THE FAITH OF JARIUS & THE FAITH OF THE WOMAN WITH THE ISSUE OF BLOOD.
"When Jesus had crossed again in the boat to the other side, a large crowd gathered around him, and he stayed close to the sea. One of the synagogue officials, named Jairus, came forward. Seeing him he fell at his feet and pleaded earnestly with him, saying, “My daughter is at the point of death. Please, come lay your hands on her that she may get well and live.” He went off with him, and a large crowd followed him and pressed upon him.
There was 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. She had heard about Jesus and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak. She said, “If I but touch his clothes, I shall be cured.” Immediately her flow of blood dried up. She felt in her body that she was healed of her affliction.
"Jesus, aware at once that power had gone out from him, turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who has touched my clothes?” But his disciples said to Jesus, “You see how the crowd is pressing upon you, and yet you ask, ‘Who touched me?’”
"And he looked around to see who had done it. The woman, realizing what had happened to her, approached in fear and trembling. She fell down before Jesus and told him the whole truth. He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has saved you. Go in peace and be cured of your affliction.”
While he was still speaking, people from the synagogue official’s house arrived and said, “Your daughter has died; why trouble the teacher any longer?”
"Disregarding the message that was reported, Jesus said to the synagogue official, “Do not be afraid; just have faith.”
"He did not allow anyone to accompany him inside except Peter, James, and John, the brother of James. When they arrived at the house of the synagogue official, he caught sight of a commotion, people weeping and wailing loudly. So he went in and said to them, “Why this commotion and weeping? The child is not dead but asleep.” And they ridiculed him.
"Then he put them all out. He took along the child’s father and mother and those who were with him and entered the room where the child was. He took the child by the hand and said to her, “Talitha koum,” which means, “Little girl, I say to you, arise!” The girl, a child of twelve, arose immediately and walked around.
"At that they were utterly astounded. He gave strict orders that no one should know this and said that she should be given something to eat." (Mark 5: 21 - 43).
The Gospel today from Mark 5: 21 - 43 confirms our reflections on the power of faith.
By faith the woman afflicted with hemorrhages touched the hem of the garment of Jesus and was healed instantly.
By faith, Jairus the synagogue official sought out Jesus to heal his daughter who was at the point of death. By faith Jairus believed Jesus when he was told:“Do not be afraid; just have faith.”
By faith Saints Peter and Paul whose Solemnity we celebrate this weekend heard the Call of Christ, dropped everything and followed Jesus.
By faith Pope Francis wakes up morning after morning in spite of weak knees and other severe health problems and leads the Church in proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the world.
By faith you read this reflection instead of investing your time in something else.
Faith is a supernatural gift of God which enables us to say YES to God's initiative of love to us. God always take the first step.
Lord Jesus, grant us the faith that moves mountains. Grant us the faith that heals us.
Brethren, today is Sunday 30th June, last day in June. We honored the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus in June. I have personally been blessed by a deeper commitment to know the Heart of Jesus intimately, to love Him passionately and to follow Him everywhere.
I hope you have been equally blessed by this Heart thirsting for your love.
Tomorrow 1st of July, we start to honor the Most Precious Blood of Jesus Christ.
The Catholic and Apostolic Church honors the 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.
THE SOLEMNITY OF SAINTS PETER AND PAUL. APOSTLES.
"When Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”
"They replied, “Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.
” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”
"Simon Peter said in reply, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
"Jesus said to him in reply, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father. 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: 13 - 19).
Saturday June 29, 2024 is the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul.
This great feast has been celebrated for Peter and Paul together from the earliest days of the Church. Why?
Peter and Paul are recognized as the principal pillars of the Church. We declare in the Creed: "I believe in the holy Catholic and Apostolic Church." The one only Church founded by Jesus Christ on Pentecost Sunday is built on the foundation of the Apostles. Hence every Bishop in the Church enjoys legitimacy through Apostolic Succession from the original Twelve Apostles.
Scripture teaches that the Church is built on the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets. (Cf Ephesians 2: 20). Peter and Paul are joint managing directors of the institution, which is called the Church.
"You are Peter and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it." (Matthew 16: 18)
Paul got his mandate to be an Apostle directly from Jesus.
"Now I want you to know, brothers, that the gospel preached by me is not of human origin. For I did not receive it from a human being, nor was I taught it, but it came through a revelation of Jesus Christ." (Galatians 1: 11 - 12).
Peter and Paul were called to be friends and companions of Jesus before anything else.
"I ask you only to be My friend and to live at every moment in the grace of My divine friendship. All the rest follows. Perfection is the fruit of friendship with Me, not a precondition for it. You, and many souls like you, are confused about this. My friendship is not earned, it is not something acquired by measuring up to the standards of perfection that you have set for yourself. My friendship is pure gift." (IN SINU JESU).
Peter and Paul are the ones who, living in the flesh, planted the Church with their blood; they drank the chalice of the LORD and became the friends of God. (Cf Entrance Antiphon).
The Catholic and Apostolic Church honors the 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 IRENAEUS, BISHOP AND DOCTOR OF THE CHURCH.
"When Jesus came down from the mountain, great crowds followed him.
And then a leper approached, did him homage, and said, “Lord, if you wish, you can make me clean.”
He stretched out his hand, touched him, and said, “I will do it. Be made clean.” His leprosy was cleansed immediately.
Then Jesus said to him, “See that you tell no one, but go show yourself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses prescribed; that will be proof for them.” (Matthew 8: 1 - 4).
Friday 28th June 2024 in the 12th Week of Ordinary Time is the feast of St Irenaeus. (125 - 203). Bishop and Martyr and Doctor of the Church.
St Polycarp was instructed in the faith by St John the Apostle. He, Polycarp instructed St Irenaeus who became a Bishop in Lyons in France.
Note the date of Irenaeus life (125 - 203) and you will understand why France is called the Eldest Daughter of the Church. St Irenaeus is an early Church Father.
God chose and called Irenaeus to uphold the revealed truth of the faith and bring peace to the Church.
Pope Francis declared him the 37th Doctor of the Church on January 21st 2022.
What is the legacy of St Irenaeus? Irenaeus defended the Church against the poisonous heresy of Gnosticism. This heresy was so thoroughly defeated that it disappeared.
About 100 years ago, it reincarnated itself in the heretical sect called Jehovoh Witness. They claim that there are two gods governing the world: a good god that causes good things and and evil god that causes bad things. They deny that Jesus Christ is God. They deny the doctrine of the Holy Trinity. They target especially Catholics who have little knowledge of Scripture.
Beware of them. They are wolves in sheep clothing. We need a new St Irenaeus for our day to deal them final mortal blow.
Two famous quotes of St Irenaeus:
1. “The glory of God is the human person fully alive.” ...
2. “Error, indeed is never set forth in its naked deformity, lest, being thus exposed, it should at once be detected."
Below is what touched my heart in the Gospel of today.
"And then a leper approached, did him homage, and said, “Lord, if you wish, you can make me clean.” He stretched out his hand, touched him, and said, “I will do it. Be made clean.”
The difficulties I faced earlier this day made me impatient. Alas I grumbled. Now I am fired up by the example of the Leper to turn to Jesus in contrition and say:
LORD JESUS, if You choose, You can make me patient. You can make me also aware that Your grace is sufficient for me in every circumstance.
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.
BUILD YOUR HOUSE ON ROCK.
"Jesus said to his disciples: “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the Kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven.
"Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name? Did we not drive out demons in your name? Did we not do mighty deeds in your name?’ Then I will declare to them solemnly, ‘I never knew you. Depart from me, you evildoers.’
“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.
And everyone who listens to these words of mine but does not act on them will be like a fool who built his house on sand. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house. And it collapsed and was completely ruined.”
"When Jesus finished these words, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as their scribes." (Matthew 7: 21 - 29).
Thursday June 27th 2024 in the 12th Week of Ordinary Time is the feast of St Cyril of Alexandria, Bishop and Doctor of the Church. (376 - 444).
Cyril played a crucial role in the Council of Ephesus in 431 AD to defend the oneness of the person in Jesus Christ, true God and true Man.
If Jesus is One Person, then the Blessed Virgin Mary is the Mother of God (Theotokos).
St Cyril listened to the words of Christ, meditated long on them. During the crisis of faith that engulfed Christiandom in the middle of the 5th century, Cyril did not collapse from the virulent and battering attacks of heretics. His house "had been set solidly on rock."
“Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road broad that leads to destruction, and those who enter through it are many."
Why did the house in the Parable of Jesus not collapse? Because "it had been set solidly on rock."
To build our spiritual life on rock, look for the principles or the building materials from the Sermon on the Mount, the Catechism of the Catholic Church and the lives of the Saints. You can reduce all the principles to the 7-Way Plan:
1. Daily Prayer.
2. Daily Word of God.
3. Daily Eucharist if you can.
4. Biweekly Reconciliation.
5. Daily Examination of Conscience.
6. Daily Spiritual Reading.
7. Daily Faith Sharing or Ministry.
These daily activities will help you grow in faith and the knowledge of Jesus Christ. You start tasting eternal life here and now.
"Eternal life is knowing you the One True God and Jesus Christ whom You have sent." (John 17: 3).
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.
A GOOD TREE CANNOT BEAR BAD FRUIT.
"Jesus said to his disciples:
“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but underneath are ravenous wolves.
"Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?
"Just so, every good tree bears good fruit, and a rotten tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a rotten tree bear good fruit.
"Every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. So by their fruits you will know them.” (Matthew 7: 15 - 20).
Wednesday 26th June 2024 in the 12th Week in Ordinary Time.
A false prophet may dress and talk like the genuine one. But ask which Way of life they promote? The Broadway in all likelihood. Follow the Narrow Way as Jesus taught.
Our Lord and Teacher says that "You will know them by their fruits."
Sometimes fruits take long in coming but they surely come. Look at religious people who abused children under their care. For some of them, the bitter fruits take decades to show but they come.
By contrast, the good fruits produced by good teachers and prophets are formed by the Holy Spirit and show up in the lives of good Christians. They are :
1. Charity 🍏
2. Joy 🍊
3. Peace 🍐
4. Patience 🍓
5. Kindness 🍍
6. Goodness 🥝
7. Generosity 🍉
8. Gentleness 🍎
9. Faithfulness 🍋
10. Modesty 🍠
11. Self-control 🌰
12. Chastity 🥔
The most destructive fruits of the false teachers and prophets are:
"Immorality, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, hatreds, rivalry, jealousy, outbursts of fury, acts of selfishness, dissensions, factions, occasions of envy, drinking bouts and orgies." (Galatians 5: 19 - 21).
Beware of such teachers and prophets. You are warned. If you are uncertain of how to discern their fruits, ask a seasoned and approved pastor or teacher in your Church.
"O SACRED Heart of Jesus, Thy Kingdom come. EUCHARISTIC Heart of Jesus, increase in us faith, hope and charity. HEART of Jesus, burning with love of us, inflame our hearts with love of Thee. O DIVINE Heart of Jesus, convert sinners, save the dying, free the holy souls in Purgatory." (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.
TRUST IN THE LORD WITH ALL YOUR HEART.
"Sennacherib, king of Assyria, sent envoys to Hezekiah
with this message:
“Thus shall you say to Hezekiah, king of Judah:
‘Do not let your God on whom you rely deceive you
by saying that Jerusalem will not be handed over
to the king of Assyria.
You have heard what the kings of Assyria have done
to all other countries: they doomed them!
"Will you, then, be saved?"
"Hezekiah took the letter from the hand of the messengers and read it;
then he went up to the temple of the LORD,
and spreading it out before him,
he prayed in the LORD’s presence:
“O LORD, God of Israel, enthroned upon the cherubim!
You alone are God over all the kingdoms of the earth.
You have made the heavens and the earth.
Incline your ear, O LORD, and listen!
Open your eyes, O LORD, and see!
Hear the words of Sennacherib which he sent to taunt the living God.
Truly, O LORD, the kings of Assyria have laid waste the nations
and their lands, and cast their gods into the fire;
they destroyed them because they were not gods,
but the work of human hands, wood and stone.
"Therefore, O LORD, our God, save us from the power of this man,
that all the kingdoms of the earth may know
that you alone, O LORD, are God.”
"Then Isaiah, son of Amoz, sent this message to Hezekiah:
“Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel,
in answer to your prayer for help against Sennacherib, king of Assyria:
I have listened!
"This is the word the LORD has spoken concerning him:“‘She despises you, laughs you to scorn,
the virgin daughter Zion!
Behind you she wags her head,
daughter Jerusalem.“‘For out of Jerusalem shall come a remnant,
and from Mount Zion, survivors.
"The zeal of the LORD of hosts shall do this.’“Therefore, thus says the LORD concerning the king of Assyria:
‘He shall not reach this city, nor shoot an arrow at it,
nor come before it with a shield,
nor cast up siege-works against it.
"He shall return by the same way he came,
without entering the city, says the LORD.
I will shield and save this city for my own sake,
and for the sake of my servant David.’”
"That night the angel of the LORD went forth and struck down
one hundred and eighty-five thousand men in the Assyrian camp.
"So Sennacherib, the king of Assyria, broke camp,
and went back home to Nineveh." (2 KGS 19:9B-11, 14-21, 31-35A, 36).
Tuesday June 25th in the 12th Week of Ordinary Time.
Years ago, I was inspired by this first Reading to act like King Hezekiah and spread a letter before the Lord from one of the big banks threatening to destroy my credit rating. I remember that I was so shaken by the threat to my security that I added this request to the Lord: "Lord please grant me a good night sleep. May I not wake up in the middle of the night to think about this letter."
I had that night one of the best night sleep I could remember. What did I learn from the experience?
1. Hezekiah discovered that God's grace is sufficient for any emergency if you trust the Lord.
2. Fear is useless. All you need is trust.
3. Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your understanding or experience. In everything you do, consult the Lord. He will direct your paths.
4. He who knows the power and faithfulness of his God, shall stand tall and be recognized.
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.
THE SOLEMNITY OF THE NATIVITY OF JOHN THE BAPTIST.
"When the time arrived for Elizabeth to have her child she gave birth to a son.
"Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown his great mercy toward her, and they rejoiced with her.
"When they came on the eighth day to circumcise the child, they were going to call him Zechariah after his father, but his mother said in reply, “No. He will be called John.”
"But they answered her, “There is no one among your relatives who has this name.”
"So they made signs, asking his father what he wished him to be called. He asked for a tablet and wrote, “John is his name,” and all were amazed.
"Immediately his mouth was opened, his tongue freed, and he spoke blessing God.
"Then fear came upon all their neighbors, and all these matters were discussed throughout the hill country of Judea. All who heard these things took them to heart, saying, “What, then, will this child be?” For surely the hand of the Lord was with him.
"The child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the desert until the day of his manifestation to Israel." (Luke 1: 57 - 66, 80).
Monday June 24th 2024 is the Solemnity of the Nativity of John the Baptist.
How many Birthdays are celebrated in the Church's 365 days Liturgical Calendar? Only Three:
1. Christmas, Birthday of Christ the Lord - 25th December.
2. Birthday of the Blessed Virgin Mary - 8th September.
3. Birthday of St. John the Baptist - 24th June.
This indicates that John the Baptist is a significant persona in salvation history.
Who is St John the Baptist?
Let us sketch a profile of St John the Baptist:
He is the son of Zechariah and Elizabeth. Born into a priestly family, he had an educated upbringing and was privileged.
His name is John: "God is gracious."
He was sanctified in his mother's womb. He kicked his mother hard in the womb with excitement when Mary visited Elizabeth.
John was chosen by God the Father to be forerunner of Jesus Christ and to prepare His way.
John baptized Jesus in the River Jordan.
His humility is supreme. He said: "He [Jesus] must increase. I must decrease." And he allowed his disciples to switch allegiance and follow Jesus.
John gave his life for Jesus. He was a great martyr for Jesus.
St. John the Baptist understood very well God’s purpose for his life, that is, to prepare the way for Jesus Christ.
Without compromise, John fulfilled this mission which was foretold long before his birth by the Prophet Isaiah.
Jesus called John the Baptist the greatest of the prophets.
What are his virtues? Courage, wisdom and the spirit of prophecy must be mentioned among many.
John died like Christ for the kingdom of God. In dying for Christ, we are most like Christ. This is why the Church honors martyrs very highly.
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.
