Who is this Woman?

"I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers;
They will strike at your head, while you strike at their heel."  (Genesis 3: 15).

Who is the Woman of Genesis 3: 15?  Church Fathers, Doctors of the Church and the constant teaching of the Magisterium identified the Woman as the Blessed Virgin Mary.  In 2 Corinthians 4: 13, Paul teaches:
"Since, then, we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, “I believed, therefore I spoke,” we too believe and therefore speak."   Yes indeed, we too believe and therefore we speak.

For the avoidance of doubt of the tight integration between the ministry of the Redeemer and the Woman, please read:

"Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be contradicted  (and you yourself a sword will pierce) so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”  (Luke 2: 34 - 35).

And further,
"Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother....... 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."  (John 19: 25 - 27).

The salvation of mankind was wrought on the Cross.  The Blessed Virgin Mary was not just an eye witness or a spectator but an active participant from womb to tomb?

"O God, from whom all good things come, grant that we, who call on you in our need, may at your prompting discern what is right, and by your guidance do it.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
Amen."  (Collect: 10th Sunday in Ordinary Time).

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Mary and Joseph did not understand what Jesus said to them.

"They [Mary and Joseph] did not understand what he said to them." (Luke 2: 50).

Today is the Memorial of the Immaculate Heart of Mary.  The feast follows immediately the Saturday after the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.  Heart of Jesus and Heart of Mary.  Two hearts. One heart beat in the divine mission given mother and Son.

The Gospel for the feast is one of my favorite.  Mary and Joseph found Jesus in the Temple after three days of agonising search for Him. Neither Mary or Joseph understood Jesus' reply to them.  But "his mother kept all these things in her heart."  (Luke 2:  51).  In our Journey of Faith, there will many things we cannot understand.  We do well to imitate Mary and surrender them to God who knows everything.  If it pleases God , He will enlighten you in His own time and His own way.

"O God, who prepared a fitting dwelling place for the Holy Spirit in the Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary, graciously grant that through her intercession we may be a worthy temple of your glory.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.  (Collect:  Memorial of the Immaculate Heart of Mary).

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The Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

"My heart is overwhelmed, my pity is stirred."  (Hosea 11: 8).

Today Friday is the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

"The designs of his Heart are from age to age, to rescue their souls from death, and to keep them alive in famine."  ( Psalm 32: 11, 19).

Jesus loves every human being with a total, generous and unconditional love.   Obedient to the express wish of Jesus communicated through the mystic, St Margaret Mary Alacoque, the Church made the feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus a universal feast in 1856 to be celebrated the Friday after Corpus Christi.

The Church teaches:
"The prayer of the Church venerates and honors the Heart of Jesus just as it invokes his most holy name. It adores the incarnate Word and his Heart which, out of love for men, he allowed to be pierced by our sins. Christian prayer loves to follow the way of the cross in the Savior's steps. The stations from the Praetorium to Golgotha and the tomb trace the way of Jesus, who by his holy Cross has redeemed the world.". (CCC 2669).

O Sacred Heart of Jesus wounded for our sins, bestow on us in mercy the boundless treasures of Your love.  Amen.

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The Law of the LORD is perfect giving freedom and victory in life.

"Jesus replied, “The first is this: ‘Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is Lord alone! You shall love the "Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’  The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”  (Mark 12: 29 - 31).

Jesus quoted the above Scripture in response to the question of a sincere scribe.  The scribe wanted to know how he could fulfill more perfectly the will of God.  What is your attitude of the Commandments and laws in general?  Most kids and adolescents view them as negative and restrictive.  In reality, Commandments and good laws are gateway to freedom and victory in life.  A few examples:

"The law of the Lord is perfect,
refreshing the soul.
The decree of the Lord is trustworthy, giving wisdom to the simple.
The precepts of the Lord are right,
rejoicing the heart.
The command of the Lord is clear,
enlightening the eye.
The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever.
The statutes of the Lord are true,
all of them just; More desirable than gold, than a hoard of purest gold,
Sweeter also than honey or drippings from the comb. By them your servant is warned; obeying them brings much reward."  (Psalm 19:  8 - 12).

Our love for God is in direct proportion to our awareness of His love for us.  As you become more aware of God's patience, kindness and compassion toward you, you become the same toward your neighbor. Right?

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Ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ.

"Jesus said to them, “Are you not misled because you do not know the scriptures or the power of God?"  (Mark 12:  24).

Jesus offered this blunt appraisal to the Sadducees who do not believe in the Resurrection.  Whenever I read this Scripture, my mind goes to the modern "Sadducees" who pick and choose what they believe in the Christian Faith. The Resurrection of the dead is not the only tough doctrine in the Christian Faith.  Let us consider the Eucharist:

"I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world.”  (John 6: 51).

Why is this a difficult teaching for many people?
"Jesus said to them, “Are you not misled because you do not know the scriptures or the power of God?"  (Mark 12:  24).

St Jerome, the Church Father and Doctor of the Church teaches:
"Ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ."  Jesus concluded His conversation with our Sadducees by saying:  "You are greatly mislead"  if you imagine you can understand the plan and power of God without knowledge of the Scriptures. (Cf Mark 12: 27).

Invest in the word of God and enjoy grace, mercy and peace from God our Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. (Cf 2 Timothy 1: 2).

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Render to God what belongs to God.

“Repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God.”  (Mark 12: 17).

The power of Caesar comes from God. (Romans 13: 1). Caesar has the power to make laws, levy taxes, conscript an army, etc.

God's right is supreme as the apostles lay down in this principle:
"But Peter and the apostles replied, "We must obey God rather than any human authority."  (Acts 5: 29).

What is your opinion about this Law of God?
"Remember the sabbath day—keep it holy. Six days you may labor and do all your work,  but the seventh day is a sabbath of the Lord your God. You shall not do any work, either you, your son or your daughter, your male or female slave, your work animal, or the resident alien within your gates."  (Exodus 20 : 8 - 10).

Render to God what belongs to God.  (Mark 12: 17).

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Know your God. Know His promises.

"Beloved: may grace and peace be yours in abundance through knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord."  (2 Peter 1: 2).

When you invest about 10 minutes a day in knowing God through the Scriptures, what do you get for your effort?
You get grace and peace.  You experience the unmerited favor of God touching every area of your life: Your family, health, finances, job and relationships.
But how about peace? Peace is the Shalom of God. You experience pervasive peace in your body, mind and soul.

"His divine power has bestowed on us everything that makes for life and devotion, through the knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and power."  (2 Peter 1: 3).

Those who know their God shall stand up and be recognized. (Cf Daniel 11: 32).

Jesus Christ is the Faithful Witness that God is faithful to His promises. (Revelation 1: 5).  Think about it: God was faithful to you yesterday. Has He not been faithful to you so far today? If God gives you tomorrow, He will not fail you.

Know your God. Know His promises.  "Amen, I say to you:  Whatever you ask for in prayer, believe you will receive it, and it will be yours, says the Lord."  (Mark 11: 23, 24)

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The Eucharist is the New Covenant ratified with the Blood of Jesus.

"While they were eating, he took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them, and said, “Take it; this is my body.”  Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, and they all drank from it.  He said to them, “This is my blood of the covenant, which will be shed for many."  (Mark 14: 22 - 24).

Today is the Solemnity of Corpus Christi, the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ.  The Eucharist is the source and summit of Christian life. (CCC 1324). The Eucharist is also the new Covenant ratified with the Blood of Jesus.  (Mark 14: 24).

"Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him, says the Lord."  (John 6: 57).

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The world needs authority. The world needs the Catholic Church.

“By what authority are you doing these things? Or who gave you this authority to do them?” (Mark 11:  28).

You guess right who the above question is directed to.  Of course Jesus.  Who are the questioners?
"As he [Jesus] was walking in the temple area, the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders approached him and said to him.... “ (Mark 11: 27 - 28).

This is a good opportunity to see what the Bible says about Authority:

First, all authority comes from God. (Romans 13: 1). This is all sweeping:  authority of the federal, state, local governments and everything downstream.

How about the the authority of Jesus, the Son?  “All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me."  (Matthew 28: 18). "Power" = "Authority".

Authority of the Church: 
#1 "The eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had ordered them...... Then Jesus approached and 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.”  (Matthew 28:  16 - 20).

#2  "Whoever listens to you [Apostles] listens to me. Whoever rejects you rejects me. And whoever rejects me rejects the one who sent me.”  (Luke 10: 16).

#3 "And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.  I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”  (Matthew 16: 18 - 19).

On the question of authority, how confident will you be for a surgeon without license (authority) to operate on your only son? Or a lawyer without license to represent you on a felony case?

The world needs authority. The Sanhedrin was the supreme court of Israel.  In the USA, we respect the Supreme Court.  You may not always agree with them, but you understand the wisdom of the existence of the institution.
Why should it be different with the Church?  The Church is the Seed of the Kingdom of God here on earth and Jesus provided the Church with authority.

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
on your own intelligence do not rely; In all your ways be mindful of him, and he will make straight your paths." (Proverbs 3: 5 - 6).

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Where can we see faith that moves mountains?

"Jesus said to them, “Have faith in God.  Amen, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it shall be done for him."  (Mark 11: 22 - 23).

Do we still see faith that moves mountains?  We do indeed.  I have seen a few myself in everyday small matters and in huge international affairs.
Who could believe that apartheid in South Africa could be brought to an end in 1993 without a huge blood bath? A lot of prayers went up from all over the world to see this happy outcome.

St Peter teaches that faith is more precious than gold and silver. (Cf 1 Peter 1: 7). Whenever God plans to do a big thing in my life, first He gives me the faith and boldness to ask for it.  The rest is formality.

Jesus continues His teaching on prayer,  "Therefore I tell you, all that you ask for in prayer, believe that you will receive it and it shall be yours."  The person who doubts when he prays "must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord, since he is a man of two minds, unstable in all his ways."  (James 1: 7 - 8).  A double-minded person may never receive anything he asks from God, says James.

Strong faith is a critical factor in all successful prayers but there is one other element without which no prayer can be answered:
"When you stand to pray, forgive anyone against whom you have a grievance, so that your heavenly Father may in turn forgive you your transgressions.”  (Mark 11: 26).

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The Church honors the Sacred Heart of Jesus in June.

June 1st, 2018 First Friday in June 2018.

The 12 Promises of the Sacred Heart of Jesus:  Jesus promised 12 special favors to all those who will honor His Sacred Heart especially on the First Friday of every month.  In the 6th month of the year 2018, we look at Promise #6.

#6.  "Sinners shall find in My Heart the source and infinite ocean of mercy."

June is the Month the Church honors the Sacred Heart of Jesus.  If you ask me, the promise this month is the greatest.  If you are not a sinner, stand up and shout it to the world!

Let us pray together:
"O Sacred Heart of Jesus, living and life-giving fountain of eternal life, infinite treasure of the Divinity, and glowing furnace of love, You are my sanctuary.  O adorable and glorious Savior, consume my heart with that burning fire that ever inflames Your Heart.

Pour down on my soul those graces which flow from Your Love.  Let my heart be one with, and in all things conformed to, Yours. May Your Will be the rule of both my desires and my actions. Amen."  (St Alphonsus Ligouri, Doctor of the Church).

"Jesus knew and loved us each and all during his life, his agony and his Passion, and gave himself up for each one of us: "The Son of God. . . loved me and gave himself for me." He has loved us all with a human heart. For this reason, the Sacred Heart of Jesus, pierced by our sins and for our salvation, "is quite rightly considered the chief sign and symbol of that. . . love with which the divine Redeemer continually loves the eternal Father and all human beings" without exception."  (CCC 478).

Honor the Sacred Heart of Jesus this Friday by attending Holy Mass.

For the 12 Promises of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, click the link below:

http://sfjweb.com/?q=content/sacred-heart-12-promises

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The Mother of my Lord has come to visit me.

"Blessed are you, O Virgin Mary, who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled."  (Cf Luke 1: 45).

The Church celebrates today the visit of Blessed Virgin Mary to her elderly pregnant cousin, Elizabeth.  Why is this feast very important?
Because of two key prophecies that were uttered in the course of the exchange between the Virgin Mary and Elizabeth:

#1  “Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.  And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?"  (Luke 1: 42 - 44).  Inspired by the Holy Spirit, Elizabeth recognized Mary as Theotokos, "The Mother of my Lord.".

#2  “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my savior.
For he has looked upon his handmaid’s lowliness; behold, from now on will all ages call me blessed."  (Luke 1:  46 - 48).
All generations have been saying to the Theotokos:  "Blessed art thou amongst women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb Jesus."

"Almighty ever-living God,
who, while the Blessed Virgin Mary was carrying your Son in her womb, inspired her to visit Elizabeth, grant us, we pray,
that, faithful to the promptings of the Spirit, we may magnify your greatness with the Virgin Mary at all times.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen." (Collect of the Feast of the Visitation).

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You do not know what you are asking.

“What do you wish [me] to do for you?”  They answered him, “Grant that in your glory we may sit one at your right and the other at your left.” Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking."  (Mark 10: 36 - 38).

Could the best practice with regards to asking God for favors lodged in these two Scripture texts?

#1 "Your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask him!" (Matthew 6: 8).

#2  "We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans." (Romans 8: 26).

I just finished reading TREASURE IN CLAY - The Autobiography of Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen.  When I started the book, I was overwhelmed by this man's gifts and felt like a grasshopper before this towering moral, intellectual and saintly giant of a man.  He reminds me in a number of ways of Blessed Cardinal John Henry Newman but Sheen was much more erudite, versatile and charismatic.  By the time I finished the book, I felt peace and came to sympathize with James and John for not knowing what they were asking.  (Mark 10: 38).  God has an excellent plan for every person. (Jeremiah 29: 11).

Never compare yourself to any person, saint or sinner.  Accept who you are.  Accept all that has happened in your life.  Accept everything that is happening now. Cooperate with everything happening around you except what is sinful.

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God's will is that we become Saints.

"Like obedient children, do not act in compliance with the desires of your former ignorance but, as he who called you is holy, be holy yourselves in every aspect of your conduct,  for it is written, “Be holy because I [am] holy.”  (1 Peter 1: 14-16).

"Become a saint, and do so quickly,"  a quote attributed to St John Paul the Great.  If God your Creator thinks you can be a Saint, why not!
Consider these two truths:

#1 "All things are possible for God."  (Luke 1: 37; Matthew 19: 26).
#2  "Is anything too marvelous for the Lord to do?"  (Genesis 18: 14). For you?

Why then could I ever imagine that it is impossible for God to make me a Saint?  Clearly this is His expressed will. But how much do I desire it?

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavens, as he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and without blemish before him."  (Ephesians 1: 3 - 4)

May God so confirm our hearts in holiness that we may be blameless in the sight of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus Christ comes with all his saints. (Cf 1 Thessalonians 3:12-13).

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Why do you refuse to follow Me?

“You are lacking in one thing. Go, sell what you have, and give to [the] poor and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.”  (Mark 10: 21).

The young man who asked Jesus,
“Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”  (Mark 10: 17) is too attached to the wealth he worked hard to accumulate. He had no faith and could not believe that He who asked him to follow him gave him the power to accumulate all his wealth and could do more for him.

What is your principal attachment?
Money, family, job, easy life? Do you believe Jesus when He says: Come follow Me and you will have treasure in heaven?  Or?  "At that statement his face fell, and he went away sad, for he had many possessions."  (Mark 10: 22).

The antidote to attachment, hoarding and fear of poverty is total surrender of your All to Jesus.  Trust Jesus completely. He knows exactly what you need and when you need it.

"The Lord became my protector.
He brought me out to a place of freedom; he saved me because he delighted in me."  (Cf. Psalm 17: 19-20).

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We celebrate today the Feast of the Most Holy Trinity.

"In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit."  (Matthew 28: 19).

The Church celebrates today the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity. This is a great mystery, a great revelation and at the same time a great obstacle to faith to many people like Jews and Muslims.

But the mystery of the Blessed Trinity, One God in three Persons and Undivided Unity is not an object of idle speculation or a subject for futile doctoral thesis. The Trinity is a mystery for Credo and Adoration.

"We believe in one God, 
the Father, the Almighty,
Maker of all that is, seen and unseen. 

"We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
the only Son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father.

"We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son. 
With the Father and the Son he is worshipped and glorified."

This is the Faith of our Fathers. The Faith revealed by Jesus Christ.
We believe!

I do not understand the mystery of the Trinity.  I pray to Abba Father using the Lord's Prayer, prayer taught us by Christ our Teacher.  I pray to our Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God and Son of Mary. I experience Jesus Christ in the Sacraments of Reconciliation and the Eucharist. I experience the Holy Spirit in prayer, in His inspirations and power. This is how I know that the Trinity is real.

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Behind the fervent prayer of a righteous person is a strong faith.

"The fervent prayer of a righteous person is very powerful.  Elijah was a human being like us; yet he prayed earnestly that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain upon the land.  Then he prayed again, and the sky gave rain and the earth produced its fruit."  (James 5: 16 - 18).

The Apostle James reveals here that God answers with speed when a righteous man calls on Him in supplication.  But who is a just man? A just or righteous man is a man of faith.  God teaches us through biographies of the saints in the Bible and Church. In the above Scripture, the Prophet Elijah is the example of a righteous man who moved God with his prayers.  Behind the prayers of Elijah is a strong faith.

The Spirit reveals:  "See, the rash have no integrity; but the just one who is righteous because of faith shall live."  (Habakkuk 2:  4).
Who is "the rash man?" The rash man is one who has no faith.  Not only does he lack faith, but he has no integrity.

To be a man of prayer and a powerful intercessor for the needs of the Church, you must be a person of faith.  To be a person of faith, you must live in the word of God.  Because the living God speaks to you in His word and gives you the opportunity to respond. Your response is faith.

"Lord, I call to you; hasten to me;
listen to my plea when I call.
Let my prayer be incense before you; my uplifted hands an evening offering."  (Psalm 141: 1 - 2).

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Why God is impatient with our grumbling.

"Do not complain, brothers and sisters, about one another, that you may not be judged."  (James 5: 9).

Complaining, criticizing and condemnation are severely rebuked in the Bible. When we find out why, we shall say: "No wonder!"

"Take as an example of hardship and patience, brothers and sisters, the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. Indeed we call blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of the perseverance of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, because the Lord is compassionate and merciful."  (James 5: 10 -11).

We are urged to learn from Job and the prophets. The Bible teaches us through the power of biography:  A Bible character, a certain situation in the past. A similar situation or event repeats in the future. The message today is short and clear:  No Complain. No Criticize. No Condemn.  Was this the first time in the Bible for such an interdict against murmurings? Not at all. Read on:
"But with their patience worn out by the journey, the people complained against God and Moses,
“Why have you brought us up from Egypt to die in this desert, where there is no food or water?
We are disgusted with this wretched food!”  (Numbers 21 : 4-5)

Other examples to learn from:
"It was by faith that Abel obeyed God and brought an offering that pleased God more than Cain’s offering did. God accepted Abel and proved it by accepting his gift; and though Abel is long dead, we can still learn lessons from him about trusting God."  (Hebrews 11: 4)

If we have faith like Abel and learn to trust God, we shall never complain or grumble.

The Responsorial Psalm in today's Liturgy gives us ample reasons why God is trustworthy:

"Bless the LORD, O my soul; and all my being, bless his holy name.
Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits.

He pardons all your iniquities, he heals all your ills.
He redeems your life from destruction, he crowns you with kindness and compassion."

Merciful and gracious is the LORD,
slow to anger and abounding in kindness.
He will not always chide, nor does he keep his wrath forever."  (Psalm 103: 1-2, 3-4, 8-9).

It is hard to find a reason to complain against such a loving Father.

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Imagine what a cup of cold water can do.

Jesus said to His disciples:"Anyone who gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ, amen, I say to you, will surely not lose his reward."  (Mark 9: 41).

Imagine what a cup of water can do! I have often been amazed at the low threshold of actions mandated by God in order to enter the Kingdom of God:
+ Love your neighbor as yourself. (Mark 12: 31).
+ Be poor in spirit. (Matthew 5: 3).
+ Suffer persecution patiently for the sake of the Kingdom. (Matthew 5: 10).

None of the above or similar precepts in the Gospels can remotely compare with the grave hazards of the gold rush that happened in America about 150 years ago. A man packed his wife and children and transported them with all their property from New York for example to California for the promise of finding a gold mine in a desert.

Jesus, the true and faithful witness (Revelation 1: 5) promises that if you give a cup of cold water to any of His disciples, your reward will be great.  When I was a salesman knocking on doors often sweating from the summer heat, it had felt so sweet to be offered a bottle of cold water.  The cash value of the water would have been no more than 20 cents but for me, the value is inestimable.  I returned the favor by having Mass offered for the person and the company.

"O Lord, I trust in your merciful love. My heart will rejoice in your salvation. I will sing to the Lord who has been bountiful with me."  (Psalm 13: 6).

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You have no idea what your life will be like tomorrow.

"Beloved: Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we shall go into such and such a town, spend a year there doing business, and make a profit”– you have no idea what your life will be like tomorrow. You are a puff of smoke that appears briefly and then disappears. Instead you should say, “If the Lord wills it, we shall live to do this or that.”  (James 4: 13 - 16).

Are you one of those who tend to overplan for tomorrow? Perhaps this has been so habitual that you attribute all your success in life to your planning, foresight, due diligence and hard work. Our first reading today calls us to pause and give due consideration to the loving and powerful providence of God.  "You have no idea what your life will be like tomorrow. You are a puff of smoke that appears briefly and then disappears."  (James 4: 14).

I tell you the truth: You are not even sure you will be around in the next hour.  God has given us this present Moment to repent, acknowledge and praise Him.

"O Lord, I trust in your merciful love. My heart will rejoice in your salvation. I will sing to the Lord who has been bountiful with me."  (Psalm 13: 6).

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