Which commandment is the greatest?

August 21, 2015 6:00 am

“’Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?’ He said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment. The second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments.’” (MT 22: 36-40)

Even if the motivation behind this question wasn’t good, Our Lord used this to remind us of the truth about the commandments and their hierarchy. First of all is “the Lord, our God” to whom we owe our hearts, souls and “all our mind,” but immediately after, as a natural consequence, follows “you shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Without protecting my own dignity, there is no respect for my neighbor, and without love for my neighbor, there is no real love for God.

“Teach me your paths, my God, guide me in your truth.” (Gospel Acclamation)

Come to the feast

August 20, 2015 6:00 am

“‘Behold, I have prepared my banquet, my calves and fattened cattle are killed, and everything is ready; come to the feast.’ Some ignored the invitation and went away, one to his farm, another to his business.” (MT 22: 4-5)

Our Lord “prepared his banquet” and invites us: “come to the feast.” He gives us His body and blood that we may have His life in us. With Him we can change our lives for the better and put everything important in the right place. Even “farm and business,” when committed to Him, become not an obstacle but an opportunity.

“If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.” (Gospel Acclamation)

Because I am generous

August 19, 2015 6:00 am

“‘What if I wish to give this last one the same as you? Or am I not free to do as I wish with my own money? Are you envious because I am generous?’ Thus, the last will be first, and the first will be last.” (MT 20: 14-16)

Our Lord is generous and he wishes “to give the last one the same as you.” It is more difficult for us. We expect some sort of justice. God’s love is not based on our work or generally saying our “doing” but on our “being”, on our relationship with Him, our filiation. And that world, the world of persons,should be more concerned about being a sincere gift of self than how to receive more.

“The word of God is living and effective, able to discern the reflections and thoughts of the heart.” (Gospel Acclamation)

For God all things are possible

August 18, 2015 10:56 am

“‘Who then can be saved?’ Jesus looked at them and said, ‘For men this is impossible, but for God all things are possible.’” (MT 19: 26)

Our salvation is based on Jesus’ death on the Cross, not on our achievement or as a reward for our fantastic lives. No one can be saved by himself, but “for God all things are possible,” and the one thing we can do is to give our lives to Him and trust more in His love and mercy.

“Jesus Christ became poor although he was rich so that by his poverty you might become rich.” (Gospel Acclamation)

He went away sad

August 17, 2015 6:00 am

“‘If you wish to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.’ When the young man heard this statement, he went away sad, for he had many possessions.” (MT 19: 21-22)

The reason “he went away sad” was  that “he had many possessions.” There is nothing wrong with possessions until we possess them, not they possess us. It is like with our gift of self. When it is free and creative, it naturally becomes joyful; when it is only a consequence of a demand, it is neither free nor creative, and it finally leaves us sad.

“Blessed are the poor in spirit; for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.” (Gospel Acclamation)

Remains in me and I in him

August 16, 2015 6:00 am

“Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him. Just as the living Father sent me and I have life because of the Father, so also the one who feeds on me will have life because of me.” (JN 6: 54-56)

Our Lord wants to be always with us. He gave us His body and blood as a food for eternal life because as He received life from “the living Father,” “so also the one who feeds on me will have life because of me.” This is Holy Communion–when we receive Our Lord Himself and life with Him. What a privilege we have received; we become the Holy Tabernacle, and we can take Him to our meetings and to our brothers and sisters in need.

“Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him, says the Lord.” (Gospel Acclamation)

Brought to life

August 15, 2015 6:00 am

“For just as in Adam all die, so too in Christ shall all be brought to life, but each one in proper order: Christ the firstfruits; then, at his coming, those who belong to Christ.” (1 COR 15: 22-23)

Today we celebrate the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. “In Christ shall all be brought to life, but each one in proper order: Christ…then…those who belong to Christ.” Our Lady was first with Him, and she was the first who followed Him. Always united by love and by the will of the Father, always in her mission and always for us,her Assumption should draw us even closer to her.

“Mary is taken up to heaven; a chorus of angels exults.” (Gospel Acclamation)

What God has joined together

August 14, 2015 6:00 am

“Have you not read that from the beginning the Creator made them male and female and said, For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh? So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore, what God has joined together, man must not separate.” (MT 19: 4-6)

It is providential that on the feast of St. Maxymilian Kolbe today’s Gospel mentions our responsibility to protect marriage: “what God has joined together, man must not separate.” There was no other reason that St. Maximilian offered his life to protect another prisoner’s life but that he was married and was so afraid for how his wife would survive without his help and presence. We also can, like St. Maximilian, protect marriage unity. Maybe at this time we can do itin a less radical way, but still giving our lives and our abilities to support families and to serve them with our Love and Life Programs. Marriage was created not by us, but by God Himself, and protecting marriage is like protecting God’s authority over marriage.

“Receive the word of God, not as the word of men, but, as it truly is, the word of God.” (Gospel Acclamation)

How often must I forgive him?

August 13, 2015 6:45 am

Lord, if my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive him? As many as seven times?’ Jesus answered, ‘I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times.’” (MT 18: 21-22)

Our question—“must I forgive if my brother sins against me?” and universal answer—for sure we must forgive. But the problem is not here; more important is—“how often”? And this is far beyond our expectation: “not seven times but seventy-seven times,” which generally means—always. There is no other way for us except to follow God’s word. If He says seventy-seven times, it means—no less. Fortunately for us, even if we are below these standards, He always is faithful.

“Let your countenance shine upon your servant and teach me your statutes.” (Gospel Acclamation)

Two or three are gathered together in my name

August 12, 2015 6:00 am

“Again, amen, I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything for which they are to pray, it shall be granted to them by my heavenly Father. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” (MT 18: 19-20)

One of the reasons why we are so concerned about making our Programs for couples, Love and Life Programs, is to help spouses to be united, to understand themselves better and not only to respect each other but alsoto enjoy their differences as a beautiful way to look at what they have in common, rather than how they are separately. Because “if two of you agree on earth about anything for which they are to pray, it shall be granted to them by my heavenly Father.” And, what is more important: “there am I in the midst of them.”

“God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.” (Gospel Acclamation)