WHY ARE YOU TERRIFIED? DO YOU NOT YET HAVE FAITH?
"On that day, as evening drew on, Jesus said to his disciples: “Let us cross to the other side.”
"Leaving the crowd, they took Jesus with them in the boat just as he was. And other boats were with him.
"A violent squall came up and waves were breaking over the boat, so that it was already filling up.
"Jesus was in the stern, asleep on a cushion.
"They woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?”
"He woke up, rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Quiet! Be still!” The wind ceased and there was great calm.
"Then he asked them, “Why are you terrified? Do you not yet have faith?”
They were filled with great awe and said to one another, “Who then is this whom even wind and sea obey?” (Mark 4: 35 - 41).
Why are you terrified? Do you not yet have faith?” This is the apparently exasperated rebuke of the disciples by Jesus. The disciples had seen signs and wonders performed by Jesus.
Where are the storms in your life today? Family, Health, Finances, Job, Property or Tools? Or have you nothing to worry about but your future?
All storms are sanctioned by God's mighty, merciful and mysterious Providence. Because the storms are sanctified, they are blessings and more often than not blessings in disguise.
"Consider it all joy, my brothers, when you encounter various trials,
for you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.
And let perseverance be perfect, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing." (James 1: 2 - 4)
Storm times are testing times. Where do you place your trust? Who is your security? Who is the first person you call upon to help you?
"My foes treat me harshly all the day; yes, many are my attackers.
O Most High, when I am afraid,
in you I place my trust.
I praise the word of God;
I trust in God, I do not fear.
What can mere flesh do to me?" (Psalm 56: 3 - 5)
The whole of Sacred Scripture teaches one lesson: Love God with all your heart and put Him first in everything.
"But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given you besides."
"Do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself. Sufficient for a day is its own evil." (Matthew 6: 33 -34)
When we put God and His interests first in our affairs, we experience a state that can be described as "No fear, No Worry, No Doubt." Because Jesus Himself has promised that:
"Fear is useless; what is needed is trust." (Luke 8: 50, Mark 5: 36)
As we open our hearts and minds to the word of God with confident trust, we experience the power of faith to rule and calm the furious storms that arise in our lives.
"Do not fear: I am with you;
do not be anxious: I am your God.
I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my victorious right hand." (Isaiah 41: 10).
"They cried to the Lord in their distress; from their straits he rescued them, he hushed the storm to a gentle breeze, and the billows of the sea were stilled." (Psalm 107).
God works silent miracles all the time for us. Show appreciation like the sailors in Psalm 107. God is very pleased by our gratitude.
"They rejoiced that they were calmed, and he brought them to their desired haven.
Let them give thanks to the Lord for his kindness and his wondrous deeds to the children of men." (Psalm 107).
Such lessons from the Scriptures build up our faith. Don't miss them.
The Holy Catholic Church honors the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus every June.
Read of the abundant promises made to people who honor the Sacred Heart of Jesus especially in June.
For Prayers and Prayer intentions click the link below.
FEAST OF SAINTS PAULINUS OF NOLA, JOHN FISHER, THOMAS MORE.
"Jesus said to his disciples: “No one can serve two masters. He will either hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.
“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?
"Look at the birds in the sky; they do not sow or reap, they gather nothing into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are not you more important than they?
"Can any of you by worrying add a single moment to your life-span? Why are you anxious about clothes? Learn from the way the wild flowers grow. They do not work or spin. But I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was clothed like one of them.
"If God so clothes the grass of the field, which grows today and is thrown into the oven tomorrow, will he not much more provide for you, O you of little faith?
"So do not worry and say, ‘What are we to eat?’ or ‘What are we to drink?’ or ‘What are we to wear?’ All these things the pagans seek. Your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.
"But seek first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given you besides.
"Do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself. Sufficient for a day is its own evil.” (Matthew 6: 24 - 34).
Thursday 22nd June 2023, of the 11th Week in Ordinary Time is the feast day of three giants of the Christian Church:
St Paulinus of Nola (355 - 431). French Bishop. Over a thousand years separated him from the two English martyrs we honor today. St John Fisher (1469 - 1535). Bishop and scholar. And his friend, St Thomas More (1477 - 1535). Lawyer, Statesman and Chancellor of Exchequer of King Henry VIII.
St Thomas More is revered all over the world as the patron saint of lawyers.
St John Fisher and St Thomas More were martyred under Henry VIII for refusing to compromise the teachings of the Church.
When a Bishop lacks the grace of fortitude of his high office, he succumbs to the threats of tyrants like King Henry VIII. That is what the world saw in the England of the 1520s.
King Henry VIII, one single man born of a woman succeeded in intimidating the whole of the English hierarchy.
About 300 Bishops denied their Catholic Faith. Only Bishop John Fisher stood up to him and stood his ground. He refused to deny his holy faith. St Thomas More a layman stood his ground too. Both men suffered martyrdom.
Today both men are celebrated all over the world. Henry VIII, where is your kingdom? Where are your 7 wives?
The Gospel of today from Matthew 6: 24 - 34 is the crème de la crème of the Sermon on the Mount.
Why are we full of fear, worry and doubt? Because we are of little faith.
We may go to Church and live in the Church. We may be involved deeply in several ministries in our parish.
But deep deep down, we are no different from the pagans if we do not trust in the promises of God. How? Jesus says in the Gospel of today that pagans worry a lot about what to eat, what to wear, which car to drive or fine house to live in. Stop behaving like pagans. You have a Father in Heaven who knows exactly what you need and when you need it.
How do we come by the faith that trusts God the Provident and Gentle Father and stop behaving like pagans?
Go back to the basics. Start praying. Mother St Teresa of Kolkata says: "The fruit of prayer is faith." As you commit to daily prayer and listening to God in His word, your faith start growing and fears, worries and doubts start receding.
Jesus concludes the teaching in today's Gospel by giving the supreme remedy for trusting and enjoying the merciful and powerful Providence of God:
"Seek first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given you besides. Do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself. Sufficient for a day is its own evil.” (Matthew 6: 33 - 34).
6. 18. "TRUE devotion to the Sacred Heart demands, further, reparation and atonement. If you truly love the Heart of Jesus, you will grieve that this Divine Heart is so little loved, so often forgotten, reviled, grieved and offended, and you will grieve in particular at the infidelity, the ingratitude and the outrages that are committed against this loving Heart in the Most Blessed Sacrament." (DEVOTION TO THE SACRED HEART OF JESUS).
The Holy Catholic Church honors the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus every June.
Read of the abundant promises made to people who honor the Sacred Heart of Jesus especially in June.
For Prayers and Prayer intentions click the link below.
FEAST OF ST ALOYSIUS GONZAGA, SJ.
"Jesus said to his disciples: “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and decay destroy, and thieves break in and steal. But store up treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor decay destroys, nor thieves break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be.
“The lamp of the body is the eye. If your eye is sound, your whole body will be filled with light; but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be in darkness. And if the light in you is darkness, how great will the darkness be.” (Matthew 6: 19 - 23).
Friday June 21st 2024 of the 11th Week of Ordinary Time is the feast of St Aloysius Gonzaga of the Society of Jesus.
(1568 - 1591). Italian. Aloysius was heir to the Duke of Lombardy. He renounced his title and entered the Society of Jesus. Aloysius died at the age of 24 in the Jesuit House of Formation in Rome. He died of the pandemic which he contracted while ministering to the victims.
Aloysius is known for his holiness, purity and chastity and humility. He had a powerful devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. He is the patron saint of the youth.
Who is your security? Where is your security?
Our Gospel today gives us a great opportunity to reflect on this great question and with the help and grace of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the prayers of St Aloysius Gonzaga become convinced that our security lies in Jesus alone.
Consider these great necessities in life. Think about them as War Zones. These are areas where Satan wages war on us day and night.
The Seven War Zones:
1. Health.
2. Family.
3. Money.
4. Job.
5. Possessions.
6. Food.
7. Future.
If Jesus Christ is not your Security in all the above 7-War Zones, consider yourself most insecure.
St Aloysius Gonzaga learned this truth at the age of 12! He loved, adored and was intimate with the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The Sacred Heart of Jesus returned Aloysius' affection as only a God can do.
St Aloysius Gonzaga pray for.
The Holy Catholic Church honors the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus every June.
Read of the abundant promises made to people who honor the Sacred Heart of Jesus especially in June.
For Prayers and Prayer intentions click the link below.
FATHER KNOWS ALL WE NEED BEFORE WE ASK.
"Jesus said to his disciples: “In praying, do not babble like the pagans, who think that they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them. Your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
“This is how you are to pray:
‘Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy Kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.’
“If you forgive others their transgressions, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your transgressions.” (Matthew 6: 7 - 15).
Thursday 20th June 2024 in the 11th Week in Ordinary Time.
Throughout the Gospels, Jesus scatters the seed of His teaching on the all important subject of Prayer. In today's Gospel from the Sermon on the Mount, we get the concentrated solution. Everyone has his best line in this classic teaching on Prayer called Our Father or the Lord's Prayer.
This is my best line:
"Your Father knows what you need before you ask him."
From the time I wake up in the morning to the time I go to bed at night, I ask Abba Father a lot of gifts. It is like a child reminding his dad that his birthday is next week, June 28th. Daddy, don't forget the bicycle.
To pray to Abba Father with confidence, you must have and practice these core beliefs:
"I believe Father 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. Out of all my weaknesses."
The Holy Catholic Church honors the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus every June.
Read of the abundant promises made to people who honor the Sacred Heart of Jesus especially in June.
For Prayers and Prayer intentions click the link below.
ST ROMUALD, HERMIT AND Abbot.
"When the Lord was about to take Elijah up to heaven in a whirlwind, he and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal.
"Elijah said to Elisha, “Please stay here; the Lord has sent me on to the Jordan.” “As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you,” Elisha replied. And so the two went on together.
"Fifty of the guild prophets followed and when the two stopped at the Jordan, they stood facing them at a distance.
"Elijah took his mantle, rolled it up and struck the water, which divided, and both crossed over on dry ground.
"When they had crossed over, Elijah said to Elisha, “Ask for whatever I may do for you, before I am taken from you.” Elisha answered, “May I receive a double portion of your spirit.”
“You have asked something that is not easy,” Elijah replied. “Still, if you see me taken up from you, your wish will be granted; otherwise not.”
"As they walked on conversing, a flaming chariot and flaming horses came between them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind.
"When Elisha saw it happen he cried out, “My father! my father! Israel’s chariots and drivers!” But when he could no longer see him, Elisha gripped his own garment and tore it in two.
"Then he picked up Elijah’s mantle that had fallen from him, and went back and stood at the bank of the Jordan.
"Wielding the mantle that had fallen from Elijah, Elisha struck the water in his turn and said, “Where is the Lord, the God of Elijah?” When Elisha struck the water it divided and he crossed over." (2 Kings 2: 1, 6 - 14).
Wednesday June 19th in the 11th Week of Ordinary Time is the feast of St Romuald.
St Romuald was born in Ravenna, Italy. A Benedictine monk, he is renowned for his love and expertise in solitary prayer. He traveled all over Italy renewing Benedictine monasteries in the art of monastic prayer. He died in 1027.
The theme of our reflection today is asking big and bold. We draw the inspiration from Elisha’s bold request:
"When they had crossed over, Elijah said to Elisha, “Ask for whatever I may do for you, before I am taken from you.” Elisha answered, “May I receive a double portion of your spirit.”
Friends, this is the type of bold request that fills God with joy.
Some years ago, I was in Hanceville for the Feast of the Divine Mercy on Divine Mercy Sunday.
The Franciscan priest who officiated in the ceremony explained from the Diary of St Maria Faustina that Jesus is not happy that His children asks for so little when He wants us to ask Him for Big Gifts.
When you ask God for favors, how do you ask? Small gift or do you ask like Elisha? DOUBLE PORTION?
Since the experience on Divine Mercy Sunday, I now ask for double portion. Remember that God owns every thing. He is magnanimous. He is also very rich in mercy.
Ask for mercy.
Be merciful.
Completely trust Jesus for mercy.
The Holy Catholic Church honors the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus every June.
Read of the abundant promises made to people who honor the Sacred Heart of Jesus especially in June.
For Prayers and Prayer intentions click the link below.
