For my sake and for the sake of the Gospel

May 24, 2016 8:44 am

“Amen, I say to you, there is no one who has given up house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands for my sake and for the sake of the Gospel who will not receive a hundred times more now in this present age: houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and eternal life in the age to come. But many that are first will be last, and the last will be first.” (MK 10: 29-31)

All our activities are for something—sports for being healthy, work for growing and for a salary, vacations for rest, retreats for a better relationship with God, and Programs for a better relationship with our spouse. But we should never forget about the final reason for all our activities—“for His sake and for the sake of the Gospel.”

“Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth; you have revealed to little ones the mysteries of the Kingdom.” 

The goal of faith

May 23, 2016 6:00 am

“Although you have not seen him you love him; even though you do not see him now yet you believe in him, you rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy, as you attain the goal of faith, the salvation of your souls.” (1 PT 1: 8-9)

We can’t see Our Lord, but we can love Him. Loving Him is more important than seeing Him. With love it is easier to believe in Him. When love and belief is present, we can “attain the goal of faith—the salvation of our souls.”

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

He will take from what is mine and declare it to you

May 22, 2016 6:00 am

“Everything that the Father has is mine; for this reason I told you that he will take from what is mine and declare it to you.” (JN 16: 15)

The Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity brings us closer to the most holy unity: God, who loves His Son and loves the Holy Spirit, the Son, who is born by the Father, and the Holy Spirit, Who proceeds from the Father and the Son. They are all together in the same nature, but different in roles, sharing everything with each other—“everything that the Father has is mine,” the perfect Community and the perfect example for us.

“Glory to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit; to God who is, who was, and who is to come.” (Gospel Acclamation) 

Like a child

May 21, 2016 6:00 am

“Let the children come to me; do not prevent them, for the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Amen, I say to you, whoever does not accept the Kingdom of God like a child will not enter it.” (MK 10: 14-15)

“Accept[ing] the Kingdom of God like a child” could be a very difficult challenge for us. It is not only about acceptance in total dependence upon and obedience to the gospel, but also about a very specific relationship with God—as a child. When we come to Him like children, He can welcome us as a Father.

“Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth; you have revealed to little ones the mysteries of the Kingdom.” (Gospel Acclamation) 

From the beginning of creation

May 20, 2016 6:00 am

 

“But from the beginning of creation, God made them male and female. 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, no human being must separate.” (MK 10: 7-9)

Our Lord, the Way, the Truth and the Life, protects the truth of marriage. Marriage, God’s gift to us, shines when a couple follows God’s rule, “therefore what God has joined together, no human being must separate.” Even more, He made a special connection between His love for the Church and marriage.

“Your word, O Lord, is truth; consecrate us in the truth.” (Gospel Acclamation) 

Because you belong to Christ

May 19, 2016 6:00 am

 

“Anyone who gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ, amen, I say to you, will surely not lose his reward.” (MK 9: 41)

Even the smallest gesture, like someone who gives “a cup of water to drink because we belong to Christ, will not lose his reward.” This is how Our Lord takes care of us. He made us so close to Him that He identified Himself with us—what an honor and grace for us.

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

 

If the Lord wills it

May 18, 2016 6:00 am

“Instead you should say, ‘If the Lord wills it, we shall live to do this or that.’” (JAS 4: 15)

It is normal that we have many plans. At the same time, we should always remember that we are not human doers, but human beings, and the most important thing is our relationship with God, more important than many things we can do. When our actions come from our relationship with Him, we can expect more gentleness and respect in what we do. Unconditionally loved by Him, we will share with others what we receive from Him. It will always qualify all our plans.

“I am the way and the truth and the life, says the Lord; no one comes to the Father except through me.” (Gospel Acclamation) 

Draw near to God

May 17, 2016 6:00 am

 

“So submit yourselves to God. Resist the Devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.” (JAS 4: 7-8)

God respects our freedom and wants us to be responsible for our relationship with Him—“draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.” He will never stop loving us, even if we reject Him, but when we “submit ourselves to God,” He can be in our hearts and help us to become like His Son, Jesus Christ.

“May I never boast except in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me and I to the world.” 

The wisdom from above

May 16, 2016 6:00 am

 

“But the wisdom from above is first of all pure, then peaceable, gentle, compliant, full of mercy and good fruits, without inconstancy or insincerity. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace for those who cultivate peace.” (JAS 3: 17-18)

How beautiful is the wisdom from above: “pure, peaceable, gentle, compliant, full of mercy and good fruits.” It sounds like a perfect environment for families and for any community. It comes “from above” as a free gift, but it expects cooperation from us. When we form our hearts looking on the Holy Family, we can hope for the same in our families.

“Our Savior Jesus Christ has destroyed death and brought life to light through the Gospel.” (Gospel Acclamation) 

They were all in one place together

May 15, 2016 12:17 pm

“When the time for Pentecost was fulfilled, they were all in one place together. And suddenly there came from the sky a noise like a strong driving wind, and it filled the entire house in which they were. Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire, which parted and came to rest on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues, as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim.” (ACTS 2: 1-4) 

God expects from the Apostles only one thing—“they were all in one place together.” Everything else came from Him: “tongues as of fire, which rest on each one of them” and “filling with the Holy Spirit and speaking in different tongues.” The same happens with family when “they are all in one place together.” God created the Church as a community and marriage, “the domestic Church,” also as a community, and whenever the Holy Spirit comes, it is always to build community. And this is the most unique and prestigious gift of the Holy Spirit—unity and community; it is much more important than all the amazing gifts (like speaking in different tongues) we can receive with His coming.

“Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love.” (Gospel Acclamation)