Be open to the miraculous

Greetings on this the Monday of the Thirty-second Week in Ordinary Time
Readings: Ti 1:1-9; Ps 24:1b-2, 3-4ab, 5-6; Lk 17:1-6
Notes: This weekend past was a week filled with delightful miracles. I cannot say who and how as it is private, all, but miracles abound this weekend past!

But I do say: be open to miracles.

In today’s gospel portion Jesus describes a wonderful image that has amazing contours.

The Lord replied, “If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you would say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.

A mustard seed is tiny. A tree cannot grow and thrive in the salt waters of the ocean. Nature does not obey us in the ordinary sense and certainly not relocate under its own power – at least in the natural sense of things!

Yet, in faith, and openness to miracles Jesus says a mulberry tree can grow and thrive in the salt waters of the ocean and it can ‘jump’ from here to there without any effort!

All by faith in the Lord.

• What is your ocean of salt water?
• What isn’t thriving in your life (love, relationships, the sense of the divine love)?

Jesus says have faith in the one who created you. You don’t have enough faith? Yes, you do. Actually, the mustard seed is the divine presence in you from conception. The seed is within you. The capacity is yours. The potentiality is already given.

Ask – given.
Seek – find.
Knock – opened.
Cast your bread upon the waters.
Have faith in the divine love.

Today the gospel portion is concerned about sinning and forgiveness. This is our common salty sea!

Sinning

Be on your guard!

Jesus said to his disciples, “Things that cause sin will inevitably occur, but woe to the one through whom they occur. It would be better for him if a millstone were put around his neck and he be thrown into the sea than for him to cause one of these little ones to sin.

Be open to the miracles in support of the virtue of fortitude.

Fortitude is the moral virtue that ensures firmness in difficulties and constancy in the pursuit of the good. It strengthens the resolve to resist temptations and to overcome obstacles in the moral life.” –CCC 1808

Forgiveness

If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. And if he wrongs you seven times in one day and returns to you seven times saying, ‘I am sorry,’ you should forgive him.”

Be open to the miracles in support of the necessity of forgiveness.

Cast your faith into the sea of unforgiveness and the mustard tree of love shall thrive, even there.

My assignment this weekend past:

1. Serve Mass and Adoration & Benediction at Miracle House, WPB.
2. Pray for healing and reconciliation outside of Presidential Woman’s Center, WPB.
3. Serve Mass at VAMC and MC the Columbiettes bringing rosaries for the veterans in recognition of Veterans Day.
4. Help a woman with her decision to leave USA for her homeland.
5. Help a child find a toy.

Photos attached to give some visualization.

Miracle at Lourdes (Franz Werfel’s book, The Song of Bernadette)

In connection with this, I lifted the following account of a miracle at the shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes from Franz Werfel’s book, The Song of Bernadette. Werfel, a Jew, came into the Church late, at the eleventh hour. The apparition occurred in 1858, and the miraculous cures from the spring of water, opened by the Mother of God, are ongoing.

“Jules Lacassagne had become a mere shadow and seemed doomed to die of starvation. His mother took him to a seaside resort: perhaps the ocean’s energy would help. It did not. On the beach whither they carried the boy he found a torn piece of newspaper. Holding it in his feeble hands he read an account of the healing of young Marie Moreau. He pocketed the piece of paper but dared not at first utter his wish. He knew his father’s character and convictions well and was afraid of being laughed at. Not until many days later, when, obviously doomed, he was taken back to Bordeaux, did he hesitantly tell his mother the story of Lourdes and Marie Moreau. Madame Lacassagne besought her husband to set out for Lourdes on that very day. The husband consented without debate. In the face of death unfaith is far unsurer of itself than faith. In his own arms Roger Lacassagne carried his son [Jules] to the grotto. A former army man, he was disinclined to stand for any nonsense. If miracles can happen, let them! Hence he had brought with him a bag of soft biscuits. After Jules, endlessly agonizing, had succeeded in getting down a glassful of the water drop by drop, the absurd father handed him one of the biscuits and gave an order in his military fashion: ‘Now, then, eat!’ And now an absurder thing happened: the boy ate. He bit off a piece, chewed it, and swallowed it like any ordinary mortal. The tall Lacassagne with his grey pompadour turned aside, reeling like a drunken man, and beat his breast and panted: ‘Jules is eating . . . Jules is eating . . . .’ And the people around the grotto burst into tears.” (pg. 437) (The boy, Jules Lacassagne, had been suffering a long time from St. Vitus’ Dance which ended up attacking his esophagus. He was dying of starvation when, the father, at his son’s own request, condescended to take him to Lourdes. His cure was instantaneous and his health improved daily to the point where no one would have ever known he had had such a disease.)

Source: https://catholicism.org/faith-and-miracles.html

First reading
God, who does not lie, promised before time began, who indeed at the proper time revealed his word.

Responsorial Psalm
Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.

Alleluia Verse
Shine like lights in the world, as you hold on to the word of life.

Gospel Portion
And the Apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith.” The Lord replied, “If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you would say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.”

Plant forgiveness in the sea of unforgiveness. It will thrive.

Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry