For the sake of Abraham, your beloved…

March 21, 2017 6:00 am

“Do not take away your mercy from us, for the sake of Abraham, your beloved, Isaac your servant, and Israel your holy one, To whom you promised to multiply their offspring like the stars of heaven, or the sand on the shore of the sea.” (DN 3: 35-36)

It was a very ancient practice, from the age of the “Fathers of the desert,” not to pray directly to God, but through the intercession of the fathers. They respected their role and their friendship with God—“for the sake of Abraham, your beloved, Issac your servant, and Israel your holy one.” When we pray with the intercession of our favorite saints (or our spiritual fathers), we not only invite them to support our prayers, but we also recognize the power of being in a very intimate relationship with God. They personally met Him “with their whole heart” and also learned how He “is gracious and merciful.”

“Even now, says the LORD, return to me with your whole heart; for I am gracious and merciful.” (Gospel Acclamation)

He did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him

March 20, 2017 7:25 am

“’Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home. For it is through the Holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her. She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.’
When Joseph awoke, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took his wife into his home.” (MT 1: 20-21.24)

How close was Joseph to God; how much He was loved by Him. He responded to God with an open heart and took on an extremely important mission—to protect and to nourish God’s Son and His Mother. Everything was hidden from Him, but He trusted God’s will completely and whatever “the Lord had commanded him”, He did with joy. Now He takes care of the whole Church and we can entrust all our intentions to him.

“Blessed are those who dwell in your house, O Lord; they never cease to praise you.” (Gospel Acclamation)

Believe because of your word

March 19, 2017 6:00 am

“We no longer believe because of your word; for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is truly the savior of the world.” (JN 4: 42)

“We believe because of your word” says today’s Gospel, and I hope we will see in heaven how many people we inspired by our words and testimonies. Fides ex auditu (faith comes from hearing), says theology. “For we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is truly the saviour of the world.” This is why He became the Word of God, why He spent 33 years teaching us, and why He is with us also in the Bible

“Lord, you are truly the Savior of the world; give me living water, that I may never thirst again.” (Gospel Acclamation)

You will cast into the depths of the sea all our sins

March 18, 2017 6:00 am

“Who is there like you, the God who removes guilt and pardons sin for the remnant of his inheritance; Who does not persist in anger forever, but delights rather in clemency, and will again have compassion on us, treading underfoot our guilt? You will cast into the depths of the sea all our sins; You will show faithfulness to Jacob, and grace to Abraham, as you have sworn to our fathers from days of old.” (MI 7: 18-20)

Our God is not interested in our sins—He “will cast into the depths of the sea all our sins”—because He created us not to avoid sins but to bring forth and multiply good. Again and again He “removes guilt and pardons sin” and “will again have compassion on us,” to equip us in every grace, so that we can grow. He waits for us and is never tired of saying how much He loves us.

“I will get up and go to my father and shall say to him, Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.” (Gospel Acclamation)

By the Lord has this been done

March 17, 2017 6:00 am

“The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; by the Lord has this been done, and it is wonderful in our eyes?” (MT 21: 42)

When we become rejected—“the stone that the builders rejected”—especially, because we carry out His will, Our Lord takes care of us—“by the Lord has this been done,” and can make from rejected stone “the cornerstone.” His love always protects and helps.

“God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son; so that everyone who believes in him might have eternal life.” (Gospel Acclamation)

The man who trusts in the Lord

March 16, 2017 6:00 am

“Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose hope is the LORD. He is like a tree planted beside the waters that stretches out its roots to the stream: It fears not the heat when it comes, its leaves stay green; In the year of drought it shows no distress, but still bears fruit.” (JER 17: 7-8)

God, who is our Father, protects us, takes care of us and like every Father wants for us all the best. He knows all the fears of our lives: “the heat” or “years of drought.” He not only knows, but also protects those who “trust in the Lord.”

“Blessed are they who have kept the word with a generous heart and yield a harvest through perseverance.” (Gospel Acclamation)

Let us carefully note his every word

March 15, 2017 6:00 am

“And so, let us destroy him by his own tongue; let us carefully note his every word.” (JER 18: 18)

“Let us carefully note his every word” sounds great, but the context means something totally opposite. “Note his every word”—not because I care but because I want something to accuse him of—“let us destroy him by his own tongue.” In our Programs we learn strategies of how to be a gift of self, how to protect a gift of self for our spouses, and how to grow together. We try to listen to each other with respect, firstly to understand and secondly to be understood.

“I am the light of the world, says the Lord; whoever follows me will have the light of life.” (Gospel Acclamation)

Father in heaven

March 14, 2017 6:00 am

“Call no one on earth your father; you have but one Father in heaven. Do not be called ‘Master’; you have but one master, the Christ. The greatest among you must be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled; but whoever humbles himself will be exalted.” (MT 23: 9-12)

Temporary and eternal—we live between these two factors of our lives. “rabbi,” “master,” and “father”—are temporary, here on earth, and are images for eternal life, where we will learn and meet the true Teacher, true Master and true Father. And we will learn how today’s paradox—“the greatest among you must be your servant” and “whoever humbles himself will be exalted”—is normal there.

“Cast away from you all the crimes you have committed, says the LORD, and make for yourselves a new heart and a new spirit.

Give and gifts will be given to you

March 13, 2017 6:00 am

“Give and gifts will be given to you; a good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing, will be poured into your lap. For the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you.” (LK 6: 38)

The only happy people are those who are givers of self. Because their gift is free and comes from their own free will, it is also creative and joyful. Demanders are always unhappy, expecting happiness from others. For them even gifts are part of a contract. When we give with joy, we imitate Our Lord, who came to give us “everlasting life.”

“Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life; you have the words of everlasting life.” (Gospel Acclamation)

Listen to Him

March 12, 2017 6:00 am

“While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud cast a shadow over them, then from the cloud came a voice that said, ‘This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.’” (MT 17: 5)

We are surrounded by the mass media, by the so-called official “experts,” “authorities,” “commentators” and “interpreters,” who know “better,” who are “wiser and smarter” and who expect us to listen to them. Our God reminds us Who we should trust and listen to: “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.”

“From the shining cloud the Father’s voice is heard: This is my beloved Son, hear him.” (Gospel Acclamation)