Tag: bible

Hearing God: Overcoming Selective Hearing

by Gerry Palermo, posted in Catholic

Ephphatha “be opened”

Greetings on this the Thursday of the First Week in Ordinary Time
Readings: Hebrews 3:7-14; Psalm 95:6-7c, 8-9, 10-11; Mark 1:40-45

Hearing the Lord

If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.

I’m sure at one point or another you and I have been accused of Selective Hearing. I say that in jest as it is a common complaint at home, work and in the Church. Makes me giggle.

Selective Hearing is wonderful in the right context.

Selective hearing, also known as selective auditory attention, is the ability to focus on a specific sound while ignoring other sounds. It’s a cognitive function that helps people concentrate on what’s important to them, even in noisy environments. Provided by Google’s Generative AI.

Oh, that today you would hear his voice,
“Harden not your hearts as at the rebellion
in the day of testing in the desert,
where your ancestors tested and tried me
and saw my works for forty years.

The days of Meribah, as in the day of Massah in the desert, were noisy days. Meribah: lit., “contention”; the place where the Israelites quarreled with God. Massah: “testing,” the place where they put God to the trial (NABRE Commentary on Ps 95:7).

In that place, water from a rock, the Quail and the Manna. In that place, victory in battle with Amalek. How did we not hear him in these things? Did we listen to our appetite instead?

Does He hear us?

Is the LORD in our midst or not? (Ex 17:7). Yes, he is, always.
The problem is really, why do we listen to everything else? How is it the worries, noise and problems of the world have a higher receptivity in us than the quiet, reassuring and effective love of God? He hears us. Let us hear him. If we must have selective hearing, let us hear his voice.

If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.

Hearing Individual Prayer

A leper came to him and kneeling down begged him and said,
“If you wish, you can make me clean.”
Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand,
touched the leper, and said to him,
“I do will it. Be made clean.”

He hears us in community and as nations and each of us as persons.

Sacred Readings full text: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/011625.cfm

Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry

The Divine in Everyday Life: A Monday Meditation

by Gerry Palermo, posted in Catholic
Deacon Pete (marine veteran) visits the VAMC !! Happy to see my brother Deacon!

Greetings on this the Monday of the First Week in Ordinary Time
Readings: Hebrews 1:1-6; Psalm 97:1 and 2b, 6 and 7c, 9; Mark 1:14-20

The Ordinary

Today is Monday of the First Week in Ordinary Time.

What is ordinary when it comes to the divine life being shared? See the list below. And as is so often the case, the gospel portions for the week start with a calling of disciples and ends with the calling of disciples. Always the call to participate in the salvific acts of Divine Love.

Gospel portions this week – the Ordinary of God

  • Monday – [The Call of the First Disciples] Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the Gospel of God: “This is the time of fulfillment. The Kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the Gospel.”
  • Tuesday – A new teaching with authority. He commands even the unclean spirits and they obey him.
  • Wednesday – He cured many who were sick with various diseases, and he drove out many demons.
  • Thursday – Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand, touched the leper, and said to him, “I do will it. Be made clean.”
  • Friday – When Jesus saw their faith, he said to him, “Child, your sins are forgiven.” He said to the paralytic, “I say to you, rise, pick up your mat, and go home.”
  • Saturday – [The Call of Levi] Jesus heard this and said to them, “Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do. I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.

In parallel we take a continuous reading from the Letter to the Hebrews.

  • Monday – In times past, God spoke in partial and various ways to our ancestors through the prophets; in these last days, he spoke to us through the Son.
  • Tuesday – What is man that you are mindful of him, or the son of man that you care for him?
  • Wednesday – Since the children share in blood and Flesh, Jesus likewise shared in them.
  • Thursday – The Holy Spirit says: Oh, that today you would hear his voice, “Harden not your hearts.
  • Friday – Therefore, let us strive to enter into that rest.
  • Saturday – So let us confidently approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and to find grace for timely help.

Reflection on the Ordinary of God

The ordinary of the Divine is amazing to us. Each and every hour of the day the Lord is calling, healing and restoring the human family.

“This is the time of fulfillment.
The Kingdom of God is at hand.
Repent, and believe in the Gospel.”

Ordinary Span

From today until March 5th, 2025 is the ordinary Time. Ordinary for the Lord, amazing gifts for us. As is often the case in life, we can fall into a type of disregard or even despise the ordinary as bland and uninteresting. It is for that very reason we have the special seasons of Advent, Christmas, Lent and Easter. Because we cannot or will not see the good in the ordinary the Lord in his love performs even greater good.

Celebrating Fr John’s birthday on the Baptism of the Lord. Happy to celebrate!

Even scripture describes it that way.

For in fact we have received the Good News just as our ancestors did. But the word that they heard did not profit them, for they were not united in faith with those who listened.

Let’s change it up. Let our hearts be amazed in the ordinary love he has for us.

Sacred Readings full text: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/011325.cfm

Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry

Lessons of Love: Understanding Mark 6:34-44

by Gerry Palermo, posted in Catholic, christmas
You can put yourself in the place given for you.

Greetings on this the Tuesday after Epiphany
Readings: 1 John 4:7-10; Psalm 72:1-2, 3-4, 7-8; Mark 6:34-44

The Feeding of the Five Thousand

Beloved, let us love one another, because love is of God; everyone who loves is begotten by God and knows God. In this is love: not that we have loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as expiation for our sins (1st John)

By now it was already late and his disciples approached him and said, “This is a deserted place and it is already very late. Dismiss them so that they can go to the surrounding farms and villages and buy themselves something to eat.” (Gospel Mark, ff).

He said to them in reply, “Give them some food yourselves.”

He asked them, “How many loaves do you have? Go and see.”

And when they had found out they said, “Five loaves and two fish.” So he gave orders to have them sit down in groups on the green grass. The people took their places in rows by hundreds and by fifties. Then, taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he said the blessing, broke the loaves, and gave them to his disciples to set before the people; he also divided the two fish among them all.

They all ate and were satisfied.

Reflection

In our gospel portion we are taught how to love. It is clear the disciplines began to have an emerging, ordinary care and concern for all the people who are following Jesus. They were in fact concerned about their health. It’s late, deserted place (no food trucks yet) and the practical answer is to disperse them to the local villages so they can take care of themselves. No doubt this is a good sign about the disciples spiritual growth – a new way of viewing their life in response to their encounter with the Christ.

Jesus wants them to grow spiritually much more. Give them some food yourselves.

The disciples go about inventorying the available bread (their own supply, the supply of others in the crowd willing to share). A great starting point! Disciples and the people bring the gift of so little to the Lord!! Yes! Growth!!.

Jesus performs the Feeding of the Five Thousand miracle multiplication.

Then Jesus, still teaching the disciples, gives them the food to give to the people.

They all ate and were satisfied.

At the time I am sure the disciples were amazed. And how much more so for us having the advantage of looking back historically and the Eucharistic Banquet we celebrate every Mass. He is teaching us to share his gifts. Always teaching us to share.

The reading from First John allows us to embrace the ultimate sharing: forgiveness and the expiation for sins.

Poetic version: He said to them in reply, “Give them some forgiveness and expiation yourselves.”

Therefore my brothers and sisters, depending on your spiritual journey you can begin with helping the poor with food banks and spare change and that is definitely good! Like the disciples in today’s story we are invited to grow spiritually whatever our starting point. And enter into the miracle of sharing forgiveness and expiation.

Catechism: 618 The cross is the unique sacrifice of Christ, the “one mediator between God and men”. But because in his incarnate divine person he has in some way united himself to every man, “the possibility of being made partners, in a way known to God, in the paschal mystery” is offered to all men. He calls his disciples to “take up [their] cross and follow [him]”, for “Christ also suffered for [us], leaving [us] an example so that [we] should follow in his steps.” In fact Jesus desires to associate with his redeeming sacrifice those who were to be its first beneficiaries. This is achieved supremely in the case of his mother, who was associated more intimately than any other person in the mystery of his redemptive suffering.

Personal Reflection

The Feeding of the Five Thousand. The Forgiving of the Five Thousand and the The Expiation for the Five Thousand.

Sounds massive! Me? Sounds impossible! Well, yes, ‘you-me’. And Jesus. When you give Jesus permission to satisfy, heal and aid people through you, that is exactly what he’ll do. It’s you and Jesus. You make a good team.

Sacred Readings full text: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/010725.cfm

Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry

The Importance of Self-Possession in Faith

by Gerry Palermo, posted in Catholic, christmas

Think

Greetings on this the Memorial of Saints Basil the Great and Gregory Nazianzen, Bishops and Doctors of the Church
Readings: 1 John 2:22-28; Psalm 98:1, 2-3ab, 3cd-4; John 1:19-28

Know Yourself in Truth

Polonius was right. A person really needs to know and own himself (spiritual people call this self-possessed). Being calm and level headed can only come about if you understand your motivations and methods cross referenced to your affect attitude. Our actions flow from within us. They are a window into the soul.

Today we celebrate the memorial of two men who seeking the truth was paramount, Saints Basil the Great and Gregory Nazianzen, at the cost of great suffering, slander, insults, and even personal violence (see https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-of-the-day/saint-gregory-nazianzen/)

Who is the liar?

Our first reading today asks the question, Who is the Liar?

So many and varied heresies abounded in and around the early Church. The most important thing to remember is that heresies are deviations from and by degree undermine the gospel. Whoever denies that Jesus is the Christ. Whoever denies the Father and the Son, this is the Antichrist. This portion from 1st John is not about people outside of the faith. This observation is particular to those who are baptized in Christ but denying Christ anyway.

But knowing who you are in truth allows someone to place the self and ego aside.

They asked John: “Who are you?”

Who are you?

He admitted and did not deny it, but admitted, “I am not the Christ.”
Are you Elijah?
Are you the Prophet?

No and no.

Why then do you baptize if you are not the Christ or Elijah or the Prophet?

John answered them, “I baptize with water; but there is one among you whom you do not recognize, the one who is coming after me, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to untie.”

John was self-possessed.

Self-possession begins with full acceptance of what is. It requires us to lay out the facts of our history without attaching to how things “should” have been, and to regard the facts of our present without attaching to what “should” be now. (See: https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/blog/staying-sane-inside-insanity/202108/why-self-acceptance-leads-self-possession/)

Critical Thinking

Critical Thinking (CT) is a mainstay for knowing thy self. Training in CT reinforces techniques and strategies to not fall into logical fallacies, confirmation bias and the over-use of intuitive thinking in regards to things we are uncomfortable with or newly exposed to.

Here is an article to the 15 biggest logical fallacies: https://www.grammarly.com/blog/rhetorical-devices/logical-fallacies/

It is imperative that Christians walk carefully with the gospel. It is both powerful and fragile (to turn a phrase). How we use the gospel and how it is accepted within the body of believers really does matter. The critical part isn’t if you understand theology, have great training, or even a Doctor of the Church. Before all this, know yourself. We are not the center of the universe. We are not the sole possessors of truth and right as individuals.

We are people on a journey of choosing good and rejecting evil – in ourselves first and foremost.

[About Gregory Nazianzen] Returning to Nissa, he devoted himself above all to writing, and left a copious collection of spiritual verses. “Everything is hard for mortals,” he wrote, “everything is ridicule, shadow, appearance – and that everything should be unstable, O Word, which hast created us, we owe to Thy wisdom, that we might learn to turn our love to that which is stable and firm.”

See: https://www.vaticannews.va/en/saints/01/02/sts–basil-the-great-and–gregory-nazianzus–bishops-and-doctors.html

Personal Reflection

Being honest with yourself is difficult, especially in a world filled with people operating at a base level of humanity. Being honest allows for truth to flourish within us and out pours to the world as a healing balm. Finally, being self-possessed allows us to think clearly about difficulties and pathways forward. Consistently operating at a level of intuition and instinct without the maturing effects of critical thinking is deadly.

John knew who he was and who he was not. Ditto, Saints Basil the Great and Gregory Nazianzen. Jesus then is known and can be known. I am on the same journey as you: learn to turn our love to that which is stable and firm.

Sacred Readings full text: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/010225.cfm

Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry

Christmas Reflections: The Sacred Heart and Divine Love

by Gerry Palermo, posted in Catholic, christmas
Sacred Heart of Jesus

Greetings on this the The Seventh Day in the Octave of Christmas
Readings: 1 Jn 2:18-21; PS 96:1-2, 11-12, 13; Jn 1:1-18

Summary

Combining 1 John and Gospel of John: But you have the anointing that comes from the Holy One, and you all have knowledge. The Word of God became flesh and dwelt among us. To those who accepted him he gave power to become the children of God.

Reflection

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. And the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us, and we saw his glory, the glory as of the Father’s only-begotten Son, full of grace and truth.

The Word was from the beginning. The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.

In these few short sacred writings we can begin to understand divine love.

  1. Love is from the beginning. It is our foundational attribute. It is our origin.
  2. Love is present among us in a way that we can most relate to us – as like us.
  3. Love gives of itself where we can say confidently: We are made in the image and called to the likeness of God.
  4. This is the grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

What came to be through him was life, and this life was the light of the human race; the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. The response to all our hopes, dreams, and aspirations. The relief from our grief, sadness and miseries.

Love. Love is the Divine Response.

Personal Reflection

The Octave of Christmas draws to an end and the celebration of the Christmas season continues with Joy in the remembering the Epiphany and the Baptism of the Lord. So we approach a sort of revelation. The only-begotten Son, God, who is at the Father’s side, has revealed him.

The Lord loves me. Exactly me and all the ‘you-mes’ there are!
The Lord made us by Love, for Love and to live in Love.

Sacred Readings full text: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/010125.cfm

Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry

Reflecting on Anna: A Model of Devotion and Worship

by Gerry Palermo, posted in Catholic, christmas

Greetings on this the Sixth Day in the Octave of Christmas
Readings: 1 Jn 2:12-17; Ps 96:7-8a, 8b-9, 10; Lk 2:36-40

Summary

There was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She never left the temple, but worshiped night and day with fasting and prayer. And coming forward at that very time, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were awaiting the redemption of Jerusalem.

Reflection

We have many Anna’s in the Church. Women who dedicate their lives to the Church. They prepare the altar, aid the priest prepare for Mass. They clean the sanctuary, cook special meals for the clergy and organize just about any parish festival except for occasional help from the men. These women, and in defiance of their own difficulties, find a way to make the temple a home for themselves and for all who come to worship.

Personal Reflection – Remembering Gloria

My friend Gloria. She was a saint. And she is the Anna of our day. She fasted, she prayed, she welcomed. She gave thanks to God and spoke about the child [Jesus] to all who were awaiting the redemption of Jerusalem.

Obituary: https://www.palmswestfuneralhome.com/obituaries/Gloria-Van-Brocklin/#!/TributeWall

Be an Anna.

Sacred Readings full text: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/123024.cfm

Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry

Finding Home: Reflections on Jesus’ Journey in the Temple

by Gerry Palermo, posted in Catholic, christmas
Journey path

Greetings on this the Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph
Readings: Sir 3:2-6, 12-14; Ps 128:1-2, 3, 4-5.; Col 3:12-21 or 3:12-17; Lk 2:41-52

Summary

The Boy Jesus in the Temple portion today is in the gospel of Luke and is also the 5th and final Joyful Mystery of the Holy Rosary. How this is a joyful mystery as the story of Mary and Joseph is one of anxiety and frustration?

After they had completed its days, as they were returning, the boy Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem, but his parents did not know it. Thinking that he was in the caravan, they journeyed for a day and looked for him among their relatives and acquaintances, but not finding him, they returned to Jerusalem to look for him. After three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions, and all who heard him were astounded at his understanding and his answers. When his parents saw him, they were astonished, and his mother said to him, “Son, why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been looking for you with great anxiety.”

Parents worry about their children and want the best for them. His father and mother had reasonable concerns for their son but not the fullness of their concerns. The parents of Jesus didn’t always get it right. Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?

No doubt Jesus’ response was both reassuring and disconcerting. Reassuring as he has found a home in the Church. Disconcerting because we though we are his only home. Yet, we have many homes. Our birth home. Our town home. Our Church home. And happily for many, Our marriage home.

Home, then, is where the heart is. The story is a joyful mystery as know the Lord cares for us and makes a home for us with him wherever we are.

The temple story brings another important point. It completely skips the ordinary needs of Jesus. I mean, where did he sleep? What did he eat? How was he able to bathe, where was the latrine, was he safe, was he cold at night, and the questions go on and on.

But they did not understand what he said to them.

Children are a wonder. Their thinking process is very different from fully mature persons. But they thrive nonetheless.

Jesus was ‘at home’ at home and in the temple.

At Home

He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them; and his mother kept all these things in her heart. And Jesus advanced [in] wisdom and age and favor before God and man.

At Temple

In the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions, and all who heard him were astounded at his understanding and his answers.

Reflection

If home is safe and loving, then the world is too. Here is an old story illustrating the point.

Two Brothers On a Journey

There were twins on a journey

and they walked at different paces but were together throughout.

As the first twin approached a city he asked local man, “What are the people like in the city?”
The man answered, “What are they like from the city you came from?”
He replied, “They are mean, disrespectful and greedy.”
The man answered, “I’m afraid that is what you’ll find the same there too.”

A short time later, the second twin approached the same city and asked the same local man, “What are the people like in the city?”
The man answered, “What are they like from the city you came from?”
He relied, “They are kind and generous.”
The man answered, “I’m happy to say that is what you’ll find the same there too.”

Personal Reflection

The Feast of the Holy Family is full of behavioral advice, yes? This is good and worthy to be followed! How we behave is how we perceive things. That can be liberating if not a bit eye opening! Who am I more like: the first twin or the second?

Sacred Readings Full text: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/122924.cfm

Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry

The Holy Innocents: A Call for Awareness and Change

by Gerry Palermo, posted in Catholic, christmas

Greetings on this the Feast of the Holy Innocents, martyrs
Readings: 1 Jn 1:5—2:2; Ps 124:2-3, 4-5, 7cd-8; Mt 2:13-18

Summary

No reflection that focuses on mistakes should start without the promise of redemption. We face our errors with courage because we are encouraged to be in right relation with the Lord.

My children, I am writing this to you
so that you may not commit sin.
But if anyone does sin, we have an Advocate with the Father,
Jesus Christ the righteous one.
He is expiation for our sins,
and not for our sins only but for those of the whole world.

Franciscan Media Reflection

The Holy Innocents are few in comparison to the genocide and abortion of our day. But even if there had been only one, we recognize the greatest treasure God put on the earth—a human person, destined for eternity, and graced by Jesus’ death and resurrection (https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-of-the-day/holy-innocents/).

Reflection

The Feasts of the Holy Innocents and the Feast of the Holy Family this year are side-by-side in our liturgy. It is as deep of a contrast and comparison there can be. The lust of power overwhelms the families of the vicinity of Bethlehem.

  • Herod is going to search for the child to destroy him.
  • He [Herod] ordered the massacre of all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity two years old and under.
  • Joseph rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed for Egypt. He stayed there until the death of Herod.

This wasn’t the first time. Moses was also forced into exile until the Pharaoh who sought to kill him was dead. And again, during the actual exile event of the Assyrian occupation, A voice was heard in Ramah, sobbing and loud lamentation; Rachel weeping for her children, and she would not be consoled, since they were no more.

The fate of children at the bent of an aggressive person. But not just person, professions, industries and marketing. This is true of nations with territorial ambitions. Who cannot tremble at the prospect of World War III as Europe is living in the shadow of Russian ambitions.

All worldly affairs under their control ordered to their own benefit and enrichment of material wealth at the expense and at the cost of the lives of children, the holy innocent ones.

Personal Reflection

When I serve at the altar for Mass at the Chapel of the Holy Innocents, I pray for conversion of souls. For women courage and encouragement to face the future, for the babies an end to exile, for the practitioners an awakening to the truth and for the repentance of those who gain materially from the profit they seek.

Medical health and well-being cannot be fruitful with lies and misdirection. It must be founded on truth, even when the outcome is not what I prefer. It is the same for all those who aggressively seek their alliance, advantage and accumulation.

This day of holiness, let us weep with Rachel, and at the same time hold fast to the promise given by Jeremiah.

Thus says the LORD: Cease your cries of weeping, hold back your tears! There is compensation for your labor— oracle of the LORD—they shall return from the enemy’s land. There is hope for your future—oracle of the LORD— your children shall return to their own territory.

Sacred Readings full text: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/122824.cfm

Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry

Reflections on Self-Denial and Recognition

by Gerry Palermo, posted in Advent, Catholic

Waiting for Elijah

Greetings on this the Memorial of Saint John of the Cross, Priest and Doctor of the Church
Readings: Sir 48:1-4, 9-11; Ps 80:2ac and 3b, 15-16, 18-19; Mt 17:9a, 10-13

Saint of the Day

Franciscan Reflection

In his life and writings, John of the Cross has a crucial word for us today. We tend to be rich, soft, comfortable. We shrink even from words like self-denial, mortification, purification, asceticism, discipline. We run from the cross. John’s message—like the gospel—is loud and clear: Don’t—if you really want to live!

Source: https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-of-the-day/saint-john-of-the-cross/

Summary

The memorial of Saint John of the Cross fits well with today’s sacred readings in his self-denial and his openness to hear and see the Lord’s response. Our first reading comes from the section of Sirach which recalls the prophets Elijah and Elisha (who just out of range today). Elijah, his words a flaming furnace, disputed the idolatry of the day. By his actions he affirmed the supremacy of the Lord with fire from heaven, and power over death. And he was promised to return (by the prophet Malachi, represented by Sirach).

You are destined, it is written, in time to come
to put an end to wrath before the day of the LORD,
To turn back the hearts of parents toward their children,
and to re-establish the tribes of Israel.

Then come John the Baptist and Jesus.

IMPORTANT: Tomorrow, The Third Sunday of Advent, we get a full scripture reading of the ministry of John which always begin with: what should we do? Exhorting them in many other ways, he preached good news to the people.

Reflection

He said in reply, "Elijah will indeed come and restore all things;
but I tell you that Elijah has already come,
and they did not recognize him but did to him whatever they pleased.

Over two days we have been reflecting on the failure to consider the invitation into the divine life. Flute and Dirge and then Elijah and John. In the time of Jesus, John was the fulfillment of Elijah, a promise the elite and leadership waited for just the same as every ordinary people. It was the powerful who did not recognize John as Elijah. The people, the ordinary people, they got it. Worse still, the attitude toward John and Jesus was deadly, both murdered by the powerful.

Personal Reflection

How many times has the Lord visited me and I did not recognize him? I am no different than any of the others!

Tomorrow we’ll review doctor John the Baptist’s prescriptions. Today, we sit in our silence. Lord, forgive me for not recognizing you in your many visitations. Worse still, please Lord, let me not crucify you again! Amen! Amen! Maranatha, Lord!

Sacred Readings full text: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/121424.cfm

Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry

The actual split

by Gerry Palermo, posted in Catholic, Uncategorized
Saint Josaphat, Bishop and Martyr

Greetings on this the Memorial of Saint Josaphat, Bishop and Martyr
Readings: Ti 2:1-8, 11-14; PS 37:3-4, 18 and 23, 27 and 29; Lk 17:7-10

Summary

In our reading portions today, we have two sets of admonition, one for all Christians and one for the Apostles. The first broken down by age category and the second by the servant role of the clerical state. They are critical for us in our age too.

Christian Behavior

Saint Simeon with Jesus – devout old man

Christian behavior begins with the older men and older women. We should know better given our age and supposed wisdom. We are to be temperate, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, love, and endurance. Even more so, reverent in our behavior, not slanderers, not addicted to drink, and teaching what is good. When we start there as older men and older women, younger men and younger women have the example to find their own virtues and integrity.

Saint Anna – devout old woman

Transformation of Life

For the grace of God has appeared, saving all and training us to reject godless ways and worldly desires.

For Clerics (which includes the admonitions to all Christians)

Beginning with the Apostles, we must have the Attitude of a Servant. The Sacramental system clerics are given to provide and preside must be considered the obedience of the commandment of the Lord, and we ourselves unprofitable servants. Unprofitable is the sense of the worldly things and done in humility and personal integrity. It is dominus supple, the master provides. For it is by the grace of God that all good things come.

Reflection

Today is the memorial of Saint Josaphat. It is wise to consider the Franciscan reflection which includes in part this entry: The seeds of separation were sown in the fourth century when the Roman Empire was divided into East and West. The actual split came over customs such as using unleavened bread, Saturday fasting, and celibacy. No doubt the political involvement of religious leaders on both sides was a large factor, and doctrinal disagreement was present. But no reason was enough to justify the present tragic division in Christendom.

Reference: https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-of-the-day/saint-josaphat/

Personal Reflection

We are facing a new split in the Church. The split comes over customs such as using (place your petulant items in this list. A list that comes only from personal prayer and reflection). No doubt the political involvement of religious leaders on all sides is a large factor, and doctrinal disagreement results. Partly because we hyper-examine the opinions of others and brush aside the same of our own thoughts.

Remove the wooden beam from your eye first; then you will see clearly to remove the splinter from your brother’s eye.

Sacred Readings

Full text: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/111224.cfm

First Reading

Christian Behavior and Transformation of Life.

Live temperately, justly, and devoutly in this age, as we await the blessed hope, the appearance of the glory of the great God and of our savior Jesus Christ.

Responsorial

The salvation of the just comes from the Lord.

Gospel Acclamation (see Jn 14:23)

Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him.

Gospel

Attitude of a Servant.

So should it be with you. When you have done all you have been commanded, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants; we have done what we were obliged to do.’”

Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry