ASH WEDNESDAY (Feb 2) 8-minute homily in 1 page (L-23)

Introduction: Ash Wednesday (dies cinerum), is the Church’s Yom Kippur or “Day of Atonement.” The very name of the day comes from the ancient practice of mourning or doing penance wearing “sackcloth and ashes” to express penitence, not only by the Chosen People but by pagans as well.  The Old Testament shows us the pagan people of Nineveh, the pagan King Ben Haddad of Syria, and the Jewish Queen Esther, all of whom fasted, wearing sackcloth and ashes. In the early Church, Christians who had committed serious sins did public penance wearing sackcloth and ashes.  The Church instructs us to observe Ash Wednesday and Good Friday as days of full fast and abstinence. Fasting is prescribed to reinforce our penitential prayer during the Lenten season.

 Scripture lessons summarized: In the first reading, the prophet Joel, insists that we should experience a complete conversion of heart (‘metanoia’)and not simply feel regret for our sins. The Responsorial Psalm (Ps 51) for today, provides us with an excellent prayer of repentance and a plea for forgiveness.  Saint Paul, in the second reading, advises us “to become reconciled to God.”  Today’s Gospel instructs us to assimilate the true spirit of fasting and prayer, not just to settle for the legal externals.

The blessing of the ashes and the significance of the day: The priest, dipping his thumb into ashes (collected from burnt palms from the previous year’s Palm Sunday), marks the forehead of each with the sign of the cross , saying, “Remember that you are dust and to dust you will return” or “Repent and believe in the Gospel.” By doing this, the Church gives her children: 1- a firm conviction that a) we are mortal beings, b) our bodies will become dust when buried, ashes if cremated, and c) our life-span is very brief and unpredictable; 2- a strong warning that we will suffer eternal misery if we do not repent of our sins, become reconciled with God, asking His pardon and forgiveness, and do penance; and 3- a loving invitation to realize and acknowledge our sinful condition and to return to our loving and forgiving God with true repentance so that we can renew our life as the prodigal son did.

Ash Wednesday messages: # 1: We need to purify and renew our lives during the period of Lent by repentance –expressing sorrow for our sins by turning away from the near occasions of sins and making a right turn to God. We express our repentance by becoming reconciled with God daily, by asking for forgiveness from those we have offended, and by giving unconditional forgiveness to those who have offended us and by receiving the sacrament of Reconciliation.

# 2: We need to do prayerful fasting and acts of penance for our sins, following the example of Jesus before his public ministry. Fasting reduces our “spiritual obesity” or the excessive accumulation of “fat” in our soul — evil tendencies, evil habits, and evil addictions.  It also gives us additional moral and spiritual strength and encourages us to share our blessings with the needy, offers us more time to be with God in prayer, and encourages us to share our food and goods with the needy. Fasting also makes our minds clearer and more receptive to receiving the sacred nourishment of God’s Word in Scripture and in Holy Eucharist. (Rev. Thomas Merton). We can do penance by practicing more self-control and mortification, by observing Lenten fasting and abstinence, by doing acts of charity, kindness and mercy and by sacrificially helping the poor and the needy.

Biblical roots of Ash Wednesday: click on https://youtu.be/2vnGEJHg05E 

ASH WEDNESDAY (Feb 2)

Joel 2:12-18; II Cor 5:20–6:2; Mt 6:1-6, 16-18

Homily starter anecdotes: # 1) Lent then and now: So, we begin another season of Lent. Those of you who are as old as I am will remember Lent as a more severe season than it seems to be today. The fasting required was more challenging: adults had to fast every day of Lent, and fasting included two meatless meals out of the three, with, of course, nothing between meals, and no meat at all on Fridays. Ash Wednesday and Good Friday demanded full abstinence from meat as well as fasting. So, Abstinence from meat was an everyday Lenten thing, not just an Ash Wednesday/all Lenten Fridays practice. We ate a lot of macaroni and cheese in those days! We made personal sacrifices, giving up smoking, candy, alcohol, or something else that we really liked. And generally, we practiced self-denial on Sundays as well as on weekdays. We went to Church a lot more, whether to daily Mass, or Stations of the Cross, or for prayer. Many feel that Lent today is much easier. Encouragement is given to do positive things during Lent, so many don’t give up much anymore. Most people don’t find their life during Lent much different from their life in any other season. Following the Second Vatican Council, the Church decided to take a risk and treat us as adults. While they removed many of the previous rules, they challenged us to observe the season of Lent with all seriousness, to take responsibility for our own spiritual growth. — That is a lot harder than just following rules, but it also bears the potential of really making Lent a time to change our lives and truly become more Christlike. (Fr. Lawrence Mick).

Introduction: Ash Wednesday (dies cinerum) is the Church’s Yom Kippur or “Day of Atonement.” The very name of the day comes from the Jewish practice of doing penance wearing “sackcloth and ashes.” In the early Church, Christians who had committed serious sins were instructed to do public penance wearing sackcloth and ashes.  This custom was introduced by Pope Gregory I (served September 3, 590 to March 12, 604;  (Richard P.  McBrien, Lives of the Popes, p. 96), and it was enacted as a universal practice in all of Western Christendom by the Synod of Benevento in 1091 A.D. Since the 11th century, receiving ashes on the first day of Lent has been a universal Christian practice. Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are days of full fast and abstinence. Fasting is prescribed to reinforce our penitential prayer during the Lenten season.  The prophet Joel, in the first reading, insists that we should experience a complete conversion of heart and not simply feel regret for our sins. Today’s Responsorial Psalm (Ps 51) provides us with an excellent prayer of repentance and a plea for forgiveness.  Saint Paul, in the second reading, advises us “to become reconciled to God.”  Today’s Gospel instructs us to assimilate the true spirit of fasting and prayer., and not just settle for the legal externals.

The blessing with the ashes and the significance of the day: The priest dipping his thumb into blessed ashes (collected from burnt palms from the previous year’s Palm Sunday), marks the forehead of each with the sign of the cross , saying the words, “Remember that you are dust and to dust you will return” or “Repent and believe in the Gospel.” By marking the sign of the cross with ashes on the foreheads of her children, the Church gives us:

1- a firm conviction that a) we are created from the earth (as God’s beloved dust), that God’s grace gives us life, and we are connected with the rest of humanity and with all living things, b) we are mortal beings, c) our bodies will become dust when buried and ashes if cremated, and d) our lifespan is very brief and unpredictable;

2- a strong warning that we will suffer eternal miseries if we do not repent of our sins and do penance. Repentance doesn’t mean only to feel remorseful for being so bad. It means to start doing something good, to start practicing what one believes in, and to start doing the things one knows one should do.

3- a loving invitation to realize and acknowledge our sinful condition and to return to our loving and forgiving God with true repentance as the prodigal son did.

(Biblical use of ashes: Ashes are a sign of mourning in the Bible, often associated with wearing sackcloth, a coarse material. In Jb 2:8, Job “sat among the ashes” when he was stricken. When Tamar is raped by Amnon, she “put ashes on her head, and tore the long robe which she wore; and she laid her hand on her head and went away, crying aloud as she went” (2 Sm 13:19). In Esther Chapter 4, when Mordecai and the Jews learn of the order for their persecution, they put on sackcloth and ashes. Most famously, in Jon 3:6, when the pagan king of Nineveh was told by Jonah to repent, “he arose from his throne, removed his robe and covered himself with sackcloth and sat in ashes,’ and commanded the same for all in his kingdom, including the beasts).”

Ash Wednesday Life messages: We are invited to make a real conversion and renewal of life during the period of Lent by fasting, prayer, almsgiving, doing penance, and being reconciled to God. In fasting we sacrifice our love of “Self” so that we can become free to love God and others. In prayer we sacrifice our    love of “Time”  to make time for the love of God. In almsgiving we sacrifice our love of “Stuff” to make room for the love of others.

I- We need  to do prayerful fasting: a) by following the example of Jesus before his public ministry, and b) by imitating the pagan king and the people of Nineveh (Jon 3:7), who fasted in sackcloth pleading for mercy from the Lord God; of the Syrian King, Ben Hadad (I Kgs 20:31-34), who did not fast, but wore sackcloth and begged Israel’s King Ahab for his life); of the Jewish Queen Esther who fasted “in garments of distress and mourning” and “covered her head with ashes and dung”, begging God to save her people (Est 4:16); of the soldiers of Judas Maccabaeus who fasted so greatly they felt too weak to fight (1 Mc 3:17); and of St.  Paul who observed “frequent fastings” (2 Cor 11:27).

 (Historical note: In the past, the Greek Orthodox Christians had 180 days of fasting every year, and the Orthodox as well as Catholic Syrian Christians fasted  225 to 290 days every year.  The Roman Church formerly    had a number of fast days throughout the year.  Technically speaking, fasting is now only required on two days in Lent, namely, Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.  In the United States, in addition, abstinence alone is commanded on all Fridays of Lent). “Lord Jesus, create in us silence so that we may listen to your voice in Creation and in the Scriptures, in events and in people, above all in the poor and suffering. May your word guide us so that we may experience the power of your resurrection and witness to others that you are alive in our midst as source of fraternity, justice, and peace. Amen.” (ocarm.org)

Fasting:   True fasting is “tearing one’s heart and returning to God” with true repentance for one’s sins (Jl 2:13).  It is “breaking unjust fetters, freeing the oppressed, sharing one’s bread with the hungry, clothing with the naked, home with the homeless, and not turning away from the needy relatives” (Is 58:6-7).

Advantages of fasting:  a – It reduces the excessive accumulation of “fat” in our soul in the form of evil tendencies and evil habits (=spiritual obesity).

b – It gives us additional moral and spiritual strength.

c – It offers us more time to be with God in prayer.

d – It encourages us to share our food and goods with the needy.

e – “There is joy in the salutary fasting and abstinence of Christians who eat and drink less in order that their minds may be clearer  and  more receptive to receive the sacred nourishment of God’s word, which the whole Church announces and meditates upon in each day’s liturgy throughout Lent” (Thomas Merton).

II – We need to lead a life of penance because:

1 – It is the model given by Jesus.

2 – It is his teaching: “If anyone wishes to follow me, let him deny himself, take up his cross and follow me” and “Try to enter through the narrow gate.”

3 – Theological reasons: a) it removes the weakness left by sin in our souls, b) it pays the temporal debt caused by sin, and c) it makes our prayers more fruitful.

III – We need  to enlarge our hearts for reconciliation.

By receiving the ashes, we confess that we are sinners in need of the mercy of God, and we ask forgiveness for the various ways in which we have hurt our brothers and sisters.  In the recent past, our Catholic community has experienced acute suffering caused by the scandalous behavior of a few of our spiritual leaders.  Lent is a time for forgiveness and reconciliation.  Let us allow the spirit of forgiveness to work its healing influence in our parishes and families.  God bless you.

Ash Wednesday agenda: By Almsgiving, we highlight others as being more important than ourselves and give ourselves to them as Jesus gave Himself to others. By Prayer, we highlight God as being most important in our life, magnifying Him, humbling ourselves (thus realizing the distance between Him and us), and trying to come to come closer to the Lord. By Fasting, we discover our personal self and see who we really are. Cutting, pruning and disciplining ourselves will be part of this job. Doing all these three things with joyful heart and mind will prepare us to rise with Jesus. (Fr. Raj).

St. John Chrysostom on Fasting

Do you fast? Give me proof of it by your works.

• If you see a poor man, be moved to pity for him.
• If you see an enemy, be reconciled to him.
• If you see a friend being honored, do not envy him.

Do not let only your mouth fast, but also the eye and the ear and the feet and the hands and all the members of your bodies.

• Let the hands fast, by being free of avarice and greed.
• Let the feet fast, by ceasing to run after sin.
• Let the eyes fast, by disciplining them not to glare at that which is sinful.
• Let the ear fast, by not listening to evil talk and gossip.
• Let the mouth fast from foul words and unjust criticism (slander, calumny, detraction).

For what good is it if we abstain from food, but bite and devour our brothers and sisters?”

This is a long quotation, but very profitable to read. It explains the purpose of fasting, the proper attitude towards it, its effects on our spiritual state, and how fasting not done in the right spirit is actually injurious to us.

http://www.orthodox.net/articles/true-fasting-saint-john-chrysostom.html

5 Additional anecdotes:

1) “Do this, don’t do that, can’t you read the sign?” Some of the senior citizens here today can remember a song that was popular exactly 53 years ago this year.  In 1971, a group from Canada called the Five Man Electrical Band had a hit called “Signs.” The song is about how signs are always telling us what to do, and the chorus says, “Do this, don’t do that, can’t you read the sign?” Five decades and counting later, the question it poses – “Can’t you read the sign?” — is one we might ask ourselves today. We are going to be signed with ashes in the sign of our Faith, the cross. “Can’t you read the sign?” — The cross of ashes means that we are making a commitment – that we are undertaking Lent as a season of prayer and penitence, of dying to ourselves. It also describes our human condition: it says that we are broken and need repair; that we are sinners and need redemption. Most importantly, it tells us that, as followers of Jesus Christ, we are to carry our crosses. It also reminds us that we are dust and ashes – mortal human beings carrying and informed by an immortal soul. (http://www.patheos.com/blogs/deaconsbench/)

2) The ash-cross sign versus swoosh sign: In 1971, an art student at Portland State University named Carolyn Davidson got a job doing some freelance design work for a local sporting goods company. They were looking for a company logo, an emblem. Carolyn Davidson came up with something in just a few hours. Everyone liked what she did and thanked her. For a day’s work, she was paid $35. Little did anyone realize what Carolyn Davidson had created. That design went on to generate billions—and made history. What she came up with is the now-famous Nike swoosh. It may be the most successful, most recognizable, most visible corporate symbol in the world. Anyone in any language knows exactly what it represents. And millions around the world know the phrase that goes with it: “Just do it.” Graphic designers will tell you it’s a symbol without equal in the world. — But this morning, to begin the season of Lent, we will bear an emblem even greater, more visible, more powerful: the cross, made of ashes. We will wear it on our foreheads and carry it into the world as a sign of repentance, and sacrifice, and a quiet but purposeful desire to change. And our message—to ourselves and to those around us—is the same as the one from Nike: “Just do it!” (Deacon Greg Kandra)

3) The Potato Salad Promise: Tony Campolo tells about a Church that one day every year celebrates student recognition day. One year, after several students had spoken quite eloquently, the pastor started his sermon in a striking way: “Young people, you may not think you’re going to die, but you are. One of these days, they’ll take you to the cemetery, drop you in a hole, throw some dirt on your face and go back to the Church and eat potato salad.” — We may not like to acknowledge it, but someday, every one of us will have to face the “potato salad promise”, that we will all die. “Ashes to ashes, dust to dust…..”

4)  Kill the Cyclops in you: The Cyclops is that strange monster of Greek mythology with one big eye in the middle of its forehead.  We pretend to ignore the truth that, for 325 days of each year, we are all Cyclopes because there is ONE GREAT BIG “I” right in the middle of our heads!  If we are skeptical about this assertion, we might watch our words for one day, from morning to night.  What’s the first thing we think about each morning?  “What am I going to do today?  How will I do it?  What will happen to me today?  How will I feel today?”  I, I, I.  And all day long, what do we say to people?  We say things like, “I think this” and “I think that” and “I agree” and “I disagree” and “I like this” and “I don’t like that” and “I just want to say…”  I, I, I.  And what’s the last thing that we think about at night?  “I wish that so-and-so would stop doing thus-and-such to me” and “I really did a good job today” and “I wonder what I’ll do tomorrow.”  The problem with seeing with one eye is that we’re half blind. Everything looks flat and two-dimensional because with only one eye, we have no depth-perception.  Consequently, we go wrong in assessing people.  In Greek mythology, the Cyclops was killed when Odysseus and four of his men took a spare staff of the Cyclops, hardened its tip in the fire and used that to destroy the monster’s one big eye. —  It is precisely this that we must do on Ash Wednesday. With two strokes of his thumb smeared with ash on our forehead, the priest will cross that “I” out of our head.  By this sacramental ritual we are asked to take that “I” at the front of our mind and cross it out by “self-denial” and “self- mortification.”  Doing so will help us to see the beautiful creatures of God all around us and replace “I” with “You.”  (Condensed from Fr. J. K. Horn).

5) A living children’s sermon: The Rev. Timothy J. Kennedy tells a wonderful true story that is perfect for Ash Wednesday. It was told to him by a colleague, Pastor Chris Mietlowski. It concerned a Baptism that Mietlowski once performed on an infant named Eric. During the Baptism, Mietlowski traced the cross of Christ on Eric’s forehead using the oil of catechumens.  Following ceremony, Eric’s family celebrated the occasion with a big backyard party. Family and friends ate burgers and chips and played volleyball under a summer sun. Eric, being only six months old, was left to nap in his backyard stroller. When Mom got him up, whoops! Basted on Eric’s forehead was the image of the cross. Mom had forgotten to wash Eric’s forehead following his Baptism, and the oil that the pastor had traced onto his forehead acted the opposite of a sunscreen. The Cross of Christ was imprinted on Eric’s forehead as a sunburn. — Eric’s Mom and Dad had to explain the cross to the pediatrician, to the neighbors, to the stranger in the grocery store. For a few weeks, Eric was nothing less than a [living] children’s sermon. It was only a bit of a sunburn to be sure, but [it was] the best basting a child can have to be marked with the cross.

FASTING AND ABSTINENCE FOR LENT

1) Everyone 14 years of age or older is bound to abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday and all the Fridays in Lent including GOOD FRIDAY.

2) Everyone 18 years of age and under 60 years of age is bound to fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.

3) On these two days of fast and abstinence only one full, meatless meal is allowed. Two other meatless meals, sufficient to maintain strength, may be taken according to each one’s needs, but together they should not equal one full meal. Eating between meals is not permitted on these two days, but liquids, including milk and fruit juices, are allowed. When health or ability to work would be seriously affected, the law does not oblige.

4) To disregard completely the law of fast and abstinence is a serious matter.

 5) Going to Mass every Sunday, doing acts of charity, forgiveness, and good deeds of virtue are obligations of daily life for Catholics especially during Lent.

USEFUL WEBSITES OF THE WEEK (For homilies & Bible study groups) (The easiest method  to visit these websites is to copy and paste the web address or URL on the Address bar of any Internet website like Google or MSN and press the Enter button of your Keyboard).

1) Fr. Nick’s collection of Sunday homilies from 65 priests & weekday homilies: https://www.catholicsermons.com/homilies/sunday_homilies

2) Fr. Don’ collection of video homilies & blogs: https://sundayprep.org/featured-homilies/ (Copy it on the Address bar and press the Enter button)

3) Fr. Geoffrey Plant’s beautiful & scholarly video classes on Sunday gospel, Bible & RCIA topics:   https://www.youtube.com/user/GeoffreyPlant20663)

4) Dr. Brant Pitre’s commentary on Cycle A Sunday Scripture for Bible Class: https://catholicproductions.com/blogs/mass-readings-explained-year-Biblical basis of Catholic doctrines: http://scripturecatholic.com/

5) Agape Catholic Bible Lessons:

Videos of the week

Episcopalian virtual video on Ash Wednesday: https://youtu.be/WIEf9G2Wmho

Fr. Barron’s Ash Wednesday reflections: https://youtu.be/hPTcMWpHfKk

https://youtu.be/KO-EpdMUqa0  by Karlo Broussard

Lenten reflections: 1) https://youtu.be/MOstFC5QZyc  2) https://youtu.be/AHzG3ocLaj4

Giving up for Lent: 1) https://youtu.be/I8aWqjpuJLQ  2) https://youtu.be/zoI0qbaoq9U

History of Lent:  https://youtu.be/W7dRA13BnPM

Ashes on the head: https://www.ncregister.com/news/why-do-we-put-ashes-on-our-heads

Give Up during Lent

GIVE UP grumbling! Instead, “In everything give thanks.” Constructive criticism is OK, but “moaning, groaning, and complaining” are not Christian disciplines.

GIVE UP 10 to 15 minutes in bed! Instead, use that time in prayer, Bible study and personal devotion.

GIVE UP looking at other people’s worst points! Instead concentrate on their best points. We all have faults. It is a lot easier to have people overlook our shortcomings when we overlook theirs first.

GIVE UP speaking unkindly! Instead, let your speech be generous and understanding. It costs so little to say something kind and uplifting. Why not check that sharp tongue at the door?

GIVE UP your hatred of anyone or anything! Instead, learn the discipline of love. “Love covers a multitude of sins.”

GIVE UP your worries and anxieties! Instead, trust God with them. Anxiety is spending emotional energy on something we can do nothing about: like tomorrow! Live today and let God’s grace be sufficient.

GIVE UP TV one evening a week! Instead, visit some lonely or sick person. There are those who are isolated by illness or age. Why isolate yourself in front of the “tube?” Give someone a precious gift: your time!

GIVE UP buying anything but essentials for yourself! Instead, give the money to God. The money you would spend on the luxuries could help someone meet basic needs. We are called to be stewards of God’s riches, not consumers.

GIVE UP judging by appearances and by the standard of the world! Instead, learn to give up yourself to God. There is only one who has the right to judge, Jesus Christ. (Craig Gates, Jackson, MS, “What to Give up for Lent”)

Jokes of the Day

• Today is Ash Wednesday. So, my family is going to be eating a lot more legumes, mostly lentils.
• Two 3rd graders were talking in their school. The little girl asked the boy what that smudge was on his forehead. He replied, “Its Ash Wednesday.”

“What’s Ash Wednesday?” She asked.

“Oh, it’s when Christians begin their diet,” he replied.

• Lent is when I determine which addictions, I may still have some control over.
• An Irishman walks into a bar and orders three glasses of Guinness, drinking them one at a time. Noticing this odd ritual, the bartender explains that the beer goes flat when poured and informs the man his beer would be much fresher if he ordered one glass at a time. The Irishman explains he began this custom with his two brothers, who have moved to America and Australia, respectively. This is their way of remembering all the time they spent drinking together. The man becomes a regular at the pub, well-known for always ordering three beers at once. One day he walks in and orders only two beers. Assuming the worst, a hush falls among other patrons. When the Irishman returns to the bar to order his second round, the bartender quietly offers his condolences. The man looks confused for a moment, and then explains, “No, everyone’s fine. I gave up beer for Lent.” L/23
•  “Scriptural Homilies” Cycle A (No. 17) by Fr. Tony: akadavil@gmail.com

Visit my website by clicking on https://frtonyshomilies.com/ for missed or previous Cycle C  & A homilies, 141 Year of Faith “Adult Faith Formation Lessons” (useful for RCIA classes too) & 197 “Question of the Week.” Contact me only at akadavil@gmail.com. Visit https://www.catholicsermons.com/homilies/sunday_homilies  of Fr. Nick’s collection of homilies or Resources in the CBCI website:  https://www.cbci.in.  (Special thanks to Vatican Radio website http://www.vaticannews.va/en/church.html -which completed uploading my Cycle A, B and C homilies in May 2020)  Fr. Anthony Kadavil, Chaplain, Sacred Heart Residence of the Little Sisters of the Poor, 1655 McGill Ave, Mobile, AL 36604

Bible Verses for Ash Wednesday

Genesis 3:19 “to the dust you shall return “is one of many Scripture passages that are fitting for meditation on Ash Wednesday.

Daniel 9:3 “So I turned to the Lord God and pleaded with him in prayer and petition, in fasting and in sackcloth and ashes.”

Job 42:5-6 “My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you. Therefore, I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes.”

2 Samuel 1:2: “On the third day, behold, a man came out of the camp from Saul, with his clothes torn and dust on his head. And it came about when he came to David that he fell to the ground and prostrated himself.”

Joshua 7:6: “Then Joshua tore his clothes and fell to the earth on his face before the ark of the Lord until the evening, both he and the elders of Israel; and they put dust on their heads.”

Lamentations 2:10: “The elders of the daughter of Zion Sit on the ground, they are silent. They have thrown dust on their heads; They have girded themselves with sackcloth. The virgins of Jerusalem Have bowed their heads to the ground.”

Ezekiel 9:4 is another verse that influenced this holiday. “Go throughout the city of Jerusalem and put a mark on the foreheads of those who grieve and lament over all the detestable things that are done in it.”

Psalm 103:8-14 “The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. He will not always accuse, nor will He harbor His anger forever; He does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His love for those who fear Him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us. As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him; for He knows how we are formed, He remembers that we are dust.”

Mark 1:15 “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!”

Psalm 90:12 “Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.”

2 Corinthians 5:20-6:2 “We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making His appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. As God’s co-workers we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain. For He says, ‘In the time of My favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.’ I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.”

Revelation 18:19: “And they threw dust on their heads and were crying out, weeping and mourning, saying, ‘Woe, woe, the great city, in which all who had ships at sea became rich by her wealth, for in one hour she has been laid waste!’”

Biblical use of ashes: Ashes are a sign of mourning in the Bible, often associated with wearing sackcloth, a coarse material. In Jb 2:8, Job “sat among the ashes” when he was stricken. When Tamar is raped by Amnon, she “put ashes on her head, and tore the long robe which she wore; and she laid her hand on her head and went away, crying aloud as she went” (2 Sm 13:19). In Esther Chapter 4, when Mordecai and the Jews learn of the order for their persecution, they put on sackcloth and ashes. Most famously, in Jon 3:6, when the king of Nineveh is told by Jonah to repent, “he arose from his throne, removed his robe and covered himself with sackcloth and sat in ashes.”)

9 things to know and share about Ash Wednesday-

(Jimmy Akins) (http://www.ncregister.com/blog/jimmy-akin/9-things-you-need-to-know-about-lent)

1. What is Ash Wednesday? Ash Wednesday is the day that Lent begins).The name comes from the fact that a particular rite is always celebrated on this Wednesday in which the faithful have ashes put on their foreheads. According to the Roman Missal: In the course of today’s Mass, ashes are blessed and distributed. These are made from the olive branches or branches of other trees that were blessed the previous year [on Palm/Passion Sunday].
2. What does the putting on of ashes symbolize? According to the Directory on Popular Piety and the Liturgy: 125. In the Roman Rite, the beginning of the forty days of penance is marked with the austere symbol of ashes which are used in the Liturgy of Ash Wednesday. The use of ashes is a survival from an ancient rite according to which converted sinners submitted themselves to canonical penance. The actof putting on ashes symbolizes fragility and mortality, and the need to be redeemed by the mercy of God. Far from being a merely external act, the Church has retained the use of ashes to symbolize that attitude of internal penance to which all the baptized are called during Lent. The faithful who come to receiveashes should be assisted in perceiving the implicit internal significance of this act, which disposes them towards conversion and renewed Easter commitment.
3. How does the distribution of ashes take place? The Roman Missal states that after the homily, the priest blesses the ashes and sprinkles them with holy water. Then the priest places ashes on the head of all those present who come to him, and says to each one: Repent, and believe the Gospel. Or: Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return. Meanwhile an antiphon or another appropriate chant is sung.
4. Is there a particular way the ashes should be put on people’s heads? Fr. Edward McNamara, professor of liturgy at Regina Apostolorum University comments: There are no set rules regarding this, and it largely depends on local custom. In most English-speaking countries the prevailing custom seems to be that the priest places enough holy water into the ashes to form a kind of paste. The ashes are then daubed in the form of a cross on the forehead. Many Catholics see this practice as a means of publicly showing their Faith and leave the smudge on their forehead throughout Ash Wednesday. In other countries, such as Spain, Italy, and parts of Latin America, the prevailing custom seems to be sprinkling fairly dry ashes on the crown of the head. But even within these geographical areas, both customs are practiced and there may be other legitimate traditions as well.
5. Can this be done outside of Mass? Yes. The Roman Missal states:

The blessing and distribution of ashes may also take place outside Mass. In this case, the rite is preceded by a Liturgy of the Word, with the Entrance Antiphon, the Collect, and the readings with their chants as at Mass. Then there follow the Homily and the blessing and distribution of ashes. The rite is concluded with the Universal Prayer, the Blessing, and the Dismissal of the Faithful.

6. Can someone other than a priest distributes the ashes? Yes. The Book of Blessings states: 1659 This rite may be celebrated by a priest or deacon who may be assisted by lay ministers in the distribution of ashes. The blessing of the ashes, however, is reserved to a priest or deacon.
7. How long do you leave the ashes on? There is no rule about this. It is a matter of personal decision based on the individual’s own inclinations and circumstances. The ashes can be left on until they wear off naturally or they can be washed off or wiped off when the individual chooses.
8. Can ashes be distributed to the sick who cannot attend Mass? Yes. The Book of Blessings states: 1657— This order [in the Book of Blessings] may also be used when ashes are brought to the sick. According to circumstances, the rite may be abbreviated by the minister. Nevertheless, at least one Scripture reading should be included in the service. 1658 — If already blessed ashes are brought to the sick, the blessing is omitted, and the distribution takes place immediately after the homily. The homily should conclude by inviting the sick person to prepare himself or herself for the reception of the ashes.
9. Is Ash Wednesday a Holyday of Obligation? No. There is no obligation to attend Mass. However, Ash Wednesday is a penitential day, and it (together with Good Friday) is one of two days of the year on which fasting, and abstinence are required.

Feb 20-25: Click on http://frtonyshomilies.comf or missed homilies: Feb 20 Monday: Mk 9:14-29: 14 And when they came to the disciples, they saw a great crowd about them, and scribes arguing with them. 15 And immediately all the crowd, when they saw him, were greatly amazed, and ran up to him and greeted him. 16 And he asked them, “What are you discussing with them?” 17 And one of the crowd answered him, “Teacher, I brought my son to you, for he has a dumb spirit; 18 and wherever it seizes him, it dashes him down; and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid; and I asked your disciples to cast it out, and they were not able.” 19 And he answered them, “O faithless generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him to me.” 20 And they brought the boy to him; and when the spirit saw him, immediately it convulsed the boy, and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth. 21 And Jesus asked his father, “How long has he had this?” And he said, “From childhood. 22 And it has often cast him into the fire and into the water, to destroy him; but if you can do anything, have pity on us and help us.” 23 And Jesus said to him, “If you can! All things are possible to him who believes.” 24 Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!” 25 And when Jesus saw that a crowd came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “You dumb and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him, and never enter him again.” 26 And after crying out and convulsing him terribly, it came out, and the boy was like a corpse; so that most of them said, “He is dead.” 27 But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose. 28 And when he had entered the house, his disciples asked him privately, “Why could we not cast it out?” 29 And he said to them, “This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer.”

The context: Today’s Gospel passage describes an exorcism and healing which Jesus performed after coming down from the mountain of Transfiguration.

Why did the Apostles fail to heal the epileptic? The father of the epileptic boy complained to Jesus about the inability of the apostles to cure his son. They failed to heal the boy because: 1) although they had been given the power of healing, they failed to vitalize or activate it by prayer as Jesus did; 2) they did not have strong, trusting and expectant Faith in God’s power; 3) as Jesus remarked, exorcism requires not only healing power but also a life of prayer and penance. Jesus heals the epileptic by a word of Divine command: Jesus demanded strong Faith from the boy’s father as a condition for healing. Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!” Then Jesus commanded the evil spirit, using His Divine authority: “You dumb and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him, and never enter him again.” As the evil spirit left the boy, he was healed of his epilepsy.

Life messages: 1) God will work daily miracles in our lives, provided we pray with trusting Faith. 2) Jesus offers us freedom from bondage to sin, evil habits, and addictions. 3) Let us make full use of the protection and help God offers to those who seek Him with Faith in His power and trust in His mercy. Fr. Tony (https://frtonyshomilies.com/) L/23

For additional reflections, click on: https://bible.usccb.org/podcasts/video; https://catholic-daily-reflections.com/daily-reflections/; https://www.epriest.com/reflections

Feb 21 Tuesday: (St. Peter Damien, Bishop): For a short biography, click onhttps://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-of-the-day/saint-peter-damianMk 9: 30-37: 30 They went on from there and passed through Galilee. And he would not have any one know it; 31 for he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, “The Son of man will be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him; and when he is killed, after three days he will rise.” 32 But they did not understand the saying, and they were afraid to ask him. 33 And they came to Capernaum; and when he was in the house he asked them, “What were you discussing on the way?” 34 But they were silent; for on the way they had discussed with one another who was the greatest. 35 And he sat down and called the twelve; and he said to them, “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.” 36 And he took a child, and put him in the midst of them; and taking him in his arms, he said to them, 37 “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me; and whoever receives me, receives not me but him who sent me.”

Context: Today’s Gospel outlines the criteria for greatness. Jesus’ Apostles shared the Jewish hope that the Messiah would be a political ruler, and that they would hold important portfolios in the Messianic kingdom. Hence, in today’s passage, Jesus warns his Apostles and the future hierarchy in his Church against the natural human tendency to pride and ambition. He exhorts the spiritual leaders, as well as all believers in responsible positions, to be humble, trusting and innocent, that is, like children.

Child-like qualities: Children are basically innocent and honest. They are naturally humble because they depend on their parents for everything. They trust and obey their parents because they know their parents love them. Hence, Jesus advises his disciples to forget their selfish ambitions and to spend their lives serving others in all humility, with trusting Faith in a loving, providing God. Then they will be great in the Kingdom of Heaven.

Life Messages: 1) We need to practice humility in thoughts, words, and actions. “Learn from me for I am meek and humble of heart.” “What is the essential thing in the religion and discipline of Jesus Christ?” St. Augustine asks, and then responds, “I shall reply: first humility, second humility, and third humility.” 2) We should not seek recognition and recompense for the service we do for Christ and the Church as parents, teachers, pastors etc. 3) Trusting Faith resulting from true humility is essential for all corporal and spiritual works of mercy. 4) Since children reflect the innocence, purity, simplicity and tenderness of our Lord, and since they are given the protection of a guardian angel, we are to love them, train them and take care not to give scandal to them. 5) We need to try to treat everyone with love and respect because, “Beside each believer stands an angel as protector and shepherd leading him to life,” (St. Basil) (CCC #336). Fr. Tony (https://frtonyshomilies.com/) L/23

For additional reflections, click on: https://bible.usccb.org/podcasts/video; https://catholic-daily-reflections.com/daily-reflections/; https://www.epriest.com/reflections

Feb 22 (Ash Wednesday): (For a short account, click on https://www.franciscanmedia.org/franciscan-spirit-blog/ash-wednesday-wearing-our-faith-on-our-foreheads): Mt 6: 1-6, 16-18; Introduction: Ash Wednesday (dies cinerum), is the Church’s Yom Kippur or “Day of Atonement.” The very name of the day comes from the Jewish practice of mourning and doing penance wearing “sackcloth and ashes.” The Old Testament tells us how the people of Nineveh, King Ben Hadad of Syria, and Queen Esther fasted, wearing sackcloth and ashes.In the early Church, Christians who had committed serious sins were instructed to do public penance, wearing sackcloth and ashes. The Church instructs us to observe Ash Wednesday and Good Friday as days of full fast and abstinence. Fasting is prescribed to reinforce our penitential prayer during the Lenten season.

Scripture lessons summarized:In the first reading, the prophet Joel, insists that we should experience a complete conversion of heart, not simply regret for our sins. The Responsorial Psalm (Ps 51) for today, provides us with an excellent prayer of repentance and a plea for forgiveness. Saint Paul, in the second reading, advises us “to become reconciled to God.” Today’s Gospel instructs us to assimilate the true spirit of fasting and prayer, rather than just settling for just the legal externals.

The blessing of the ashes and the significance of the day: The priest, dipping his thumb into ashes (collected from burnt palms from the previous year’s Palm Sunday), marks the forehead of each with the sign of the cross , saying the words, “Remember that you are dust and to dust you will return” or “Repent and believe in the Gospel.” By marking the sign of the cross with ashes on the foreheads of her children, the Church gives us: 1- a firm conviction that a) we are mortal beings, b) our bodies will become dust when buried and ashes if cremated, and c) our life-span is very brief and unpredictable; 2- a strong warning that we will suffer eternal misery if we do not repent of our sins, become reconciled with God, asking His pardon and forgiveness, and do penance; and 3- a loving invitation to realize and acknowledge our sinful condition and return to our loving and forgiving God with true repentance and a renewal of our life as the prodigal son did.

Ash Wednesday messages: # 1: We need to purify and renew our lives during the period of Lent by repentance, which means expressing sorrow for sins by turning away from occasions of sin and making a right turn to God. We need to express our repentance by becoming reconciled with God daily, by asking for forgiveness from those whom we have offended and by giving unconditional forgiveness to those who have offended us.

# 2: We need to offer prayerful fasting and acts of penance for our sins,following the example of Jesus before his public ministry. Fasting reduces our “spiritual obesity” or the excessive accumulation of “fat” in our soul in the form of evil tendencies, evil habits, and evil addictions. It also gives us additional moral and spiritual strength and encourages us to share our blessings with the needy. It offers us more time to be with God in prayer. It encourages us to share our food and goods with the needy. Fasting also makes our minds clearer and more receptive to receiving the sacred nourishment of God’s Word in Scripture and in Holy Eucharist. (Thomas Merton). L/23

For additional reflections, click on: https://bible.usccb.org/podcasts/video; https://catholic-daily-reflections.com/daily-reflections/; https://www.epriest.com/reflections

Feb 23 Thursday: Lk 9:22-25: 22 Jesus said to his disciples, “The `Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and on the third day raised. 23 And he said to all, “If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. 24 For whoever would save his life will lose it; and whoever loses his life for my sake, he will save it. 25 For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself?

The context: After Peter had made his famous declaration of Faith in Jesus as God and the Messiah, Jesus plainly warned his disciples about his suffering death and Resurrection. But the Apostles were unwilling to accept such a fate for their master. Hence, Jesus declared the three conditions of discipleship which he expected from his followers, as given in today’s Gospel. The Three Conditions: 1) Deny yourself. 2) Take up your cross. 3) Follow Me. 1) Denying oneself involves a) cleansing of the heart by the eviction of self and the removal of all evil tendencies and addictions from the heart with the help of the Holy Spirit, b) the enthronement of God in the heart and the dedication of oneself to Him, and c) the surrendering of one’s life to the enthroned God through loving, selfless service of others for God’s glory. 2) Taking up one’s cross means, not only accepting gracefully from God our pains and suffering, but also accepting the pain involved in serving others, in sharing our blessings with them, and in controlling our evil tendencies. Carrying one’s cross becomes easier when we compare our light crosses with the heavier ones given to terminally-ill patients and to exploited people living under subhuman conditions. The realization that Jesus carries with us the heavier part of our cross also makes our cross-bearing easier and more salvific. 3) Follow Me means one is to follow Jesus by obeying the word of God and adjusting one’s life accordingly. One living as Jesus’ disciple should be ever ready to obey as Jesus directs one –through His words in the Bible and through the teaching authority He has instituted in the Church.

The paradox of saving/losing and losing/saving life: According to Bible commentators, the word “life” is here used, clearly, in a double sense: the earthly life of man in flesh and time and his eternal Life of happiness in Heaven. Hence, what Jesus means is that whoever wishes to save his (earthly), life will lose his (eternal), Life. But whoever loses his (earthly), life by spending it for Jesus and the Gospel, will save his (eternal), Life.

Life message: We need to love the cross, wear the cross, carry the crosses we are given, and transform these God-given crosses of our life into the instruments of our salvation by working with the Holy Spirit. (https://frtonyshomilies.com/) L/23

For additional reflections, click on: https://bible.usccb.org/podcasts/video; https://catholic-daily-reflections.com/daily-reflections/; https://www.epriest.com/reflections

Feb 24 Friday: Mt 9:14-15: 14 Then the disciples of John came to him, saying, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?” 15 And Jesus said to them, “Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? The days will come, when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast.”

The context: Today’s Gospel passage gives Jesus’ reply to the question asked by a few disciples of John the Baptist about fasting and feasting. Prayer, fasting, and almsgiving were the three-cardinal works of Jewish religious life. Hence, John’s disciples wanted to know why they and the Pharisees fasted, while Jesus’ disciples were seen feasting with him and never fasting. Jesus’ reply: Jesus responded to their sincere question using three metaphors: the metaphor of the “children of the bridal chamber,” the metaphor of patching torn cloth and the metaphor of wineskins (Mk 2:18-20; Lk 5:33-35). In today’s Gospel passage taken from Matthew, Jesus compares his disciples with the children of the bridal chamber. These people were selected friends of the bridegroom who feasted in the company of the bride and groom during a week of honeymoon. Nobody expected them to fast. Jesus declares that his disciples will fast when he, the Bridegroom, is taken away from them. One of the fruits of the Spirit is joy, and it is mentioned next after love in St Paul’s list, “…love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control” (Gal 5:22). Hence, we are to welcome the joys of Christian life as well as the crosses it offers us. The Fathers of the Church interpret the image of the bridegroom and bride as referring to Christ and his Church. Some explain it topologically: as long as the Spouse is with us, we are not able to mourn; but when by our sin we turn from Jesus, then is the time for tears and fasting. Yet others apply the words of Christ to the Holy Eucharist. The parable does not condemn the strictness of John nor does it condemn fasting. The disciples of Christ kept the fasts prescribed by the Law, but they did ignore those imposed by the Pharisees.

Life messages: 1) Fasting reduces the excessive accumulation of fat in our soul in the form of evil tendencies and evil habits (= spiritual obesity). In addition, fasting gives us additional moral and spiritual strength: it offers us more time to be with God in prayer and encourages us to share our food and goods with the needy. We fast so as to share in the sufferings of the Body of Christ (Col 1:24).

2) We need to be adjustable Christians with open and elastic minds and hearts: The Holy Spirit, working actively in the Church and guiding the Magisterium — teaching authority in the Church

Feb 25 Saturday: Lk 5: 27-32: 27 After this he went out, and saw a tax collector, named Levi, sitting at the customs post; and he said to him, “Follow me.” 28 And he left everything, and rose and followed him. 29 And Levi made him a great feast in his house; and there was a large company of tax collectors and others sitting at table with them. 30 And the Pharisees and their scribes murmured against his disciples, saying, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” 31 And Jesus answered them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick; 32 I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

 The context: Today’s Gospel episode of Matthew’s call as Jesus’ Apostle reminds us of God’s love and mercy for sinners and challenges us to practice this same love and mercy in our relations with others.  The call and the response: Jesus went to the tax collector’s post to invite Matthew to become his disciple.  Since tax collectors worked for a foreign power, extorted more tax money from the people than they owed, and thus made themselves rich by extortion, they were hated and despised as traitors by the Jewish people, and considered public sinners by the Pharisees.  But Jesus could see in Matthew a person who needed Divine love and grace. While everyone hated Matthew, Jesus was ready to offer him undeserved love, mercy, and forgiveness.  Hence, Matthew abandoned his lucrative job, because for him, Christ’s call to follow him was a promise of salvation, fellowship, guidance, and protection.  Scandalous partying with sinners: It was altogether natural for Matthew to rejoice in his new calling by celebrating with his friends. Jesus’ dining with outcasts in the house of a traitor scandalized the Pharisees for whom ritual purity and table fellowship were important religious practices.  Hence, they asked the disciples, “Why does your master eat with tax collectors and sinners?”  Jesus Himself answered their question, stressing his ministry as healer: “Those who are well do not need a physician; the sick do.”  Then, in Matthew’s account, quoting Hosea, Jesus challenged the Pharisees, “Go and learn the meaning of the words, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice’ (Hos 6:6)” Finally, Jesus clarified his position, “I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” 

Life messages: 1) Jesus calls you and me for a purpose: Jesus has called us, through our Baptism, has forgiven our sins, and has welcomed us as members of the Kingdom. He calls us   through the Word and through his Church to be his disciples and to turn away from all the things that distract us and draw us away from God. 

2) Just as Jesus did, and Matthew did, we, too, are expected to preach Christ through our lives by reaching out to the unwanted and the marginalized in society with Christ’s love, mercy, and compassion.  (https://frtonyshomilies.com/) L/23

For additional reflections, click on: https://bible.usccb.org/podcasts/video; https://catholic-daily-reflections.com/daily-reflections/; https://www.epriest.com/reflections

OT VII [A] Sunday (Feb 19) 8-minute homily in one page (L-23)

Introduction: Today’s readings explain why Christians are expected to be holy and how we are meant to become holy people. The first and second readings give us reasons why we should be holy, and the Gospel describes four ways of becoming holy people prescribed for us by Jesus, using three examples of graceful Christian retaliation when people offend us and violate our rights and privileges.

Scripture lessons summarized: The first reading, taken from the book of Leviticus, teaches us that we should be holy because it is the command given to us by God through Moses: “Be holy, for I the Lord, your God, am Holy.” It also shows us the way to share in God’s holiness: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” The Responsorial Psalm (Ps 103) challenges us to be holy as our God is Holy by becoming kind and merciful and forgiving, as He is to us. In the second reading, St. Paul gives us an additional reason to be holy. We are to keep our bodies and souls holy because we are the temples of the Holy Spirit, and the Holy Spirit lives in us. In the Gospel passage, taken from the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus teaches us four ways of becoming holy as God is holy.

Life message: We need to become holy: 1) The first way is to abstain from all forms of retaliation. Jesus discards even the milder form of retaliation developed by Hammurabi in ancient Babylon and passed on to Israel through Moses. The policy was one of limited, proportional retaliation (Lex Talionis, “tit-for-tat”): “an eye for an eye, a tooth for tooth,” rather than allowing unlimited vengeance. In place of this limited, proportional retaliation, Jesus gives his new law of love, grace, forgiveness, reconciliation, and no retaliation. For Jesus, retaliation, or even limited vengeance, has no place in the Christian life, even though graceful acceptance of an offense requires great strength, discipline of character, and strengthening by God’s grace. 2) The second way of becoming holy as God is Holy is to take the offense gracefully and love the offender. Jesus illustrates this in three images: “turning the other cheek, freely giving the tunic and adding the cloak to it, and walking the extra mile.” Jesus tells us that what makes Christians different is the grace with which they treat others, offering them loving kindness and mercy as God does for us, even if they don’t deserve this treatment. We are commanded to love our enemies as Jesus loves us, with agápe love, not because our enemies deserve our love, but because Jesus loves them so much that he died for them as he did for us. 3) The third way of sharing in God’s Holiness is by unconditionally and whole-heartedly forgiving the offender without planning revenge in any form. This means not only loving one’s neighbors, but also forgiving those enemies who hurt us and seem willfully to cause us suffering, hardship and unhappiness.

4) The fourth way of becoming holy as God is Holy is to seal our determination to forgive our enemies by sincerely praying for their spiritual and physical welfare and for the grace they need for their conversion and renewal of life. Thus, today’s Scripture readings challenge us to become holy as our God is Holy by loving, forgiving, and blessing others, even our enemies with graceful and magnanimous love, as our Holy God does for us.

OT VII [A] (Feb 19) Lv 19:1-2, 17-18; I Cor 3:16-23; Mt 5:38-48 

 Homily starter anecdotes:  

1) “If I could talk face to face with the pilot who dropped the bomb”:  On the Veterans Day of November 1996, Phan Thi Kim Phuc, now 33, came to the black granite Vietnam Veterans Memorial as a wife and mother, to tell several thousand spectators that she forgives those who bombed her village and that she has put the past behind her. Kim Phuc placed a wreath at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington and delivered a short speech. When Kim Phuc was only 9 years old, her picture was taken by an Associated Press photographer, and it stirred the conscience of the world. Moments after the picture was taken, Kim Phuc lost consciousness and was taken to a hospital by the photographer, Nick Ut, who later won a Pulitzer Prize for the photo. Her village had just been hit by a napalm bomb attack by the South Vietnamese air force, sponsored by the USA air force. Her two cousins were killed instantly. Kim Phuc’s clothes were burned off her. In the photograph, this little girl was running, naked, in pain and terror. In front of the wall inscribed with the names of more than 58,000 U.S. war dead, Kim Phuc said that she was focused on the future. Speaking to a hushed crowd in Washington, she made the following statement: “I have suffered a lot from my physical and emotional pain. Sometimes I thought I could not live, but God saved my life and gave me Faith and Hope. If I could talk face to face with the pilot who dropped the bomb, I would tell him we cannot change history, but we should try to do things for the present and for the future to promote peace.” No retaliation! Just tough, wise love. (http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1996-11-12/news/9611120185_1_phan-thi-kim-phuc-vietnam-veterans-memorial-fund-war-victim). http://www.vanityfair.com/news/2015/04/vietnam-war-napalm-girl-photo-today   Video= https://youtu.be/wYC7RsU3OKs. —  That’s the spirit of Jesus taught in the Sermon on the Mount given in today’s Gospel. It’s the greatest power on earth. In the face of it, the devil trembles. (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).

2) “The goal is reconciliation and redemption.” In the movie Ghandi, the great Indian leader is walking one day with a Presbyterian missionary, Charlie Andrews. The two suddenly find their way blocked by young thugs. The Reverend Andrews takes one look at the menacing gangsters and decides to run for it. Gandhi stops him and asks, “Doesn’t the New Testament say if an enemy strikes you on the right cheek you should offer him the left?” Andrews mumbles something about Jesus speaking metaphorically. Gandhi replies, “I’m not so sure. I suspect he meant you must show courage–be willing to take a blow, several blows, to show you will not strike back nor will you be turned aside.”  Martin Luther King, Jr. would take this principle from the Sermon on the Mount and use it to revolutionize America. King used to say, “No man can pull me down so low as to make me hate him.” The real goal, said King, was not to defeat the white man, but to awaken a sense of shame within the oppressor and to challenge his false sense of superiority. “The goal is reconciliation, redemption, the creation of the beloved community.” The words of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount which Martin Luther King paraphrased, are totally out of step with our present world because our world believes in retaliation. 75 percent of Christians believe in capital punishment because they think we can stop the killing by killing the killers. That’s retaliation. Rev. Dr. Bill Bouknight (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).

 3) “He couldn’t fight, either.”  One day a truck driver stopped at a restaurant for dinner and ordered a steak. Before he could eat it, in walked a motorcycle gang, with dirty leather jackets and long, unkempt hair. They took the man’s steak, cut it into six pieces, and ate it. The driver said nothing. He simply paid the bill and walked out. One of the gang members said, “That man couldn’t talk. He didn’t say a word.” Another one said, “He couldn’t fight, either; he didn’t lift a hand.” A waiter added, “I would say that he couldn’t drive either. On his way out of the parking lot, he ran over six motorcycles crushing all of them.” — Something in us loves that story, because we like retaliation. But in the Sermon on the Mount Jesus prescribes forgiving love as the Christian trump card. Rev. Dr. Bill Bouknight (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).

 Introduction: Today’s readings explain the basis of Jewish and Christian morality: the Holiness of the loving, merciful and compassionate One God. God’s chosen people were, and are, expected to be holy people sharing in God’s Holiness by embodying His love, mercy and forgiveness.

Scripture readings summarized: The first reading, taken from the book of Leviticus, gives the Holiness code: “Be holy, for I, the Lord, your God, am Holy.” It also gives us the way to share God’s holiness: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” The Responsorial Psalm (Ps 103) challenges us to be like our God – kind, merciful and forgiving — and it shows us the measure of perfection Christ asks us to bring to our relationships. In the second reading, St. Paul gives us an additional reason to be holy. We are to keep our bodies holy because we are the temples of the Holy Spirit, and the Holy Spirit lives in us. In the Gospel passage, taken from the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus confirms, corrects, and expands the Ten Commandments. Here, Jesus condemns even the mild form of the “Law of the Talion, (Lex Talionis),” the Babylonian tribal law of restricted retaliation which Moses passed on to Israel. In its place, Jesus gives his new law of love, grace, forgiveness, reconciliation, and no retaliation. For Jesus, retaliation, or even limited vengeance, has no place in the Christian life, even though graceful acceptance of an offense requires great strength and discipline of character, as well as strengthening by God’s grace. The second part of today’s Gospel passage is the central part of the Sermon on the Mount. It presents the Christian ethic of personal relationships: love one’s neighbors and forgive one’s enemies. It tells us that what makes Christians different is the grace through which they treat others with loving kindness and mercy, even if they don’t deserve it. We are commanded to love our enemies as Jesus loves us, with agápe love, not because our enemies deserve our love, but because Jesus loves them so much that he died for them as he did for us.

First reading: Lv 19: 1-2, 17-18 explained:  The first reading, taken from the book of Leviticus, gives the Holiness code: “Be holy, for I the Lord, your God, am Holy.” This passage explains that God of Israel is a transcendent God, beyond human knowledge, and at the same time a God Who wants to be with His people. Therefore, the people are expected not only adore, revere, and love Him, but also to share His Holiness by living holy lives in God’s presence. The Divine Nature is that God is Holy, and His Holiness consists of His unconditional and magnanimous love, care, concern, mercy, and forgiveness towards every human being.  It follows, then,  that in order to be holy, we have to be kind, loving, merciful,  forgiving, and compassionate toward our neighbors – and this is what God wants us to be when He calls each one of us to be holy, to be spiritually perfect. Listening to the voice of the Lord, we thus realize what holiness entails: bearing no hatred in one’s heart, foregoing revenge, and holding no grudge, particularly towards a fellow citizen. All this is summed up in “Love your neighbor as yourself.”  Indeed, the merciful God gently guides His chosen people on the path of holiness.  The reading teaches us that we share God’s holiness when we obey the two great commandments: 1) “Love your God with all your heart, soul, strength and mind. 2) “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

 Second Reading: I Cor 3:16-23 explained: In the second reading, St. Paul gives us an additional reason to be holy. We are to keep our bodies holy because we are the temples of the Holy Spirit, and the Holy Spirit lives in us. The word naos, which Paul uses for temple, refers to the sanctuary, corresponding to the Holy of Holies in the Temple at Jerusalem where the Lord God chose to dwell. Paul teaches us all that the presence of the Holy Spirit dwelling in us makes our community and each of its members a holy temple, the naos of God. For the Holy Spirit continually gives us His gifts, fruits, and charisms so that we can better live the very life of Christ.

 Gospel exegesis: Mosaic Law of mild retaliation:  During their captivity in Egypt, the Jews became familiar with the crude tribal law of retaliation (Lex Talionis = Tit-for-Tat), given by the ancient lawmaker Hammurabi during the period 2285-2242 BC. When this law was first developed, it made life better and more civilized. It restricted revenge and made it commensurate with the offense.  Moses instructed the Israelites to follow tit-for-tat retaliation, rather than to wreak total destruction upon their enemies. That is, instead of mutilating or murdering all the members of the offender’s family or tribe, they should discover the offender and punish only him/her with an equal mutilation or harm. Later, a milder version of this law was substituted. It demanded monetary compensation, as decided by a judge, in place of physical punishment. Moses also gave the Israelites several laws commanding merciful treatment for the enemy (e.g., Lv 19:18). By advising, “Turn to him the other cheek,” Jesus instructs his followers to forgive an insult gracefully and, so, convert the offender. He commands that we are to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us, demonstrating that we are children of a merciful Heavenly Father. The meaning of “turn the other cheek” is “Don’t return insult for insult.” The message of Jesus is, “Don’t retaliate.” Instead, we are to win over the aggressor with tough, wise love, so that we may win people to Christ and transform human society into the Kingdom of God.

he true Christian reaction: Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount rejects even the concession of milder retaliation allowed by Moses. For Jesus, retaliation, or even limited vengeance, has no place in the Christian life, even though graceful acceptance of an offense requires great strength and discipline of character, as well as strengthening by God’s grace. Jesus wants his disciples to repay evil with kindness. Instead of retaliation, Jesus gives his new law of love, grace, forgiveness, reconciliation, and no retaliation. Jesus illustrates the Christian approach by giving three examples. 1)  Turn to him the other cheek:  Striking someone on the right cheek requires striking with the back of one’s hand, and according to the Jewish concept it inflicts more insult than pain. Jesus instructs his followers to forgive the insult gracefully and convert the offender. It is interesting that Gandhi said, “Everyone in the world knows that Jesus and His teaching are non-violent, except Christians.” 2) “If anyone sues you to take away your coat (chitona), let him have your cloak (himation) also“: (v. 40).  A chitona is a lightweight garment like a shirt (but long like a robe), worn close to the skin.  A himation is an outer garment like a coat and is also long.  To surrender both chitona and himation would render a man essentially naked, which suggests that Jesus is using exaggerated language to make the point that we are to defuse conflict by yielding more than is required. Jesus teaches that his followers should show more responsibility and a greater sense of duty in refusing  to fight for privileges. 3) Go with him two miles. Roman law permitted its soldiers and other officials to require people to carry a burden for a mile.  Service of this sort could be quite oppressive.  Here, Jesus tells us that a Christian has the duty of responding, even to seemingly unjust demands by helping or serving gracefully, not grudgingly. The principle is this: When we respond to an onerous duty with cheerfulness rather than resentment, we may win over the one who gave us the duty.

Christian ethic of personal relationships:  The second part of today’s Gospel passage is perhaps the central and the most famous section of the Sermon on the Mount.  It gives us the Christian ethic of personal relationships: love one’s neighbors and forgive one’s enemies. Above all, it tells us that what makes Christians different is the grace with which they treat others with loving kindness and mercy, even if they don’t deserve it. The Old Law never said to hate enemies, but that was the way some Jews understood it.  Jesus commands that we are to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us to demonstrate that we are children of a merciful Heavenly Father. A Christian has no personal enemies.  If we only love our family and friends, we are no different from pagans or atheists.

We need to love our neighbors and our enemies too: Love of neighbor is incompatible with hatred of enemies (CCC #1933, #2303). The Greek word used for loving enemies is not storge (natural love towards family members), or philia (love of close friends), or eros (passionate love between a young man and woman), but agápe, which is the invincible benevolence or good will for another’s highest good. Since agápe is not natural, practicing it is possible only with God’s help. Agápe love is a choice more than a feeling. We choose to love, not because our enemies deserve our love, but because Jesus loves them so much that he died for them.  We have in the Acts of the Apostles the example of St. Stephen, the first martyr, who prayed for those who were putting him to death.

 Life messages: 1) We need to have a forgiving heart: Jesus demands that we should forgive, pardon, and be generous whether or not our offenders deserve it, and even if we are not loved in return. He also tells us to pray for those who, it may seem willfully, cause us suffering, hardship and unhappiness.

  2) We are to try to be perfect, to be like God: We become perfect when we know God’s will and act accordingly. We can do so because the Holy Spirit has been given to us, and He dwells within us, empowering us to do God’s will.   We become perfect when we try to love as God loves, to forgive as God forgives, and to show unconditional good will and universal benevolence as God does. All this we can do only with His ongoing Grace for which we need to ask, and then to receive and use.

Joke of the week

1) The Rev. Cleveland Duke of Akron is a part-time judo instructor. He says, “I teach you what to do after you’ve turned both cheeks.” He teaches self-defense.

2) In Bill Adler’s popular book of letters from kids, an 8-year-old boy from Nashville, Tennessee makes this contribution: “Dear Pastor, I know God wants us to love everybody, but He surely never met my sister.” Sincerely, Arnold.

3) “What does agápe love mean?” asked the teacher.  “When my grandmother got arthritis, she couldn’t bend over and paint her toenails anymore. So, my grandfather does it for her all the time, even when his hands got arthritis too. That’s agápe love.” (Rebecca- age 8).

4) Forgiving others: The pastor’s Sunday homily on today’s Gospel about was forgiving our enemies. Toward the end of the homily, he asked his congregation, “How many of you have forgiven your enemies”? About half held up their hands. He then repeated his question. As it was past lunchtime, this time about 80 percent held up their hands. He then repeated his question again. All responded, except one small elderly lady. “Mrs. Jones?” inquired the pastor, are you not willing to forgive your enemies? “I don’t have any.” she replied. smiling sweetly. “Mrs. Jones, That is very unusual. How old are you?” “Ninety-three,” she replied. “Oh Mrs. Jones, what a blessing and a lesson to us all you are! Would you please come down in front of this congregation and tell us all how a person can live ninety-three years and not have an enemy in the world?” The little sweetheart of a lady tottered down the aisle, faced the congregation, and said “I outlived the old hags.”

USEFUL WEBSITES OF THE WEEK (For homilies & Bible study groups)

1)Fr. Nick’s collection of Sunday homilies from 65 priests & weekday homilies: https://www.catholicsermons.com/homilies/sunday_homilies

 2)Fr. Don’ collection of video homilies & blogs: https://sundayprep.org/featured-homilies/ (Copy it on the Address bar and press the Enter button)

3) Fr. Geoffrey Plant’s beautiful & scholarly video classes on Sunday gospel, Bible & RCIA topics:   https://www.youtube.com/user/GeoffreyPlant20663)

4) Dr. Brant Pitre’s commentary on Cycle A Sunday Scripture for Bible Class: https://catholicproductions.com/blogs/mass-readings-explained-year-Biblical basis of Catholic doctrines: http://scripturecatholic.com/

5) Agape Catholic Bible Lessons: http://www.agapebiblestudy.com/

6) Catechism – quizzes by USCCB

http://www.nccbuscc.org/catechism/quizzes/index.htm

 7) Community Catholic Search Engine:  http://www.catholic.org/newsearch/

8) Fr. James Farfaglia website: http://www.fjicthus.com/Prod/76907a0211e4452caecd7de5c77d4736/Home-Page.aspx

   34- Additional anecdotes:

1) You shall not bear hatred: Time was when even villains held Bishops rather in awe, and for that reason were less ready to mistreat them than other members of the human race. This is no longer true — witness the assassination of Archbishop Oscar Romero of El Salvador, and the attempted assassination of Pope John Paul II. In recent years, some American bishops have been set upon by some of our home-grown criminals. For instance, one Saturday night in 1983, 69-year-old Bishop Maurice Dingman of Des Moines came out of a convenience store where he had broken his last $20 bill to pay for gasoline. When he got into his car, one face appeared, and then a second. The two men forced themselves into the bishop’s car and demanded money. He showed them all he had: “Chicken feed. Co-operate or else!” they threatened. Whereupon the one in the driver’s seat, reeking of marijuana, started on a wild drive to the next town. When they passed a bank with a borrowing slot, they stopped and ordered the bishop to use his plastic card and draw out some money. The bishop replied that he didn’t own a card. This left the captives frustrated, but all the more dangerous. Bishop Dingman could have run off but thought that would just invite violence. Finally, after the pair had partied in a house of friends, they drove the bishop back to Des Moines in the early morning. All that night, Bishop Dingman admitted later on, “I never prayed so hard in my life!” A few years before this, robbers had broken into the house of Bishop John Morkowsky of Houston, Texas. When they took the small money that he had, they beat him up and blinded him in one eye. Likewise, in the early 1980’s, criminals in Cleveland murdered a Catholic black man named Amos Lyke. His brother was James P. Lyke, auxiliary bishop of Cleveland. This was another form of cruelty. Had these three bishops been vengeful, they could have tracked down their enemies and demanded a tooth for a tooth. True, they were willing to assist the police in the interests of public order. But beyond that they would not go. “I want to do something for people like this,” said Bishop Dingman. “I never felt any desire to get revenge on my assailants,” said Bishop Morkowsky. And Bishop Lyke at his brother’s funeral begged God to forgive the murderers of Amos. — In today’s Gospel, Jesus tells, “love your enemies, pray for your persecutors.” This is the true Christian spirit. How consoling, then, to see our teachers of Christian love, the Pope, the Archbishop, and these three Bishops, really practicing themselves, the forgiveness they preach to others, just as Jesus did from the cross. (Father Robert F. McNamara). (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).

 2) “I’m not so sure.”  In the movie Gandhi, the great Indian leader is walking one day with a Presbyterian missionary, Charlie Andrews. The two suddenly find their way blocked by young thugs. The Reverend Andrews takes one look at the menacing gangsters and decides to run for it. Gandhi stops him and asks, “Doesn’t the New Testament say if an enemy strikes you on the right cheek you should offer him the left?” Andrews mumbles something about Jesus speaking metaphorically. Gandhi replies, “I’m not so sure. I suspect he meant you must show courage–be willing to take a blow, several blows, to show you will not strike back nor will you be turned aside.” (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).

3) “Yeah, but it’s my way.” In the 1985 movie, Witness, Harrison Ford plays a tough Philadelphia detective who uncovers corruption within his department. To protect himself and a young boy who has witnessed a murder, Ford’s character, John Book, hides out among the Pennsylvania Amish, the community from which the little boy comes. In one scene of the movie, Book and several of the Amish go into town for a day of shopping. While they are in town, the buggies driven by the Amish are involved in a traffic jam with a car. The occupants of the car emerge to confront the Amish in the buggies. With unwarranted hostility, they taunt one young Amish man. One of the men from the car, a young tough, smears ice cream in the Amish man’s face. Ignoring the protests of an older Amish man, Book goes over to beat up the ruffians who have bullied the young Amish man. The older Amish man insists to Book that, “it’s not our way.” To which Book responds, “Yeah, but it’s my way.” — The scene from the movie helps us focus on the content of our passage of Scripture for this morning. The Amish, a community in the Anabaptist tradition, sees the Sermon on the Mount as part of their core Scripture. The reason the young man in the scene doesn’t fight back against the bullies is that he is turning the other cheek, as Jesus said to do. In order to avoid violence, in order to avoid anyone getting hurt, he willingly accepts humiliation. Rev. Charles L. Aaron, Jr. (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).

4) We are angry over 9/11, but our anger doesn’t control us:  In May of 2006, the whole country had to confront an enemy. His cold angry eyes stared at us from our newspapers and television sets. Zacarias Moussaoui was sentenced to life in prison. He was the only person tried in American courts for the terrorist attack on 9/11. Many people in our country, including many family members of the victims of 9/11, had hoped that the courts would sentence Moussaoui to death. Some people see a life sentence as an act of mercy. One juror kept Moussaoui from a death sentence. Technically, one of the issues was just how involved Moussaoui was in the 9/11 plot. Nevertheless, many people interpreted the jury’s decision as a declaration that we in the United States are not ruled by vengeance. We can step back from our rage at 9/11 and make careful distinctions. We are angry over 9/11, but our anger doesn’t control us. Rev. Charles L. Aaron, Jr.  (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).

5) “It’s a new life, almost like a resurrection.” Immaculee Ilibagiza was a 22-year-old university student in the 1990s when terrible violence broke out in her home country of Rwanda. Hutus killed her parents, her brothers, and hundreds of her Tutsi friends. A Hutu pastor, who risked his life to save her, hid her and six other women. They lived in a small bathroom, a wooden wardrobe covering the door. For three months, they endured hunger, fear, and the sounds of soldiers in the house unsuccessfully searching for Tutsis. In those cramped quarters, she began to pray the Rosary. Always she stumbled over the Lord’s Prayer: “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.” She knew that the prayer called her to forgive those who had killed her family and endangered her. She didn’t think she could do it, but she realized she was consumed by hate. She was afraid she would become like the people who had killed her family. Nevertheless, in her mind, forgiving her family’s killers was like forgiving the devil. Finally, afraid that her hate would crush her heart, she asked God to forgive those who had done her so much harm. Slowly, with God’s help, she was able to let go and forgive her family’s killers. Eventually, she even visited one of her brother’s killers in prison, taking his hand and offering forgiveness. — She says that forgiveness saved her life. “It’s a new life, almost like a resurrection.” [Bob Smietana, “Woman Challenged to Forgive Massacre of Family in Rwanda,” United Methodist Reporter (152.51, April 28, 2006), p. 3A.] (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).

6) Hate destroys the hater: In Martin Luther King’s sermon, “Knock at Midnight,“ King says, “My brother A.D. and I were traveling from Atlanta to Chattanooga on a dark and stormy night. For some reason, travelers were very discourteous that night. Hardly a single driver dimmed their lights. Finally, A.D. who was driving, said, ‘I have had enough’ as he powered his lights back on bright. I said, ‘Don’t do that, you are going to cause a wreck and get us killed.’ Somebody must have sense enough to dim their lights, to break the cycle of hate. If somebody doesn’t have sense enough to turn on the dim and beautiful lights of love, we are all going to plunge into the abyss.”‘ A suicide bomber blows up a crowded bus in Israel. Israel responds by destroying an entire Palestinian village. The Palestinians react with more suicide bombers. —– Who is going to break the cycle of hate? A Chinese Proverb puts it succinctly, “Whoever pursues revenge should dig two graves; one for his injurer, and one for himself.” Dr. J. Howard Olds  (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).

7) “We will pray.” Bonhoeffer, facing death said, in Cost of Discipleship, “We are approaching an age of widespread persecution. Our adversaries seek to root out the Christian Church because they cannot live side by side with us. So, what shall we do? We will pray. It will be a prayer of earnest love for those who stand around and gaze at us with eyes aflame with hatred, and who have perhaps already raised their hands to kill us.”  (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).

8) “With malice toward none; with charity for all:” In his second Inaugural address, March 4, 1865, just a little over a month before he would be assassinated, Abraham Lincoln uttered these immortal words: “With malice toward none; with charity for all; with firmness in the right, as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in; to bind up the nation’s wounds, to care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow and his orphan—to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace among ourselves and with all nations.” Abraham Lincoln spoke those words at the end of a time in our nation’s history when America almost did to herself what no one else has been able to do—destroy her. Though the war was over, the battle was not. Bitterness, rancor and anger were still at a fever pitch in this country. — But Lincoln knew something that Jesus will teach us today, and that is that the only salve that can cure the wound of bitterness between enemies is the salve of love. But this is more than just an ordinary love. It is a super-ordinary, supernatural love that loves the absolutely unlovable. Rev. James Merritt (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).

9) “Michael Whitman is no friend of mine.” Toward the end of the Revolutionary War, a turncoat traitor, named Michael Whitman, was captured. At his trial it was proven that he had given the British army invaluable assistance on numerous occasions. He was found guilty of spying and sentenced to death by hanging. Michael Whitman was from a town called Ephrata. Word got back to that town of his imprisonment and impending execution. There was a Baptist preacher who also lived in that town whose name was Peter Miller. He heard about Michael Whitman’s plight and walked 70 miles in the cold and the snow to Philadelphia to see George Washington. George Washington and Peter Miller were very close friends. Miller had done a great many favors for the army; he had given them spiritual nourishment and emotional strength during difficult times. When he came in to see George Washington he said, “General, I have a favor to ask of you.” Washington said, “What is it?” He said, “I have come to ask you to pardon Michael Whitman.” George Washington was stunned. He said, “Pastor Miller, that’s impossible. Whitman has done everything in his power to betray us, even offering to join the British and help destroy us. I cannot be lenient with traitors, and for that reason I cannot pardon your friend.” Peter Miller said, “Friend! He’s no friend of mine. He’s the bitterest enemy I’ve ever had in my life. For years he persecuted me and harassed me. He did everything he could to hurt my Church and to hinder the preaching of the Gospel. He even waited for me one time after Church and beat me almost senseless, spitting in my face, knowing full well I would not strike him back.” He said, “General, let’s get this straight—Michael Whitman is no friend of mine.” George Washington was puzzled. He said, “But you asked me to pardon him.” He said, “I have, and I ask you to do it to me as a personal favor.” He said, “Why?” He said, “Because that’s exactly what Jesus has done for you and for me.” With tears in his eyes, George Washington walked into the next room and soon returned with a paper on which was written the pardon of Michael Whitman. Peter Miller went personally with him to the stockade, saved Michael Whitman from the hangman’s noose, and personally took him back to his own home where he led him to Faith in Jesus Christ. — Peter Miller was right. What he did for Michael Whitman, Jesus Christ has done for us, and on the cross, He spoke to us as we should speak to others: “With malice toward none; with charity toward all.” Rev. James Merritt (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).

10) “Get in or I’ll blow your head off.” Susan Apointe was getting out of her car at a grocery store when a parolee from the state prison stuck a gun in her face and said, “Get in or I’ll blow your head off.” Susan got back in the car but immediately said, “In the name of Jesus you are not going to blow my head off. Jesus loves you and I don’t hate you.” The man wanted money for his sick daughter so Susan wrote a check for $600 and went by the bank and cashed it. He also complained of unemployment so Susan suggested he apply at Sears where she worked. Downtown by now, Susan told him to take her car, she would catch the bus and with that he leaped from the car and walked away. Susan used the information to help police put him back in prison. —  But she said, “I pray for him every day. He has already had a brush with the word of God; he was sitting on my Bible the whole time!” Was Susan Apointe extraordinarily Christian or simply crazy? We can decide for ourselves in the light of Sermon on the Mount. Dr. J. Howard Olds (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).

11) “We’ve got to unload all of this.” According to an A.P. account, in September 1994, Cindy Hartman of Conway, Arkansas, walked into her house to answer the phone and was confronted by a burglar. He ripped the phone cord out of the wall and ordered her into a closet. Hartman dropped to her knees and asked the burglar if she could pray for him. “I want you to know that God loves you and I forgive you,” she said. The burglar apologized for what he had done. Then he yelled out the door to a woman in a pickup truck: “We’ve got to unload all of this. This is a Christian home and a Christian family. We can’t do this to them.” –As Hartman remained on her knees, the burglar returned furniture he had taken from her home. Then he took the bullets out of his gun, handed the gun to Hartman, and walked out the door. (PreachingToday.com) (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).

12) “Are you the guy who’s always yelling at me?” Former Boston Red Sox Hall-of-Famer third baseman Wade Boggs hated Yankee Stadium. Not because of the Yankees; they never gave him that much trouble but because of a fan. That’s right: one fan. The guy had a box seat close to the field, and when the Red Sox were in town, he would torment Boggs by shouting obscenities and insults. It’s hard to imagine one fan getting under a player’s skin, but this guy had the recipe. One day as Boggs was warming up, the fan began his routine, yelling, ‘Boggs, you stink,’ and variations on that theme. Boggs had enough. He walked directly over to the man, who was sitting in the stands…and said, ‘Hey fella, are you the guy who’s always yelling at me? The man said, ‘Yeah, it’s me. What are you going to do about it?’ Wade took a new baseball out of his pocket, autographed it, tossed it to the man, and went back to the field to his pre-game routine. — The man never yelled at Boggs again; in fact, he became one of Wade’s biggest fans at Yankee Stadium. “Love your enemies,” Jesus advises us.  It might change them, and we know it will change you. Rev. Phil Thrailkill
(https://frtonyshomilies.com/).

13) Should I forgive? On February 6, 1995 our daughter was shot to death by her former boyfriend, the father of her youngest child. At that time, the child was one year old. Our daughter was the mother of four young boys that her father and I now raise.  We feel blessed, but I still have days when anger is at the top of my list of emotions. The issues that our grandsons deal with are tenfold. The father of the two oldest has never consoled them and the seventeen-year-old is trying to put his life together from scattered pieces. I think he will manage but it is painful for him. The next to the oldest misses his mother so deeply and he is very good about expressing it. He is growing in awareness and self-worth and will be fine. We have just learned that the third from the oldest has a different father than the oldest two boys. This came to be a great struggle to explain but we are moving on with this too. The youngest child is so full of words that wake you up and teach you what love is and where it truly comes from. From shattered lives you can find peace, hope, promise and great spiritual growth —  if you learn not to forget but to forgive, and to keep things honest, and not hide, but work with all aspects of the trauma. You must forgive yourself, and know that healing takes individual time, and there is no finish line, but a path that has twists and turns that may lead you up and down. When you’re up, share what you have learned. When you’re down, learn what you can” (http://www.forgiving.org). There is no doubt that many people in our society have suffered tremendously.  But we must not live our lives filled with hate.  Jesus calls us to forgive our enemies. Gaze upon the Crucified and listen to his first of the seven words from the Cross: “Father, forgive them for they do not know what they are doing.” (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).

14) A murderer was gassed. The warden left the death chamber and walked through the jail. A convict shouted, “Who’s the murderer now?” An ABC News Poll says that almost 80% of Americans support capital punishment. 42% of that number says that they seek revenge for deeds done by the criminals.– But Jesus in today’s Gospel asserts that retaliation and revenge are not Christian. (Fr. James Gilhooley). (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).

15) Forgiveness of St. Maria & Assunta Goretti: St. Maria Goretti, known affectionately to her family and friends as Marietta, was born in Italy in the year 1890 into a poor family near Nettuno, 20 miles outside of Rome. In response to Maria’s repeated refusals of his indecent overtures, on that fateful day July 5, 1902, the frustrated Alessandro was to stab Maria 14 times, causing her to suffer an agonizing death. She succumbed the next day because of her wounds. She had repeatedly warned Alessandro he was risking eternal damnation. As she lay dying, when the parish priest of Nettuno brought her Holy Viaticum and asked whether she forgave Alessandro, she replied, “Yes, I forgive him and want him to be in Paradise with me some day.”

After 27 years of imprisonment, Alessandro was released. He was spared 3 years of confinement due to being a model prisoner. After various wanderings as a farm laborer, he was to spend the rest of his life living in a Capuchin monastery at Macerata. There the good Capuchins called him “brother.”

In the chapel of the monastery Alessandro was able to attend daily Mass and to find peace and solitude. He was to visit Assunta Goretti, whom he had last seen 31 years before at his trial. He begged Assunta’s forgiveness. She placed her hands on his head, caressed his face and gently said, “Alessandro, Marietta forgave you, Christ has forgiven you, and why should I not also forgive? I forgive you, of course, my son! Why have I not seen you sooner? Your evil days are past, and to me, you are a long-suffering son.” (DiDonato, p. 142). “The next morning people in the village of Corinaldo witnessed what could only happen among the poor of Christ. Assunta Goretti, with head held high and tears falling, took Alessandro Serenelli by the hand as a mother takes a son, and led him to Mass. At the altar rail side by side, she and he- he who had killed her daughter- raised their open mouths to partake of the flesh and blood of Jesus.” (DiDonato, pages 142-146) From that time he was welcomed in that profoundly Christian family of the Gorettis as “Uncle Alessandro”. Alessandro would testify at length at the canonical process for the beatification of Maria Goretti- the only witness who could detail what had actually happened in a brutal murder. He died at the age of 89 after a long life of prayer and penance in expiation of his crime, always invoking the intercession of St. Maria Goretti as his “protector.”–  It was a remarkable scene on June 24, 1950 at the canonization of St. Maria Goretti in the open Piazza of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. “Never before had a million souls come to St. Peter’s Basilica all at one time, nor in Catholic history had there ever been present at the ceremony of canonization both the mother and the nurderer of the Saint.” (DiDonato) (http://www.mariagoretti.org/likoudisarticle2.htm) (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).

16) “That was for me.”  One day, Mother Teresa was asking a baker for some bread to feed the hungry children in her orphanage. The baker was furious with her request for free bread. Not only did he turn her down, he spat at her. In response to his outrageous actions, Mother Teresa calmly reached deep into her pocket, took out her handkerchief, wiped the spit off and said “That was for me;  now what about some bread for my poor children?” The baker was touched by Mother Teresa’s love and greatness, complied and thereafter provided bread for the children in the orphanage. (http://baselearning.blogspot.com/2007/07/inspirational-lesson-learned-from.html) https://frtonyshomilies.com/).

17) Cardinal Van Thuan Confuses His Guards with Christ’s love: Cardinal Francis Xavier Van Thuan spent 14 years in prison in Communist Viet Nam. They arrested and even tortured him, trying to get him to give up his Catholic Faith. But instead, he chose to live his Faith passionately, even in prison, work camps, and solitary confinement. Here is how he describes what happened. “In the beginning, the guards did not talk to me. I was terribly sad. I wanted to be kind and polite with them, but it was impossible. They avoided speaking with me. One night a thought came to me: ‘Francis, you are still very rich. You have the love of Christ in your heart; love them as Jesus has loved you.’ The next day I started to love them even more, to love Jesus in them, smiling and exchanging kind words with them. I began to tell them stories of my trips abroad, of how people live in America, in Canada, in Japan, in the Philippines… about economics, about freedom, about technology. This stimulated their curiosity and they began asking me many questions. Little by little we became friends. They wanted to learn foreign languages, French, English… And my guards became my students! [In the interest of time, you may want to include only one of the following anecdotes.] Cardinal Van Thuan’s truly Christ-like approach to his relationship with his atheist, Communist guards, led to some remarkable experiences. The Cardinal describes how one guard agreed to let him make a wooden cross for himself even though it was severely forbidden to have any religious signs at all. When the guard at first objected, the Cardinal answered, “I know, but we are friends, and I promise to keep it hidden.” So, the guard walked away and let the Cardinal make his cross. In another prison, Cardinal Van Thuan asked another guard, who had also become his friend, for some electrical wire. Here is how the conversation went: The guard, frightened, answered: “I learned at the Police Academy that when someone asks for electrical wire it means they want to kill themselves!” “Catholic priests don’t commit suicide.” “But what do you want to do with electrical wire?” “I would like to make a chain to carry my cross.” “How can you make a chain with electrical wire?  It’s impossible.” “If you bring me two small pincers, I’ll show you.” “It’s too dangerous!” “But we’re friends!” Three days later the guard brought the wire and the pincers and together they made a chain for his cross – the atheist Communist police officer helping the imprisoned bishop with his vestments. — That’s the power of Christ-like love, the love we are all called to live. (Taken from “Testimony of Hope”.] E- Priest https://frtonyshomilies.com/).

18) St. Pachomius Gets Inspired: St. Pachomius [pah-COMB-ee-uhs] lived in the 300s, in Egypt. He was a truly amazing saint, a real volcano of activity and holiness.  In gratitude for the grace of Baptism, he retreated into the deserts of Egypt and apprenticed himself to a hermit in order to learn how best to serve God.  Together they lived alarmingly austere lives – sleeping sitting up, never eating a full meal, frequently praying and working all night long. This was their strategy for mastering their sinful tendencies and putting their whole heart, mind, and strength into loving God. One day Pachomius had a vision of an angel instructing him to build a monastery on the banks of the Nile.  He obeyed, and soon a trickle of followers filled the few cells, followed by more and more men who felt called to give their lives to penance and prayer.  Soon he founded other monasteries, wrote a series of guidelines for monastic life, and inspired countless other Christians with his humility, patience, and miracles.  By the time he died while serving the sick in an epidemic, his nine monasteries housed over 3,000 monks, and the monastic movement, which has ever since been filling the world with holiness and wisdom, was under way. But the most interesting thing about the spiritual life of St. Pachomius is its beginning. His remarkable career of holiness began with a simple act of Christian charity. Before his Baptism, Pachomius had been drafted into the imperial army. As he and the other recruits were being transported down the Nile under horrific conditions, a group of Egyptian Christians gave them food, fresh clothing, and other necessities. Pachomius never forgot this, and as soon as his military service was over, he went to the nearest Christian church in order to be baptized. — A few Christians going out of their way to share the light of Christ with some pagan soldiers lit a fire of love in the heart of St. Pachomius that is still warming this cold world today. Christ-like love is about giving, not getting – that’s what will change this world. (Details taken from taken from Catholic.net’s Daily Saints) (E-Priest). https://frtonyshomilies.com/).

19) “Be Holy for I your God am Holy!” Lutz Long was one of the best German athletes and a favorite of Adolf Hitler. During the long-jump trial, he broke several Olympic records. The only other person who could beat him was Jesse Owens. Hitler hated the black athlete and moved out of the pavilion when Jesse recorded his trial. Jesse was upset with the treatment of Hitler. He fouled his first trial and failed to qualify in the second trial. There was only one last chance to redeem himself. At that moment Jesse felt a tap on his shoulder. It was Lutz Long his competitor. He advised him to draw a line a few inches short of the take off. Jesse followed the advice of his opponent. He succeeded and qualified for the event. From that moment onwards a bond of friendship developed between the two athletes.  Later on, Jesse had to compete with Lutz and won against his advisor. Jesse went on to win three gold medals. Hitler looked at the black athlete with anger and contempt, but Lutz held his hand and praised him for his achievement. Lutz, an ordinary athlete not only followed the law but went beyond the law. He practiced the law of love against his opponent. – All of us need a transformation! The world needs to change. Only true charity and forgiveness can bring about this change. That was what Jesus meant when he prayed, “Father forgive them for they do not know what they do.” The specialty of Christian love is not mere forgiveness but love that transforms enemies. (Elias Dias in Divine Stories for Families; quoted by Fr. Botelho). https://frtonyshomilies.com/).

 0) “What you do to the least, you do to me!” Travelling during his term as Vice President, Thomas Jefferson requested a room at Baltimore’s principal hotel. The Vice President was travelling alone, without secretary or servant; it had been a long day and it showed in his clothes and appearance. The proprietor, not recognizing his distinguished guest, refused him a room. After Mr. Jefferson left, the proprietor learned that he had just turned from his establishment the Vice President of the United States. The horrified proprietor immediately sent his servants to find Mr. Jefferson and offered him whatever accommodation he wished. A servant found the Vice President at a small inn where he had taken a room for the night. Mr. Jefferson sent the servant back to the hotel’s proprietor with this message: “Tell your master I value his good intentions highly, but if he has no room for a dirty farmer, he shall have none for this Vice president.” — Jesus is in the least and shabbiest person, especially if we consider that person our enemy. (Gerard Miller in Stories for all Seasons; quoted by Fr. Botelho).  https://frtonyshomilies.com/).

21) Loving one’s enemies actually works! For twenty-eight years, Nelson Mandela was locked away in prison in South Africa. His children were kicked out of school and prevented from getting jobs. It would have been easy for Nelson Mandela to walk out of his prison cell, a seething cauldron of revenge. But Mandela tells how after he was put in jail, he knew he had to make a decision. As he saw it, he could either spend his time in jail hating all the people who put him there, or he could choose something else. He chose instead to respect those he came into contact with each day, and it made all the difference in the world. And because of the suffering he endured and his ability to forgive his enemies, Mandela gained a great deal of moral authority that enabled him to lead his country peacefully out of apartheid when almost everyone had anticipated a bloodbath. — At his inauguration as the first democratically elected president of South Africa, one of those prison guards was Mandela’s special guest. Mandela found that loving one’s enemies actually works. (John Pichappilly in The Table of the Word; quoted by Fr. Botelho). https://frtonyshomilies.com/).

22) “Love your enemies and pray for them.” In the film “To Kill a Mockingbird”, Gregory Peck plays the part of a white lawyer defending a black man accused (wrongly, as it turns out) of rape. One day one of the white townspeople comes up to Peck and spits in his face to express his disgust at a white man defending a “nigger” who raped a white woman. Peck stands there dignified and silent and slowly wipes the spit from his cheek. — He says nothing; he does nothing. But it is clear which of the two men has lost his dignity. (And, of course, it turns out that it was a white man who raped the girl.) Fr. Eugene Lobo S.J. https://frtonyshomilies.com/).

23) You are forgiven: The Caliph Hassan, successor to Mohammed, was one day at table when a slave accidentally dropped a dish of meat severely burning the Caliph. Frightened for his life, the slave fell on his knees before his Lord and repeated these words of their spiritual book, “Paradise is for those who control their anger.” “I am not angry with you,” replied the Caliph. “And for those who forgive offences,” the slave went on. “I forgive you,” added the Caliph. “But above all for those who return good for evil,” said the slave. To this the Caliph declared, “I set you at liberty and give you ten gold coins.” (J. Maurus in A Source Book of Inspiration).  https://frtonyshomilies.com/).

 24) Revenge beyond limit:  In the winter of 326 BC, Alexander personally led a campaign against the clans of the Assakenoi of the Swat and Buner valleys. A fierce contest ensued. The Assakenoi fought bravely and offered stubborn resistance to Alexander in the strongholds of Massaga. The fort of Massaga could only be reduced after several days of bloody fighting in which Alexander himself was wounded seriously in the ankle. Alexander and his army took revenge for the wound he suffered by slaughtering the entire population of the city. Not being satisfied with that, they reduced its buildings to rubbles. Since the revenge often surpassed the offense, ancient legal systems had formulas that were applied to specific crimes, laws that prescribed punishments equal to the offenses. A common expression was: “an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.” We find another one of those formulas expressed in the Book of Genesis where in Chapter 9 we read: If anyone sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed… (Genesis 9:6). Jesus’ audience was familiar with that system of retribution, and they accepted it as the best means of ensuring justice. So, the words of Jesus, “I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,” must have sounded strange in their ears. In contemporary history, too, we find instances, where revenge was hundreds of times greater than that of the offense. In 1940, during the Second World War, a British bombing mission had struck Berlin – ostensibly by mistake. To take revenge on this Hitler ordered London to be targeted. Thus, civilian bombing of London began, causing the death of thousands, and spreading misery to many. — The history of the recent past is full of incidents of massacre, prompted by individuals or nations. Hence, the words of Jesus, “love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” must sound strange in our ears, too. ( Fr. Boby Jose). https://frtonyshomilies.com/).

25) What We Grab Also Grabs Us:  Once there was an eagle which hovered over a lake and suddenly swooped down and caught a two-foot long fish in its talons. Slowly, the bird rose with its ten-pound catch, but when it reached about 1,000 feet, it began to descend, until it splashed into the water. Later, both the bird and fish were found dead. Apparently, the fish was too heavy for the eagle, but it could not let go, for its talons were embedded in the flesh of the fish. — The truth is that what we grab, grabs us. When we grab alcohol, drugs, or sex, it grabs us and brings us down to death. (John Brokhoff, Old Truths for New Times, CSS Publishing Company, Inc.) https://frtonyshomilies.com/).

26)  Going Beyond Duty: The Second Mile:  Shortly after the battles ended the American Revolution, but before the peace had been negotiated, George Washington was with his troops in Newburgh, New York. But they began to grow very restless because they hadn’t been paid. Washington had begged the Continental Congress to do what they said they would do and pay the soldiers, but they refused.  Well, some of the officers began to organize a rebellion. They talked about marching on Philadelphia, which was at that time the seat of the reigning national government and overthrowing that government and letting the army rule the nation.  With the fate of America in the balance, George Washington made a surprise appearance before these officers. After praising them for their service and thanking them for their sacrifice, he pulled from his pocket a copy of a speech that he wished to read. But then he fumbled with a paper and finally reached for a set of reading glasses-glasses those men had never seen him wear before. Washington made this simple statement: “I have already grown grey in the service of my country, and now I am going blind.” — Historian Richard Norton Smith wrote: “Instantly rebellion melted into tears. It was a galvanizing moment, and the rebellion…” was put down because they had seen before them a “second-miler.”–  Becoming a Christian is one thing; being a Christian is another one. Every chance you get for the glory of Jesus, for the goodness of others, and because of the grace of God, go the second mile. (James Merritt, Collected Sermons, www.Sermons.com) Fr. Kayala. https://frtonyshomilies.com/).

7) “I forgive you,” Immaculée Ilibagiza was born in a small village in Rwanda, Africa. In 1994, when she was home on spring break, the Hutu president of Rwanda was assassinated, and the country was swept by reprisals against the Tutsi’s, her tribe (source https://www.immaculee.com/pages/about and her book, Left to Tell). Armed Hutu men went from house to house, slaughtering every Tutsi they found. Immaculée fled to the local pastor’s house, and to avoid being murdered, she had to hide in a 3 x 4-foot bathroom for 91 days with seven other women. As she endured this, she also felt anger and resentment destroying her and started praying the rosary: “I said the Lord’s Prayer hundreds of times, hoping to forgive the killers who were murdering all around me. It was no use. Every time I got to the part asking God to ‘forgive those who trespass against us,’ my mouth went dry. I couldn’t say the words because I didn’t truly embrace the feeling behind them. My inability to forgive caused me even greater pain than the anguish I felt in being separated from my family, and it was worse than the physical torment of being constantly hunted.” When she finally left that bathroom, she learned that all her family, with the exception of one brother studying abroad, had been murdered. A million people had been massacred. After the genocide, she was shown led to the man, now in prison, who had murdered her mother and brother. He had been one of her neighbors, and the prison staff was prepared to kill him on her behalf. When she’d been in that bathroom, she had imagined killing the Hutus who had done so much evil. Despite all she had suffered, she simply said, “I forgive you,” and walked away. –Through her prayer, she had triumphed over her anger and resentment and found God. https://frtonyshomilies.com/).

28) “It was easy. I just kept my eyes fixed on the lightening rod:”  It was winter and it had snowed heavily. A group of children were trying to see who could make the straightest track across a snowy field. Only one of them succeeded in making a path which was almost perfectly straight. When asked how he managed to do it, he said, “It was easy. I just kept my eyes fixed on the lightening rod on top of the barn at the end of the field – while the rest of you kept looking at your feet.” — The First Reading of today from the Book of Leviticus asserts that God alone is the source of all holiness, and in order to strive towards holiness, our eyes are always to be fixed upon Him. https://frtonyshomilies.com/).

 29) “But trifles make perfection, perfection is no trifle.” The great sculptor, Michelangelo, was at work on one of his statues when a friend called on him and said – “I can’t see any difference in the statue since I came here a week ago. Have you not been doing any work all the week?” “Yes! I have been working the whole week along, “said the sculptor – “See, I have retouched this part, softened this feature, strengthened this muscle, and put more life into that limb.” “But those are only trifles,” said the friend. —  “True, “said Michelangelo, “but trifles make perfection, and perfection is no trifle.” Today’s Gospel passage concludes with Jesus saying, “Be perfect, just as your Heavenly Father is perfect.” Fr. Kadavil (https://frtonyshomilies.com/) https://frtonyshomilies.com/).

 30) Brush-back pitch:  In baseball there is such a thing as a brush-back pitch. A pitcher throws a 90-mile-per-hour fastball at a batter, forcing him to back off the plate, making him less willing to stand firm in the batter’s box and wait for the right pitch. When a brush-back pitch is thrown, there is a clear expectation that the opposing pitcher will throw another one in retaliation. Fr. Kadavil (https://frtonyshomilies.com/) 

31) Imperial revenge: In the winter of 326 BC, Alexander personally led a campaign against the clans of the Assakenoi of the Swat and Buner valleys. A fierce contest ensued. The Assakenoi fought bravely and offered stubborn resistance to Alexander in the strongholds of Massaga. The fort of Massaga could only be reduced after several days of bloody fighting in which Alexander himself was wounded seriously in the ankle. Alexander and his army took revenge for the wound he suffered by slaughtering the entire population of the city. Not being satisfied with that, they reduced its buildings to rubbles. Since the revenge often surpassed the offense, ancient legal systems had formulas that were applied to specific crimes, laws that prescribed punishments equal to the offenses. A common expression was: “an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.” We find another one of those formulas expressed in the Book of Genesis where in Chapter 9 we read: If anyone sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed… (Genesis 9:6). Jesus reverses this concept with his teaching on the Sermon on the mount, I say to you: “love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” “Never try to get revenge…if your enemy is hungry you should give him food, and if he is thirsty, let him drink….resist evil and conquer it with good.” (Rom 12:19-21).  (Fr. Bobby Jose). Fr. Kadavil (https://frtonyshomilies.com/) 

 32) Poison tree: In the poem, “Poison Tree” William Blake gives a moral lesson of great importance. He compares anger and hatred to a poison tree.

I was angry with my friend: I told my wrath, my wrath did end.

I was angry with my foe: I told it not, my wrath did grow.

And I watered it in fears, Night and morning with my tears;

And I sunned it with smiles, And with soft deceitful wiles.

And it grew both day and night, Till it bore an apple bright.

And my foe beheld it shine. And he knew that it was mine,

And into my garden stole, When the night had veiled the pole;

In the morning glad I see My foe outstretched beneath the tree. (Fr. Bobby Jose). Fr. Kadavil (https://frtonyshomilies.com/) 

33) It was but a sunny smile: Fr. Faber in a booklet on kindness has a poem which we could all learn and practice with great profit for ourselves and for a neighbor in need of kindness. He says:

“It was but a sunny smile,
And little it cost in the giving,
But it scattered the night like the morning light
And made the day worth living.

It was but a kindly word,
A word that was lightly spoken,
Yet not in vain for it chilled the pain
Of a heart that was nearly broken.

It was but a helping hand,
And it seemed of little availing,
But its clasp was warm, it saved from harm

A brother whose strength was failing.”

— Try the sunny smile of true love, the kindly word of Christian encouragement, the helping hand of true charity, and not only will you brighten the darkness and lighten the load of your brother, you will be imitating in your own small way the perfect Father of love who is in heaven. (Excerpted from The Sunday Readings by Fr. Kevin O’Sullivan, O.F.M.) Fr. Kadavil (https://frtonyshomilies.com/) 

  34) Assunta Goretti with Alessandro, her daughter St. Maria Goretti’s killer. St. Maria Goretti at 12 heroically resisted the attempt of her neighbor Alessandro to rape her and died of 14 stab wounds in the hospital. She was canonized by Pope XII with a record number of 500.000 people in attendance. After 27 years in prison, Alessandro came to Maria Goretti’s mother Assunta Goretti at Christmas night asking for forgiveness.  She granted him unconditional forgiveness, fed him, gave him new clothes and took him for the Christmas midnight Mass. He later became a Franciscan lay brother, spending his time in prayer as a gardener. –Assunta practiced what Jesus teaches in today’s Gospel.

5) Present-day challenges and demands of Christian holiness: The following story gives insight into the present-day challenges and demands of Christian holiness (cf. Carolyn Thompson, “Bullying Victim Is Still Teaching Kindness” in Fresno Bee, June 30, 2013, p. E1-E2). After being gifted [with] a life-changing sum following a school bus bullying episode seen around the world a year ago, former bus monitor Karen Klein says she really hasn’t changed much. Sure, the “Today” show mug she drinks coffee from reminds her of the widespread media attention her story brought, and the occasional stranger wants to snap her picture. She’s also retired – something the 69-year-old widow couldn’t afford before. But Klein, who drove a school bus for 20 years before spending three years as a monitor, remains as unassuming as she was before learning firsthand how the kindness of strangers can trump the cruelty of four adolescent boys. “It’s really amazing”, Klein said at her suburban Rochester home, still perplexed at the outpouring unleashed by a 10-minute cell phone video of her being ridiculed, sworn at and threatened by a group of seventh-graders last June. They poke at her hearing aid and call her names as she tries to ignore them. “Unless you have something nice to say, don’t say anything at all”, Klein says calmly a few minutes in. One boy taunts, “You don’t have a family because they all killed themselves because they don’t want to be near you.” Klein’s oldest son committed suicide more than a decade ago. The video, recorded by a fellow student, was posted online and viewed more than 1.4 million times on YouTube. When 25-year old Canadian Max Sidorov was moved to take up an online collection to send her on vacation, more than 32,000 people from 84 countries responded pledging $703,873 in donations. “It’s just the way it hits them, I guess. I don’t know. I don’t know”, Klein said, still unsure of why it all happened. Sidorov called it “ridiculously more than I expected.” Klein used $100,000 as seed money for the Karen Klein Anti-Bullying Foundation, which has promoted its message of kindness at concerts and through books. Most recently, the foundation partnered with the Moscow Ballet to raise awareness of cyber-bullying as the dance company tours the United States and Canada … Klein has been to Boston, Toronto and other cities to promote her foundation. She participated in a WNBA anti-bullying event with the New York Liberty in Newark, New Jersey … “There’s a lot of nice people out there; I have learned that”, Klein said, and to ignore the negative people. (…) Klein has met with one of the boys who bullied her. He and his parents came to her home to apologize. The other three sent typed apologies, which she said struck her as less sincere. “I hope they learned a lesson. They probably didn’t,” Klein says, shrugging. “It might have been a big joke to them.”(Lectio Divina) https://frtonyshomilies.com/).L/23

 “Scriptural Homilies” Cycle A (No. 16) by Fr. Tony: akadavil@gmail.com

Visit my website by clicking on https://frtonyshomilies.com/ for missed or previous Cycle C homilies, 141 Year of Faith “Adult Faith Formation Lessons” (useful for RCIA classes too) & 197 “Question of the Week.” Contact me only at akadavil@gmail.com. Visit https://www.catholicsermons.com/homilies/sunday_homilies  of Fr. Nick’s collection of homilies or Resources in the CBCI website:  https://www.cbci.in.  (Special thanks to Vatican Radio website http://www.vaticannews.va/en/church.html -which completed uploading my Cycle A, B and C homilies in May 2020)  Fr. Anthony Kadavil, Chaplain, Sacred Heart Residence of the Little Sisters of the Poor, 1655 McGill Ave, Mobile, AL 36604

 Wrong gospel passages corrected. sincere apologies.

Feb 13 Monday: Mk 8:11-13: The Pharisees came and began to argue with him, seeking from him a sign from heaven, to test him. 12 And he sighed deeply in his spirit, and said, “Why does this generation seek a sign? Truly, I say to you, no sign shall be given to this generation.” 13 And he left them and getting into the boat again he departed to the other side. Additional reflections: https://bible.usccb.org/podcasts/video; https://catholic-daily-reflections.com/daily-reflections/; https://www.epriest.com/reflec

The context: The Pharisees of Jesus’ time had a long list of fifty extraordinary signs which they expected from the real Messiah, to distinguish the promised Messiah from false messiahs.  Some of the false messiahs in the past had claimed that they could divide the Jordan River into two sections or cause the huge stony walls of Jerusalem to fall by a single word.  Hence, the Pharisees demanded that Jesus show some miracles from their list of Messianic signs.

Jesus’ reply: Jesus knew that the proud, hard-hearted, prejudiced Pharisees were unwilling to accept the signs he had been working as the Messianic signs foretold by the prophets.  Others of them, he knew were not interested in his message but only in seeing signs and wonders.  Hence, according to Mark, Jesus unequivocally denied the demand for an additional Messianic sign.  But according to Mt 12:38-42 and Lk 11:29-32, Jesus offered them another sign–the miracle of Jonah, the sign of the death and Resurrection of Christ, knowing well that not even this remarkable proof would lead the Pharisees to shed their pride.

 Life messages: 1) It is very sad to see superstitious Christians travelling miles to see a miraculous statue of a Madonna shedding tears of blood or oil.  At the same time, they fail to see the presence of Jesus as he promised, in the Bible, in the Holy Eucharist, in a worshipping community or in one’s fellow Christians.

2) Let us pray for the grace of increased Faith in the genuine teachings of Jesus.  Fr. Tony (https://frtonyshomilies.com/) L/22

For additional reflections, click on: https://bible.usccb.org/podcasts/video; https://catholic-daily-reflections.com/daily-reflections/; https://www.epriest.com/reflections

Feb 14 Tuesday: St. Cyril, Monk and Methodius, Bishop: For a short biography, click on https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-of-the-day/saints-cyril-and-methodius   Mk 8:14-21: 14 Now they had forgotten to bring bread; and they had only one loaf with them in the boat. 15 And he cautioned them, saying, “Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.” 16 And they discussed it with one another, saying, “We have no bread.” 17 And being aware of it, Jesus said to them, “Why do you discuss the fact that you have no bread? Do you not yet perceive or understand? Are your hearts hardened? 18 Having eyes do you not see, and having ears do you not hear? And do you not remember? 19 When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?” They said to him, “Twelve.” 20 “And the seven for the four thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?” And they said to him, “Seven.” 21 And he said to them, “Do you not yet understand?” Additional reflections: https://bible.usccb.org/podcasts/video; https://catholic-daily-reflections.com/daily-reflections/

The context: The Jews considered fermentation by yeast as equivalent to putrefaction and, hence, something evil.  That is why Jesus equated evil influence with leaven.  Jesus considered the hypocrisy of the Pharisees and the immoral life of the king Herod as leaven corrupting the dough of Israel.  Hence, he gave the warning against their evil influence to his disciples while they were crossing the Lake in a boat.

The misunderstanding and correction: The Apostles in the boat misunderstood Jesus’ warning as a scolding for their having forgotten to bring enough bread for all of them.  Hence, Jesus reminded them of his miraculous provision of bread in the feedings of the five thousand and of the four thousand people as evidence that they did not have to worry about food they had forgotten to bring for their supper. The twelve baskets full of leftovers after the miraculousl feeding five thousand people represent the twelve tribes of Israel whom God first established as His chosen people to preserve the belief in the one true God. The seven baskets full of leftovers  after the miraculous feeing of the the four thousand people represent the seven nations of the Gentiles to whom salvation is extended. Jesus clarifies by these miracles that while salvation is universal, the way to salvation is through him the Messiah.  He warns his disciples to beware of the false ways of salvation offered by the two extreme philosophies of the Pharisees and the King Herod and the Herodians.

 Life messages: 1) With trusting Faith, let us rely on the miraculous provision God has in store for us in our daily life (in the word of God and the Holy Eucharist), when we do our share of work sincerely.

2) Let us take Jesus’ warning against allowing the evil influence of the society around us to define and defile (the leaven of hypocrisy, immorality, pride and prejudice), but let us rely on the power of the Holy Spirit dwelling within us and guiding, protecting, and enlightening  the Church.  (https://frtonyshomilies.com/) L/22

For additional reflections, click on: https://bible.usccb.org/podcasts/video; https://catholic-daily-reflections.com/daily-reflections/; https://www.epriest.com/reflections

 Feb 15 Wednesday: Mk 8: 22-26: 22 And they came to Bethsaida. And some people brought to him a blind man, and begged him to touch him. 23 And he took the blind man by the hand, and led him out of the village; and when he had spit on his eyes and laid his hands upon him, he asked him, “Do you see anything?” 24 And he looked up and said, “I see men; but they look like trees, walking.” 25 Then again he laid his hands upon his eyes; and he looked intently and was restored, and saw everything clearly. 26 And he sent him away to his home, saying, “Do not even enter the village.”

 The context: Today’s Gospel passage describes Jesus’ healing of a blind man at Bethsaida. Blindness was common in the coastal areas of Palestine because of the intense glare of the sun on the sandy beaches, the poor sense of hygiene and cleanliness among the people, and the presence of swarms of dirty flies on the seacoasts.

The healing: Jesus was moved by the miserable state of the blind man and the trusting Faith of his friends who had brought the blind man to him. So Jesus showed him special consideration by first removing him from the crowd to avoid embarrassment and then healing him by audible signs, applying saliva to his blind eyes, placing his hands on his head, praying loudly to God the Father, and enquiring about the progressive gain in sight at each stage. Thus, before curing the eyes of his body, Jesus gave the man time to grow in Faith step by step.  The more his Faith grew and the more trusting the man became, the more sight he was able to receive from Jesus.

Life messages: 1) We, too, are often blind to the presence of Jesus in us and in all others around us, although we believe in his presence in the Holy Eucharist, in the Bible and in the praying community. 2) Hence, we, too, need to pray to experience God in our daily lives, in the events of our lives and in all the people we encounter. Fr. Tony (https://frtonyshomilies.com/) LP/23

For additional reflections, click on: https://bible.usccb.org/podcasts/video; https://catholic-daily-reflections.com/daily-reflections/; https://www.epriest.com/reflections

Feb 16: Thursday:  Mk 8: 27-33: 27 And Jesus went on with his disciples, to the villages of Caesarea Philippi; and on the way he asked his disciples, “Who do men say that I am?” 28 And they told him, “John the Baptist; and others say, Elijah; and others one of the prophets.” 29 And he asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered him, “You are the Christ.” 30 And he charged them to tell no one about him. 31 And he began to teach them that the Son of man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. 32 And he said this plainly. And Peter took him and began to rebuke him. 33 But turning and seeing his disciples, he rebuked Peter, and said, “Get behind me, Satan! For you are not on the side of God, but of men.”

The context: Today’s Gospel passage is the first of the three times Jesus foretells his passion, death and Resurrection. The passage consists of two sections, the messianic confession of Peter and Jesus’ prediction of his approaching Passion and death.

Jesus as the Christ, our Lord and Savior: Today’s Gospel explains the basis of our Faith as the acceptance of Jesus as the Christ, our Lord and Savior. It also tells us that Christ Jesus became our Savior by his suffering, death and Resurrection. This famous profession of Faith by Peter took place at Caesarea Philippi, presently called Banias, twenty-five miles northeast of the Sea of Galilee in the northeast part of Israel called the Golan Heights, in the foothills of Mount Hermon. (Caesarea Philippi was a symbolic reminder of the source of life, as it was known for its water springs. It would also become the place where Jesus would later tell Peter, “…upon this rock I will build my Church, Sacraments).  Jesus realized that if his disciples did not know who he really was, then his entire ministry, suffering, and death would be useless. Hence, he decided to ask a question in two parts. 1) “What is the public opinion about me?” 2) “What is your personal opinion?” Their answer to the first question was: “Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” Peter volunteered to answer the second question, saying: “You are the Christ (Messiah), the Son of the living God.” Jesus confirmed Peter’s insight as a special revelation from God. “No mere man has revealed this to you, but my Heavenly Father.” (Mt 16:17). But Peter found it difficult to accept Jesus’ prediction that he would become the Savior by his suffering and death. When he tried to discourage his master from the path of suffering and death, Jesus promptly corrected Peter telling him that his temptation was from Satan.

Life messages: Let us experience Jesus as our Lord and Savior and surrender our lives to him.  We experience Jesus as personal Savior by listening to him through daily, meditative reading of the Bible, by talking to him through daily, personal and family prayers, by offering to him our lives on the altar whenever we attend Holy Mass and by being reconciled with Him every night by asking his pardon and forgiveness for our sins, and by doing the same periodically in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. The next step is the surrender of our lives to Jesus by rendering humble and loving service to others, with the strong conviction that Jesus is present in every person.    Fr. Kadavil (https://frtonyshomilies.com/) L/22

For additional reflections, click on: https://bible.usccb.org/podcasts/video; https://catholic-daily-reflections.com/daily-reflections/; https://www.epriest.com/reflections

Feb 17 Friday: The Seven Holy Founders of the Servite Order: For a short biography, click on https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-of-the-day/seven-founders-of-the-servite-order Mk 8: 34- 9:1: 34 And he called to him the multitude with his disciples, and said to them, “If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 35 For whoever would save his life will lose it; and whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it. 36 For what does it profit a man, to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? 37 For what can a man give in return for his life? 38 For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of man also be ashamed, when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.” 1 And he said to them, “Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see that the kingdom of God has come with power.”

The context: Immediately after Jesus foretold his suffering and death for the first time, Peter pleaded with Jesus not to make heartbreaking statements like that. In response to Peter’s comment, Jesus challenged his Apostles and would-be disciples by outlining three conditions for discipleship.

The triple conditions: 1) Deny yourself. 2) Take up your cross. 3) Follow Me. 1) Denying oneself involves a) the eviction of self from the heart, cleansing it of all evil tendencies and addictions with the help of the Holy Spirit; b) the enthronement of Jesus in one’s heart as Lord and the dedication of oneself to Him; c) the surrender one’s life to the enthroned God through one’s selfless and loving service done for others to give glory to God.

2) Taking up one’s cross means not only accepting gracefully from God our pains and suffering, but also accepting the pain involved in serving others, in sharing our blessings with them, and in controlling our evil tendencies. Carrying one’s cross becomes easier when we compare our light crosses with the heavier ones given to terminally-ill patients and to the millions of exploited people living in subhuman conditions. The realization that Jesus carries with us the heavier part of our cross also makes our cross-bearing easier and more salvific for us.

3) Follow Me means following Jesus by obeying the word of God and adjusting one’s life accordingly.

The paradox of saving/losing and losing/saving life: According to Bible commentators, the word “life” is here used, clearly, in a double sense: the temporary earthly life of man in flesh and his eternal life of happiness in Heaven. Hence, what Jesus means is that whoever wishes to save his (earthly) life will lose his (eternal) life.  But whoever loses his (earthly) life for Jesus and the Gospel by spending it for others, will save his (eternal) life.  Fr. Tony (https://frtonyshomilies.com/) L/23

For additional reflections, click on: https://bible.usccb.org/podcasts/video; https://catholic-daily-reflections.com/daily-reflections/; https://www.epriest.com/reflections

  Feb 18 Saturday: Mk 9: 2-13: 2 Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain apart, by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, 3 and his clothes became dazzling white, such as no one on earth could bleach them. 4 And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, who were talking with Jesus. 5 Then Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; let us make three dwellings, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” 6 He did not know what to say, for they were terrified. 7 Then a cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud there came a voice, “This is my Son, the Beloved; listen to him!” 8 Suddenly when they looked around, they saw no one with them anymore, but only Jesus. 9 ………….13

The context: Today’s Gospel describes the Transfiguration of Jesus, an event which is celebrated as a Feast on August 6.  The primary purpose of this Transfiguration was to enable Jesus to consult his Heavenly Father in order to ascertain His plan for His Son’s suffering, death and Resurrection.  The secondary aim was to make Jesus’ chosen disciples aware of his Divine glory, that they might discard their worldly ambitions about a conquering political Messiah, and that they might be strengthened in their time of trial.  

The scene: The Transfiguration took place probably on Mount Hermon in North Galilee, near Caesarea Philippi. While praying, Jesus was transfigured into a shining figure, full of Heavenly glory.  Moses and Elijah the representatives of the Law and the Prophets, appeared conversing with him.  Peter, overwhelmed at the scene, exclaimed how good it was it was for them to be there. Then a Cloud covered them, and a Voice was heard speaking words from the Cloud: “This is My Son, the Beloved; with Him I am well pleased; listen to Him,”

Life messages: (1) The transubstantiation in the Holy Mass is the source of our transformation and strength: In each Holy Mass, the bread and wine we offer on the altar become the Body and Blood of Jesus.  Hence, our Holy Communion with Jesus in the Eucharist should be the source of our daily “transfiguration,” transforming our minds and hearts to do more good, by humble and selfless service to others.

(2) Each time we receive one of the Sacraments, we are transformed: For example, Baptism transforms us into sons and daughters of God and heirs of Heaven. Confirmation transforms us into temples of the Holy Spirit and warriors of God.  By the Sacrament of Reconciliation, God brings back the sinner to the path of holiness.

(3) A message of encouragement and hope: In moments of doubt and during our dark moments of despair and hopelessness, the thought of our transformation in Heaven will help us to reach out to God and to listen to His consoling words: “This is My beloved son.”   (https://frtonyshomilies.com/) L/23

For additional reflections, click on: https://bible.usccb.org/podcasts/video; https://catholic-daily-reflections.com/daily-reflections/; https://www.epriest.com/reflections

OT VI [A] Sunday (Feb 12) Eight-minute homily in one page 

Introduction: Today’s readings challenge us to choose freely and wisely to observe the laws given by a loving and caring God.  He revealed His laws to His Chosen People through Moses and the prophets in the Old Testament, and through His own Son, Jesus, in the New Testament. For the Israelites, the Torah was not a set of laws, but the instruction or teaching intended to promote the holiness and wholeness of each believer. It was the revealed will of a caring God, for the people with whom had He made His covenant. In today’s gospel Jesus as a new law-giver reinterprets four Mosaic laws.  (An anecdote may be added)

 Scripture lessons: The first reading, taken from Sirach, contains the clearest statement in the Old Testament concerning the God-given freedom of the human will. It exonerates God from all responsibility for evil in the world. “If you choose, you can keep the commandments . . . before you are life and death, whichever you choose shall be given you.”  In the second reading, Paul challenges his Corinthian believers to appreciate the wisdom of God’s saving plan for His people, a plan hidden for ages but now revealed by the Spirit. In the selection from the Sermon on the Mount in today’s Gospel, while challenging his disciples to live a life of justice and righteousness which should exceed that of the scribes and Pharisees, Jesus, as the new lawgiver, sets forth his own position with regard to the Law given through Moses, by providing new interpretation and meaning for the old laws.  In today’s Gospel passage, Jesus explains the real meaning of three Mosaic laws concerning murder, adultery, divorce and false oaths. Anger is murder, impure look is adultery and unlawful divorce is double violation of natural law and covenant with God and false oaths are sacrilegious.

 Life messages: 1) We need to obey God’s Law, appreciating its basic principles: In obeying God’s law and Church law, let us remember the two basic principles on which these laws are based, namely, the principle of reverence and the principle of respect. In the first four of the Ten Commandments, we are asked to reverence God, reverence His holy Name, reverence His holy day, and reverence our father and mother. The next six commandments instruct us to respect life, one’s personal integrity and good name, the legal system, another’s property and another’s spouse. Our obedience to these laws must be prompted by love of God and gratitude to God for His blessings. Jesus explains that anger is murder, evil thoughts, words, looks and behavior are adultery, unlawful divorce is sinful and false oaths are sacrilegious.  

2) We need to forgive, forget, and move toward reconciliation as soon as possible.  St. Paul advises us “Be angry (righteous anger) but do not sin” (Eph 4:26). When we keep anger in our spirit, we are inviting physical illnesses, like hypertension, and mental illnesses, like depression. Let us relax and keep silence when we are angry, wait before acting on our anger, giving it time to detoxify and cool off, pray for God’s strength for self-control, and give the Holy Spirit time to help us to see the event through Jesus’ eyes instead of through anger’s eyes.

3) We need to be true to God, to ourselves, and to others. Let us allow God’s word of truth to penetrate our minds and hearts and to form our consciences, making us men and women of integrity. (L/23)

O T VI [A] (Feb 12): Sir 15:15-20, I Cor 2:6-10, Mt 5:17-37

Homily starter anecdotes: 1) “I’ve got good news and bad news.” A cartoon in a national magazine shows Moses with two tablets under his arm coming down a mountain. “I’ve got good news and bad news,” he says. “The good news is I got Him down to ten. The bad news is adultery is still in there.” Danish theologian Søren Kierkegaard once said: “Most people believe that the Christian Commandments are intentionally a little too severe, like setting a clock half an hour ahead to make sure of not being late in the morning.” Cable TV wizard, Ted Turner said that the Ten Commandments are out of date. I wonder which ones he would scrap. “Thou shalt not kill?” Absurd. Or “Thou shalt not steal?” Try stealing CNN’s signal without paying for it. Probably he had in mind, “Thou shalt not commit adultery.” Turner has been wrong before. — The Ten Commandments will never be obsolete. Adultery is just as serious now as it was then. And neither God in the Old Testament nor Jesus in the New “intentionally [made His Commandments] a little too severe.” Jesus knew that happiness comes from living according to God’s laws. Breaking those laws, or sinning, brings unhappiness and even death. The life of integrity, or righteousness, is the life God intends for us to live. So according to the Sermon on the Mount, integrity is a big deal. (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).

2) Passion and Reason: The Greek philosopher, Plato, four hundred years before Christ, wrote of two horses in the human heart, Passion and Reason. Passion is the wild untamed horse with boundless strength and energy, but very hard to control and direct. Reason is the tamed horse, accustomed to the reins, disciplined in stride and responding to directions. A chariot hitched to a pair of Passions might go anywhere but would surely crash or overturn before long. However, a charioteer who selects a pair of Reasons will be too cautious and fearful to go anywhere worthwhile. But if Passion and Reason can be paired, then the powerful energy is harnessed, and the journey of life can be enjoyed. – The teaching of Jesus strongly affirms the need for rules, but rules are to be understood as a means to the end, which is a life of spiritual strength and commitment. (Sylvester O’Flynn in The Good News of Mathew’s Year). (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).

3)    Anger destroyed his life: Two great men were born in the year 1564 A.D. One man, Shakespeare, lived to the age of fifty-two and became the greatest dramatist of the English language. The other, Christopher Marlowe, perished midway in his life at the age of twenty-nine, because of his anger. Christopher wrote some of the best tragical plays at a very young age. One of his best plays is The Tragical History of the Life and Death of Dr. Faustus. Had he lived longer he probably would have become greater than Shakespeare. But he was a man given to anger. He picked up a quarrel with a man in a tavern. That man challenged him to a sword fight unto death. They both fought and Christopher was mortally wounded and later succumbed to his injuries. A great promise was terminated because of anger. (John Rose in John’s Sunday Homilies). (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).

Introduction: Today’s readings challenge us to choose freely and wisely in order to observe the laws given us by a loving and caring God.  God revealed His laws through Moses and the prophets in the Old Testament and through His own Son, Jesus, in the New Testament. For the Israelites, the Torah was not a set of laws, but the instructions or teachings intended to promote the holiness and wholeness of each believer. It was the revealed will of a caring God for His Chosen People, those with whom He had made His covenant.   The first reading, from Sirach, contains the clearest statement in the Old Testament concerning the God-given freedom of the human will and exonerating God from all responsibility for evil in the world. “If you choose, you can keep the commandments . . . before you are life and death, whichever you choose shall be given you.”  In the second reading, Paul challenges his Corinthian believers to appreciate the wisdom of God’s saving plan for His people, a plan hidden for ages but now revealed by the Spirit. In today’s Gospel, while challenging his disciples to live a life of justice and righteousness which would exceed that of the scribes and Pharisees, Jesus sets forth his own position with regard to the Law given through Moses by providing  a new interpretation and meaning for the old laws. Jesus shows us how to go to the root of the commandments about murder, adultery, divorce, taking foolish oaths, retaliation against,  and love of, neighbor.

First reading, Sirach 15:15-20 explained: The book of Sirach, one of the seven “Deuterocanonical” books, was written very late in Old Testament times. The author lived in a cosmopolitan, mostly pagan, community that did not support his religious values. Hence, his book was intended for Diaspora, Jews who were exposed to the pervasive influence of a Hellenistic culture which believed that humans were helpless pawns in the hands of the gods.   He asserted that there should be no compromise with the prevailing culture when it came to keeping God’s law. God never forces us to do good or evil. It is our free choice to obey or disobey God’s laws, and we are responsible for the serious consequences of our choices. This is the clearest statement in all of the canonical and deuterocanonical OT writings on the subject of human free will.  This reading and the Gospel lend solemnity and authority to each other. The Responsorial Psalm (Ps 119), declares, ”Blessed are they who observe His  decrees, who seek Him with all their heart” (v 2)

The second reading, 1 Corinthians 2:6-10 explained. Paul here contrasts the wisdom of the prevailing Greek culture with the wisdom of God, advising Christians to seek true wisdom in God’s revelation instead of indulging in endless discussions of Greek philosophy. God in His wisdom has saved us through Jesus and prepared for those love Him, “What eye has not seen, and ear has not heard and what has not entered the human heart.”

Gospel exegesis: Jesus came to give the Torah its full meaning: In Jesus’ time, the Law was understood differently by different groups of the Jews to be 1) The Ten Commandments, 2) The Pentateuch, 3) The Law and the Prophets, or 4) The oral (Scribal) and the written Law. The Jews believed that the Torah (Law given through Moses), was the eternal and unchangeable Self-revelation of God. (According to a 3rd century rabbi, Moses gave 365 prohibitions and 248 positive commands. David reduced them to 11 in Psalm 15. Isaiah made them 6 (Isaiah 33:14, 15). Micah 6:8 binds them into 3 commands. Habakkuk reduces them all to one great statement: “The just shall live by Faith.”)  Jesus, and later Paul, considered the oral Law as interpreted by the scribes a heavy burden on the people and criticized it, while honoring the Mosaic Law and the teachings of the prophets. Today’s Gospel passage, from Jesus’ “Sermon on the Mount,” presents Jesus as giving the highest compliments to the Mosaic Law, although he himself would be condemned later and crucified as a Lawbreaker. Jesus says that, as the word of God, the Old Testament has a Divine authority and deserves total respect. Its moral precepts are to be respected because they are, for the most part, specific, Divine-positive promulgations of the natural law. For the Scribes and the Pharisees, the external fulfillment of the precepts of the Mosaic Law was a guarantee of a person’s salvation. Jesus rejects this view in today’s Gospel passage, taken from the “Sermon on the Mount.”  For Jesus, justification, or sanctification, is a grace from God. Man’s role is one of cooperating with that grace by being faithful to it. Jesus then outlines the new moral standards for his disciples. In today’s Gospel, Jesus says that he did not come to destroy the Torah but to bring it to perfection by bringing out its inner meaning, because Jesus Himself is the ultimate Self-revelation of God, the Lawgiver. Jesus also explains the real meaning of three Mosaic laws concerning murder, adultery and false oaths.

Respect life in all its stages, in words and deed: Jesus explains that the fifth commandment means respecting life in all its stages by honoring others in words and deeds.  This means that we have to control our anger because it is the rawest, strongest and most destructive of human emotions. Describing three stages of anger and the punishment each deserves,  Jesus advises his disciples not to get angry in such a way that they sin. 1)  Anger in the heart (“brief stage of insanity”– Cicero), has two forms: a) a sudden, blazing flame of anger which dies suddenly. b) a surge of anger which boils inside and lingers so that the heart seeks revenge and refuses to forgive or forget. Jesus prescribes trial and sentencing by the Village Court of Elders. 2) Anger in speech: Using words which are insulting (“raka“=“fool”), or damaging to the reputation (“moros” meaning a person of loose morals). Jesus says that such an angry one should be sent to the Sanhedrin or Jewish religion’s Supreme Court for trial and sentencing. 3) Anger in action: Sudden outbursts of uncontrollable anger often result in physical assault or abuse. Jesus says that such anger deserves hellfire as its punishment. In short, Jesus teaches that long-lasting anger is bad, contemptuous speech or destroying someone’s reputation is worse and harming another physically is the worst.

Jesus’ teaching on sexual sins:  In his Sermon on the Mount, Jesus outlines a new moral code for his followers, which is different from the Mosaic moral code. Jesus insists that adultery, the violation of the sixth commandment, is also committed through willfully generated evil and impure thoughts and desires which are willingly sustained in the mind. Our hands become agents of sin according to what we touch and how we touch, in lust or greed or violence. Our eyes become agents of sins according to what they look at. When Jesus recommends mutilation of eyes and hands, he is not speaking literally, because we have more sins than we have body-parts. Besides, even if all offending parts were removed, our minds — the source of all sins – would still be intact, causing us to sin by thoughts and desires.  So,  Jesus teaches us that, just as a doctor might remove a limb or some part of the body, like an infected gall bladder, inflamed appendix, etc., in order to preserve the life of the whole body, so we must be ready to part with anything that causes us to commit grave sin or which leads to spiritual death. Hence, these warnings are actually about our attitudes, dispositions, and inclinations.  Jesus recommends that our hands become agents of compassion, healing and comfort   and that our eyes learn to see the truth, goodness and beauty around us.

Jesus’ clear teaching on divorce: According Matthew’s version, adultery is the only ground for sanctioning divorce. Based on the NT teachings given in Mk 10:1-12, Mt. 5:31-32; Mt. 19:3-9; Lk 16:18; and 1 Cor 7:10-11, the Catholic Church teaches that marriage is a sacrament involving both a sacred and legal contract between a man and a woman and, at the same time, is a special covenant with the Lord.  “Divorce is also a grave offense against the natural law.  Besides, it claims to break the contract, to which the spouses freely consented, to live with each other till death ….  Divorce is immoral also because it introduces disorder into the family and into society” (CCC # 2384, 2385).

We are to be men and women of integrity and character: According to the teachings of the Jewish rabbis, the world stands fast on truth, justice and peace; hence, liars, slanderers, scoffers and hypocrites will not enter Heaven. The rabbis classified two types of oaths as offensive to God: 1) frivolous oaths using God’s name to support a false statement, because this violates the second commandment and 2) evasive oaths using words like Heaven, Jerusalem, or my head, because God is everywhere, and He owns everything. Jesus interprets the Mosaic Law on oaths to mean that we should be righteous men and women of integrity and character.  If one is honest in one’s words and deeds, there is no need for one to support one’s statements and transactions with oaths or swearing. How forceful are honest words! (Jb 6:25). An oath is a solemn invocation of God (So help me, God!) to bear witness to the truth of what one asserts to be the case or to the sincerity of one’s undertakings in regard to future actions. It is necessary and admissible to ask God’s help in the discharge of an important social duty (e.g., President’s oath of office), or while bearing witness in a court of law (“I will tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth … “So, help me, God.”). Jesus teaches,  “Say yes when you mean yes and say no when you mean no” (Mt 5:37). That is, he invites us to live in truth in every instance and to conform our thinking, our words, and our deeds to the truth.

Life messages: 1) We need to obey God’s Law, appreciating its basic principles: In obeying God’s law and Church law, let us remember the two basic principles on which these laws are based, namely, the principle of reverence and the principle of respect. In the first four of the Ten Commandments we are asked to reverence God, His holy Name and His holy Day and to reverence our father and mother. Th  next six commandments instruct us to respect life, one’s personal integrity and good name, the legal system, another’s property and another’s spouse. Our obedience to the laws must be prompted by our love for God and our gratitude to God for His blessings. 2) We need to forgive, forget, and move toward reconciliation as soon as possible.  St. Paul advises us “Be angry (righteous anger) but do not sin” (Eph 4:26). When we keep anger in our spirit, we are inviting physical illnesses, like hypertension, and mental illnesses, like depression. Let us relax and keep silence when we are angry, wait before acting on our anger, give it time to detoxify and cool off, pray for God’s strength for self-control, and give the Holy Spirit time to help us see the event through Jesus’ eyes instead of through anger’s eyes. 3) We need to be true to God, to ourselves and to others. Let us allow God’s word of truth to penetrate our minds and hearts and to form our consciences, making us men and women of integrity.

Jokes of the Week

1) Bless my ex-sister.  Two sisters spent the day fighting. That evening they prepared for bed, still mad at each other. As usual, each knelt by the side of her bed for their prayers. “Dear God,” the 8-year-old began, “Bless Daddy and Mommy, bless our cat and dog.” Then she stopped. Her mother gently prodded, “Didn’t you forget somebody?” She glared across the bed at her 6-year-old sister and added, “And, oh yes, God, bless my ex-sister.” [Pulpit Resource (Jan-Mar 1992), p. 14.]

2) You win the war: My wife and I have a rule. We don’t fight on Saturday nights. You know why? Because I have to preach on Sunday morning. Now I don’t want you to get the idea that we fight the other six nights of the week. Quite frankly, I gave her an unconditional surrender several years ago. Husbands let me teach you a lesson that will save you a lot of grief. When it comes to your wife, if you lose the battle, you win the war. (Rev. Curtis Fussell).

3) “But if he is alive in the morning.”  Little Johnny had a quarrel with his younger brother, Willy. Before he said his night prayers, Johnny’s mother said to him, “Now I want you to forgive your brother.” But Johnny was not in a forgiving mood.” No, I won’t forgive him”, he said. Mother tried persuasions of every motherly variety, but nothing worked. Finally, she said, “What if your brother were to die tonight? How would you feel if you knew that you hadn’t forgiven him?” Johnny gave in or so it seemed. “All right, I forgive him,” he said, “but if he is alive in the morning, I’ll get even with him.” — The Gospel invites us to reconcile with our brothers and sisters before we come to him. (John Pichappilly in The Table of the Word)

USEFUL WEBSITES OF THE WEEK

(For homilies & Bible study groups) (The easiest method  to visit these websites is to copy and paste the web address or URL on the Address bar of any Internet website like Google or MSN and press the Enter button of your Keyboard).

1)Fr. Nick’s collection of Sunday homilies from 65 priests & weekday homilies: https://www.catholicsermons.com/homilies/sunday_homilies

 2)Fr. Don’ collection of video homilies & blogs: https://sundayprep.org/featured-homilies/ (Copy it on the Address bar and press the Enter button)

3) Fr. Geoffrey Plant’s beautiful & scholarly video classes on Sunday gospel, Bible & RCIA topics:   https://www.youtube.com/user/GeoffreyPlant20663)

4) Dr. Brant Pitre’s commentary on Cycle A Sunday Scripture for Bible Class: https://catholicproductions.com/blogs/mass-readings-explained-year-Biblical basis of Catholic doctrines: http://scripturecatholic.com/

5) Agape Catholic Bible Lessons: http://www.agapebiblestudy.com/

6)Bishop Barron’s online videos: https://www.wordonfire.org/resources/video/

7) Bishop Barron’s audio Sunday homilies: https://www.wordonfire.org/resources/homily/

8) Bishop Barron’s video message on people with no religion in the U. S. A.: https://youtu.be/pG2mtELrxkg?list=UUcMjLgeWNwqL2LBGS-iPb1A

9) The Catholic Lectionary website (Dr. Felix Just)  http://catholic-resources.org/Lectionary/

10) “Traditional Mass lectionary”: http://catholic-resources.org/Lectionary/Roman_Missal.htm

 11) Movie clip: https://youtu.be/gMu4nQxumBM

 12) Ask a priest: Q & A:  https://rcspirituality.org/category/ask-a-priest/

13) Lectio Divina  weekday homilies: https://ocarm.org/en/

35- Additional anecdotes

1) A marriage that disintegrated over a bar of soap. Philip Yancey in his book, What’s So Amazing About Grace? tells about a novel by a Nobel prize-winning author that illustrates how anger nursed in the heart destroys a marriage. In the novel, Love in the Time of Cholera, Gabriel Garcia Marquez portrays a marriage that disintegrates over a bar of soap. “It was the wife’s job to keep the house in order, including provision of towels, toilet paper, and soap in the bathroom. One day she forgot to replace the soap, an oversight that her husband mentioned in an exaggerated way (‘I’ve been bathing for almost a week without any soap’), and that she vigorously denied. Although it turned out that she had indeed forgotten, her pride was at stake and she would not back down. For the next seven months they slept in separate rooms and ate in silence. “Even when they were old and placid,” writes Marquez, “they were very careful about bringing it up, for the barely healed wounds could begin to bleed again as if they had been inflicted only yesterday. —  How can a bar of soap ruin a marriage? Because neither partner would say, ‘Stop. This cannot go on. I’m sorry. Forgive me.’” Today’s Gospel gives Jesus’ teaching on the indissolubility of marriage. (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).

2) Whichever you choose: John Trippe of Rochester, New York, developed a kidney malfunction at the age of five. By the time he was 27, this condition had so worsened that he was bedridden and constantly on a dialysis machine. There was only one possible permanent remedy, physicians assured the family – a kidney transplant. Transplant donors are usually sought among members of the patient’s family. Unfortunately, none of the older members of the Trippe family was found to qualify; neither the parents nor John’s four sisters. That left kid-brother Jerry who was only 16. It was a big decision for a teen-ager, so the family was careful to bring no pressure upon him. John himself, however much he desired to regain his health, neither encouraged Jerry to take the tests nor discouraged him. The choice had to be his own. Jerry decided to take the tests because he wanted to. He volunteered to submit to the almost excessive number of examinations required. He almost had to fight his way to be considered. The doctors and technicians warned him again and again to think twice about doing something he might live to regret. Final results of the tests showed that John and Jerry’s system matched closely. Hence there was 80-90% chance of successful transplant which could give John at least 24 more years to live. Jerry gave his consent. The operation took place November 17, 1981. The transfer of the one kidney from brother to brother was a success, and both recovered nicely. When an interviewer of the Democrat and Chronicle asked Jerry why he had fought so hard to give up a kidney, he said, “I love John, and I wanted to do it. It’s as simple as that!”–  One of God’s gifts most like God Himself is His Gift to us of our free will. As today’s first reading says, “There are set before you fire and water: to whichever you choose, stretch forth your hand.” We can choose fire and be burned, or water and be refreshed. But we can choose, of our own free will. What better motive is there for choosing to sacrifice a part of our life than because we love our brother? (Fr. Robert F. McNamara) (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).

3) “Blessed are they who follow the Law of the Lord!” A story is told about Fiorello LaGuardia, who, when he was mayor of New York City during the worst days of the Great Depression and all of WWII, was called by adoring New Yorkers ‘the Little Flower’ because he was only five foot four and always wore a carnation in his lapel. He was a colorful character who used to ride the New York City fire trucks, raid speakeasies with the police department, take entire orphanages to baseball games, and whenever the New York newspapers were on strike, he would go on the radio and read the Sunday funnies to the kids. One bitterly cold night in January of 1935, the mayor turned up at a night court that served the poorest ward of the city. LaGuardia dismissed the judge for the evening and took over the bench himself. Within a few minutes, a tattered old woman was brought before him, charged with stealing a loaf of bread. She told LaGuardia that her daughter’s husband had deserted her, her daughter was sick, and her two grandchildren were starving. But the shopkeeper, from whom the bread was stolen, refused to drop the charges. “It’s a real bad neighborhood, your Honor.” the man told the mayor. “She’s got to be punished to teach other people around here a lesson.” LaGuardia sighed. He turned to the woman and said “I’ve got to punish you. The law makes no exceptions–ten dollars or ten days in jail.” But even as he pronounced sentence, the mayor was already reaching into his pocket. He extracted a bill and tossed it into his famous Stetson hat saying: “Here is the ten dollar fine which I now remit; and furthermore, I am going to fine everyone in this courtroom fifty cents for living in a town where a person has to steal bread so that her grandchildren can eat. Mr. Bailiff, collect the fines and give them to the defendant.” So the following day the New York City newspapers reported that $47.50 was turned over to a bewildered old lady who had stolen a loaf of bread to feed her starving grandchildren, fifty cents of that amount being contributed by the red-faced grocery store owner, while some seventy petty criminals, people with traffic violations, and New York City policemen, each of whom had just paid fifty cents for the privilege of doing so, gave the mayor a standing ovation. In this story we see how the mayor of New York City maintained and defended the laws under his jurisdiction, not by merely keeping them himself, but much more than that by showing respect, even to the accused and being compassionate to her and helping her out at the same time.  — Today is the 6^th Sunday in Ordinary Time, and through the Scripture Readings of today God calls us to a radical way of living. We are called to be more than just moral: God calls us to be virtuous. (https://frtonyshomilies.com/)..

4) “Never curse the umpire:  Angelo Bartlett Giamatti was the President of Yale University, and later, the seventh Commissioner of Major League Baseball. Giamatti loved baseball. He felt that the structure of the game was a paradigm of the human journey in which all of us seek to break from the box, make a wide turn and get home safely. At his memorial service, Giamatti’s son recalled endless hours in which his father (clad in a vest, a tie and a Red Sox cap) pitched them in to him. His son also recalled a word of advice, forcefully delivered after a Little League argument at first base (with father admonishing son): “Never curse the umpire. He’s the only one who knows the rules.” It was Giamatti’s contention, you see, that the beauty of the game … indeed, the very ballet of the game … required someone who could define the difference between ball and strike, fair and foul, safe and out, and who could also articulate the rules that give the game its structure. — For the rules are to baseball as the law is to life. They are not the game. But without them, the game has no meaning. Or, as a character exclaims in Woody Allen’s excellent film Crimes and Misdemeanors: “Without the law, all is darkness.” In today’s Gospel, Jesus reinterprets the Mosaic laws giving them a new meaning. (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).

5) Stealing a hammer is no big deal? A man confessed to his pastor that he stole something, a hammer, from the steel mill where he worked. Everybody was doing it, he said. No big deal. His pastor, though, told him about a report in the newspapers that thefts at this particular mill averaged out to a thousand dollars a week. His hammer along with what others were taking was costing the company over $50,000 a year. “To make up for that loss,” his pastor noted, “the factory raises the price of steel. Consequently, everyone who buys a car, purchases an appliance, remodels his house, etc., has to pay the price for your hammer. You didn’t hurt the company,” his pastor assured him, “you hurt everybody in this city” [B.A. Botkin, ed., A Treasury of American Anecdotes (New York: Galahad Books), pp. 205-206).] — And that’s true. We hurt the entire society when integrity is not maintained. It pays to be a person of integrity. (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).

6) Excluded from both groups: An amusing anecdote relates the experience of a group of theologians who were debating predestination and free will.  Their arguing escalated to the point that the group divided into two factions. But one theologian was undecided as to which group he favored; finally, he decided to side with those who believed in predestination. When he came to join them, they asked, “Who sent you here?” “Nobody”, he replied, “I came of my own free will!” “Free will?!” they shouted. “You belong with the other group.” When he turned and tried to join the proponents of free will, they inquired, “When did you decide to join us?” “I didn’t decide,” the theologian responded. “I was sent here!” At this, the group shut him out saying, “You can’t join us unless you choose to do so by your own free will.” — In the end, the theologian was excluded from both groups. A similar debate concerning human free will forms the backdrop for today’s first reading from Jesus Ben Sirach. (Patricia Datchuck Sánchez) (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).

7) Phenol in the leaves: Recently, ecologists at the University of Washington found that willow trees transmit a warning to other willows from as far away as two hundred feet. When caterpillars are attacking, the trees emit a chemical signal that travels on the wind. This enables distant trees to prepare their protection, phenol in the leaves which is distasteful the caterpillars. This advance warning of an attack amazes scientists: The individual trees have the ability to behave in a way that benefits, not just themselves, but the whole species. [Melanie Brown, PH.D. Attaining Personal; Greatness, (New York: William Morrow and Company, Inc., 1987).] —  Are we not a higher form of species than willow trees? That is why the Sermon on the Mount insists that we should treat other people as we would like to be treated. (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).

8) Dead body on the mattress for funeral: Henry Nouwen tells the story of a family he knew in Paraguay. The father, a Doctor, spoke out against the military regime there and its human rights abuses. Local police took their revenge on him by arresting his teenage son and torturing him to death. The father responded with the most powerful protest imaginable. At the funeral, the father displayed his son’s body as he had found it in the jail – naked, scarred from the electric shocks and cigarette burns and beatings. All the villagers filed past the corpse, which lay, not in a coffin, but on the blood-soaked mattress from the prison. [Philip Yancey, Disappointment with God, (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1988), p. 185.] — Is that not what God did at Calvary? He laid it all out there so all of us could see the price that must be paid for humanity’s refusal to obey God’s Law. (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).

9) Manage your anger: Richard F. Shepard in his book, In Enemy Waters, tells about two men he saw pummeling each other in a gutter where each had a car half-parked, one frontward, one backward, in a parking space. The irrationality of it all, he says, was emphasized by a sign in front of the parking place that said, “No Parking.” Of course, the point wasn’t that they were both trying to park in a no parking zone. The point was that they both were probably carrying around anger that was just waiting to erupt. There was an article in the newspapers about two men in Philadelphia who got into an argument over who was the better point guard, Allen Iverson of the 76ers or Gary Payton of the Seattle Supersonics. Words turned to gunfire and when the smoke cleared two innocent bystanders–a man and a woman, both of whom were parents of small children — lay dead. — Do you think that either combatant in those fights really cared that much the parking space, or who was the better point guard? Of course not. They were simply venting anger. Anger can make you do stupid things. (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).

10) “Don’t let her brush your hair.” In the book, Wit and Wisdom from the Peanut Butter Gang, by H. Jackson Brown, Jr. some children offer advice on spotting and dealing with anger. Morgan, age 11 says, “When your mom is mad at your dad, don’t let her brush your hair.” Lezlee, age 11 advises, “When your mother is mad and asks you, ‘Do I look stupid?’ it’s best not to answer her.” — Children become quite adept at spotting the signs of anger because so often they become the unsuspecting target of adult anger. Martin Luther King admonished his people “to avoid not only violence of deed but violence of spirit.” That’s sound advice based on the Sermon on the Mount. (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).

11) Angry argument splitting a family:  The Knot of Vipers by Nobel prize winner Francois Mauriac tells a similar story of an old man who spends the last decades of his marriage sleeping down the hall from his wife. A rift had opened thirty years before over whether the husband showed enough concern when their five-year-old daughter fell ill. Now, neither husband nor wife is willing to take the first step. Every night he waits for her to approach him, but she never appears. Every night she lies awake waiting for him to approach her, and he never appears. Neither will break the cycle that began years before. Neither will forgive.” [Harold H. Bloomfield, M.D., Making Peace with your Parents, (Ballantine Books, 1983).] —  Shall we say it again? “Stupid! Stupid! Stupid!” But it happens. Do not harbor negative thoughts in your heart. Often healing comes as soon as one party is willing to take the first step. (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).

12) What is the Sermon on the Mount? George Barna is a well-known Christian pollster and religious sociologist. One of his recent surveys opened with this indictment, “Americans revere the Bible, but, by and large, they don’t read it. And because they don’t read it, they have become a nation of Biblical illiterates.” Some of the data behind that summary is as follows: * Fewer than half of all adults can name the Four Gospels. * Sixty percent of Americans can’t name even five of the Ten Commandments. * Eighty-two percent believe that the proverb, “God helps those who help themselves” is found in Scripture. For those who identify themselves as serious Christians, the percentage is only one percent better! * Twelve percent of adults think Joan of Arc was Noah’s wife! * Fifty percent of graduating high school seniors think Sodom and Gomorrah were husband and wife! [Quoted in R. Albert Mohler, “The Scandal of Biblical Illiteracy,” Southern Seminary: The Tie,” Spring 2006, Vol. 74, No. 1, inside cover] (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).

13) “Stop the car and let me out!” Have you ever noticed that anger can cause us to do some dumb things? Several years ago, William F. Merten, of Mt. Clemens, Michigan, wrote to Readers’ Digest to tell about a memorable argument he had with his wife. The argument was well under way as they left a party one evening. Once they were in the car, words were flying. The area they were driving through was not the best, so they stopped arguing just long enough to lock the doors. Then they started again. Merton’s wife had really worked up a storm, and after a few choice words from him, she shouted, “Stop the car and let me out!” Merton pulled over to the curb. His wife unlocked the door and got out, but then looked around and got back in again. Looking a little sheepish she said, “Take me to a better neighborhood.” That broke them both up – and the argument too! Anger can cause us to do some dumb things. [William F. Merton in “Our Argument…. Argument too” –Reader’s Digest (Oct. 1983). (https://frtonyshomilies.com/). 14) Road rage: One of the phenomena we are seeing now in America is what is called road rage. Recently, on the Golden State Freeway in Sylmar, CA, Delfina Moralis and her daughter were irritated by an unnamed driver. Other motorists saw the two women tailgate a van and make angry gestures at the driver. When the van exited from the freeway, Mrs. Moralis followed closely and then got into position to spin her tires and splash the van with mud. She quickly spun around flinging mud and then drove up the ramp from which both vehicles had just exited. In her state of anger, she lost her bearings and treated the off ramp like an on ramp. She drove straight into oncoming freeway traffic. She and her daughter were instantly killed when they crashed into a Federal Express truck. — Anger, like that, can not only cause you to become a murderer in your heart but it can become the murderer of yourself. (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).

15) Da Vinci’s Last Supper: The story is told that when the painter Leonardo Da Vinci was painting “The Last Supper,” he had an intense and bitter argument with a fellow painter. Da Vinci began to think of a way to get back at this guy. He came up with a devious plan. He decided to paint the face of his enemy as the face of Judas Iscariot so it would be captured for all time, and that is exactly what he did. When people came to look at his work, while it was still in progress, they immediately knew who “Judas” was. Da Vinci got great joy out of portraying this man as Judas Iscariot. But as he continued his work on the painting of Jesus and his disciples, he finally came to the face he had saved for the very end-the face of Jesus. But he drew a mental blank. He had what writers call “writer’s block.” He could not paint a thing. Finally, God convicted him and showed him the trouble was he had painted the face of his enemy as the face of Judas Iscariot. — He realized that his hatred and bitterness was keeping him from being able to face the face of Christ. So, he went back to the image of Judas and painted some nebulous face. He went to his painter enemy, asked forgiveness, and they were reconciled. Then he went back and could clearly paint the face of Christ and finish one of the world’s greatest portraits. (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).

16) “I was also taught that you forgive people, no matter what.” The date was June 11, 1963; the place – The University of Alabama at Tuscaloosa. Vivian Malone, a young black woman, enrolled that day as a freshman. Federal troops ensured her entrance, but the doorway was blocked by Governor George Wallace. Holding out for segregation, the governor ultimately failed, and Ms. Malone became the first African American to graduate from the University of Alabama. Vivian wasn’t the only newcomer that day. James Hood was at her side and needed encouragement. So, she slipped him a note; on it was this prayer: “Whatever may be our adversary this day, our Father, help us to face it with courage, for it can be conquered when Thou art with us. In faith we pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.” Years later, after an assassination attempt and a deep change of heart, Wallace was rolled in his wheelchair into the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery, and there, asked forgiveness. More particularly, the former governor regretted how he had treated Vivian and sought her forgiveness face to face. He wanted to make amends before he died. At their meeting, Vivian told him that she had forgiven him years earlier. Interviewed in 2003, she was asked about the meeting: “You said you’d forgiven him many years earlier?” “Oh yes.” “And why did you do that?” Her reply: —  “This may sound weird. I’m a Christian, and I grew up in the Church. And I was taught that — just as I was taught that no other person was better than I — that we were all equal in the eyes of God. I was also taught that you forgive people, no matter what. And that was why I had to do it. I didn’t feel as if I had a choice.” (Edited by Newsweek, October 24, 2005, 10. (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).

 17) Volunteers, please: Dr. Emil Coccaro has studied anger for decades. He says many hotheads suffer from a newly named pathology, Intermittent Explosive Disorder (I.E.D). Dr. Coccaro is championing treatment with the drug Depakote. — Oddly enough, an effort to find volunteers with volatile tempers for the clinical studies has been unproductive. Apparently, few people see their anger as a problem, and that is itself part of the problem. (PreachingToday.com) (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).

 18) “You have room for one more VIP.”  In 1962 came the Cuban missile crisis. It was a nuclear war standoff between the US and the USSR. In the event of attack, two thousand of the most important people in the US government were to be saved in a bomb shelter dug into a Virginia mountain. One VIP was Earl Warren, Chief Justice of the US Supreme Court. When he was handed his survival pass, Warren asked, “Where is my wife’s?” He was told she was not a VIP. Smiling, he handed the pass back. “In that case,” he said, “you have room for one more VIP.” — This is the type of marriage Jesus had in mind because nowhere in the 5000 years of recorded history was marriage in worse shape than when Jesus came with its high rate of divorce denying all rights to wives. (Fr. James Gilhooley). (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).

18) “I can’t help it.” A famous Jimmy Carter story illustrates this in a humorous way. When he was running for president, Carter mentioned in an interview that, although he had never been unfaithful to his wife, he had, he admitted, “committed adultery in my heart.” Back on the campaign trail, a married couple approached Carter, “This is my wife,” the man said with a smile, “but, please Mr. Carter, but don’t lust after her in your heart.” Carter looked at the portly, middle-aged lady and said, “I can’t help it.” — Well, Jimmy Carter had a way of being self-effacing. It was one of his better qualities. The whole issue of lustful desires is something that we need to approach with humility and good humor. When a person thinks he has it all under control and starts looking down on others, it often precedes a fall. (Fr. Phil Bloom) (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).

20) Be reconciled first: Little Johnny had a quarrel with his younger brother, Willie. Before he said his night prayers, Johnny’s mother said to him, “Now I want you to forgive your brother.” But Johnny was not in a forgiving mood. “No, I won’t forgive him.” He said.  Mother tried persuasions of every motherly variety, but nothing worked. Finally, she said, “What if your brother were to die tonight? How would you feel if you knew you hadn’t forgiven him?” Johnny gave in, or so it seemed. “All right, I forgive him.” He said, “but if he’s alive in the morning, I’ll get even with him.” –Today’s Gospel invites us to be reconciled with our brothers and sisters first, before we come to him. (John Pichappilly in The Table of the Word). (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).

21) Making choices out of love: Once Baal Shen, a Jewish Rabbi had a dream. He was in Heaven. He saw two empty seats and asked the angel for whom they were reserved. The angel told him one was for him and the other was for his companion if he used his intelligence. Baal Shen went to see his companion and found that although he was a Jew, he was not following the Jewish laws. He was a very happy man with a lovely family. The Rabbi asked him why he was not following the Jewish law. He said that he was very happy that he loved God and his neighbor. Then Baal Shen visited hell and found two empty seats there too. The devil told him one seat was for him and the other was for his companion. Baal Shen then went to his companion and found that he was a strict Jew who kept all the external laws, but he and his family were not happy. The Rabbi told him to change but he was not ready to change as he considered himself righteous for observing all the laws. From this Baal Shen concluded that truly good and happy people are righteous. But not all the righteous are good and happy. —  We can be true to our calling as Christians if in addition to our love for God and neighbor we also attempt to keep the spirit of the law we practice, intact. – “The Sabbath was made for man and not man for the Sabbath.” (Elias Dias in Divine Stories for Families). (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).

 22) St. Thecla Shows the Power of a Grace-Filled Heart: Every once in a while, God reveals to the world the true power of a heart that is full of His grace and love. Take St. Thecla, for example. She grew up in the first century, a well-educated, young pagan woman who lived in the Greek city of Iconium. She became a Christian when St. Paul and St. Barnabas arrived and began to preach there. She fell in love with Christ through their teaching and witness, was baptized, received Holy Communion, and consecrated her entire life to the Lord.  Her pagan parents and fiancée were furious with this decision. They did everything possible to convince her to abandon her Christian faith and her consecration. But she persevered. Finally, they turned her over to the authorities (Christians were being persecuted at the time because they refused to worship the local, pagan false gods). The governor put her on trial, but she refused to give up her Faith. Even after eight days of prison, she still refused. They condemned her to death by burning. But when they tied her to the stake in the local arena and lit the fire, the eager crowds were amazed: miraculously, the flames left her entirely unharmed! And so, the frustrated governor sent her to the larger city of Antioch for execution. There she was put into an arena with an un-caged lion. The lion roared and circled around her, baring its teeth, as she knelt in prayer, then lay down beside her, licking her feet. They released three more lions – but the results were the same. Finally, the authorities gave up and set her free, and she spent the rest of her life in prayer and service, spreading the good news about Jesus Christ and his plan of salvation. — Jesus looks to the heart, because he knows that that’s what really matters: a heart full of his grace can overcome any obstacle, withstand any trial, and conquer any evil. (E- Priest) (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).

23) “Going beyond…” A soldier who was a Christian made it his practice to conclude every day with Bible reading and prayer. As his fellow soldiers gathered in the barrack and retired for the night, he would kneel by his bunk and offer prayers to the Lord. The other soldiers saw this and began to mock and harass him. But one night the abuse went beyond verbal assault. As the soldier bowed before His Lord in prayer, one antagonist threw his boot through the dark and hit him in the face. The other soldiers snickered and jeered, hoping for a fight. But there was no retaliation. The next morning when the taunting soldier awoke, he was startled to discover something at the foot of his bed. For all to see there were his boots, returned and polished. — That is the Christian spirit taught by today’s Gospel. (Stephen Lawson in Absolutely Sure). (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).

 24) Lutz Long and Jesse Owens: Most people then had heard of Jesse Owens, who won four gold medals in the Berlin Olympics in 1936. But who had heard of Lutz Long? Lutz was one of Germany’s top athletes in the 1936 games. He was one of Adolf Hitler’s favourites. In the long-jump trials he broke the Olympic record. Only one man could possibly beat him –Jesse Owens. Just before Jesse’s turn came to qualify, Hitler left his seat and walked out. It was viewed as a snub of the black athlete, who did not fit Hitler’s Aryan supremacy theory. His snub affected Jesse, it made him mad and he fouled his first and second attempt to qualify. With just one try left he panicked. Then Jesse felt a hand on his shoulder and looked around to see Lutz. He suggested Jesse draw a line a few inches short of the take-off board and jump from there. It worked and Jesse qualified. That moment marked the beginning of a close friendship between Jesse and Lutz. In the days ahead Jesse won three gold medals with Lutz cheering him at each event. Then came the long jump finals, it pitted Jesse against Lutz. Jesse won! He recalls what happened next: “While Hitler glared, Lutz held up my hand and shouted to the gigantic crowd, ‘Jes-se Ow-ens! Jes-se Ow-ens!’ The stadium picked it up. ‘Cha-zee Oh-wenz! Cha-zee Oh-wenz!” My hair stood on end. Ordinary athletes don’t help their opponents. But Lutz Long was no ordinary athlete. He did for Jesse what he would have liked Jesse to do for him. Ordinary athletes don’t celebrate their opponent’s victory. Lutz rejoiced in Jesse’s victory. Ordinary athletes are usually forgotten a few years after their career ends. But Lutz was remembered half a century later. Every four years at Olympic time, the clip of Lutz chanting ‘Jes-se Ow-ens’ was shown worldwide on television. –All this speaks to us about the passage we just read from Matthew’s Gospel, where Jesus demands that we go beyond what is the norm, motivated by love. (Mark Link in Sunday Homilies). (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).

 25) Peter Pan: There is a delightful scene in James Matthew Barrie’s famous play, Peter Pan. Peter is in the children’s bedroom. They’re all jumping up and down with excitement. Peter has just flown across the room, and now the children want to fly too. They try to fly from the floor, then try to fly from the bed, but they can’t do it. “How did you do it?” John asks Peter. Peter answers, “It’s easy, John. Just think wonderful, beautiful thoughts. They will lift you off the ground and send you soaring into the air.” –It’s the same way with the Christian life. The way to live a Christian life is to “think wonderful, beautiful thoughts.” They will lift you off the ground and send you soaring to Heaven. (Mark Link in Sunday Homilies). (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).

 26) “To be, or not to be: that is the question” To some extent every man is a split personality. There is a part of him which is attracted to good, and part of him which is attracted to evil. William Shakespeare presents this conflict beautifully in his play Hamlet. On a dark winter night, a ghost walked the ramparts of Elsinore Castle in Denmark. Discovered first by a pair of watchmen, then by the scholar Horatio, the ghost resembled the recently deceased King Hamlet, whose brother Claudius had inherited the throne and married the king’s widow, Queen Gertrude. When Horatio and the watchmen brought Prince Hamlet, the son of Gertrude and the dead king, to see the ghost, it spoke to him, declaring ominously that it was indeed his father’s spirit, and that he was murdered by none other than Claudius. Ordering Hamlet to seek revenge on the man who had usurped his throne and married his wife, the ghost disappeared with the dawn. Prince Hamlet devoted himself to avenging his father’s death, but, because he was contemplative and thoughtful by nature, he delayed, entering into a deep melancholy and even apparent madness. He thought of taking his life: “To be, or not to be: that is the question” . Hamlet was unable to make a decision. One part of him instigated him to end everything in death. But the other part told him that it was against the commandment of God. —  We all experience this inner tension. So long as there is this inner tension, this inner conflict, life must be insecure. In such circumstances the only way to safety, is to eradicate the desire for the forbidden thing for ever. The standard Jesus demands from us is not only our deeds but also our thoughts should be pure. So,  Jesus forbids forever the anger which broods, the anger which will not forget, the anger which refuses to be pacified, the anger which seeks revenge. (Fr. Bobby Jose). (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).

27) Beyond the letter of the Law: While explaining the ABCs of Christianity to an aged tribal chieftain, a missionary was stressing the don’ts more than the do’s. “You mean I must not take my friends’ wives?” clarifies the chieftain. “That’s right!” said the missionary. “And not rob their goats and cattle?” The missionary nodded. “And not kill warring chieftains?” queried the chieftain again. “Yes!” replied the missionary. “Then,” concluded the chieftain, “I’ll be a good Christian because I am too old to do any of those things.”– We often reduce Christianity to a long list of don’ts forgetting that the essence of Christianity is the ‘spirit’ behind them. (Francis Gonsalves in Sunday Seeds for Daily Deeds). (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).

 28) Criterion of corruption: A cartoon in New Yorker magazine: Two clean-shaven middle-aged men are sitting together in a jail cell. One inmate turns to the other and says: “All along, I thought our level of corruption fell well within community standards.” — But in today’s Gospel, Jesus insists that our righteousness should exceed that of the scribes and the Pharisees. (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).

 29) Develop the virtue of forgiveness: Once the son of King Louis XVI was taken prisoner by a rival nation and sent to the torture room. The French Dauphin was held prisoner by one of the most difficult jailors. The jailor was waiting to lay his hands upon this poor helpless child, for having been born into the royal family. Every day, the jailor would increase his torture a little more, and each time the child would quietly bear it all, praying to God. One day the jailor asked him, “What would you do, Capeto, if the Vendeanos set you free? What would you do with me? Would you have me hanged?” The little boy smiled and said: “I would forgive you.” — Forgiveness is one of the noblest virtues of man. As St. Francis de Sales once said, “If, someone in hatred were to pluck out my left eye, I think I could look kindly at him with my right eye. If he plucked that one out too, I would still have the heart with which to love him.”(G. Francis Xavier in 101 Inspiring Stories). (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).

 30) Dentist’s mirror: Evangelist Fred Brown used three images to describe the purpose of the Law. First, he likened it to a dentist’s little mirror, which he sticks into the patient’s mouth. With the mirror, he can detect any cavities. But he doesn’t drill with it or use it to pull teeth. It can show him the decayed area or other abnormality, but it can’t provide the solution. Brown then drew another analogy. He said that the law is also like a flashlight. If suddenly at night the lights go out, you use it to guide you down the darkened basement stairs to the electrical box. When you point it toward the fuses, it helps you see the one that is burned out. But after you’ve removed the bad fuse, you don’t try to insert the flashlight in its place. You put in a new fuse to restore the electricity. In his third image, Brown likened the law to a plumb line. When a builder wants to check his work, he uses a weighted string to see if it’s true to the vertical. But if he finds that he has made a mistake, he doesn’t use the plumb line to correct it. He gets out his hammer and saw. — The law points out the problem of sin; it doesn’t provide a solution. (Quoted by Fr. Tony Kayala). (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).

31) “Man is the only animal that blushes.” Somebody asked Charles Darwin the proponent of the theory of evolution the question, “Is there anything that is true only of man?”  Darwin answered: “Man is the only animal that blushes.” And what does it mean to blush? It means that there is an innate capacity for embarrassment. And what is “an innate capacity for embarrassment,” if not an internal awareness that one is falling short of expected standards of behavior and deportment? Consider Adam and Eve. The Bible says that when they violated God’s commandment “their eyes were opened and they knew they were naked.” Who told them they were naked? Here we are, talking about the world’s first blush, as recorded in the world’s first story. — In today’s Gospel, Jesus teaches us how to obey God’s laws so that we need not blush. (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).

32) Unexploded bombs become more dangerous with time:  In 1994, Christopher Burns wrote an article, “Wars’ Lethal Leftovers Threaten Europeans,” on the casualties of war — not the most current one with its Improvised Explosive Devices but of wars that officially ended seventy-eight years ago in the case of World War II (1946) and one hundred twenty-three years ago as regards World War I (1919). How is that? “The bombs of World War II are still killing in Europe. They turn up, and sometimes blow up, at construction sites, in fishing nets, or on beaches decades after the guns that loosed them had fallen silent. Hundreds of tons of explosives are recovered every year in France alone. Thirteen old bombs exploded in France in 2009, killing twelve people and wounding eleven, the Interior Ministry said. ‘I’ve lost two of my colleagues,’ said Yvon Bouvet, who heads a government team in the Champagne-Ardennes region that defuses explosives from both World War I and World War II…. ‘Unexploded bombs become more dangerous with time,’ Bouvet said. ‘With corrosion inside, the weapon becomes more unstable, the detonator can be exposed.’”(PreachingToday.com). —  What is true of buried bombs is true of lingering anger. It explodes when we least expect it. That is why Jesus advises us to manage our anger in the Sermon on the Mount. (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).

33) Anger — I Told You Not to Bite: There are times when expressing our anger is the proper thing to do. There is an old story of a Swami at a village temple in Bengal, who claimed to have mastered anger.  When his ability to control his anger was challenged, he told the story of a cobra who used to sit by the path and bite people on their way to the temple. The Swami went to visit with the snake to end the problem.  Using a mantra, he called the snake to him and brought it into submission.  Telling the snake that it was wrong to bite people, the Swami persuaded it to promise never to do it again. And when the people saw that the snake now made no move to bite them, they grew unafraid. Unfortunately, before long the village boys were tormenting the poor snake by dragging it through the village.  Later the Swami again visited the snake to see if he had kept his promise.  He found the snake miserable and hurting.  The Swami, on seeing this, exclaimed, “You are bleeding.  Tell me how this has come to be.” The snake was in anguish and blurted out that he had been abused ever since the Swami had made him promise to stop biting people. To which the swami said, “I told you not to bite, but I did not tell you not to hiss.” (Rev King Duncan) (Quoted by Fr. Tony Kayala). (https://frtonyshomilies.com/)

.4) Destructive Anger: In the Spring of 1894, the Baltimore Orioles came to Boston to play a routine baseball game. But what happened that day was anything but routine. The Orioles’ John McGraw got into a fight with the Boston third baseman. Within minutes all the players from both teams had joined in the brawl. The warfare quickly spread to the grandstands. Among the fans the conflict went from bad to worse. Someone set fire to the stands and the entire ballpark burned to the ground. Not only that, but the fire spread to 107 other Boston buildings as well. — Anger, my brothers and sisters, is destructive. It poisons relationships. It often brings violence. (Quoted by Fr. Tony Kayala). (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).

35) As Forgiving as Children: Leo Buscalgia writes of observing two children having an argument. The children were quarreling over some insignificant things. “You’re stupid!” one said to the other. “Well, so are you!” the other replied. “Not as stupid as you!” the first one said. “Oh, yeah?” the other one said. “That’s what you think.” When Buscalgia passed by the playground not more than ten minutes later, these two children were playing together again, having forgotten the whole thing. — “No brooding, no wounded egos, no blame, no dredging up the past, no recriminations,” Buscalgia writes. “There it was, a brief and honest exchange of angry feelings, an even briefer cooling off period, and all was forgiven.  — Children are certainly much more forgiving than adults,” Buscalgia concludes. “Somewhere in the process of growing up we seem to have become experts at holding grudges, cradling fragile egos and unforgiving natures.” (Leo F. Buscalgia) (Quoted by Fr. Tony Kayala). (https://frtonyshomilies.com/). L/23

  “Scriptural Homilies” Cycle A (No. 15) by Fr. Tony: akadavil@gmail.com

Visit my website by clicking on https://frtonyshomilies.com/ for missed or previous Cycle A homilies, 141 Year of Faith “Adult Faith Formation Lessons” (useful for RCIA classes too) & 197 “Question of the Week.” Contact me only at akadavil@gmail.com. Visit http://www.vaticannews.va/en/church.html for the Vatican version of this homily and  the CBCI website https://cbci.in/SundayReflectionsNew.aspx?&id=cG2JDo4P6qU=&type=text. for a full version Or https://www.catholicsermons.com/homilies/sunday_homilies  under Fr. Tony or under CBCI for my website version.  Fr. Anthony Kadavil, Chaplain, Sacred Heart Residence of the Little Sisters of the Poor, 1655 McGill Ave, Mobile, AL 36604

Feb 6-11: Click on http://frtonyshomilies.comfor missed homilies:

Feb 6 :Monday: (Saint Paul Miki and Companions, Martyrs) For a short biography, click on https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-of-the-day/saint-paul-miki-and-companions ; Mk 6: 53-56: 53 And when they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret, and moored to the shore. 54 And when they got out of the boat, immediately the people recognized him, 55 and ran about the whole neighborhood and began to bring sick people on their pallets to any place where they heard he was. 56 And wherever he came, in villages, cities, or country, they laid the sick in the marketplaces, and besought him that they might touch even the fringe of his garment; and as many as touched it were made well.

The context: Gennesaret was a tract of land four miles long on the western border of the Sea of Galilee, lying between current day Tabgha and ancient Magdala. Known as the “Paradise of Galilee,” the land was rich soil for farmers to grow walnuts, dates, olives, figs, and grapes and it was a fishing center as well. Today’s Gospel passage describes the reaction of the people of Gennesaret when the healing and preaching miracle-worker, Jesus, unexpectedly landed on their shore. They considered it a golden opportunity to hear his message and to get all their sick people healed by bringing them to Jesus with trusting Faith in his Divine power. They were confident that even touching Jesus’ garment would heal the sick. Actually, they may have been more interested in using the healer to heal their sick people than in hearing Jesus’ preaching. Our innate human tendency is to use others to get something from them. We make use of God when we call Him only when we are in need or when we are sick or when tragedy strikes us. Some of us make use of the Church only to get baptized, married and buried. Often, we make use of our friends to get their company, help and support. Sometimes even grown-up children make use of their parents’ home for eating and sleeping without returning anything to their parents, who might rightly expect, but do not ask, a return, from them.

Life message: 1) A healing greater than physical healing is available to us especially in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Hence, we should have a much deeper desire to seek out Jesus in the confessional than the people of Jesus’ day had for physical healing. 2) Instead of making use of God, let us learn to live in His presence, and recognize His presence in others in the community. 2) When we present our needs before Him, let us do so with expectant Faith and gratitude, and promise Him with the help of His grace that we will do His will. 4) Let us also “scurry” to Mass, scurry to bring people to Jesus, or scurry to say prayers with your children at night? Do we scurry to see the face of Jesus in our neighbors? Tony (https://frtonyshomilies.com/) L/23

For additional reflections, click on: https://bible.usccb.org/podcasts/video; https://catholic-daily-reflections.com/daily-reflections/; https://www.epriest.com/reflections

Feb 7 Tuesday: Mk 7:1-13 : 1 Now when the Pharisees gathered together to him, with some of the scribes, who had come from Jerusalem, 2 they saw that some of his disciples ate with hands defiled, that is, unwashed. 3 (For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, do not eat unless they wash their hands, observing the tradition of the elders; 4 and when they come from the market place, they do not eat unless they purify themselves; and there are many other traditions which they observe, the washing of cups and pots and vessels of bronze.) 5 And the Pharisees and the scribes asked him, “Why do your disciples not live according to the tradition of the elders, but eat with hands defiled?” 6 And he said to them, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written, `This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; 7 in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the precepts of men.’ 8 You leave the commandment of God, and hold fast the tradition of men.” 9 And he said to them, “You have a fine way of rejecting the commandment of God, in order to keep your tradition! 10 For Moses said, `Honor your father and your mother’; and, `He who speaks evil of father or mother, let him surely die’; 11 but you say, `If a man tells his father or his mother, What you would have gained from me is Korban’ (that is, given to God) — 12 then you no longer permit him to do anything for his father or mother, 13 thus making void the word of God through your tradition which you hand on. And many such things you do.”

The context: Today’s Gospel passage describes Jesus’ confrontation with the Scribes and the Pharisees sent from Jerusalem by the Jewish religion’s Supreme Court, the Sanhedrin, to assess Jesus’ “heretical teachings.” Their first question to Jesus was why he did not command his disciples to do the ritual washing of hands before meals or during a banquet. Ex 30:17ff had laid down rules for how the priests should wash their hands before offering sacrifice. Jewish tradition had extended this purification to all Jews before every meal, in an effort to give meals a religious significance. Ritual purification was a symbol of the moral purity a person should have when approaching God. One should have a clean conscience and clean mind. But the Pharisees had focused on the mere external rite. Therefore, Jesus restored the genuine meaning of these precepts of the Law, the purpose of which was to teach the right way to render homage to God.

Jesus’ explanation: Jesus shocked his questioners by accusing them of hypocrisy and giving lip-service to God while ignoring His teachings, replacing them with man-made interpretations. As an example, Jesus pointed out how they were cleverly evading God’s commandment to honor one’s parents by falsely interpreting the precept of Korban. According to their interpretation, one could be freed from taking care of one’s parents in their old age by declaring the money or property meant for their support as “Korban,” or a special offering to God. Jesus told them that the true source of defilement was a person’s heart and mind. True religion should not be mere external observances disconnected from the mind and the intentions.

Life messages: 1) We need to remember that the essence of religion is a personal relationship with God and with our fellow-human beings, not merely the external observances of religion. 2) God expects from us that generosity and good will which urge us to practice more mercy, offer more kindness, show more willingness to forgive offenses, and exercise more readiness to serve others lovingly and sacrificially. Fr. Tony (https://frtonyshomilies.com/) L/23

For additional reflections, click on: https://bible.usccb.org/podcasts/video; https://catholic-daily-reflections.com/daily-reflections/; https://www.epriest.com/reflections

Feb 8 Wednesday: [Saint Jerome Emiliani)For a short biography, click onhttps://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-of-the-day/saint-jerome-emiliani & (Saint Josephine Bakhita, Virgin) https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-of-the-day/saint-josephine-bakhita : Mk 7:14-23: 14 And he called the people to him again, and said to them, “Hear me, all of you, and understand: 15 there is nothing outside a man which by going into him can defile him; but the things which come out of a man are what defile him.” 17 And when he had entered the house, and left the people, his disciples asked him about the parable. 18 And he said to them, “Then are you also without understanding? Do you not see that whatever goes into a man from outside cannot defile him, 19 since it enters, not his heart but his stomach, and so passes on?” (Thus he declared all foods clean.) 20 And he said, “What comes out of a man is what defiles a man. 21. From within people, from their hearts, come evil thoughts, unchastity, theft, murder,22adultery, greed, malice, deceit, licentiousness, envy, blasphemy, arrogance, folly.23All these evils come from within and they defile.” All these evil things come from within, and they defile a man

The context: Today’s Gospel passage continues Jesus’ explanation to the public of his revolutionary views on the ritual washing of hands before meals. The Law (Ex 30:17ff) had laid down how priests should wash before offering sacrifice. Jewish tradition had extended this to all Jews before every meal in an effort to give meals a religious significance. Ritual purification was a symbol of the moral purity a person should have when approaching God. But the Pharisees had focused on the mere external rite. For Jesus, true religion should not be mere external observances disconnected from the mind and the intentions.

Jesus’ explanation: Jesus shocked the people by his plain statement: ” … there is nothing outside a man which by going into him can defile him; but the things which come out of a man are what defile him.” In other words, Jesus made the shocking declaration that all the ritual food laws of the Old Testament about Kosher food were null and void! For Jesus, those laws were intended to teach the people of the Old Covenant the importance of offering acceptable sacrifice and worship to God with a clean conscience and clean mind, with clean thoughts and clean deeds. Hence, the true source of defilement is a person’s heart and mind because “out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, fornication, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, licentiousness, envy, slander, pride, foolishness.”

Life message: 1) We need to keep our minds filled with love, mercy, compassion, and forgiveness if we want to practice the true religion of loving God living in others. Hence, let us ask God to help us cleanse our minds of evil thoughts and desires and free them from jealousy, envy and pride. Fr. Tony (https://frtonyshomilies.com/) L/23 For additional reflections, click on: https://bible.usccb.org/podcasts/video; https://catholic-daily-reflections.com/daily-reflections/; https://www.epriest.com/reflections

Feb 9: Thursday: Mk 7:24-30:24 And from there he arose and went away to the region of Tyre and Sidon. And he entered a house, and would not have any one know it; yet he could not be hid. 25 But immediately a woman, whose little daughter was possessed by an unclean spirit, heard of him, and came and fell down at his feet. 26 Now the woman was a Greek, a Syro-Phoenician by birth. And she begged him to cast the demon out of her daughter. 27 And he said to her, “Let the children first be fed, for it is not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.” 28 But she answered him, “Yes, Lord; yet even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.” 29 And he said to her, “For this saying you may go your way; the demon has left your daughter.” 30 And she went home, and found the child lying in bed, and the demon gone.

well as for the Jews by healing the daughter of a Gentile woman as a reward for the mother’s strong Faith. Thus, Jesus shows that God’s mercy and love are available to all who call out to Him in Faith.

This is one of the two miracles of healing Jesus performed for Gentiles. The other is the healing of the centurion’s servant. (Mt 8:10-12). These miracles foreshadowed the future preaching of the Gospel to the whole world. Jesus first ignored both the persistent cry of the woman and the impatient demand of his disciples that the woman be sent away. Jesus then tried to awaken true Faith in the heart of this woman by an indirect refusal. We notice that the woman was refused three times by Jesus before he granted her request. Finally, the fourth time, her persistence was rewarded, and her plea was answered. She recognized Jesus as the Messiah (the Son of David) and expressed her need in clear, simple words. She persisted, undismayed by obstacles, and she expressed her request in all humility: “Have mercy on me.” (Navarre Bible commentary). Jesus was completely won over by the depth of her Faith, her confidence and her wit, and responded exuberantly, “Woman, great is your Faith! Let it be done for you as you wish.”

Life messages: 1) We need to persist in prayer with trustful confidence. Christ himself has told us to keep on asking him for what we need: “Ask and you shall receive.” Asking with fervor and perseverance proves that we have “great Faith.” We must realize, and remember, that we do not always get exactly what we have asked for, but rather what God knows we need and what is really best for us at the most appropriate time.

2) We need to pull down our walls of separation and share in the universality of God’s love. Today’s Gospel reminds us that God’s love and mercy are extended to all who call on him in Faith and trust, no matter who they are. It is therefore fitting that we should pray that the walls which we raise by our pride, intolerance and prejudice may crumble Fr. Tony (https://frtonyshomilies.com/) L/23

For additional reflections, click on: https://bible.usccb.org/podcasts/video; https://catholic-daily-reflections.com/daily-reflections/; https://www.epriest.com/reflections

Feb 10: Friday: (Saint Scholastica, Virgin) For a short biography, click on https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-of-the-day/saint-scholastica:Mk 7:31-37: 31 Then he returned from the region of Tyre, and went through Sidon to the Sea of Galilee, through the region of the Decapolis. 32 And they brought to him a man who was deaf and had an impediment in his speech; and they besought him to lay his hand upon him. 33 And taking him aside from the multitude privately, he put his fingers into his ears, and he spat and touched his tongue; 34 and looking up to heaven, he sighed, and said to him, “Ephphatha,” that is, “Be opened.” 35 And his ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly. 36 And he charged them to tell no one; but the more he charged them, the more zealously they proclaimed it. 37 And they were astonished beyond measure, saying, “He has done all things well; he even makes the deaf hear and the dumb speak.”

The context: Today’s Gospel describes how Jesus, by healing a deaf and mute man, fulfilled Isaiah’s Messianic prophecy, “The eyes of the blind shall be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped”(Isaiah 35:5). The Gospel invites us to become humble instruments of healing in Jesus’ hands by giving a voice to the needy and the marginalized in our society. It also challenges us to let our ears be opened to hear the word of God, and to let our tongues be loosened to convey the Good News of God’s love and salvation to others. Through this miracle story, Mark’s account also reminds us that no one can be a follower of the Lord without reaching out to the helpless (“preferential option for the poor”).

The miracle is described in seven ritual-like steps: (1) Jesus leads the man away from the crowd; (2) puts his fingers into the man’s ears; (3) spits on his own fingers; (4) touches the man’s tongue with the spittle; (5) looks up to Heaven; (6) sighs; (7) and speaks the healing command: “Ephphatha” (“be opened.”). Jesus carries out this elaborate ritual probably because the dumb man could not hear Jesus’ voice nor express his needs. Jesus applies a little saliva to the man’s tongue because people in those days believed that the spittle of holy men had curative properties. The miracle is about the opening of a person’s ears so that he will be able to hear the word of God, and the loosening of his tongue so that he will be able to profess his Faith in Jesus.

Life messages: 1) Jesus desires to give us his healing touch in order to loosen our tongues so that he may speak to the spiritually hungry through us. Jesus invites us to give him our hearts so that, through us, he may touch the lives of people in our day.

2) We must allow Jesus to heal our spiritual deafness and muteness because otherwise we may find it hard to speak to God in prayer and harder still to hear Him speaking to us through the Bible and through the Church.

3) Let us imitate the dumb man in the Gospel by seeking out Jesus, following him away from the crowd, spending more of our time in getting to know him intimately through studying the Holy Scriptures and experiencing him personally in our lives through prayer. The growing awareness of the healing presence of Jesus in our lives will open our ears and loosen our tongues. Fr. Tony (https://frtonyshomilies.com/) L/23

For additional reflections, click on: https://bible.usccb.org/podcasts/video; https://catholic-daily-reflections.com/daily-reflections/; https://www.epriest.com/reflections

Feb 11 Saturday: [Our Lady of Lourdes)

 For a short account, click on https://www.franciscanmedia.org/our-lady-of-lourdes/; Mk 8:1-10 : https://www.franciscanmedia.org/our-lady-of-lourdes/and the 29th World Day of the Sick (introduced by Pope St.John Paul II in 1992):It was four years and two months after the proclamation of the dogma of the Immaculate Conception by Blessed Pope Pius IX (1854) that Mary appeared for the first time on February 11, 1858, to St. Bernadette Soubirous in the grotto at Massabielle, in Lourdes, France. Bernadette, a 14-year-old peasant girl was the oldest daughter among the six children of Francois Soubirous and Louise Casterot. One day Bernadette went to the rocky area to collect firewood with her sister and a friend. It was when she was left behind by the other two near a big rock that Bernadette heard a loud noise. As she turned to investigate, she caught sight of a very beautiful Lady clothed in white with a rosary hanging on her arm standing in a grotto in the rock wall. The beautiful Lady smiled at her and summoned her to pray the rosary and they prayed together. Bernadette received 18 apparitions of our Lady starting in February and ending in July 1858. (Watch the movie: Song of Bernadette: https://youtu.be/wLKFAKIfn-w )

On the 18th appearance the Holy Virgin gave the young visionary the answer to her pastor’s question, “Who are you?” In the local language Mary said, ‘I am the Immaculate Conception.”During her previous appearances, theBlessed Virgin Mary had instructed Bernadette to tell people to pray and do penance. All must pray especially for the conversion of sinners. Our Lady instructed Bernadette to go and tell her pastor that she wished a chapel to be built on the spot and processions to be made to the grotto. But it wasn’t until four years later, in 1862, that the Bishop of the diocese declared the faithful “justified in believing the reality of the apparition,” and Pope Pius IX authorized him to permit the veneration of the Virgin Mary in Lourdes. A basilica was built upon the rock of Massabielle by the parish priest in 1865. It was consecrated, and the statue of Our Lady of Lourdes was solemnly crowned. In 1883 the foundation stone of another Church was laid, as the first was no longer large enough. It was built at the foot of the basilica, was consecrated in 1901, and was named the Church of the Rosary. Pope Leo XIII authorized a special office and a Mass, in commemoration of the apparition, and in 1907 Pius X extended the observance of this feast to the entire Church to be observed on 11 February. Since apparitions are private revelation and not public revelation, Catholics are not bound to believe them. However, all recent Popes have visited the Marian shine. Benedict XV, Pius XI and St. John XXIII went there as bishops, Pius XII as papal delegate. Pope Pius XII also issued a Lourdes encyclical on the 100th anniversary of the apparitions in 1958. Pope St. John Paul II visited Lourdes three times, Pope Benedict XVI completed a visit there on 15 September 2008 to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the apparitions, and Pope Francis visited Lourdes in 2015.

Life Messages: The 30th World Day of the Sick will be observed on February 11, 2022. This day serves the purpose of reminding the members of the Church of the healing ministry of the Church. It reminds us of our Christian obligation to attend to the sick and the suffering around us. 2) This is a day to show our gratitude to the caregivers, the doctors, the nurses, the health care workers, the pastoral ministers and all those who strive to restore the physical and spiritual health of the sick Fr. Tony (https://frtonyshomilies.com/) L/20 Fr. Tony (https://frtonyshomilies.com/) L/23

For additional reflections, click on: https://bible.usccb.org/podcasts/video; https://catholic-daily-reflections.com/daily-reflections/; https://www.epriest.com/reflections

V (A) Sunday (Feb 5) Eight-minute homily in one page (L-23)

Introduction: The common theme of today’s three readings is our two-fold mission to the world, to be salt and to be the light of a city built on a hilltop. (You may add one anecdote) Beautiful sermon by Pastor Gary Hamrick: Click on  https://youtu.be/nPAeaj6l00I  

Scripture lessons summarized: In our first reading, the Lord God through His prophet Isaiah gives us examples of how we are to allow the light of God to shine through us. “Share your bread with the hungry, sheltering the oppressed and the homeless; clothing the naked when you see them, and not turning your back on your own. Then light shall rise for you in the darkness, and the gloom shall become for you like midday” (58:7, 10). The refrain for today’s Responsorial Psalm (Ps.112), reminds us, “The just man is a light in the darkness to the upright.” St. Paul, in the second reading, tells us that our proclamation of Faith will carry the Spirit and His power when we rely on the power and wisdom of God. Using two simple metaphors of salt and the light of a city on a mountaintop in today’s Gospel, Jesus outlines the role of Christians in this world. As a symbol of purity, salt was the common ingredient in sacrifices offered to God by Jews and pagans. In the ancient world, salt was the commonest of all preservatives, used to prevent the putrefaction of meat, fish, and fruits in pickles. Salt lends flavor to food items and was used to season and preserve food. A light is something which is meant to be seen. A lamp or light is a guide to make clear the way. A light serves also as a warning (e.g., red traffic lights which tell us to halt when there is danger ahead. Finally, light, particularly the sun’s, gives warmth and heat. (Check exegesis for details)

Life messages:1) We need to be the salt of the earth: a) As salt is a symbol of purity, used in sacrifices, the Christian must be an example of purity in speech, in conduct, and even in thought. b) As salt is an antiseptic and healing agent, the Christian must have a certain antiseptic influence on life and society, defeating corruption, fighting against injustice and making it easier for others to avoid sin. c) As salt preserves foods, we need to preserve the religious Faith, Christian cultural values, and moral principles which Jesus has given us, and to work at reconciling quarreling factions in families and communities. d) As salt is a food-flavoring agent, we need to add flavor to the lives of desperate people through outreach programs, which give meaning to their lives, boost their morale, offer them occasions to help others, and provide hope where there is none.

2) We need to be the light of the world: The second role of Christians is to receive the light of Christ and radiate it to everyone as love, kindness, mercy, forgiveness, humble service, and respect for those with different ethnic backgrounds, different lifestyles, other faiths, or with no faith at all. As guiding light in darkness, our duty is to show the correct and safe way and to illuminate it with Christ’s Light, thus removing the darkness caused by hatred, prejudice, spite, and jealousy. As a warning light, it is the Christian’s duty to give timely and loving warning of physical and moral danger to fellow Christians. As a warming light, our duty is to warm the cold hearts of others with warm, and affectionate words and deeds.

OT V [A] (Feb 5): Is 58:7-10; I Cor 2:1-5; Mt 5: 13-16

Homily starter anecdotes: # 1: Salt of the earth and the light of the world: The story of EWTN is the story of a brave woman who had the courage of her conviction that she should be the salt of the earth and the light of the world. Mother Angelica(who died in 2016), started broadcasting Catholic TV for just a few hours a day in 1981 from the garage of her Poor Clare Monastery in the US. The project grew and grew, and now, after forty-two years, the Eternal Word Television Network is available twenty-four hours a day all over the world by cable and satellite. Mother Teresa (Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu (AG-nes GOHN-jah BOY-yah-jee-oo) born to Albanian parents in Yugoslavia, joined the Loreto Order of nuns, studied English in their Mother House in Dublin, Ireland and went to India in 1929 as missionary teacher. After 17 years, she received her ‘call within a call’ to work with the poorest of the poor, received permission to leave the Loreto order, started caring for the sick and dying in a small house, and founded the Missionaries of Charity. From this simple beginning, the Missionaries of Charity have grown to include 4,500 Sisters and Brothers, 755 homes for the children, the sick, the destitute and the dying and 1,369 medical clinics that serve 120,000 worldwide.” St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, the founder of the Sisters of Charity, began the American system of Catholic education, which today (2011) includes over 7,000 elementary and secondary schools throughout the United States. St. Jeanne Jugan (Sr. Mary of the Cross), the foundress if the Congregation of the Little Sisters of the Poor became the salt & light by taking a blind, old woman and a 17-year old orphan teenager to her cottage in France, and beginning a prayer-community of care giving. Today, over 2,500 Little Sisters serve 13,000 elderly residents in 195 homes worldwide. • Thirty of these homes are in the United States. (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).

# 1b: ‘Where is the Church?  “If the house is dark when nightfall comes, there is no sense in blaming the house; that is what happens when the sun goes down. The question to ask is, ’Where is the light? ‘Similarly, if the meat goes bad and becomes inedible, there is no sense in blaming the meat; this is what happens when bacteria are left alone to breed. The question to ask is, ’Where is the salt? ‘Just so, if society deteriorates and its standards decline until it becomes like a dark night or a stinking fish, there is no sense in blaming society; that is what happens when fallen men and women are left to themselves, and human selfishness is unchecked. The question to ask is, ‘Where is the Church? Why are the salt and light of Jesus Christ not permeating and changing our society?” (Anglican Theologian Rev.  John Stott (1921-2011) in his book Issues Facing Christians Today)

#2: Salt and light: The story of EWTN is the story of a brave woman who had the courage of her conviction that she should be the salt of the earth and the light of the world. Mother Angelica (who died in 2016), started broadcasting Catholic TV for just a few hours a day in 1981 from the garage of her Poor Clare Monastery in the US. The project grew and grew, and now, after forty-two years, the Eternal Word Television Network is available twenty-four hours a day all over the world by cable and satellite. Mother Angelica is an example of a true Christian living out her Faith as salt to preserve Christian values and to provide the modern world with a purifying mass-medium. She kept putting her lamp on the lampstand so that Christ’s Light would shine for everyone in the modern global village. With the death of Mother Angelica on Easter Sunday, 2016, the Church lost the most charismatic American Catholic media personality of her time, as well as someone who proved beyond any doubt that a determined, grace-filled, savvy woman can, after all, wield real power. For much of the 1980s and 1990s, she was simply the most riveting Catholic figure on the airwaves. She was a simple nun, with a profound Faith, and one courageously dependent upon God’s grace to supply what was needed. Her life and deeds were miraculous. — Mother Angelica regularly attributed the success of EWTN to God’s providence, but the history of the operation reveals savvy business decisions that helped “this miracle of God” to become the multi-million-dollar global media conglomerate it is today. That those decisions were made by a woman without much previous power in the Church or elsewhere is notable. (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).

# 3: St. Teresa of Calcutta (Mother Teresa) — salt and light:David Porter writes of Mother Teresa: “She was born as Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu (AG-nes GOHN-jah BOY-yah-jee-oo), to Albanian parents in Yugoslavia. . She went to India in 1929 as a member of the Loreto Order of nuns, after learning English in their Motherhouse in Dublin Ireland. She taught in India for many years and became principal of the school. In 1946, she received her ‘call within a call’ to work with the poorest of the poor. By 1948, she had received permission to leave the Loreto order and had trained in the nursing skills she would need to carry out her calling. She prayed, “Oh God, if I cannot help these people in their poverty and their suffering, let me at least die with them, close to them, so that I can show them your love” [Mother Teresa: The Early Years, 67;
cited by Caroline J. Simon, “The Media and Mother Teresa,” Perspectives, 12 (March, 1997),
3.] Simon notes: “From this simple beginning, the Missionaries of Charity have grown to include 4,500 Sisters and Brothers, 755 homes for the children, the sick, the destitute and the dying and 1,369 medical clinics that serve 120,000 worldwide.” — We too can become the salt of the earth and the light of the world as Mother Teresa did. (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).

#4: St. Elizabeth Ann Seton: Getting Closer to God Means Serving Others: St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, had a long and difficult journey into the Catholic faith. She lived around 1800 and was part of New York high society both by birth and also by marriage. As a young wife and mother, she felt a profound spiritual restlessness. A non-Catholic Christian, she longed for a deeper relationship with Christ, but didn’t know where to find it. A series of Crosses, including her husband’s death, led her to the Catholic Church, where she found what she was looking for in the Sacrament of the Eucharist. Converting to Catholicism led her to be criticized and ostracized by friends, social circles, and even family members. But her deeper intimacy with Christ made the suffering worthwhile. Instead of falling into discouragement or self-pity, in fact, she found herself moved to start a new religious order dedicated to educating the young. Thus was born the Sisters of Charity, which now has five major divisions in the United States and Canada. And thus began the American system of Catholic education, which in 2011 included over 7,000 elementary and secondary schools throughout the United States. — God wants to bring flavor and light to the world, and the closer we get to his Sacred Heart, the more our hearts will burn with that same desire. [Information for this Illustration was garnered
from Fr. Charles P. Connor’s “Classic Catholic Converts.”] (E- Priest). (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).

# 5: Is your salt salty and your light shining? If you doubt your light matters, take this little quiz: 1. Name the five wealthiest people in the world. 2. Name the last five Heisman trophy winners. 3. Name the last five winners of the Miss America Pageant. Do you know all these answers? Probably not. Ask yourself some additional questions: 1. Who fed and clothed you when you were helpless? 2. What was the name of your 1st grade teacher? 3. Who is the first friend you would call in an emergency? You do know the answers to these questions. They are the salt and light of the world. (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).

Introduction: The common theme of the readings today is our mission to the world as salt and light.

Scripture lessons summarized:  In our first reading, the prophet Isaiah gives examples of how we are to allow the light of God to shine through us: “Share your bread with the hungry, sheltering the oppressed and the homeless; clothing the naked when you see them, and not turning your back on your own.   Then light shall rise for you in the darkness, and the gloom shall become for you like midday” (58:7, 10).  The refrain for today’s Responsorial Psalm (Ps 112), reminds us, “The just man is a light in the darkness to the upright.”  The verses explain that “light” as graciousness, mercy,  and justice in dealing with other people.  St. Paul, in the second reading, tells us that our proclamation of Faith will carry the Spirit and His power when we rely on the power and wisdom of God.  Using two simple metaphors in today’s Gospel, Jesus outlines the role of Christians in this world. The Christian’s task is to be the salt of society, preserving, reconciling, adding flavor, giving meaning where there is no meaning and giving hope where there is no hope.  Every Christian needs to reflect the light borrowed from Christ and radiate that light in the form of love, kindness, mercy, forgiveness, and humble service.

The first reading explained (Is 58:7-10): The exiles who returned from Babylon had hoped for a quick restoration of their beloved capital Jerusalem, but completion of that project was frustratingly slow. The people wondered why their suffering was so prolonged, and the prophet Isaiah told them that the main problem was their unwillingness to share God’s blessings with others.  Hence, the prophet gives examples of how they were to allow the light of God to shine through them:  “Share your bread with the hungry, sheltering the oppressed and the homeless; clothing the naked when you see them, and not turning your back on your own.   Then light shall rise for you in the darkness, and the gloom shall become for you like midday” (58:7, 10).  The Prophet Isaiah speaks in terms of justice and compassionate care for the weak, needy, and vulnerable because it is through them that the very goodness of God is revealed, and the disciple’s light will shine like the dawn. Alleviating the suffering of the oppressed and tending to the needs of others are the activities which produce light. It is by avoiding malice and by comforting the afflicted, that we enable others to see and experience the light of the Lord’s favor. Today’s Gospel also reminds us of our duty to become salt and light and tells us that the best means to do so is by sharing our blessings sacrificially with others. The Responsorial Psalm corroborates this, saying “The just person is a light in darkness to the upright.” The psalmist’s assertion, “The Lord is my light,” is echoed in Jesus’ words “I am the Light of the world; the man who follows me will have the Light of Life.”

The second reading explained (I Cor 2:1-5): St. Paul learned the lesson from his experience in Athens that his human eloquence did not help his missionary work. Hence, in Corinth Paul says that he chose not to rely on human eloquence, “so that your Faith might rest, not on human wisdom, but on the power of God.” So, Paul started preaching only on Christ crucified in Corinth and instructed the intellectuals in Corinth to learn the lesson of self-sacrifice from the crucified Christ. When Paul persisted in preaching Jesus as the suffering Savior, the unexpected happened. Pagans, as well as Jews and God-fearers believed the message and found their lives transformed by a new, liberating power, which broke the stranglehold of selfishness and vice and purified them from within. St. Paul’s experience teaches us that when we start doing good to others, even if it costs us suffering and death, it will demonstrate God’s Spirit and power, and we will become the salt of the earth and the light of the world that Jesus challenges us to become in today’s Gospel.

Gospel exegesis:

The salt of the earth: In the ancient world salt was highly valued.  The Greeks called salt divine, and the Romans said, “There is nothing more useful than sun and salt.”  The English word “salary” literally means “salt money.”  In the time of Jesus, salt was connected in people’s minds with three special qualities. (i) Salt was connected with purity because it was white and it came from the purest of all things, the sun and the sea.  Salt was the most primitive of all offerings to the gods.  Jewish sacrifices were offered with salt.  The Orientals made their oaths with salt to ratify them.  They believed that it was the salt that kept the seas pure.  As the “salt of the earth,” the Christian must be an example of purity, exercising absolute purity in speech, in conduct, and even in thought.  God calls His children to preserve and purify.  The Church is to preserve modesty (1 Tm 2:9), morality (Eph 5:3-12), honesty, and integrity (Jn 8:44-47).

(ii) Salt was the commonest of all preservatives in the ancient world when people did not have fridges and freezers.  It was used to prevent the putrefaction of meat, fish, fruits, and pickles.  As the salt of the earth, the Christian must have a certain antiseptic influence on life and society, defeating corruption and making it easier for others to be good.  Christians are to be a preserving influence to retard moral and spiritual spoilage in the world.  “As the salt of the earth, you are called to preserve the Faith which you have received and to pass it on intact to others.  Your generation is being challenged in a special way to keep safe the deposit of Faith.”(Youth Day- 2002 Message by Pope St. John Paul II).

(iii) Salt lends flavor to food items. Job declares, “food without salt is a sadly insipid and even a sickening thing” (Job 6:6-7).  One of the main functions of salt is to season food, to give it taste and flavor.  This image reminds us that, through Baptism, our whole being has been profoundly changed, because it has been “seasoned” with the new Life which comes from Christ (cf. Rom 6:4).  ‘The salt which keeps our Christian identity intact even in a very secularized world is the grace of Baptism” (Youth Day- 2002 Message by Pope St. John Paul II). Christianity lends flavor to life, although people think the opposite about us.  In a worried and depressed world, the Christian should be the one man who remains full of the joy of life, conveying it to others.  It is our duty to make the world palatable (bearable), not just to others but also to God so that He can, so to speak, continue to bear with it, in spite of its “distasteful” wickedness.  To be the salt of society also means that we are deeply concerned with its well-being.  We have to preserve the cultural values and moral principles Jesus has given us, and in this way to make a contribution to the development of cultural and social life.  Thus, we will be adding flavor to the common life.  As salt seasoned and preserved food, and as it kept a fire burning uniformly in an oven for a longer time, the disciples were to improve the tone of society (“season” it), preserve the Faith, and extend the fire of the Spirit through their evangelization efforts.

Are we insipid salt?  Jesus went on to say that, if salt became insipid, it was fit only to be thrown out and trodden on by men.  Usually salt does not lose its flavor and its saltiness.  But when mixed with impurities, salt can lose its ability to enhance flavor.  We, too, might lose our ability to be a “flavoring agent” for the world if we allow “impurities” into our lives (1 Cor 15:33). Therefore, we need to keep ourselves free from sin (Eph 5:3-7). Blocks of cow dung, mixed with salt and other animal manure and dried in the sun, served as fuel for outdoor ovens in the time of Jesus. When the fuel paddies were lit in an oven, the mixed-in salt would help the paddies burn longer, with a more even heat.  When the family spent the salt-dung block, they would throw it out onto the road to harden a muddy surface.  As the salt of the earth, the Christians keep the fire of Faith alive even under stress. If Christian “salt” loses its “flavor,” its “uselessness” invites disaster. As a Christian, one is not fulfilling one’s purpose if one does not bring to life the purity, the antiseptic power, and the flavor of salt,  for then one invites disaster.  In former times, if one, Jewish or Christian, did fail, then repented, one suffered the fate of the repentant and returned apostate Jew in the Jewish community, or the repentant apostate in the early Church. As penance for this sin, one had to lie across the door of the synagogue or Church and invite people to trample upon one as they entered. Today, there is a new, non-irritating, brand of Christianity around. It is without offense and without effect. Ah, but dear friends, Jesus didn’t call us to be the “sugar of the world.” He called us to be the “salt of the earth.”

The light of the world: The metaphor of light is often used in the Bible.  The Jews spoke of Jerusalem as “a light to the Gentiles.”  But Jerusalem does not produce its own light.  It is God who lights the lamp of Israel.  Moreover, Jerusalem, a city on a mountain top,  cannot hide its light. At the start of his ministry, St. Matthew portrays Jesus as the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy, namely, that he is ‘the great light’ that will disperse the shadow of death and the darkness of sin, that have enveloped the world. When Jesus commanded his followers to be the light of the world, he demanded nothing less than that they should be like him, the One who is the Light of the world.  “As long as I am in the world, I am the Light of the world” (Jn 9:5).  Christ is the “true” or “original” Light (Jn 8:12).  Citizens of the kingdom are simply “luminaries” reflecting the One True Light, just as the moon reflects the light of the sun (2 Cor 4:6).  The radiance which shines from the Christian comes from the presence of Christ within the Christian’s heart as the radiance of a ‘radiant bride’ comes from the love in her heart.  Christians are to be torchbearers in a dark world.  We should not try to hide the light which God has lit in our lives.  Rather, we should let it shine so that others may see our Grace-born good deeds and praise God for them.  St. Paul exhorts the Christians in Philippi “to be blameless and innocent in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine like lights in the world” (Phil 2: 15).

The role of Christians as Christ’s light of the world. (i) A light is something which is meant to be seen.  (The lamp in Palestine was like a sauce-boat full of oil with a wick floating in it.  When people went out, for safety’s sake, they took the lamp from its stand and put it under an earthen bushel measure, so that it might burn without risk until they came back).  Christians must be visible like a “city” on a hilltop and a lamp on a “lamp stand.”  Jesus therefore expects His followers to be seen by the world (Jn 13:35; 17:21). In addition, they must radiate and give light.  “Let your light shine before men” (Mt 5:16).  By this metaphor Jesus means that our Christianity should be visible in the ordinary activities of the world, for example, in the way we treat a shop assistant across the counter, in the way we order a meal in a restaurant, in the way we treat our employees or serve our employer, in the way we play a game or drive or park a motor car, in the daily language we use, in the daily literature we read.

(ii) A lamp or light is a guide to make clear the way.  So then, a Christian must make the way clear to others.  That is to say, a Christian must of necessity be an example.  “The light which Jesus speaks of in the Gospel is the light of Faith, God’s free gift, which enlightens the heart and clarifies the mind.  It is the God who said, ‘Let Light shine out of darkness,’ Who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God on the face of Christ’ (2 Cor 4:6).  Our personal encounter with Christ bathes life in new Light, sets us on the right path, and sends us out to be his witnesses.” (Youth Day message by Pope St. John Paul II).  It is the Christian’s duty to take a stand which the weaker brother will support, to give the lead which those with less courage will follow.  The world needs its guiding lights.  There are people waiting and longing for a leader to take a stand and to do the thing which they do not dare by themselves.

iii) A light can often be a warning light.  A light is often the warning which tells us to halt when there is danger ahead.  It is sometimes the Christian’s duty to bring to his fellowmen a necessary warning.  If our warnings are given, not in anger, not in irritation, not in criticism, not in condemnation, but in love, they may be effective.

1. iv) Light exposes everything hidden by darkness. (Note Jn 3:19; 1 Cor 4:5; Eph 5:8–11).  When our teens, baptized and confirmed, get pregnant and do drugs at the same rate as the general teenage population; when our marriages end in divorce at the same rate as the rest of society; when we cheat in business, or lie, steal, and cheat on our spouses at the same statistical level as those who say they are not Christians — something is wrong.  Let us pause for a moment and ask ourselves whether we are carrying the Light which can be seen, the Light which warns, the Light which guides. These are the Lights which God shines through our Christian living.

Life messages:

1) We need to act as salt and light by sharing in Christ’s ministry as priest, prophet, and king.  As priest, Christ offered a sacrifice of love to the Father.  What sacrifices of love do we offer to the Father? We can offer our married, single, or family life, work, outreach to others, and even relaxation, along with our prayers and sufferings, to God.  We can offer them at any time, but the best time is at Mass when we offer ourselves with Christ to the Father.  As prophet, Christ proclaimed the Good News of salvation.  He also calls us to evangelize others (both fellow-Catholics and non-Catholics), by word and example, at home and at work.  We bear witness most effectively when others see the difference Christ has made in our lives, shining through us as the Light which can be seen, the Light which warns, and the Light which guides.  Finally, as King, Christ became servant to all through His Self-giving.  He also calls us to give of ourselves so the workplace and the home may become more humane. He calls us to serve in our parishes so they can grow and become more alive.  He calls us to integrate our Christian Faith into our daily lives so that our service may be His service to others. Doing all this, we make a difference as Christians when we offer ourselves to God, when we proclaim the Good News in word and example, and when we serve others.  God calls us to worship, to witness, and to give of ourselves.

2) We need to live our short lives as traces of salt and candles of light: It only takes a sprinkling of salt to transform a dull and tasteless piece of meat.  Just a little salt transforms everything.  Just a pinch of soul-salt will add flavor to the lives of hundreds, or even thousands.  Just as salt acts as a preservative and adds flavor to food, so the exemplary lives of Christians lend flavor to life by helping people to live correctly and by keeping society wholesome. Just a little light empties the world of darkness.  With a little Faith and love we can light up a big social area.  Does that encourage us?  It should. We may think we’re insignificant – and in a way we are – but with a little bit of Christ’s Light, we become a veritable lighthouse, illuminating the way for many.  This Christ-light removes the darkness caused by hatred, spite, fear, and jealousy. Our good deeds and actions reflect the image of Jesus, the light of the world. We can speak with kindness and respect, we can value ourselves, we can tell the truth, and we can use our talents. We can listen and talk, we can engage in dialogue, and we can come to know people of different ethnic backgrounds, people with different lifestyles and sexual preferences, people of other Faiths and people of no Faith – and this will bring the light of Christ to illumine and change the world.  Salt is a hidden but powerful influence.  Light is a visible and revealing influence.  Jesus tells us that we are not only to be the salt of the earth but also the light of the world.  We are called to make a visible, tangible impact on the world around us.  Does our life make a difference?  It should.  Jesus said we are to be salt and light.  Does our life make a difference?  It can, if we surrender ourselves to Christ.  Does our life make a difference?  If we live for Him, it will!

JOKE OF THE WEEK

Business is business:   Angela was nearing 60 and was in her final year of teaching in the public school. She was a devout Christian who missed teaching from the Bible. Because she was worried about how little her class knew about religion, Angela decided she was going to disregard the new regulations and teach some religion. She told her class that she would run a contest. She would give £50 to whoever could tell her who the greatest man was who ever lived. Immediately Isaac a Jewish boy began to wave his hand, but Angela ignored him in favor of those in her Sunday school class. As she went around the room, Angela was disappointed with the answers she got. Jane, her best scholar, picked Noah because he saved all the animals. Others said, “I think the greatest man who ever lived was Alexander the Great because he conquered the whole world.” and “I think it was Thomas Edison, because he invented the light                bulb.” Finally, she called on Isaac who still had his hand in the air. “I think the greatest man who ever lived was Jesus Christ.” said Isaac. Angela was shocked but still gave him the £50 reward. As she did so, she said, “Well, Isaac, I’m very surprised that you should be the only one with the right answer. How come?” “Well, to tell you the truth,” Isaac replied as he pocketed the money, “I think it was Moses, but business is business.” L/23

 USEFUL WEBSITES OF THE WEEK (For homilies & Bible study groups)

 (The easiest method  to visit these websites is to copy and paste the web address or URL on the Address bar of any Internet website like Google or MSN and press the Enter button of your Keyboard).

• 1) Nick’s collection of Sunday homilies from 65 priests & weekday homilies: https://www.catholicsermons.com/homilies/sunday_homilies
• 2) Fr. Don’ collection of video homilies & blogs: https://sundayprep.org/featured-homilies/ (Copy it on the Address bar and press the Enter button)
• 3) Geoffrey Plant’s beautiful & scholarly video classes on Sunday gospel, Bible & RCIA topics:  https://www.youtube.com/user/GeoffreyPlant20663)
• Focus On the Family: http://www.family.org/
• The Catholic Internet Directory: One of the most complete sources of Catholic information available on the Internet. A must visit! http://www.catholic-church.org/cid/
• Internet periodical of current Christian news: http://www.cruxnews.com/
• The Catholic Lectionary website (Dr. Felix Just) http://catholic-resources.org/Lectionary/
• “Traditional Mass lectionary”: http://catholic-resources.org/Lectionary/Roman_Missal.htm

• Lectio Divina  weekday homilies: https://ocarm.org/en/

  34- Additional anecdotes:

1) Your Faith rests not on the wisdom of men: During the Nazi era in Germany, one of the strongest Catholic leaders in the German Reich was Cardinal Michael von Faulhaber (1869-1952). An able Bible professor, he long taught courses on the Old Testament in the University of Strassburg. Then in 1911 he was named bishop of Speyer, and in 1917, Archbishop of Munich. Pope Benedict XV raised him to the rank of Cardinal in 1921. A few years after Faulhaber received the “red hat,” Adolf Hitler began to rise into power. The Cardinal held Hitler in little esteem. As a nobleman, he disdained this Austrian upstart; as a churchman he disapproved of his ideology. In the early 1930’s when Hitler’s Nazis began to peddle their deadly philosophy, the Cardinal boldly condemned racism, neo-paganism, and totalitarianism from his cathedral pulpit, basing his sermons on the Scriptures with which he was so familiar. Particularly notable were his Advent sermons of 1933, in which he emphasized that Christianity had its roots in Judaism. As an intellectual, Cardinal Faulhaber was also not at all uncomfortable in conversing, and even sparring, with other savants. There is a famous story of his chat with the great Nobel physicist – Jewish but agnostic -Albert Einstein (1879-1955). Einstein and the Cardinal met on one occasion, and during their conversation the scientist said: “I respect religion, but I believe in mathematics. Probably it is the other way round with your Eminence, isn’t it?” “No,” Faulhaber quietly replied, “to me both are merely different expressions of the same Divine truth.” But Einstein responded, “If mathematical science should prove one day that some of its findings are in direct conflict with religious beliefs what would you say then?” “Oh,” said the Cardinal with a smile, “I share the highest regard for mathematicians and I am certain that in such a case you people would never rest until you found out where your mistake was!”–  St. Paul says much the same to us in today’s second reading. “Your Faith rests not on the wisdom of men but on the power of God.”(Fr. Robert F. McNamara). (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).

2)  The salt and the light are still at work when we…  “do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can.”(John Wesley’s advice). We taste salt and see light when we receive the following Franciscan blessing: “May God bless you with discomfort at easy answers, half- truths, and superficial relationships so that you may live deep within your heart. May God bless you with anger at injustice, oppression, and the exploitation of people, so that you may wish for justice, freedom, and peace. May God bless you with enough foolishness to believe that you can make a difference in this world, so that you can do what others claim cannot be done.” (Christianity Today, Vol. 36, no. 14). (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).

3) Korean, American and Chinese Christians: As you know, the majority religion in America is still Christianity, and yet we are dominated today not by the values of Christianity, but by the values of humanism and secularism. Yet, in Korea, even though there are 35 million Buddhists, and only two million evangelical Christians, Christian values dominate that culture. Why is that? It is because Korean Christians understand they are to be the salt of the earth. A Chinese Christian came to a missionary one time and said, “I have learned to quote the entire Sermon on the Mount by memory.” He stood before the missionary and perfectly quoted the sermon word-for-word. The missionary said, “That is wonderful. How did you practice it in your life?” The Chinese Christian said, “I spent the last year trying to live it.” Dr. James Stewart, a great British preacher, once said: “The greatest threat to Christianity is not Communism, atheism, materialism, or humanism. It is Christians trying to sneak into Heaven incognito without ever sharing their Faith, without ever living out the Christian life as salt of the earth and light of the world.” This is exactly the problem Jesus was trying to remedy with the part of the Sermon on the Mount on the Beatitudes. (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).

4) Saints are people who let the light shine through: A little boy was taken by his mother to see a famous cathedral. On the windows were the pictures of various Christians. As he was watching the sunbeams shining through the stained-glass windows, he asked his mother, “Who are those people on the windows?” She said, “They’re saints.” The little boy looked at the windows and said, “Well, now I know what saints are. They are people who let the light shine through.” — That little boy got it right. That’s what a saint is-someone who lets the light of Jesus shine through his life. (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).

5) Be eagles soaring through the clouds of holiness:  There is a story about a wild duck that broke his wing during the flight home for the winter. A sympathetic farmer retrieved the fallen duck and took him home. The farmer’s children adopted the duck as their pet and began to feed him from the table and take him along as they performed their daily chores. By the next fall, the children were heartbroken as they watched the duck look at the other ducks who were flying south for the winter, but his wing still wasn’t strong enough for the flight. Every time a flock flew south, the duck would look longingly into the sky and then return to play with the children. Well, the second year the duck’s wing had grown much stronger, but the children had fed the duck so well that when he attempted to take off he was too fat to get off the ground. After one or two attempts he gave up and returned to play with the children. The third year the duck was completely healed. But as the other ducks quacked their call to go south, the duck never even looked up as they flew over. He had become so accustomed to the comfort of his new existence he had lost his focus on the true calling and meaning of his life. — God has not called us to be fat ducks, satisfied with a world that is going to go up in smoke. God has called us to be eagles soaring through the clouds of holiness; shaking out the salt of a godly life; shining out the light of the truth of Jesus Christ, and bringing as many men as we can to glorify our Father in Heaven. (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).

6) “I love Jesus and Gospel tapes”: After the Los Angeles riots, Steve Futterman of CBC Radio broadcast an interview he had had with one of the many looters in the riot. The man had been one of many people who had looted a record store. When asked what he had stolen, the man replied, “Gospel tapes. I love Jesus.” (“Quotes & Comments,” The United Church Observer, Sept. 1992, p. 48.) — Our text for the day is about people who love Jesus, but hopefully in a more positive way than did this looter. Jesus defined his followers as the “salt of the earth” and the “light of the world.” (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).

7) “It made a difference for that one.” While walking along a beach, an elderly gentleman saw someone in the distance leaning down, picking something up and throwing it into the ocean. As he got closer, he noticed that the figure was that of a little boy. When he got closer still, he discovered what the boy was doing. The kid was picking up starfish off the beach and throwing them back into the ocean. The man walked up to the kid and said, “What are you doing?” The boy said, “I am saving starfish.” “But,” said the man, “the beach goes on for miles and miles, and there are millions and millions of starfish. What difference does what you are doing make?” The little kid reached down, picked up one more starfish, tossed it into the ocean and simply said, “Well, it makes a difference to that one.” — No one of us in this Church can do everything, but all of us in this place can do something in our homes and communities that the light of Christ may shine in the world. (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).

8) Christmas lights of Wauconda, Illinois: Wauconda, Illinois is a small town with a population of 6500. For the past 45 years the town had placed two large illuminated crosses on the city water towers during the Christmas season. Then, last year, the town council received a threat of legal suit if the crosses were continued, based on the separation of church and state. The town council grudgingly took them down. But that’s when the citizens of Wauconda took matters into their own hands. They decided to place lighted reminders of Christ on their own property. So, all over the community, up went crosses and nativity stars and lighted manger scenes and trees. You could see Wauconda from the interstate freeway! You could see Wauconda a hundred miles away. All night it was as bright as day because the people decided to turn on the lights. — In our Scriptural text for this morning, Jesus is urging us to turn on the lights. Each of us is supposed to shine for Christ’s sake. Our light is not like that of the sun. Our light resembles that of the moon; it is a reflected light, from Christ who lives within us. (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).

9) Sanders was a tither radiating the light of Christ. Football player, Barry Sanders, was signed by the Detroit Lions in 1989. He was right out of college. Many eyebrows were raised when his contract was announced at $6.1 million for five years. But the real objection came when Sanders was also given an immediate signing bonus of $2.1. million. Critics said that Sanders was greedy. Objections were somewhat silenced, however, when word leaked out that Sanders had sent a check for $210,000 to his little Baptist church in Wichita, Kansas. Sanders was a tither. Both the size of that check and the fact that it was the first one he wrote turned on some lights for the Kingdom. (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).

10) A wartime story. One of the boldest and most dramatic decisions of World War II was made by Admiral Marc Mitscher in the Battle of the Philippine Sea. Late in the afternoon of June 20, 1944, Mitscher had dispatched a bombing mission against the fleeing Japanese fleet. It was pitch dark when the first of the flyers began returning to their carriers. But with the fleet under strict wartime blackout regulations and the pilots’ fuel supplies running dangerously low, many of the flyers would never be able to find their way back to their carriers. Admiral Mitscher took a calculated risk. He turned on the lights. One returning flyer described the scene as a “Hollywood premier, Chinese New Year’s, and Fourth of July all rolled into one.” For two hours the planes landed. Some eighty pilots, out of gas, ditched in the sea but close enough to the carriers that few were lost. — When we are bold enough to turn on the lights for Christ, despite the costs and the risks, lost souls are won for our Lord and our city is electrified with His power. (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).

 11) This little light of mine, am I going to let it shine? A university professor was invited to speak at a military base in December. He was met at an airport by an unforgettable soldier named Ralph. This is the professor’s story: “After we introduced ourselves to each other, we headed toward the baggage claim area. But Ralph kept disappearing. Once he stopped to help an older woman with her baggage. Once he stopped to lift two toddlers up to see Santa Claus, and again, he paused to give directions to someone who was lost.” Finally, I said, “Where did you learn that?” “What?” asked Ralph. “Where did you learn to live like that?” Ralph replied, “During the war I was in Vietnam. My job was to clear the mine fields. You never knew which step might be your last, so I learned to live between the steps. I guess I just keep living that way.” — This little light of mine, am I going to let it shine? (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).

12) Jesus Christ, the Light of the world. “Here is a man who was born in an obscure village, the child of a peasant woman. After a brief sojourn in a foreign land,  he grew up in another village and never traveled 200 miles from there.  He worked in a carpenter shop until he was thirty, and then for three years he was an itinerant preacher.  He never owned a home.  He never wrote a book.  He never held an office.  He never had a family.  He never went to college. He never went to Rome or saw the Emperor.  He never did one of the things that usually accompany greatness.  He had no credential but himself.  While he was still a young man, the tide of popular opinion turned against him.  His friends ran away; one of them denied him.  He was turned over to his enemies.  He went through the mockery of a trial.  He was nailed upon a cross between two thieves.  While he was dying his executioners gambled for the only piece of property he had on earth – his coat.  When he was dead, he was taken down and laid in a borrowed grave through the pity of a friend.  Twenty long centuries have come and gone, and today he is the centerpiece of the human race and the leader of the column of progress. —  I am far within the mark when I say that all the armies that ever marched, all the navies that ever were built, all the parliaments that ever sat and all the kings that ever reigned, put together, have not affected the life of man upon this earth as powerfully as has that one solitary life.” (Author unknown) (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).

13) Lighting a light rather than cursing the darkness: Terry Fox was a 22-year-old student at Simon Fraser University in Canada. In 1977, he developed bone cancer and had to have his right leg amputated. When his old high school basketball coach heard about the tragedy, he sent Terry a newspaper article about an amputee who ran in the New York Marathon. The article triggered Terry’s imagination. He knew he had only a few years to live, and he wanted to do something significant with them. He decided he would try to run across Canada from Newfoundland to British Columbia, a distance of 5,000 miles. He would ask people to sponsor him and give the proceeds to cancer research. For 18 months, Terry practiced running on the artificial leg. Finally, on April 12, 1980, he began his run. He dipped his artificial leg into the Atlantic and set out across Canada. In his pocket he had pledges totaling over a million dollars. Then 114 days and 3,000 miles into the run, Terry suddenly collapsed. The cancer had spread to his lungs. He would be unable to complete the run. When news of Terry’s collapse broke, people from all over Canada began sending pledges to him in the Hospital. In hours, over $24 million was pledged. A few days later, Terry died.– If anyone had a right to curse the darkness, it was Terry. But he was too big for that. He decided to light a candle. And that light has been shining ever since. A movie has been made of his life. A stamp has been issued in his honor. And he is the youngest person ever to receive his nation’s highest honor, the Order of Canada. To this day, Terry still excites the imagination of people (Mark Link in Sunday Homilies). (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).

14) Keeping the lights on: A mother and her small child once drove past the restored home of Abraham Lincoln in Springfield. It was night and the national shrine of the United States was brightly lit. “Look, mama,” the child said excitedly, “Mr. Lincoln has left his lights on.”  The mother smiled. “Yes” she replied; “he left them on for the whole world to see.” —  Although Lincoln has been dead since 1865, he is still a tremendous inspiration to all people. — But in a much truer sense, Christ, “God from God, Light from Light” remains, and will remain to the end, the Shining Beacon for all peoples of all times. Christ has shared his Light with us, his disciples, and he asks us to be what we are: the light of the world. (Vima Dasan; quoted by Fr. Botelho). (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).

 15) Salt (NaCl): Sodium is an extremely active element found naturally only in combined form; it always links itself to another element. Chlorine, on the other hand, is the poisonous gas that gives bleach its offensive odor. When sodium and chlorine are combined, the result is sodium chloride–common table salt–the substance we use to preserve meat and bring out its flavor. — Love and truth can be like sodium and chlorine. Love without truth is flighty, sometimes blind, willing to combine with various doctrines. On the other hand, truth by itself can be offensive, sometimes even poisonous. Spoken without love, it can turn people away from the Gospel. When truth and love are combined in an individual or a Church, however, then we have what Jesus called “the salt of the earth,” and we’re able to preserve and bring out the beauty of our Faith. (David H. Johnson). (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).

 16) Be not simply good…Alexander Solzhenitsyn recalls, as he says, “with shame,” an incident he witnessed when he was captain in the Russian army. “One day I saw a sergeant of the secret police, on horseback, using a whip on a Russian soldier who had been captured serving in a German unit. The man, naked from the waist up, was staggering under the blows, his body covered in blood. Suddenly he looked at me and cried out: “Mister Captain, save me!” “Any officer in any army in the world should have put a stop to this torture, but I was a coward. I said nothing, I did nothing. This picture has remained in my mind ever since.” — He could have brought light into a dark situation, but he didn’t. “Be not simply good”, says Thoreau, “be good for something.”
(Flor McCarthy in New Sunday and Holy Day Liturgies; quoted by Fr. Botelho). (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).

 17) Love brings trouble: It’s been said that when we love people and go out to help them, we become vulnerable. That’s what the wealthy industrialist Charles M. Schwab declared after going to court and winning a suit at age seventy. Given permission by the judge to speak to the spectators, Schwab made the following statement: “I’d like to say here in a court of law, and speaking as an old man, that nine-tenths of my troubles are traceable to my being kind to others. Look, you young people, if you want to steer away from trouble, be hard-boiled. Be quick with a good loud ‘no’ to anyone and everyone. If you follow this rule, you will seldom be bothered as you tread life’s pathways. Except you’ll have no friends, you’ll be lonely, and you won’t have fun!”–  Schwab made his point –- love may bring headaches, but it’s worth it because we are the light of the world. (Anonymous; quoted by Fr. Botelho). (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).

 18) Copper Kettle Christian: A woman in Bible study related that when she recently went into her basement, she made an interesting discovery. Some potatoes had sprouted in the darkest corner of the room. At first, she couldn’t figure out how they had received enough light to grow. Then she noticed that she had hung a copper kettle from a rafter near a cellar window. She kept it so brightly polished that it reflected the rays of the sun onto the potatoes. — She exclaimed, “When I saw that reflection, I thought, ‘I may not be a preacher or a teacher with the ability to expound upon Scripture, but at least I can be a copper-kettle Christian, catching the rays of the Son and reflecting His light to someone in a dark corner!’” (Brian Cavanaugh in Sower’s Seeds of Encouragement; quoted by Fr. Botelho). (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).

 19) Choosing Life: Dr. Victor E. Frankl, survivor of three grim years at Auschwitz and other Nazi prisons, has recorded his observations on life in Hitler’s camps. “We who lived in concentration camps can remember the men who walked through the huts comforting others, giving away their last piece of bread. They have been few in number, but they offer sufficient proof that everything can be taken away from a man but one thing: the last of human freedoms – to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.” (Victor Frankl in Man’s Search for Meaning; quoted by Fr. Botelho). (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).

 20)”Now I believe!” One day a man visited St. Teresa of Calcutta’s (Mother Teresa) home for the poor and the dying in Calcutta. He arrived just as the Sisters were bringing in some of the dying off the streets. They had picked up a man off the gutter, and he was covered with dirt and sores. Without knowing that she was being watched, one of the Sisters began to care for the dying man. The visitor kept watching the Sister as she worked. He saw how tenderly she cared for her patient. He noticed how, as she washed the man, she smiled at him. She did not miss a detail in her attentive care of that dying man. After carefully watching the Sister the visitor turned to Mother Teresa and said, “When I came here today, I didn’t believe in God, and my heart was full of hatred. But now I am leaving here believing in God. I have seen the love of God in action. Through the hands of that Sister, through her tenderness, through her gestures which were so full of love for that wretched man, I have seen God’s love descend upon him. Now I believe.” — We make God present to others by being the salt of the earth and light of the world. (Flor McCarthy in New Sunday & Holy Day Liturgies; quoted by Fr. Botelho). (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).

 21) As Dear as Salt: An aged king who had three sons decided to choose his successor. To test his heir, he inquired how much they loved him. “More than the world’s wealth!” exclaimed the first. The second declared. “Greater than all the wisdom the world holds!” The youngest said, “As dear as salt.” Infuriated, the king exiled him and bequeathed the kingdom to his eldest son. Later, fortune favored the banished son, and he became king in another faraway kingdom. But he missed his father and longed to meet him. Years later, he invited his father –very old by then – for a banquet and ordered that sumptuous dishes be prepared, but without any salt. When the old king came to the palace, his son pretended to be away, and the courtiers requested the king to begin feasting. The aroma of the food pleased the king, but, when he tasted it, he was aghast- it was tasteless, saltless! Angry, he demanded an explanation for the insult. His son-king appeared in his regalia, and the old king recognized him, realizing his indiscretion. –- Jesus tells you, today, that you are not only ‘as dear as salt’ but “You are salt! You are light!”
(Francis Gonsalves in Sunday Seeds for Daily Deeds; quoted by Fr. Botelho). (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).

 22) Let your light shine: A poor Scottish farmer named Fleming heard a cry for help coming from a nearby bog and found a terrified boy, mired up to his waste in black muck. Fleming saved the child from what could have been a slow horrible death. The next day a fancy carriage pulled up at his home and an elegantly dressed nobleman stepped out and introduced himself as the father of the boy Fleming saved. “I want to repay you” said the nobleman for saving my son’s life.” “No, I can’t accept payment for what I did.” said the Scottish farmer. At that moment, the farmer’s son came to the door of the family hovel. “Is that your son?” the nobleman asked. “Yes,” the farmer replied proudly. “I will make you a deal. Let me provide him with the level of education that my son will enjoy. If the lad is anything like his father, he will no doubt grow to be a man we both will be proud of.” And he did. Farmer Fleming’s son attended the very best schools and in time graduated from St. Mary’s Hospital Medical School, London University, and went on to become known throughout the world as the noted Sir Alexander Fleming, the man who discovered Penicillin. Years afterward, the same nobleman’s son who was saved from the bog was stricken with pneumonia. What saved his life this time? Penicillin. The name of the nobleman? Lord Randolph Churchill. His son’s name? Sir Winston Churchill. — Let us be the salt of the earth; and let our light shine before others. (John Pichappilly in The Table of the Word; quoted by Fr. Botelho).  (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).

23) St. Teresa’s invitation to come be His light:  Saint Teresa of Calcutta received an inspiration from Our Lord to found the Missionaries of Charity and bring his Light to the poor and ailing of Calcutta. In her spiritual diaries, Saint Teresa described this invitation by Our Lord as an invitation to come be His light (see Mother Teresa: Come Be My Light: The Private Writings of the Saint of Calcutta, by Mother Teresa and Brian Kolodiejchuk). When she saw the squalor in which the poor of India lived, she felt Our Lord asking her to bring His Light into the darkness of those holes (Ibid). She once said, “Words which do not give the Light of Christ increase the darkness.” Even though her spiritual diaries show she experienced an intense spiritual darkness for much of her life, no one who knew her could see it in the way she treated others. She was always a shining beacon of joy, love, and peace.  (Source: http://www.catholic.org/clife/teresa/quotes.php). (E- Priest) (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).

24) “Digital Humanity” One Catholic layman recently showed that he understands this truth deeply. Reflecting on the Vatican’s insistent call to Catholics to use new media for good and not for ill, he got an idea. He envisioned a social-networking community that would be built around the Golden Rule: Do unto others what you have them do unto you. This is a moral principle present, in some form or other, in all cultures and almost all religions. But even though almost everybody agrees with it, almost nobody makes a concerted effort to follow it. So this Catholic businessman started a social networking web site called “Digital Humanity” or “DigHu” [dih-joo]  [http://www.dighu.com/home.php]. The site is built around members who record their “daily dighus” – daily good deeds done to better the world one step at a time. Here are some examples of recent posts: [You may want to go to the site to see more recent posts or to look for ones that would be interesting for your parishioners.] Paulie posted: “Stopped to check on the inhabitants of a car that spun out.” PACMAN posted: “Covering the shift of a fellow employee on my off day.” Nicole S posted: “Washed the dishes without complaining.” The theory behind the site is simple: people need encouragement to do what they know they should be doing, and social network sharing of daily dighus may be able to help provide that kind of encouragement. It’s a new web site, and still small. But imagine how pleased our Lord must be with that Catholic layman, who had the courage and creativity to come up with a new way to try and obey Christ’s admonition in today’s Gospel: “Your Light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.”  — He is someone who has decided to live his God-given mission actively, without delay. (E- Priest) (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).

25) “I give them Jesus.” St. Teresa of Calcutta (Mother Teresa) was speaking to persons who had come to meet her from all over the world. Among those to whom she spoke was a group of religious sisters from many North American orders. After her talk she asked if there were any questions. “Yes, I have one,” a Sister sitting near the front said. “As you know, most of the orders represented here have been losing members. It seems that more and more women are leaving all the time. And yet your order is attracting thousands upon thousands. What do you do?” Without hesitating Mother Teresa answered, “I give them Jesus.” “Yes I know,” said the woman, “but take habits, for example. Do your women object to wearing habits? And the rules of the order, how do you do it?” “I give them Jesus,” Mother Teresa replied. “Yes, I know Mother,” said the woman, “but can you be more specific?” “I give them Jesus,” Mother Teresa repeated again. “Mother,” said the woman, “we are all of us aware of your fine work. I want to know about something else.” Mother Teresa said quietly, “I give them Jesus. There is nothing else.” (Margaret Davidson, Scholastic, 1971. Cited in BTBC, pp. 250-251.) — We Christians have something the world cannot find anywhere else. It is Jesus, the salt of the earth and the light of the world. (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).

26) Rose Hawthorne Makes a Splash: The story of Rose Hawthorne, daughter of the famous nineteenth century American author, Nathaniel Hawthorne, illustrates the influence of example. Rose’s family of origin was not even Christian, but Unitarian. The family traveled to Italy when Rose was just a girl, and the beauty of the art, architecture, and Catholic culture there impressed them. But at the same time, the mediocre lives of the Catholic Christians they met there turned them off. Nathaniel Hawthorne actually wrote about this, commenting on how little effect this beauty seemed to have on the people: “I really wonder that Catholics are not better men and women.” But if the bad example of some Catholics turned off Nathaniel Hawthorne, it was the good example of some other Catholics that led his daughter Rose to discover her calling. She and her husband became Catholic soon after their marriage, and Rose found herself deeply impressed by the visible presence of women consecrated entirely to God and the Church: Catholic nuns. After her husband passed away, she became a nun herself, actually founding the Hawthorne Dominicans for the Care of Incurable Cancer Sufferers – a congregation still going strong today. One rule of this congregation is that they do not accept any money from a patient’s family, as that could end up prejudicing them towards wealthier patients. That example of totally unselfish service made an impression on another famous American writer from the nineteenth century – Mark Twain. He was so impressed by Rose’s work, in fact, that even though he was not a Catholic himself and had inherited a strong prejudice against Catholicism, he became one of Rose’s first and steadiest benefactors.  — As Catholics, the example of what we do and how we do it can either draw people closer to God or push them further away. ( Fr. Charles P. Connor’s “Classic Catholic Converts.”] E- Priest. (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).

27) Dodgers are going to win with Don Sutton pitching. Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Don Sutton hadn’t won a game in eight weeks. A critical press was suggesting that he be dropped from the starting lineup. The future looked bleak, and Sutton felt terrible. Then, before a game, Dodgers manager Walter Alston tapped him on the shoulder. “I’d like to speak with you, Don,” he said. Sutton prepared himself for the worst.  “Don,” said Alston, “I know how the past couple of months have been for you. Everyone’s wondering whether we can make it to the play-offs . . . You know there’s a lot of pressure . . . I’ve had to make a decision.” Sutton had visions of being taken off the mound. Then Alston continued. “If the Dodgers are going to win this year,” he said, looking Sutton in the eye, “they’re going to win with Don Sutton pitching. Come what may, you’re staying in the starting job. That’s all I wanted to say.” Sutton’s losing streak lasted two more weeks, but because of his manager’s encouragement he felt different about it. Something in him was turning around. He found himself pitching the best ball of his career. In the National League pennant drive, he won 13 games out of 14.  There are all kinds of theories about how to motivate people. — We can do it through guilt, through fear, through shame. But these were not Jesus’ methods. Jesus motivated through positive messages of hope and encouragement.  Consider our lesson for today. Jesus says to his followers, “You are the light of the world. . . .” (Sermons.com). (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).

28) They have changed the skyline of a city like New York!” It was during the early days of television. A workman was placing television transmitters at the very top of the Empire State building in New York City. Seeing him at work up there, so far off the ground, a reporter thought this would make a fascinating human interest story. So, when the workman had completed his task and had returned to the ground, the reporter approached him and asked, “Aren’t you frightened to work under conditions like that that? Isn’t it dangerous to work so high off the ground?” The workman replied, “Yes sir, it is dangerous.” Then he added…“But then, how many people can say that they have changed the skyline of a city like New York!” —  After relating that story, James McCormick comments: God offers us the privilege of changing the skyline not of a city, but of the world by becoming the Light of the world. We can help make this world healthier, more humane, more harmonious, and more blessed. (Fr. Kayala). (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).

29) What’s your favorite color? 450? 600? Or 700? In case those numbers don’t immediately mean anything to you, on the visible spectrum scale for light 450 nanometers means “blue,” 600 is yellow, and at 700 nanometers you are seeing red. But we don’t “see” numbers, do we? We see the beautiful, variable, illuminating colors that light takes on as it is refracted and reflected before our eyes. We don’t experience nanometers — we bask under a blue sky! Or we bathe in wonder at the beauty of a sunset that melts from orange to red to crimson and purple. Whether we catalogue light as 550 nanometers or perceive it as “green” is all a matter of perspective. Are we dissecting the idea of “light” into its most basic components (measured nanometers)? Or are we responding to the expression of that light as we experience it in the world (colors)? — In Matthew’s account of the “Sermon on the Mount,” immediately after Jesus lays out his “blessed be” Beatitudes, he lifts up two metaphors of how disciples of the kingdom will be known to this world. They will be the “salt of the earth,” and they will be the “light of the world,” a light that will “shine before others.” — Salt sharpens flavors. Light sharpens both sight and insight. Jesus is calling would-be followers of the kingdom to sharpen lives by living on the sharp, the cutting edges, the places where new perspectives, new tastes, and new visions are embraced. Light does not just banish darkness and illuminate corners and crevices. It makes everything new.  Fr. Kayla).  (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).

30) “Sometimes it’s good to know a second language!” There was a mother mouse who decided to teach her children about the world. So, she gathered all of her little mice and set out for a walk. They walked down the hall and turned to the right. Then they went down the hall and took another right. And suddenly they found themselves in front of the family cat dozing in the sunlight. The mother mouse was scared. But she didn’t want to give in to her fright. So, she signaled to the children to be very quiet and to follow as she began to tip toe quietly and slowly past the sleeping cat. Just as she was about to get past the cat, the cat’s eyes popped open and raised its paw. The little mice were petrified. What would their mother do? Well, just as the cat’s paw started to come down, that mother mouse looked the cat right in the eye and started barking like a dog. And do you know what? The cat was so startled and frightened that it jumped up and ran away! The mother mouse, wiped her brow, shook a little and then turned to her little mice and said, “Children, I hope you learned a valuable lesson. Sometimes it’s good to know a second language!” —  It’s the same way with us. It’s good to know a second language. Salt and Light are the language of God; the language of Grace; the language of hope and love. And when this language is translated into action it becomes the most beautiful language ever spoken. We’re called to be Salt and Sight and to speak the language of God as we live our Faith. We’re called to live the Word. ( Billy D. Strayhorn, The Salt and Light Brigade). (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).

31) Salt of the earth Mike Ilitch helping Rosa Park: Those who knew Mike Ilitch, the Little Caesars founder and Detroit Tigers owner who died  Friday, February 10, 2017, spent some time fondly remembering his impact on friends, on Detroit residents, and on the sports community. Ilitch also had an impact on the daily life of one of the most iconic figures from the civil rights movement. For more than a decade, Ilitch had quietly paid for Rosa Parks’ apartment in downtown Detroit, according to CNN affiliate WXYZ. That story came to light thanks to Damon Keith, a Detroit native and federal judge.  Shortly after her famed defiance of segregation sparked the Montgomery, Alabama, bus boycott, Parks moved to Detroit and became an important presence in the city for years afterward. But in 1994, Parks was robbed and assaulted in her home at the age of 81. Keith, himself an important legal figure in the civil rights movement, worked to find Parks a new, safer apartment at the Riverfront Apartments in Detroit, according to the Sports Business Daily. — Ilitch read the story in the newspaper and called Keith, offering to pay for Parks’ housing indefinitely. With no fanfare, Ilitch continued paying for the apartment until Parks died in 2005, Keith said. (http://www.cnn.com/2017/02/15/us/mike-ilitch-rosa-parks-trnd/)  (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).

32) “You are my sunshine”: Like all good parents, when Karen and her husband found that another baby was on the way, they did what they could to help their three-year old son, Michael, prepare for a new sibling. When they found the baby was going to be a girl, they would gather Michael in their arms and he would sing to his sister in Mummy’s tummy the only song he knew, “You are my sunshine, my only sunshine.” The pregnancy progressed normally, then the labour pains, but complications arise during delivery. Finally, Michael’s sister was born but she was in serious conditions. The days inched by but the little girl got worse. The pediatric specialist told the parents, “There is very little hope. Be prepared for the worst.” Michael kept begging to see his sister. “I want to sing to her,” he pleads. But children were not allowed in the ICU. Finally, Karen made up her mind. She would take Michael to the hospital whether they liked it or not, figuring that if he didn’t see his sister now, he might never see her alive. She dressed him and marched him to the ICU, but the head nurse bellowed, “Get that kid out of here now!” Karen glared into the nurse’s face, her lips a firm line, “He is not leaving until he sings to his sister!” she declared. Michael gazed at the tiny infant losing the battle to live, and begins to sing in the pure-hearted voice of a three-year-old: “You are my sunshine, my only sunshine, you make me happy, when skies are grey…” Instantly, the baby responded. Her pulse rate became calm and steady. Keep on singing Michael! “You never know dear how much I love you. Please don’t take my sunshine away.” The baby’s ragged, strained breathing became as smooth as a kitten’s purr. Michael’s little sister relaxed at rest, -healing rest seems to sweep over her. Keep on singing Michael! Tears ran down the face of the bossy head nurse. Karen glowed. Funeral plans were scrapped. The next day -the very next day- the little girl was well enough to go home!  — In an article about the incident, Woman’s Day magazine called it “the miracle of a brother’s song.” Karen called it a miracle of God’s love. The medical staff simply called it a miracle. We call it the Lazarus story all over again. Love is stronger than death.
(William Bausch in The Word In and Out of Season; quoted by Fr. Botelho). (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).

33) ‘Keeper of the Flame.” Sometime ago the Los Angeles Times carried a moving story by reporter Dave Smith. It was about a modern Christian who put God first in his life, other people second, and himself third. His name is Charlie DeLeo. After returning from Vietnam, he got a job as maintenance man at the Statue of Liberty. Charlie told the reporter that part of his job is to take care of the torch in the statue’s hand and the crown on the statue’s head. He has to make sure that the sodium vapor lights are always working and that the 200 glass windows in the torch and the crown are always clean. Pointing to the torch, Charlie said proudly, “That’s my chapel. I dedicated it to the Lord, and I go up there and meditate on my breaks.” But Charlie does other things for the Lord, as well. He received a commendation from the Red Cross after donating his 65th pint of blood. And since hearing of the work of Mother Teresa in India, he has given over $12,000 to her and to people like her. Charlie told the Los Angeles Times reporter: “I don’t socialize much; don’t have enough money to get married. I don’t keep any of my money. After I got my job, I sponsored six orphans through those children’s organizations.” Charlie ended by telling the reporter that he calls himself the “Keeper of the Flame” of the Statue of Liberty. Later a park guide told the reporter: “Everybody knows Charlie is special. When he first gave himself that title, people smiled. But we all take it seriously now. To us, he’s exactly what he says: ‘Keeper of the Flame’.” —  Jesus in today’s Gospel passage, challenges us to be the keeper of his flame. (Mark Link in Sunday Homilies). (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).

34) An encounter with true Christian light:  President Woodrow Wilson once told the story of his encounter with true Christian Light. He said: “I was in a very common place.  I was sitting in a barber chair, when I became aware that a powerful personality had entered the room.  A man had come quietly in upon the same errand as myself, to have his hair cut, and sat in the chair next to me.  Every word the man uttered, though it was not in the least didactic, showed a personal interest in the man who was serving him.  And before I got through with what was being done to me, I was aware that I had attended an evangelistic service, because pastor Dwight L. Moody was in that chair. — I purposely lingered in the room after he had left and noted the singular effect that his visit had brought upon the barber shop.  They talked in undertones.  They didn’t know his name, but they knew something had elevated their thoughts, and I felt that I left that place as I should have left a place of worship.” (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).L/23

 “Scriptural Homilies” Cycle A (No. 14) by Fr. Tony: akadavil@gmail.com

Visit my website by clicking on https://frtonyshomilies.com/ for missed or previous Cycle C  & A homilies, 141 Year of Faith “Adult Faith Formation Lessons” (useful for RCIA classes too) & 197 “Question of the Week.” Contact me only at akadavil@gmail.com. Visit https://www.catholicsermons.com/homilies/sunday_homilies  of Fr. Nick’s collection of homilies or Resources in the CBCI website:  https://www.cbci.in.  (Special thanks to Vatican Radio website http://www.vaticannews.va/en/church.html -which completed uploading my Cycle A, B and C homilies in May 2020)  Fr. Anthony Kadavil, Chaplain, Sacred Heart Residence of the Little Sisters of the Poor, 1655 McGill Ave, Mobile, AL 36604How to be salt of the earth and light of the world – Pope Francis’ Homily at Daily Mass (https://saltandlighttv.org/blogfeed/getpost.php?id=70453)

Salt and Light Media: Pope Francis

June 8, 2016–Pope Francis has urged believers to be true Christians and give flavor to the life of others, not to be tempted to shine light upon themselves but to bring the light of faith to their neighbors and to mankind. The Pope was speaking on Tuesday morning during Mass at the Casa Santa Marta.

Drawing inspiration from the Gospel reading of the day, Pope Francis spoke of when Jesus told his disciples,“ You are the salt of the earth”, “You are the light of the world”,” Christians, he said, must be salt and light, but never self-serving: salt must add flavor and light must illuminate the other.

The Pope continued his homily with the question: “What must a Christian do in order for the salt not to run out, so that the oil to light the lamp does not come to an end?” The “battery” a Christian uses to generate light, the Pope explained, is simply prayer.

“There are many things one can do, many works of charity, many great things for the Church – a Catholic University, a college, a hospital – you may even be rewarded as a benefactor of the Church with a monument, but if you do not pray, it will be dark and dimly lit,” he said.

Prayer, the Pope said, is what lights up Christian life, and he highlighted the fact that prayer is a “serious” matter: “a prayer of adoration to God the Father, a prayer of praise to the Holy Trinity, a prayer of thanksgiving, a prayer to request to God… prayer must come from the heart”.

As regards the salt that Christians are called to be: it becomes salt when it is given to others. This, Pope Francis explained, is another Christian attitude: “to give of oneself, to give flavor to the lives of others, to give flavor to many things with the message of the Gospel”.

Salt is something to be used, not to keep for oneself – Francis elaborated – but to give to others. “It’s curious,” he continued, “both salt and light are for others, not for oneself: salt does not give flavor to itself; light does not illuminate itself.”

“Of course,” he noted, “you may be wondering how long salt and light can last without running out if we continue to give of ourselves relentlessly. That’s where the power of God comes in,” the Pope explained, “because the Christian is salt given to us by God during Baptism, it’s a gift that never ends”.

And reflecting on the reading from Kings in which Zarephath’s widow trusts the prophet Elijah and thus, her flour and her oil never run out, Pope Francis urged Christians to shine brightly and always overcome the temptation to shine light upon themselves. Calling it “mirror spirituality,” he said, “it is a bad thing” to want to shine light onto oneself: “Be light to illuminate, be salt to give flavor and to preserve”.

“May your light shine before men,” the Pope quoting Jesus, said,  “so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in Heaven.”

Jan 30- Feb 4: Click on http://frtonyshomilies.comfor missed homilies:

Jan 30 Monday: Mk 5:1-20: 1 They came to the other side of the sea, to the country of Gerasenes. 2 And when he had come out of the boat, there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit, 3 who lived among the tombs; and no one could bind him anymore, even with a chain; 4 for he had often been bound with fetters and chains, but the chains he wrenched apart, and the fetters he broke in pieces; and no one had the strength to subdue him. 5 Night and day among the tombs and on the mountains, he was always crying out, and bruising himself with stones. 6 And when he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and worshiped him; 7 and crying out with a loud voice, he said, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, do not torment me.” 8 For he had said to him, “Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!” 9 And Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” He replied, “My name is Legion; for we are many.” 10 And he begged him eagerly not to send them out of the country. 11 Now a great herd of swine was feeding there on the hillside; 12 and they begged him, “Send us to the swine, let us enter them.” 13 So he gave them leave. And the unclean spirits came out, and entered the swine; and the herd, numbering about two thousand, rushed down the steep bank into the sea, and were drowned in the sea. 14 The herdsmen fled, and told it in the city and in the country. And people came to see what it was that had happened. 15 And they came to Jesus, and saw the demoniac sitting there, clothed and in his right mind, the man who had the legion; and they were afraid. 16 …20.

The context: Today’s Gospel episode demonstrates Jesus’ power over the devil in a Gentile town of the Decapolis, east of the Jordan, called Gadara (Matthew), or Gerasa (Mark and Luke). A demon-possessed man (two men in Matthew), came out of a tomb-filled desolate place. The demons, recognizing Jesus as the Son of God, begged Him to send them into a herd of swine. The possessed man’s demons named themselves Legion (ca 5000 men), indicating their number. Jesus did as the evil spirits requested, and the now-possessed swine ran down the slope and drowned in the sea. The frightened people of the city asked Jesus to leave their city. The people considered their swine more precious than the liberation given to the possessed man. If we have a selfish or materialistic outlook, we fail to appreciate the value of Divine things, and we push God out of our lives, begging Him to go away, as these people did.

Life messages: 1) We need to come out of our tombs: Jesus is calling us to come out of the tombs. Our tombs are the closed-in, sealed-off areas of our hearts where Life in the Spirit of God has died because we haven’t let Jesus minister to us through others. Such godless persons are lonely. They try to fill their inner emptiness by packing their lives with money, promiscuity, addictions or workaholism, but nothing works.

2) Jesus the Liberator is ready to free us from the tombs of our evil addictions and habits If we will only let go of everything and give Jesus a chance, He can, and will, help us to experience the joy and freedom of the children of God. Fr. Tony (https://frtonyshomilies.com/) L/23

For additional reflections, click on: https://bible.usccb.org/podcasts/video; https://catholic-daily-reflections.com/daily-reflections/; https://www.epriest.com/reflections

Jan 31 Tuesday: (Saint John Bosco, Priest):For a short biography, click on https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-of-the-day/saint-john-bosco Mk 5:21-43: about him; and he was beside the sea. 22 Then came one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name; and seeing him, he fell at his feet, 23 and besought him, saying, “My little daughter is at the point of death. Come and lay your hands on her, so that she may be made well, and live.” 24 And he went with him. And a great crowd followed him and thronged about him. 25 And there was a woman who had had a flow of blood for twelve years, 26 and who had suffered much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was no better but rather grew worse. 27 She had heard the reports about Jesus, and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his garment. 28 For she said, “If I touch even his garments, I shall be made well.”29 And immediately the hemorrhage ceased; and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease. 30 And Jesus, perceiving in himself that power had gone forth from him, immediately turned about in the crowd, and said, “Who touched my garments?” 31 And his disciples said to him, “You see the crowd pressing around you, and yet you say, `Who touched me?'” 32 And he looked around to see who had done it. 33 But the woman, knowing what had been done to her, came in fear and trembling and fell down before him, and told him the whole truth. 34 And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.” 35 While he was still speaking, there came from the ruler’s house some who said, “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?” 36 But ignoring what they said, Jesus said to the ruler of the synagogue, “Do not fear, only believe.” 37 And he allowed no one to follow him except Peter and James and John the brother of James. 38 When they came to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, he saw a tumult, and people weeping and wailing loudly. 39 And when he had entered, he said to them, “Why do you make a tumult and weep? The child is not dead but sleeping.” 40 And they laughed at him. But he put them all outside, and took the child’s father and mother and those who were with him, and went in where the child was. 41 Taking her by the hand he said to her, “Talitha cumi”; which means, “Little girl, I say to you, arise.”42 And immediately the girl got up and walked (she was twelve years of age), and they were immediately overcome with amazement. 43 And he strictly charged them that no one should know this, and told them to give her something to eat.

The context: Today’s Gospel is a beautiful presentation of two miracles, a healing, and a revival and restoration of life. These miracles were worked by Jesus as rewards for the trusting Faith of a synagogue ruler and of a woman with a hemorrhage. Though the ruler trusted Jesus out of desperation, and the woman’s Faith was a bit superstitious, even their defective Faith was amply rewarded.

The ruler and the woman: The ruler of the synagogue supported Jewish orthodoxy. He could have despised Jesus who befriended sinners. But he bravely approached Jesus as a last resort when all the doctors had failed, and his daughter was dying. Since the Jews believed that one was not actually dead until three days had passed after he stopped breathing, when word came that the child had died, the ruler showed courage and Faith in staying with Jesus, ignoring the ridicule of fellow-Jews. In the same way, the woman with the bleeding disease was ritually unclean, and she was not supposed to appear in public. She had the courage and Faith to ignore a social and religious taboo in order to approach and touch the garment of Jesus from behind. Both the ruler’s child and the sick woman were brought back to life and to the community.

Life message: 1) Jesus accepts us as we are. Hence, we need not wait until we have the correct motive and strong Faith to bring our problems before Jesus. Let us bring before him our bodily and mental wounds and ask for his healing touch today. Fr. Tony (https://frtonyshomilies.com/) L/23

For additional reflections, click on: https://bible.usccb.org/podcasts/video; https://catholic-daily-reflections.com/daily-reflections/; https://www.epriest.com/reflections

Feb 1 Wednesday: Mk 6: 1-6: (Mt 13:54-58): The context: Today’s Gospel passage describes the painful indifference Jesus met in his audience and the jealous, hurtful comments Jesus heard when, as a carpenter-turned-Rabbi with a band of his own disciples, he started preaching in the synagogue of his hometown, Nazareth.

A prophet without honor: The people of Nazareth literally jammed the synagogue, eager to see their familiar carpenter-turned-miracle-working preacher, Jesus, working miracles as he had done in neighboring towns and villages. But they were jealous, incredulous, and critical, rather than believing, which prevented Jesus from doing miraculous healings. They were jealous of the extraordinary ability of a former carpenter without formal education in Mosaic Law to give a powerful and authoritative interpretation of their Holy Scriptures. A carpenter’s profession was considered low in social ranking. Besides, they could not accept a prophet coming from so low a family background as Jesus’ was, nor could they accept his “blasphemous” claim to be the promised Messiah. Jesus’ relatives, known to them, were equally unimportant people. But the most offensive thing he did, in their judgment, was to point out to them their own unbelief, citing examples of the famous prophets Elijah and Elisha favoring Faith-filled Gentiles over unbelieving Jews.

Brothers and sisters of Jesus: “Ancient Hebrew, Aramaic and other languages had no special words for different degrees of relationship, such as are found in more modern languages. In general, all those belonging to the same family, clan, and even tribe, were brethren. Jesus had different kinds of relatives, in two groups — some on his mother’s side, others on St. Joseph’s. Mt13:55-56 mentions as living in Nazareth, “His brethren, ”James, Joses, Simon, and Judas,” and elsewhere there is reference to Jesus’ sisters (cf. Mt 6:3). But in Matthew 27:56 we are told that James and Joses were sons of a Mary distinct from the Blessed Virgin, and that Simon and Judas were not brothers of James, or St. Joseph’s children from a previous marriage. Jesus, on the other hand, was known to everyone as the son of Mary (Mk 6:3) or the carpenter’s son (Mt 13:55). The Church has always maintained as absolutely certain that Jesus had no brothers or sisters in the full meaning of the term: it is a dogma that Mary was ever-Virgin” (Navarre Bible Commentary)

Life messages:

1) Perhaps we have experienced the pain of rejection, betrayal, abandonment, violated trust, neglect, or abuse from our own friends and relatives. On such occasions, let us face rejection with prophetic courage and optimism. 2) Let us not, like the people in Jesus’ hometown, reject God in our personal lives. 3) Our country needs to hear God’s Truth from Spirit-filled Christians with the prophetic courage of their convictions. 4) Trusting Faith in the Divinity and goodness of Christ is essential, if Jesus is to work miracles in our personal lives. In addition, we need to be docile to the Holy Spirit living within us, so that He may work miracles in our lives. 5) When we are challenged by the Gospel and by the Church, we should be thankful and should not allow the prophetic voice of the Church die in our hearts. Fr. Tony (https://frtonyshomilies.com/) L/23

For additional reflections, click on: https://bible.usccb.org/podcasts/video; https://catholic-daily-reflections.com/daily-reflections/; https://www.epriest.com/reflections

Feb 2: Thursday: (The Presentation of the Lord): Lk 2:22-40 or 2:22-32: ((https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-of-the-day/presentation-of-the-lord) The context: Today’s Gospel presents the head of the Holy Family, Joseph, faithfully obeying God’s law given through Moses concerning the purification of the mother and the redeeming of the child, by presenting Mary and the Baby Jesus in the Temple. The events recounted appear elsewhere in the liturgical year but are those we traditionally celebrate today, February 2nd, with the Feast of Presentation of Jesus. This is a combined feast, commemorating the Jewish practice of the purification of the mother after childbirth and the presentation of the child in the Temple. It is known as the Hypanthe feast or Feast of the Purification of Mary (by the offering two pigeons in the Temple), the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord (by prayers and the payment of “five shekels to a member of the priestly family” (Nm 3:47-48; NAB Note on Lk 2:22), to redeem or buy the firstborn male child back from the Lord’s service), and the Feast of Encounter (because the New Testament, represented by the Baby Jesus, encountered the Old Testament, represented by Simeon and Anna). On February 2nd, we celebrate these events as a formal ending of the Christmas season. The same day, we also celebrate the Feast of Candlemas(because candles are blessed then for liturgical and personal use). Purification and redemption ceremonies: The Mosaic Law taught that, since every Jewish male child belonged to Yahweh, the parents had to “buy back” the child (“redeem” him), (The “Pidyon haBen” Service) )with the payment of “five shekels (=15 Denarius= wage for 15 days of work) to a member of the priestly family” (Nm 3:47-48; NAB Note on Lk 2:22). In addition, (Nm 18:15) every mother had to be purified after childbirth by prayers and the sacrifice of a lamb (or two turtledoves for the poor) in the Temple. Joseph kept these laws as an act of obedience to God.

The encounter with Simeon and Anna: By the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, the old, pious, Spirit-filled Simeon and the very old widow, Anna, both of whom who had been waiting for the revelation of God’s salvation, were present in the Temple the day Joseph and Mary brought Jesus to Present Him to the Father. Simeon recognized Jesus as the Lord’s Anointed One, and in his prayer of blessing, he prophesied that Jesus was meant to be the glory of Israel and a Light of revelation to the Gentiles. While he blessed Mary, Simeon warned that her child would be “set for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign of contradiction” and that “a sword will pierce through your own soul. Simeon was prophesying both the universal salvation that would be proclaimed by Jesus and the necessity of suffering in the mission of the Messiah.

Life message:Every Holy Mass in which we participate is our presentation. Although we were officially presented to God on the day of our Baptism, we present ourselves and our dear ones on the altar before God our Father through our Savior Jesus Christ at every Holy Mass. Hence, we need to live our daily lives with the awareness both that we are dedicated people consecrated to God and that we are obliged to lead holy lives. Let us also remember and pray for our godparents who presented us to the Lord on the day of our Baptism Fr. Tony (https://frtonyshomilies.com/) L/23

For additional reflections, click on: https://bible.usccb.org/podcasts/video; https://catholic-daily-reflections.com/daily-reflections/; https://www.epriest.com/reflections

Feb 3 Friday:(Saint Blaise, Bishop and Martyr) ; Saint Ansgar, Bishop]: Feb 4 Saturday: Mk 6:30-34 : (In the U. S.St. Blaise, Bishop & Martyr and the blessing of throats): https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-blaise/ & St. Blasé in Croatia story: https://www.ncregister.com/blog/how-st-blaise-saved-a-city-and-more-fascinating-facts-about-himVideo of his festal celebration in Croatia: Watch this video: https://youtu.be/gZKCw1OWe5gHomily 1:https://youtu.be/fp-yr-XanWA; Homily 2:https://youtu.be/0gs6aYwGb70

Legends: We have only a few legends and no historical documents about St. Blaise and his martyrdom. But some Eastern Churches observe his feast day as a day of obligation. The British, German and Slavic people honor his memory. The U.S. Catholics seek his intercession for the healing of throat diseases by the ritual of blessing of throats. According to the Acts of St. Blaise written in the eighth century, Bishop Blaise was martyred in his episcopal city of Sebastea, Armenia, (Turkey) in 316. Stories tell how, when the Christian persecutions began, he withdraw to a cave in the woods when inspired to do so by the Lord. Since he was a physician before he became a bishop, Blaise soon became the friend of wild animals that were ill or wounded. They sought him out. One day the governor’s hunters searching for animals to bring to the city’s amphitheater were shocked when they happened upon Blaise. There he was, kneeling and praying — surrounded by totally docile wolves, lions and bears, tame in his presence. When they took him prisoner, on the way to the jail he got more chances to perform miracles besides healing the boy with the fishbone caught in his throat. He met a poor woman in great distress because a wolf had snatched her small, young pig. She asked his help. Blaise commanded the wolf to return the pig. Immediately, the wolf heard and brought back the pig which was not harmed. The woman continued to visit him in prison, bringing him food and candles to bring him light in his dark cell.

His cult spread throughout the entire Church in the Middle Ages because of the healing of a boy. Details regarding the miraculous healing of the boy vary. One account relates that the miracle occurred during his journey to prison when he placed his hand on the boy’s head and prayed. In another version of the story, the miracle happened while Blaise was in prison, and he picked up two candles provided to him and formed a cross around the boy’s throat. The use of candles for the blessing of throats stems from the candles supplied by a woman that Blaise used while in prison.

Martyrdom and miracles: When the governor of Cappadocia (in Modern Turkey) began to persecute the Christians, St. Blaise was arrested. The governor of Cappadocia tried in vain to persuade Blaise to sacrifice to pagan idols. The first time Blaise refused; he was beaten. The next time he was suspended from a tree and his flesh torn with iron combs or rakes. Finally, he condemned to be beheaded. As he was led to the place of execution a poor mother rushed up to him, begging him to save her child who was choking to death on a fishbone. The bishop gave him a blessing which enabled the child to cough up the bone. Then, Bishop Blaise was cruelly tortured and beheaded. The blessing of throats may be given by a priest, deacon, or a lay minister who follows the rites and prayers designated for a lay minister. (Since these are Covid-pandemic days, the minister should take care that the candles do not touch the throat of any person). The priest or deacon makes the sign of the cross over the recipient as the blessing is said. If necessary, laypersons are permitted to give the blessing of the throats but are instructed not to make the sign of the cross.

Life message: We all need some type of healing in some parts of our body, mind, or soul. Let us ask the intercession of St. Blaise with repentant hearts, so that Jesus the healer may place his healing touch on us as we present ourselves for the ritual of the blessing of the throats. Fr. Tony (https://frtonyshomilies.com/) L/23

For additional reflections, click on: https://bible.usccb.org/podcasts/video; https://catholic-daily-reflections.com/daily-reflections/; https://www.epriest.com/reflections

Feb 4 Saturday: Mk 6: 30-34: 30 The apostles returned to Jesus, and told him all that they had done and taught. 31 And he said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a lonely place, and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. 32 And they went away in the boat to a lonely place by themselves. 33 Now many saw them going, and knew them, and they ran there on foot from all the towns, and got there ahead of them. 34 As he went ashore he saw a great throng, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things.

The context: Today’s Gospel passage presents the sympathetic and merciful heart of Jesus who lovingly invites his Apostles to a desolate place for some rest. Jesus realized that the Apostles he had sent on a preaching and healing mission to be neighboring towns and villages needed some rest on their return. He was eager to hear about their missionary adventures and they proudly shared their experiences. In no time, however, they were surrounded by the crowd, and Jesus resumed his preaching and teaching because he saw the crowd as sheep without shepherd.

Today’s Gospel describes how Jesus became a Good Shepherd. The Old Testament describes God as Shepherd of His people, Israel. The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want (Psalm 23:1). The prophet Isaiah prophesied that the Messiah would feed his flock like a shepherd, he would gather the lambs in his arms (Isaiah 40:11). Jesus told his disciples that he was the Good Shepherd who was willing to lay down his life for his sheep. In his epistle, Peter calls Jesus the Shepherd and Guardian of our souls (1 Peter 2:25).

Life messages: 1) Let us find time to be with Jesus at the end of every day to share with him how, by his grace, we shared his love to those entrusted to our care. 2) Let us show the mercy, compassion, care and concern of Jesus the Good Shepherd to those entrusted to our care. 3) Let us become good sheep of Jesus, the Good Shepherd, by leading pure, innocent, humble, selfless lives, obeying Christ’s commandment of love and gaining daily spiritual strength from the word of God and from the Body and Blood of Jesus, the Good Shepherd, in Holy Communion. Fr. Tony (https://frtonyshomilies.com/) L/23

For additional reflections, click on: https://bible.usccb.org/podcasts/video; https://catholic-daily-reflections.com/daily-reflections/; https://www.epriest.com/reflections

OT IV [A] Sunday (Jan 29) 8-minute homily in one page (L-23)

Introduction: Today’s readings define our Christian goal of eternal happiness and explain the attitudes and actions necessary to reach it. They form the outline for Christ-like living, noting the personal qualities expected of a disciple of Jesus and pointing out the way of life to be lived by a disciple. They show us the values that Christ cares about. In essence, the Beatitudes both fulfill and complete the Ten Commandments which stress the “Thou shalt nots.” But Jesus presents the Beatitudes in a positive sense, as the virtues in life which will ultimately lead to the rewards of salvation – not in this world, but in the next.

Scripture lessons: Zephaniah, in the first reading, calls the “moral minority” of the Jews of his time “blessed” because they seek justice, humility, truth, and righteousness, thus making a declaration of dependence on God. In the second reading, Paul advises his Corinthian Christians to use their gifts and Heaven-sent blessings for the good of the community because God has chosen to give them life in Jesus, by whom He justified, sanctified and redeemed them.

In today’s Gospel, Jesus instructs his disciples in the paradoxical blessedness of poverty, hunger, sorrow, and persecution. In poverty, we recognize God’s reign; in hunger, His providence; in sorrow, true happiness; and in persecution, true joy. In other words, the blessed in Jesus’ list are poor in spirit, compassionate, meek, merciful, clean of heart, peace-makers and those who are willing even to be insulted and persecuted for their lived Faith in him Each of the inspired authors of today’s readings, Zephaniah, Paul, and Matthew, “makes a motion,” that each of us should consider making a personal Declaration of Dependence on God and then work with His grace to lead a holier and happier life.

Life messages: 1) We need to respond to the challenge of the Beatitudes in daily life. The Beatitudes propose to us a way of life, inviting us to identify with the poor, those who mourn, the meek, and those who hunger and thirst after justice. They challenge us to be compassionate people, to be men and women who are pure in heart, and to become the peacemakers in our dealings with one another, in our families, and in the society at large, even when this approach to things exposes us to ridicule and persecution. Let us remember that each time we reach out to help the needy, the sick, and the oppressed, we share with them a foretaste of the promises of the Beatitudes here and now.

2) We need to choose the way wisely. “There are two Ways, one of Life and one of Death, and there is a great difference between the two Ways.” These are the opening lines of the “Didache,” a first century Christian catechism used to teach new Christians the essence of the Christian faith. The way of life is the way of Jesus that leads to eternal life. The challenge of the beatitudes is: “Are you going to be happy in the world’s way or in Christ’s way?” God wants us to live as brothers and sisters who care for one another.

OT IV [A] SUNDAY (Jan  29): Zep 2:3, 3:12-13; I Cor 1:26-31; Mt 5:1-12a

Homily starter anecdotes: # 1: Beatitude of a scholar kitty: C. L. James in his delightful book, To See a World in a Grain of Sand, tells the fable of a wise old cat who notices a kitten chasing its tail. “Why are you chasing your tail?” said the wise old cat. The kitten replied, “I have learned that the best thing for a cat is happiness, and happiness is my tail. Therefore, I am chasing it, and when I catch it, I shall have happiness.” The wise old cat responded, “My son, I, too, have paid attention to the problems of the universe. I too have judged that happiness is my tail. But, I noticed that whenever I chase after it, it keeps running away from me, but when I go about my business, it just seems to come after me wherever I go.” — We do not find happiness in material things, in a pill, in a bottle, or by having love affairs. Happiness is something that comes from within us. The only truly happy life is a life lived with God as our life’s Source and our true center. Today’s Gospel asserts that those who have recognized and acknowledged their dependence on God are the truly blessed and that these are the poor in spirit, the sorrowing, the lowly, those who hunger and thirst for holiness, the merciful, the single-hearted, the peace-makers and those persecuted for their right convictions. (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).

#2:Aristotle versus Galileo: “Aristotle maintained that women have fewer teeth than men. Although he was twice married, it never occurred to him to verify this statement by examining his wives’ mouths” (Bertrand Russell, British mathematician, & philosopher). About 400 hundred years ago Galileo argued that Aristotle’s theory on gravity was incorrect. According to Aristotle if you dropped one object weighing ten pounds and another weighing one pound from the same height, the ten-pound object would fall ten times faster than the other. Questioning the greatest ancient authority in science and philosophy, Galileo claimed that both objects would fall at the same speed. But people thought that Galileo was a little crazy. So Galileo climbed up the leaning tower of Pisa and dropped two objects, one heavier than the other, over the edge. To the amazement of the crowd, the heavier object did not fall faster than the lighter one. — You too may have dismissed as wrong, maybe naive, misguided, or possibly even stupid, something you were told, and then may have come to find out afterwards that it was actually true. Well, the Beatitudes announced by Jesus in today’s Gospel might not seem right to us because we equate happiness with power, influence, wealth, health, and beauty. In fact, if anybody other than Jesus had proposed them, we might just have considered them as too extreme. But Jesus meant what he said and practiced what he taught. (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).

# 3: Is there anybody who is really happy? In the United States seventy people commit suicide every day and another 1,000 try it. That is 365,000 people every year are unhappy enough to try to snuff out their own existence. Put another way, in your lifetime of 80 years, 29 million people in this country will attempt to end their lives. And the suicide rate is increasing the fastest among young people, rising to nearly 300 percent among those 15 to 24 in the last twenty years. Is there anybody who is really happy? — In today’s Gospel Jesus revels the secret of the true and lasting happiness which makes life worth living. (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).

Introduction: Today’s readings define our Christian goal of eternal happiness and explain the attitudes and actions necessary to reach it. In the Beatitudes, Jesus outlines the values and attitudes needed to enter and enjoy God’s kingdom: poverty of spirit, hunger and thirst for justice, compassion, meekness, mercy, integrity, peace-making, and the willingness to suffer persecution for the sake of justice. The Beatitudes contain the most essential aspects of Christian behavior that we need to make habitual if we are to live the truly Christ-like lives of loving obedience and compassion that He asks of all of us who believe. The Beatitudes spell out the personal qualities expected of a disciple of Jesus and the way of life to be lived by Jesus’ disciples. They show us the values that Christ cares about. In essence, the Beatitudes both fulfill and complete the Ten Commandments. While the Ten Commandments given to Moses on Mount Sinai, as recorded in the Old Testament Book of Exodus, provide a series of “Thou shalt nots,” Jesus presents the Beatitudes in a positive sense, as the virtues in life which will ultimately lead us to the rewards of salvation – not in this world, but in the next. Zephaniah, in the first reading, calls the “moral minority” of the Jews of his time “blessed” because they seek justice, humility, truth, and righteousness, thus making a declaration of dependence on God. In the second reading, Paul advises his Corinthian Christians to use their gifts and Heaven-sent blessings for the good of the community because God has chosen to give them life in Jesus, by whom He justified, sanctified, and redeemed them. In today’s Gospel, Jesus instructs his disciples in the paradoxical blessedness of poverty, hunger, sorrow, and persecution. In poverty, we recognize God’s reign; in hunger, His providence; in sorrow, true happiness; and in persecution, true joy. In other words, the “blessed” on Jesus’ list are poor in spirit, compassionate, meek, merciful, clean of heart, peace-makers, and those who are willing even to be insulted and persecuted for their lived Faith in Him. Each of the inspired authors of today’s readings, Zephaniah, Paul, and Matthew, “makes a motion,” that each of us should consider making a personal Declaration of Dependence on God, and then work (with His grace) to lead holier, happier lives.

The first reading (Zep 2:3, 3:12-13) explained: Zephaniah prophesied in Jerusalem during a time when many in that city were faithless and corrupt. Most of the book of the prophet Zephaniah is about the terrible Day (“The Day of the Lord”) when the Lord will wreak vengeance upon idolaters and the unfaithful. But this passage describes a “remnant,” a humble and just minority, who will receive, not vengeance, but security. Both Jesus and Zephaniah address this remnant, or “moral minority.” They want their listeners not to choose the path of arrogance, not even to pine for power, but to “seek justice … seek humility, do no wrong, speak no lies (Zephaniah), and to “thirst for righteousness, be merciful, be peace-makers” (Jesus).

The second reading (I Cor 1:26-31) explained: Two things about the situation in Corinth made it necessary for Paul to remind the Christians there of their humble station and of his own humble apostolic status: 1) Corinth was a Greek metropolis with philosophers placing a high premium on knowledge and sophistication; and 2) the Christians there enjoyed an abundance of what are called charisms, or spiritual gifts including some extraordinary powers like healing, prophecy, and speaking in tongues. Paul advised these Christians to use their gifts and heaven-sent blessings for the good of the community, not just for their own aggrandizement, and he reminded them of the contrast between Christ’s values and the world’s values.

Gospel exegesis: Source of real happiness: Today’s readings tell us that real happiness lies in what are known as “the Beatitudes.”  “Beatitudes” are technically known as “macarisms,” (blessings – from the Greek makarios, meaning “blessed” or “happy”).  These beatitudes echo Isaiah 61:1-2.  Other examples of macarisms can be found in the Book of Proverbs, the Psalms, and even in the book of Revelation.  There are thirty-seven beatitudes in the New Testament, seventeen of which are sayings of Jesus.  Matthew presents Jesus as the new Moses who teaches us from the mountain that Christianity is more than obeying the Ten Commandments.   The Sermon on the Mount is almost surely a collection of Jesus’ teachings rather than a sermon delivered in one sitting.  The beatitudes of Jesus  were taught in Aramaic.  They are not simple statements; rather they are exclamations, i.e., ”O! The blessedness of the poor in spirit!”  (Compare Psalm 1 for a similar Hebrew version.)  Matthew presents the Beatitudes as coming at the beginning of the Sermon on the Mount.  He gives eight Beatitudes (the ninth being explanation of the eighth).

Bombshells: In both Matthew and Luke, the Beatitudes are a “series of bombshells” or “flashes of lightning followed by thunder of surprise and shock” because Jesus reverses our “natural” assumption that happiness lies in riches, power, pleasure, and comfort.  We believe in personal pride; Jesus blesses poverty of spirit.  We seek pleasure; Jesus blesses those who mourn.  We see the prosperity of aggressive people; Jesus blesses the meek.  We love good food and drink; Jesus blesses those who hunger and thirst for righteousness.  He challenges his listeners to find fulfillment of their needs in God, in their particular socio-economic context.  The peasants, the farm workers, and the artisans of the villages in Palestine were the oppressed class.  The majority of them had no political power or rights.  In contrast to them were the rich and powerful, who owned most of the land, collaborated with the hated Romans, controlled the Temple cult, and interpreted the laws of God.  Jesus addresses this situation in his Beatitudes.

Christ is the center of the beatitudes: Each beatitude looks at the Christian life from a different perspective. Matthew’s first beatitude with its “the poor in spirit” ( 5:3 ) is the best known and perhaps the most difficult to interpret. Matthew’s “in spirit” indicates that these “poor” make no claim on God. Matthew’s eight beatitudes expand on the first. The mourners will experience God’s comfort (v. 4). The meek demonstrate a Christ-like attitude that demands nothing for itself. Thus the meek with Jesus shall inherit the earth (v. 5). Those who “hunger and thirst for righteousness” (v. 6) desire God’s saving righteousness in Christ. The mercy Christians show to others (v. 7) must be that of Christ, who showed mercy to his tormentors ( Luke 23:34 ). In the fifth petition of the Lord’s Prayer Christians pray that God will forgive them, just as they forgive others ( Matt 6:12 ). “Seeing God” is reserved to Christ ( John 1:18 ), but now the pure in heart will see God with him (v. 8). The Gospels reserve the phrase “Son of God” to Jesus alone, but the peace-makers show themselves to be reconciled to God, and all people are now entitled to a like honor in being called the sons of God (v. 9). The eighth beatitude follows the first with its promise of the kingdom of heaven, Christ’s pledge that they will participate in his suffering and glory. (https://www.biblestudytools.com/dictionary/beatitudes/)

The first set of four beatitudes: Happiness of the poor in spirit, the gentle, the mourners and the righteous.  Being poor in spirit is the fundamental condition for becoming blessed and happy. Jesus is not extolling the virtue of poverty but the virtues of Faith and trust in God because He is our ultimate Source of security.  We are blessed when we know our need for God and do His will every day.  We are poor in spirit when we surrender our plans to God and ask for His help. We are poor in spirit when we admit our sins, mourn for them repenting, ask His grace and forgiveness for them, and promise to “sin no more and avoid the near occasions of sin.”  The poor in spirit also hunger and thirst for righteousness.  Jesus’ blessing of the poor would have been Good News to the first disciples, who had “left everything and followed him” (Lk 5:11).

Jesus also tells us that if we are to be happy we need to be meek – gentle, self-controlled and God-controlled.  The meek are those who have made a complete surrender of self to God,  instead of becoming aggressive, demanding, and assertive.  Meekness or gentleness is the ability to be angry with the right people about the right things at the right time to the right degree, e.g., Moses.  True meekness allows us to fight for justice using peaceful means, as did Gandhi, Martin Luther King and Nelson Mandela.  Lenin is reported to have said on his death bed: “If I had ten young men like Francis of Assisi I could have averted the Bolshevik Revolution.”  Jesus says that we will be blessed when we hunger and thirst for what is right.  To be righteous means to do the will of God.  We are hungering and thirsting for righteousness when we have a profound respect for others and want to treat them with dignity.  So, when we see other people abused in one way or another, we hunger and thirst to see their dignity respected.

The second set of beatitudes: The happiness of the merciful, pure of heart, peace-makers and the persecuted.  The second set of four beatitudes in Matthew 5:7-10 promise rewards in life after death to people who practice virtuous behavior.  Giving unconditional forgiveness and showing the honesty and humility to ask pardon for our offenses against others are signs of a merciful heart and are essential for peace and joy of spirit. Mercy is love extended, not out of necessity, but given through the desire to help.  Jesus gave the example of the forgiving love of a merciful heart from the cross by praying for his executioners.  As long as we hold something in our hearts against somebody we are neither free nor happy.  Hence, let us forgive and forget and be merciful.  Mercy is also the ability to identify with others, to be willing to suffer with them and to walk in their shoes.  What Jesus meant about being pure in heart is that we cannot be happy if we are hypocrites.  The pure in heart are morally pure, honest, and sincere.  The real accent in Matthew’s sixth beatitude is on integrity.  We should be people of integrity and character.  The pure of heart will see God in their here-and-now ability to discern His presence in others and in the small and ordinary events of their lives.

Instead of merely longing for peace in the world we must be peace-makers in the little world around us.  Peace-making demands positive actions for reconciliation. Making peace involves proclamation, diplomacy, self-control, and a willingness to forgive, to forget,  and to promote the work of forgiveness among others. Peace-makers work for “shalom”– the wholeness and well-being that God wills for a broken world. Shalom means “May you be blessed by the presence of all good things!” Finally,  Jesus said we will be happy if people and systems persecute us for our Faith and loving, Christian conduct, because Jesus’ enemies persecuted him for the same reasons. Early Christians were persecuted for a variety of reasons.  The Jews persecuted them as heretics.  The Jews and the Romans falsely accused the Christians of immoral practices.  The words of the Last Supper, “This is my Body….  This is my Blood,” led to charges of cannibalism.  The Agape (Love Feast) and the kiss of peace led to charges of sexual immorality.  Apocalyptic literature, like the book of Revelation, led to charges of sedition.  Today, Christians face persecution in different forms all around the world.  Internally, adherence to Christ’s values means persecution by our own rebellious, selfish desires.

The Beatitudes versus Liberation theology:  If the poor, the hungry, the sorrowful and the hated are all blessed, then why should anyone attempt to help them improve their lot?  Indeed, that was the argument often used by previous generations who had not been exposed to the “Theology of Liberation.”  God, so runs this argument, has ordained that the poor should be content with their lot.   They claim that a person who has absolutely no possessions is free to seek God alone.  But they ignore the difference between choosing poverty and being plunged into it without one’s choice, due to the unjust socio-political situation.  Only a few saints, such as Francis of Assisi, chose the sufferings and hardships that poverty brings.  Perhaps what Christ is really telling us is that we should work to improve the conditions of the poor in order for the poor to have a choice.  They have the right to choose whether or not to embrace poverty, rather than having it thrust upon them by greedy exploiters.

“The heart of Christ’s teaching:” The Catechism of the Catholic Church summarizes the importance of the Beatitudes as “the heart of Christ’s teaching.”  “The Beatitudes describe our relationship to the Kingdom in three ways.  First, these simple promises address our highest desire: happiness with God.  For, only God can satisfy the heart.  Second, they describe the path to God for us as individuals and together as a Church.  Through the Beatitudes, we share God’s very life (sanctifying grace) because we enter into His Kingdom.  Finally, they challenge us to live moral lives by putting God first.  If we want to know what it truly means to be a Christian, we should read the Beatitudes in Matthew” (CCC  #1716-#1724).

Life messages: 1) We need to respond to the challenge of the Beatitudes in daily life.  Millions of starving, persecuted, homeless people lead hopeless lives.  The Beatitudes propose to us a way of life, inviting us to identify with the poor, those who mourn, the meek, and those who hunger and thirst after justice.  They challenge us to be compassionate people, to be men and women who are pure in heart, and to people who become the peace-makers in their dealings with one another, in their families and in the society at large, even when this approach to things exposes them to ridicule and persecution.  “As long as you did it to/for one of these, my least brethren, you did it to/for me” is the criterion for our Last Judgment.  St. Teresa of Calcutta (Mother Teresa) and her Sisters, Brothers and Priests, accepted this challenge and demonstrate that one can “live the Beatitudes” in the modern world.  Hence, let us remember that each time we reach out to help the needy, the sick, and the oppressed, we share with them a foretaste of the promises of the Beatitudes here and now.  This is why, down through the centuries, individuals, congregations, and Church bodies have practiced charity in creative, faithful ways.  They have operated soup kitchens, food banks, clothing centers, homeless shelters, and housing programs.  Such enterprises represent a wonderful outpouring of good will and Christian faithfulness in response  to the challenge of the beatitudes.  Let us have the good will to participate in such activities in our parish and in our community. 2) We need to choose the way wisely.  “There are two Ways, one of Life and one of Death, and there is a great difference between the two Ways.” These are the opening lines of the “Didache,” a first century Christian catechism used to teach new Christians the essence of the Christian Faith.  The way of life is the way of Jesus that leads to eternal life.  The challenge of the Beatitudes is: “Are you going to be happy in the world’s way or in Christ’s way?”  If we choose the world’s way, we are seeking our blessings in the wrong place.  Sometimes we think that good health, long life, happy relationships, and a good job are blessings we “deserve” for being honest, not cheating on our taxes, coming to Church, and giving a little to charity.  This is the easy way of the world. But the hard way of Jesus requires of us toil and suffering in working for the poor, the sick, and the hungry.  God wants us to live as brothers and sisters who care for each another.  Doing so yields an “eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison” (II Cor. 4:17).  In the final analysis, the blessing of the Beatitudes is the possession of “the Kingdom of God.”

JOKES OF THE WEEK: 1) Beatitude in Heaven:   Fr.  Charlie was teaching his Sunday school class.  He asked the class, “If I were to sell my house and my car, have a big garage sale and give all my money to the Church, would that get me into Heaven?”  “NO!” the children all answered.  “If I were to do all my priestly duties well, and practice the Beatitudes in my life, would that get me into Heaven?” the Pastor asked.  Again, the answer was, “NO!”  “Well, then, if I were to be kind to animals, give candy to all the children, and love and serve my parish, would that get me into Heaven?”  Again, the answer was, “NO!” “Well”, he continued, “then how can I get into Heaven?”  Five-year-old little Johnny shouted out, “First you have to die.”

3) Beatitude in marriage: In his book, On This Day, Carl D. Windsor includes this anecdote:  Even the most devoted couple will experience a “stormy” bout once in a while.  A grandmother, celebrating her golden wedding anniversary, once told the secret of her long and happy marriage.  “On my wedding day, I decided to make a list of ten of my husband’s faults which, for the sake of our marriage, I would overlook,” she said.  A guest asked the woman what some of the faults she had chosen to overlook were.  The grandmother replied, “To tell you the truth, my dear, I never did get around to listing them.  But whenever my husband did something that made me hopping mad, I would say to myself, ‘Lucky for him that’s one of the ten!’”–  Today, the words of the Beatitudes invite us to consider anew our dependence on God, to acknowledge Him as the Supreme Authority in our lives, and to recognize in Him the Source of our identity and happiness.

4) A famous preacher once told his congregation, “Every blade of grass is a sermon.” — A few days later, a parishioner saw him mowing his lawn. ‘That’s right, Father,’ the man said, ‘cut your sermons short.’ (Catholic homilies).

USEFUL WEBSITES OF THE WEEK (For homilies & Bible study groups) (The easiest method  to visit these websites is to copy and paste the web address or URL on the Address bar of any Internet website like Google or MSN and press the Enter button of your Keyboard).

1) Fr. Nick’s collection of Sunday homilies from 65 priests & weekday homilies: https://www.catholicsermons.com/homilies/sunday_homilies

2) Fr. Don’ collection of video homilies & blogs: https://sundayprep.org/featured-homilies/ (Copy it on the Address bar and press the Enter button)

 3) Fr. Geoffrey Plant’s beautiful & scholarly video classes on Sunday gospel, Bible & RCIA topics:   https://www.youtube.com/user/GeoffreyPlant20663)

4) Dr. Brant Pitre’s commentary on Cycle A Sunday Scripture for Bible Class: https://catholicproductions.com/blogs/mass-readings-explained-year-Biblical basis of Catholic doctrines: http://scripturecatholic.com/

5) Agape Catholic Bible Lessons: http://www.agapebiblestudy.com/

6) Catholic answers: http://www.catholic.com/

7) For articles on various theological topics: http://www.shc.edu/theolibrary/

8) Online Christian classical books:  http://www.ccel.org/index/classics.html

9) www.mcgill.pvt.k12.al.us/jerryd/cathmob.htm: (This site is a veritable theological library with links from Catholic teaching to Catholic art.)

” Scriptural Homilies” no. 11 (A) by Fr. Tony akadavil@gmail.com

20 Additional anecdotes:

1) Happiness & unhappiness: The “Dear Abby” Column once received a letter from a 15-year-old girl which read as follows: “Dear Abby: Happiness is: not having your parents scold you if you come home late, having your own bedroom, and getting the telephone call you’ve been hoping for. Happiness is belonging to a popular group, being dressed as well as anybody, and having a lot of spending money. Happiness is something I don’t have. 15 and Unhappy.” Shortly after the letter was published, “Dear Abby” received a reply from 13-year-old girl who wrote: Dear Abby: “Happiness is being able to walk and talk, to see and hear. Unhappiness is reading a letter from a 15-year-old girl who can do all four things and still says she isn’t happy. I can talk, I can see, I can hear. But I can’t walk. 13, crippled and Happy.” — These letters reflect two different points of view on happiness. Today’s gospel on the Beatitudes does the same. (Albert Cylwicki in His Word Resounds) (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).

2) “Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you.”  On the morning before Bill Clinton took the presidential oath of office, he went to a nearby Church for a prayer service. Someone read the Beatitudes during the service. When the reader came to the last two verses, someone observed Mr. Clinton repeating the words of Jesus: 11 “Blessed are you when men revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven.” —  They were good words for a politician to say, particularly on the opening day of what turned out to be a rocky term of office. Any politician who tries to take an occasional stand for what is holy, just, and true can expect persecution, slander, and false accounts. The only reward may be a Heavenly one. (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).

3) “Happiness on easy monthly terms.” An ad appeared recently in USA Today for the BMW automobile. The ad begins like this: “Needless to say, you can’t buy happiness. But for a mere $299 a month, you can lease exhilaration. Simply visit your authorized BMW dealer before September 30 and lease a new BMW 325…” After extolling the virtues of the BMW, the ad concludes like this: “For a program of spiritual uplift on easy monthly terms, we recommend you visit a participating BMW dealer.” — I like that: “a program of spiritual uplift on easy monthly terms.” (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).

4) Eight laws of public health:  Some years ago a panel of doctors was appointed by the Federal government to meet together and draw up eight laws of public health that could be printed in pamphlet form and distributed to the public. After twelve days of exhausting meetings, the doctors were unable to come to a consensus. It seems that their areas of concern were too diverse. Among the group were a cancer specialist, a cardiologist, a pulmonologist and a psychiatrist, and each approached the problem from the perspective of his own discipline. The chest expert was concerned about coal dust from the mines and lint produced by textile mills, while the psychiatrist was concerned about the effects off urban stress. — Finally, Dr. Harold Sladen of a famous hospital in Detroit came up with an appropriate idea. He said: “Let’s just republish the eight Beatitudes of Jesus and simply replace the word ‘Blessed’ with the word ‘Healthy.’”(https://frtonyshomilies.com/).

5) Living the Beatitudes: In the last century, a Belgian priest named Father Damien went to live on a remote island colony among people with leprosy. Father Damien tried to live the values of the Beatitudes. He was pure in heart, merciful, hungry and thirsty for righteousness. He was publicly persecuted for doing what he believed was right. His biographers also say he was often lonely, depressed, and stubborn. His immediate superiors branded him a troublemaker. (Gavan Daws, Holy Man (Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press, 19845) —  The Catholic Church had to wait for years, only naming him as a saint in 2010. But people who knew Father Damien called him “happy” or “blessed.” (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).

6) Happiness is found in purposeful living:  In his book, Anatomy of an Illness, Norman Cousins tells a revealing story about Pablo Casals, the great cellist. Cousins describes meeting Casals shortly before his ninetieth birthday. It was almost painful for Cousins to watch the old man dress. Arthritis, emphysema, the frailty of advanced years — all had taken their toll. The hands swollen, the fingers clenched — how could a man in such condition ever hope to play his beloved music again? And yet, even before eating Casals made his way slowly and with much difficulty to his piano. There a miracle took place right before Norman Cousins’ eyes. As he describes it, “The fingers slowly unlocked and reached toward the keys like the buds of a plant toward sunlight. [Casals’] back straightened. He seemed to breathe more freely.” He began with a number by Bach which he played with a sensitivity and control that would have been the envy of a young and agile pianist. He then launched into a Brahms concerto, and his fingers seemed to race above the keyboard. “His entire body seemed fused with music,” Cousins wrote. “It was no longer stiff and shrunken but supple and graceful and completely freed from its arthritic coils.” By the time he walked away from the piano he seemed to be an entirely different person from the tired old man who struggled out of bed and into his clothes. He stood straighter and taller. He immediately walked to the breakfast table, ate heartily, and then went out for a stroll on the beach. — “The sense of uselessness,” said Thomas Huxley, “is the severest shock which our system can sustain.” Conversely, when we have a great purpose to live for, a purpose that is high and noble, our whole being is enhanced. That is the first conclusion about happiness which we can derive from these teachings of our Lord. Happiness is found in giving ourselves to a high and noble purpose. (Rev. King Duncan)  (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).

7) Is anyone in this world truly happy? Samuel Johnson once wrote a story entitled “Rasselas” in which the main character, an Abyssinian prince, lived on a mountaintop in peace and luxury but became dissatisfied with his walled-in existence and finally ventured out into the world to search for those persons who were altogether happy. To his surprise he discovered that no such person existed in the world. He returned, disillusioned, to his home in Abyssinia — Is anyone in this world truly happy? (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).

8) “Really happy and was still in their right mind?” There was a Peanuts cartoon years ago in which Lucy asked Charlie Brown if he had ever known anybody who was really happy. Before she could finish her sentence, however, Snoopy came dancing on tiptoe into the frame, his nose high in the air. He danced and bounced his way across two frames of the cartoon strip. — Finally, in the last frame, Lucy finished her sentence, “Have you ever known anybody who was really happy,  and was still in their right mind?” (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).

9) Declaration of Independence: On July 2, 1776, the Second Continental Congress, meeting in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, approved Richard Henry Lee’s motion that the thirteen colonies in North America declare their independence from Great Britain and from the rule of King George III.  On that July 4, celebrated now as Independence Day, the Congress approved the Declaration. Since then, human history has been punctuated with many such declarations of independence.  Over 40 countries on the continent of Africa, more than a dozen newly independent republics in the former Soviet Union, several areas in Eastern Europe and conflicting ethnic groups with differing ideologies in many countries have engaged in civil wars and declared their political independence from those who had controlled them.  The clamor for independence can be heard everywhere, from Hong Kong in the east to the Basque country in the west. — Independence, self-rule, and the prerogative of determining one’s own direction, goals and priorities have perennial appeal for most human beings.  But, as is often the case, the readings for today’s liturgy invite us to consider a different perspective.  The inspired authors of today’s readings, Zephaniah, Paul, and Matthew, make a motion, as it were, a motion that each of us should consider making a personal  Declaration of Dependence on God, to receive our true blessing. (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).

10) Battle of Gettysburg: Frederick Buechner tells about watching a scene in the Ken Burns film series on the Civil War. It was the fiftieth anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg, and veterans from North and South gathered at the battleground to reminisce. At one point, the veterans decided to reenact Pickett’s Charge. All the participants took their positions, and then one side began to charge the other. Instead of swords and rifles, this time the vets carried canes and crutches. As both sides converged, the old men did not fight. Instead they embraced and began to weep. Buechner muses, “If only those doddering old veterans had seen in 1863 what they now saw so clearly fifty years later.” — Then he adds: “Half a century later, they saw that the great battle had been a great madness. The men who were advancing toward them across the field of Gettysburg were not enemies. They were human beings like themselves, with the same dreams, needs, hopes, the same wives and children waiting for them to come home … What they saw was that we were, all of us, created not to do battle with each other but to love each other, and it was not just a truth they saw. For a few minutes, it was a truth they lived. It was a truth they became. [Frederick Buechner, “Journey Toward Wholeness,” Theology Today 49/4 (January 1993), pp. 454-464).] (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).

11) “If only I had that, I would be happy.”  Father Louis Everly, a noted Belgian theologian, priest and writer says that so many people never find happiness because they do not know where to look for it. Too many people make the mistake of seeking one more material thing, one more pay raise, one more promotion, one more problem solved, one more handicap overcome. “If only I had that,” they often say, “I would be happy.” Too late they learn that happiness does not come from the outside but from within. Howard Hughes was one of the wealthiest men who ever lived but he could not buy contentment or peace of mind. — That is the first thing that is evident as we view the Beatitudes. Happiness is not synonymous with the pursuit of pleasure.  (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).

12) Satan’s Beatitudes: Blessed are those who are too tired, too busy, too distracted to spend an hour once a week with their fellow Christians in Church – they are my best workers.
Blessed are those who wait to be asked and expect to be thanked – I can use them in my business.
Blessed are those who are touchy.  Soon they will stop going to Church – verily, they shall be my missionaries.
Blessed are those who sow gossip and trouble – they are my beloved children.
Blessed are those who have no time to pray – for they are MY prey.
Blessed are those who gossip – for they are my secret agents.
Blessed are you when you read this and think it has everything to do with other people, and nothing to do with you – I’ve got room for YOU at my inn. (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).

13) Eight principles for the measure of a person.  Some years ago the Raleigh, North Carolina News & Observer published an article entitled: “How Do You Measure Up as a Man?” The article stated that some extensive research had been conducted on the 20th century standards for measuring a man. 1) His ability to make and conserve money. 2) The cost, style and age of his car. 3) How much hair he has. 4) His strength and size. 5) The job he holds and how successful he is at it. 6) What sports he likes. 7) How many clubs he belongs to. 8) His aggressiveness and reliability. — Jesus Christ also once set down eight principles for the measure of a person. His standards stand in stark contrast to the aforementioned. There would appear to be a wide gulf between the popular image of the successful person and what God sees as the successful person. (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).

14) Final happiness: I like the story of the preacher who met two little boys. After greeting them, he said, “Boys, would you like to go to Heaven?” “Yes, sir!” one responded immediately. “No, sir,” the other boy said honestly. Surprised by such honesty, the preacher asked, “Son, do you mean that eventually you don’t want to go to Heaven?” “I’d like to go eventually, “replied the boy, “but I thought you were getting up a load to go today.” — For many people, happiness, like Heaven, is something that is going to come eventually, but it never quite arrives. (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).

15) Secret of happiness: Barbara L. Frederickson, Ph.D., has spent fifteen years studying happiness, and she has reached the conclusion that happiness comes from finding positive meaning in the things that happen to us. You get a flat tire on the way to work. Bad experience. You have a great conversation with the mechanic who comes to fix your flat. Good experience. Your presentation at work didn’t wow your colleagues as much as you had hoped it would. Bad experience. You learn valuable lessons from your failure that you can use in making your next presentation. Good experience. — People who find positive meaning, even in bad experiences, are happier and more resilient than are people who only focus on their bad experiences. (Rev. Frank Lyman.) (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).

16) City of Joy: City of Joy is the title of a novel (and a movie based on it), written by a European Doctor who came to live in the Calcutta slum, Anand Nagar (City of Joy).  Describing the naked or half-naked slum children playing in the rain and mud, he says that the rich children living in the city mansions can never be happy like these poor kids. — “Happy are the poor, for theirs is the Kingdom of God.” (Joe Vempeny). (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).

17) “I’d give it to the poor.” During the Great Depression in America, a government agency had the task of travelling through  isolated  mountain areas, in search of poor farmers, to whom they would give some grant of money for the purchase of seed, or repairing their homes. One agent came upon an old woman living in a shack. It had no floor. Several windows were broken and covered over with tar paper. The old woman had but the basic essentials, and was just barely scratching out a living on a miserable plot of land. The agent said to her, “If the government gave you $200, what would you do with it?” Her instant answer was: “I’d give it to the poor.” — It is a mistake for a religious to think of money as riches. In spite of the lack of it,  this good woman does not consider herself poor. Millions of good people are really rich, while having little money. On the other hand, one could have plenty of money, and be really poor.(Indian Thoughts Archives) (Joe Vempeny). (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).

18) Happiness Myths: Dr. Harold Treffert is the director of the Winnebago Mental Health Institute in Wisconsin. In an article entitled “The American Fairy Tale,” he discusses five dangerous ideas we have about the meaning of happiness. First, happiness is things. The more you accumulate and have, the happier you will be. Second, happiness is what you do. The more you produce and earn, the happier you will be. Third, happiness is being the same as others. The more you are fashionable and conform with the times, the happier you will be. Fourth, happiness is mental health. The fewer problems you have and the more carefree you are, the happier you will be. Fifth, happiness is communicating with electronic gadgets. The more you can communicate with a television set, a satellite, or a computer,  the happier you will be. According to Dr. Treffert, these five myths about happiness are the cause of many mental health problems today. — If happiness cannot be found through these five myths of “The American Fairy Tale,” then where do we find it? Jesus gives us the answer when he outlines the beatitudes in today’s reading from Luke. (Albert Cylwicki in His Word Resounds) (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).

19) The attitude that beatifies: There was a farmer. He lived a happy life spending most of the time taking care of his farm with the aid of his horse. One day he lost his horse. Neighbors came to sympathize with him. “What a shame!” they said. “Who knows? God Knows!” He replied. A week later this horse returned with another horse. The neighbors came to share his joy. “What a blessing! they said. “Who knows? God knows!” he replied. One day while riding the horse,  his son fell down from the horse and broke his leg. Again neighbors came to offer their sympathy. “What a shame!” they said. “Who knows? God knows!” he replied. A week late a war broke out in their country. The king ordered all men over 18 years of age to join the military. They spared his son because of his broken leg. Once again neighbors rushed to his house. “What a blessing!” they said. — “Who knows? God Knows!” the farmer replied. (SV) (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).

20) Is there anybody who is really happy? According to the Center for Disease Control, in the United States “in 2016, nearly 45,000 Americans age 10 and older died by suicide. Suicide is the 10^th leading cause of death, and is one of just three leading causes that are on the rise.” Three years ago, 45,000 American people were unhappy enough to snuff out their own lives. Statistics suggest that your lifetime 15 million people in this country will attempt to end their lives. And the suicide rate is increasing the fastest among young people nearly 300 percent among those 15 to 24 in the last twenty years. — Is there anybody who is really happy? (https://frtonyshomilies.com/). L/23

 “Scriptural Homilies” Cycle A (No. 13) by Fr. Tony: akadavil@gmail.com

Visit my website by clicking on https://frtonyshomilies.com/ for missed or previous Cycle C  & A homilies, 141 Year of Faith “Adult Faith Formation Lessons” (useful for RCIA classes too) & 197 “Question of the Week.” Contact me only at akadavil@gmail.com. Visit https://www.catholicsermons.com/homilies/sunday_homilies  of Fr. Nick’s collection of homilies or Resources in the CBCI website:  https://www.cbci.in.  (Special thanks to Vatican Radio website http://www.vaticannews.va/en/church.html -which completed uploading my Cycle A, B and C homilies in May 2020)  Fr. Anthony Kadavil, Chaplain, Sacred Heart Residence of the Little Sisters of the Poor, 1655 McGill Ave, Mobile, AL 36604

Jan 23-28:Click on http://frtonyshomilies.com for missed homilies:

23 Monday (Saint Vincent, Deacon and Martyr; USA)

For a short biography click on https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-of-the-day/saint-vincent-of-zaragossa) Saint Marianne Cope, VirginUSA): https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-of-the-day/saint-marianne-cope Day of Prayer for the Legal white or violet Protection of Unborn Children [USA): Mk 3: 22-30: 22 And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem said,
“He is possessed by Beelzebul, and by the prince of demons he casts out
the demons.” 23 And he called them to him, and said to them in parables,
“How can Satan cast out Satan? 24 If a kingdom is divided against itself,
that kingdom cannot stand. 25 And if a house is divided against itself, that
house will not be able to stand. 26 And if Satan has risen up against himself
and is divided, he cannot stand, but is coming to an end. 27 But no one can
enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods unless he first binds the
strong man; then indeed he may plunder his house. 28 “Truly, I say to you,
all sins will be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever blasphemies they utter;
29 but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is
guilty of an eternal sin” — 30 for they had said, “He has an unclean
spirit.”(Feast Day gospel: Jn 15: 9-17)

 The context:
Today’s Gospel passage gives Jesus’ crushing reply to the slander propagated by
the observers from the Sanhedrin, that Jesus expelled devils using the
assistance of the leader of devils.

Jesus refutes the false allegation raised against him by
the Sanhedrin scribes with three counterarguments and a warning: 1) A house
divided against itself will perish and a country engaged in civil war will be
ruined. Hence, Satan will not fight against Satan by helping Jesus to expel his
co-workers. 2) If Jesus is collaborating with Satan to exorcise minor demons,
then the Jewish exorcists are doing the same. 3) Jesus claims that he is using
the power of his Heavenly Father to evict devils, just as a stronger man can
tie up the strong man who has guarded all his possessions,  and take all the strong man  has acquired. The evil one, the strong man,
has muh of the world as a guarded possession, but Jesus is stronger that the
evil one and will destroy the captor and free the captives. – by dying on the
cross in willing sacrifice to save all of us, 4) Finally, Jesus gives a
crushing blow to his accusers, warning them that by telling blatant lies they
are blaspheming against the Holy Spirit and, hence, that their sins are
unforgivable (unless, of course,  they
repent).

 Life message: 1)
Jesus teaches that we can be influenced by the evil spirit if we listen to him
and follow him. Hence, we have to keep our souls daily cleansed and filled with
the Spirit of God, leaving no space for the evil spirit to enter our souls. Fr.
Tony (https://frtonyshomilies.com/) L/23

For additional reflections, click on: https://bible.usccb.org/podcasts/video; https://catholic-daily-reflections.com/daily-reflections/; https://www.epriest.com/reflections

24 Tuesday: (Saint Francis de Sales, Bishop and Doctor of the Church)

For a short biography click on https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-of-the-day/saint-francis-de-sales  Mk 3:31-35:: 31
And his mother and his brothers came; and standing outside they sent to him and
called him. 32 And a crowd was sitting about him; and they said to him,
“Your mother and your brothers are outside, asking for you.” 33 And
he replied, “Who are my mother and my brothers?” 34 And looking
around on those who sat about him, he said, “Here are my mother and my
brothers! 35 Whoever does the will of God is my brother, and sister, and
mother.”

The context: As
Jesus became a strong critic of the Jewish religious authorities, his cousins,
taking Mary His mother with them (though she supported him and all he was  doing) to get a hearing by Jesus and take him
to Nazareth by force, perhaps because they feared that he would be arrested and
put to death, and that they might be next

 Jesus’ plain statement: Today’s Gospel episode
seems to suggest that Jesus ignored the request of his mother and close
relatives who had traveled a long distance of 20 miles to talk to him. But
everyone in the audience knew that Jesus loved his mother and had taken care
of her for years before he started his public ministry. Besides, Jesus’
plain answer, “Whoever does the will of God is my brother, and sister, and
mother” was actually a compliment to his mother who had always listened
to the word of God and obeyed it. Jesus was declaring, “Blessed are those
who hear and keep the word of God as she is faithfully doing” (Vatican II,
Lumen Gentium, 58).   Jesus was also using the occasion to
teach the congregation a new lesson about their relationship with God.
Being a disciple of Jesus, or a Christian, is first and foremost a relationship of mutual love, service,  and unity with God the Father, Son, and Holy
Spirit,  and so with all who belong to
God as His children.  Jesus has changed the order of relationships and
shows us here that true kinship is not just a matter of flesh and blood.
God’s gracious gift to us is His adoption of us as His sons and
daughters.  This gift enables us to recognize all those who belong to
Christ as our brothers and sisters.  Our adoption as sons and
daughters of God transforms all our relationships and requires a new order
of loyalty to God and His kingdom.  “Everyone who does the will of
the Father,” that is to say, who obeys Him, is a brother or sister of
Christ, because he is like Jesus who fulfilled the will of his Father.
But he who not only obeys but converts others, begets Christ in them, and thus
becomes like the Mother of Christ” (“Commentary on St. Matthew”,
12:49-50.)

Life message:
1) Let us remember that by Baptism we become the children of God, brothers and
sisters of Jesus, and members of the Heavenly family of the Triune God. Hence,
let us observe our obligations of treating others with love and respect and
of sharing our love with them in corporal and spiritual works of mercy. We
are also His disciples, and so are obliged to be hearers as well as doers of
the word of God. Fr. Tony (https://frtonyshomilies.com/) L/23

For additional reflections, click on: https://bible.usccb.org/podcasts/video; https://catholic-daily-reflections.com/daily-reflections/; https://www.epriest.com/reflections

Jan 25 Wednesday: (The Conversion of Saint Paul the Apostle) https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-of-the-day/conversion-of-saint-paul 

Mk 16:15-18:  Paul, the “Apostle to the Gentiles” and the greatest missionary of the Apostolic age, was
a Roman citizen by his birth in Tarsus (in Cilicia), and a Jew born to the
tribe of Benjamin. His Hebrew name was Saul. Since he was a Pharisee, Saul was
sent to Jerusalem by his parents to study the Mosaic
Law under the great rabbi Gamaliel. As a student, he
also learned the trade of tent-making. He was present as a consenting observer
at the stoning of Stephen. But Saul was miraculously converted on his way to
Damascus to arrest the Christians. After that, Saul, now called Paul, made
several missionary journeys, converted hundreds of Jews and Gentiles and
established Church communities. He wrote 14 epistles. He was arrested and kept
in prison for two years in Caesarea and spent two more years under house arrest
in Rome. Finally, he was martyred by beheading at Tre
Fontane in Rome). Paul’s spiritual journey was a
spiritual experience (Mysica), that produced a
transformation (Metanoia) and impelled him to assume a mission of evangelization
(Missio).

Today we celebrate the feast of the conversion St. Paul
(described thrice in the New Testament: Acts
chapters 9, 22, and 26) an event which revolutionized the history and
theology of the early Church. Saul of Tarsus, because of his zeal for the
Jewish law and Jewish traditions, became the most outrageous enemy of Christ
and his teaching, as the apostles started preaching the Gospel. Saul consented
to the martyrdom of Stephen, watching the cloaks of the stoners. After the
martyrdom of the holy deacon, the priests and magistrates of the Jews raised a
violent persecution against the Christian communities at Jerusalem, and Saul
was their fanatical young leader. By virtue of the authority he had received
from the high priest, he dragged the Christians out of their houses, chained
them and thrust them into prison. In the fury of his zeal, he applied to the
high priest and Sanhedrin for a commission to take up all Jews at Damascus who
confessed Jesus Christ and bring them bound to Jerusalem to be properly
punished. He was almost at the end of his journey to Damascus, when, at about
noon, he and his company were suddenly surrounded by a great light. As Saul
fell to the ground, he heard a voice say, “Saul, Saul, why are you
persecuting Me?” Saul answered, “Who are you, Sir?” And the
voice said, “I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting. Now, get up and go
into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” Saul rose and,
blind, was led by his companions into Damascus. The Lord sent a Damascus
disciple named Ananias to heal and instruct Saul. Ananias entered the house
and, obeying Jesus’ orders, laid his hands on Saul and prayed over him so that
he might regain his sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit. And immediately
something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes. He regained his sight, got up, was
baptized and, having eaten, recovered his strength.  Saul had realized the truth that Jesus was
the mysterious fulfillment of all he had been blindly pursuing. He could easily
identify Jesus with Jesus’ followers. He stayed several days in Damascus with
Christian disciples and started teaching in the synagogues that Jesus was the
promised Messiah and the Son of God. Life message: Saul’s
conversion into Paul teaches us that we, too, need conversion and the
renewal of our lives by a fresh anointing of the Holy Spirit, which will enable
us to bear witness to Christ, as St. Paul did, by exemplary lives.(Feast Day gospel: Lk 10:1-9)   Fr. Tony
(https://frtonyshomilies.com/) L/23

For additional reflections, click on:
https://bible.usccb.org/podcasts/video; https://catholic-daily-reflections.com/daily-reflections/; https://www.epriest.com/reflections

26: Thursday: (Saints Timothy and Titus, Bishops) For a short biography click on https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-of-the-day/saints-timothy-and-titus  

Mk 4: 21-25: 21 And he said to them, “Is a lamp brought in to be put under a bushel, or
under a bed, and not on a stand? 22 For there is nothing hid, except to be made
manifest; nor is anything secret, except to come to light. 23 If any man has
ears to hear, let him hear.” 24 And he said to them, “Take heed what
you hear; the measure you give will be the measure you get, and still more will
be given you. 25 For to him who has will more be given; and from him who has
not, even what he has will be taken away.”

 The context:
Today’s Gospel passage is taken from Mark’s version of Jesus’ teaching after he
had told the parable of the sower.  Jesus reminds us that we are the light
of the world and that our duty is to receive and radiate around us Christ’s
light of love, mercy, compassion and forgiveness.

 The image of light and lamp:
Lamps help people to see and work in the dark, and their light prevents our
stumbling and falling down. For the Jews, Light represented the inner beauty,
truth, and goodness of God. God’s Light illumines our lives with Light,
celestial joy, and everlasting peace. The glory of the Lord shone around
the shepherds at Bethlehem (Lk 2:9). Paul recognized the presence of God in a blinding
Light (Acts 9:3; 22:6); God “dwells in inaccessible Light” (1 Tim 6:16).
That is why Jesus claims that he is the Light of the world. When the Light
of Christ shines in our hearts, we are able to recognize who we are, who
our neighbors are and Who God is and to see clearly how we are related to God
and our neighbors. When we live in Christ’s Light, we do not foolishly try to
hide truths about ourselves from ourselves, from our neighbors, or from God.
Christ’s Light will also remind us of the consequences of our sinful ways and
bad habits.  

 The paradox of the rich getting
richer: In
today’s Gospel, Jesus makes the comment “for to him who has, more will be
given,” following the warning “Take heed how you hear….”
Jesus is telling us that if we listen to him
with open minds and open hearts and walk in his Light, the tiny bit of wisdom
and understanding that we’ve already gained will grow and grow with his help.
If, on the other hand, our hearts are closed to him, even the little bit of
wisdom that we think we’ve got will be lost. Jesus is not talking about money
or wealth in any form. He is talking about the extent and depth of our
connectedness to God. If we are already deeply rooted in God, our spirits will
grow larger, richer, and fuller by the day. But if our connection to the Lord
is only superficial, our spirits certainly won’t grow, and our connection to
Him may well not last at all.

 Life message: As “light
of the world” it is our duty to remove the darkness from around us and to
show others the true Light of Jesus, his ideas and ideals from our model
Christian life.  Fr. Tony (https://frtonyshomilies.com/) L/23 For additional reflections, click on: https://bible.usccb.org/podcasts/video; https://catholic-daily-reflections.com/daily-reflections/;
https://www.epriest.com/reflections

27: Friday: [Saint Angela Merici, Virgin] For a short biography click on https://ajmerdiocese.org/saint-angela-merici-franciscan-media/

Mk 4:26-34: 26 Jesus said to the crowds: “This is how it is with the Kingdom of God; it is as if a man were to scatter seed upon the ground, 27 and should sleep and rise night and day, and the seed should sprout and grow, he knows not how. 28 The earth produces of itself, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. 29 But when the grain is ripe, at once he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.” 30 And he said, “With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable shall we use for it? 31 It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when sown upon the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth; 32 yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes the greatest of all shrubs, and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade.” 33 With many such parables he spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear it; 34 he did not speak to them without a parable, but privately to his own disciples he explained everything. (Feast Day gospel: MT 23: 8-12)

The context: Using the mini-parables of the growth of wheat seeds and mustard seeds in the field, Jesus explains the nature of the growth of the Kingdom of God or rule of God in human beings and human societies. In the case of both wheat and mustard seeds, the initial growth is slow and unnoticeable. But within days a leafy shoot will emerge, and within months a mature plant with numerous branches and leaves, flowers and fruits will be produced. The growth is silent and slow but steady, using power from the seed in the beginning and transforming absorbed water and minerals for energy in the later stages. Jesus explains that the Kingdom of God grows this way in human souls. The Kingdom of God is the growth of God’s rule in human hearts that occurs when man does the will of God and surrenders his life to God. It is slow and microscopic in the beginning. But it grows by using the power of the Holy Spirit, given to us through the Word of God, the Sacraments, and our prayers. Finally, God’s rule in the human heart transforms individuals and communities into God’s people, doing His will in His kingdom.

Life message 1) As we learn God’s will from His words and try to put these words into practice, we participate in the growth of God’s Kingdom on earth, a growth which will be completed in our Heavenly life. But we need the special anointing of the Holy Spirit to be doers of the word of God, so let us offer our lives before God every day, asking for this special anointing. Fr. Tony (https://frtonyshomilies.com/) L/23

For additional reflections, click on: https://bible.usccb.org/podcasts/video; https://catholic-daily-reflections.com/daily-reflections/; https://www.epriest.com/reflections

28 Saturday: (Saint Thomas Aquinas, Priest and Doctor of the Church) For a short biography click on https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-of-the-day/saint-thomas-aquinas

Mk 4:35-41: 35 On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.” 36 And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him. 37 And a great storm of wind arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. 38 But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care if we perish?” 39 And he awoke and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. 40 He said to them, “Why are you afraid? Have you no faith?” 41 And they were filled with awe, and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even wind and sea obey him?”

The context: Mark’s emphasis on Jesus’ wondrous works helps him to reveal Jesus’ true Messianic identity. The role of God in calming the storms of life is the central theme of today’s Gospel. By describing the miracle, Mark also gives the assurance to his first-century believers that nothing can harm the Church as long as the risen Lord is with them. The incident reminds us today to keep Jesus in our life’s boat and to seek God’s help in the storms of life.

The storm: The Sea of Galilee is lake thirteen miles long from north to south and eight miles broad from east to west at its widest. It is notorious for its sudden storms. When a cold wind blows from the west, the valleys and gullies and hills act like gigantic funnels, compressing the winds and letting them rush down to the lake to create storms with violent waves. Unable to control their fears in just such a storm, the disciples awaken Jesus, accusing him of disregarding their safety. Jesus' response is immediate. First, Jesus rebukes the winds and the sea, producing perfect calm, to the great astonishment of his disciples. Then only does he reproach them for their lack of Faith.

Life messages: 1) We need to welcome Jesus into the boat of our life. All of us are making a journey across the sea of time to the shore of eternity, and it is natural that, occasionally in our lives, we all experience different types of violent storms: physical storms, emotional storms, and spiritual storms. We face storms of sorrow, doubts, anxiety, worries, temptations, and passion. Only Jesus can give us real peace in the storm of sorrow or console us at the loss of our dear ones.

2) When the storm of doubts seeks to uproot the very foundations of our Faith, Jesus is there to still that storm, revealing to us His Divinity and the authority behind the words of Holy Scripture. He gives us peace in the storms of anxiety and worries about ourselves, about the unknown future, and about those we love. Jesus calms the storms of passion in people who have hot hearts and blazing tempers. Fr. Tony (https://frtonyshomilies.com/) L/23

For additional reflections, click on: https://bible.usccb.org/podcasts/video; https://catholic-daily-reflections.com/daily-reflections/; https://www.epriest.com/reflections