minds, they began disputing with one another as to which of them would have the highest post of honor in the earthly messianic kingdom which they had envisaged. How worldly but how human they were! We must not forget though, that they were not yet really Christians — they needed the death and resurrection of Christ to make them what they became — His true followers and loyal disciples.

There was in the unformed Apostles a desire to turn Christ's kingdom into an earthly welfare state, rather than into a preparation for heaven. All Christians know that Christ suffered and died for their salvation, and that he asked his followers to take up their cross and follow him if they wished to be his disciples. The first generations of Christians fully understood this and faithfully followed him even to martyrdom. However, as time went on and opposition to the Christian faith disappeared, so too did the zeal and fervor of many Christians. For centuries we have had nominal Christians in Christ's Church -- men and women who tried to make their paradise in this world, and forgot the everlasting heaven.

Our own age has seen an unprecedented increase in this falling away of Christians. Leaving aside the parts of Europe which are professedly atheist -- but where in spite of the leaders there are many sincere and devout Christians -- the number of lapsed and nominal Christians in the other Western countries is frightening. These non-practicing Christians, unwilling to carry their crosses, have decided to make this earth their paradise. They want prosperity, comfort and happiness in this world. The vast majority of them, of course, refuse to look to the future; it could be an unpleasant thought, yet they must see that in every town and village there is a mortician, an undertaker who makes a good living disposing of human "remains." Die they must; "and what then?" should be a question which overshadows their lives.

Many of these people who in practice have abandoned Christianity, try to salve their consciences by devoting any time they can spare to making this planet a better place in which to live. It is an excellent aim with a possibility of success — if the Fatherhood of God and the true brotherhood of man are upheld. But otherwise its a vain Utopia. If God, and Christ's teaching are left out of our reckoning, we shall ever have jealousies, enmities, hatred and wars. Christians have made war on Christians because neither side in the struggle was truly Christian. What chance then has the world when Christ and Christianity are banished from it?

Today's thought for each one of us is this: Christ became man, suffered and died as man, for our sakes. By his resurrection He conquered death and opened heaven for us. Heaven is our true destiny. Loving God and our neighbor and carrying our cross is the only way to reach heaven. Forget this "heaven on earth" doctrine; it does not and never will exist! Accept Christ and you are accepting the Father who sent Him. He in turn will accept you.

Excerpted from The Sunday Readings by Fr. Kevin O'Sullivan, O.F.M.

The Word Among Us

Meditation: Mark 9:30-37

25th Sunday in Ordinary Time

The Son of Man is to be handed over to men. (Mark 9:31)

What a remarkable statement! As he begins his journey to Jerusalem, Jesus tells his disciples—and us—that he will be handed over. He will become passive, powerless in our hands. He will leave it up to us to decide what to do with him. It’s just as the prophet Isaiah had said, “Like a lamb led to slaughter or a sheep silent before shearers, he did not open his mouth” (Isaiah 53:7).

This is a strong contrast to everything we have seen Jesus do so far. From the moment he burst onto the scene, Jesus was at the center of attention—healing people, contending with opponents, calming storms, and multiplying bread. He always took the lead. He always spoke with authority. He was the one shaping the story. But at the cross, where it matters the most? Jesus remained quiet, humble, and vulnerable.

The truth is, this is what Jesus intended all along. He came as God’s gift to us. A gift doesn’t tell the recipient how to use it. He left it up to us to decide how we were going to receive him. We didn’t have to reject him as many of his people did. We didn’t have to deny him as Peter did. We didn’t have to kill him as the Romans did. We could have embraced him and accepted his message of salvation. But we didn’t.

And still God handed him over. He didn’t take back his gift.

Even today, God continues to hand Jesus to us. At every Mass, on every altar, in every Communion line, Jesus is placed in our hands as God’s gift of salvation. None of us are worthy to receive him. None of us accept him as fully as we should. But that doesn’t stop him. He still gives himself to sinful men and women. He still offers his salvation to us. Let’s return his gesture and hand ourselves over to him.

“Lord, I am not worthy to receive you. Please keep speaking your words to me so that I may be healed.”

Wisdom 2:12, 17-20
Psalm 54:3-6, 8
James 3:16–4:3

Daily Gospel Commentary

Saint Leo the Great (?-c.461)
Pope and Doctor of the Church
6th sermon for Christmas

"Whoever receives one child such as this in my name, receives me"

The infancy that God's majesty did not disdain reached mature manhood through his advance in years. Then, when the triumph of his passion and resurrection were completed, all the actions of his lowly state, which he adopted for love of us, became a thing of the past. Nevertheless, the feast of his nativity renews for us Jesus' first moments, born of the Virgin Mary, and when we adore the birth of the Savior we find we are celebrating the origin of our own life.

For the birth of Christ is the source of life for all Christian people and the birthday of the Head is the birthday of the body. True, each individual who is called takes his place in his own proper order and the Church's offspring appear at different periods of time. But just as the entire body of the faithful, born in the font of baptism, is crucified with Christ in his passion, raised again in his resurrection, and placed at the Father's right hand in his ascension, so they are born with him in his nativity.

Any believer, from any part of the world, who is born again in Christ, having abandoned the sinful ways retained from his first beginnings, becomes a new person through his second birth. No longer does he belong to his father's ancestry according to the flesh but to our Savior's race. For he became Son of man that we might become sons of God.

A Christian Pilgrim

A LEADER IS A SERVANT

(A biblical refection on THE 25^th SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME [YEAR B] – 23 September, 2018)

Gospel Reading: Mark 9:30-37

First Reading: Wisdom 2:12,17-20; Psalms: Psalm 54:3-6,8; Second Reading: James 3:16-4:3

The Scripture Text

They went on from there and passed through Galilee. And He would not have any one know it; for He was teaching His disciples, saying to them. “The Son of man will be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill Him; and when He is killed, after three days He will rise.” But they did not understand the saying, and they were afraid to ask Him.

And they came to Capernaum; and when he was in the house He asked them,
What were you discussing on the way?” But they were silent; for on the way they had discussed with one another who was the greatest. And He sat down and called the twelve; and He said to them, “If any one would be first, He must be last of all and servant of all.” And He took a child, and put Him in the midst of them; and taking him in His arms, He said to them, “Whoever receives one such child in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me, receives not Me but Him who sent me.” (Mark 9:30-37)

The Old Testament, in some instances, uses the term “Son of Man” as a title for the Messiah (Savior). We find one such example in the book of Daniel, where the author writes about four powerful but cruel rulers who attempt to conquer the world. In the Jewish mind, these rulers are so ruthless that the author pictures them as four fear-inspiring and hideous beasts (e.g. a leopard with four heads, a beast with ten horns, etc.) After the fourth beast rules, God sends the Son of Man that instills fear but rather like a human being, with justice and compassion.

The apostles also have the picture of a Messiah who will be victorious. Therefore, they do not understand what Jesus means when He tells them in today’s Gospel that the Son of Man will be handed over to His enemies and be put to death. That simply was not supposed to happen.

Believing Jesus is the Messiah, the apostles think of themselves as generals in His army who will share in His victories and be highly respected by the Jewish people. Feeling important, they begin to argue about which one of them ranks the highest. Overhearing their discussion, Jesus tells them that if they want to be great, they have to become lowly servants and must even welcome children for His sake.

Palestine was a dry and dusty land where people wore sandals on their feet. The master of the house usually welcomed his guests by washing their feet himself or by instructing a servant to do it. The more insignificant the guest, the more humiliating this task was. Washing the feet of a rabbi or prominent politician was not as degrading as washing the feet of a fisherman or a shepherd. Since children were on the bottom rung of the social ladder, welcoming a child (washing the child’s feet) was the lowliest of jobs, a very humbling task. This is the type of humility, a humility that compels a person to serve the poorest of the poor and the least significant of society, that should distinguish Jesus’ followers.

(Adapted from Jerome J. Sabatowich, Cycling Through the Gospels – Gospel Commentaries for Cycles A, B, and C, pages 206-207.)

Prayer: Lord Jesus, by Your Holy Spirit, make me a more humble person. Make my heart like Yours. Mold it so that I might find joy in serving others, just as You take great joy in caring for me. Amen.

Marriage = One Man and One Woman Until Death Do Us Part

Daily Marriage Tip for September 23, 2018:

“Whoever receives one child such as this in my name, receives me.” (Mk 9:37) Your children are God’s gift to you, and loving them is a way to serve the Lord. Receive them into your marriage and show them Christ’s love.

The Great Flower Pot Battle

Pastor’s Column

25^th Sunday Ordinary Time

September 23, 2018

There is something about most men and women that makes us want to “get ahead”, to improve our position in life or to make wise investments that will pay off for us down the line. It’s really amazing just how often we find Christ giving out this kind of advice. In fact, Jesus goes out of his way to let us know exactly how to get to the top of the pack in the kingdom of God.

The gospel for this Sunday (Mark 9:30-37) finds the disciples engaged in a very human argument: who is first in the “pecking order”! Apparently, they were having quite a lively discussion until Jesus interrupted. All he asked was “What were you just discussing?” This brought an immediate end to the conversation, because what the disciples were just talking about was so awful and embarrassing.

As usual, Jesus is very challenging. In a way, he appeals to our human nature: how to get ahead. But the way to get ahead for Jesus goes against our basic instincts. He says: “So, you want to get ahead in my kingdom? Here’s how to get noticed by me: serve everyone else; strive not to be noticed; don’t seek applause and recognition; be happy to be the least important in the group.”

Once in a previous parish the pastoral council decided we ought to try putting four large flower pots in front of the church. Seemed like a simple, non-controversial idea at the time. As it turned out, at every step there were people who wanted their way or the highway. The first big argument was over what style of pot to buy. Then what size to buy. Then 6 people went to pick out the plants (a mistake!) and ended up at odds with each other over what to put in the pots (each person picked out 1 plant and NO ONE was happy). More clashes ensued over where to place the pots. Finally, more arguments ensued over the watering schedule. Now, they are no longer used at all.

Do you have the heart of a servant? How often are you willing to give way to someone else’s choice? Do you get all bent out of shape if your effort, whatever it is, is overlooked? The Lord will give us many opportunities to practice this gospel. He really does want us to get ahead in the next life by growing in humility in this one.

Father Gary

Reflections from Scott Hahn

Servant of All: Scott Hahn Reflects on the Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Download Audio File

Christ Showing a Little Child as the Emblem of Heaven, Benjamin West, 1790

Readings:
Wisdom 2:12,17-20
Psalm 54:3-8
James 3:16-4:3
Mark 9:30-37

In today’s First Reading, it’s like we have our ears pressed to the wall and can hear the murderous grumblings of the elders, chief priests, and scribes—who last week Jesus predicted would torture and kill Him (see Mark 8:31; 10:33–34).

The liturgy invites us to see this passage from the Book of Wisdom as a prophecy of the Lord’s Passion. We hear His enemies complain that “the Just One” has challenged their authority, reproached them for breaking the law of Moses, for betraying their training as leaders and teachers.

And we hear chilling words that foreshadow how they will mock Him as He hangs on the Cross: “For if the Just One be the Son of God, He will . . . deliver Him. . . ” (compare Matthew 27:41–43).

Today’s Gospel and Psalm give us the flip side of the First Reading. In both, we hear of Jesus’ sufferings from His point of view. Though His enemies surround Him, He offers himself freely in sacrifice, trusting that God will sustain Him.

But the apostles today don’t understand this second announcement of Christ’s passion. They begin arguing over issues of succession—over who among them is greatest, who will be chosen to lead after Christ is killed.

Again they are thinking not as God, but as human beings (see Mark 8:33). And again Jesus teaches the Twelve—the chosen leaders of His Church—that they must lead by imitating His example of love and self-sacrifice. They must be “servants of all,” especially the weak and the helpless —symbolized by the child He embraces and places in their midst.

This is a lesson for us, too. We must have the mind of Christ, who humbled himself to come among us (see Philippians 2:5–11). We must freely offer ourselves, making everything we do a sacrifice in praise of His name.

As James says in today’s Epistle, we must seek wisdom from above, desiring humility, not glory, and in all things be gentle and full of mercy.

True Humility

"If anyone wishes to be first . . . be the servant of all"

Sunday Word: http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/092318.cfm

Mark 9: 30 - 37

Humility is not often a virtue easily applied. It does not necessarily come naturally. I often wonder how a movie star, popular sports figure, famous world leader or influential politician, a Pope or popular Bishop or priest can maintain a sense of humility. t is said that if you actually think you have the ability to step in and take on the leadership of a nation, your ego must be enormous.

With adoring crowds all around to hear your statements or to see you, your name used in positive ways or your face recognizable wherever you go, how can you keep a sense of true perspective? I believe one place we priests find humility challenge us is among our own families! They love us, yes, but we are to them simply the brother; another child of our same parents. They know us well and relate very differently, more grounded actually, than others.

Yet, what does it mean to be truly humble? "To know one's place in the world" is a well-supported definition. To be simple and to reach out to the small and the great. To respect the dignity of every person despite one's own popularity. To sit in the lowest place among the "common" people is likely our picture of humility. To serve the needs of others despite a position of authority you may have creates of picture of humility. It conjures up a picture of St. Mother Teresa or our own Pope Francis. By their example they embody an image of humility. And we know many others in our families or friends or parishioners who do the same.

This Sunday our Gospel is a continuation of Jesus teaching his disciples about the full meaning of his ministry and its ultimate purpose: “The Son of Man is to be handed over to men and they will kill him, and three days after his death he will rise." Often such contradictory statements were spoken by Jesus. To be killed and to rise?

The “Son of Man” was an ancient name for the long awaited Messiah. And the Messiah would be one to overcome any force against him or the nation. He would not be a man of weakness or vulnerability. So to say that he will be arrested and killed is simply out of the question. As we heard last Sunday from Peter to Jesus (paraphrase): “NO!” Peter exclaims. May you be spared such a fate. This doesn't fit with our agenda! That dying and rising line won’t work; you need to speak with power and force! Recall how forcefully Jesus returned Peter’s misconception about his ultimate fate and purpose – “Get behind me Satan!”

Our second reading from Wisdom foretells the suffering of the “prophet.” With an almost sarcastic tone we read: “For if the just one be the son of God, God will defend him and deliver him from the hand of his foes . . . Let us condemn him to a shameful death; for according to his own words, God will take care of him. (Wis 2: 17ff). Let’s call his bluff and challenge his claim!

In a self-sacrificing act of divine humility, Jesus submitted to earthly authority, despite its own corruption, in order to carry out God’s greater plan. That theme is made even more stark as he embraces a child to illustrate not only the true meaning of humility but to show that of discipleship, e.g. servanthood. This in the midst of his own disciples arguing with each other over who will be the greatest in his Kingdom. In my Kingdom, Jesus would remind them, you must be dependent and trusting like a child. That was a powerful, anti-cultural illustration, shocking in its starkness frankly, of Jesus’ mind.

So, here he chooses a child. Yet, in ancient times, children had no protections and were akin to slaves. Child mortality was epidemic and sixty percent of children died before the age of sixteen. In time of famine, children were fed last before adults. Disease and poor hygiene were the primary culprits. Children were the primary care of women; loved yes but also treated severely at times. For a band which Jesus formed to be compared to children was near insulting so what was his point? In light of our present day deep concerns about the safety and respect of children, this Gospel provides a timely image of God's concern for the vulnerable and innocent.

That Kingdom has a deep spiritual dimension so as Jesus often did, he choose an example in the child so shocking that one could not possibly miss the point of his teaching. Think of the parable of the prodigal son whose Jewish father behaved far more like a mother in compassion for his son. The parable of the lost sheep – who would leave the flock unguarded in favor of one? No shepherd would put his entire flock at risk but the Good Shepherd values each individually.

His point is to drive home the model of true discipleship. It isn’t a complicated one: love for others is lived out in service not domination. True humility means to know one’s place and the greatest pursuit of any of us who profess faith in Christ is to illustrate that by our lives more than our words.

The disciples were likely shocked, embarrassed, confused by Jesus statement about his impending death and rising and to link that with this child left them, as the Gospel tells us: “They did not understand the saying, and they were afraid to question him.” (Mk 9: 32). To bring honor to oneself is measured by my care for others; and not just to serve them but to do so out of love. Jesus himself is the ultimate model of what that means.

So, the ever present character of a Christian is once again illustrated in stark example for us. Our gathering for Eucharist is the true encounter with Christ whose ultimate example of service with love was offered on the cross. The giving of himself for our sake and his real and constant presence in the Eucharist is a testimony not only of his love for us but generates the energy we need to love one another.

The good that we do in the name of Christ comes back to us one hundred fold. It’s just the way it works. Only then are we truly a humble people. Fr. James Martin, SJ puts it well: "Humility is one of the gateways to the spiritual life. It is also one of the most necessary attributes for any kind of life in prayer."

Graciously raise up, O Lord,

those you renew with this Sacrament,

that we may come to possess your redemption

both in mystery and in the manner of our life.

Through Christ our Lord

(Prayer after Communion)