As part of my Sabbatical I carved out time for my fellow veterans. Even today, a Joyful Reunion in Christ. Our liturgy is the return and reunion.
It is family that we disappoint most but family loves the most too. Reach out today and in love, love on those who you miss.
One family, wife and daughter, visit with a veteran separated by an iron rod fence. Isolation and COVID-19 can’t stop love. Smiles, stories, joy and regrets no iron fence can bar passage.
Another veteran, having rejected all pastoral care previously, refused all consolation until today. I came to him, heart before the Lord in prayer, and a wonder of wonders. Two visitors. A woman and man. I looked and said, Daughter and Son-in-law. Further, I know your eyes sparkle identically!! Dad, frail in bed, daughter by his side… Glowing with love. It is our families we disappoint the most but love us the most too.
Holy Mass with the faithful.
Cantor, Lector, Usher, Altar ServerPriest and Deacon
Greetings on this the Memorial of Saint Alphonsus Liguori, Bishop and Doctor Church Readings: JER 28:1-17; PS 119:29, 43, 79, 80, 95, 102; MT 14:13-21 Notes: Which Yoke is for you?
No Yoke? Anchorlessness seems appealing to some especially in the face of such disappointment in government and religion, and, even family life. It seems to them almost right we are but animalistic beings with little moral thought to guide us.
Learn the lesson from the Alligator. Alligators naturally watch over their hatchlings. They are very protective. But with the encroachment of man, the modern practice is to abandon them once humans come into contact as a way of protecting the hatchlings and the mother herself. This is an example of brokenness.
Wood Yoke – the moderate and gentle yoke of the Lord.
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves. For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.” (Matt 11:29-30).
At times it may not be what we want at the level of human impulse but it is the perfect guide in life in every way.
Iron Yoke – the world’s domination of mind, body and if you allow your soul.
We celebrate Saint Alphonsus who preached and taught moral theology giving us a model of moderation and gentleness.
Reflection
Saint Alphonsus was known above all as a practical man who dealt in the concrete rather than the abstract. His life is indeed a practical model for the everyday Christian who has difficulty recognizing the dignity of Christian life amid the swirl of problems, pain, misunderstanding and failure. Alphonsus suffered all these things. He is a saint because he was able to maintain an intimate sense of the presence of the suffering Christ through it all. From: https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-of-the-day/saint-alphonsus-liguori
First reading Previously – The Wood Yoke
The LORD said to me: Make for yourself thongs and yoke bars and put them on your shoulders. To Zedekiah, king of Judah, I spoke the same words: Bend your necks to the yoke of the king of Babylon; serve him and his people, so that you may live. (Jer 27:2, 12).
Disobedience (with the natural consequences)
Now – The Iron Yoke
Thus says the LORD: By breaking a wooden yoke, you forge an iron yoke! For thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: A yoke of iron I will place on the necks of all these nations serving Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, and they shall serve him; even the beasts of the field I give him. (Jer 28:13b-14).
Responsorial Psalm Lord, teach me your statutes.
Remove from me the way of falsehood, and favor me with your law.
Alleluia Verse One does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.
Gospel Portion When Jesus heard of the death of John the Baptist, he withdrew in a boat to a deserted place by himself.
When he disembarked and saw the vast crowd, his heart was moved with pity for them, and he cured their sick.
Taking the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, he said the blessing, broke the loaves, and gave them to the disciples, who in turn gave them to the crowds. They all ate and were satisfied, and they picked up the fragments left over– twelve wicker baskets full.
Let us learn from the lesson of the Two Yokes.
Jesus, tired, grieving, and heavily burdened remained as the Divine person he is: gentle and kind.
Greetings on this the Memorial of Saints Martha, Mary, and Lazarus Readings: Jer 26:1-9; PS 69:5, 8-10, 14; Jn 11:19-27 Notes: The beginning of the Babylonian exile. Seventy Years of Exile.
Shiloh: an important sanctuary where the ark of the covenant was kept, according to the Books of Joshua, Judges, and 1 Samuel. In response to the corrupt behavior of the priests serving there, God allows the Philistines to destroy Shiloh and take the ark of the covenant. Cf. 1 Sm 1:9; 4:3–4; Ps 78:60, 68–69. From: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/jeremiah/7?12=#30007012
First reading The loss of Shiloh would be the equal in our times to the sacking of Rome and the loss of the Basilicas and sanctuaries. A truly tragic outcome from the eyes of those living in that time and in our time.
It is an important reminder that losing the edifices of the faith is painful but our mission and our hope is for eternal life and a place in the everlasting hills.
Responsorial Psalm Lord, in your great love, answer me.
Alleluia Verse I am the light of the world, says the Lord; whoever follows me will have the light of life.
Gospel Portion What is a greater loss?
Shiloh or the Vatican?
Life or Eternal Life?
Damnation or Salvation?
Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever you ask of God, God will give you.” Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise.” Martha said to him, “I know he will rise, in the resurrection on the last day.” Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live, and anyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” She said to him, “Yes, Lord. I have come to believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, the one who is coming into the world.”
The departure of the American Catholic Church from the leadership of the Church is a product of delusional reasoning. The Church seems to be running toward law as solution rather than the beatitudes.
Have we lost confidence in love? Have we fallen into reductionist reasoning that love is equal to impotence?
Conversion of love is the only valid Christian message. As I say time and again, Conversion not Coercion. Conversion of every christian heart in solidarity and common good with all human hearts.
Contrast Pope Francis.
In this time, Pope Francis is apologizing for the deplorable acts of individual Christians and the whole of the Church’s participation in the catastrophic Canadian assimilation policies against the indigenous people.
Whatever the social issue the answer is respect, compassion, sensitivity, friendship, welcoming, participation, common orderliness, and a journey to holiness.
Modern colonialism exists, is expanding and even within our own cities.
We must bring from our own treasures quiet discourse, familial love, virtues, chastity, Sacrament and baptism. Not as instrument but as gift and gift alone. Bearing rejection gracefully and respectfully.
Greetings on this the Wednesday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time Readings: HOS 10:1-3, 7-8, 12; PS 105:2-3, 4-5, 6-7; MT 10:1-7 Notes: A beautiful readings with the gospel portion today. Speaks completely of the mission of the Good News.
To proclaim:
The Face of the Lord upon us.
Piety (reverence).
To be found, those who are lost.
Justice.
Drive away unclean spirits.
Cure every disease.
Heal every illness.
He sent, He sends:
He sent twelve.
He sent seventy-two.
He sends us.
This kingdom coming is real and present. We see the opposite in many places and in many ways but be attentive to the good. And see the Lord breaking through.
First reading An emphasis on conversion.
“Sow for yourselves justice, reap the fruit of piety; break up for yourselves a new field, for it is time to seek the LORD, till he come and rain down justice upon you.”
Responsorial Psalm Seek always the face of the Lord.
Alleluia Verse The Kingdom of God is at hand: repent and believe in the Gospel.
Sing to him, sing his praise, proclaim all his wondrous deeds. Glory in his holy name; rejoice, O hearts that seek the LORD!
Gospel Portion Jesus summoned his Twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits to drive them out and to cure every disease and every illness.
Go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. As you go, make this proclamation: ‘The Kingdom of heaven is at hand.’”
Greetings on this the Monday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time Readings: HOS 2:16, 17C-18, 21-22; PS 145:2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9; MT 9:18-26 Notes: Happy 4th of July!
Christianity is not a fertility cult.
We do not engage in acts of appeasement of the gods. Appeasment, specifically to bring about fertility of land, animal and human.
We are deeply rooted in our femininity. Becoming, being pregnant, giving birth and being born are honored moments in life. We specifically celebrate three special pregnancies and births:
Nativity of John the Baptist.
Nativity of Mary.
Nativity of Jesus.
Men have lost their awe of women, of their gift of person, gender and mother. We need to do better in every dimension.
First reading The first reading is a reversal of sorts. An early, emerging feminist movement.
I will allure her now – is reversing the ordinary understanding allure as a betrayal.
The valley of Achor (valley of trouble, misery or disaster) becomes a door of hope.
My baal (lord, master) the fertility god, instead the Lord bring your health and fertility.
A law response in Leviticus:
You shall not offer any of your offspring for immolation to Molech, thus profaning the name of your God. I am the LORD (Lev 18:21).
A love response in Hosea:
Instead the Lord offers the deep abiding love of a Spouse: I will espouse you to me forever: I will espouse you in right and in justice, in love and in mercy; I will espouse you in fidelity, and you shall know the LORD.
Responsorial Psalm The Lord is gracious and merciful.
Alleluia Verse Our Savior Jesus Christ has destroyed death and brought life to light through the Gospel.
Gospel Portion In today’s gospel portion Matthew, like Mark and Luke, tells the story of two women.
A little girl needing restoration of life itself by the Lord through the urging of her father.
An old woman needing healing by her own initiative to come to the Lord.
Women, young or old, are under the Lord’s care fully and completely, for life, for health and for fertility. In every way, in all ways and at all times.
Women, hold nothing back from the LORD. Even all that troubles you or you seek special attention – do! Men, advocate for women, as this father did in today’s portion.
Jesus listened to women and for women. Jesus acted to restore rightness for women.
Greetings on this the Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Readings: Is 66:10-14c; Ps 66:1-3, 4-5, 6-7, 16, 20; Gal 6:14-18; Lk 10:1-12, 17-20 Notes: Where ever you live and whatever your circumstance.
Peace to this household.
Here it is the heat of the summer.
Heat and humidity dictate a slower day and calmer pace.
Be at peace. Rest. Know you are loved.
First reading When you see this, your heart shall rejoice and your bodies flourish like the grass; the LORD’s power shall be known to his servants.
Responsorial Psalm Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.
Hear now, all you who fear God, while I declare what he has done for me. Blessed be God who refused me not my prayer or his kindness!
Second reading The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers and sisters. Amen.
Alleluia Verse Let the peace of Christ control your hearts; let the word of Christ dwell in you richly.
Gospel Portion ‘Peace to this household.’ If a peaceful person lives there, your peace will rest on him.
Greetings on this the Friday of the Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time Readings: Am 8:4-6, 9-12; PS 119:2, 10, 20, 30, 40, 131; Mt 9:9-13 Notes: We are trapped in the echo chamber. Some even, and most pitifully, within the Church who say holy things without sanctity of spirit. But a new emphasis is given us if we are able to accept it. BLM is recognizing the margins. Seeing the indigenous is recognizing the margins. Helping the poor is recognizing the margins. Not because they are less, but because the are thought of as less.
See this article: (February, 2016).
Today the Pope celebrated Mass in the southern state of Chiapas with those who have suffered the greatest in Latin America, the indigenous. At a beautiful Mass where various Mayan dialects were spoken and sung, the Pope brought a message of hope and mercy. A vastly agrarian and poor state where the dignity of the indigenous has not always been respected, the Pope recognized that too often they have been excluded from society. “Your peoples have not been understood and have been excluded from society. Some have considered your values, your culture, and your traditions inferior. Others, dizzy by power, money and the laws of the market, have expelled you from your lands or have contaminated them. How sad. How good would it be for us to do an examination of conscience and learn how to say ‘I am sorry.’”
You search the scriptures, because you think you have eternal life through them; even they testify on my behalf. But you do not want to come to me to have life (Jn 5:39-40).
And again.
If I speak in human and angelic tongues but do not have love, I am a resounding gong or a clashing cymbal. And if I have the gift of prophecy and comprehend all mysteries and all knowledge; if I have all faith so as to move mountains but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give away everything I own, and if I hand my body over so that I may boast but do not have love, I gain nothing (1 Cor 13:1-3).
Yes, days are coming, says the Lord GOD, when I will send famine upon the land: Not a famine of bread, or thirst for water, but for hearing the word of the LORD.
Echo Chamber – an environment in which a person encounters only beliefs or opinions that coincide with their own, so that their existing views are reinforced and alternative ideas are not considered.
First reading Hear this, you who trample upon the needy and destroy the poor of the land!
Yes, days are coming, says the Lord GOD, when I will send famine upon the land: Not a famine of bread, or thirst for water, but for hearing the word of the LORD.
Responsorial Psalm One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God (Matt 4:4).
Alleluia Verse Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest, says the Lord.
Gospel Portion As Jesus passed by, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the customs post. He said to him, “Follow me.”
Go and learn the meaning of the words, I desire mercy, not sacrifice. I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.
Greetings on this the Thursday of the Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time Readings: Am 7:10-17; PS 19:8, 9, 10, 11; Mt 9:1-8 Notes: Today’s gospel portion is closely related to yesterday’s gospel portion.
Jesus heals Body and Soul. Primacy is the soul but visually we can see in the body.
He heals when he speaks (and we proclaim).
He heals when he touches and we touch (Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick).
He heals when he forgives and we forgive sin (Sacrament of Reconciliation).
Prayer before Deacon proclaims the Gospel: May the Lord be in your heart and on your lips, that you may proclaim his Gospel worthily and well, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Prayer after the proclaiming the Gospel: Through the words of the Gospel may our sins be wiped away. (Hearing the proclaimed Gospel removes venial sin).
Before we get so high and mighty about making this nation without true Religious Freedom, we may want to consider when the power is in the other’s hands!
According to the historian Tacitus, many Christians were put to death because of their “hatred of the human race.” Peter and Paul were probably among the victims.
Reflection
Wherever the Good News of Jesus was preached, it met the same opposition as Jesus did, and many of those who began to follow him shared his suffering and death. But no human force could stop the power of the Spirit unleashed upon the world. The blood of martyrs has always been, and will always be, the seed of Christians.
First reading Amos answered Amaziah, “I was no prophet, nor have I belonged to a company of prophets; I was a shepherd and a dresser of sycamores. The LORD took me from following the flock, and said to me, ‘Go, prophesy to my people Israel.’ Now hear the word of the LORD!”
God does not call the qualified. He qualifies the called.
Responsorial Psalm The judgments of the Lord are true, and all of them are just.
Alleluia Verse God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.
Gospel Portion Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”– he then said to the paralytic, “Rise, pick up your stretcher, and go home.” He rose and went home. When the crowds saw this they were struck with awe and glorified God who had given such authority to men.
Greetings on this the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles Readings: Acts 12:1-11; PS 34:2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9; 2 Tm 4:6-8, 17-18; Mt 16:13-19 Notes:
Next week: Teen retreat Steubenville Florida July 8th to 10th! Participating, excited for them and all! Will post photos.
My parish activity as I restarted my sabbatical (suspended for Lent and Easter season).
Masses 8:00 AM Monday and Thursday.
Benediction 7:00 PM Wednesdays.
Infrequent Mass on weekends depending on travel schedule.
Local Plans
Veterans Administration Medical Center, chaplaincy.
St. Philip Benizi, Belle Glade, FL, mission.
Remote Plans (highly variable)
Port-Au-Prince, Haiti
Guatemala City
Nuevo Laredo
Olongapo City
We all share in the mission life, in small or large part. We all tend to the people in the proximity of our own place. We all have joys and sorrows of mission.
To paraphrase a song popular in honoring veterans: All gave some, some gave all.
An excellent quick summary of the spiritual life of Peter and Paul at the link below!
Reflection Franciscan We would probably go to confession to Peter sooner than to any of the other apostles. He is perhaps a more striking example of the simple fact of holiness. Jesus says to us as he said, in effect, to Peter: “It is not you who have chosen me, but I who have chosen you. Peter, it is not human wisdom that makes it possible for you to believe, but my Father’s revelation. I, not you, build my Church.” Paul’s experience of the risen Jesus on the road to Damascus was the driving force that made him one of the most zealous, dynamic, and courageous ambassadors of Christ the Church has ever had. But persecution, humiliation, and weakness became his day-by-day carrying of the cross, material for further transformation. The dying Christ was in him; the living Christ was his life.
First reading In those days, King Herod laid hands upon some members of the Church to harm them. He had James, the brother of John, killed by the sword, and when he saw that this was pleasing to the “authorities” he proceeded to arrest Peter also.
On the very night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter, secured by double chains, was sleeping between two soldiers, while outside the door guards kept watch on the prison. Suddenly the angel of the Lord stood by him and a light shone in the cell.
They emerged and made their way down an alley, and suddenly the angel left him. Then Peter recovered his senses and said, “Now I know for certain that the Lord sent his angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod
Responsorial Psalm The angel of the Lord will rescue those who fear him.
Second reading I, Paul, am already being poured out like a libation, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have competed well; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith.
Alleluia Verse You are Peter and upon this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.
Gospel Portion He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter said in reply, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus said to him in reply, “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.”
The netherworld will fall.
Those you heal, will be healed.
Those you free, will be freed.
Yes, that is a good way to understand.
Heal.
Set free.
Be the Face of Christ.
Back to the VAMC Sunday to celebrate Mass with my brothers.
