Woman, go in peace. You are free of your issues.

“Daughter, your faith has saved you. Go in peace and be cured of your affliction.”  (Mark 5: 34).

Who heard this most beautiful words from the lips of Jesus?
"A woman afflicted with hemorrhages for twelve years.  She had suffered greatly at the hands of many doctors and had spent all that she had. Yet she was not helped but only grew worse." (Mark 5: 25 - 26).

Sounds familiar?  First a few details about the woman.  After she had become bankrupt without getting cured, a friend suggested she try Jesus.  The amazing thing is that from hearing about Jesus and His ministry, she believed that Jesus would heal her.  The Scriptures say that faith comes from hearing. Not any type of hearing but hearing the word of God.  (Romans 10: 17).

“Daughter, your faith has saved you. Go in peace and be cured of your affliction.”  (Mark 5: 34).

This woman had faith and humility. She was dogged in her perseverance to regain her health. She believed the story about Jesus. She committed to finding Jesus wherever He might be. When she found Jesus, she pushed everybody out of the way and did as she planned:   “If I but touch his clothes, I shall be cured.” (Mark 5: 28).

"Consult not your fears but your hopes and your dreams. Think not about your frustrations, but about your unfulfilled potential. Concern yourself not with what you tried and failed in, but what is still possible for you to do." (Pope St John XXIII).

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Lord I am not worthy to receive You in my house.

“Lord, I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof; only say the word and my servant will be healed."  (Matthew 8: 8).

Do you recognize the Scripture above as our prayer before Holy Communion?  These are the words of a Roman Centurion to Jesus.  The Church uses it as the most appropriate prayer to excite us to faith and humility. Ask yourself this question:  If a military officer from pagan Rome can rise to this level of faith and humility, why not you?  Why after years and years of Holy Communion  can one deny Jesus the faith and reverence He expects and deserves in this great Sacrament? I think of three possible reasons:

1. "Ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ."  (St Jerome).
2. "Ignorance of God is the principle and explanation of moral deviations." (CCC 2087).
3.  Jesus replied, “Your mistake is that you don’t know the Scriptures, and you don’t know the power of God."  (Matthew 22: 29).

The situation can be remedied.  You can start growing and enjoying your faith by resolving today to give 15 minutes of your time every day to reading the Bible.

I believe in prayer.
I believe in the word of God.
I believe in miracle.
I Ieave the rest to God.

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The message of Peter and Paul still goes out through all the world.

"Peter said to Jesus: You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.
And Jesus replied: You are Peter,
and upon this rock I will build my Church."  (Matthew 16: 16, 18).

Today is the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul. These are the two great pillars of the Church.  Peter became the first Pope while Paul became the first missionary.  Both were martyred in Rome under Emperor Nero.

The message of these two Apostles still goes out through all the world.

"O God, who on the Solemnity of the Apostles Peter and Paul
give us the noble and holy joy of this day, grant, we pray, that your Church may in all things follow the teaching of those through whom she received the beginnings of right religion.
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 on the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul).

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The consequences of building on unstable foundation.

"Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock.
The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house. But it did not collapse; it had been set solidly on rock." (Matthew 7: 24 - 25)

Who do you hire to build a solid family home that will last many years?  Will you not employ the best builder?

"Unless the LORD build the house,
they labor in vain who build.
Unless the LORD guard the city,
in vain does the guard keep watch."  (Psalm 127: 1)

The Lord Himself is the expert Builder.

Below are a few Gospel principles that ensure we build our spiritual life home on solid rock and not on sand:

"Be doers of the word and not hearers only, deluding yourselves." (James 1: 22)
Power comes from acting/doing.

"He [Jesus] replied, “Rather, blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it.” (Luke 11: 28)
Blessings come from obeying the word.

"For it is not those who hear the law who are just in the sight of God; rather, those who observe the law will be justified." (Romans 2: 13)
Emphasis again is on observing, acting and doing. 

"Children, let no one deceive you. The person who acts in righteousness is righteous, just as he is righteous." (1 John 3: 7)

Believe what you read.
Teach what you believe.
Practice what you teach.

"Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them." (John 13: 17)
Change happens not because of what you know but because of what you do daily.

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Their fruits will expose them.

"By their fruits you will know them."  (Matthew 7: 16 & 20).

Jesus warns us to beware of false prophets. They sneak in smiling and looking very innocent.  Give them a little time and they will be exposed by the bad fruits they bear.
The false prophets seek to corrupt sound doctrine and leave trails of  fruitless works of darkness:  "immorality, impurity, licentiousness,  idolatry, sorcery, hatreds, rivalry, jealousy, outbursts of fury, acts of selfishness, dissensions, factions, occasions of envy, drinking bouts, orgies, and the like."  (Galatians 5: 19 - 21).

To detect and expose the false prophets, we need the word of God and the spirit of discernment.

On discernment, the Church says:  "Finally, discernment unmasks the lie of temptation, whose object appears to be good, a "delight to the eyes" and desirable, when in reality its fruit is death."  (CCC 2847).

"By their fruits you will know them."  (Matthew 7: 16 & 20). Be Vigilant!

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Do not let your God in whom you trust deceive you.

 “Thus shall you say to Hezekiah, king of Judah: Do not let your God in whom you trust deceive you by saying, ‘Jerusalem will not be handed over to the king of Assyria." (1 Kings 19: 10).

You may call the above Scripture verse:  super power bravado.  We saw plenty of this recently between the US and North Korea.   The world had good experience of this throughout history.

This type of rant is not peculiar to dictators.  Who has not heard of doctors playing god and saying: "You have less than three months to live."  Or bank managers or supervisors boasting: "You are fired and will be completely ruined."

Now read the inspired response of Hezekiah King of Judah:
"Hezekiah took the letter from the hand of the messengers and read it; then he went up to the house of the Lord, and spreading it out before the Lord,  Hezekiah prayed in the Lord’s presence."  (2 Kings 19: 14).  Then Hezekiah poured out his heart before the Lord.

I have been inspired several times  to imitate Hezekiah literally.  The result  has been divine intervention.

Abba Father, I believe that You are watching over me night and day and that not a hair falls from my head without Your permission!
I believe that, in Your infinite Wisdom, You know better than I what is good for me.
I believe that, in Your infinite power, You can bring good even out of evil. 
In all the crises of my life, may I run to your holy Presence with confidence.  I ask for this in the mighty Name of Your Son Jesus Christ. Amen.

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Instruct the ignorant and admonish sinners.

“Stop judging, that you may not be judged.  For as you judge, so will you be judged, and the measure with which you measure will be measured out to you."  (Matthew 7: 1-2).

Jesus affirms these spiritual principles: Criticism, Complaining and Condemning are vices of the world that has no place in the Kingdom.

But we still have the sacred duty to help our brothers and sisters who may be undergoing temptations using 3 of the 7 spiritual works of mercy:
#1 Instruct the ignorant.
#2 Counsel the doubtful.
#3 Admonish sinners.

When you perform the above with mercy, you fulfill a key Christian duty.   The Church teaches: "Ignorance of God is the principle and explanation of moral deviations." ( CCC 2087).

"Go and learn the meaning of the words, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ I did not come to call the righteous but sinners."  (Matthew 9: 13)

Lord, you desire mercy and not sacrifice.  You show us so much mercy.  Give us  merciful hearts.  Help us this day to show mercy to everybody we encounter in thought, word and deed.  Thank you Jesus.

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Who is John the Baptist?

“John is his name.”  (Luke 1: 63).

June 24th is the Solemnity of St John the Baptist. The feast fell on a Sunday this year.  Because of the stature of St John the Baptist in God's plan of salvation, the Church all over the world gives the feast precedence over the Sunday Liturgy which is very unusual.

We know that his name John was revealed to the parents, Zechariah and Elizabeth before his birth. But what does John mean? It means "the Lord is gracious." But who is John?  For answer we dive into the Old Testament, the first Reading today from Isaiah:

"The Lord called me from birth,
from my mother’s womb he gave me my name. He made my mouth like a sharp-edged sword, concealed me, shielded by his hand. He made me a sharpened arrow, in his quiver he hid me. He said to me, You are my servant, in you, Israel, I show my glory." (Isaiah 49: 1 - 3).

Not many people were called from their mother's womb for special mission.  To be called, named and given a mission before you were born makes you pretty very special.  As the son of a priest, John was born into the upper class.  He forsook all the privileges for the sake of his calling. Scripture tells us:  "The child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the desert until the day of his manifestation to Israel." (Luke 1: 80).

"And you, child, will be called prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, to give his people knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins."  (Luke 1: 76 - 77).

There is great need today to prepare our brothers and sisters for the Second Coming of Jesus.  People's ignorance of God is the chief reason for all moral deviations according to the Catechism of the Catholic Church. (CCC 2087).  Are you willing to be an evangelist or a catechist?

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Why do pagans worry a lot?

"Do not worry about your life."  (Matthew 6: 25).
"So do not worry and say, ‘What are we to eat?’ or ‘What are we to drink?’ or ‘What are we to wear?" (Matthew 6: 31).
"Do not worry about tomorrow."  (Matthew 6: 34).

Jesus has one remedy for worries. All worries: family, health, money, job, all types of possessions and tools.  He first tells us that those who do not know the Scriptures and the power of God are consumed by such foolish and unnecessary worries. (Cf Matthew 22: 29).  Pagans think of nothing else but these things.

But for you:  "Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given you besides." (Matthew 6: 33).
So what is the Kingdom of God? It is here and now the reign, rule or control of Jesus Christ in the hearts and minds of Christians. His righteousness means His manner of life and doing things. When you embrace the reign of the King and His teachings, you have a singleness of purpose in everything in life.  Examples:  St John the Baptist, St Paul, St Ignatius Loyola, etc. Then you experience abundance or affluence in your life.

Is this utopian? Maybe for those who do not know the Scriptures and the power and promises of God.  (Cf Matthew 22: 29)
"For I know the plans and thoughts that I have for you,’ says the Lord, ‘plans for peace and well-being and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope." (Jeremiah 29: 11).

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Two men who invested their treasure in different places.

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth.... But store up treasures in heaven...... For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be."  (Matthew 6: 19 - 21).

Where do you hide your treasure? What does prosperity mean to you?
The Gospel differentiates genuine riches and filthy lucre.  Genuine wealth is one you can  keep and enjoy always and everywhere.  It is faith, hope, love, patience, wisdom, peace, courage, contentment, humility, etc.  He who has God has everything.  He who hoards the wealth of this world has nothing.

Two men illustrate the difference between genuine riches and filthy lucre:  St Thomas More and Cardinal Thomas Wosley.  Both men were in the inner circle of the government of King Henry VIII of England in the 16th century.  St Thomas More put God first in his life and work. Cardinal Thomas Wosley put the king first.  Henry VIII beheaded St Thomas More because he refused to put the king first.  Cardinal Thomas Wosley continued in power for a little longer.  Cardinal Wosley said while he laid dying in disgrace:  "But if I had served God as diligently as I have done the King, he [God] would not ..."
Surely God would never forsake His own.

Today is the feast of St Thomas More.  Among many patronages that he enjoys is the patron saint of lawyers.

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O God from whom all good things come!

"Your Father knows what you need before you ask him."  (Matthew 6: 8).

Behold one of the most beautiful revelations of Jesus!
Lord Jesus, You give us the consolation of Scriptures.  Praise and honor and glory be to You.

Other truths of Scripture to warm your heart:
1.  All things are possible for God.
2.  There is nothing too marvelous for God to do for you.
3.  O God from whom all good things come.
4.  Have you not seen how God has provided all our needs?
5.  God knows exactly what you need and when you need it.
6.  "Ignorance of God is the principle and explanation of moral deviations." ( CCC 2087).
7.   In Your infinite Wisdom, You know better than us what is good for us. In Your infinite power, You can bring good even out of evil.  

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I want a double portion of your spirit.

"Request whatever I might do for you, before I am taken from you.” Elisha answered, “May I receive a double portion of your spirit.”  (2 Kings 2: 9).

Elijah the great prophet knowing that his time has come to leave this earth, wanted to bestow on Elisha his disciple a memorable gift.  He asked Elisha the above question. Elisha gave a great answer that reminds us of Solomon when God asked him a similar question:
"That  night God appeared to Solomon and said to him, "Ask for whatever you want me to give you."  (2 Chronicles 1: 7).

Solomon asked for wisdom. If you have a similar opportunity like Solomon and Elisha, what will you ask for?
Jesus Himself suggests to us what to ask for:
"If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!" (Luke 11: 13).

Do you believe the word of Jesus?  Then open your heart and mind to the promise of God who cannot lie:
"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you."  (Matthew 7: 7).

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Have you found me out, my enemy?

“Have you found me out, my enemy?” (1 Kings 21: 21). 

These are the words of King Ahab to the Prophet Elijah when the prophet came to confront Ahab with the murder and loot of Naboth's land. Remember King David, Bethsheba and her husband?  No matter how secret your sin is, God knows the details.  King David left us Psalm 51, a masterpiece of penitential prayer.

After God imposed the severest punishment on Ahab and Queen Jezebel, husband and wife infamous for holding the Guinness Book of Records for wickedness in the Bible, you can't believe what King Ahab did.

"When Ahab heard these words, he tore his garments and put on sackcloth over his bare flesh. He fasted, slept in the sackcloth, and went about subdued."  (1 Kings 21: 27).

Even more incredible is God's response to Ahab's act of repentance:
"Since he has humbled himself before me, I will not bring the evil in his time. I will bring the evil upon his house in his son’s time."  (1 Kings 21:  29).

We learn from this Bible incident that to err is human. To be merciful and forgiving is God.
The ABC OF MERCY:
A: Ask for Mercy.
B: Be Merciful.
C: Completely trust Jesus for Mercy.

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6-19

“Have you found me out, my enemy?” (1 Kings 21: 21). 

These are the words of King Ahab to the Prophet Elijah when the prophet came to confront Ahab with the murder and loot of Naboth's land. Remember King David, Bethsheba and her husband?  No matter how secret your sin is, God knows the details.  King David left us Psalm 51, a masterpiece of penitential prayer.

After God imposed the severest punishment on Ahab and Queen Jezebel, husband and wife infamous for holding the Guinness Book of Records for wickedness in the Bible, you can't believe what King Ahab did.

"When Ahab heard these words, he tore his garments and put on sackcloth over his bare flesh. He fasted, slept in the sackcloth, and went about subdued."  (1 Kings 21: 27).

Even more incredible is God's response to Ahab's act of repentance:
"Since he has humbled himself before me, I will not bring the evil in his time. I will bring the evil upon his house in his son’s time."  (1 Kings 21:  29).

We learn from this Bible incident that to err is human. To be merciful and forgiving is God.
The ABC OF MERCY:
A: Ask for Mercy.
B: Be Merciful.
C: Completely trust Jesus for Mercy.

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The source of power for Christian testimony.

"Give to the one who asks of you, and do not turn your back on one who wants to borrow."  (Matthew 5: 42).

In Matthew Chapter 5,  starting with the Beatitudes, our Teacher Jesus gave challenging instructions which defined Christian saintly conduct in every age.  These evangelical precepts challenge our human nature to the core.  This is why they are so powerful.  If you act on them, they change not just your life but they become the strongest tool for evangelization.  The Roman society in the first decades of Christianity was evangelized by the application of the Teachings of Jesus Christ in Matthew Chapter 5.

"Give to the one who asks of you, and do not turn your back on one who wants to borrow."  (Matthew 5: 42).

You cannot observe any of these divine commands without the help of the Holy Spirit.
Father, fill us with the Holy Spirit that we may live abundantly.

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The Kingdom of God and the Mustard Seed.

"Jesus said, “This is how it is with the kingdom of God;  it is as if a man were to scatter seed on the land........“To what shall we compare the kingdom of God.... It is like a mustard seed that, when it is sown in the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on the earth. But once it is sown, it springs up and becomes the largest of plants and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the sky can dwell in its shade.”  (Mark 4:  26, 30 - 32).

Jesus Christ came to establish the Kingdom of God.  He taught us to pray every day for the coming of the Kingdom. "Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven." (Matthew 6: 10).
But what is the Kingdom of God? The Kingdom here on earth consists of the men and women who submit themselves to the rule and discipline of God in their hearts and minds.

In the parable of the Mustard Seed, Jesus revealed one characteristic of the Kingdom.  It starts very tiny.  Like a mustard seed. And it grows and grows and grows.

We get the same picture of the mystery of the Kingdom from the First Reading from Ezekiel:

"Thus says the Lord God:
I, too, will pluck from the crest of the cedar the highest branch.
From the top a tender shoot I will break off and transplant on a high, lofty mountain. On the mountain height of Israel I will plant it. It shall put forth branches and bear fruit, and become a majestic cedar.
Every small bird will nest under it,
 all kinds of winged birds will dwell in the shade of its branches."  (Ezekiel 17: 22 - 23).

The seed and beginning of the Kingdom of God is the Church. (CCC 541).

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How do you respond to falsehood in the public domain?

Jesus said to His disciples: "You have heard that it was said to your ancestors, ‘Do not take a false oath..... Let your ‘Yes’ mean ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No’ mean ‘No.’ Anything more is from the evil one."  (Matthew 5:  33, 37).

Pilate when he heard that Jesus came to bear witness to the truth, asked Him: "What is truth?" (John 18: 37 - 38).

Truth is under attack everywhere today.  Why does this matter?  Jesus calls the Devil, the enemy of mankind "the Father of lies."  (John 8: 44).  As we celebrate Father's Day this weekend, we need to do some soul searching on our commitment to truth.

"You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor."  (Exodus 20: 16).  Although Pilate was fully aware that the Jewish leaders bore false witness against Jesus, he still condemned Jesus to death for political correctness.
How do you respond to false statements in the political domain? Could your response affect the perception and integrity of truth by your family?

"Let your ‘Yes’ mean ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No’ mean ‘No.’ Anything more is from the evil one."  (Matthew 5: 37).

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After the fire, a whispering sound.

"The word of the Lord came to him [Elijah].  Go out and stand on the mountain before the Lord; the Lord will pass by."  (1 Kings 19: 9, 11).

Elijah the great Prophet could not hide from God even inside a deep cave in Mount Horeb.  There is something very tender and admirable about God in this narrative.  He never forgets His servants in their depression and low points. He seeks them out and lifts them up.

At Mount Horeb, God manifests Himself to Elijah in a quick and successive theophanies.  First, a cyclone, tearing apart mountain and crushing rocks. This was followed by a 8 or 9 magnitude earthquake. After the earthquake, a huge fire. God who appeared to be enjoying the show of His huge power was not in any of these terrifying forces of nature.

"After the fire, a light silent sound.
When he heard this, Elijah hid his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave."  (1 Kings 19: 12 - 13).

This encounter of Elijah and God at Mount Horeb teaches us a number of salutary lessons:
#1  Our God is in charge of all the forces of nature. They are not random uncontrollable evil forces.
#2   “Be still and know that I am God! I am exalted among the nations, exalted on the earth.”  (Psalm 46: 11).
Seek the LORD in silence. In solitude.  Not in confusion or thunder blasts. At the same time, be fully prepared for surprises.
"The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit."  (John 3: 8).

"The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer; my God is my saving strength."  (Psalm 17: 3).

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Why delay forgiving your brother?

"If you bring your gift to the altar, and there recall that your brother has anything against you,  leave your gift there at the altar, go first and be reconciled with your brother, and then come and offer your gift."  (Matthew 5: 23 - 24).

Don’t postpone forgiving grievances.  Do not say: when I get home, I will forgive him or her. You may not get home.  Don't say, I will forgive tomorrow. You may have only today.

Don’t postpone asking for forgiveness.  Don't count on tomorrow or another time to do it.  You have phone, email and text messaging to do it. As your conscience smites you, do it at once.  The ceremonial part may come later.

When you pray in the morning, ask God to forgive your sins.  Tell Him that you forgive completely anyone who has offended you.  Ask God to offer the grace to all those you have offended so that they can forgive you and release you.  Finish by thanking God for His bottomless mercy.

"Amen, I say to you, you will not be released until you have paid the last penny."  (Matthew 5:  26).

Thank God for the Sacrament of Reconciliation and Purgatory.  In His gracious mercy, God gives us a second chance.

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St Anthony was a great teacher and eminent preacher.

"But whoever obeys and teaches these commandments will be called greatest in the kingdom of heaven."  (Matthew 5: 19).

Today is the feast of St Anthony of Padua, 13th century Franciscan priest, Doctor of the Church, great teacher, eminent preacher, miracle worker.  He died at the age of 36.
God teaches us through the lives of holy men and women in the Bible.  God continues the pedagogy through the biographies of saints.  Their lives open a window into God's ways and His thoughts. (Cf Isaiah 55: 8 - 9).

Anthony pondered the law of God day and night and as His God promised, yielded abundant fruit in due season.  (Cf Psalm 1: 1 - 3).

St Anthony of Padua is the Patron Saint of lost things.  He became one of my patron saints when Microsoft wanted to deny me an email address I had for over 20 years before Microsoft acquired the Hotmail company.  I fought back calling on St Anthony to aid me.  I experienced the joy of answered prayer.

St Anthony pray for us.

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