The merciful Father and the return of the Prodigal.

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THE PRODIGAL AND THE ABC OF MERCY.

"Coming to his senses he [the Prodigal] thought, ‘How many of my father’s hired workers have more than enough food to eat, but here am I, dying from hunger." (Luke 15: 17).

Sunday 11th September of the 24th week of the Ordinary Time.

The Scriptures this Sunday is so rich in spiritual nourishment. The first Reading from Exodus 32 can be summarized thus: The Lord relented in the punishment He planned for His people.  I see myself here as Moses the sinner and intercessor.

In the 2nd Reading from 1 Timothy, Paul exclaimed how mercifully Jesus treated him. First, all his sins were wiped out. Then Jesus appointed Paul as a top Apostle. I am here Paul the Apostle. With absolutely no merit but pure grace, Jesus lifted me up from grave sins and gave me a ministry.

In the Responsorial Psalm 51, I am David. Forgiven of heinous crimes, I prayed that God will not take away His Holy and friendly Spirit from me.

But it is in the Gospel that I see God’s face of mercy in the Parable of the Prodigal Son.

Sin leads sooner or later to brokenness. Brokenness softens the heart to receive the mercy waiting for the sinner. Without the hunger and misery of the Prodigal, he would never have come to the point where he said:

"I shall get up and go to my father and I shall say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.  I no longer deserve to be called your son; treat me as you would treat one of your hired workers." (Luke 15: 18 - 19).

The Scriptures reveal to us this Sunday:
Jesus Christ the Face of mercy of God the Father. How do we apply this truth to our needs?

Reconciliation! No Reconciliation, No personal experience of Mercy!
The ABC of Mercy:
Ask for Mercy.
Be Merciful.
Completely trust Jesus for Mercy.

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The Church is built on Rock.

MEMORIAL OF THE
BLESSED VIRGIN MARY,

QUEEN OF PEACE
QUEEN OF PROPHETS
QUEEN OF APOSTLES
QUEEN OF MARTYRS
QUEEN OF ALL SAINTS
QUEEN OF PEACE
PRAY FOR US.

“Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ but not do what I command? I will show you what someone is like who comes to me, listens to my words, and acts on them. That one is like a man building a house, who dug deeply and laid the foundation on rock; when the flood came, the river burst against that house but could not shake it because it had been well built."  (Luke 6: 43.... 49).

Saturday 10th September 2022 of the 23rd Week of Ordinary Time. Let us celebrate the Memorial of Blessed Virgin Mary as Queen of Peace.

In the Choice and Call of Peter, James and John, Jesus asked them to cast the net into the deep water. We know the result. In today's Gospel, Jesus asks us to dig Deep in into the rock to build a safe home that will withstand flood and hurricane and other natural disaster.

We have in our key Scripture for today basic common sense message about building a family home. This is the word of God. It is true.

One of my favorite psalms is Psalm 127: 1:  "Unless the Lord builds the house, They labor in vain who build it; Unless the Lord guards the city, The watchman keeps awake in vain."

Jesus ends this ominous teaching by saying:
"But the one who listens and does not act is like a person who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the river burst against it, it collapsed at once and was completely destroyed.”

Floods and hurricanes are part of life. Houses are simple enough to be replaced. But lives are much harder. He who builds on the word of God builds on a solid foundation.

"The riches of My kingdom are for all whom I have redeemed with My own Blood, but it pleases Me to bestow them through My Mother, the Queen and Mediatrix who stood at the foot of My Cross, offering Me and offering herself with Me. Today she reigns with Me in paradise.  All that I won for souls from My Father on the altar of the Cross, with My Mother at My side, I will now pour out on souls through her Heart and through her hands. This, too, is the secret of a fruitful priesthood. In every priestly act and in all of life, place your hands in the hands of My Mother and your heart in her Heart." (IN SINU JESU page 35).

Mary Queen of Peace, pray for us.

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The Feast of St Peter Claver SJ, Priest and Missionary.

A PHARISEE IS A PERSON PRACTICING OR ADVOCATING STRICT OBSERVANCE OF EXTERNAL FORMS AND CEREMONIES OF RELIGION OR CONDUCT WITHOUT REGARD TO THE SPIRIT; SELF-RIGHTEOUS; HYPOCRITICAL. (DICTIONARY).

"Jesus told his disciples a parable: “Can a blind person guide a blind person? Will not both fall into a pit?

"No disciple is superior to the teacher; but when fully trained, every disciple will be like his teacher.

"Why do you notice the splinter in your brother’s eye, but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own? How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me remove that splinter in your eye,’ when you do not even notice the wooden beam in your own eye? You hypocrite! Remove the wooden beam from your eye first; then you will see clearly to remove the splinter in your brother’s eye.” (Luke 6: 39 - 42).

Friday 9th September 2022 of the 23rd Week of Ordinary Time.

Friday 9th September 2022 of the 23rd Week in Ordinary Time is the feast of St Peter Claver of the Society of Jesus  (1580 - 1654). Spanish. Priest, Religious and Missionary. St Peter Claver served for over 40 years African slaves dumped at the South American seaport of Cartagena now Colombia. During 40 years, he fed the slaves, cared for the sick and dying. He preached the Good News to them and baptized over 300,000.

It would be humanly impossible for the slaves and Peter Claver to heed Jesus' word and obey it:
“To you who hear I say, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you."
But grace overcame nature and they loved their persecutors as Jesus did from the Cross.

St Peter Claver is called the "Slave of slaves." God gave him great love and patience for the suffering slaves. Peter took many of them with him to heaven.

Whom did Jesus call the blind in today's Gospel?
"Let them alone; they are blind guides (of the blind). If a blind person leads a blind person, both will fall into a pit.” (Matthew 15: 14).

Do you know any  Pharisees in your community?

"I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings." (Hosea 6: 6).
When a blind judge guides another blind judge, will not the two judges fall into the ditch? Jesus defines His mission thus:

"I was born and came into the world for this one purpose, to speak about the truth. Whoever belongs to the truth listens to me." (John 18: 37).

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The Birthday of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

"BLESSED ARE YOU, HOLY VIRGIN MARY, DESERVING OF ALL PRAISE; FROM YOU ROSE THE SUN OF JUSTICE, CHRIST OUR GOD. ALLELUIA, ALLELUIA." (ALLELUIA VERSE). 

“Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home. For it is through the Holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her. She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”

"All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet:

Behold, the virgin shall be with child and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel, which means “God is with us.” (Matthew 1: 1 - 16, 18 - 23).

Thursday 8th September 2022 of 23rd Week of Ordinary Time is the great feast of the Birthday of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Her birth marks the moment when she who was to conceive by the power of the Holy Spirit and give birth to our Savior, Jesus-Emmanuel was born.

Who is Mary?

Why is her cult so passionate and universal and controversial to non Catholics? 

Mary is the Only Child of Saints Joachim and Anne. She is the Mother of Emmanuel, God-with-us, Jesus "who will save his people from their sins."

Mary is the Woman of Genesis 3: 15:

"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."

Satan hates Jesus and Mary with a deadly hatred. Satan, the Father of lies had his revenge in the 16th century in the Protestant Reformation.  Satan spread lies about the Blessed Virgin Mary and her cult. The lies persist till today.

The Blessed Virgin Mary was held in reverence by the Apostles and disciples in the earliest Christian communities. That may be why so little was said about her in the Gospels. In His mighty, merciful and mysterious Providence, it pleased God to keep Mary hidden for most of her 60 years on earth.

The Mother of Emmanuel was the only person who knew Jesus from womb to tomb. She was always there in the most important moments in the life of Jesus:

* Annunciation.

* Visitation to Elizabeth and Zachary.

* Birth of Jesus in the Manger.

* Visit of the Magi, the 3 kings.

* Presentation in the Temple and the encounter with the Prophet and Prophetess Simeon and Anna.

* The Via Dolorosa (Way of the Cross).

* The Sacrifice of the Lamb of God at Calvary when it pleased the Father to make the Mother of His Son, our Mother through John the Evangelist.

* The Birth of the Church on Pentecost Sunday.

Mary was faithfully there in all the great moments! Accident or Providence? Mary's role in salvation history was planned by the Most Holy Trinity before the beginning of the world.

It is with great joy that we honor Mary on her Birthday. Happy Birthday Mother. We your children love you very much. We join all the generations that have called you blessed to hail you:

Holy Mary full of grace, the fruit of your womb, Jesus is blessed forever! 🌹🌹🌹🎂❤️

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Blessed are you who seek first the kingdom of God and its blessings.

"WHAT KIND OF POVERTY, THEN, IS BLESSED? THE KIND THAT IS NOT IN LOVE WITH EARTHLY THINGS AND DOES NOT SEEK WORLDLY RICHES: THE KIND THAT LONGS TO BE FILLED WITH THE BLESSINGS OF HEAVEN." (POPE ST LEO THE GREAT).

"Raising his eyes toward his disciples Jesus said:

“Blessed are you who are poor, for the Kingdom of God is yours. Blessed are you who are now hungry, for you will be satisfied. Blessed are you who are now weeping, for you will laugh. Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude and insult you, and denounce your name as evil on account of the Son of Man.

“Rejoice and leap for joy on that day! Behold, your reward will be great in heaven. For their ancestors treated the prophets in the same way.

"But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation. But woe to you who are filled now, for you will be hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you will grieve and weep. Woe to you when all speak well of you, for their ancestors treated the false prophets in this way.” Luke 6: 20  - 26).

Wednesday of the 23rd week of Ordinary Time.

In Luke's Beatitudes (Sermon on the Plain), Jesus promises the kingdom of God to those who are poor, not necessarily those deprived of material goods and comforts but those whose treasure is in heaven. These are the holy ones who have heard the message of the kingdom of God, of eternal life that is ushered in by the ministry of Jesus Christ and seeks it as first priority. These Christians start right here on earth and right now to enjoy the eternal life that is the kingdom of God.

But those whose hearts are in their wealth receive their compensation here on earth for 50, 70, 90 or at most 100 years. And here on earth, they must defend their wealth from taxes, robbers, rust, inflation, etc. They will be weary defending their excess riches. Jesus promises a better way in the Beatitudes:

“Blessed [spiritually prosperous, happy, to be admired] are you who are poor [in spirit, those devoid of spiritual arrogance, those who regard themselves as insignificant], for the kingdom of God is yours [both now and forever]. (Luke 6: 20 AMP).

Seek the "Better Part".

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Jesus chooses the Twelve after a night of prayer.

AFTER A NIGHT SPENT IN PRAYER, JESUS CHOSE THE 12 OFFICERS OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD ON EARTH.

"Jesus departed to the mountain to pray, and he spent the night in prayer to God. When day came, he called his disciples to himself, and from them he chose Twelve, whom he also named Apostles:

"Simon, whom he named Peter, and his brother Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, Simon who was called a Zealot, and Judas the son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.

"And he came down with them and stood on a stretch of level ground.

"A great crowd of his disciples and a large number of the people from all Judea and Jerusalem and the coastal region of Tyre and Sidon came to hear him and to be healed of their diseases; and even those who were tormented by unclean spirits were cured.

"Everyone in the crowd sought to touch him because power came forth from him and healed them all."  (Luke 6: 12 - 13).

Tuesday of the 23rd week of Ordinary Time. It is time for Jesus to choose and call His close friends.

After a night spent in prayer, Jesus undertakes one of the most important tasks in His mission: Choosing His 12 Apostles. No nation takes lightly the choice of its leaders. Elections are organized and campaigns undertaken for a couple of years.

We see a variety of gifts and personalities in the 12 men chosen to be close associates of Jesus. All the men were from lower class of society, poor, uneducated, untraveled and timid. Jesus Himself would be their Teacher and Master while He remained with them. Then the Holy Spirit will finish the job of preparing them for their lives' work.

Consider for a moment this stupendous fact:  These 12 chosen men are sent out to convert and transform the world. This world includes the Roman and Greek empires! Are you kidding me? Well it happened. This is to show us that it is the power of God in them, the power of the Holy Spirit, the Gift of the Father that did the job. That same power is still available for you and for me. The chosen Apostles chose to use the power and the seed of the kingdom of God on earth was established.

Pray for your Bishops. They are the legitimate successors of the Twelve. Be careful how you criticize and condemn them because as you judge so shall you be judged. (Cf Matthew 7: 2).

"You are just, O Lord, and your judgement is right; treat your servant in accord with your merciful love." (Psalm 118: 137, 124).

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The Feast of the Saint of Mercy, Mother St Teresa of Kolkata.

"THE FRUIT OF PRAYER IS A DEEPENING OF FAITH, AND THE FRUIT OF FAITH IS LOVE; AND THE FRUIT OF LOVE IS SERVICE, IN WHATEVER FORM, EVEN IN OUR FAMILY. LOVE BEGINS AT HOME." (ST MOTHER TERESA OF KOLKATA).

"On a certain sabbath Jesus went into the synagogue and taught, and there was a man there whose right hand was withered. The scribes and the Pharisees watched him closely to see if he would cure on the sabbath so that they might discover a reason to accuse him.

"But he realized their intentions and said to the man with the withered hand, “Come up and stand before us.” And he rose and stood there.

"Then Jesus said to them, “I ask you, is it lawful to do good on the sabbath rather than to do evil, to save life rather than to destroy it?”

"Looking around at them all, he then said to him, “Stretch out your hand.” He did so and his hand was restored. But they became enraged and discussed together what they might do to Jesus." (Luke 6: 6 - 11).

Monday 5th September 2022  of the 23rd Week of Ordinary Time is the feast day of the Saint of Mercy, St Mother Teresa of Kolkata. It is also Labor Day in the USA.

The Church celebrates today the feast of St Teresa of Kolkata (1910 - 1997). Founder of the Missionaries of Charity.

Mother St Teresa was the founder of the Order of the Missionaries of Charity, a congregation of women dedicated to helping the poor. The Missionaries of Charity is considered one of the 20th Century's greatest humanitarian organization. Mother was canonized as Saint Teresa of Kolkata on September 4th 2016 by Pope Francis. Among her many international awards is the Nobel Peace Prize.

"By blood, I am Albanian. By citizenship, an Indian. By faith, I am a Catholic nun. As to my calling, I belong to the world. As to my heart, I belong entirely to the Heart of Jesus." (St Teresa of Kolkata).

The Gospel of today is another Sabbath controversy which Jesus seems to relish. A good subject for reflection on Labor Day.

St Teresa of Kolkata and the Missionaries of Charity serve the Poorest of the Poor. Is labor organized to serve the poor or the rich?

For the opponents of Jesus, almost no work is permitted on the Sabbath. For many in the USA, work on Sunday is not an option.

On this point, Jesus asked them:
“I ask you, is it lawful to do good on the sabbath rather than to do evil, to save life rather than to destroy it?”

The scribes and Pharisees refused to answer the question. Jesus then turned to the man with the withered hand and said to him, “Stretch out your hand.” He did so and his hand was restored."

On Labor Day, we remember that God commanded man to work in order to participate in the work of creation. Like the scribes and Pharisees, there is always a great temptation for the people that control work to exclude the poor when it comes to benefits.

May the work we do contribute to real progress on earth and the growth of the Kingdom of God.

"If you would serve My Father, serve Me, especially in the weakest and poorest members of My Mystical Body. Whatsoever you do unto them, you do unto Me, and what is done unto Me becomes an offering pleasing in My Father’s sight." (Saturday, February 9, 2008).

Lord Jesus, bless and prosper the work of our hands.

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