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)

Their angels in heaven

August 11, 2015 6:00 am

“See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that their angels in heaven always look upon the face of my heavenly Father.” (MT 18: 10)

I love Angels. And of course, in a very special way, I love my Guardian Angel, an amazing support from God the Father. Every person receives help from God who dedicated one of His angels to be someone’s Guardian Angel, and they represent us before God. Like in any relationship, it is so important to respect them, communicate with them and listen to their advice. We can learn from them how to love God, how to respond to His will and how to change our hearts into His “meek and humble heart.”

“Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart.” (Gospel Acclamation)

 

God loves a cheerful giver

August 10, 2015 6:00 am

“Each must do as already determined, without sadness or compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. Moreover, God is able to make every grace abundant for you, so that in all things, always having all you need, you may have an abundance for every good work.” (2 COR 9: 7-8)

When you give, be a “cheerful giver.” Your gift should be free, creative and joyful. Free, because it is not a reward, not a price for something but your independent decision to be a giver. Creative, because you are putting love into the gift, and love is always creative. Joyful, because you are so happy to be a giver, determined by your love to give and you can’t wait until you give your gift.

“Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness but will have the light of life, says the Lord.” (Gospel Acclamation)

Be imitators of God

August 9, 2015 6:00 am

“All bitterness, fury, anger, shouting, and reviling must be removed from you, along with all malice. And be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving one another as God has forgiven you in Christ. So be imitators of God, as beloved children, and live in love, as Christ loved us and handed himself over for us as a sacrificial offering to God for a fragrant aroma.” (EPH 4:31-32.5:1-2)

Our Lord asks us today to “be imitators of God” as a married couple, as parents, friends, neighbors and members of community or society. Our LORD “handed himself over for us as a sacrificial offering to God”, so we can “be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving one another,” making a gift of self, changing ourselves for the edification of our spouses or friends, and respecting their dignity and vocation. We can be “a fragrant aroma” for this world.

“I am the living bread that came down from heaven, says the Lord;whoever eats this bread will live forever.” (Gospel Acclamation)

You shall love the LORD

August 8, 2015 6:00 am

“Therefore, you shall love the LORD, your God, with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength. Take to heart these words which I enjoin on you today. Drill them into your children. Speak of them at home and abroad, whether you are busy or at rest. Bind them at your wrist as a sign and let them be as a pendant on your forehead. Write them on the doorposts of your houses and on your gates.” DT6: 5-9

There is only one name in which we are saved—Jesus, the Lord. There is only one thing He expects from us—to allow Him to love us and to love Him. And because we are human, we receive good suggestions about how to remember: “take to heart these words”, “drill them,” “speak of them whether you are busy or at rest,” “bind them at your wrist,” and “write them on the doorposts of your houses and on your gates.” We need reminders to remember; we need rituals daily, weekly, monthly and yearly.

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

Save life

August 7, 2015 6:00 am

“For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” (MT 16: 25)

It is like being a giver of self versus a demander, who’s making an insistent and peremptory request, made as if by right. It is like looking more for what I can do for my spouse or friends versus saving my life for my pleasure only and using others for this. We receive freedom to choose—“whoever wishes….”

“Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness; for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.” (Gospel Acclamation)

Anyone but Jesus alone with them

August 6, 2015 6:00 am

“Then a cloud came, casting a shadow over them; from the cloud came a voice, ‘This is my beloved Son. Listen to him.’ Suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone but Jesus alone with them.” (MK 9: 7-8)

The Transfiguration of the Lord was to strengthen the faith of the disciples. The voice of God the Father came from the cloud: “this is my beloved Son. Listen to him” to confirm His Son’s mission. But what is more important, with the Transfiguration we received a precious gift—the freedom to see no one but Jesus as an answer to all our needs—“looking around, they no longer saw anyone but Jesus alone with them.” He is the answer, the solution, the help and only hope.

“This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” (Gospel Acclamation)