Fr. Mark's Weekly Homilies

March 27, 2011 - 3rd Sunday of Lent

My Dear People,

When Jesus met the Samarian woman at the well, He was desirous of her faith. "Get me a drink", Jesus asked the woman at the well. Like the Jews who wandered in the desert, we too can get lost in this world. It is so easy to be misled. Jesus desires for us to be "found" in Him. So Jesus meets the woman on her won turf. "I am the Living Water", Jesus told her. "Give me this Water, Sir, so I may not keep coming to this well for it." At this point, Jesus introduces the notion of eternal life to her. Thirst for her faith, Jesus draws her into himself. As He teaches this Samaritan about the springs of eternal life, she is intrigued. Unfolding the pages of her life, Jesus addresses the five marriages she consummated. He then goes on to unveil the new worship that will take place apart from the Temple in Jerusalem. Jesus would become the central focus for that worship. This was a very radical notion for the Jews. We will adore the Father in Spirit and truth. Jesus finally reveals Himself as the Messiah by saying. "I am He". Many of the Samaritans came to believe in Jesus as the Christ, by the testimony she gave to her friends.

March 20, 2011 - 2nd Sunday of Lent

My Dear People,

The scandal of the Holy Cross was not a reality the Apostles were ready to accept easily. Amidst Peter's promise not to abandon the Lord, he later did so in fear. The Transfiguration was a preparation of the Apostles Peter, James and John to be able to withstand the horrors of the Crucifixion. Only John remained by Jesus during his execution. The rest fled. After Moses and Elijah disappeared from Mount Tabor, Jesus calms the Apostles and says, "Rise, do not be afraid." Jesus then tells them to keep the matter quiet until He had been raised from the dead. How are the Crucifixion and Resurrection related? One was necessary for the other to take place. Jesus had to die on the Cross, in order to be raised up on the 3rd day. During Lent, Jesus can teach us to die to ourselves, so that He might raise us up to Himself. Be attentive to the Lord's presence during these 40 days. Stay close to Him and learn to be wise.

March 13, 2011 - 1st Sunday of Lent

My Dear People,

Jesus was led into the desert by the devil to be tempted. In the first temptation, the devil tells Jesus to change stones into bread. Our Lord refused to make idols of things that have no life in them. We are tempted to make animation objects come alive. TV, the internet, money, homes can all take a life of their own if we allow them. The second temptation involved the sin of presumption. "Call down your angels to rescue you after leaping from the parapet of the Temple." Jesus refused to temp the Lord God. How many times do we presume, because of our pride, that it is OK to assume authority that is not ours? The third temptation involved lusting after the goods of this world. Jesus refused to worship anything that was not glorifying His Heavenly Father. When do we chase after the goods of the earth, in place of loving Our God first. Sunday has become another day of the week. We work, shop, become consumed by sports activities all in the name of "pleasure" and convenience. And where does this leave Our Lord? Jesus gained for us all the graces that we need so we will not offend God by committing these sins. Lent is a time to reflect and re-arrange our lives to better know, love and serve God. Take the Lenten challenge to make God your first priority.

March 6, 2011 - 9th Sunday of Ordinary Time

My Dear People,

Gloria Polo-Ortiz, a speaker from Columbia SA, shared her near death experience with us a few years ago. She told us of having been struck dead by lightening. Leaving her body, she felt herself rising toward the heavens. Before she reached the eternal light of Heaven, she began to fall backwards into the darkness. Even though she had been baptized and raised Catholic, she never actually embraced or lived her faith. In fact, like many cultural Catholics, she live all the pagan values of today's society. She never went to confession, and used her faith to promote her professional needs. As she fell closer to Hell, she kept crying out, "I am Catholic, I cannot go to Hell, I went to Church. I performed good deeds." As she approached the mouth of Hell, she was suddenly snatched up by an angel and returned to her body. Later, she was shown by Our Lord, that  a poor peasant farmer had sacrificed some of his food money to have a mass offered for her soul. Jesus told her that she would have fallen completely into the fires of Hell, had it not been for this man's heroic merciful act of love for her. This is sobering to say the very least. The Gospel tells us that those who lived pagan lives, and call out, "Lord, Lord", begging for help, will encounter his Divine Justice. Don't wait until your deathbed to repent. Convert your lives while there is still time. Live God's Mercy TODAY!

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