Fear the Lord your God.

"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." 
(Mark 12: 30 - 31).

Why not? Should it be very hard to love Abba Father above everything?   Treating our neighbor exactly the way you want to be treated does not appear an impossible feat.

Below is God's standard in loving us:
"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It does not dishonor others, it is not self - seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.  Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always  trusts, always hopes, always perseveres." 
(1 Corinthians 13:4-7).
God wants us to apply this standard to our neighbor.

When we obey God and make Him the top priority in our universe, we enjoy a full and rich life.
"Moses spoke to the people, saying:
“Fear the LORD, your God, and keep, throughout the days of your lives, all his statutes and commandments which I enjoin on you, and thus have long life."  (Deuteronomy 6: 2).

Our response should be:
"I love you, O LORD, my strength, O LORD, my rock, my fortress, my deliverer."  (Psalm 18: 2 - 3).

Do not be readers but doer of the word.
"Whoever loves me will keep my word, says the Lord;
and my Father will love him and we will come to him." 
(John 14: 23).

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Do not invite yourself to the place of honor.

"For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” (Luke 14: 11).

Christ our Teacher gives us a poignant lesson on humility.  One of our great theologians writes that humility is the queen of virtues.  St Augustine writes that you can get into heaven without perfect chastity but you cannot enter heaven without humility.

Jesus teaches us a very practical lesson on humility.  The type a dad will give his son or a mother her daughter to spare them embarrassment.
“When you are invited by someone to a wedding banquet, do not recline at table in the place of honor."  (Luke 14: 8).  That may belong to someone else.

Everyone struggles with some type of pride.  My best lesson on humility is from the autobiography of St Ignatius Loyola which the saint dictated to his secretary, Father Gonzalez.  Father Gonzalez who said he struggled with pride asked St Ignatius how to overcome it. "Pray about it sincerely to the Lord."  St Ignatius reminded Father Gonzalez of Jesus' promise of "Ask, Seek and Knock and Receive."  I know I have tried many things until I read this. I pray for humility every morning and that's it.

Through St Ignatius, Jesus teaches me to trust Him to deal with my pride in His own way and in His time.
"Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls."  (Matthew 11: 29).

Our Saint for today is a model of humility.  The unassuming St Martin de Porres worked so many miracles during his life and continues to work many today.  Below is the prayer celebrating his life:

"O God, who led Saint Martin de Porres by the path of humility to heavenly glory,
grant that we may so follow his radiant example in this life
as to merit to be exalted with him in heaven.
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."

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All Souls' Day - November 2.

"The souls of the righteous are in the hand of God, and no torment shall touch them. They seemed, in the view of the foolish, to be dead; and their passing away was thought an affliction and their going forth from us, utter destruction. But they are in peace."  (Wisdom 3: 1 - 3).

The Church celebrates today All Souls' Day.   We remember all Christians who had died. "They seemed, in the view of the foolish, to be dead; and their passing away was thought an affliction and their going forth from us, utter destruction."
No surprise because: "The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God."  But The fools are corrupt and speak out of their corruption.   (Cf Psalm 14: 1).

The Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ guarantees the Resurrection of the just.
"Just as Jesus died and has risen again, so through Jesus God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep; and as in Adam all die, so also in Christ will all be brought to life." 
(Cf. 1 Thessalonians 4: 14; 1 Corinthians 15: 22).

The deep truth of faith is revealed only to the childlike.
"Those who trust in him shall understand truth, and the faithful shall abide with him in love: Because grace and mercy are with his holy ones, and his care is with the elect." 
(Wisdom 3:  9).

It is simply not possible for our hope of Resurrection to disappoint. Why?
"Hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the holy Spirit that has been given to us."  (Romans 5: 5).

So my brothers and sisters, be steadfast in your hope and stand your ground.
"Even though you walk through the valley of the shadow of death, you will fear no evil, for the Lord is with you; His rod and His staff will comfort you."  (Cf Psalm 23: 4).

Here is a promise you can trust and share:
"I am the Resurrection and the Life, says the Lord.
Whoever believes in me, even though he dies, will live,
and everyone who lives and believes in me will not die for ever."  (Cf. John 11: 25-26).

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Honor the Sacred Heart of Jesus on the First Friday of November.

November 1st, 2018 - First Friday in November.

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 11th month of the year 2018, we look at Promise #11.

#11.  "Those who propagate this devotion shall have their name written in My Heart, and it shall never be effaced."

Friday, November 2, 2018 is also ALL SOULS DAY. The Church today "prays for all who, in the purifying suffering of purgatory await the day when they will join in" the company of the Saints. Jesus, who is true and faithful Witness promises us that "Those who propagate this devotion shall have their name written in My Heart, and it shall never be effaced."

Friends, this is really a question of whether you trust the promises Jesus or not.

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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Solemnity of All Saints.

"I had a vision of a great multitude, which no one could count, from every nation, race, people, and tongue."  (Revelation 7: 9).

We celebrate today, November 1st, the Solemnity of All Saints. We honor the countless number of the Redeemed who are not mentioned in the Liturgical Calendar.  All the Saints whether canonized or not are already assured of immortality.

“Who are these wearing white robes, and where did they come from?” (Revelation 7: 13).

The Saints are those who believed in Jesus, trusted His promises and "have survived the time of great distress; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb."  (Revelation 7: 14).

Don’t you often wonder about life after death, life in Heaven?
The testimony of the Divine Scriptures is all we have:  "What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived" -- the things God has prepared for those who love him."  (1 Corinthians 2: 9).

The Church adds a commentary:
"This perfect life with the Most Holy Trinity - this communion of life and love with the Trinity, with the Virgin Mary, the angels and all the blessed - is called "heaven." Heaven is the ultimate end and fulfillment of the deepest human longings, the state of supreme, definitive happiness."  (CCC 1024).

All Saints Day is a day of great rejoicing in the ancient Church and is both a Solemnity and a holy Day of Obligation.
Happy Feast Day!

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Say No to Compromise!

“Strive to enter through the narrow door."  (Luke 13: 24).

In following Jesus, the choice is clear but challenging for most of us. The narrow door is the Beatitudes, the Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy. This is how Jesus lived and the example "The Way, the Truth and Life" set for us.

For Christians, there is no alternative.  "For many, I tell you, will attempt to enter but will not be strong enough."  (Luke 13: 24).
Many will be tempted to compromise but will fall short.

What does it profit a man to get everything he wants in life but to be confronted with this scenario:
"Lord, open the door for us.’ He will say to you in reply, ‘I do not know where you are from." (Luke 13: 25).

The regret will be unspeakable.
"And there will be wailing and grinding of teeth when you see Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God and you yourselves cast out."  (Luke 13:  28).

I will rather be last now and enter the kingdom than be first and lost.
"For behold, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.”. (Luke 13: 30).

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The mystery of the growth of the Kingdom.

"Jesus said, “What is the Kingdom of God like?
To what can I compare it?
It is like a mustard seed that a man took and planted in the garden.
When it was fully grown, it became a large bush."
(Luke 13: 18 -  19).

The Parable of the Mustard Seed evokes the truth of the life cycle concept:  small beginnings, steady, mysterious growth and development.  Our faith comes to us as a tiny mustard seed.

God reveals to simple souls the mysteries of the Kingdom.  (Cf Matthew 11: 25).  As the sunflower seeks the sun, they seek the face of God daily in prayer and faithfulness to His will. And they grow steadily in faith, hope and love.  They love the word of God.  And God who delights in the little ones ravishes them with His promises:

"Blessed are you who fear the LORD, who walk in his ways!
For you shall eat the fruit of your handiwork; blessed shall you be, and favored."  (Psalm 128: 1 - 2).

This promise is for all of us.

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Woman, you are set free.

"Behave like God as his very dear children."  (Cf Ephesians 5: 1).

Wow! We know that by Baptism, God has adopted us as His children.  But is it part of the Covenant to agree to behave like Him? Apparently so.  Today's Scripture on Monday, 30th Week in Ordinary Time shows us how to behave like God and how to behave like the natural man born of flesh.  Read with me:

“Woman, you are set free of your infirmity.” He laid his hands on her, and she at once stood up straight and glorified God." (Luke 13: 12 - 13).
Jesus healed a woman crippled for 18 years on the Sabbath in full view of Law Enforcement.
Compassion and courage is behaving like God.

"But the leader of the synagogue, indignant that Jesus had cured on the sabbath, said to the crowd in reply, “There are six days when work should be done. Come on those days to be cured, not on the sabbath day.” (Luke 13: 14).
Heartless legalism is behaving like man.   A proverb says:  "The onlookers think that a man carrying a coffin is carrying wood."  Are you such an onlooker?

“Hypocrites!
Does not each one of you on the sabbath untie his ox or his ass from the manger and lead it out for watering?" (Luke 13: 15).
Making your interests paramount in every situation is thinking like man. Selfish.  A fake politician thinks and acts, "I think of whatever concerns me as top priority."

But for Jesus, the woman is: "This daughter of Abraham,
whom Satan has bound for eighteen years now, ought she not to have been set free on the sabbath day from this bondage?”(Luke 13: 16).
This is Why the Savior and Redeemer came.

Is it possible to behave like children of God?

"Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. (Colossians 3: 13).

Prayer is the key and efficient cause of blessings.
"Almighty ever-living God,
increase our faith, hope and charity, and make us love what you command, so that we may merit what you promise.
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."  (Collect: Monday 30th Week in Ordinary Time).

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How to behave like children of God.

"Behave like God as his very dear children."  (Cf Ephesians 5: 1).

Wow! We know that by Baptism, God has adopted us as His children.  But is it part of the Covenant to agree to behave like Him? Apparently so.  Today's Scripture on Monday, 30th Week in Ordinary Time shows us how to behave like God and how to behave like the natural man born of flesh.  Read with me:

“Woman, you are set free of your infirmity.” He laid his hands on her, and she at once stood up straight and glorified God." (Luke 13: 12 - 13).
Jesus healed a woman crippled for 18 years on the Sabbath in full view of Law Enforcement.
Compassion and courage is behaving like God.

"But the leader of the synagogue, indignant that Jesus had cured on the sabbath, said to the crowd in reply, “There are six days when work should be done. Come on those days to be cured, not on the sabbath day.” (Luke 13: 14).
Heartless legalism is behaving like man.   A proverb says:  "The onlookers think that a man carrying a coffin is carrying wood."  Are you such an onlooker?

“Hypocrites!
Does not each one of you on the sabbath untie his ox or his ass from the manger and lead it out for watering?" (Luke 13: 15).
Making your interests paramount in every situation is thinking like man. Selfish.  A fake politician thinks and acts, "I think of whatever concerns me as top priority."

But for Jesus, the woman is: "This daughter of Abraham,
whom Satan has bound for eighteen years now, ought she not to have been set free on the sabbath day from this bondage?”(Luke 13: 16).
This is Why the Savior and Redeemer came.

Is it possible to behave like children of God?

"Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. (Colossians 3: 13).

Prayer is the key and efficient cause of blessings.
"Almighty ever-living God,
increase our faith, hope and charity, and make us love what you command, so that we may merit what you promise.
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."  (Collect: Monday 30th Week in Ordinary Time).

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