Tag: christianity

Year C | 6/16/19 | John 16:12-15

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“I have much more to tell you, but you cannot bear it now. But when he comes, the Spirit of truth, he will guide you to all truth. He will not speak on his own, but he will speak what he hears, and will declare to you the things that are coming. He will glorify me, because he will take from what is mine and declare it to you. Everything that the Father has is mine; for this reason I told you that he will take from what is mine and declare it to you.”

John 16:12-15 (NABRE)

We often don’t give the Holy Spirit the attention He deserves.

We see in this passage a presentation of the Holy Trinity, one God in three distinct, divine Persons. For as transcendent as God is, He is also profoundly immanent. We have a God that is not some dead notion or a nice but useless thought, but is instead very much alive and powerful and also so very personable. He desires intimacy with us, not because He needs us, but out of His unfathomable love. Intimacy with the divine is possible and is very much aligned with reality. Jesus promises the guidance of the Holy Spirit in this passage. When we think of guidance from human beings, we think of that advice and encouragement we receive from people with which we have a trusting and intimate relationship. If us human beings can be of such great consolation to each other, how much more can God the Holy Spirit console us in deep intimacy and loving guidance?

Thank you for reading. Peace.

Year C | 6/9/19 | John 20:19-23

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On the evening of that first day of the week, when the doors were locked, where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. [Jesus] said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.”

John 20:19-23

A fitting reading for Pentecost Sunday.

It is curious that the risen Jesus still has the wounds He sustained during the Crucifixion. Baffling as it may be at first, it becomes clearer why this would be the case when we take into account what happens in this passage. Jesus bestows the Holy Spirit on the disciples in the upper room to authoritatively and effectively forgive sins. As a Catholic, I believe that this authority to forgive sins is exercised in the Sacrament of Confession. The Apostles received this authority from Jesus and it has since been passed down to their successors (the bishops) and those successors’ collaborators (the priests). Jesus shows them the nail marks in His hands and the lance wound on His side before He confers the Spirit. In doing so, Jesus demonstrates that His unfathomable and inexhaustible mercy, which was displayed on the Cross when He suffered and died for the forgiveness of sins, is the same mercy that will be exercised through the missionary ministry of the Apostles that would take place after Pentecost.

What a wonderful gift we have in Confession.

Thank you for reading. Peace.

Year C | 5/26/19 | John 14:23-29

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Jesus answered and said to him, ” Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words; yet the word you hear is not mine but that of the Father who sent me. I have told you this while I am with you. The Advocate, the holy Spirit that the Father will send in my name — he will teach you everything and remind you of all that [I] told you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid. You heard me tell you, ‘I am going away and I will come back to you.’ If you loved me, you would rejoice that I am going to the Father; for the Father is greater than I. And now I have told you this before it happens, so that when it happens you may believe.

John 14:23-29 (NABRE)

The Holy Trinity works to guide each believer to Heaven.

Jesus comes from the Father, commands us to love one another as He (Jesus) has loved us, and then has the Holy Spirit sent by the Father in the name of the Son (Jesus) to guide us in our walk of faith.

On this walk, the Holy Spirit reminds us of what we have learned from Jesus. After giving His disciples the promise of the Advocate, Jesus leaves them with His peace. It is interesting that this bestowal of peace comes immediately after the promise of the outpouring of the Spirit. There is a connection between walking along the Way, according to the Truth, and towards everlasting Life and an experience of an otherworldly peace. This is the peace of Jesus Christ. It is found in the stability of living as Christ would want us to live. In conducting ourselves in this manner with the help of powerful divine grace, we experience a detachment from the desirability of sin, which ultimately enslaves. This peace is not bound to worldly peace, which often comes from an absence of war, financial security, and physical health. These are certainly goals to achieve, but here is something so beautiful about the peace of Christ: it can be experienced by those who do not experience a privileged life of socioeconomic prosperity and stability. The poor people of war-torn countries can and do experience the peace of Jesus in their lives. It is available to all, even to those who do not live in ideal situations. Jesus has a special love for the socioeconomic poor. All life is valuable on an inestimable scale. God shows no partiality.

Thank you for reading. Peace.

Year C | 5/12/19 | John 10:27-30

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My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish. No one can take them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one can take them out of the Father’s hand. The Father and I are one.

John 10:27-30 (NABRE)

Jesus solemnly utters a statement of divinity. We have God as our shepherd!

Jesus uses figurative language to artistically express deeper truths throughout the Gospels. Pastoral language is found throughout Holy Scripture, such as in the Book of Psalms, the Book of Ezekiel or here in the Gospel of John. Obviously, God wants to emphasize that the attentiveness of His care can be likened to that of a shepherd. So, let’s think for a moment about what shepherds do. Even if you’ve never seen a sheep in person, you can still learn some basics by inference. Shepherds lead, guide, heal, discipline, feed, shelter, and protect their flocks. The sheep have the assurance of a competent shepherd and the company of many other sheep. Already, we can see that God wants us to take in the message that He deeply cares about us. He delights in us and wants to bring us joy and peace, just as a shepherd longs to bring his flock to abundant, tranquil pastures and flowing streams. Such is the care of our God. You can rely on God to help you in whatever situation you are in or in whatever vocation into which He calls you. T r u s t i n G o d ! If mere human shepherds can care so well for their flocks, how much more can almighty, all-good God, who is Love, care for you!

Thank you for reading. Peace.

Year C | 5/4/19 | John 21:1-19

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After this, Jesus revealed himself again to his disciples at the Sea of Tiberias. He revealed himself in this way. Together were Simon Peter, Thomas called Didymus, Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, Zebedee’s sons, and two others of his disciples. Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We also will come with you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. When it was already dawn, Jesus was standing on the shore; but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus. Jesus said to them, “Children, have you caught anything to eat?” They answered him, “No.” So he said to them, “Cast the net over the right side of the boat and you will find something.” So they cast it, and were not able to pull it in because of the number of fish. So the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord.” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he tucked in his garment, for he was lightly clad, and jumped into the sea. The other disciples came in the boat, for they were not far from shore, only about a hundred yards, dragging the net with the fish. When they climbed out on shore, they saw a charcoal fire with fish on it and bread. Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish here you just caught.” So Simon Peter went over and dragged the net ashore full of one hundred fifty-three large fish. Even though there were so many, the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, “Come, have breakfast.” And none of his disciples dared to ask him, “Who are you?” because they realized it was the Lord. Jesus came over and took the bread and gave it to them, and in like manner the fish. This was now the third time Jesus was revealed to his disciples after being raised from the dead.

When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” He then asked him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” He said to him a third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was distressed that he had said to him a third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” [Jesus] said to him, “Feed my sheep. Amen, amen, I say to you, when you were younger, you used to dress yourself and go where you wanted; but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” He said this signifying by what kind of death he would glorify God. And when he had said this, he said to him, “Follow me.”

John 21:1-19 (NABRE)

The Easter liturgical season brings out some of my favorite Gospel passages.

In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus calls Peter, James, and John to follow him after they pull in a miraculous catch of fish. Upon seeing the enormous amount, Peter tells Jesus, “Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man” (Luke 5:8). To this, Jesus says, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.” A similar interaction takes place here, only now, Jesus has risen from the dead and Peter is still distraught over denying that he knew his beloved Lord. Here we see, once again, the immeasurable Divine Mercy of Jesus. As Jesus said to St. Faustina, mercy is His greatest attribute. Time and again we see Him exercise his mercy in Holy Scripture, and we experience it in our own lives. Jesus does not spare an opportunity to show that He wants to forgive sin and lead us away from its misery.

Not only does Jesus forgive Peter, He also reaffirms the commission he gave to him earlier as the rock upon which the Church will be built (Matthew 16:18). Jesus entrusts his flock to the care of someone of the likes of Peter, who throughout the Gospels is depicted as passionate and genuine yet impulsive and somewhat obtuse.

It is astonishing to think that the Eleven, who went out and fearlessly preached the Gospel throughout the Roman world and beyond and baptized, confirmed, and nourished with the Lord’s Body and Blood so many thousands of people, started out as a ragtag group composed mostly of uneducated fishermen. Matthew (Levi), who worked at a tax office as a collector, was probably the only one of them who could read. You would think that Jesus would select some prominent members of the Sanhedrin to carry out the sacred mission of preaching and evangelizing to the ends of the earth. In our minds, only the best of the best get hired. However, we often forget that God is also a part of the equation. His grace is sufficient (2 Corinthians 12:9). If He calls you to do something, He also will supply you with the divine grace you need to do it. He has a great track record — just read the Acts of the Apostles and see what Peter was able to do with God’s help! Be not afraid of your own sinfulness and weaknesses when God calls you. You have His support. It only takes your willful cooperation.

For Peter, following Jesus meant martyrdom. Jesus hints to his face at what death he would die (crucifixion; i.e. “you will stretch out your hands”). Be prepared for whatever may come as a result of saying “yes” to Jesus. The future is uncertain, but Jesus’ love is certain. He cares deeply, so much so that He went out of His way to feed His friends and disciples breakfast even after accomplishing His salvific work on the Cross and resurrecting from the dead.

Thank you for reading. Peace.

Year C | 4/28/19 | John 20:19-31

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On the evening of that first day of the week, when the doors were locked, where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. [Jesus] said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the holy Spirit. Whose sins to forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.”

Thomas, called Didymus, one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples said to him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger into the nailmarks and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” Now a week later his disciples were again inside and Thomas was with them. Jesus came, although the doors were locked, and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands, and bring your hand and put it into my side, and do not be unbelieving, but believe.” Thomas answered and said to him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.”

Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of [his] disciples that are not written in this book. But these are written that you may [come to] believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through this belief you may have life in his name.

John 20:19-31 (NABRE)

A fitting reading for this Feast of Divine Mercy.

Each “block” of text here will be treated separately. There is so much to chew and savor in this account of one of Jesus’ post-Resurrection appearances.

First, we see two effects of the mission and ministry of the Apostles: forgiveness of sins and the peace of Christ, which are bonded with an intimate connection. Jesus makes his disciples ministers of mercy in expressly giving them the authority to forgive sins on earth. To this day, the successors to the Apostles in the episcopacy and their collaborators in the presbyterate forgive the sins of penitents through the Sacrament of Confession. As a Catholic, I am overly appreciative of this wonderful sacrament that Jesus Christ gave to his Holy Catholic Church. Jesus institutes a “tribunal of mercy,” as He describes it to St. Faustina Kowalska, that is such a tangible and concrete way to experience the forgiveness of sins that is granted so generously by our Savior. With the graces that come from this sacrament is the peace of Christ. This is a peace that gives us a preview of what is to come in Heaven. A peace that reminds us of the love with which Jesus showers us constantly. A peace from the Prince of Peace who gives to us abundantly and draws us to blissful communion with Him in his Kingdom. How generous is our Lord and God!

Next, we see the the beautiful patience of the risen Jesus. Thomas is also called “Didymus,” which means “the twin” in Greek. How often do we feel like “twins” of Thomas in our struggle to keep the faith? Jesus is patient with us, just as He was so patient with Thomas, approaching him not with words of condemnation, but with a greeting of peace. Jesus invites Thomas to have faith and helps him come to believe by putting on display his wounds for examination. Our Lord addresses both Thomas and his “twins” in inviting him and those who come to believe in the future to walk by faith and not by sight (2 Cor. 5:7).

Finally, we see another plain invitation to come to believe and accept a life lived in gratitude for and reliance on the grace and peace of our God.

Thank you for reading. Peace.

Year C | 3/31/19 | Luke 15:1-3, 11-32

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The tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to listen to him, but the Pharisees and scribes began to complain, saying, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” So to them he addressed this parable.

“A man had two sons, and the younger son said to his father, “Father, give me the share of your estate that should come to me.” So the father divided the property between them. After a few days, the younger son collected all his belongings and set off to a distant country where he squandered his inheritance on a life of dissipation. When he had freely spent everything, a severe famine struck that country, and he found himself in dire need. So he hired himself out to one of the local citizens who sent him to his farm to tend the swine. And he longed to eat his fill of the pods on which the swine fed, but nobody gave him any. Coming to his senses he thought, “How many of my father’s hired workers have more than enough food to eat, but here am I, dying from hunger. I shall get up and go to my father and I shall say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I no longer deserve to be called you son; treat me as you would treat one of your hired workers.” So he got up and went back to his father.

While he was still a long way off, his father caught sight of him, and was filled with compassion. He ran to his son, embraced him and kissed him. His son said to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you; I no longer deserve to be called your son.” But his father ordered his servants, “Quickly bring the finest robe and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Take the fattened calf and slaughter it. Then let us celebrate with a feast, because this son of mine was dead, and has come to life again; he was lost, and has been found.” Then the celebration began.

Now the older son had been out in the field and, on his way back, as he neared the house, he heard the sound of music and dancing. He called one of the servants and asked what this might mean. The servant said to him, “Your brother has returned and your father has slaughtered the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.” He became angry, and when he refused to enter the house, his father came out and pleaded with him. He said to his father in reply, “Look, all these years I served you and not once did I disobey your orders; yet you never have me even a young goat to feast on with my friends. But when your son returns who swallowed up your property with prostitutes, for him you slaughter the fattened calf.” He said to him, “My son, you are here with me always; everything I have is yours. But now we must celebrate and rejoice, because your brother was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.”

Luke 15:1-3, 11-32

Jesus Christ: the master of the art of the parable.

The fifteenth chapter of the Gospel of Luke contains three parables that demonstrate God’s desire to seek out the lost (the Parables of the Lost Sheep, the Lost Coin, and the Prodigal Son). This one is probably the most well-known of them.

A couple of things stand out to me.

First, the setting of the parable. The prodigal son goes from living on his father’s farm to tending the swine at the farm of a stranger. Such an occupation, at least for Jews, was not smiled upon. There is a drastic change from the life he once had to the misery he now experiences. Jesus paints a dark picture of the status of the prodigal son: he is broke, starving, and working a despised job far from home. It can be assumed that he walks with bare feet given his father’s order for a servant to put sandals on his feet. This is what it is like to live in the darkness of sin: hungry for what is good and working for sin’s wages under the command of mammon, the master which competes with God for our devotion. We feel ill when we spurn God and lose ourselves in a life of dissipation. This is to be expected, as we were not made for sin but goodness. Let me put it this way: when was the last time you used a spoon to knock in a nail? How did that work? Not very well, I bet. In a similar way, when we sin, we are not acting as we are designed, and that hurts us.

Second, the overabundant generosity of the father. It goes without saying that the father goes out of his way to demonstrate that his son is welcome back. This occurs even *after* the son asks for his share of the estate and wastes it all. This should serve as a model for us in how we should be generous with our mercy to those who ask of it. Holding grudges and refusing to forgive makes matters worse. We are called to be bigger than that and to show our appreciation for what God has measured out for us. God treats the penitent with an overabundance of grace. We can all rest assured in this generosity and should imitate it in our own lives.

On another note, as a Catholic, I try my best to approach the Sacrament of Confession with this parable in mind!

The parables on seeking out the lost are some of my favorites. They illustrate the deep desire that God has for each of us to be saved and show that He will go to great lengths to see us home safely. It is up to us to want to accept that help, though.

Thank you for reading. Peace.