Pope Francis

Have you made any New Year’s resolutions? If not, there's still time, and Pope Francis has some ideas for you.

1. “Take care of your spiritual life, your relationship with God, because this is the backbone of everything we do and everything we are.”

2. “Take care of your family life, giving your children and loved ones not just money, but most of all your time, attention and love.”

3. “Take care of your relationships with others, transforming your faith into life and your words into good works, especially on behalf of the needy.”

4. “Be careful how you speak, purify your tongue of offensive words, vulgarity and worldly decadence.”

5. “Heal wounds of the heart with the oil of forgiveness, forgiving those who have hurt us and medicating the wounds we have caused others.”

6. “Look after your work, doing it with enthusiasm, humility, competence, passion and with a spirit that knows how to thank the Lord.”

7. “Be careful of envy, lust, hatred and negative feelings that devour our interior peace and transform us into destroyed and destructive people.”

8. “Watch out for anger that can lead to vengeance; for laziness that leads to existential euthanasia; for pointing the finger at others, which leads to pride; and for complaining continually, which leads to desperation.”

9. “Take care of brothers and sisters who are weaker … the elderly, the sick, the hungry, the homeless and strangers, because we will be judged on this.”

10. “Making sure your Christmas is about Jesus and not about shopping.”

Introduction:

Silent Night, Holy Night.

On this holy night, we celebrate the mystery of Christ's birth, God's dwelling among us. He shall be called Emmanuel, which means God is with us.

On this holy night, we celebrate the marriage and unity of God and humanity in the child, born in Bethlehem, born in a manger. As the bridegroom rejoices in his bride, so shall your God rejoice in you.

On this holy night, we join the angels, glorifying God. Glory to God in the Highest, and on earth, peace to those on whom his favor rests.

On this holy night, we give thanks for the special child, born in the world. “For a child is born to us, a son is given us; upon his shoulder dominion rests. They name him Wonder-Counselor, God hero, Father forever, prince of peace.

On this holy night, is born our Savior, Jesus Christ the Lord.

Silent Night, Holy Night

Let us prepare our hearts to celebrate the Sacred Mysteries...

Christmas Homily:

Celebrating Christmas is celebrating the mystery of God's presence with us. The events that surround the birth of Christ is wonderful and miraculous indeed, and calls to mind the presence of God, God's intervention and activity in human life. The Christmas story has four main Annunciation story. When we hear the word Annunciation, we may think of the first joyful mystery of the Rosary, the announcement of good news to Mary. The Archangel Gabriel appeared to Mary and said: “Hail Mary, Full of Grace, the Lord is with Thee.” But Mary was greatly troubled, and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. The angel declared: “Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father, and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom, there will be no end.” Mary responded: “How can this be, because I do not know man.” The angel said: “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God.” That is the first Annunciation.

The second Annunciation took place 6 months before. When Zechariah was in the temple of Jerusalem, offering a sacrifice, the Archangel Gabriel also appeared to him. Even though he and his wife Elizabeth were advanced in age (they were very old), God told them that they will have a son, named John, who will go forth in the spirit of Elijah, to prepare the way for the Messiah. But Zechariah found it very difficult to believe, and because of his lack of belief, the Lord took away his speech until John was born.

The third Annunciation story is to the Shepherds of the Field. The Shepherds receive the good news of the Messiah that is born. It calls to mind that the Lord Jesus will be the good shepherd, one who will lay down his life for his flock. Now there were shepherds in that region, living in the fields, keeping the nightwatch over their flock. The angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were struck with great fear. The angel said to them: “Do not be afraid; for behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For today, in the city of David, a savior has been born for you, who is the Messiah and Lord. And this will be a sign for you; you will find an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes, and laid in a manger.” And suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praise God and saying: “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.

The fourth annunciation was to St. Joseph, recorded in the Gospel of Matthew. We hear right away in the first chapter of the Gospel, when Joseph discovered that Mary is with child, not of his own doing, not of his own seed, he wanted to distance himself from her, not in a public way so as to cause her humiliation and execution by stoning, but to spare her life, and so that whoever the real father can be in the child's life. Joseph was a good, a loving and caring person, patron of Husbands and Fathers. If Joseph succeeded in distancing himself from her, the Gospel would've been a short story, and would've ended in the first chapter. But God came to the rescue. In a dream, the Angel reveal to Joseph the truth. “Joseph, Son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home. For it is through the Holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her. She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” It is to fulfill what the Lord has said through the prophet Isaiah, “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and he shall be called Emmanuel, which means, “With us, is God.” or God with us. St. Joseph did very well, caring for Mary and the child. He found a place for Mary to give birth in Bethlehem. When he discovered that King Herod was seeking the life of the child, he took his family to flee to Egypt. When it was safe, he brought them back to Israel. But knowing that it would not be safe to go to Judea, he found a safe haven in Nazareth.

The Christmas Story is not only the four main annunication stories, announcements of the good news, but it is also about God's ongoing fidelity to His people. God is with them. God is with you. Emmanuel, God is with us. That is the good news of the Gospel. The Good news that we contemplate in our hearts, and the good news that we proclaim in our worship at Church, the good news that we are called to share with others. That God is present with us. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only beloved Son, so that all who believe in Him may have eternal life. We are called to “herald” the good news.

Our faith can sometimes be tested. Is it true that God is always with us? Sometimes we may not feel that way, depending upon our own circumstances. Sometimes, we experienced the storms of life, like the disciples in the boat, and seeing the Lord sleeping on the stern. How often when we read the news, that we hear there is tension somewhere in the world. Or that Christians somewhere in the world are persecuted because of the faith, we may wonder...is God truly with us? We also lift up in our prayers, families who celebrate their first Christmas without a loved one, who have recently past in this last year. They are gone but not forgotten. We also lift up in our prayers veterans who have offered their life as sacrifice for our nation, and also our first responders. We also remember those that cannot be with us, because they are homebound, or they are sick or in the hospital or hospice. Or things that may happen unexpectedly, things that we are not prepared for. The Christmas story, is a story of hope, to remind us that God is present, God is with you. Emmanuel, God is with us, in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Genealogy

The Gospel according to Matthew begins with the Genealogy of Christ. Abraham became the father of Isaac, Isaac, the father of Jacob, Jacob, the Father of Judah and his brothers. The Genealogy of Christ is to reveal God's fidelity to the Covenant from the very beginning. God is with the people, through thick and thin, in good times and in bad, in times of triumph and tragedy, virtue and vice, rewards and punishments. God is with us. God promised that Abraham will have numerous descendants. God assured that David's lineage will remain secure. God told Ahaz to ask for a sign, and God gave them a sign, A child will be born, and it is a sign that God is with you. There were good kings and not so good ones in the history of Israel, but God never abandon his people. God is also with them during the dark periods of Exile in Babylon, and their return. God is with them in periods of abundance, and also periods of want. Matthew wrote: “Thus the total number of generations from Abraham to David is 14 generations; from David to the Babylonian exile, 14 generations, from the Babylonian exile to the Messiah, 14 generations. It is all aligned perfectly according to God's plan of salvation.

We listened to the four main Annunciation stories of Christmas. But we also hear stories of Annunciation Easter. When the women gathered at the Empty Tomb, they also saw angels, and the Angels announced to them the good news: “He is risen.”

After the resurrection, the Lord appeared to the disciples countless times, and they receive the good news with great joy. “On the evening of the first day of the week, when the doors were locked, where the disciples were, because of fear of the authorities, 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. And the Lord 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 breathe on them and said to them: Receive the Holy Spirit, whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.”

And the final annunication, the final words from the Lord, recorded in the Gospel of Matthew, the Lord said to them: “All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.

The same theme at the beginning is echoed at the end of the Gospel, the theme of God's ever presence with. He shall be called Emmanuel, which means God is with us.

By celebrating Christmas, we dedicate ourselves to be heralds of the good news, and just as the good news of the Gospel has been handed down from generation to generation. Our parents, grandparents, teachers, friends, have annunication, announced the good news for us. And like Mother Mary, St. Joseph, the shepherds of the field, the astrologers from the East, the heavenly hosts, multitude of angels, we are blessed to play a small part, in Annunciation of the good news, with hope and with joy.

The angel said: “I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For today, in the city of David a savior has been born for you, who is Messiah and Lord.”

Story about a little kid named Johnny. One day in religious education, the teacher talked about God the Father. God doesn't have a name. God is I am who I am, as revealed to Moses in the burning bush. God is God. But Johnny interrupted the teacher and says: “I know what God's name is.” The teacher was very surprised, and she said: “OK, Johnny, tell us what is God's name.” Johnny said: “God's name is Harold. Because when we pray the Our Father prayer, we say: “Harold be Thy name.” May we be herald of the good news of the Gospel, with our words and actions.

(We have a special gift tonight, as the Children have been preparing the Christmas Pageant for us. Thank you to them, and to Mrs. Laura, and Chris and Sarah, and the parents for putting together the Christmas Pageant).

Our faith can often times be challenge.  Is it true that God is always with us.  Sometimes it may not feel that way.  We think about the news, war and tension in different places in the world.  We remember and lift up in our hearts families who celebrate the first Christmas without a loved one because they have past away in this last year, and especially those who gave their lives or have given their lives as service to our nation, and our first responders. 

We also remember those who cannot be with us, because they are home bound, or going through surgery.

The genealogy of Christ, we see examples of great holiness and heroism, Abraham, David, king hezejjah and Josiah

We also hear about Individual corruption and decadence, Ahaz and manesseh

We also have 14 generations of unknowns, named of post exile Israel.

This is written as a promise from God to his people.

It is a review of history, reading the names reminds us of the events of the past, and how God was with them. 

Abraham - numerous descendants

Through the exodus period

Assure David that his lineage will remain secure.

Ahaz - a sign that a virgin shall be with child, and the child will be a sign that God is with you.

Jeremiah - I am with you to deliver you, says the Lord

70 years of exile,

God is with the people, through thick and thin, in good times and in bad, triumph and tragedy, virtue and vice, reward and punishment, God is with his people.

We are reminded of that tonight.

A virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and he shall be called Emmanuel, God is with us.

The women receive an annunciation: He is risen.

The last words of Christ, I will be with you always, until the end of the time.

We dedicate ourselves to be heralds of the good news, just as the good news have been handed down from generation to generation, announcing the good news.  Our grandparents, parents have announced the good news to us.  And so we are to announce the good news to others. 

Feast of the Holy Family, a reflection

My dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

I hope that you had a wonderful and blessed Christmas celebration with your family and friends. In this octave of Christmas, which is in the 8 days of Christmas, we have this blessed opportunity to celebrate the Feast of the Holy Family. And why do we celebrate the Feast of Holy Family today? Because God's plan of salvation is for the human family. Our experience of God is not be an isolated experience, but a shared experience with family and friends. It's the way that God has ordered creation.

The family life, from the Beginning in the Book of Genesis, is a gift from God. We hear in the Jewish mythology, that after creating Adam, God saw that Adam was not completely happy, even though he had all animals to keep him company, and all the food for his nourishment. When God noticed that Adam was not happy, the Lord cast him into a deep sleep, and took a rib from his side, and formed a woman. And when Adam saw the woman, Eve, he exclaimed: “This one at last is bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh.” In other words, from that day forward, they were no longer to live their lives apart, but together as one. According to the story from the beginning, marriage and family life is a gift from God.

But the story continues as the Evil One, in a form of a serpent, or the Leviathan, tries to disrupt God's order, and God's gift of marriage and family life. We can see from the Book of Genesis, that Marriage and family life is the first Sacrament, and it's also the first Sacrament that the Evil One tries to break apart, and destroy. He tempts the woman to eat the fruit from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. And both Adam and Eve disobey God, ate the forbidden fruit. This is known as The Fall. But the good news is that God always come to the rescue. God will always intervene when it is necessary. And God said in the first proclamation of the good news. To the Evil One he says: “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers. You will strike the heel, and he will strike at your head.” In other words, good will always have the upper hand.

When the star was perfectly aligned, God sent His only beloved Son, the Lord Jesus into the human family. God did not send another person to be the Messiah, God did not send another prophet to the be the Messiah, or another person to be their king. God, himself is the Messiah. God himself is the newborn king. The Lord came into the world, born in a most humble way, born in a manger in Bethlehem (house of bread). Certainly, God, who is all powerful and all mighty, and the Lord could've chosen to be born anywhere. But it's a wonderful mystery how the Lord has chosen this humble beginning, born in a manger, surrounded by animals. Which can also be a connection to the Adam in the very beginning, that he too was surrounded by the animals.

But there were glimpses of his divinity, that this child is very special and unique. The Angels annunication to the shepherds of the field: “Do not be afraid, for behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For today in the city of David, a savior has been born for you, who is Messiah and Lord. And this will be a sign for you; you will find an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and laid in a manger.”

Also another sign, is from the Gospel according to Matthew, the Magi, or Kings from foreign nations, who traveled long distances because they believed that a unique star would lead them to the newborn king. So, even the birth of the Savior is written in the stars in the heavens, in the cosmos: “When the three kings saw the child with Mary his Mother, the prostrated themselves and did him homage. Then they opened their treasures and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.”

And certainly, the Lord doesn't want to dwell forever in a manger, but ultimately the Lord wants to dwell in our hearts. So that our hearts become the manger for the Lord. This is the mystery we celebrate during this Christmas season.

We turn to God's word for nourishment.

In the book of Sirach, God speaks through the author about the importance of caring, honoring and revering our parents. There are many blessings and rewards when that is accomplished. A house of justice, atonement for sins, many riches and blessings, a blessing for descendants, long life, comfort and consolation, removal of the debt of personal sins. So there are many blessings that flow forth when we honor our parents.

St. Paul's letter to the Colossians, urges the early Christians to bear one another and forgive one another, with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Most especially, to put on love, which is the bond of perfection. Let the peace of Christ, control your heart. And also to be thankful for all that we are and all that we have, to have gratitude in your hearts. I sometimes think about the Book of Job, and at one point, Job had everything, and then everything was taken away from him as a test, and then everything was given back to him at the end. So, knowing that all that we are and have can be taken away from us, and that helps me to be more grateful for everything that I have at the moment.

The Gospel account from Matthew, the hero in this account is St. Joseph. Joseph was a good husband and Father. God gave him some instructions, and he has chosen them well to care for Mary and the child. He took his family and flee to Egypt to protect them. When King Herod had past, he brought them back to Israel, but not to Judea because King Herod's son was the ruler, so he found a safe haven in Nazareth. Joseph was a type of person who was attentive to the warning signs, and also great faith and hope in God.

Holy Family Prayer:

Holy Family of Nazareth, make our family one with you. Help us to be instruments of peace. Grant that love, strengthened by grace, may prove mightier than all the weaknesses and trials through which our families sometimes pass. May we always have God at the center of our hearts and homes, until we are all one family, happy and at peace in our true home with you. Amen.

Introduction:

Brothers and Sisters in Christ, we continue to celebrate the mystery of the Lord's incarnation, during this octave of Christmas.

With great humility, God came to us, born in a manger.

With humility, God placed himself under the authority of Mary and Joseph, in the beauty and love of family life.

With equal humility, the Lord gives himself to us now in the form of bread and wine, in the Sacrament of Eucharist.

Let us prepare our hearts to celebrate the Sacred Mysteries...

Recently, in this month of July, we celebrated the fourth. It is a blessed time to celebrate the birth of our nation, lights in the sky with fireworks, booming sounds, which is the sound of freedom, and with parades, and communal meals and gatherings, with proud display of the American Flag. They are outwards expression of joy, blessings and gratitude. We give thanks for the gift and values of our nation, and the ideal for each individual to have life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. We are blessed to have the gift of freedom, especially the liberty to practice our faith. Throughout the world, many people don't have that luxury, for instance in China, where they had to practice their faith secretly, or undreground. Or in territories where Christianity is a minority, and many experience hardships and persecutions just for being a Christian. As we think about the people who experience hardships for their faith, and what the early Christians had to endure for proclaiming Christ as the risen Lord. May we always be grateful, that we are blessed to live in this wonderful nation, that we don't experience those kinds of persecutions for following Christ and proclaiming Christ. That we can go to Church and pray with little worry that our life will be in danger. We can pray in public with little worry, confident that we are safe and protected. If something were to happen, there will always be some form of justice. Many of us may not have been born here, but America is a place that we call home. As we are blessed, may we always be grateful, and at the same time, may we pray and help those who are searching for a better life for themselves and their family. That those who seek a new home, where they could freely worship God, and where they can feel safe and protected while doing so.

I will be with you.

Moses was a prince of Egypt. He received the finest education and upbringing in Egypt, an adopted son of Pharaoh. But he discovered his true identity, that he was of Hebrew descent. After taking a life of an Egyptian, by defending a fellow Hebrew, he escaped into the desert and went to the land of Midian, and began a new life. There, he married a gentile woman who worship another God. Would anyone take him seriously? But God has chosen Moses to free the Hebrews. God appeared to Moses in a burning bush, and God said to him to return to Egypt, and tell Pharaoh: “Let my people go.” Moses had many reasons not to go back. He had a death sentence hanging over him. He is a fugitive. It is believed that Moses had a speech impediment. But God assures Moses of His presence. God said to Moses: “I will be with you (Exodus 3:12).” There was no step-by-step plan, or a promise of a backup army. It was just the promise of God's presence. “I will be with you.” As it turns out, God's presence was all that Moses needed. Moses was able to defeat Pharaoh with God's help. There were the ten plagues. Then Moses parted the Red Sea, and there was food and water in the desert, and they were able to navigate through the desert. All of this happen because of God's presence with Moses. God said: “I will be with you.” As we reflect upon this story, perhaps we may have been in a similar situation. Our life has many ups and downs. We face challenges and trials from time to time. Sometimes God asks us to do something that we don't feel equipped or capable of pulling off. Perhaps we protest and say to God: “Lord, I think you're asking the wrong person. I can't do this.” But God can reassure us, just as God does for Moses. “I will be with you.” We are reminded of God's presence at Mass. As the Priest says after the sign of the Cross. The Lord be with you.

I remember the story of Mother Angelica, the one who started the EWTN, so that everyone throughout can watch the Mass on television, and other religious programs. And one of the things that she shared was how everyone thought it was such a crazy idea for her to start the television program. And she shared: “If we can't do the ridiculous, God can't do the miraculous.”

Whatever situation that we find ourselves in, let us be reassured of God's presence with us. No situation is too complex or difficult for His power and presence to resolve. God is with us, God will guide us step-by-step. God will comfort us when it feels that we have failed. God will give us the wisdom and patience that we need, and all we need is to trust. God said: “I will be with you.”

As we have listened to the story of Moses yesterday, we heard about the important Message that God said to Moses, to reassure him of presence. God said to Moses: “I will be with you.” That reassurance helped Moses to carry out the work that God wanted him to do for his people Israel.

My yoke is easy and my burden is light.

For many of us who did not grow up on a farm, a yoke is not an egg yolk. But it is a wooden crosspiece that is fastened over the necks of two animals and attached to the plow or cart that they pull. When the oxen are young, they are taught to pull together when hitched to the yoke. When one ox tries to go one way, and the other a different way, they experience the pain of pulling against the yoke. The harder that they fight it, the worse it gets. But when the young ox works with the more experienced one, and going in the same direction, it makes the work much more efficient. A modern day example is when an athlete, who is a beginner, learns from their coach, or a student who learns from an experienced teacher. Jesus wants to build the kingdom of God, but for us, he knows that it's not going to be easy at times. Jesus says my yoke is easy and my burden is light. He wants us to be yoked to him, and to let him set the course. We follow him, who has yoked himself to us in a covenant of love. When we try to go our own way, and set our own course, it may not be the most favorable, and it may not be what God wants. So we have to constantly discern and remain close to the Lord, to be yoked to him. Jesus' yoke is easy and his burden is light, because he who leads us is also walking beside us. He shares all of our burdens and pains, and he invites us into his rest. All he asks is that we remain close to Jesus, and to follow his lead.

The first reading, we hear from the Book of Exodus, and it is about the First Passover in Egypt. On Wednesday, we heard about God reassuring Moses, even though he had many reasons why he didn't want to return to Egypt. But God said to Moses: “I will be with you.” and that was what Moses needed, is to be assured of God's presence with him as undergoes the difficult task of bringing freedom for the people of Isarel.

On Thursday, we hear about how the God of Israel is very different from the gods of Egypt, and God's power and might is shown through the ten plagues. But Moses, who was very familiar with the Egyptian gods, raised in the Egyptian ways, knowing their language, their customs, culture and traditions, but he wanted to know the name of the God in the burning bush. What is your name so that I may tell the Pharoah the one who one sent me. And God says: “I am who I am.” This God is very different from the Egyptian gods, not only because of his strength and might, but also vastly beyond our comprehension and understanding. But this God, as we believe sent His only beloved Son into the world, for our salvation and redemption.

Today, we hear the first passover in Egypt, and every year, the Jewish people would celebrate the Passover and remember how God has rescued them from slavery in Egypt and brought them to the promised land. It required the sacrifice of the lamb, which foreshadows the sacrifice of Christ, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. The blood of the Lamb is applied on the doorposts and on the lintel. It is applied in the shape of the alphabet Chet, which means life. Whoever does not have the blood of the lamb on their doorposts, it means death in their household, and those who have the blood of the lamb, it means life. And so, like the ancestors, we ask Jesus to be in every aspect of our life, so that we may Chet, we may have life in his name.

St. Therese Benedicta of the Cross

“Whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.”

St. Therese Benedicta of the Cross, was born in 1891, and in her youth, she was an atheists. She was a professor at University teaching philosophy, known as Edith Stein. But all of that changed for her when she read the works of St. Teresa of Avila, and became Catholic, and became a discalced Carmelite. She died in Auschwitz in the gas chambers on August 9, 1942, and was canonized in 1988 by Pope John Paul II. She is one of the principle patrons of Europe. She also valued the meaning of the cross, as she followed Christ and embrace her cross.

In our life, as we think about the words of Jesus, it may not be an easy thing because the Lord is asking of us to make sacrifices and to let go of trying to save ourselves, so that we may find it. It is like Pope Francis, who once said, not to worry so much about self-preservation, which goes against every natural instinct, but yet it is in losing one's life for the sake of Christ that we find it, hence the irony that is found in the words of the Lord.

But we must remember that it is God who is asking this of us, and God is someone that we can trust. If we look at Moses in the first reading, he recounts miracle after miracle that God has done out of love for his people. Moses reminded the people how God had rescued them out of Egypt, and delivered them from slavery and brought them into the promised land. The Isralites had to give up their feeling of security in their old life of Egypt, but look at what they had to gain.

God always want what is best for us, even if it means that we give up something that we think we can't go without. God wants us to lead us away from anything that keeps us away from God, or anything that would divide us from the people that we love. But God doesn't force us, God wants us to surrender to God with trust.

God doesn't usually ask of us something earth shattering, but in the little sacrifices each day as we follow Christ. Perhaps, it is giving up some time doing other things so that we may encounter God in prayer. Perhaps, it is to refrain from gossip and use that energy and time to do something productive and helpful for another person.

Spend some time today thinking about what you might need to “lose” in order to find more of your life in Christ. Even if it's something difficult, remember whom you are giving it up for. God won't ask us to give up something without giving us something better in return. God is good, and wants nothing but good for us.

We ask the Lord Jesus to help us to let go of anything in life that leads us away from him.

“Whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.”

Some Pharisees approached Jesus with the question: “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any cause whatever?” Even 2000 years ago, the issue of marriage and divorce was an important issue. It was probably something that they talked about at length. They want to know what God thinks about it.

From the mouth of God, the Lord spoke about the gift of marriage to humanity from the beginning. Jesus said: “Have you not read that from the beginning, the Creator made them male and female, and said, for this reason, a man shall leave his father and mother, and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh, so they are no longer two but one flesh. What God has joined together, man must not separate.”

As we look back in the first book of the Bible, the Book of Genesis, one of the first sacraments is the Sacrament of Marriage. God notices that Adam was unhappy. Even though he had all the fruits that he could eat, and all the animals to keep him company, and even the presence of God. But Adam was still unhappy. So God cast a deep sleep upon Adam, and took out one of the ribs, and God formed Eve. And when Adam saw Eve the very next day, he said: “This one, at last, is bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh.” In other words, they are to live from that day forward, not as two separate people, but as one. “Bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh.”

The Evil One, in a form of a serpent tries to disrupt God's order. He begins to tempt them, saying: If you eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil, you will not die. But your eyes will be opened, and you will become like God.” After eating the forbidden fruit, Adam and Eve discovered that they were naked. They also hid from God because they ashamed.

The first sacrament that the Evil One tries to disrupt is the Sacrament of Marriage. As we engage in battle against the Evil one and his minions, we do so by praying and supporting married couples. Admittedly, marriage is not always successful. And often times, couples part ways because of irreconcilable differences. But as a disciple of Christ, and belonging to God, we believe that marriage is a gift from God. And with the wisdom and knowledge that has been discovered over the years, we look for ways to pray and support married couples. Such as celebration of wedding anniversaries, helping couples to renew their marriage vows, couples counseling, peer ministry, etc. All of these things help.

I shared awhile back a couple who discovered that they can't look to each other with high expectations, and to fulfill one's needs. They will always be disappointed. Because deep down, they have to look to God to fulfill those deepest longings of the heart. Also that the couple learned that they needed to take care of one another. The children are important, but they can't become the sole priority of their marriage, and let their marriage take the back seat.

Let us continue to pray for married couples in our nation and throughout the world. Their marriage is a visible sign of God's presence and love in the world. With marriage, God is victorious, and good has triumphed.

20^th Sunday in Ordinary Time – Year C

Jesus said: “I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already blazing.” At our baptism, we are told to “Keep the Flame of Faith alive in our hearts, so that when the Lord comes, may we go out to meet with him, with all the angels and saints.” We are responsible for our own faith. We are responsible to cultivate our faith? Is our flame of faith blazing hot? Or is it average, mediocre, or is it dim, barely flickering?

God's word today, I believe, is meant to shock us out of a complacent spirit. There are moments in our life where it is good for us, to awaken the soul, to help us re-evaluate our present condition, and helps us to re-focus on the things that are important.

I remember an experience when I was stationed at St. Edward. The small room I stayed in was on the top, third floor, and during the scorching summer weather, without air conditioning, and cross winds, the temperature can sometimes be almost 90 degrees. So one day, I told the Pastor, Fr. Felino what we needed to do to resolve the problem, which is to install a portable air condition unit, figure out a way to exhaust the heat from the attic, and place fans in certain locations to create crosswinds. And when it was all said and done, he said something I'll never forget. He said: “You know, as hot as it is right now, hell is much hotter during this time of year.” I was so scared. I'll never forget the words. And I never complained after that.

What is your present spiritual condition? Are you on fire for the faith? What can you do to cultivate your faith, to keep the flame of faith alive in your hearts? We are responsible for our faith, and to cultivate our faith.

The Gospel Passage is situated near the time when Jesus is making his way towards Jerusalem. And he speaks about his own baptism: “There is a baptism with which I must be baptized, and how great is my anguish until it is accomplished.” His baptism is the complete immersion into the life of humanity. He was speaking of the cross, his ultimate sacrifice for the world.

It's also good to remember our own baptism, when we begin our new life with Christ, our new journey with the Lord. And everyday, we can always give our life a little bit more for Christ. It's like the one sister Claire, who says: “Every day, I give the Lord a blank check.” Sister Claire is always open to whatever the Lord wants her to do. Every day, we can strive to give our life more to Christ.

There was a story told about Mother Teresa, and one day she was visited by a priest who wanted some spiritual direction and counsel, and she asked him: “How is your prayer life?” He responded: “I say the Mass every morning, and do the office, morning prayer and evening prayer, and also I pray the rosary and divine mercy chaplet, I spend time reading the scriptures, I go to confession once a month, and so I would say that my prayer life is great.” So Mother Teresa proceeded to ask him about works of charity. And the priest responded: I pray for the poor, and I help them by giving alms, and he went on to share all charitable activities that he was involved in.” But the priest felt defensive, and felt that she was trying to cross examine him, or judge him, so he took it very personal, and he wanted to prove that he was on the right track. After the response, he felt very self-righteous and very small. So he began to quiet his mind, lift up his heart, and listened to Mother Teresa. She said something to the effect that prayer is living out our baptism, and to give our life entirely to Christ, not just parts of the day, but every moment. She says: “if we don't do so, we would be too poor to give to the poor.” It's like St. Paul says: “Even if I give away everything I own, but if I do not love in my heart, I gain nothing.”

Let us remember our Baptism, being united with Christ, and sharing in his life.

There was another story about a group of Religious Sisters, and they had a group of visitors that came and wanted to meet and talk with the sisters. And one of the Sisters, who was much older and more seasoned, and was very intent on not receiving any visitors. She wanted some alone time for herself, so that she could do the things that she wanted to do. She locked herself in the room, while all the other sisters came knocking at her door. Mother Superior knocked on the door, but she refused to open the door. Mother Superior said: “If you won't do it for yourself, and you won't do it for us, or for the visitors, would you be able to do it for Christ. Would you do it for Jesus?” Slowly the door began to open, and she had a smile on her face.

As the Lord Jesus is making his way to Jerusalem, and his presence there is not without tension and conflict. The Pharisees, Scribes and Sadduccees tries to ensnare him, tries to discount him, and eventually they figured out a way to have him crucified. Although it was not his intent to cause division, but some just don't have room for Christ. It's interesting that on Palm Sunday, when he enters into the city, the people shout: “Hosanna, to the Son of David.” They sing praises: “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.” They raise their palms, and lay their clothes at his feet. But afterwards the big ceremony, in the Gospel of Mark 11:11, Jesus returned with his disciples to Bethany, the home of Martha and Mary. Isn't it interesting that although they had this big ceremony for Jesus on Palm Sunday, but he didn't stay in Jerusalem, or maybe there was no room for him to stay. We're not entirely sure. But every day as we give our life a little more to Christ, we make room for him in our hearts.

How do we reconcile the understanding that Jesus is the prince of peace, and he said: “Blessed are the peacemakers, because they will be called sons and daughters of God, with his words today: “Do you think that I have come to establish peace on the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division. In a household of 5, three against two, and two against three, father against son, so on and so forth...

I don't think the Lord wants us to have a divisive mentality, where there is no room for peace and reconciliation. It's not that the Lord wants us not to reach out to others whenever there is problems or disagreements.

But following Jesus is never easy. Being a disciple means that we strive to do what is right and just in every moment and circumstance, because of Christ, and even when it is not the most popular thing to do. (Of course, it requires discernment, seeking counsel from elders, and guided by the Holy Spirit). It's good to have safeguards in place. Otherwise, we may be so convinced that we are about to do is the right thing to do, and it may allow ends to justify the means.

There was a story that on a hot August afternoon, a lady was walking towards her car after shopping, and she noticed an envelope on the ground. She picked it up and inside the envelope was a wad of cash totaling about $1000. A closer look at the envelope, it showed the name of the local bank, so she went to the bank and gave it to the manager. The very next day, the owner of the money reported it missing, and the bank was able to confirm that the individual was in fact the one who had dropped the envelope.

At this point of the story, we expect a feel-good ending. But the owner didn't send the lady any kind of acknowledgment or thanksgiving. No flowers, no thank you note, no phone call, no reward of some kind. And if you were in the woman's shoes, what would you do? Would you keep it? Or would you return it? Would you be bitter if there was no form of gratitude? Or would you return it because it's the right thing to do. I think our responses will vary from person to person. It also reveals what kind of person that we are. And what if we were that person that lost the envelope?

One of my favorite pastimes is to golf, my only form of exercise, stewardship of health. Golf is a game of recovery, because most likely the ball will go into the woods, or in the water, and so you have to take a penalty. I quickly learned that the ball often doesn't listen to you. So you do the best we can to get back on track. But golf is also a game of integrity and honesty. Because no one is counting your score. Unless someone else is paying close attention, no one knows except for you, and God. In many ways, Golf helps me to be honest.

The prophet Jeremiah, in our first reading, is someone who was known as a weeping prophet. In paintings, he is often seen as someone who is weeping and crying. There are people who see the glass half full, or some see the glass half empty. Jeremiah is one who sees it half-empty. He is someone who speaks out against certain injustices in the nation of Israel. Usually, its two things, not worshipping the one true God (which is practicing idolatry) and not caring for the poor, the widows and orphans. Jeremiah was quieted by the people, and thrown into a cistern. Of all the people, he was honest about the condition of his nation. And he boldly spoke up against it. And he was persecuted for it. His concern was for the soul of the country, to be righteous in the eyes of God. We may not be like the prophet Jeremiah, or have the opportunity to do so on a grand scale, but we can always strive to do the best we can, in our own capacity. As the Lord said: “Much will be required of the person entrusted with much, and still more will be demanded of the person entrusted with more.

As disciples of Christ, and keeping our eyes fixed upon Jesus (Letter to the Hebrews).

Recap:

God's word keeps us from having a complacent spirit.

We are confronted with many choices each day, and it reveals our relationship with Christ.

Together for Christ!

In the book of Judges, we hear this story about the Israelites, and as they entered the Promised Land, they begged Samuel to give them an earthly King. They were suppose to be a light to the nations, and to be different because God is suppose to be their King. Still, they begged and begged the prophet Samuel to grant their request.

The Parable of the workers in the Vineyard...those who worked longer hours disagreed with the owner's decision to pay everyone the same. They thought that they should be paid more because they worked longer hours. They don't like the generosity of the owner.

Sometimes, we may not agree with God's decisions, and sometimes we may think that we know what is best. We may think that we know better than God. In our relationship with God, when we approach prayer, we may even tell God what to do: “Lord, please make do this. Lord, please do that. Lord, please make this happen.”

Although it's not wrong to make known our requests to God, but it's also good to reflect upon our relationship with God. Questions that are helpful are: “What is at the heart of my prayer? Do I believe in God's perfect love and perfect judgment? Am I open to God's will? Do I believe that it may be part of God's plan?

So many of our situations that we experience may not be a part of God's will. They may be consequences of sin, sickness, disobedience or bad judgment. But we can trust that God is always with us. And God always knows what is best for us.

When we believe that God has authority over our circumstances, he reigns as our king. Instead of trying to tell God what to do, thinking that we know better than God, let us try asking God to show us what God is doing. Let God show us how to be a part of his plan for our lives, and let God reign in our lives. Let God be the owner whose mercy we may not agree with. Let God be our King.

Queenship of Mary

Mother Mary's apparitions throughout the world is an ever reminder that she is very much present with us. Although she is assumed into heaven, body and soul, but her spirit continues to be present always with us. The Queenship of Mary is the octave following after the Assumption. Just as the Coronation of Mary as Queen of Heaven is the 5th Glorious Mystery, following the 4^th Glorious Mystery, the Assumption.

Have you ever noticed that the Blessed Mother is honored in so many different ways. She is Our Lady of Lourdes, Our Lady of Fatima, Our Lady of Guadalupe, Our Lady of Dambana, Our Lady of Lavang, and so many other titles. It is so that no one can have a claim on her, because she is the New Eve, and she becomes the Mother for all the living.

John 19:

Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary of Magdala. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple there whom he loved, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son.” Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother.” And from that hour the disciple took her into his home.

The beloved Disciple represents the Church, but also can represent all the living.

The Gospels proclaimed that Mary conceive Jesus by the power of the Holy Spirit. In other words, the Lord did not have a human father. But only a human mother. All the DNA that the Lord receives was from Mother Mary. If we place the Lord next to Mother, they would look so similar, like members in a family. We would be able to see the uncanny resemblance. Also, many things that he learned as a child was from his Mother. How to pray, how to live a moral and righteous life. She is one of the best ways to approach the Lord.

We give thanks to our God, and the outpouring of His love and generosity. God is gracious and gives us so much that we need. The Lord gives us the Sacraments to give us nourishment, and strength, and healing. The Lord Jesus gives us the Holy Spirit, the Advocate, to always be with us. And the Lord also gives us Mother Mary, to intercede and pray for us on the faith journey.

Behold, your Mother

For the Lord Jesus, loving God and loving neighbor cannot be separated. The law and the prophets depend upon these two commandments. You shall love Lord your God with all your heart, mind and soul, and strength. And you shall love your neighbor as yourself.

A story was told that Mother Teresa, once was approached by a priest, who was looking for inspiration and spiritual direction. She asked him about his prayer life. After telling her all the things that he was doing, she said, it wasn't enough. Because prayer is not just giving to God just parts of our lives, but to God every moment of our lives, to be mindful of God's loving presence every moment. Mother Teresa shared with him: “In order for me to do the things that I do for others, I have to ask Jesus, every day, to fill my heart his love.”

St. Paul also speaks about love. If I have faith to move mountains but do not love, then I am nothing. If I give away everything I own, but do not have love, I gain nothing. If I preach with an eloquent tongue but do not love, I am like a clashing cymbal. Certainly these things are also important to us to do. But if we don't do so with love of Christ in our hearts, it would be worthless.

The Evil One, when tempting Jesus in the desert, says to the Lord: “If you are the Son of God, turn these stones into bread.” Because he has no love in his heart, he cannot even say the word love. Contrast him the Heavenly Father, the voice from heaven that says: “This is my beloved son, in whom I am well pleased. Listen to him.”

St. John writes: “If anyone says: I love God, but hates his brother, he is a liar, for whoever does not love a brother whom he has seen cannot love God, whom he has not seen. This is the commandment we have from him: “whoever loves God must also love his brother.”

Inspired by Mother Teresa, let us ask Jesus to fill our hearts with his love.

The Lord Jesus is working and laboring non-stop, after healing Peter's Mother in law, who was afflicted with a severe fever, and at sunset, he continued to heal people sick with various diseases, and casting out evil spirits. He also took time for some rest and solitude as the disciples came looking for him, and then he said to them: “To the other towns also, I must proclaim the good news of the Kingdom of God, because for this purpose I have been sent.” And he was preaching in the synagogues of Judea.

Last Monday, we celebrate Labor Day in our nation. After labor day, the school year begins again. Our teachers and students are heading back to school. Summer is coming to a close, as we usher in the new fall season. Many of us have enjoyed our short time of vacation, a time for R & R.

The word Labor is a word that we may not favor or like, because who among us, if we were honest, do we actually enjoy our work? Many of us probably dread going to work, especially if we don't like our co-workers, or our Boss. Certainly, some of us do enjoy work, and don't see it as work, but more so as a vocation, or a ministry.

If we go back to the book of Genesis, labor is something that was given to humanity after the fall of Adam and Eve. Labor may have been seen as a punishment upon Adam and Eve, but it could also be seen as a solution. It can be seen as a resolution, a way to keep us busy, and keep from the life of sin and trouble. Labor or work, in many ways, helps us, it enriches us, it makes us feel valuable, dignified, it makes us feel that we have contributed to something valuable to our world. So labor and work is not completely bad. You may remember the saying: “Idle hands is the devil’s workshop.” Labor and work may actually be good for us. So let's not fear work, and see it as something negative. But to actually see it as something fruitful, and joyful.

Labor Day is a time to give thanks and appreciate labor and work. Within the Church, how often we are grateful to the people who have contributed to make the liturgy possible, from priests to lay ministers, our parish staff, altar servers, musicians, Eucharistic ministers, hospitality ministers, etc. The work of the liturgy cannot be done by one person, but it is the total contribution and collaboration among many people. We also give thanks for the people who have composed our prayers and music, those who have made the furniture, those who have helped to build our church, those who have made the bread and wine, those who have made the pews, those who have designed the stained glass windows, the icons, the crucifixes, the statues.

We give thanks also for the people who work on farms so that our grocery stores are filled with food, always ready when we need it. We give thanks for the people who serve in public offices. We give thanks for people who keep us safe and protected, the police officers, firemen. We give thanks for the people who serve in the military. We give thanks for the people who provide news for us, so that we know what is happening in our world. We give thanks for all who work in the teaching profession. We give thanks for the people who work in hospitals and nursing homes. We give thanks for counselors.

We give thanks for the people who work our properties and lawn. We give thanks for all the people that help us to have cell phones, computers, television, internet. We give thanks for the people who work to provide entertainment for us, those who work in the malls, those who work in the movie theaters, those who work in the restaurants.

There are so many people that we can be grateful. Let us always be grateful to God for labor and work. Let's also keep in our prayers for those who cannot work, and those who are unemployed for one reason or another. Thank God for labor and work!

One of the historical facts about the Colossians is that after a few years of the letter from St. Paul being circulated, the city experienced a powerful earthquake. And it is believed that the city never fully recovered from the earthquake. Imagine the people in the city, that many of lost their lives, or their loved ones because of the natural disaster. Many have lost their livelihood, and that they needed to seek refuge in another place. Their whole lives were buried in the rubble. It would be no different than the people in the East, currently, because of Hurricane Dorian. As we look on the news, many homes are destroyed. Many people have to evacuate from their homes. Many people are missing. It is a big mess! There was a heartwarming story about a Florida Man who went to Costco, and bought 100 generators to help victims in the Bahamas.

It in during these moments when the faith is shaken, and the natural disasters, pain and suffering can drain us of hope. This passage from St. Paul helps the early Christians, because it was something that they could hold on to, so that it could help their faith, to help them with hope. Hope is the confidence that God is always with us, despite our circumstances. St. Paul reveals that Jesus is the source of hope in every situation.

St. Paul wrote: “Christ Jesus is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For in him were created all things in heaven and on earth, the visible and invisible. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. He is head of the body, the Church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead.

Think about how the Colossians may have held on to these inspiring words in the aftermath of the quake. Also, please consider how Jesus is the basis for your hope. The Lord would never abandon his people at the first sight of danger. He demonstrated his commitment to us by his sacrifice on the cross. He is the good shepherd, who lays down his life for us. Because Jesus rose from the dead, we have hope. Because of Jesus, death is not the end, because he is raised on the third day. Because of the Lord, death is not the end for us either. We look forward to eternal life with the Lord. Our loved ones who have died, are with the Lord, in his loving embrace. They eagerly await to see us again.

Whatever circumstances that we are in, let us hold on to the words of St. Paul, and the inspiring message. The Lord Jesus is the source of our hope!

Jesus said: “If anyone comes to me without hating his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.” The words from the Lord seemed awfully harsh! But the Lord knows his people. The Lord was not afraid to challenge them a bit. He knows where each person would draw the line. Perhaps, one of them didn't want to leave the security of their parent's home. Another was worried about being treated as an outcast if they follow Jesus. Maybe a third was eager to begin the journey with Jesus, but could not hold on, when the going gets tough. Or another just followed Jesus out of curiosity, but didn't took it seriously.

Jesus spoke to the crowds, because he wanted to shake them up a bit, and help them to push past whatever obstacles that may keep them from following him. He wanted them to see that discipleship was a serious decision, a decision he couldn't make for them, but that they had to answer for themselves. They had to decide on their own, if Jesus was someone worth following.

Story: I remember when I was in Seminary, and one of our professors, who taught Systematic Theology. When it came time for grading, he was a bit unconventional. He would let us grade ourselves. So naturally, we all gave ourselves an A. But he would follow up by saying: “Even though you may get an A in my class, but it doesn't mean that you're smart or anything.” The professor wanted us to challenge ourselves, and set high standards for ourselves, and to excel in whatever we set our mind and hearts to do.

Perhaps in our own life, when it comes to following Christ, we need to be challenged. We may obstacles that may prevent us from following Jesus. What are some of the obstacles that need to be released? How can we surrender ourselves more to Jesus? When you receive Holy Communion today, try to listen to the Lord Jesus. He wants you to be closer to him. He wants you to see those obstacles that prevent you from drawing closer to him. He wants you to let them go, and to trust him. Trust that Jesus will show you how to live it out this week. He challenges you to take discipleship seriously, and wants to challenge you to take it the next level, whatever that may be.

When we gather at the Mass, we recall the great mystery of God's love, and the Sacrifice of Christ for the world. We are redeemed by the cross of Jesus. We are adopted daughters and sons of God by our Baptism. We belong to God, and are in communion with God as we eat and drink his Body and Blood. It is the mysterio fidei. The Sacrament is a Sacrament of Unity. Just as the unity of the Liturgy of the Word and the celebration of the Eucharist, in Word and Sacrament. The two parts of the Mass that intimately connected, that together, they form one act of worship. In a similar way, is our unity with God and with one another. It is in believing in Christ that we receive true freedom, and an everlasting inheritance. The fruits of the Liturgy, is that it unites us more closely with God, and that it unites us with one another. So that we can be of One Mind and One Heart.

9/11

Today is September 11, and it is a time for us to look back, and to remember what happened on that day in 2001. You probably remember what you were doing on that day. Where were you? Who were you with? What were your experience like? It is important that we share those memories, so that we may find healing, peace and hope.

I remembered on that day (September 11, 2001), at the time, I was in the Seminary at Mundelein, which was located North of Chicago. That morning, we had our usual Morning Prayer, and attended classes. We had a class on Moral Theology, and the professor told us about the news, that there was a plane that flew into one of the Twin Towers. So all the classes were canceled for the rest of the day. We all went back to our rooms. Our eyes were glued to the television. As we were watching the news, a second plane flew into the other building of the World Trade Center. At the time, we were all in shocked, and we didn't really know how to respond. Daily Mass was around 11:15am, so we all went to Mass to pray.

The priests had their rotation to be the Presider. On that day, I remembered it was Fr. James Mcilhone, who was selected to be the Presider. During the Homily, he shared about his shock, and he didn't really know what to say. He asked us to spend about 5 minutes in silence as we pray for the people who have died, and for their families. Pray for our nation in the midst of tragedy, and continued prayer for peace. After Mass, we went to lunch, but many of us lost our appetite and couldn't eat, and we went back to our rooms and continued watching the news.

As we remember back on this day of infamy, let us hold on to the words of Jesus who said: “Blessed are they who mourn, for they shall be comforted.”

On September 11, there were four planes that were hijacked by terrorists. Two of the planes flew into the twin towers. One flew into the Pentagon. And the other fourth one was United 93. It's target was the White House, State Capital. There are many documentaries and movies about the fourth plane. Families have shared their experience, receiving phone calls from loved ones on board the plane. They shared that the members on the plane planned a way to fight back. They quickly devised a plan to fight back. Since they had no weapons of defense, they had to use anything available, such as soda cans, hot water, anything that they could find. They had to stop the terrorists from carrying out their plans.

It is also believed that there were jets that were sent to stop the plane. But since the jets didn't have enough firepower to stop it, one of them said that he would resort to Plan B, which is to ram it, if necessary. They had to do something to prevent it from getting any worse. It would be like the Utiliarian Philosophy: “The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few.” But the people on board 93 were able to prevent the terrorists from hitting its intended target. But unfortunately, they crashed into a field in Pennsylvania. What the people on board did, is considered courageous, and heroic.

Jesus also taught: Blessed are they who suffer for the sake of righteousness, theirs is the kingdom of heaven. The Kingdom of Heaven belongs to these heroes.

Holy Name of the Blessed Virgin Mary

In the book entitled Man's Search For Meaning, by Victor Frankel, he wrote about his experience being in the Concentration Camp during World War II. One experience he shared was the way he was treated. The guards would never call him or his fellow prisoners by name. They would call them by a nickname, but not their actual names. Each prisoner would also be given a number. For instance, a person could be number 52,432. That number would also be tatooed on their left arm. If you see a surviving holocaust Jew, they could show you their number. By referring to them by number, it took away their humanity. They were just a statistic. If you don't know their history, background, their cultures, customs and traditions, who their parents are, their siblings, their profession, their contributions, their status within the community, it decrease their value, dignity and worth. The people were just a number on a list.

A person's name is very important. The name is important. Our parents chose that name for us, and there's a reason why they chose that name for us. God honors the chosen name. That name is written in the church records when we receive the Sacraments of Initiation, Baptism, Eucharist and Confirmation. The name is also written in the book of life, it is written in heaven.

Today, we honor the special name of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This feast occurs in the Octave of the Mary's birthday, on September 8. The name “Mary,” being the name of the Blessed Mother, deserves special respect and devotion, and is celebrated in four ways. First, Mary is a name of honor, since the faithful praise Mary as the Mother of our Divine Savior; she is rightfully called “Mother of God,” for Jesus true God, second person of the Holy Trinity. Second, Mary is a most holy name, because the very mention of her name reminds us she is full of grace, has found favor with God, and is blessed among all women. Third, Mary is a maternal name, because she is our Mother, whom our Lord gave to us a He was dying on the cross (cf. John19:26-27). Finally, Mary is a name of the mother who responds to all of our needs, protects us from evil, and prays “for us sinners now and at the hour of our death.”

We are saved and redeemed by the Holy Name of Jesus. We are assisted by the name of Mary. God, in his goodness gives us Mary, for protection, for divine assistance, for prayers, for help.

St. John Chrysostom

He was a bishop of the Eastern Church, a bishop of Constantinople. The name Chrysostom means golden mouth, because he had a gift for speech, or as we would say the “Gift of Gab.” He could spend hours and hours speaking about God, and expound on Sacred Scriptures. He would use that gift to help draw people to God, and away from the life of sin, and his words didn't exclude religious and political leaders. He also spoke about taking practical steps to help the poor and needy. Today, we honor St. John Chrysostom, and we pray for unity within the Church, that together for Christ, we build the kingdom that Jesus proclaimed, and we cannot do it on our own, but we can accomplish it together. And like St. Paul who said to put away our old selves and put on a new self, and do everything in the name of Jesus Christ.

In the Gospel passage, the Lord talked about removing the wooden beam in our eye before we remove the splinter in our brother's eye. These words are pertinent especially whenever we have a temptation to pass judgment upon others. How often we can see someone doing something that is not to our liking, and we have already judged them in our hearts. When we are tempted to do so, let us remember the words of the Lord, and tell ourselves, “Today, is not judgment day. Today is not the day to pass judgment.” Rather, today, is a day of salvation. And we ask God for the grace to hold our tongue and not to pass judgment too quickly upon others. Does it mean that we don't say anything if we see a brother or sister in Christ going down a wrong path? Of course not, because we have charity in the heart, beginning by praying for that person, and helping them by sharing God's word with them, and helping them to see the outcome.

St. Paul, in the letter to Timothy, spoke in reference to his former life, as one of the first enemies of the church, persecuting the followers of Christ. He demonstrates a wonderful way of looking at our life. He doesn't beat himself up over the sins from years ago. Instead, he looks back at how God has changed his life. He said: “I was once a blasphemer, and an arrogant man. But I have been mercifully treated. The grace of our Lord has been abundant.” Rather than being embarassed over the man he once was, Paul chose to focus on the power of God's grace to transform his life.

God's grace has also been abundant in our life. All of us can say that we are much different today, than we have been many years ago. And it's because of God's divine grace. Sometimes we may not see it happening, and we may wonder why the progress is slow, but the grace of God is always working and effective. And it happens in God's Kairos Time. Today, like St. John Chrysostom, let us use our gift of tongue and mouth, not to pass judgment upon others, but to praise God for the graces. The grace of our Lord has been abundant.

Introduction: show of hands, how many of you, this is your first time here at St John Vianney. St. John Vianney was originally on the campus of what is now Bastyr University. It was once a seminary, training seminarians to be future priests. In two years, the church will celebrate its 50th anniversary. When the seminary closed down in 1978, the church was still open, but there was an initiative to move forward to find a new location for the church. Here, they found this plot of land, to build a new future. St John Vianney is the patron of priests, hence the name was chosen for the church. Darryl and Judy were founders members of the church, they were there from the beginning. The new location was established in 1992 or 1993. In 2021, John Vianney will celebrate its 50^th, which is a very a young church.

The original vision of the church is that it would be a light on Finn Hill for all peoples. That everyone would feel welcomed here in this holy place, and that would be able to connect with Loving God, and find the spiritual and physical help that they need.