AD CAELI REGINAM
ENCYCLICAL OF POPE PIUS XII
ON PROCLAIMING THE QUEENSHIP OF MARY
Given at Rome, from St. Peter's, on the feast of the Maternity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the eleventh day of October, 1954, in the sixteenth year of our Pontificate
"it was she who, free of the stain of actual and original sin, and ever most closely bound to her Son, on Golgotha offered that Son to the Eternal Father together with the complete sacrifice of her maternal rights and maternal love, like a new Eve, for all the sons of Adam, stained as they were by his lamentable fall,
Pius XII, litt. enc. Mystici Corporis: AAS XXXV, 1943, p. 247.
Let all, therefore, try to approach with greater trust the throne of grace and mercy of our Queen and Mother, and beg for strength in adversity, light in darkness, consolation in sorrow; above all let them strive to free themselves from the slavery of sin and offer an unceasing homage, filled with filial loyalty, to their Queenly Mother.
All, according to their state, should strive to bring alive the wondrous virtues of our heavenly Queen and most loving Mother through constant effort of mind and manner. Thus will it come about that all Christians, in honoring and imitating their sublime Queen and Mother, will realize they are truly brothers, and with all envy and avarice thrust aside, will promote love among classes, respect the rights of the weak, cherish peace. No one should think himself a son of Mary, worthy of being received under her powerful protection, unless, like her, he is just, gentle and pure, and shows a sincere desire for true brotherhood, not harming or injuring but rather helping and comforting others.
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Memorial of Saint Bernard, abbot and doctor of the Church
Reading 1
Ez 34:1-11
The word of the Lord came to me:
Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel,
in these words prophesy to them to the shepherds:
Thus says the Lord GOD: Woe to the shepherds of Israel
who have been pasturing themselves!
Should not shepherds, rather, pasture sheep?
You have fed off their milk, worn their wool,
and slaughtered the fatlings,
but the sheep you have not pastured.
You did not strengthen the weak nor heal the sick
nor bind up the injured.
You did not bring back the strayed nor seek the lost,
but you lorded it over them harshly and brutally.
So they were scattered for the lack of a shepherd,
and became food for all the wild beasts.
My sheep were scattered
and wandered over all the mountains and high hills;
my sheep were scattered over the whole earth,
with no one to look after them or to search for them.
Therefore, shepherds, hear the word of the LORD:
As I live, says the Lord GOD,
because my sheep have been given over to pillage,
and because my sheep have become food for every wild beast,
for lack of a shepherd;
because my shepherds did not look after my sheep,
but pastured themselves and did not pasture my sheep;
because of this, shepherds, hear the word of the LORD:
Thus says the Lord GOD:
I swear I am coming against these shepherds.
I will claim my sheep from them
and put a stop to their shepherding my sheep
so that they may no longer pasture themselves.
I will save my sheep,
that they may no longer be food for their mouths.
For thus says the Lord GOD:
I myself will look after and tend my sheep.
Gospel Mt 20:1-16
Jesus told his disciples this parable:
“The Kingdom of heaven is like a landowner
who went out at dawn to hire laborers for his vineyard.
After agreeing with them for the usual daily wage,
he sent them into his vineyard.
Going out about nine o’clock,
he saw others standing idle in the marketplace,
and he said to them, ‘You too go into my vineyard,
and I will give you what is just.’
So they went off.
And he went out again around noon,
and around three o’clock, and did likewise.
Going out about five o’clock,
he found others standing around, and said to them,
‘Why do you stand here idle all day?’
They answered, ‘Because no one has hired us.’
He said to them, ‘You too go into my vineyard.’
When it was evening the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman,
‘Summon the laborers and give them their pay,
beginning with the last and ending with the first.’
When those who had started about five o’clock came,
each received the usual daily wage.
So when the first came, they thought that they would receive more,
but each of them also got the usual wage.
And on receiving it they grumbled against the landowner, saying,
‘These last ones worked only one hour,
and you have made them equal to us,
who bore the day’s burden and the heat.’
He said to one of them in reply,
‘My friend, I am not cheating you.
Did you not agree with me for the usual daily wage?
Take what is yours and go.
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.”
I felt pretty bad for the parish priest today.
St. Bernard is the patron saint of our church
and parish. So to have the shepards called on
the carpet on our special day was pretty intense.
Our parish priests are doing a fine job and I have
been very impressed.
I felt this as a sort of brutal calling to
become a priest. I took the standing
around idle part a little personal.
Jesus is saying hey...get to work.
Ez 34:1-11
The word of the Lord came to me:
Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel,
in these words prophesy to them to the shepherds:
Thus says the Lord GOD: Woe to the shepherds of Israel
who have been pasturing themselves!
Should not shepherds, rather, pasture sheep?
You have fed off their milk, worn their wool,
and slaughtered the fatlings,
but the sheep you have not pastured.
You did not strengthen the weak nor heal the sick
nor bind up the injured.
You did not bring back the strayed nor seek the lost,
but you lorded it over them harshly and brutally.
So they were scattered for the lack of a shepherd,
and became food for all the wild beasts.
My sheep were scattered
and wandered over all the mountains and high hills;
my sheep were scattered over the whole earth,
with no one to look after them or to search for them.
Therefore, shepherds, hear the word of the LORD:
As I live, says the Lord GOD,
because my sheep have been given over to pillage,
and because my sheep have become food for every wild beast,
for lack of a shepherd;
because my shepherds did not look after my sheep,
but pastured themselves and did not pasture my sheep;
because of this, shepherds, hear the word of the LORD:
Thus says the Lord GOD:
I swear I am coming against these shepherds.
I will claim my sheep from them
and put a stop to their shepherding my sheep
so that they may no longer pasture themselves.
I will save my sheep,
that they may no longer be food for their mouths.
For thus says the Lord GOD:
I myself will look after and tend my sheep.
Gospel Mt 20:1-16
Jesus told his disciples this parable:
“The Kingdom of heaven is like a landowner
who went out at dawn to hire laborers for his vineyard.
After agreeing with them for the usual daily wage,
he sent them into his vineyard.
Going out about nine o’clock,
he saw others standing idle in the marketplace,
and he said to them, ‘You too go into my vineyard,
and I will give you what is just.’
So they went off.
And he went out again around noon,
and around three o’clock, and did likewise.
Going out about five o’clock,
he found others standing around, and said to them,
‘Why do you stand here idle all day?’
They answered, ‘Because no one has hired us.’
He said to them, ‘You too go into my vineyard.’
When it was evening the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman,
‘Summon the laborers and give them their pay,
beginning with the last and ending with the first.’
When those who had started about five o’clock came,
each received the usual daily wage.
So when the first came, they thought that they would receive more,
but each of them also got the usual wage.
And on receiving it they grumbled against the landowner, saying,
‘These last ones worked only one hour,
and you have made them equal to us,
who bore the day’s burden and the heat.’
He said to one of them in reply,
‘My friend, I am not cheating you.
Did you not agree with me for the usual daily wage?
Take what is yours and go.
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.”
I felt pretty bad for the parish priest today.
St. Bernard is the patron saint of our church
and parish. So to have the shepards called on
the carpet on our special day was pretty intense.
Our parish priests are doing a fine job and I have
been very impressed.
I felt this as a sort of brutal calling to
become a priest. I took the standing
around idle part a little personal.
Jesus is saying hey...get to work.
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
St. John Eudes
St. John Eudes (1601-1680) is the founder of
the modern public devotion to the Two Hearts.
It was his mission to organize the scriptural,
theological, patristic, and liturgical sources
relating to the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary
and to popularize them with the approbation of
the Church. His chief writings on this topic were:
The Admirable Childhood of the Most Holy Mother
of God, The Admirable Heart of the Mother of God,
the Life and Kingdom of Jesus, The Sacred Heart
of Jesus, The Admirable Heart of Mary. Included
among his works was a mass and office for the
Sacred Heart of Jesus, and one for the
Admirable Heart of Mary. He was the first to
dedicate churches in the world to the Sacred
Hearts of Jesus and Mary.
A Salutation to Mary
by St. John Eudes, C. J. M.
Hail Mary, Daughter of God the Father;
Hail Mary, Mother of God the Son;
Hail Mary, Spouse of the Holy Ghost;
Hail Mary, Temple of the Most Holy Trinity.
Hail Mary, white Lilly of the resplendent and ever
unchanging Trinity.
Hail Mary, red Rose of Paradise.
Hail Mary, Virgin full of sweetness and humility,
from whom the King of Heaven willed to be
born and to suckle at the breast.
Hail Mary, Virgin of virgins.
Hail Mary, Queen of martyrs, who spent
Thy life for Heaven while on this earth.
Hail Mary, Queen of my heart, my sweetness, my
life and my entire hope.
Hail Mary, Mother most amiable.
Hail Mary, Mother most admirable.
Hail Mary, Mother of fair love.
Hail Mary, Mother of mercy.
Hail Mary, conceived without sin.
Thou art full of grace, the Lord is with Thee;
blessed art Thou among all women, and blessed is
the fruit of Thy womb, Jesus.
Blessed be Thy spouse, Saint Joseph.
Blessed be Thy father, Saint Joachim.
Blessed be Thy mother, Saint Anne.
Blessed be Thy adopted son, Saint John.
Blessed be Thy Angel, Saint Gabriel.
Blessed be the Eternal Father who elected Thee.
Blessed be Thy Son, who has loved Thee.
Blessed be the Holy Ghost, who has espoused Thee.
And blessed forever be those who love Thee and
bless Thee.
O Blessed Virgin, bless us all, in the Name of Thy
dear Son. Amen.
Prayer to the Sacred Heart
by Saint John Eudes
Oh, how good and delightful it is to dwell in the Heart of Jesus! Thy Heart, good Jesus, is a precious treasure, a precious pearl which we have found by digging in the field of Thy Body. Who will cast aside this pearl? Nay, rather I will give all I have, I will exchange all my thoughts and desires and purchase it.
I will cast all my care on the Heart of the Lord Jesus and He will provide for me without fail. I will adore in this temple, this Holy of Holies, this Ark of the Testament, and I will praise the name of the Lord, saying with David, "I have found my heart that I may pray to my God. And I have found the heart of my King, my Brother, my Friend, the benign Jesus, and why shall I not adore?" Assuredly I shall pray. For His Heart is mine. I will say it boldly, for Christ is my Head, is not what belongs to my Head mine? Therefore as the eyes of my corporal head are truly my eyes, so is my spiritual heart my heart. Therefore, it is well with me: truly I have but one Heart with Jesus and what wonder that there should be but one heart with the multitude of believers.
the modern public devotion to the Two Hearts.
It was his mission to organize the scriptural,
theological, patristic, and liturgical sources
relating to the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary
and to popularize them with the approbation of
the Church. His chief writings on this topic were:
The Admirable Childhood of the Most Holy Mother
of God, The Admirable Heart of the Mother of God,
the Life and Kingdom of Jesus, The Sacred Heart
of Jesus, The Admirable Heart of Mary. Included
among his works was a mass and office for the
Sacred Heart of Jesus, and one for the
Admirable Heart of Mary. He was the first to
dedicate churches in the world to the Sacred
Hearts of Jesus and Mary.
A Salutation to Mary
by St. John Eudes, C. J. M.
Hail Mary, Daughter of God the Father;
Hail Mary, Mother of God the Son;
Hail Mary, Spouse of the Holy Ghost;
Hail Mary, Temple of the Most Holy Trinity.
Hail Mary, white Lilly of the resplendent and ever
unchanging Trinity.
Hail Mary, red Rose of Paradise.
Hail Mary, Virgin full of sweetness and humility,
from whom the King of Heaven willed to be
born and to suckle at the breast.
Hail Mary, Virgin of virgins.
Hail Mary, Queen of martyrs, who spent
Thy life for Heaven while on this earth.
Hail Mary, Queen of my heart, my sweetness, my
life and my entire hope.
Hail Mary, Mother most amiable.
Hail Mary, Mother most admirable.
Hail Mary, Mother of fair love.
Hail Mary, Mother of mercy.
Hail Mary, conceived without sin.
Thou art full of grace, the Lord is with Thee;
blessed art Thou among all women, and blessed is
the fruit of Thy womb, Jesus.
Blessed be Thy spouse, Saint Joseph.
Blessed be Thy father, Saint Joachim.
Blessed be Thy mother, Saint Anne.
Blessed be Thy adopted son, Saint John.
Blessed be Thy Angel, Saint Gabriel.
Blessed be the Eternal Father who elected Thee.
Blessed be Thy Son, who has loved Thee.
Blessed be the Holy Ghost, who has espoused Thee.
And blessed forever be those who love Thee and
bless Thee.
O Blessed Virgin, bless us all, in the Name of Thy
dear Son. Amen.
Prayer to the Sacred Heart
by Saint John Eudes
Oh, how good and delightful it is to dwell in the Heart of Jesus! Thy Heart, good Jesus, is a precious treasure, a precious pearl which we have found by digging in the field of Thy Body. Who will cast aside this pearl? Nay, rather I will give all I have, I will exchange all my thoughts and desires and purchase it.
I will cast all my care on the Heart of the Lord Jesus and He will provide for me without fail. I will adore in this temple, this Holy of Holies, this Ark of the Testament, and I will praise the name of the Lord, saying with David, "I have found my heart that I may pray to my God. And I have found the heart of my King, my Brother, my Friend, the benign Jesus, and why shall I not adore?" Assuredly I shall pray. For His Heart is mine. I will say it boldly, for Christ is my Head, is not what belongs to my Head mine? Therefore as the eyes of my corporal head are truly my eyes, so is my spiritual heart my heart. Therefore, it is well with me: truly I have but one Heart with Jesus and what wonder that there should be but one heart with the multitude of believers.
Tuesday of the Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time
Reading 1Ez 28:1-10
The word of the LORD came to me: Son of man,
say to the prince of Tyre:
Thus says the Lord GOD:
Because you are haughty of heart,
you say, “A god am I!
I occupy a godly throne
in the heart of the sea!”—
And yet you are a man, and not a god,
however you may think yourself like a god.
Oh yes, you are wiser than Daniel,
there is no secret that is beyond you.
By your wisdom and your intelligence
you have made riches for yourself;
You have put gold and silver
into your treasuries.
By your great wisdom applied to your trading
you have heaped up your riches;
your heart has grown haughty from your riches–
therefore thus says the Lord GOD:
Because you have thought yourself
to have the mind of a god,
Therefore I will bring against you
foreigners, the most barbarous of nations.
They shall draw their swords
against your beauteous wisdom,
they shall run them through your splendid apparel.
They shall thrust you down to the pit, there to die
a bloodied corpse, in the heart of the sea.
Will you then say, “I am a god!”
when you face your murderers?
No, you are man, not a god,
handed over to those who will slay you.
You shall die the death of the uncircumcised
at the hands of foreigners,
for I have spoken, says the Lord GOD.
They shall draw their swords
against your beauteous wisdom,
they shall run them through your splendid apparel.
They shall thrust you down to the pit, there to die
a bloodied corpse, in the heart of the sea.
This reading calls all knights to contrition.
In our examination of conscious,
it is time to acknowledge the vain-glorious
drive for personal glorification.
We participate as co-creators in God's Will,
but we must not think that we are gods. Even
Mary and the Apostles on their heavenly thrones
are reminded that they are not gods but humans,
even if raised to such a lofty state.
The Martyrdom of the Apostles was the fulfillment
of God's Words to Ezekiel; not only to the Prince
of Tyre but it set up the pattern for others to
follow.
Mary experienced each pang of the Passion in her
own heart.
As Knights of Our Lady of Sorrow, we pettion
a share in this Sorrow, to endure the desecration
of our sanctuary with silent mourning and to take
the death deep inside us and participate in this
death to the degree we are permitted by grace.
Gospel
Mt 19:23-30
We have given up everything and followed you.
What will there be for us?”
Jesus said to them, “Amen, I say to you
that you who have followed me, in the new age,
when the Son of Man is seated on his throne of glory,
will yourselves sit on twelve thrones,
judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
The word of the LORD came to me: Son of man,
say to the prince of Tyre:
Thus says the Lord GOD:
Because you are haughty of heart,
you say, “A god am I!
I occupy a godly throne
in the heart of the sea!”—
And yet you are a man, and not a god,
however you may think yourself like a god.
Oh yes, you are wiser than Daniel,
there is no secret that is beyond you.
By your wisdom and your intelligence
you have made riches for yourself;
You have put gold and silver
into your treasuries.
By your great wisdom applied to your trading
you have heaped up your riches;
your heart has grown haughty from your riches–
therefore thus says the Lord GOD:
Because you have thought yourself
to have the mind of a god,
Therefore I will bring against you
foreigners, the most barbarous of nations.
They shall draw their swords
against your beauteous wisdom,
they shall run them through your splendid apparel.
They shall thrust you down to the pit, there to die
a bloodied corpse, in the heart of the sea.
Will you then say, “I am a god!”
when you face your murderers?
No, you are man, not a god,
handed over to those who will slay you.
You shall die the death of the uncircumcised
at the hands of foreigners,
for I have spoken, says the Lord GOD.
They shall draw their swords
against your beauteous wisdom,
they shall run them through your splendid apparel.
They shall thrust you down to the pit, there to die
a bloodied corpse, in the heart of the sea.
This reading calls all knights to contrition.
In our examination of conscious,
it is time to acknowledge the vain-glorious
drive for personal glorification.
We participate as co-creators in God's Will,
but we must not think that we are gods. Even
Mary and the Apostles on their heavenly thrones
are reminded that they are not gods but humans,
even if raised to such a lofty state.
The Martyrdom of the Apostles was the fulfillment
of God's Words to Ezekiel; not only to the Prince
of Tyre but it set up the pattern for others to
follow.
Mary experienced each pang of the Passion in her
own heart.
As Knights of Our Lady of Sorrow, we pettion
a share in this Sorrow, to endure the desecration
of our sanctuary with silent mourning and to take
the death deep inside us and participate in this
death to the degree we are permitted by grace.
Gospel
Mt 19:23-30
We have given up everything and followed you.
What will there be for us?”
Jesus said to them, “Amen, I say to you
that you who have followed me, in the new age,
when the Son of Man is seated on his throne of glory,
will yourselves sit on twelve thrones,
judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
Monday, August 18, 2008
Pilgrim Notes 8/18/08
Reading 1
Ez 24:15-23
The word of the LORD came to me:
Son of man, by a sudden blow
I am taking away from you the delight of your eyes,
but do not mourn or weep or shed any tears.
Groan in silence, make no lament for the dead,
bind on your turban, put your sandals on your feet,
do not cover your beard, and do not eat the customary bread.
Thus says the Lord GOD:
I will now desecrate my sanctuary,
the stronghold of your pride,
the delight of your eyes, the desire of your soul.
The sons and daughters you left behind
shall fall by the sword.
Ezekiel shall be a sign for you:
all that he did you shall do when it happens.
Thus you shall know that I am the LORD.
You shall do as I have done,
not covering your beards
nor eating the customary bread.
Your turbans shall remain on your heads,
your sandals on your feet.
You shall not mourn or weep,
but you shall rot away because of your sins and groan one to another.
I made it early and was praying the Rosery
with two ladies before Mass.
I was having a very nice time, a bit nervous
reciting the prayers outloud cause I am still
fuzzy on them when I get going. I was in a
deep state of concentration when my hands
were knocked and my eyes poped open to see a
child clambering up the pew its mother close
behind. In the nearly empty
church they chose to sit directly infront of me.
This was a total disruption of my prayer
and a violation of my space.
My Sanctuary was desecrated.
My temper was flaring while I was praying the rosary...
my voice wavering with emotion.
I tried to channel the prayer...
Pray for us SINNERS NOW...
and at the hour of our DEATH...
said right to/for this woman sitting in front of me,
her son making a terrible rukus.
I remained on my knees in the
deepest prayer I could summon.
I was determined to fill the space
with the Holy Spirit and bless this
family if it killed me.
This child actually began to calm down a bit...
but this is only after rapping on the
pew inches away from my kneeling self.
When this child recieved the blessing
from the Priest I saw him touch the
child and draw the tau cross on his forehead.
I felt a wave of joy and blessing. There
is a mercy in the Holy Spirit that
alone can comfort the children who
have grown in chronic mortal sin of
their parents. Their nervous systems
are incapable of focusing because it
has not been nutured. The power of the
Holy Spirit, the giver of Life, it is
Nature that can heal the "sick"...
even a small child. The child has
seen me praying as hard as I can,
asking God to radiate the Holy Spirit
to him and he has sat and wondered...
Truly painful to me to lose the quiet
holy time that I love so much from daily
mass but this is not only charity but is
the voice of the Holy Spirit that
continues to speak through the Prophets.
I was warned before hand, I knew
that I was not to over-react to
the desecration but I had no idea
that it would appear so suddenly
and actually desecrate my sanctuary.
I failed in speaking the Rosary to her...
"Groan in silence, make no lament for the dead"
Ez 24:15-23
The word of the LORD came to me:
Son of man, by a sudden blow
I am taking away from you the delight of your eyes,
but do not mourn or weep or shed any tears.
Groan in silence, make no lament for the dead,
bind on your turban, put your sandals on your feet,
do not cover your beard, and do not eat the customary bread.
Thus says the Lord GOD:
I will now desecrate my sanctuary,
the stronghold of your pride,
the delight of your eyes, the desire of your soul.
The sons and daughters you left behind
shall fall by the sword.
Ezekiel shall be a sign for you:
all that he did you shall do when it happens.
Thus you shall know that I am the LORD.
You shall do as I have done,
not covering your beards
nor eating the customary bread.
Your turbans shall remain on your heads,
your sandals on your feet.
You shall not mourn or weep,
but you shall rot away because of your sins and groan one to another.
I made it early and was praying the Rosery
with two ladies before Mass.
I was having a very nice time, a bit nervous
reciting the prayers outloud cause I am still
fuzzy on them when I get going. I was in a
deep state of concentration when my hands
were knocked and my eyes poped open to see a
child clambering up the pew its mother close
behind. In the nearly empty
church they chose to sit directly infront of me.
This was a total disruption of my prayer
and a violation of my space.
My Sanctuary was desecrated.
My temper was flaring while I was praying the rosary...
my voice wavering with emotion.
I tried to channel the prayer...
Pray for us SINNERS NOW...
and at the hour of our DEATH...
said right to/for this woman sitting in front of me,
her son making a terrible rukus.
I remained on my knees in the
deepest prayer I could summon.
I was determined to fill the space
with the Holy Spirit and bless this
family if it killed me.
This child actually began to calm down a bit...
but this is only after rapping on the
pew inches away from my kneeling self.
When this child recieved the blessing
from the Priest I saw him touch the
child and draw the tau cross on his forehead.
I felt a wave of joy and blessing. There
is a mercy in the Holy Spirit that
alone can comfort the children who
have grown in chronic mortal sin of
their parents. Their nervous systems
are incapable of focusing because it
has not been nutured. The power of the
Holy Spirit, the giver of Life, it is
Nature that can heal the "sick"...
even a small child. The child has
seen me praying as hard as I can,
asking God to radiate the Holy Spirit
to him and he has sat and wondered...
Truly painful to me to lose the quiet
holy time that I love so much from daily
mass but this is not only charity but is
the voice of the Holy Spirit that
continues to speak through the Prophets.
I was warned before hand, I knew
that I was not to over-react to
the desecration but I had no idea
that it would appear so suddenly
and actually desecrate my sanctuary.
I failed in speaking the Rosary to her...
"Groan in silence, make no lament for the dead"
Monday of the Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time
Gospel
Mt 19:16-22
A young man approached Jesus and said,
“Teacher, what good must I do to gain eternal life?”
He answered him, “Why do you ask me about the good?
There is only One who is good.
If you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments.”
He asked him, “Which ones?”
And Jesus replied, “You shall not kill;
you shall not commit adultery;
you shall not steal;
you shall not bear false witness;
honor your father and your mother;
and you shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
The young man said to him,
“All of these I have observed. What do I still lack?”
Jesus said to him, “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.
This lad was thinking of the Kingdom of Heaven
in his own familiar material terms. It was something
he wanted to be able to posess like the other objects
that he has acquired. These objects are used to define
himself. He perceives the great value in the
Heavenly Wisdom of Jesus but his intention is that of
aqusition. When Jesus tells him that to aquire eternal
life it is merely needed to observe the
Ten Commandments the young man tells
Jesus that he has already "observed"
them or otherwise he feels that he has already
aquired that knowledge. What
is it in the emptyness of this individual
who continues to ask Jesus for ways to
aquire The Kingdom of Heaven? It is that he
is approaching the mystery all wrong. Christ has
purchased us the gift, there is nothing we could offer that
would buy what we seek. Once we realize that we are
impoverished when it comes to "Perfection" we can
stop trying to bargin our way into heaven. We must
simply realize that once we are reconcilled by the
Holy Spirit to unity with the Father through the
Body of Christ we are eternal life here and now.
What do I still lack?”
This is the wrong question to ask...you have nothing,
you have purchased nothing, you are poor.
YOU LACK EVERYTHING!
Jesus makes it clear that without redemption
that even the violation of a commandment
in thought is enough to warrant your eternal
death, the justice due you for your violation of the
Covenant of God. Anger is Murder and the
thought of Adultery is guilty of the same,
there is no way to remain free from sin.
You cannot purchase your way out of this
mess because you can hardly imagine how
deeply you have fallen from grace,
even with the miracle of Baptism.
It is not hard to imagine that this young
gentleman is not the same who did sell
all he owned to obtain the Pearl of Great Price...
only to discover that in his poverty that
he was a child of the Father,
a member of the Body of Christ.
You have forgotten God who gave you birth.
What "good" did you do to purchase this current life?
Mt 19:16-22
A young man approached Jesus and said,
“Teacher, what good must I do to gain eternal life?”
He answered him, “Why do you ask me about the good?
There is only One who is good.
If you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments.”
He asked him, “Which ones?”
And Jesus replied, “You shall not kill;
you shall not commit adultery;
you shall not steal;
you shall not bear false witness;
honor your father and your mother;
and you shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
The young man said to him,
“All of these I have observed. What do I still lack?”
Jesus said to him, “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.
This lad was thinking of the Kingdom of Heaven
in his own familiar material terms. It was something
he wanted to be able to posess like the other objects
that he has acquired. These objects are used to define
himself. He perceives the great value in the
Heavenly Wisdom of Jesus but his intention is that of
aqusition. When Jesus tells him that to aquire eternal
life it is merely needed to observe the
Ten Commandments the young man tells
Jesus that he has already "observed"
them or otherwise he feels that he has already
aquired that knowledge. What
is it in the emptyness of this individual
who continues to ask Jesus for ways to
aquire The Kingdom of Heaven? It is that he
is approaching the mystery all wrong. Christ has
purchased us the gift, there is nothing we could offer that
would buy what we seek. Once we realize that we are
impoverished when it comes to "Perfection" we can
stop trying to bargin our way into heaven. We must
simply realize that once we are reconcilled by the
Holy Spirit to unity with the Father through the
Body of Christ we are eternal life here and now.
What do I still lack?”
This is the wrong question to ask...you have nothing,
you have purchased nothing, you are poor.
YOU LACK EVERYTHING!
Jesus makes it clear that without redemption
that even the violation of a commandment
in thought is enough to warrant your eternal
death, the justice due you for your violation of the
Covenant of God. Anger is Murder and the
thought of Adultery is guilty of the same,
there is no way to remain free from sin.
You cannot purchase your way out of this
mess because you can hardly imagine how
deeply you have fallen from grace,
even with the miracle of Baptism.
It is not hard to imagine that this young
gentleman is not the same who did sell
all he owned to obtain the Pearl of Great Price...
only to discover that in his poverty that
he was a child of the Father,
a member of the Body of Christ.
You have forgotten God who gave you birth.
What "good" did you do to purchase this current life?
Sunday, August 17, 2008
20th Ordinary Sunday 2008
Jesus withdrew
to the region of Tyre and Sidon.
And behold,
a Canaanite woman
of that district came and called out,
“Have pity on me, Lord, Son of David!
My daughter is tormented by a demon.”
“Have pity on me, Lord, Son of David!
My daughter is tormented by a demon.”
But Jesus did not say a word in answer to her.
Jesus’ disciples came
and asked him,
“Send her away,
“Send her away,
for she keeps calling out after us.”
He said in reply,
“I was sent only to the lost sheep
of the house of Israel.”
But the woman came
and did Jesus homage,
saying, “Lord, help me.”
He said in reply,
“It is not right
to take the food of the children
and throw it to the dogs.”
and throw it to the dogs.”
She said,
“Please, Lord,
for even the dogs
eat the scraps
that fall from
that fall from
the table of their masters.”
Then Jesus said to her in reply,
“O woman, great is your faith!
Let it be done for you as you wish.”
And the woman’s daughter was healed from that hour.
Praise be to you Lord, Jesus Christ.
The Eucharist is LUMINIOUS;
it GLOWS with living light.
Sitting in Church with the
Eucharist in a Monstrance;
the Presence is unmistakable.
How much more intense
is this experience with
the Priest at the altar.
The Host reflects the
entire energetic universe
that is contained in the Risen Christ.
You can allow this energy
to soak into your mind, body and soul
with simple silent devotional prayer
EVEN if you are not in a position to
take the Eucharist.
Even for the lowest dog in the
Kingdom of Heaven...
the scraps from the Lord's table;
FLASHES of Living Light,
penetrating all Flesh, redeeming
all it passes through.
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