DO YOU WANT TO BE GREAT, THEN BECOME THE SERVANT OF THE BRETHREN.
"James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Jesus and said to him,
"Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you."
He replied, "What do you wish me to do for you?"
"They answered him, "Grant that in your glory
we may sit one at your right and the other at your left."
"Jesus said to them, "You do not know what you are asking.
"Can you drink the cup that I drink or be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?"
"They said to him, "We can."
Jesus said to them, "The cup that I drink, you will drink,
and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized; but to sit at my right or at my left is not mine to give but is for those for whom it has been prepared."
"When the ten heard this, they became indignant at James and John.
Jesus summoned them and said to them,
"You know that those who are recognized as rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them,
and their great ones make their authority over them felt.
"But it shall not be so among you.
Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you will be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you will be the slave of all.
"For the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many." (Mark 10: 35 - 45).
Sunday 20th October 2024 in the 29th Week in Ordinary Time.
The Lord Jesus used the childish ambition of James and John to teach an important principle in the Church. The principle of governance in the world is radically different to that of the Church that Jesus has come to establish.
In the world, authority, precedence, privilege go to the Leader. He exercises this power as he pleases.
But in the Church "whoever wishes to be great among you will be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you will be the slave of all."
One of the titles of the Pope is "Servant of the Servants of God."
We are all servants of God. But the Pope is our servant.
What does this mean for you and me? Jesus Christ washed the feet of His disciples and taught them to wash the feet of the poor, the homeless and the sick.
St Francis of Asissi and all the saints understood that without Jesus no man can do this. "With out Me, you can do nothing." (John 15: 5).
Therefore the saints asked Jesus for the grace to do the impossible. Jesus gladly gives the grace.
You do the same.
October is the Holy Rosary Month.
"As for you, dear son of mine, persevere in praying to me. Hold fast to my Rosary and beware of every ploy of the Evil One to separate you from it. My Rosary is your safeguard and your weapon in the fight against the forces of evil. At the same time, for you it is a remedy and a comfort. Do you not see how the Rosary has stabilized you? Do you not experience its healing and all its benefits? Pray my Rosary and teach others to do the same. I will bless you" (IN SINU JESU Tuesday, December 11, 2007).
"Queen of the Most Holy Rosary, pray for us."
Say the Holy Rosary every day in October.
For Prayers, Consecration, Litany, Testimony of Jesus about those who pray the Rosary, click the link below:
MEMORIAL OF ISAAC JOQUES & JOHN DE BROBEUF & CO MARTYRS.
"Jesus said to his disciples:
“I tell you, everyone who acknowledges me before others the Son of Man will acknowledge before the angels of God.
"But whoever denies me before others will be denied before the angels of God.
“Everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but the one who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.
"When they take you before synagogues and before rulers and authorities, do not worry about how or what your defense will be or about what you are to say. For the Holy Spirit will teach you at that moment what you should say.” (Luke 12: 8 - 12).
Saturday October 19th 2024, 28th Week in Ordinary Time.
Today is the Memorial of the North American Martyrs: John de Brebeuf (1553 - 1649, Isaac Jogues (1607 - 1646) and Companion Martyrs.
All of them were French and all of the Society of Jesus. They were 8 in all, 6 priests and 2 brothers. They labored day and night under harsh conditions with almost the certainty of martyrdom to bring Jesus Christ to the Native Americans. In faith these martyrs believed Jesus that He came to found an everlasting Kingdom of peace, joy and happiness for ever and ever. It is God's will for all people to be saved. They lost their lives in bringing this message to Native Americans.
The Gospel of today Luke 12: 8 - 12 contains my favorite title for the Holy Spirit: "The Voice that Speaks in Court." This is because of my experience of the fulfillment of this promise. The Holy Spirit has enabled me to speak with wisdom and courage when I was in tight corners and needed these gifts most.
I have always loved the key Scripture for today. "When they take you before synagogues and before rulers and authorities, do not worry about how or what your defense will be or about what you are to say. For the Holy Spirit will teach you at that moment what you should say.”
Do you believe this to be true? Yes. I believe it to be true because I have experienced the truth several times. The Lord has been by my side and given me wisdom words to say when I was in most need of such counsels. I have been full of amazement and have never forgotten the experience.
"Allow Me to speak words of peace to your soul. Trust Me in all things. Trust that I will not abandon you, nor will I deprive you of My friendship. My desire is to hold conversation with you, to speak to you, as I have often said, heart to heart, as a man converses with his best friend. Why do you doubt? Believe in My friendship for you. It is My gift to you, and I will not withdraw what I have given you out of the love of My Heart." (IN SINU JESU, Thursday, October 17, 2008, Feast of Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque."
October is the Holy Rosary Month.
"Queen of the Most Holy Rosary, pray for us."
Say the Holy Rosary every day in October.
For Prayers, Consecration, Litany, Testimony of Jesus about those who pray the Rosary, click the link below:
Feast of St Luke the Evangelist.
"How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings glad tidings of peace, bearing good news, announcing salvation!" (Isaiah 52: 7 Entrance Antiphon on the Feast of St Luke).
Such beautiful feet are those of St Luke the Evangelist whose feast we celebrate today, 18th October 2024 of the 28th week of Ordinary Time.
St Luke writes in the Gospel of today:
“The Lord Jesus appointed seventy-two disciples whom he sent ahead of him in pairs to every town and place he intended to visit.
"He said to them, “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest.
"Go on your way; behold, I am sending you like lambs among wolves.
"Carry no money bag, no sack, no sandals; and greet no one along the way.
"Into whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace to this household.’ If a peaceful person lives there, your peace will rest on him; but if not, it will return to you.
"Stay in the same house and eat and drink what is offered to you, for the laborer deserves payment. Do not move about from one house to another.
"Whatever town you enter and they welcome you, eat what is set before you, cure the sick in it and say to them, ‘The Kingdom of God is at hand for you." (Luke 10: 1 - 9).
The Master of the harvest, God the Father sent Jesus to preach the Good News. Jesus trained and sent Apostles to spread the Gospel. Luke was commissioned to preach the word and author the Gospel according to St Luke and Acts of the Apostles. A few words on the profile of St Luke is in order here.
According to Tradition, St Luke is a Gentile physician. When he heard the Good News, he abandoned his medical practice and attached himself to St Paul as his traveling companion. He demonstrated a thorough ability for research and a keen eye to detail in his subjects. He showed a preferential option for the poor, women and sinners. Without St Luke, our knowledge of the life and work of Jesus Christ would be poorer. Examples of unique Lukan content:
1. The Infancy Narrative from the Annunciation to the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple. (Luke 1 - 2).
2. Parable of the Good Samaritan (Lk 10:25-37).
3. The Publican and the Pharisee. (Lk 18: 13 ).
4. The Parable of the Prodigal Son. (Luke 15: 11 - 32).
5. The forgiveness of the Good Thief from the Cross. (Lk 23:40... ).
“The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few." (Luke 10: 2). It was so in the beginning. It is still so today.
So many people in our communities no longer consider themselves members of any Church and live lives far removed from the Gospel of Christ. How do we reach these people? This is the challenge for you and me. Whatever answer you have, consider Prayer as the first tool.
"[Evangelization] is not something optional, but the very vocation of the People of God, a duty that corresponds to it by the command of the Lord Jesus Christ himself."
(Pope Benedict XVI)
October is the Holy Rosary Month.
“If families give Our Lady fifteen minutes a day by reciting the Rosary, I assure them that their homes will become, by God’s grace, peaceful places."
"The family that prays together stays together." (Father Patrick Peyton).
Say the Holy Rosary every day in October.
For Prayers, Consecration, Litany, Testimony of Jesus about those who pray the Rosary, click the link below:
MEMORIAL OF ST IGNATIUS OF ANTIOCH. BISHOP & MARTYR.
"The Lord said:
“Woe to you who build the memorials of the prophets
whom your fathers killed.
Consequently, you bear witness and give consent
to the deeds of your ancestors,
for they killed them and you do the building.
Therefore, the wisdom of God said,
‘I will send to them prophets and Apostles;
some of them they will kill and persecute’
in order that this generation might be charged
with the blood of all the prophets
shed since the foundation of the world,
from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah
who died between the altar and the temple building.
Yes, I tell you, this generation will be charged with their blood!
Woe to you, scholars of the law!
You have taken away the key of knowledge.
You yourselves did not enter and you stopped those trying to enter.”
When Jesus left, the scribes and Pharisees
began to act with hostility toward him
and to interrogate him about many things,
for they were plotting to catch him at something he might say." (Luke 11: 47 - 54).
Thursday 17th of October 2024 is the feast of a giant of our faith: St Ignatius of Antioch. (+ 107). Syrian. Bishop and Martyr.
St Ignatius was ordained Bishop by St Peter, the Prince of the Apostles. He is a Father of the Church. St Ignatius was ground to pieces by wild beasts under the persecution of Emperor Trajan.
Why is St Ignatius of Antioch pivotal in the history of the Church?
Anyone ordained Bishop by the Apostle Peter has a claim to fame. But for St Ignatius of Antioch, there are other reasons too. During his historic journey from Antioch to Rome under heavy armed guards, Ignatius composed seven extraordinary letters. These letters are the earliest authoritative teaching on the Eucharist, the hierarchy of the Church, etc.
Ignatius was torn to pieces by the iron teeth of wild beasts because he acknowledged Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior before Emperor Trajan.
The core message of the Gospel today is simple and pointed: Prophecy.
Jesus Christ is King, Priest and Prophet. In the Gospel of today, Jesus exercises His prophetic ministry without fear.
What is prophecy?
"You will hear the words of my mouth. You will tell them what I say." (Cf Jeremiah 1: 7 - 8).
There have been prophets in the Church in its 2000 years history. Many of them were pontiffs. Some recent prophets are:
Pope Leo XIII, Abraham Lincoln, Pope Pius VI, Martin Luther King, Pope John Paul II.
The Abortion quagmire needs word of prophecy. When the Prophet pronounces the word of prophecy over abortion, he has done his labor of faith and work of love. God does not demand more than this from us.
No demonstrations, no political maneuvering. No raising of money for the fight for the unborn. Money opens doors to the Demon of Mammon, the ancient enemy of the Church.
Abortion is a Satanic Trojan Horse inserted in the belly of the Church to keep the Church permanently divided and prevent the Key work of Evangelization.
There were many abortions in Rome when Peter and Paul arrived in Rome to put the Church of Rome in a firm foundation. They did not run a campaign against abortion.
Do you know what the early Church in Rome did? They preached Jesus Christ crucified who rose from the dead. When the Romans heard this, they were understandably sceptical. But the Saints in the Church at Rome supported their evangelization with miracles. They healed the sick, they cast out demons. They were law abiding citizens. They became joyful martyrs. The Romans were impressed. One by one conversions trickled in. By the time of Emperor Constantine just about 250 after Peter and Paul arrived in Rome, Christianity had conquered the Roman Empire.
God does not need human strength to be a just God. Sentence has already been pronounced against unrepentant murderers, thieves, liars, abortionists, etc. God will execute judgment in THE FULLNESS OF TIME.
Be patient. Do you know that daily Rosary by 2% of Catholics will wipe out all types of abortion in a couple of years.
We have seen from our reflections this week from the Letter to the Galatians what pleases God and what God wants: Faith and not the energy of the flesh. The energy of the flesh yields corruption.
October is the Holy Rosary Month.
“The Rosary is my favorite prayer” – “How beautiful is the family that recites the Rosary every evening!” – “The Rosary is a prayer both so humble and simple and a theologically rich in Biblical content. I beg you to pray it”. (St. Pope John Paul II).
Say the Holy Rosary every day in October.
For Prayers, Consecration, Litany, Testimony of Jesus about those who pray the Rosary, click the link below:
FEAST OF SAINTS MARGARET MARY ALACOQUE & ST HEDWIG.
"Brothers and sisters: If you are guided by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
"Now the works of the flesh are obvious: 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.
"I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the Kingdom of God.
"In contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.
"Against such there is no law.
"Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified their flesh with its passions and desires.
"If we live in the Spirit, let us also follow the Spirit." (Galatians 5: 18 - 25) NABRE).
Wednesday 16th October 2024 in the 28th Week in Ordinary Time is the feast of St Margaret Mary Alacoque (1647 - 1690).
St Margaret is the French Visitation Nun that brought the world the private revelations of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Devotees of the Sacred Heart of Jesus owe St Margaret Mary eternal gratitude for her great work.
Jesus Christ used Margaret's spiritual director, St Claude de la Colombiere, SJ to translate Margaret's visions into what we know today as the Sacred Heart of Jesus Devotion. Thanks also to the Jesuit, St Claude of the Society of Jesus.
Today is also the feast of St Hedwig (1173 - 1243). Wife of the Duke of Poland and mother of 7 children. After the death of her husband, Hedwig took the habit of a Nun and lived the rest of her life in a Cistercian monastery that she and her late husband had founded.
Paul's Letter to the Galatians continues today as the first Reading. Look at four different translations of the message below:
#1 "If we live in the Spirit, let us also follow the Spirit." (Galatians 5: 25 NABRE).
#2 "Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit." (NIV).
#3 "Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives." (NLT)
#4 "If we [claim to] live by the [Holy] Spirit, we must also walk by the Spirit [with personal integrity, godly character, and moral courage—our conduct empowered by the Holy Spirit]." (AMP).
The New American Revised Version (the authorized translation for the Liturgy in the USA) renders our key Scripture thus: "If we live in the Spirit..."
The other quoted translations #2 to #4 assume that you, I mean "You" reading this verse knows the Spirit and is reminding you what should be taken for granted.
Are you aware that two different spirits are continually at war in you? The good and the bad spirit. The spirit you feed more wins the war.
How do you feed the good spirit so that you win more the battles of life?
#1 Daily Prayer: Set time, set place and set intention.
#2 Daily word of God. Set reading plan. The daily Mass Readings from the Roman Missal or lectionary are great as a reading plan. You read the Scripture with the Church. Same daily Scripture are read daily everywhere on earth.
#3 Daily examination of conscience. This is critical for checking whether the spirit you are feeding is growing or not.
When you follow the above plan, the life of grace will begin to manifest in you. It will be seen by anyone who knows you. People will notice the change.
October is the Holy Rosary Month.
“Say the Rosary every day to obtain peace for the world.” (Our Lady of Fatima, 1917).
For Prayers, Consecration, Litany, Testimony of Jesus about those who pray the Rosary, click the link below:
FEAST OF ST CALLISTUS, POPE AND MARTYR.
“While still more people gathered in the crowd, Jesus said to them,
“This generation is an evil generation;
it seeks a sign, but no sign will be given it,
except the sign of Jonah.
Just as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites,
so will the Son of Man be to this generation.
At the judgment
the queen of the south will rise with the men of this generation
and she will condemn them,
because she came from the ends of the earth
to hear the wisdom of Solomon,
and there is something greater than Solomon here.
At the judgment the men of Nineveh will arise with this generation
and condemn it,
because at the preaching of Jonah they repented,
and there is something greater than Jonah here.” (Luke 11: 29 - 32).
Monday October 14th in the 28th Week in Ordinary Time is the feast of St Callistus, Pope and Martyr. Died circa 222.
How does history remember Pope St Callistus? From slave to pope to martyr.
Pope St Callistus was opposed openly by some of his Bishops, clergy and theologians. Why?
These people disagreed with some of his teaching.
Some members of the hierarchy also disagreed with the uncompromising stand of Callistus that the Church must show mercy and forgive even the worst of sinners. This struggle in the Church with the Rigorist faction outlived St Callistus who was martyred by Emperor Alexander Severus.
In the Book of Jonah 3: 1 - 10, Jonah preached to the Ninivites and shared the testimony of his stay in the belly of the whale.
The people and their king heard the message. They believed and repented.
St Paul preached to the Greeks in the Areopagus. They listened attentively. Only one person believed.
Jesus told the crowd in today's Gospel: No more miracles for you. You keep looking for a big sign from heaven to prove that I am the Messiah. But what happened to Jonah is the only sign you will get.
My friends, where are you today in your spiritual walk with Jesus? Are you still looking for more signs?
Listen to what Abraham said to Dives in the Parable of the Rich man and Lazarus. The former rich man denied Lazarus a little sign that his life matters. Abraham told him that his brothers have more than enough signs from the Church to make them believe and change their lives.
‘If they will not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded if someone should rise from the dead." (Luke 16: 31).
We have in the Church all the signs we need. The Church of the living God is the sign of salvation.
The true Church subsists in the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church founded by Jesus Christ.
This Church has visible structures. It exists in almost every country in the world, attesting to her universality.
The Church has one Shepherd, one Liturgy and holds the entire Deposit of Faith. That is, the Church has the fullness of Faith.
What more are we looking for? There will be no more signs till the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.
October is the Holy Rosary Month.
“One day through the Rosary and the Scapular I will save the world.” -Blessed Virgin Mary to St. Dominic
Say the Holy Rosary every day in October.
For Prayers, Consecration, Litany, Testimony of Jesus about those who pray the Rosary, click the link below:
