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23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

 September 7, 2008 • No Comments

“If your brother sins against you, go tell him his fault between you and him alone.” [Matthew 18:15].

One of the themes of this week’s reading is accountability…by our Lord, the holy church and literally each individual. The accountability is to support the truth of love within the church. Any act which opposes acts of love shall be considered wicked. This accountability could be considered cyclical in its nature.

1. Our lord teaches us through his word that to remain in wickedness is to die.
2. We are required to love each member of the church.
3. Our lord gives us a specific protocol (you will notice how strong the commandment of love is): speak with your brother/sister privately if they sin against you, if no resolution may be found we are required to ask a few close friends to listen to the argument objectively and help decide the truth of the matter, if still no resolution may be found we are required to go to the church. If all fails, then we are required to relinquish our relationship with them as someone who has chosen wickedness and death. This is someone unwilling to follow Christ and be a part of the church. This does not mean that we should stop loving them however!
4. Our purpose is to glorify, honor and praise the Lord our God. To be gathered in Christ means we must all follow his commandment to love one another. This ‘protocol’ ensures that those who gather to pray do so with their hearts in the right place and also ensure they do not judge other solely on their opinions but with that of church. How often do we skip several steps in our Lord’s protocol in approaching others when they have hurt us. Do not many of us simply ignore other who have hurt us and have nothing to do with them. This is unacceptable to our Lord.[Matthew 18:15-20]

A pillar of our Catholic faith is the Sacrament of Reconciliation. “Those who approach the Sacrament of Penance obtain pardon from God’s mercy for the offense committed against him, and are, at the same time , reconciled with the Church which they have wounded by their sins and which by charity (love), by example, and by prayer labors for their conversion.” [Catechism of the Catholic Church 1422] Humans are wicked and our heart’s hardened by sin. Again, in order to be prepared individually and as a church to glorify God above all things we need to be converted, to be restored. If done correctly, this is obtained through the Sacrament of Reconciliation. God’s gives us the strength to begin anew. Our heart’s are converted by looking upon the One who’s sins have pierced. [Catechism of the Catholic Church 1432].

Lord, thank you for the opportunity to be converted by your grace and blessings. May we overcome our pride and fear in order to glorify you above all things.

Matthew 18:15
View in: NAB NIV KJV NJB Vulg Greek
15But if thy brother shall offend against thee, go, and rebuke him between thee and him alone. If he shall hear thee, thou shalt gain thy brother.
Matthew 18:15-20
View in: NAB NIV KJV NJB Vulg Greek
15But if thy brother shall offend against thee, go, and rebuke him between thee and him alone. If he shall hear thee, thou shalt gain thy brother.
16And if he will not hear thee, take with thee one or two more: that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may stand.
17And if he will not hear them: tell the church. And if he will not hear the church, let him be to thee as the heathen and publican.
18Amen I say to you, whatsoever you shall bind upon earth, shall be bound also in heaven; and whatsoever you shall loose upon earth, shall be loosed also in heaven.
19Again I say to you, that if two of you shall consent upon earth, concerning any thing whatsoever they shall ask, it shall be done to them by my Father who is in heaven.
20For where there are two or three gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

 August 31, 2008 • No Comments

I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God, your spiritual worship. [Romans 12:1-2]

What is Paul asking us to do? Can it seem like a more difficult and conflicting plea when you compare it to the messages of our society and current cultural norms? Think about what we typically sacrifice our lives for today…TV schedules, our pride, favorite foods, social acceptance, friends which make us feel significant, a respected job and profession, anything which keeps us from having fear/anxiety. These are worldly things. Our Lord, as he did on the cross, asks us to sacrifice our minds and literally our bodies for something far greater. The Kingdom of Heaven.

Pride, fear and anxiety are obstacles of the evil one. These obstacles trap us all. Of these three mentioned, how many got to Peter, our rock? All of them. When our Lord told the disciples he was to go to Jerusalem and essentially offer up his body as a living sacrifice, Peter rebuked him saying, “God forbid, Lord! No such thing shall ever happen to you.” Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are an obstacle to me. You are thinking not as God does but as human beings do” [Matthew 16:21-27]. First of all, can you imagine Peter’s thoughts when our Lord said that to him. Secondly, look at Peter’s language. He literally shouts “God forbid!” He almost sounds like he is praying, however our Lord corrects this quickly by saying that Peter is only thinking in worldly ways, specifically in fear and pride. It is critical for us to separate, amongst us who lead and serve in the living Catholic church, the difference between those actions which offer a living sacrifice to our God and those which are born of man. Again, a living sacrifice precedes real spiritual worship, so even if someone’s language includes words such as “God’s will”, it will not do to speak this way while that person continues to act according to the will of the world.

A pillar of our Catholic faith is our vocation. By the power of the Holy Spirit we are able to follow this path to establishing a foundation for vocation (taking up our cross). Instead of resting in worldly pride and fear, we rest on the dignity rooted in our faith and living church. 1. We understand our dignity is rooted in creation (we are built in the image and likeness of our Creator) 2. This dignity is fulfilled in our vocation to divine beatitude (the root message of the heart of Christ) 3. It is essential for us to choose and direct ourselves to fulfill our vocation 4. We understand this is a deliberate action to conform in moral conscience and God’s good action 5. We are responsible for our contribution to grow in God 6. God’s grace helps us to grow in virtue 7. Avoid sin and confess 8. Achieve the perfection of charity. (Catechism of the Catholic Church 1700)

God, all glory and honor be given to you. We thank you for your clear message of faith. A message which assists us in knowing that by your heavenly grace we can humble ourselves to offering ourselves up as a living sacrifice, mind and body, so that we may have true spiritual worship. Amen.

Matthew 18:15
View in: NAB NIV KJV NJB Vulg Greek
15But if thy brother shall offend against thee, go, and rebuke him between thee and him alone. If he shall hear thee, thou shalt gain thy brother.
Matthew 18:15-20
View in: NAB NIV KJV NJB Vulg Greek
15But if thy brother shall offend against thee, go, and rebuke him between thee and him alone. If he shall hear thee, thou shalt gain thy brother.
16And if he will not hear thee, take with thee one or two more: that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may stand.
17And if he will not hear them: tell the church. And if he will not hear the church, let him be to thee as the heathen and publican.
18Amen I say to you, whatsoever you shall bind upon earth, shall be bound also in heaven; and whatsoever you shall loose upon earth, shall be loosed also in heaven.
19Again I say to you, that if two of you shall consent upon earth, concerning any thing whatsoever they shall ask, it shall be done to them by my Father who is in heaven.
20For where there are two or three gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
Romans 12:1-2
View in: NAB NIV KJV NJB Vulg Greek
1I BESEECH you therefore, brethren, by the mercy of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, pleasing unto God, your reasonable service.
2And be not conformed to this world; but be reformed in the newness of your mind, that you may prove what is the good, and the acceptable, and the perfect will of God.
Matthew 16:21-27
View in: NAB NIV KJV NJB Vulg Greek
21From that time Jesus began to shew to his disciples, that he must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the ancients and scribes and chief priests, and be put to death, and the third day rise again.
22And Peter taking him, began to rebuke him, saying: Lord, be it far from thee, this shall not be unto thee.
23Who turning, said to Peter: Go behind me, Satan, thou art a scandal unto me: because thou savourest not the things that are of God, but the things that are of men.
24Then Jesus said to his disciples: If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
25For he that will save his life, shall lose it: and he that shall lose his life for my sake, shall find it.
26For what doth it profit a man, if he gain the whole world, and suffer the loss of his own soul? Or what exchange shall a man give for his soul?
27For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels: and then will he render to every man according to his works.

21st Sunday in Ordinary Time

 August 24, 2008 • No Comments

Lord, your love is eternal; do not forsake the work of your hands. [Pslam 138]

Our responsorial psalm bids praise and thanks with the holy angels and holy church. It also exalts our Lord recognizing his affection for the those who are poor (in spirit!) and how little he is impressed with those who place their trust in themselves (the proud). Simply put, God has made a world which will glorify him, in heaven and earthly church, above all things. There are no exceptions, God would not be God if there were. This psalm is saying, “God cannot forsake the work of his hands.”

Our Lord has given the Catholic Church authority through its infrastructure. Peter, our first Pope, answered to the truth regarding the work of God’s hands that Jesus Christ was the son of the living God. Jesus Christ responded, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father. And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven;and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” [Matthew 16:13-20].

A pillar of our Catholic faith is we are blessed as a church build on truth and we need to respect the authority which our Lord himself established on Earth to accomplish his will. This authority, by the power of the Holy Spirit, is clearly established with our Pope and our Bishop(s). We are ‘bound’ by holy scripture, the sacraments and interpreted traditions sanctioned by the Magisterium. What a beautiful gift for we are not owed this blessing that the work of God’s hands would be revealed to us and die on a cross for our sins.

Lord, all glory, honor and praise be given to you above all things. We are grateful you have revealed your truth and the path we must follow established with your Catholic Church. Jesus Christ, beautiful Savior, daily you purify and unify the Church through your body and blood. Please forgive us our sins, especially those we hold in pride against others. May we be poor in spirit. We are grateful you protect us from the evil one. Amen.

Matthew 18:15
View in: NAB NIV KJV NJB Vulg Greek
15But if thy brother shall offend against thee, go, and rebuke him between thee and him alone. If he shall hear thee, thou shalt gain thy brother.
Matthew 18:15-20
View in: NAB NIV KJV NJB Vulg Greek
15But if thy brother shall offend against thee, go, and rebuke him between thee and him alone. If he shall hear thee, thou shalt gain thy brother.
16And if he will not hear thee, take with thee one or two more: that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may stand.
17And if he will not hear them: tell the church. And if he will not hear the church, let him be to thee as the heathen and publican.
18Amen I say to you, whatsoever you shall bind upon earth, shall be bound also in heaven; and whatsoever you shall loose upon earth, shall be loosed also in heaven.
19Again I say to you, that if two of you shall consent upon earth, concerning any thing whatsoever they shall ask, it shall be done to them by my Father who is in heaven.
20For where there are two or three gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
Romans 12:1-2
View in: NAB NIV KJV NJB Vulg Greek
1I BESEECH you therefore, brethren, by the mercy of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, pleasing unto God, your reasonable service.
2And be not conformed to this world; but be reformed in the newness of your mind, that you may prove what is the good, and the acceptable, and the perfect will of God.
Matthew 16:21-27
View in: NAB NIV KJV NJB Vulg Greek
21From that time Jesus began to shew to his disciples, that he must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the ancients and scribes and chief priests, and be put to death, and the third day rise again.
22And Peter taking him, began to rebuke him, saying: Lord, be it far from thee, this shall not be unto thee.
23Who turning, said to Peter: Go behind me, Satan, thou art a scandal unto me: because thou savourest not the things that are of God, but the things that are of men.
24Then Jesus said to his disciples: If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
25For he that will save his life, shall lose it: and he that shall lose his life for my sake, shall find it.
26For what doth it profit a man, if he gain the whole world, and suffer the loss of his own soul? Or what exchange shall a man give for his soul?
27For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels: and then will he render to every man according to his works.
Matthew 16:13-20
View in: NAB NIV KJV NJB Vulg Greek
13And Jesus came into the quarters of Cesarea Philippi: and he asked his disciples, saying: Whom do men say that the Son of man is?
14But they said: Some John the Baptist, and other some Elias, and others Jeremias, or one of the prophets.
15Jesus saith to them: But whom do you say that I am?
16Simon Peter answered and said: Thou art Christ, the Son of the living God.
17And Jesus answering, said to him: Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-Jona: because flesh and blood hath not revealed it to thee, but my Father who is in heaven.
18And I say to thee: That thou art Peter; and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
19And I will give to thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven. And whatsoever thou shalt bind upon earth, it shall be bound also in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose upon earth, it shall be loosed also in heaven.
20Then he commanded his disciples, that they should tell no one that he was Jesus the Christ.
 
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