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Sept 27, 2009 - 26th Sunday of Ordinary Time
My Dear People,
There is an accountability for everyone of our sins; even sins
confessed and absolved. Impossible for us to achieve, Jesus is the
only one who can save us from our sins. Mark's Gospel reminds us that
giving scandal is a very serious sin, especially public scandal.
Politicians who are Catholic, and support abortion, cloning, and so
called "mercy killing" of the elderly, commit grave public
sin and grave public scandal. Archbishop Burke recently reminded all
bishops that politicians who have given such scandal, without the
benefit of "public conversion and penance" should not
receive a Catholic burial; so serious is the sin. Condoning this sin
through such a public display, gives the faithful grave scandal on the
part of the clergy. Sin is sin. God's forgiveness is real and needed,
but we should never condone public sin directly or indirectly. It is
God's Law, not man's. Pray for all of our politicians who daily give
scandal to the Catholic Church by their direct support and funding of
abortion, cloning and mercy killing of the elderly. We live in very
dark times. This does not excuse us from being accountable to one
another, no matter what our place and status is in this world.
Entrusting
you to the care of Our Lady,
Fr. Mark
Remembering
that we will be judged by what we do for the least among us. May we
give generously and joyfully to support all those in need.
Sept 20, 2009 - 25th Sunday of Ordinary Time
My Dear People,
"Who among you is the greatest?" This was the topic of
discussion among the Holy
Apostles. There was jealousy among the Twelve as to who was the most
important. Jesus pulls them aside, and explains that the Apostles must
be humble and simple. "Unless you become like a little child, you
will not enter into God's Kingdom." We are to be servants of Our
Lord. Jesus stresses the need for service at the Last Supper, when He
washes the feet of all of the Apostles. Jealousy, strife, and gossip
cannot be part of the Body of Christ. Jesus was teaching the Apostles
to show charity and compassion towards one another. In giving this
witness to the other disciples, the Apostles were setting the stage
for all Christian communities rooted in Our Lord. We must take
seriously the call of Jesus in our lives to become His servants. Like
the Twelve, we must put aside all selfishness and strife, and strive
to become unselfish. Only through Christ, can this conversion take
place in our lives. When Stanley Villavicencio comes to give us his
witness at the end of the month, he will tell us first hand what our
own judgment will be like before Our Lord. Every thought, word, action
and deed are recorded in the Book of Life. How will your final
judgment be before the Christ?
Entrusting
you to the care of Our Lady,
Fr. Mark
Through
our service and our sacrifice may we grow closer to Jesus and help
others to know the love and care of Our Lord.
Sept 13, 2009 - 24th Sunday of Ordinary Time
My Dear People,
Human reason is definitely not the same as Divine reason. Peter's
reasoning led him to the conclusion that Jesus need not suffer at the
hands of the Jews. Sternly, Our Lord rebukes Peter, and tells him that
he is thinking like Satan does. To be sure, Peter's feelings and pride
were injured in the exchange. Correctly teaching the Disciples, Jesus
tells the crowd that we must all take up our crosses daily, and follow
in His footsteps. Anything short of that, falls in Satan's realm. We
can either submit to Our Lord's Divine Will, or be taken in by Satan's
will. The choice is ours. We either struggle to follow Jesus everyday,
or we fall into the plans of the devil. This is why Jesus was so
strict with Peter. Peter's warning is our warning. Especially in this
age, when the sin of abortion encroaches upon the life of the sick and
elderly with "assisted suicide" part of the new "health
care reform", won't be long before everyone is caught in Satan's
web of deceit. Pray to follow Jesus and Jesus alone. Pray for an end
to murder in the womb. Pray for an end to assisted suicide. Pray for
the total conversion of our country. We need to move out of Satan's
realm, into Our Divine Savior's realm. We must choose in favor our
Jesus Christ. His WAY...is the only way.
Entrusting
you to the care of Our Lady,
Fr. Mark
Remembering
that absolutely everything we have is a gift from God, may we
willingly share our gifts in ways that are pleasing to our Heavenly
Father.
Sept 6, 2009 - 23rd Sunday of Ordinary Time
My Dear People,
Throughout the Gospels, we find the healing power of Jesus making
whole all that were sick. Mark tells us in His Gospel, that Jesus
healed the deaf and mute man. First, He placed His finger in the man's
ears. Then He prayed "Ephaphatha"... be opened. Immediately,
the man was healed. His speech impediment was also cured. All healing,
large and small, comes from Our Lord. We are privileged to receive
healing from Jesus in the Most Holy Eucharist. When our souls are free
from serious sin, we receive healing from our reception of Jesus in
Holy Communion. Just as Jesus healed in His day, so too does He heal
today. But we must be open to accept this great gift. Spending time
before Our Eucharistic Lord, and frequent confession combine to keep
us healthy in our body, mind, and spirit. Go to confession often. Make
visits to the Blessed Sacrament often. And enjoy the beautiful healing
that flows from Jesus' Most Sacred Heart. Come share in the healing
power of the Eucharist.
Entrusting
you to the care of Our Lady,
Fr. Mark
May
we grow rich in our faith, realizing that God does not measure us by
what we possess, but rather by the mercy we show to another.
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